Read It in the Morning Paper: M Edition
MARIJUANA: Lakeland’s fourth medical marijuana dispensary is opening a block south of the Larry Jackson Public Library. Trulieve Cannabis Corp.’s facility at 1644 N. Florida Ave will be about a mile and a half from two other dispensaries just south of Interstate 4.
MIRRORTON: Framework Group of Tampa, a developer planning to build 305 apartments and rental townhouses north of Lake Mirror, is the new owner of 14.5 acres the city assembled starting in 2004. The $3.66 million sale closed Friday. Groundbreaking on the Mirrorton complex is expected within 30 days, and construction should take up to two years.
MUSEUM: “Spirits: Ritual and Ceremonial African and Oceanic Art,” a new exhibit at the Polk Museum of Art, showcases works collected by Alan and Linda Rich of Lakeland during ophthalmologic mission trips. The article isn’t online yet, but its accompanying video is. So are a recent Ledger article about another current museum exhibit and the museum’s description of the Spirits exhibition.
Firefighters Battle Blaze at Pallet Plant
Polk fire crews spent the night fighting a fire that broke out at Pallet Recycle in Eaton Park before 11 p.m. The plant at 2424 Lasso Lane (map) is just north of the Polk Parkway, and smoke could be seen a few miles away, Bay News 9’s Jorja Roman reports. A quick Google search turned up reports of fires at the plant in 2004 and 2008.
10 News: Fire is still burning (7:37 a.m. report)
Spa Owners Have Their Eyes on the Deen House; City Planners Recommend Denial of Preschool
The owners of a downtown spa say they’d like to move their operation to the Deen House in the Lake Morton neighborhood if plans to use the 107-year-old mansion for a preschool fall through. More
Wildwood Owner Has Previous Disciplinary Actions
After breaking the story about Wildwood Antiques Mall closing abruptly amid a bankruptcy ruling, WFLA’s Victoria Price checked records; she discovered that registered owner Manny Pesco has had previous legal difficulties including disciplinary action in 2014 by the state board of auctioneers.
FSC Dedicates Dixieland Physical Therapy Building
Several hundred Florida Southern College supporters and alumni were on hand today when the college dedicated its new Jean and Sal Campisi Sr. Academic Center for Physical Therapy on Florida Avenue in Dixieland. Here’s video of the ceremony:
Twenty-four students enrolled in the college’s new Doctor of Physical Therapy program when it launched this semester. The college is seeking accreditation for a 36-student program. More
Vanguard Room Unveils ‘A Lakeland Christmas’ Album
To the musical question — Do we really need another Christmas album? – Matt Wilbur has a ready answer.
“If the Christmas season stresses you out, you don’t need another Christmas album. But if you love Christmas, you can never have enough. There’s always one more Christmas decoration, one more Christmas album to have,” he said. More
Wildwood Antique Mall Closes Amid Bankruptcy Ruling
The sudden closing of the Wildwood Antique Mall off U.S. 98 just north of I-4 has left hundreds of vendors wondering if or when they’ll get access to their goods again. They learned via email on Wednesday night that the mall was closing immediately following a ruling earlier that day in federal bankruptcy court.
Colorful Downtown Mural Based on a China Pattern
The brightly flowered mural that Gillian Fazio recently painted on the side of Gaines Jewelers downtown is based on the “Tobacco Leaf” pattern hand-painted on expensive china. The owner of the company that manufactures the china is a fan of the mural and is flying from New York to see it.
Lakeland Weighing Higher Impact Fees; Vote Comes Monday
On Monday, city commissioners will consider updating the impact fees that dictate how much each owner of a newly constructed home, business or industry must pay to offset the cost of providing city infrastructure. More
Spano Faces Justice Department Campaign Finance Investigation
The campaign finances of U.S. Rep. Ross Spano of Dover, whose district includes most of Lakeland, are apparently under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice. The House Ethics Committee said today it is deferring its own investigation at the request of the DOJ. A statement from Spano said he is cooperating with the investigation and that the probe was motivated by “the left.”
ALSO: Coverage by Politico
SBA Loans Available for Tornado Victims
Residents and businesses affected by the tornadoes spawned by Tropical Storm Nestor on Oct. 18 can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Polk County Emergency Management has announced. More
Photos: A Look Inside the Deen House
Photographer David Dickey Jr. got a chance this week to take some shots inside the Deen House, the 107-year-old landmark at Success Avenue and Frank Lloyd Wright Way. The Lakeland Planning & Zoning Board is scheduled to decide Tuesday on a conditional use permit allowing the building to be used as a preschool.
Live Music in Lakeland This Weekend
Friday I’m in love with the music choices in Lakeland:
- Van Plating, backed by a full band, releases her eponymous album and fans get a sneak peak at the soon-to-open Yard on Mass food-truck park/ beer hall. Videos: WLKF | The Lakelander
- Beat boxer Tom Thum fronts the Imperial Symphony Orchestra at the Polk Theatre. (We included some info in our ISO season preview.) Videos: TedX Sydney
- The music of Burt Bacharach is celebrated at a LkldLive tribute by performers Nicole Celesete, Kristy Scott and Shane Lawlor.
- The Volume Art Collective & Lakeland Women’s Collective’s Medusa Moon Art Show at Art/ifact Studios showcases music by Proud Miranda, Lady Moonbeam Band, and Bucoda. Keep scrolling for our updated music calendar: More
Mother Criticizes Deputies in Daughter’s Death
The mother of a young woman shot and killed by Polk sheriff’s deputies in north Lakeland this week says her daughter didn’t have to die. Deputies said they shot because Sidney Alexis Renew, 20, was trying to run them down with a stolen pickup truck. But Ohio resident Heather Renew says they could have shot the tires out and questions why one of the wounds was to the side of her 20-year-old daughter’s head if the deputies were shooting from in front of the truck.
Tornado Aftermath: Food Bank Reopens; Tortoise Returns Home
- Bay News 9: The food bank at Mount Tabor Baptist Church is operating again; a mobile container gifted from Kathleen Middle School replaces a structure destroyed in the Oct. 18 tornado.
- ABC Action News: Tucker, a 60-pound African tortoise that escaped through a backyard fence damaged during the tornado, was returned home by somebody who found him more than a mile away. Earlier: Ledger coverage
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