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PLAYGROUND: A neighborhood playground was built Saturday at Nuevo Comienzo Iglesia del Nazareno , a church near Southeastern University, under a partnership between Humana, CrossFit Lakeland, Dedicated Senior Medical Center and church members.
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: Explorations V has unveiled plans for five galleries and hundreds of exhibits in its new home at Bonnet Springs Park scheduled to open in summer 2021 | Exterior rendering | Learn more | Bay News 9 report
DAD-DAUGHTER GRADS: Lakeland residents Fredrick “Roy” Sosa, 54, and his daughter, Tiffany Anderson, 34, received bachelor’s degrees in psychology together at St. Leo University.
Body Found on U.S. 92 Near Saddle Creek Park
UPDATE: A woman whose body was found in the median of U.S. 92 East near Reynolds Road has been identified as Kara Fay Hanvey, 22, of Sebring. Deputies responded after receiving a 911 call reporting an unresponsive woman around 6:40 a.m. today. More
Crowds Brave the Heat for Polk Pride
As her brother danced by the stage, Callie Weeks, 7, watched the drag revue under the shade of a tree with her parents while enjoying her rainbow stick candy. It was her first time at Polk Pride.
While The Downtown Farmers Curb Market was in full swing and with an Amtrak train rolling by as a backdrop, Pride in the Park capped off Polk Pride 2019’s week of events Saturday at Munn Park and featured a drag show, food trucks and live music. More
Montessori Request Uncovers New Jersey Road Concerns
City commissioners are asking for strategies to smooth traffic on New Jersey Road as Magnolia Montessori Academy plans a 54 percent jump in student population and Geneva Classical Academy prepares to move into its new campus nearby. More
Rep. Tomkow Picks Up Election Opponent
Democrat Chris Cause of Davenport, who teaches history for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Regional Detention Center, has filed to run in November’s election for the District 39 Florida House seat now held by Josie Tomkow, R-Polk City. The largely rural district includes much of Polk just north and east of Lakeland city limits.
Citrus Industry Honors Bob Behr, Florida’s Natural CEO
Behr, a Lakeland resident, was honored with Florida Grower magazine’s Citrus Achievement Award at the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference.
Debate on City Charter Voting to Continue Through Summer
A recent City Commission decision to keep two controversial changes to Lakeland’s city charter off this fall’s election ballot could discourage citizens from participating on city boards, two commissioners said today. More
Poly Prof Chosen for Women in STEM Leadership Program
Dr. Grisselle Centeno, a Florida Polytechnic University professor of data science and business analytics, says she hopes her participation in a prestigious STEM leadership program will help her become an even better role model for young faculty and women students.
MidFlorida Deals Signal New Growth Strategies
MidFlorida Credit Union’s pending merger and acquisition deals with two banks allows the Lakeland-based institution to spread its footprint into fast-growing portions of Northeast and Southwest Florida, the Business Observer reports. The credit union’s first bank purchases also signal a new growth strategy of becoming a non-bank bank, the weekly newspaper reports.
Restaurant Review: BubbaQues
Restaurant critic Eric Pera praises the hickory-smoked meats at the two Lakeland locations of BubbaQues, an order-at-the-counter, Florida chain that good-naturedly celebrates good ol’ boy culture | Menu
Live Music in Lakeland This Weekend
See eight local bands in two nights at LkldLive: Tonight’s show is billed as “an eclectic evening of art from Lakeland’s independent rock and hip hop music and fine arts” and features 48 States Away, Pryderawk, Sharron and DePrime. Friday at 8, Heavy Hitter “presents a night of sonic envelopment” with Mr.Handsome, House of I, Lady Moonbeam and Space Panda.
If tried-and-true classic rock is more your thing, there’s Classic Albums Live reviving Led Zeppelin’s debut album at RP Funding Center Friday.
On Saturday, Play It Again Polk, a nonprofit that provides instruments to students in need, presents the Sofa Kings “and special guests” at Fresco’s Speakeasy. And here’s our entire updated live music calendar: More
Look Up Polk Restaurant Health Inspections
There’s been a lot of Facebook discussion lately (a sample) about The Morning Paper’s method of presenting restaurant health inspection information, so we wanted to point out an alternative presentation.
Check out Polk County restaurant health inspections in a searchable statewide database published by tallahassee.com, the website for the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper. More
Police: Speed Approached 100 MPH Before Fatal Crash
As Lakeland police continue investing a Memorial Boulevard crash that killed two people, including a woman returning home from work, they released video taken from the dashboard of an officer who was following the driver who caused the accident.
Top Candidates Close in Race for Campaign Dollars
The five candidates in the November election for an open at-large Lakeland City Commission seat have raised almost $50,000, and campaign finance reports show a close split between the two most well-connected candidates. More
Lakeland Mom Sues Furniture Industry in Her Toddler’s Death
Meghan DeLong of Lakeland has been a crusade to spread information about furniture hazards ever since her two-year-old son, Conner, died after a dresser fell on him in 2017. She started a foundation, Conner’s Legacy (website) and last month sued two furniture industry organizations, CBS Miami reports. Her ask: $50 million in damages the she would use to lobby Congress on par with the furniture industry, her Miami lawyer tells House Beautiful.
Home Depot Chooses Warehouse Site Off County Line Road
Home Depot is planning an 800,000-square-foot distribution center just west of County Line Road. The city of Plant City is offering a seven-year exemption from property taxes for the facility at Wiggins and Rice Roads that is expected to employ 150 initially and possibly up to 350 eventually. “This is a win for all of Tampa Bay,” Mayor Rick Lott told Fox 13 News. “I truly believe what we do in Plant City helps Lakeland. What Lakeland does helps Plant City and so forth throughout Hillsborough County.”
ALSO: Tampa Bay Business Journal