Live Music in Lakeland This Weekend
Written while chilling to soothing solo guitar at Hillcrest Coffee: Music I hope to check out this weekend includes Brazilian jazz by Ipanema at Posto 9 Friday night and the gospel-laden rock of Richard Sherfey & All God’s Children at LkldLive, also on Friday. On Saturday, LkldLive hosts an evening of Americana, including Lakeland’s Fount and headliners Menagerie of Bowling Green, Ky. I’m also intrigued by the promised combo of improv comedy and dueling pianos at Winner’s Circle. See more listings after the jump.
LkldTV Checks Out the New Lake Parker Playground
Rotary Playground at Hernando’s Landing will be dedicated at 10 a.m Friday. Take a video tour.
Flags Flying Half Staff in Memory of Buddy Fletcher
Is it just me, or does it look like anchor Jen Leigh, a Lakeland native, chokes up a bit at the end of Merissa Merino’s report?
Read It in the Morning Paper
- A dog park proposed for city property along Cleveland Heights Boulevard is losing support among city commissioners.
- Crystal Lake Elementary has been selected to pilot the community school concept in Polk County.
- BS Ranch & Farm has submitted a plan for ways to reduce odors from their east Lakeland facility near the Polk Parkway.
- Things to do: Family skate night Monday and Aug. 7 | Improv comedy Saturday
Chamberlin’s Plans a Second Lakeland Store
The natural foods store, fronting U.S. 98N. near Target, is expected to open in late September. It will be larger than the Grove Park store, which will remain open, and include a coffee/juice bar and an expanded produce area.
Read It in the Morning Paper
BUDDY FLETCHER, 1932-2017: As a businessman, he built a printing business from scratch. As a politician, he promoted Lakeland tirelessly in 17 years as mayor and five as a city commissioner. Buddy Fletcher developed dementia in 2012 and died at LRMC Tuesday of complications from a stroke suffered May 1.
BRYANT STADIUM: Polk School Board members took a look at the numbers associated with buying the stadium where the LHS Dreadnaughts play football and decided to hear from the public Aug. 22 before taking a vote.
New Lake Parker Playground Rates With Kids
Children asked by Bay News 9 about the new Rotary Playground at Hernando’s Landing gave it an “A” rating. The playground overlooking Lake Parker will be dedicated Friday at 10 a.m. in a public ceremony (Facebook).
Man Charged With Killing a Trapped Gator, Trying to Sell Its Meat
The alligator had become ensnared in a device set in Lake Parker by a licensed trapper. Police say a passerby killed it, severed its tail and then he and his girlfriend tried to sell the meat door-to-door to nearby residents.
AND IN OTHER GATOR NEWS: Trappers caught an alligator that had been seen on video crossing Sleepy Hill Road, igniting a Facebook debate (link) on its fate, News Channel 8 reports.
Read It in the Morning Paper
HAGAN: Former U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, who grew up in Lakeland, has left the rehab center in Atlanta where she spent 5 1/2 months slowly regaining the ability to speak and hoping to be able to walk again. Her family has disclosed that the ailment that struck eight months ago and rendered her unconscious for 43 days was diagnosed as Powassan virus, a tick-borne disease causing brain swelling. Her husband believes she was infected during a Thanksgiving-weekend picnic in Virginia.
HOMELESS: An annual survey that attempts to catalog the state of homelessness in Polk County found fewer homeless people this year — at least fewer willing to answer a questionnaire. The numbers: 512 this year; 635 last year.
Assemblers of Big Drones: Why We Chose Lakeland
Mark Boyd discusses why his company, Griff Aviation North America, chose Lakeland to assemble drones that can fly packages weighing several hundred pounds.
ALSO: Ledger coverage
Lakeland Man Charged with DUI, Wrong-Way Driving on I-4
Tyson McMorrow was arrested Saturday after 10 p.m. and charged with DUI, DUI property damage, leaving the scene of a crash and driving on the wrong side of a divided highway.
Review Saturday’s Strong Mayor Debate
Skip ahead to 13:00 to see the start of the debate. Saturday night’s two-hour debate was hosted by LkldTV and sponsored by Bella Viságe. It was moderated by Brian Dockery. Panelists promoting a Lakeland strong mayor were FSC political science professor Bruce Anderson and consultant Matt Doster. Panelists urging a vote against the strong-mayor charter were former City Manager Gene Strickland and former City Attorney Joe Mawhinney.