Publix Tile Mural Re-created at a Former Publix Store

Nov 26, 2018 at 11:39 pm

A tile mural created for a Publix store in Fort Lauderdale has been re-created by artist Tim Pitzen, right, and unveiled today at a former Publix store that now houses the Lakeland office of the Polk County Tax Collector. Standing alongside the artist is Gregory Fancelli, who spearheaded the project.

The original creamic-tile mural, titled “The Goddess,” was created during the 1960s by John Garth and was destroyed when the store was demolished during the 1980s.

Activism/ People

Lakeland Family Nears End of 2,650-Mile Trek

Nov 20, 2018 at 8:18 am Bay News 9

Vince and Monica Strawbridge and their four children are within 50 miles of finishing a 2,650-mile hike along the Pacific Coast Trail from Canada to Mexico. The trip has been an opportunity for family bonding, self discovery and fund-raising for favorite causes.
MORE: Follow on Facebook | Trip website | Lakelander article

Activism/ People

Samantha Kunin of Lakeland: Rhodes Finalist

Nov 19, 2018 at 10:44 am

Samantha Kunin, a 20-year-old Florida State University senior from Lakeland and graduate of the International Baccalaureate School in Bartow, interviewed in Birmingham, Ala., this past weekend as a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.

Activism

LkldNow: Where We Are, Where We’re Going

Nov 12, 2018 at 8:15 am

Nearly 70 people attended a reception LkldNow held Friday evening at ART/ifact to recognize its financial supporters and volunteers. The event served as a formal kickoff for NewsMatch, a national call-to-action to support nonprofit journalism that LkldNow was selected for this year. Here is a slightly edited version of the talk LkldNow founder Barry Friedman gave at Friday’s event:

Activism

Vote Today; Polls Are Open Until 7 p.m.

Nov 6, 2018 at 7:24 am

And the polls are open. You have until 7 p.m. to vote.
✓ Voter guide: https://t.co/JWE589fpMh
✓ Find your polling place: https://t.co/UKnbsX0kIO
✓ 60 percent turnout predicted for Polk: https://t.co/UnR38W2P7F #lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) November 6, 2018

Activism/ Social Services

Three Sites Eyed for Cultural Heritage/Aging Center

Nov 5, 2018 at 11:08 pm

Lakeland Vision and some other organizations came to City Hall today with a vision for the future: a building that would house agencies that serve the elderly, a museum celebrating Lakeland’s diverse ethnic heritages and maybe a visitor bureau and center for business organizations.

Activism

LkldNow Launches NewsMatch Funding Drive

Nov 1, 2018 at 7:00 am

LkldNow is launching NewsMatch 2018 today, alongside more than 150 other nonprofit news organizations. NewsMatch, the largest grassroots fundraising campaign to support nonprofit news, doubles donations between now and Dec. 31. Please support us now.

Activism/ People

Lakeland Veteran Who Exposed Agent Orange Use Dies

Oct 22, 2018 at 1:19 pm News Channel 8

Leroy Foster, an Air Force veteran whose tales of spraying Agent Orange defoliant over Guam during the Vietnam era are disputed by the government, has died of diseases he says were caused by the toxic chemical | Background

Activism/ People

Son Gives Update on Carol Jenkins Barnett

Oct 20, 2018 at 9:36 pm Bay News 9

Two years after philanthropist Carol Jenkins Barnett revealed she had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, she still has a good memory but is struggling with some motor skills and vision issues, son Wesley Barnett tells Bay News 9 at a Lakeland “Walk to end Alzheimer’s” that attracted nearly 1,000 people.

Activism/ Consumer

Polk Solar Co-op Has Attracted 41 Members

Oct 18, 2018 at 9:07 am Bay News 9

The organization, which aims to use the power of group purchasing to get its members good deals on solar power installation, has scheduled an information session for 6 p.m. Oct. 25 at the main Lakeland Library. The group has 225 slots; sign-ups go through Christmas | Solar United website