Lakelandist Explores/Concocts Christmas Parade History
The Lakelandist goes audio, looking into the origins of the Lakeland Christmas Parade in its first podcast.
History
Publix Tile Mural Re-created at a Former Publix Store
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.
Author: Without Disney, Orlando Would Be Like Lakeland
Lakeland got a shoutout of sorts when a Florida history author explained why Walt Disney was chosen the second-most-influential person in the state’s history. “Without his influence, we believe that Orlando would look a lot more like Lakeland does — which is a perfectly nice place; we like Lakeland,” freelance journalist Laura Mize said. “But it doesn’t have, you know, world influences; it’s not a place that people come to from all over the world.”
Catapult 2.0: Old Front Comes Down
Crews today demolished the false front on the building overlooking Lake Mirror that will become the Catapult 2.0 small business incubator. The facade, added more than a quarter century after the structure was built in 1924, will be replaced with a dramatic steel-and-glass entryway. Next steps in the renovation project will be interior work to replace the concrete floors, according to Steve Scruggs, president of the Lakeland Economic Development Council, Catapult’s parent organization.
Mosaic Removal Approved; Where Should They Go?
The people working to preserve two tile mosaic murals that were whitewashed at the former Searstown have gotten permission to move them. Now they’re asking for input on two possible locations: the Polk Museum of Art or the Polk Tax Collector’s Office.
Where Did the Lkld Hashtag Come From, Anyway?
I’ve felt a bit like a proud parent as I’ve watched more businesses and organizations in Lakeland include the abbreviation Lkld in their names and online identities.
LkldNow, the news site I started, wasn’t the first; I believe LkldTV gets that honor. But I was there when some early Twitter adopters decided more than eight years ago to formalize use of #lkld to identify posts about Lakeland.
Historic Lakeland Honors Preservation Efforts
A bungalow-turned-coffee-shop, an urban residence with a balcony on Munn Park and a mammoth Florida Boom building restored to its former glory were among structures recognized by Historic Lakeland Inc. Monday night. The organization also gave a lifetime achievement award — only its second ever — to city planning chief Jim Studiale. Check below for then-and-now photos of the winning homes and businesses.
1 2