Leadership Lakeland, a Lakeland Chamber of Commerce program to develop community leaders, tonight introduced the 30 members of its 37th class. The members will devote one day each month for the next nine months to learning about different segments of community life, such as government, health care, education, economy, human services, criminal justice, art and media. More
A new mural by a Lakeland-born painter at the RP Funding Center pays overt tribute to the Lakeland Magic and subtle homage to the city’s many lakes. More
Top honorees tonight at Lakeland’s inaugural Athena Awards included Ana Wood (leadership award), Laura Lear (young professional) and Top Buttons (organization).
The Athena Awards, a collaboration between the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, recognize women leaders who have made significant accomplishments and enhanced the community. More
Danny Baggish, 35, of Lakeland, is readying for the darts-throwing world championship in London this December after defeating the defending North American champion in the US Darts Masters leg of the World Series last month | Background
Now that the story of the Lakeland couple who took their engagement photos at Publix has gone viral — Fox News picked it up yesterday — the Tampa Bay Times has gotten the story behind the pictures. Alexandra Darch and Dylan Smith were hoping for bucolic, sunset photos at Circle B Bar Reserve, but a rainstorm washed out those plans. Photographer Jennifer Goodlet suggested a backup plan — a late-evening shoot at Oakbridge Publix, where the couple met — and all are thrilled with the results.
Where else but Lakeland? Alexandra Darch and Dylan Smith posed for their engagement photos at a Lakeland Publix store three years after meeting there; she worked a cash register then and he had just started in the grocery department.
Polk-raised Karen Olivo impressed New York critics in her lead role of Satine in the just-opened Broadway production of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.” Take, for example, The New York Times’ co-chief theater critic Ben Brantley. More
Four days after he turned 29, Wadsonley Lubin of Lakeland collected a $710,000 lump-sum payout after scoring a winning ticket in the Florida Lottery’s $20 Gold Rush Classic Scratch-Off game. More
Brian Burns, who is known as a fierce advocate for his employees, has announced he is leaving his job as publisher of The Ledger, a position he has held since January 2017. Burns, 45, says he plans to launch a digital publishing company in the Tampa Bay area and is developing a smartphone app that can capture print images and use them to deliver enhanced information.
Elaine C. Thompson, who has been the chief executive at Lakeland Regional Health since 2010, is retiring at the end of next year and will be replaced by Danielle Drummond, currently the hospital’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. More
