Jiwa Farrell, 41, has filed to run against City Commissioner Bill Read, ensuring that there will be at least two races on the Nov. 5 city ballot. In the other race, five people are seeking to replace Justin Troller, who has reached term limits. Commissioner Phillip Walker has no opposition so far. More
Alex Rich, who came to Lakeland in 2014 to head Florida Southern College’s art history program and galleries, has been named executive director and chief curator of the Polk Museum Art. He succeeds Claire Orologas, who has announced her retirement after leading the museum since 2012, according to a news release issued today by Florida Southern College, which formed a partnership with the museum two years ago. More
A “Welcome to the Catch” video (here) produced by outdoors outfitter L.L. Bean features Lakeland resident Will Dunn and his non-profit, Take a Kid Fishing. The company donated to his non-profit, supplied gear and clothing and paid the two teens featured in the video, Dunn said. | Learn more
Sergio Perez, 17, credits the rigor of jointly working on a high school diploma at Lakeland Collegiate High School and an associate’s degree at Polk State College for his acceptance to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He’s the first in his family to go to college.
Alice Koehler, whose career has focused on Lakeland non-profits since she returned here after two years in the Peace Corps, has been chosen as the next president and CEO of Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine. More
When Rose Rosenkranz first visited Auschwitz, the former Nazi extermination camp where as many as 1 million Jews were murdered, she said she heard the voice of her grandmother, who was among those who died there along with her two young children.
“She said, ‘Speak for me and my two babies. I no longer have a voice. You must be my voice.’” More
This is a story about how Kathy Wallen met Andy and Ashley McEntire six years ago and how the resulting friendship blossomed into a new organization that aims to share stories of good works to an international audience. More
Lakeland resident Alice Hunt, who co-founded Hunt Construction with her husband Chuck, was elected chair of the Florida Polytechnic University Foundation Board of Directors. Jack Harrell III, senior vice president at Harrell’s LLC in Lakeland, replaces her as vice chair.
“Fly Like a Girl,” the documentary that Lakeland resident Katie Wiatt and her team spent three years producing, is screening at film festivals, including St. Petersburg’s Suncreen Festival. It will be shown April 26 at 4:15 p.m. at AMC Sundial Theater | Learn more about the film
Shannon Oglesby, the 47-year-old manager of Web Pro Realty, died Sunday night when the Jeep she was riding in crashed into a utility pole on U.S. 98 across from the entrance to Oak Hill Cemetery. Rodney Wimberly, 52, who was driving the Jeep Wrangler, was in critical condition Monday morning. Deputies said it appeared the Jeep was racing a sports bike when it went out of control, and they hope to find the person riding on the motorcycle.
Facebook tribute | GoFundMe
