Community needs | Solar permits streamlined | Power plant delays

My wife and I recently returned from a  a 500-mile journey on foot across northern Spain that’s known as the Camino del Norte. It’s one of the many paths that constitute the Camino de Santiago, a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that attract seekers from around the world.

While the journey itself is long, it’s really a matter of putting one foot in front of the other — again and again and again. 

Along the way you learn a lot about the regions you’re traveling through, the other people who walk the trail — they’re a hearty and determined bunch — and about yourself. You’re carrying everything you need on your back, so you learn what’s essential.

As you go along, you build capacity. After a while, you find you no longer need to stop several times on the way up a long, steep hill. Longer distances become easier.

In a way, it reminded me of my experience with LkldNow. When we started small nearly eight years ago, we had a staff of one full-time volunteer and a dedicated board of directors. We kept at it day after day and built capacity. We now have a payroll of three excellent professionals and many local backers; we are continuing to grow as more people who rely on us for news about Lakeland become supporters.

The trip to Spain marked the first time since 2017 that I left town and wasn’t involved with LkldNow on a daily basis. In fact, I was hardly involved at all, other than reading the articles from afar.

The clean break let our new leadership team spread their wings and shine. Executive Director Trinity Laurino and Editor Cindy Glover kept the organization moving forward as Senior Reporter Kimberly C. Moore and our free-lancers maintained high reporting standards. 

I came back from Spain full of gratitude for all of the people at home who took on extra burdens on our behalf while we’ve been away — and especially for the talented team at LkldNow who are leading us into the future.