More than 100 Dutch Impressionist paintings are currently on exhibit at the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College in Lakeland in a one-of-a-kind display. “It isn’t going anywhere else and all the works, 100 pieces, in the show, are exclusive to our museum, and they’re in the United States for the […]
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2024 Christmas Parade: What to Know Before You Go
Thousands of people are expected to converge on downtown Lakeland on Thursday evening for the spectacle of the annual Christmas parade and fireworks. What: 43rd Lakeland Christmas Parade When: 7 p.m. Thursday, beginning with fireworks over Lake Mirror Where: The parade starts on Lemon Street west of Florida Avenue, winds through downtown via Munn Park and Lake Mirror and […]
Lakeland’s Gandy Pool Will Close Five Months for Renovations
2-minute read The city of Lakeland’s popular Gandy Pool at the Kelly Recreation Center will be closed for much of the winter and early spring for renovations. But the city’s parks director made two promises at Monday’s City Commission meeting: It won’t close until the city’s other pool at Simpson Park reopens. Gandy Pool will […]
Cafe Zuppina Closes Months After Moving to Downtown Lakeland
Cafe Zuppina, the popular Mediterranean eatery, moved to downtown Lakeland with much fanfare in April, but quietly closed “until further notice” in late October. “We hope to see you all again soon,” said a Nov. 3 message on their Facebook page that is no longer visible. “Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for being […]
Lakeland Residents Learn ‘Mental Health First Aid’ Ahead of Holidays
While joyous for many, the holiday season can be difficult for those grieving lost loved ones, experiencing financial stress, navigating family conflict or recovering from a disaster. More than a dozen area residents learned about “Mental Health First Aid” on Friday at the Peggy Brown Building in the Lake Mirror Complex. The day-long course, taught […]
Kate’s Story Foundation Donates Toys to Children in the Hospital
A Lakeland mom started a toy drive to benefit children hospitalized during the holidays after she saw the joy in her daughter’s face when surprised with gifts after spending her first birthday in the hospital. Liz Haygood, the founder of Kate’s Story Foundation, held her first toy drive in 2016 to honor her daughter, Kate, […]
Lakeland Commissioners: More Info Needed Before Deciding on Fluoride
After Florida’s surgeon general came to Polk County Friday to urge cities and counties statewide to quit adding fluoride to drinking water, a majority of Lakeland’s city commissioners said they would need to learn more before they could vote on the issue. Only one said he is learning toward making the change. The newly revived […]
Marines, Law, FBI Prepared Lakeland’s New Emergency Management Chief
6-minute read Some kids dream about growing up to become a firefighter, a U.S. Marine, an FBI agent or a lawyer; David Charles Cox, the city of Lakeland’s new emergency management director, became all four. Cox, 53, took the emergency management helm at the beginning of November – three weeks after one of Lakeland’s worst […]
Nordstrom Rack Coming to Lakeside Village Next Fall
By this time next year, Lakeland fans of Nordstrom Rack should be able to drive to Lakeside Village instead of Brandon or Tampa to shop at the off-price retailer. A Nordstrom Rack store is planned for the vacant 30,000-square-foot building previously occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond, a Lakeside Village spokeswoman confirmed. It is projected […]
A Food-Truck Court Is Planned for East Main Street in Lakeland
3-minute read Two Lakeland entrepreneurs have unveiled plans to transform a former used-car lot east of downtown into a food-truck court called Main Street Eats and “turn something ugly into something beautiful and useful.” The plan jumped its first hurdle Tuesday when the Lakeland Planning & Zoning Board unanimously approved a conditional-use permit for the […]