6AM City In-house

Fire up the time machine 🕰
LALtoday: City hall interior
Inside City Hall | Photo by @lakelandgov
Recently, we asked you to share city commissioners who made a difference. Between your suggestions and our research, here are five city commissioners of the past to remember.

🗳 Lois Q. Searl | 1964-1970
In 1964, Lois Quinn Searl was the first woman to be elected to the Lakeland City Commission. She became the first female mayor in Florida to a city of over 50,000 residents in 1965. Searl served on the city commission for six years, focusing on transparency in city finances. As a result, she won the Jaycee’s Good Government Award.

🗳 Dr. John S. Jackson | 1968-1975
Before becoming Lakeland’s first internally-elected black mayor in 1972, Dr. Jackson was Lakeland’s first black surgeon and city commissioner. Jackson is remembered as a calm individual, passionate about standing up against discrimination.

🗳 Carrie Oldham | 1977-1986
After three years on the city commission, Carrie R. Oldham became Lakeland’s first African-American female mayor in 1980. Additionally, she was an educator, administrator, and district official with Polk County Public Schools.

🗳 Justin Troller | 2007-2020
In his 12 years in office, Justin Troller was known for recognizing city employees, advocating for Lakeland Electric, and lauding Cleveland Heights Golf Course as Lakeland’s “jewel.”

🗳 Scott Franklin | 2018-2021
Now serving as Congressman for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, Scott Franklin once sat on Lakeland’s city commission and served as Mayor Pro Tem. Prior to that, he was involved in the Lakeland Economic Development Council, Lakeland Rotary Club, Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, and more.

Note: Lakeland operates under a weak mayor system of government, meaning the mayor is a regular voting member of the city commission with little to no legal privileges that distinguish them from other commissioners. Some members on this list served as mayors, and you can learn about mayors from 1971-present day here.
Lakeland Economic Development Council
EVENTS
 

Click here to have your event featured.

Tuesday, Dec. 6
  • Winter Haven Happy Hour Pub Crawl | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 4:30 p.m. | Downtown Winter Haven | $45-$95 | Join this pub crawl to visit Winter Haven establishments like Union Taproom, Grove Roots Brewery, and more.
  • Molly’s Musicians Showcase @ Molly McHugh’s | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 9 p.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub, 111 S Kentucky Ave, Lakeland | Free | Support local musicians at this free open mic night.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
  • New Yoga | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Dr., Lakeland | $5 | Bring your mat and some water to this yoga class for all levels focusing on breath, alignment, balance, and strength — must be 16 or older.
  • Disney Trivia w/ Smokin’ Chanchos | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 6:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W Pine St, Lakeland | Free | Compete in the most magical trivia on Earth to see who is the biggest Disney fanatic.
Thursday, Dec. 8
  • Free Yoga for Wellness - Weekly Classes | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | The Cloven Hoof Farm, North Lakeland | Free | This donation-based yoga class focuses on holistic well-being of the mind, body, and spirit.
  • Harrison School for the Arts Music of the Season Concerts | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 7-9:30 p.m. | Harrison School For the Arts, 750 Hollingsworth Rd., Lakeland | $16-$18 | This concert features the Harrison School for the Arts choral and orchestra departments performing classic holiday songs.
Friday, Dec. 9
  • Jingle Bell Rock | Friday, Dec. 9 | 7 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 Florida Ave S, Lakeland | $10 | Rock out with local acts, compete in a costume contest, and try your luck in raffle giveaways.
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr | Friday, Dec. 9| 6:30-8 p.m. | Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S Lake Ave, Lakeland | $12-$15 | See a musical adaptation of this beloved television special, filled with holiday hits and favorite characters.
Saturday, Dec. 10
  • Holiday Night Market | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 5-10 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free | Downtown Lakeland, Buena Market, Lakeland Punk Flea, and Art Crawl are coming together for this holiday night market, featuring live music, food, and extended hours at downtown retailers.
  • Holly Jolly Jingle Bell Jog 5K & Reindeer Dash Kids’ Fun Run | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 7:30-9 a.m. | Cleveland Heights Golf Course, 2900 Buckingham Ave, Lakeland | $10-$35 | Young runners can participate in this 5K and fun run through Three Parks Trail and the Cleveland Heights Golf Course to benefit the Three Parks Trail Perpetual Care Fund — registration closes Wednesday, Dec. 7.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
Lakeland Christian School
LAKELANDER
 

Get to know December’s Lakeland CityMaker Guy LaLonde III

LoveLakeland City Maker Mini
Guy embodies what it means to #LoveLakeland. | Photo provided by LoveLakeland City Maker
Get to know your December 2022 Lakeland CityMaker — Guy LaLonde III. 🤝

Guy has served our community in countless ways, including roles like:
  • Co-owner of Lakeland MoonWalk and Under One Tent
  • Former firefighter and EMT for Polk County Fire Rescue
  • Involved with philanthropies like KidsPACK, Pig Fest + more.
The Lakeland City Commission Meeting celebrated Guy’s contributions at their recent meeting last Monday. 🎉

#LoveLakeland would like to thank this month’s CityMaker sponsor, Bank of Central Florida. Know someone who makes Lakeland a better place? Nominate them as the next #LoveLakeland CityMaker.*
GET TO KNOW GUY
NEWS NOTES
 

Weather
  • 82º | Mostly sunny | 10% chance of rain
Development
  • A private racetrack previously greenlit for approval by the Polk County Planning Commission has been appealed by nearby residents. The appellate hearing will go before The Polk County Commission in Bartow today at 9:30 a.m. The track’s owner, Gary Young, wants to race recreationally in his retirement. (The Ledger)
Number
  • 950,500. That’s how many cubic yards of hurricane debris have been collected, with the final collection push taking place this week. According to county officials, residents should see most debris cleared by the end of December. Pro tip: Make sure any yard debris is placed by the road. 🌳 (The Ledger)
Coming Soon
  • Unfiltered Lakeland is wrapping up the finishing touches at 801 E. Main St., formerly home to The Poor Porker. While an exact opening date is TBA, the biz has shared plans to open the new location later this month. Learn more about the other businesses you’ll find at the spot here.
Eat
  • The Lakeland Food Truck Rally is kicking off this Thursday, Dec. 8 with trucks like The Waffle Bar, Isekai Sushi + Kitchen, The Chicks’ Coop, and more. Head to Munn Park from 6-9 p.m. to eat your fill of 15 local favorites. 🍔
Holiday
  • The award winners from this year’s Lakeland Christmas Parade have been announced. The Judges Choice Award made a nice wedding gift for Joy Richter and Eric Daniel — the couple who tied the knot on Polk County Wedding and Event Pros’ float. View the other winners and the highlights here. 🏆 (LkldNow)
Seasonal
  • Head to Bok Tower Gardens on the longest night of the year — the Winter Solstice on Wednesday, Dec. 21 — for Yuletide: A Winter Solstice Celebration. From 5-7:30 p.m., walk a path of twinkling luminaries, enjoy live music on the terrace, and attend a moonlight recital.⁠
Outdoors
  • A Polk County community’s avocados are at risk — thanks to one black bear who effectively moved into the Thousand Oaks neighborhood in Davenport. Residents who contacted authorities were told the bear can’t be relocated, so for now, he can enjoy all the avocados he wants. 🐻 (WFLA)
Active
  • Start breaking in those new tennies, because registration is now open for the 19th Annual Rotary Twilight 5K on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. Participants can run or walk the 5K course, and proceeds will support maintenance at Common Ground Playground (1000 E. Edgewood Dr.). 👟
Family
  • Not all children are able to experience a happy + healthy holiday. To help LAL’s little ones cope with their health diagnoses, Lakeland Regional Health set up an Amazon Wishlist full of toys, games + special prizes to make kids feel like kids again, even in their toughest moments. Here’s how to give. 🧸 *
Shop
  • We can’t stop thinking about the luxurious floral embroidery on this beautiful red and black dress — and it’s giving us major downtown Lakeland at Christmas vibes, too. The best part? It can be in your closet by Saturday with code RTRx6AM.*
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.
6AM City In-house
HOLIDAY
 

Get festive, Swan City 🎄
A string of Christmas lights with a large lit display in the background
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. | Photo by @megsfundays
Get your fuzzy socks and hot cocoa ready, Lakeland. From light displays to holiday performances and festive parties, we put together a guide featuring 30 winter events happening between December and February. Here are two coming up this weekend:

The Annual Lakeland SantaCon | Saturday, Dec. 10- Sunday, Dec. 11 | 5 p.m.-2 a.m. | Downtown Lakeland | $25 | Pick up your tasting passport at the event’s kickoff party at Swan Brewing (115 W. Pine St.) featuring a game of giant flip cup and a costume contest, then head downtown for a self-guided tour of Lakeland establishments — all proceeds benefit kidsPACK.

Christmas Town | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 5-7:30 p.m. | Victory Church, 1401 Griffin Rd., Lakeland | Free | Visit Victory Church’s Christmas town for snow sledding, food, hayrides, inflatables, laser tag, a kiddie train ride, live Christmas music, and a visit from Santa.

Looking for more? Click below for the full list.
SEASON'S GREETINGS — MORE EVENTS HERE
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Rilee.

Editor’s pick: Speaking of holiday events, did you know that it snows at the top of every hour from Thursday-Saturday from 6-9 p.m. at Lakeside village? If you stop by the Magical Snowy Wonderland this week, tag us in your photos for a chance to be featured. ❄️

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We took a world tour of Lakeland’s international eateries, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Rilee Delgado, Connor Keith, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Kailey Burke | Advertise with us.

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