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Today’s Forecast

77º | Light thunderstorms and rain | 90% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:20 a.m. | Sunset 5:49 p.m.

LAL_High Tower Roofing_Weather Sponsorship_7.1.2023-6.30.2025

 
⚡️ It’s electric
Electric vehicle charging station in Lakeland, FL
Look for chargers like this one in parking lots around town. | Photo by LALtoday
Earlier this year, we asked you if you would consider buying or have already purchased an electric vehicle (EV). The results are in: Nearly 60% of respondents said yes. As these cars rise in popularity, bookmark this guide to finding a charging station around Lakeland.

The US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center has an online map of EV charging stations. Select your location, charger type, or connector to see a list of public stations to fuel up. Pro tip: Use your zip code as your location for the most accurate results.

A map showing electric vehicle charging station locations around Lakeland, FL.

The map shows 51,000+ charging stations across the country, including nine in LAL.

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Map created by US Department of Energy


We tried out the map and found nine chargers in Lakeland. Here are a few to bookmark:
Ready to hit the road? You can also use the site to plan out a route that passes by the charging stations you need. We mapped our route for a day trip to Mount Dora and found 101 stations along the way. If you’re heading to Tampa, there are a whopping 121 chances to charge up.
 
POLL
 
How often do you go on vacation?
A. Once a year
B. 2-3 times a year
C. 4-5 times a year
D. 5+ times a year
E. What’s a vacation?

Congratulations to Tyler R. for winning a $50 gift card to our online shop, Six & Main. Did you know you could be our next winner? Answer this week’s survey questions for a chance to score a gift card!
 
GreenWise Market
 
Events
 
Monday, March 27
  • Spring Pop-Up Series: Salavate Pasta | Monday, March 27 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Catapult Lakeland, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free | Grab lunch on the Catapult patio from these chefs specializing in fresh pasta, focaccia sandwiches, and more.
  • Give Back Monday: Inspire Equine Assisted Living Center | Monday, Mar. 27 | 5-9 p.m. | Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City | Free | A portion of all dinner proceeds will go to Inspire Equine Assisted Living Center — reservations are suggested.
Tuesday, March 28
  • SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo | Tuesday, March 28-Sunday, April 2 | 8 a.m. | SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus, 4075 James C. Ray Dr., Lakeland | $45-$170 | Flight is just the beginning of the magic at the 2023 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo.
  • Molly’s Musicians Showcase | Tuesday, March 28 | 9 p.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub, 111 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Free | Support local musicians at this free open mic night.
Wednesday, March 29
  • Line Dancing & Karaoke | Wednesday, Mar. 29 | 5 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Boot scoot boogie on down to Union Hall for free line dancing lessons followed by karaoke at 8 p.m.
  • The Kingston Trio | Wednesday, Mar. 29 | 7:30-10 p.m. | RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland | $27.50 | These legendary folk icons perform their most-loved hits in this “Keep The Music Playing” tour.
Thursday, March 30
  • Lecture Series: We Freeze to Please | Thursday, Mar. 30 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library History Room, 100 Lake Morton Dr., Lakeland | Free | Author and local historian William Lloyd Harris will share about the historic Lakeland Ice House.
Plan ahead with our community events calendar.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Edward Jones
 
News Notes
 
Weather
  • 91° | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain
Number
  • $257 million. That’s how much a new four-lane, tolled roadway on the Central Polk Parkway will cost. The project aims to alleviate traffic stemming from the 50-60 people moving to Polk County every day. By 2045, 25,000 people are expected to commute daily on Central Polk Parkway. (WFTS)
Biz
  • Texas Cattle Company reopened last Thursday after a seven-week closure following a February fire. For 50 years, the Lakeland staple has been known for its steaks, service, and free birthday dinner. If yours fell during the closure, you can claim it through the end of April. (Fox 13 News)
Civic
  • A new judge will join the 10th Judicial Circuit following the retirement of Circuit Judge Larry S. Helms. Candidates will be reviewed by The Judicial Nominating Commission on Thursday, April 13 at Peterson & Myers, P.A., in downtown Lakeland. (The Ledger)
Cause
Sports
  • Lakeland Magic guard Jay Scrubb signed with the Orlando Magic in a two-way contract last week. Prior to signing, Jay played in 27 games, started in 25 games, and ranked No. 7 in the G League for points per game.
  • Paityn Donalson, a Lakeland Christian School seventh grader, is making moves on the high school varsity softball team. Despite being four-to-five years younger than her teammates and competitors, the third baseman is leading the Vikings in multiple stats, including batting average and runs. (Fox 13 News)
Edu
  • This year’s National Merit Scholarship finalists include students from Lakeland, Davenport, and Haines City. The accolade is reserved for students who score in the top 1% in qualifying exams like the Practice Scholastic Aptitude Test. Finalists will now compete for National Merit scholarships, valued at $28 million in total. (LkldNow)
Deal
  • No, it’s not an April Fools Day joke. Ax-Caliber is offering buy one, get one free specialty coffees all day long on Saturday, April 1.
  • Today is Milkshake Monday at Milkster Lakeland; stop by for $1 off nitro milkshakes. Looking for even more deals this week? Check out the all-day happy hour on Tuesday, 15% off for groups of three or more on Friday, and more.
Shop
  • Scout & Tag, Take Heart, and Rafa Natural are hosting a Spring Shop and Hop event on Friday, April 7 from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Hop through for giveaways and limited edition merch. Pro tip: Enjoy the featured cocktail while you shop: Pineapple Sangria.
Clarification
  • In Friday’s newsletter, we shared that Hole in One owner Rom Kim has died. We failed to clarify that Rom owned the Plant City Hole in One location at 1707 E. James L. Redman Pkwy., not the one in Lakeland. Learn more about Rom’s family business here. (Plant City Observer)
Eat
  • Platters, sweets, or a full meal? Publix GreenWise Market will do the cooking for you this Easter — and they’ve got some pretty nice options to choose from (think: in-house smoked turkey, antipasti platter, cold brew espresso crunch cake, and more). See details + order.*
The Word
Seasonal
 
 
History
 
🎶 Lakeland roads, take me home
pc1998
2900 Buckingham Ave., Lakeland, FL | Photo via Florida Memory
After sharing the history of a few streets earlier this month, our readers asked for even more. Here are some fun facts about three more roads:

Buckingham Avenue | H.A. Stahl developed Cleveland Heights Golf Course as an exclusive golf community that opened in the roaring ‘20s. It has undergone renovations and ownership changes over the years, but still remains an important piece of Lakeland’s history.

Drane Field Road | In the 1940s, the City of Lakeland established a new airport named Drane Field, after local Congressman Herbert J. Drane. In 1945, it was reestablished as a municipal airport, and decades later was named Lakeland Linder International Airport.

Interlachen Parkway | Situated south of Lake Parker, Interlachen Parkway was once part of a historic intersection that housed Acton — AKA Lakeland’s arch-nemesis. Formerly located on one square mile, Acton took off in the 1800s but was a thing of the past by the late 1880s.
 
The Wrap
 
Connor-Keith-Headshot-LAL Today’s Edition By:
Connor
From the Editor
I spent this weekend visiting Richmond, VA for my first time (hi, RICtoday) and I wish I could have brought some of their cooler weather to Lakeland in my suitcase. Until I figure out how to do that, enjoy one of my favorite warm-weather destinations right here in Florida.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We talked about historic Lakeland hotels (and our city’s OG bathtubs).
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