Here’s what a few of you had to say:

• “Absolutely! It would be great for Lakeland residents. It would be much easier to visit my son and some friends.” — @marcela_marcheschi
• “I’ve been saying this for a looong time. Not only would it benefit commuters, it would alleviate some traffic, encourage and promote surroundings city’s to explore more of central Florida and be a cool feature for our city!!!” — @thekraken_matt
• “I’d do day trips on it, being visually impaired, it will give me some independence.” — @whitecaneracer

What you need to know:

• Auditions: “Orson’s Shadow” | Monday, Apr. 3 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | Free | Be prepared to do a cold reading at auditions for Lakeland Community Theatre’s next stage read.

• “The Office” Trivia | Tuesday, Apr. 4 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City | Free | Fact: The top teams at this trivia night will win fun prizes, and food + drink will be available all night.

• Spring Pop-Up Series: Baking Brewer | Wednesday, Apr. 5 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Catapult Lakeland, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free | Treat yourself to savory brunch items, like breakfast sandwiches, infused with craft beer.
• The Spirit of Spring | Wednesday, Apr. 5 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Florida Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr., Lakeland | $5-$10 | Celebrate spring with music by the FSC Symphony Band.

• Jellybean Jubilee 2023 | Thursday, Apr. 6 | 3:30-6:30 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Join this annual spring celebration for crafts, face painting, and bounce houses — an egg hunt starts at 5 p.m.
• Access Art: Special Needs | Thursday, Apr. 6 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland | Free | Individuals of varying abilities and their guardian or caretaker are invited to create and discuss art with specially trained educator and artist Tinia Clark — registration is required.

• 91° | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain

• A District 5 seat on the Polk County Commission could be vacated next year if Commissioner Neil Combee becomes the Polk County Property Appraiser. One Lakelander, Mike Scott, has already filed to run for the position. Mike’s main priorities would be road improvements and expanding the county’s park system. (The Ledger)

• The Polk County School Board voted last week to extend the Language and Literacy Academy for Learning’s charter for an additional five years. The Winter Haven charter school currently serves nearly 300 ESE students — that’s Exceptional School Education — and employs roughly 30 staff members. Learn more here. (The Ledger)
• Controlled open enrollment for Polk County Public Schools’ 2023-2024 school year opens today. Apply online for your child to attend a school other than your zoned school, excluding magnet schools, now through Friday, April 28. Applications are selected by a lottery system, and parents will be notified in early May.

• Polk County is under a burn ban. The entire Tampa Bay area, extending all the way through Polk County and the rest of Central Florida, is experiencing severe drought conditions. Last Wednesday, a 658-acre fire in southeast Polk County destroyed 200 outbuildings. (Fox 13 News + The Ledger)

• The Florida Children’s Museum is gearing up for summer. Sign your child up for Camp FCM for hands-on learning activities in science, art, math, and language, plus outdoor play at Bonnet Springs Park and free play in the museum. View the various camp dates, registration details, and more.

• Ever wonder what it’s like to be a commander with the Blue Angels? The Ledger interviewed Commander Alex Armatas of the US Navy’s Blue Angels during his first visit to the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. Fun fact: Alex’s wife is originally from Plant City — small world. (The Ledger)

• Well that took an unexpected turn. On March 23, Catapult hosted its Launch Pitch Night, where five entrepreneurial finalists pitched their businesses to win up to a $10,000 grant. The results: The judges were so impressed with each pitch that every finalist received funding. See the winners (and their biz ideas).*

• The annual Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Award is given to Polk County individuals who have significantly contributed to the arts + cultural community. Nominations are now open (through April 20) for the 2023 Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame and the 2023 Annual Arts & Culture Awards.*

• 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 dinner, antipasti platter, cold brew espresso crunch cake, and more). See details + order.*

• Our tip for a gentle, gradual wake-up: Amazon’s Halo Rise, which uses smart alarm clock technology to simulate a sunrise. Bonus: Turn on the sleep tracking feature to help improve your sleep — no wearable device required.

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• What’s an Editor’s Pick, you ask? Those are events that our team has personally curated for our audience. AKA: fun, noteworthy, or important going-ons in the community.

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