See the lights of Europe

• Frankfurt, Germany: Visit Frankfurt’s iconic holiday markets.
• Amsterdam, Netherlands: Be dazzled by the Amsterdam Light Festival.
• Reykjavik, Iceland: See the Northern Lights in-person.

Go on a “summer” escape

• Brasília
• Belo Horizonte
• São Paulo
• Recife

Hit the ski slopes of Canada

• Ottawa, Ontario: Calabogie Ski Resort and Mont Tremblant
• Vancouver, British Columbia: Whistler Blackcomb and Cypress Mountain (home to the 2010 Olympics)
• Toronto, Ontario: Blue Mountain Resort. Bonus: Shopping lovers should visit the PATH, the largest underground shopping complex in the world.

Wade in tropical waters

• Santiago, Dominican Republic
• Aruba
• Freeport, Bahamas

Explore apple orchards, redwood forests + more

• Westchester County, NY: Apple picking + hay rides in Hudson Valley.
• Wausau, WI: A fall hike in Rib Mountain State Park.
• El Paso, TX: A margarita in El Paso, where legend has it the famous drink was born.
• San Francisco, CA: Rolling hills and some of San Francisco’s warmest (and sunniest) days. Bonus: Take the short drive to Muir Woods for a walk in the redwoods.

• 863 Cornhole League | Tuesday, Sept. 26 | 5 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Pricing varies | Join this weekly league to work on your throw — pricing options are given at sign-up.
• Watoto Children’s Choir | Tuesday, Sept. 26 | 7 p.m. | Bush Chapel, Southeastern University, 1000 Longfellow Blvd., Lakeland | Free | This choir from Kampala, Uganda will perform songs from their new album “Better Days — There Is Hope.”

• Alzheimer’s Association’s In-Person Caregiver Support Group | Wednesday, Sept. 27 | 10-11 a.m. | Florida Presbyterian Homes — McArthur Building, 810 Lakeside Ave., Lakeland | Free | Meet other caregivers and learn more about caring for loved ones at this monthly meeting.
• Trivia Night | Wednesday, Sept. 27 | 7-9 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | Free entry | Pour your own drinks and enjoy fresh pizzas at Union Taproom while showing off your general trivia knowledge.

• 2023 Wawa Summer Fun Day | Thursday, Sept. 28-Friday, Sept. 29 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Bok Tower Gardens, 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales | Free | Visit the gardens with complimentary admission from Wawa — online registration is required.
• Ladies Night | Thursday, Sept. 28 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Downtown Winter Haven, 400 W. Central Ave., Winter Haven | $10 | It’s Ladies Night and the feeling’s right — wear your grooviest outfit and enjoy an evening of shopping and dining.

• Bill Read secured his seat as the District B – Northeast representative on Lakeland’s City Commission. Up next: Elections for the open District A – Northwest and At-Large Seat 2 positions on Nov. 7. Early voting at the Polk County Government Center starts on Oct. 23. (LkldNow)

• A local hot chicken eatery is bringing the love to downtown Winter Haven. LoveBird Almost Famous Chicken is breaking ground at the corner of US Hwy. 17 and Ave. B NW this October. Winter Haven residents and Lakelanders exploring the Chain of Lakes can expect fresh chicken in spring 2024. (The Ledger)

• No. 6. That’s what Lakeland marketing agency Curious Jane ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s list of America’s top franchise marketing agencies. This marks Curious Jane’s fifth consecutive year on the list. (Entrepreneur)

• Lakeland PAL has expanded its athletic programs to accommodate a growing number of participants. This year, the program had 168 kids sign up for football, 80 sign up for cheerleading, and 50 sign up for archery. Additionally, the program is relaunching its mentoring program on Wednesday, Oct. 4. (The Ledger)

• Polk County Fire Rescue has added stickers to its vehicles to remind citizens that all Lakeland fire stations are Safe Haven locations. A Safe Haven for Newborns Foundation designates hospital emergency rooms, fire stations, and other locations as secure drop-offs for unharmed newborns up to seven days old. (The Ledger)

• Coffee lovers and fans of Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd can head to Dark Horse Coffee Company in Plant City for its newest menu item: Judd Java. Partial proceeds from the brew will support K-9s for Cops Polk County. (WFLA)

• Born in 1933, artist Samuel Bak is a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust. The Polk Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, Remembering Vilna (named for Bak’s birthplace) highlights the experiences that have shaped Bak’s life + art and the importance of reconstructing and retaining historical memory for future generations. Tour the eye-opening exhibition.*

• Peek the perks. A $200 welcome bonus, unlimited cash back, and 0% interest into 2024 all with no annual fee almost sounds too good to be true — but this card has it all.*

• Why optimize hormones as you age? You can improve strength, bone density, libido, blood pressure, and mood. Learn about your testosterone levels with Wellcore’s At-Home Assessment Kit.*

General Fund

• $172,672,720 — The Lakeland Police Department, city personnel, and other operational costs. This line item encompasses ~23% of the FY24 budget. It is funded by residential, commercial, and industrial property taxes as well as dividends paid by Lakeland Electric, surplus funds from the current fiscal year, and fees.

Strategic Plan target areas

• $2,785,600 — Infrastructure projects
• $2,536,000 — Economic Development
• $2,886,555 — Affordable Housing
• $923,589 — Public Safety