By the numbers

• $839 million-$1.08 billion. That’s what it could cost to extend SunRail into Lakeland at $27 million per mile.
• $18.7 million-$24.3 million. That’s what local governments would pay annually for the full Lakeland extension.
• 5.2 million. That’s how many people are projected to live in the seven Central Florida counties by 2030, 800,000 more than in 2018.
• 800,000. That’s how many cars a SunRail extension into Polk County would take off of roads per year — think: Fewer crashes and less greenhouse gas emissions.
• 315,000. That’s the projected annual ridership for the extended line to Lakeland, starting in 2035.
• 1. That’s what Polk County ranks among Florida’s fastest-growing counties.

What you need to know

• American Music Celebration | Tuesday, Oct. 24 | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4450 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Enjoy the works of Gershwin, Bernstein, Sousa, Dvorak, and more performed by the Florida Philharmonia Orchestra — entrance and parking are free.
• Tacos, Margaritas + BINGO! At The Back Nine | Tuesday, Oct. 24 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | The Back Nine, 124 S. Tennessee Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Snag deals on tacos and margarita flights while you compete for five in a row.

• Evening Explorers | Wednesday, Oct. 25 | 6-8 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Meet at the Ann & Ward Edwards Boathouse to observe the cosmos at this rain or shine, kid-focused stargazing experience.
• Sunset Yoga in the Vines | Wednesday, Oct. 25 | 6-7 p.m. | Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City | $10 | Participate in this guided yoga practice in the vines — one drink voucher will be provided with registration.

• “Matilda the Musical” | Thursday, Oct. 26-Saturday, Oct. 28 | Times vary | Theatre Winter Haven, 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven | $33-$36 | See local performers put on this classic tale with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs.
• Halloween Trivia at BSP | Thursday, Oct. 26 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Enjoy a night of Halloween Trivia, starting at 6 p.m., with spooky themed cocktails + food available for purchase.*

• Eras Night — 1989 | Friday, Oct. 27 | 7-9 p.m. | Painting with a Twist, 3670 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | $39 | Calling all Swifties — paint this homage to the “1989 Taylor’s Version” album cover with friends, refreshments, and guidance from a professional.
• BOYDRIVE, Olivia Grimes | Friday, Oct. 27 | 7:30 p.m.-12 a.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $12-$15 | Head to Union Hall for live music by Lakeland artists BOYDRIVE and Olivia Grimes.

• Pumpkin Dash 5K | Saturday, Oct. 28 | 7-11 a.m. | SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus, 4075 James C Ray Dr., Lakeland | $40 | Wear your best costume for this Halloween-themed race across the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus.
• Women’s Self-Defense Classes | Saturday, Oct. 28 | 1:30-2:30 p.m. | Kelly Recreation Complex, 404 Imperial Blvd., Lakeland | $15-$40 | Enhance personal safety, elevate confidence, and learn self-defense techniques in this class for women ages 15 and up.

• The world’s first hearing aids with dual processing
• Crystal-clear speech understanding
• A design so small + comfortable, you’ll forget you’re wearing it

• $88,639. That’s the annual income needed to purchase the average home in the Lakeland area, according to a recent Redfin report. How do we compare to other cities? San Jose residents need to make $402,287 annually to afford the average home. Here are some homes below Lakeland’s median cost.

• Walkability, tree-lined streets, and landscaping — these are things that Brian Herrmann, Lake Wales’ growth management director, is prioritizing. Joining the team is Kevin Polk, an arborist who plans to revive the city’s historic landscaping with homages to the Olmsted Brothers and Edward Bok. (The Ledger)

• Tickets are on sale now for the 50th SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo from April 9-14, 2024. Pro tip: Stay late on Wednesday, April 10 for the Airshow Pyro-Batic Spectacular, which is included in the cost of your ticket. The fireworks display will also be held on Saturday, April 13.

• Florida Southern College’s winningest basketball coach, Gordon Gibbons, is being inducted into the Florida Southern College athletics Hall of Fame on Nov. 16 alongside golfer Tim Crouch and softball player Nicole Sandstede. Gibbons has 246 wins to his name — a feat he started as interim coach during the 1990-1991 season. (The Ledger)

• Learn about autonomous transportation and the technology, frameworks, and safety measures behind the industry at Florida Polytechnic University’s upcoming event: Autonomous Vehicles and Their Safety. Visit the Applied Research Center, room 2200, on Nov. 7 at 3:30 p.m. to watch the panel discussion.

• Anne Gibson, director of legal affairs for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, was appointed to an open judge position in the 10th Judicial Circuit. The Winter Haven resident will be assigned small claims cases after being sworn in on Nov. 6. (The Ledger)

• Vote for your favorite pumpkin in the Lakeland Public Library’s book pumpkin decorating contest. Voting ends on Saturday, Oct. 28, and winners will be chosen on Halloween.

• Even in a tough economy, nursing continues to come out on top as a growing and stable career field. Enter the field as a Registered Nurse, Travel Nurse + more with Southeastern University’s new two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Bonus: Classes take place in the evening and weekends (great for working adults).*

• October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month for good reason. Why? Because raising awareness about mammograms + early detection significantly improves outcomes (yes, it really does save lives). Hear from Lakeland Regional Health’s Dr. Vanessa Prowler on mammogram age guidance, the latest treatment techniques, and more.*