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Today’s Forecast

86º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:38 a.m. | Sunset 6:44 p.m.
 

👻 Allow us to be your ghost hosts

Lakeland’s most haunting Halloween stories
Exterior view of The Joinery decorated with fake skeletons climbing the walls
No bones about it — these stories will get you in the spirit of Halloween. | Photo by LALtoday
It’s sure to be a frightful day in Lakeland. Get a headstone head start on the festivities with this collection of our best Halloween-themed stories from over the years. Read them by flickering candlelight with a cup of hot coffee to keep your blood from running cold.

Meet the three ghosts that haunt the Polk Theatre
This theater built in 1928 has its fair share of hauntings, from an organ that plays itself to voices whispering in the ears of employees. Our team took a tour to experience the ghosts firsthand.

Polk County’s creepiest antique dolls
We won’t lie to you, this story is not for those with a fear of dolls. But if you’re into that kind of thing, we’ve got a map for easy access to these antique toys.

I-4: America’s most haunted highway
Nearly 2,000 accidents — and a whole lot of paranormal activity — have happened in one stretch of highway built on top of yellow fever victim grave sites, aptly named the “I-4 Dead Zone.”

Sign at Spook Hill in Lake Wales

Visit Spook Hill to try rolling uphill for yourself.

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Photo by @redjupiter

Experience Spook Hill in Lake Wales
Visit this site to see the impossible — cars roll uphill rather than downhill. Is it just an optical illusion, or could it be a paranormal force?

Bartow’s oldest man
Spend Halloween unraveling the mystery of at 137-year-old Charlie Smith, thought to be the oldest man in America. Pay your respects at his grave today at Woodland Cemetery (S. Woodlawn Ave., Bartow).

Haunted landmarks in Polk County
Have you seen a ghost appear at Florida Southern College or the Old Polk County Courthouse? Learn more about locations around our county inhabited by apparitions.

Have a creepy story of your own? Send it in and we may share it in a future newsletter...if we live to tell the tale.
 
Events
Tuesday, Oct. 31
  • Tasty Tuesday with Our Noire Kitchen | Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Catapult Lakeland, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland | Price of purchase | Enjoy seasonal bites like creamy pumpkin pasta and the Fall Harvest cooler on the Catapult patio.
Wednesday, Nov. 1
  • Florida in the Era of the Revolution | Wednesday, Nov. 1 | 5-6:30 p.m. | Lakeland Elks Lodge 1291, 4529 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | $17.76-$27.76 | History professor Dr. J. Michael Denham will speak about Florida’s history in Platform Art’s community forum.
  • Jazz Radiance! | Wednesday, Nov. 1 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Florida Southern College, Anne MacGregor Jenkins Recital Hall, 1100 Johnson Ave., Lakeland | $5-$10 | The FSC Jazz Ensemble will perform with professional musician Bob Sneider.
Thursday, Nov. 2
  • Unstoppable Business Summit 2023 | Thursday, Nov. 2 | 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | SpringHill Suites by Marriott Lakeland, 511 W. Lime St., Lakeland | $99 | Learn leadership, talent development, and workplace culture-building skills from speakers including Mayor Bill Mutz and Dr. Kelvin McCree.
  • Cookies ‘n Convos | Thursday, Nov. 2 | 6-7 p.m. | Florida Air Museum, 4175 Medulla Rd., Lakeland | $0-$5 | Kids in grades 2-5 and their parents can learn about aviation careers from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit.
Friday, Nov. 3
  • First Friday: Dancing Under the Stars | Friday, Nov. 3 | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland, 117 N. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Salute members of the armed forces at this night of dancing in Munn Park.
  • “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” | Friday, Nov. 3-Sunday, Nov. 12 | Times vary | Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | $22-$28 | Find out whodunit in this interactive mystery musical.
Saturday, Nov. 4
  • 47th Lake to Lake 10K | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 7:30 a.m. | Lake Mirror Promenade, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | $47.50 | Run by Lake Mirror, Lake Morton, and Lake Hollingsworth in this 10K.
Events calendar here
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News Notes
Edu
  • PCPS Superintendent Frederick Heid has proposed shortening the school day for juniors and seniors. Heid says the option would reduce class sizes and incentivize students to meet qualifications. All Florida high schools will begin later in the 2026-2027 school year due to state legislation. (LkldNow)
Number
  • $975,000. That’s the current listing price of a residential property on Union Drive in north Lakeland. The city is seeking to acquire the property through eminent domain to build a connecting road from Carpenters Way to US 98 North. An appraisal valued the property at $518,000. (The Ledger)
Biz
  • Tennessee Jane Boutique will open a storefront at 117 N. Kentucky Ave., next to Revival. While we await an opening date, shop online and pick up your order from the current warehouse at 4190 Waring Rd., Unit 104.
Health
  • BayCare Health System has acquired Gessler Clinic in Winter Haven and plans to begin operations at its facilities on Saturday, Dec. 2. BayCare says it plans to retain most of Gessler Clinic’s 40+ providers.
Family
  • Applications for the Cops for Kids toy donation program open this week. To apply, bring a current Lakeland Electric bill, photo ID, and each child’s birth certificate to these registration locations, open Nov. 2-3 and Nov. 6-7. Children who particpated in the last two years are not eligible. (The Ledger)
Lakelander
  • Do you remember Darren Harrison, the Lakelander who landed a plane last year after his pilot became incapacitated? He and pilot Kenneth Allen had a surprise reunion on the “Today” show last week, where Allen announced that he had been medically cleared to fly solo again. (WFLA)
Kids
  • There are tricks and treats in store for young Publix shoppers today. Bring kids in costume to any Publix location today, 4-7 p.m., for a trick-or-treat experience.
Holiday
  • Brooks Law Group is giving away 350 Thanksgiving meals for families in need at its 11th annual Turkey Giveaway. Get your turkey at the firm’s main office (123 1st St. N., Winter Haven) on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 9:30 a.m. — registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Concert
  • Bartow Ford’s Concert on the Lot is coming up on Saturday, Nov. 11, and there’s a lot to be excited about. Country singer Lee Brice will take the stage, and one lucky attendee will drive off in a free truck. Tickets are now available.
Sports
  • You may have seen it, you probably heard it — this year’s Orange Cup Regatta saw broken records, boat flips, and 18,000 online spectators in addition to those who watched from ashore. (The Ledger)
Arts
  • Rather than inferior, unfinished, or unoriginal, works on paper can be instructive and revelatory, offering an intimacy that other art forms don’t. In its latest installation, The Polk Museum of Art brings both women artists in the collection — and their equally worthy works on paper — to the spotlight.*
Beauty
  • Looking for an unbelievably close shave? Try Meridian Trimmers, engineered to empower individuals of all genders to achieve flawless grooming. Get 15% off a one-time purchase with code “6AM.”*
 
Development

⛳️ A putt above

A putt above: Florida Southern College’s new golf clubhouse
A rendering of the Florida Southern College Golf Clubhouse lobby, with indoor simulators and championship trophies.
The Championship lobby will showcase FSC Golf’s 30+ titles. | Rendering provided by Florida Southern College
The Florida Southern Mocs are teeing up a new development. FSC has broken ground on a new clubhouse for its national championship-winning student-athletes at Lone Palm Golf Club. The men’s and women’s golf teams will have access to the clubhouse when it opens in the fall of 2024.

At 4,000 sqft, the clubhouse won’t just be a lounge — but it will have one of those, too. The state-of-the-art facility will house indoor hitting simulators, a putt view studio, and a fitness + rehab area for golfers to work on their game. It will also include coaches offices and pro-style locker rooms.

Not only do FSC’s golf teams use Lone Palm for competitions, but they’re both linked to Publix founder George Jenkins. He founded Lone Palm in 1964 and is an honorary member of the FSC Athletics Hall of Fame.
See more renderings
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The Wrap
 
Connor-Keith-Headshot-LAL

Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
Ya like jazz? If so, don’t miss this week’s concerts by two local colleges. Florida Southern College will host performances by pros and students tonight and tomorrow, Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Southeastern University’s jazz ensemble will perform on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
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