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Today’s Forecast

66º | Partly cloudy | 5% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:07 a.m. | Sunset 6:17 p.m.
 

‘L’ is for the way you look at me Lakeland

Our readers’ local love stories
A lake with buildings in the background and location points — featuring hearts inside — pointing to different spots around the lake.
As it turns out, Lakeland is the site of many a love story. | Image via LALtoday
For Valentine’s Day 2024, we made a map of local places where our readers have made memories and love stories. We asked for your help compiling everything from proposals to making friends. You did not disappoint.

You can explore all of the local love stories by clicking the link below, but there are a few love stories that we just had to share:

”... In 2022 I moved back to [Lakeland] for the 4th and final time. This time was different, as I went back to my home state [Delaware] to get my mother... I proposed the idea of moving back to Florida with me, and she agreed! Fast forward to today, and a mother who says she’s living her best life! Her health has improved substantially, and we’re out exploring almost every weekend!” — Anonymous reader

“My boyfriend and I first met on the school bus and started dating our 8th/9th grade year at McKeel Academy. We were each other’s first real love. After graduation, we went separate ways. I stayed in Lakeland and he joined the military. Fast forward to about ten years later, he has a daughter of his own and I have two children of my own… I take my two year old daughter to Bonnet Springs Park and while we’re on the playground I hear someone say ‘Hey’ and when I turn to see who it was, it was him... We realized it should have always been us. I truly believe that fate brought us together that day :)” — Erika H.

“My current fiance, Kate, and I expressed our feelings for each other at the Polk Theatre on December 3, 2022 after a Christmas performance by the Lakeland Symphony. We just got our engagement pictures done at the Polk Theatre since it was the place where everything started!” — Emily M.

Now we’re really feeling the love.
More Lakeland love
 
Events
Tuesday, Feb. 13
  • Celebration of Black Jazz Composers Concert | Tuesday, Feb. 13 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Branscomb Auditorium at Florida Southern College, 1100 Johnson Ave., Lakeland | Free | The FSC Jazz Program will feature classic compositions by great Black Jazz composers.
Wednesday, Feb. 14
  • The Love Languages Massage Class | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 6-8 p.m. | The Well, 114 E. Parker St., Lakeland | $90 | Bring your significant other to learn couple’s massage techniques — one ticket covers two guests.
  • Bachata Class | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 6:15-8 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $10 | Learn bachata, then show off your moves in a social dance at Munn Park.
  • Rom Com + More: Trivia Wednesday | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 6:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | You had us at trivia — see how well you know your favorite romantic comedies.
Thursday, Feb. 15
  • Polk at Nite | Thursday, Feb. 15 | 5-8 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland | $15-$80 | Get exclusive access to the museum’s new exhibit, plus small bites and craft cocktails by Cob & Pen.
Friday, Feb. 16
  • “Big: The Musical” | Friday, Feb. 16-Sunday, March 3 | Times vary | Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | $22-$28 | If you’re a fan of the Tom Hanks movie, don’t miss the theatrical version.
  • Ribs on the Ridge | Friday, Feb. 16-Saturday, Feb. 17 | Times vary | Lake Eva Park, 555 Ledwith St., Haines City | Free | Don’t miss the third + final leg of the Florida Triple Crown of BBQ, featuring live music, barbecue eats, and culminating competition festivities celebrating the pitmaster winner.*
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Try This

💕 Meet local wedding vendors at this idyllic open house
A bride and groom kissing each other at their wedding ceremony on the Bonnet Springs Park Family Lawn.
This unique event is perfect for couples navigating the wedding planning process. | Photo by Ardency & Arrow Co.
Fall in love with Bonnet Springs Park during Weddings in the Park, this Sunday, Feb. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

During this second annual event, meet local wedding vendors in a picturesque setting to get a head start on planning your perfect day. Think: bridal fashion, floral arrangements, treats, and exclusive giveaways.

Pro tip: Purchase tickets ($10-$40) in advance for a chance to win a venue rental at BSP for any type of party.
Get tix + enter the giveaway
News Notes
Civic
  • In case you missed it, downtown parking may not remain free for long. The city is considering changes including ending free two-hour street parking, raising street parking prices to encourage garage + surface lot use, and extending parking enforcement from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (LkldNow)
Traffic
  • Today, Feb. 13, a sanitary sewer repair will begin, closing Orange Street to through traffic between Lake Avenue + Ingraham Avenue. Crews will work from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily until work is completed.
Development
  • Hope House, a nonprofit maternity program for expectant mothers in need, has plans to open by the spring. Hope House will open in the home originally featured in the 1990s film “My Girl,” the exterior of which is currently being painted from blue and yellow to all white. (WFLA)
Ranked
  • Florida Southern College’s Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise ranked No. 42 on Poets&Quants’ list of the Best Undergraduate Schools of 2024, moving up two spots from last year’s ranking. This year’s list puts FSC as the second-highest ranking private institution in the state.
Eat
Cause
  • Winter Haven’s Hope Equine Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to animal rescue and rehabilitation, recently received a new 4x4 ATV. The ATV came as a donation from Polk Sheriff’s Charities to help the rescue feed horses, haul hay, maintain the pasture, and tote supplies. (The Ledger)
Kids
Lakelander
  • Academy Prep Center of Lakeland 8th grader Zavion Felton recently took home first place at the 2024 Polk County Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Felton’s project, entitled “QR Code Corruption,” won in his category of Intelligent Machines and Systems Software and overall. (LkldNow)
Eat
Plan Ahead
  • Thinking about Southeastern University? Experience what life on campus is like at SEU Preview days. Prospective students will get to tour the campus, connect with staff, ask questions, and get to know the SEU community. Upcoming dates: Friday, March 22 + Friday, April 12. Register.*
Holiday
 
The Buy

The Buy 2.13.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
This margarita mixers bundle, since National Margarita Day is coming up on Thursday, Feb. 22 and we’re trying to be as prepared as possible, thank you very much. Get four margarita flavors to play with including “Simple Margarita” and “Blood Orange Margarita.”
Answered

Our readers are a unique bunch

If Lakeland had a personality, what would it be like?
A graphic showing poll results, outlined in the text below.
Most of you bring your own unique personality traits to the mix. | Screenshot via Typeform
Last week, we used geopsychology — a study that says where you live might impact your personality — to determine how the typical Lakelander acts.

According to the personality maps, Lakelanders tend to be social, agreeable, conscientious, and emotionally stable.

Over 390 of you took our LAL Personality Test to see if your own personality matches Lakeland’s. Here are the results; interestingly, the lowest percentage comes from those whose personality perfectly matches what geopsychology says about Lakeland — in other words, you’re pretty unique.
  • 75.8% | “Your personality is pretty Lakeland, but you’re bringing your own brand to the mix. We like that about you.”
  • 12.2% | “You’re a unique Lakelander. Your personality is a little different from the typical geopsychology of Lakeland.”
  • 12% | “Your personality is all Lakeland. Seems like you found the right place to call home.”
Read about Lakeland's personality
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The Wrap
 
Brianna Williams

Today’s edition by:
Brianna
From the editor
Is it just me, or does it feel like every February event is happening this week? After Super Bowl Sunday, Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day, and of course, my personal favorite — National Do a Grouch a Favor Day — I’m gonna need a weekend full of time spent reading quietly in a park.
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