Plus, shopping sustainably this Earth Day.
 
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Today’s Forecast

92º | 6% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:58 a.m. | Sunset 7:55 p.m.

 
👋 Say hello to your Swan City know-it-alls
Two girls smile for the camera in front of a Lakeland mural.
Our job? It’s just Lakeland. | Photo by LALtoday
Hey Lakelanders, Connor + Amelia here. Between the two of us, we get the privilege of sharing local news, events, and conversations with 39,000+ readers in Lakeland daily — here, and on our socials.

After nearly six years of bringing you LALtoday, we wanted to formally reintroduce ourselves for those who are newly subscribed or want to get to know us more. Consider this us going in for a fist bump, then switching to a handshake, then settling on a hug.

Meet Amelia

Q: How did you end up in Lakeland?
A: I’m originally from New Hampshire and fell in love with Lakeland as a student at SEU. Three years after graduating, I had the chance to move back and it was easily the best decision I’ve made.

Q: What’s your go-to order from a Lakeland coffee shop?
A: Lately, I’ve been loving the 8AM Kick Latte from Andrew’s Coffee. I get it without whipped cream and it is *chef’s kiss*.

Q: What’s something every new Lakelander oughta know about?
A: LALtoday — duh. In all seriousness though, knowing the downtown parking situation is incredibly helpful + will save you a ton of time.

Meet Connor

Q: If you could only write about one Lakeland topic for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: I’m so interested in the history behind Lakeland’s swans, including their arrival in 1957 + how the City cares for them today.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about living in Lakeland?
A: I love how Lakeland supports small businesses. From pizza parlors to tech startups, everyone roots for entrepreneurs and loves to shop small here.

Q: Hit us with your favorite piece of local trivia.
A: Bonnet Springs Park covers 168 acres of land — that’s 61 more acres than Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
 
 
Events
 
Friday, April 19
  • Swan Brewing 6 Year Anniversary Party! | Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21 | Times vary | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | Join this weekend-long birthday bash for brews, music, and more.
  • Night at the Swing Club | Friday, April 19 | 7 p.m. | Polk Theatre, 121 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $15-$20 | Enjoy a night of swing and jazz music by BYU-Idaho’s big band Sound Alliance and Vocal Union ensemble.
  • “Tick, Tick... Boom!” | Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21 | Times vary | Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | $22-$28 | Local actors will perform this autobiographical musical about composer Jonathan Larson.
Saturday, April 20
  • Women’s Self-Defense Classes | Saturday, April 20 | 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.
  • Board Gamers at the Library | Saturday, April 20 | 2-4 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Dr., Lakeland | Free | Bring your family and friends for a relaxing afternoon of gaming.
  • Casino Royale | Saturday, April 20 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Historic Ritz Theatre, 263 W. Central Ave., Winter Haven | $75-$140 | Raise money for the Ritz with cocktails, casino games, and a silent auction.
Sunday, April 21
  • Wind Ensemble Concert | Sunday, April 21 | 7 p.m. | Bush Chapel, Southeastern University, 1000 Longfellow Blvd., Lakeland | Free | SEU students will perform classic + contemporary pieces.
Monday, April 22
  • Yoga for Beginners | Monday, April 22 | 10-11 a.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $5 | Bring your mat and water to this class for all levels of yogis 16 or older.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
News Notes
 
Number
  • $1.2 million. That’s how much Dr. G. Devin Stephenson could earn annually as Florida Poly’s new president. A total compensation range of $782,000 to $1.2 million was approved by university trustees in February. They’ll consider a proposed employment agreement next week. (WMNF)
Sports
  • Florida Southern grad Dylan Travis was chosen for Team USA’s inaugural 3x3 basketball roster for the 2024 Olympics. As a Moc, Travis helped lead the men’s basketball team to an NCAA Division II national championship in the 2014-2015 season. (Today)
Development
  • Winter Haven officials approved restoring around 32 acres of wetlands into a new natural recreation park. Construction on the ~$3.7 million Lake Conine Nature Park will begin later this year and will include a playground, picnic pavilion, and fishing pier. (The Ledger)
Opening
  • Lakeland is adding another coffee shop to its roster. Pour Bear Coffee, located at 4608 Cleveland Heights Blvd. in the plaza with Tea Largo and Sabrina’s Delicacies, will open its doors tomorrow, April 20 at 7 a.m. Catch us being some of the first ones in line to try the Honey Bear Latte.
Cause
  • Lakeland Police Foundation will host its annual Fallen Heroes Memorial 5K on Saturday, May 18 at the Lakeland Family YMCA. Proceeds will be used for the foundation’s educational grants, financial assistance programs, and more — register now before prices go up.
Learn
  • SUN ‘n FUN may only come around once per year, but Lakeland has aviation education options year-round. Learn more about how Central Florida Aerospace Academy and Traviss Technical College are preparing the next generation of aviation professionals. (Fox 13 News)
Real Estate
  • Plans are progressing for the City of Winter Haven to purchase the Historic Ritz Theatre. According to City Manager T. Michael Stavres, officials are working on a sale and purchasing agreement. If approved, a potential deal could come this summer. (Bay News 9)
Asked
  • Welcome to LALtoday’s Tortured Poets Department, where we’re down bad for the poems submitted in our 2024 Poetry Contest. It’s been over a fortnight since we announced the competition, and we’ve narrowed it down to our top three finalists. Read + choose which one you think should win.
Arts
  • Polk Museum of Art will say farewell to the “Rockwell/Wyeth: Icons of Americana” exhibit next month. A closing reception will be held on Friday, May 17 with special guest Abigail Rockwell, granddaughter of Normal Rockwell. Tickets are free for members + $10 for non-members.
Watch
  • If you’ve driven along I-4 to Plant City, you’ve probably seen the signs for Dinosaur World. Opened in 1998, the park features 200+ life-size dinosaur sculptures created by Christer Svensson and attracts thousands of guests each year — take a look inside. (WTSP)
Pets
  • SPCA Florida has removed all income restrictions for the $45 spay/neuter service for cats. The change is part of an effort to reduce the amount of animals coming into Polk County shelters. Check out our guide for more pet-centric resources.
Wellness
  • Cornbread Hemp’s CBD Sleep Gummies are available in two strengths and made with high-quality USDA organic CBD extract. Get 30% off with code CBDSLEEP30.*
 
 
Shop
 
Celebrate Earth Day with local makers
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We’re giving local businesses two green thumbs up. This Earth Day, we’re getting in the sustainable spirit by highlighting our environmentally-friendly brands.

Try syrups from Sweet’s Elderberry or a sparkling non-alcoholic beverage from Sarilla to give green drink a double meaning. Need a stronger boost? Purity Coffee has you covered.

Bring the Earth Day celebration inside with an organic coconut wax candle. Pro tip: Use the vessel as a planter after it’s fully burned. Speaking of reuse — check out these Pirani Stackable Tumblers designed to make convenience less wasteful.

Strut your sustainable style with a retro beanie from Rainier Watch, plus 5% of your purchase goes towards National Parks protection. If you’re looking for more modern (but equally environmentally-friendly) styles, give Seaav a glance.

Feel fresh from head to toe with personal care products from Parrotfish or skincare by Salt & Ash Soap Co. Plus, She Biology’s relief balm, face creams, and drops are all organically made.

The Earth Day vibes don’t have to slow down here. See our full collection.

Want to win some Earth Day products? Be sure to enter our contest on Instagram.
 
The Buy
 
Biz that gives back. Check out these brands that are committed to sustainability and giving back to the environment to celebrate Earth Day.
 
 
The Wrap
 
Amelia Herring.jpg Today’s edition by:
Amelia
From the editor
Yesterday we asked what types of books you’ll be looking for during the Lakeland Book Crawl. About 75% of respondents said they’re looking for used books, while ~13% said they’re looking for books by local authors (Pro tip: we have a guide for that.)
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