06.04.2024

Today’s Forecast

95º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:30 a.m. | Sunset 8:21 p.m.

⛈️ Get your roof storm-ready

A High Tower employee stands in front of a blue truck talking to a customer.

High Tower has served the Lakeland community since 2012. | Photo provided by High Tower Roofing

The 2024 storm season is shaping up to be a doozy, with forecasts predicting more named storms here in Lakeland than we’ve seen in three decades.

We all know how nasty these hurricanes, tropical storms, and even heavy thunderstorms can be — and our roofs are the first line of defense (aka the most vulnerable part of the home).

Here’s what the local pros at High Tower Roofing recommend ahead of the wet weather to keep your home dry + happy.

🎯 Identify weak points

A single damaged shingle can open the floodgates (literally) for moisture to begin eating the inside of your home.

Once lifted, loose shingles must be fully replaced — or each subsequent storm will only make matters worse.

A High Tower employee stands in front of a client's house next to the owners, watching another worker standing on the roof to the left. — High Tower believes getting it right is worth the wait when it comes to protecting your home.
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Photo provided by High Tower Roofing

🏠 Look for signs of damage

High Tower Roofing recommends checking your shingles from different angles to be sure they’re holding on tight. Then, head inside and scour your home + attic for signs of stains that may indicate a leak.

Pro tip: Shiny shingles are a big red flag because the lack of protective granules may mean the patch is no longer watertight.

A High Tower employee stands wearing a white branded shirt looking down at his clipboard with the tops of roofs peeking out behind him. — No matter your roof type, High Tower can help.
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Photo provided by High Tower Roofing

🔨 Get (local) help

If your roof is looking a bit rough, local bizes like High Tower Roofing are just a shingle phone call away.

They’ve been invested in the Lakeland community for 10+ years, and their experienced team will inspect your roof to determine the best course of action. They’ll even help navigate the insurance claim process to ensure you receive maximum coverage for repairs.

Out-of-state companies may be tempting with their low offers, but the quality of work can leave much to be desired — something you don’t want to find out about during the next storm.

High Tower stands behind their work, and will walk through your home with you before and after installation to address concerns and ensure you receive the best possible repairs.

Talk to an expert

Asked

How many hurricanes have you lived through here in Lakeland?

A. 3+
B. 7+
C. None yet
D. Lakeland has hurricanes?

We hurri-can do it

Events

Tuesday, June 4

Collier to Polk Regional Trail Master Plan Public Open House | Tuesday, June 4 | 5-7 p.m. | FDOT D1 Conference Center, 801 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow | Free | Provide your input and learn more about the plans for this 210-mile trail.
B-I-N-G-O | Tuesday, June 4 | 6:30-8 p.m. | The Joinery, 640 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free entry | Enjoy specials on craft brews, wine, house spirits, and classic drinks while you compete for five in a row.
The Lakeland Stamp Club | Tuesday, June 4 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Peggy Brown Building, 215 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | Free | Share your interest in stamp collecting at this casual gathering.

Wednesday, June 5

Hold On I Know This Trivia | Wednesday, June 5 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | Show what you know while munching on subs from Jersey Mike’s food truck.

Thursday, June 6

The Reserve Book Club | Thursday, June 6 | 6:15-7:30 p.m. | Kelly Branch Library, 404 Imperial Ave., Lakeland | Free | Join fellow readers in discussing “Bright Young Women” by Jessica Kroll — pre-registration is required.
Ballet Class | Thursday, June 6 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | Free | Kids ages 5-17 will learn basic ballet skills + terminology in a supportive, supervised environment.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Opening

The Peach House will open next week at 733 E. Palmetto St., serving Old Florida + New Orleans-inspired bites. The restaurant — in Red Door’s former location — won a commercial beautification award in yesterday’s City Commission meeting.

Eat

Our Noire Kitchen has unveiled its new food truck, which means it can serve up even more of your favorite dishes, from brunch to dinner. Find it this weekend at Winter Haven’s First Friday, Farmers Market, and Grove Roots Brewing Co. (LkldNow)

Kids

Summer BreakSpot sites will open this week to provide free meals for students during the summer break. There are 40+ locations in Lakeland, plus even more in surrounding cities — find a site near you.

Closed

Taco Bus’ downtown Lakeland location has permanently closed. The locations in Polk City + Plant City are still open, according to the Taco Bus website.

Legacy

Johnnie Levin, owner of Front Page Brewing Company in Bartow, died this weekend in a car crash. Support poured in from friends, customers, and breweries across Polk County following the news. (The Ledger)

Number

3,000. That’s how many miles a Polk County team will bike across the US in this month’s Race Across America. The all-female team will ride from California to New Jersey over eight days to raise $150,000 for local nonprofit Top Buttons. (The Ledger)

Lakelander

After realizing the negative impact of cyberbullying, a local veteran named Leo started making his own videos to keep kids safe online. Known as “The Great Londini,” Leo has amassed over 9 million TikTok followers in his efforts to end bullying. (Bay News 9)

Family

Make your next date night at Nineteen61 a family affair. The restaurant is offering a Kids Eat Free deal all summer long — for every two entrees purchased, you’ll get one kids meal free.

Trivia

Rom-com novel lovers, this one’s for you. Pressed is hosting its first summer trivia night on Friday, June 21 at 6 p.m. covering all things from author Emily Henry. Tickets are $5 and can be used towards book purchases all evening.

Try This

The discounts start rolling in when you bundle home, auto, watercraft + other coverages with your local GEICO office. Check the size of your potential savings at 863-400-7460.*

Shop

These cannabis gummies keep selling out — just one can get you feeling right within five minutes. Get 20% off your first order with code FIRST20.*^†

^†Please note: Legalities in your state may vary. The information about providers and services contained in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by 6AM City. It is commonly advised to read a company’s terms & conditions and instructions for use before trying new products.

Eat

🍔 Cheeseburger in paradise, anyone?

Big, juicy, and sometimes Impossible: Polk County’s best burgers

Name a better combination than burgers + fries on a hot summer day — we’ll wait. | Photo by LALtoday

Now that Florida has officially finished pre-heating for the summer, we’ve been wondering where we might find the biggest, best, and juiciest burgers in Polk County. We took to Instagram to ask our followers — here’s what some said:

Broadway Diner, 1380 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow
Don’t skip the mushroom and Swiss burger here. This diner can count both Reader Jill W. and rapper Vanilla Ice among its fans.

Food + Beer, 3615 S. Florida Ave., Ste. 1350
Stop by this sports bar every Monday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m., for City Editor Connor’s favorite deal: $5.99 cheeseburgers + fries.

S & L Restaurant, 2915 S. Combee Rd., Lakeland
Try @austinbanttari’s go-to spot for “habit forming” burgers. For something on the lighter side, order the burger salad (read: a burger with no bun).

14 more burgers from A to Z

The Buy

Give dad the gift of a groomed and shiny beard this Father’s Day with this ultimate bundle. The beard shampoo and conditioner are the perfect pair to tame and nourish his facial hair.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Amelia

From the editor

This past weekend, I traveled back to my home state of New Hampshire to celebrate my best friend’s bridal shower + bachelorette. While it was nice to get a slight break from the Florida heat, I’m glad to be back in Swan City. Perhaps I’ll celebrate with a burger.

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