Plus, Lakeland's first Arts and Health week.
 
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Today’s Forecast

93º | 56% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:39 a.m. | Sunset 8:26 p.m.

 

🛼 Lace up your skates — it’s derby time
A group of roller derby skaters compete during a game. Two of the players are from Swan City Roller Derby, while the others are wearing white jerseys to represent other teams. There's also two referees in the background.
Flat track roller derby is a full-contact, fast-paced team sport that’s played on a flat, oval track, where the goal is to outscore the opposing team.  |  Photo courtesy of Rosaline Cabrera
Jammer. Blocker. Pivot. If you’re not familiar with the rules of flat track roller derby, these words might not mean much to you yet, but Swan City Roller Derby is committed to changing that by breaking down barriers to the sport.

Swan City Roller Derby officially formed in 2016 and began playing in games the following year under the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). While Swan City itself is considered a club-level team (read: it isn’t an officially ranked member of the WFTDA), it still follows all WFTDA regulations and plays against ranked teams like New Jax City in Jacksonville and Bradentucky in Bradenton.

A group of Swan City Roller Derby team members stand in a line on a derby track.

Flat track roller derby is considered a female-led sport, with more than 400 women’s leagues compared to around 50 men’s leagues.

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Photo courtesy of Rosaline Cabrera

Since its inception, Swan City has grown from around 12 skaters to a group of 30-40 active participants across its three tiers: Glitter (beginner), Purple (intermediate), and Silver (rostered).

The official derby season runs from around February to October, where members practice two to three times per week and rostered players skate in one to two games, or bouts, per month. The team also regularly attends clinics or participates in scrimmages with other teams in the Central Florida area.

Two Swan City Roller Derby team members pose together smiling at the camera. Their hands are pushed together to make a heart shape.

Whether you’re an experienced skater or completely new to the idea, Swan City will teach you anything you want to know — the league even offers rentable gear.

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Photo courtesy of Rosaline Cabrera

One of the league’s members, Lacey Williams (who goes by “Crash Panda” in the derby world), explained to us that while roller derby is a full contact sport, the goal of Swan City specifically isn’t always to be the most competitive. The league prides itself on being a group of passionate individuals committed to self-improvement and building community.

Individuals ages 18 and up interested in becoming a part of Swan City — experienced or not — can contact the team to learn how to get started. You can also support the team by following its Facebook and Instagram for game schedules (all of which are streamed) and to learn more about upcoming events.
 
 
Events
 
Friday, July 12
  • “School of Rock” | Friday, July 12-Sunday, July 28 | Times vary | Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | $22-$28 | Rock out with this comedic musical based on Jack Black’s hit movie.
  • Steve Hytner | Friday, July 12-Saturday, July 13 | 8 p.m. | Laugh Out Lounge, 19 3rd St. NW., Winter Haven | $25-$30 | See this “Seinfeld” actor perform stand-up at a 21+ show.
Saturday, July 13
  • Mind, Body, Movement: Zumba | Saturday, July 13 | 8-9 a.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Move and groove in a high-energy dance fitness class hosted with Lakeland Regional Health.
  • Women’s Wellness Social | Saturday, July 13 | 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | COhatch, 211 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free | Learn from and network with women leaders in health, wellness, and real estate.
  • Imperial Polk Genealogical Society | Saturday, July 13 | 1-2 p.m. | FamilySearch Center, 5850 Lakeland Highlands Rd., Lakeland | Free | Learn strategies for genealogy research from guest speakers.
  • Adventure Bingo | Saturday, July 13 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Dr., Lakeland | Free | This themed bingo game will transport players to destinations both real and fictional.
  • Ladies Brunch | Saturday, July 13 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Lavender ‘n Lace, 430 N. Lake Shore Way, Lake Alfred | $65 | Find community while sipping a cuppa in this brunch just for the ladies.
Sunday, July 14
  • Pop Up Market | Sunday, July 14 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Kitty Cat Lounge, 946 E. Orange St., Lakeland | Free entry | Shop from 13 local artisans and bakers that are sure to be the cat’s meow.
  • Jim Thomas w/ Jersey Mike’s | Sunday, July 14 | 2-5 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | Kick off the week with a drink, a sub, and an afternoon of acoustic tunes.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
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Learn
 

⚙️ Dive into robotics with this new all-ages STEM boot camp
A rough drawing of a cat teaching a child to work on a small robot.
Otto the Bipedal Robot started in Europe and has since become an international phenomenon.  |  Image provided by iNugGits STEM Academy
Are you a robotic enthusiast, a professional looking to pivot careers to robotic tech, or a high schooler interested in STEM career preparation?

iNugGits Academy’s Robotics Academy Boot Camp offers hands-on weekend robotics courses designed to demystify + streamline the programming process.

Enrollees of all ages will learn to apply principles of math + kinematics to program Otto — an open-sourced DIY robot — using C++ programming language and the book “Robot Kinematics Demystified” by Laurnetta Sanks.

This proprietary manual features a patent-pending simplification of Denavit-Hartenberg’s method, a fundamental robotics technique for modeling joints.

iNugGits Academy addresses the need to equip the next generation of workers with practical STEM skills, utilizing math to keep up with an increasingly technical global workforce.

Reserve your spot for the next Robotics Boot Camp, which consists of eight in-person sessions held monthly on weekends at Catapult Lakeland.
 
News Notes
 
Civic
  • During yesterday’s budget workshop, city commissioners voted 6-1 to raise the maximum advertised property tax rate to 6.0529 mills per every $1,000 of appraised property value. A formal vote will take place during the budget hearings on Sept. 5 and Sept. 19.
Number
  • 314. That’s how many teaching positions PCPS is looking to fill before school starts next month, 139 less than this time last year. Non-instructional and administrative positions are also available — a full list can be found on the district’s website. (LkldNow)
Arts
  • Polk Museum of Art hopes to complete its 14,000-sqft expansion by late fall, and with it may come new art from Andy Warhol and the Highwaymen. The new additions will accompany the museum’s selections of modern, contemporary, and globally inspired art. (WFLA)
Health
  • Robotic technology at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center is improving surgical outcomes for patients + doctors alike. The Robot Surgical Assistant, or ROSA, is used daily in knee replacement surgeries — helping Lakelanders of all ages stay active. (Fox 13 News)
Award
  • Polk County veteran Cpl. Frank Blish received a Bronze Star Medal from the US Army this week at age 99 for his service in World War II. Blish fought in the Battle of the Bulge + parachuted into Normandy on D-Day in 1944 alongside the 101st Airborne Division. (WFLA)
Today Is
  • The start of the 2024 Huston Cadillac Florida State Water Ski Championships. Now through Sunday, water skiers ages 5 to 95 from all over the state will compete at Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale to represent Florida at the Southern Regional championships. Watch the webcast.
Stat
Feel Good
  • The City of Mulberry is using a grant from Home Depot to buy + install AC units for those in need. To date, city officials have installed around 100 units to improve living conditions for migrant families. (WFTS)
Seasonal
  • If you’re anything like us, then you’re already counting down the days to Christmas — it’s 166 days away in case you’re wondering. Luckily, the holidays have come early at Sweet Magnolias Tea Bistro with its Christmas in July menu.
Eat
  • It’s safe to say that love for a good burger is pretty universal. The only thing that makes it better? A local burger showcase with $12 or less deals during the inaugural Polk County Burger Week, happening Friday, July 19-Sunday, July 28. See some of the restaurants we’re planning on visiting.*
Lakelander
  • Don’t settle for just any insurance agent. Talk to a neighbor + fellow local who understands Polk County and can provide personalized coverage based on your needs. Give James Boley a call at 863-400-7460.*
Wellness
  • Feeling lost in a sea of generic health advice? Lumen analyzes your unique metabolism with a single breath in the morning — and we scored you 15% off.*
 
 
Arts
 

Arts for every body
Screen Shot 2019-10-30 at 5.20.02 PM
Get ready for a week of self-improvement through the arts.  |  Photo by @emnoel__
During its July 1 meeting, the Lakeland City Commission proclaimed Saturday, July 27 as National Arts and Health Day.

Supported by organizations such as Arts in Medicine, the Mayor’s Council on the Arts, Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance, and Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, the goal of Arts and Health Day is to share how engaging with the arts can improve overall health and wellbeing.

In the lead-up to the big day, nonprofits across Lakeland will be hosting Arts and Health Week starting July 22. Follow the Watson Clinic Foundation on social media for updates on specific activities + events around the city that will correspond with each day’s theme.
  • Monday, July 22 — Arts for Mental Health
  • Tuesday, July 23 — Arts for Physical Health
  • Wednesday July 24 — Arts for Community Health
  • Thursday, July 25 — Arts for Social Connection
  • Friday, July 26 — Arts are for Everyone
  • Saturday, July 27 — Arts and Health Day
 
The Buy
 
A portable handheld fan. The battery-operated mini fan is compact enough to throw in a purse or tote, making it your new best friend for sports events, beach days, and outdoor festivals this summer.
 
 
The Wrap
 
Amelia Herring.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Amelia
From the editor
One thing to know about me is that I love ice cream, so I’m very excited to try the funky flavors at Ripples in Winter Haven. I also hear there may be ice cream sandwiches on croissants from Honeycomb Bread Bakers on the menu in the future — just in case you needed another reason to visit.
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