Plus, stuff the bus this school year.
 
July 17, 2024 6AM-Top banner logo-small.png

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Today’s Forecast

92º | 20% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:42 a.m. | Sunset 8:25 p.m.

 

Here’s something to write home about
An exterior of a historic home in Lakeland, viewed from the street. The house is painted dark blue with a pink front door, white porch railing, and white trim. Large green trees stand in front of the home.
Consider Lakeland for your first home. | Photo by @dietitian.anie
Lakeland’s housing market has come out on top once again, ranking No. 7 on WalletHub’s list of top US cities for first-time home buyers. When it came to small cities of fewer than 150,000 residents, it ranked even higher, coming in as the No. 3 best city.

Cities in this study received up to 100 points based on metrics across three key factors:
  • Affordability — Ratio of median house prices to median annual income, cost of living, and cost per square foot
  • Real estate market — Rent-to-price ratio, median days on market, and median home price appreciation
  • Quality of life — Weather, school system ratings, and crime rate
Lakeland earned a score of 63.21, just over five points behind the top-ranked city, Palm Bay, FL, which received 68.91 points. When it came to rankings for the key factors, Lakeland’s highest ranking was for quality of life, where it took the No. 9 spot.

The front of a tan single-family home with a garage and front yard viewed from the street.

Calling all house hunters — maybe these spots will fit the bill for your first home.

|

Photo via 3D Team, RE/MAX Experts

If you’re looking to put down roots and buy your first home in Swan City — or know someone who’s house hunting — check out these listings. Each one is priced below the city’s median listing price of $350,000 + located in some of Lakeland’s safest neighborhoods or near its top-rated schools.

3107 Huntington Ln.
$299,000 | Huntington Hills neighborhood | Listed by David Fridovich, 3D Team, RE/MAX Experts

509 Villa Vista Blvd.
$274,900 | Southwest Harden neighborhood | Listed by Debbie Grogan + Ginger Quirk, Coldwell Banker Realty

523 Bartow Rd.
$335,000 | Historic Biltmore neighborhood | Listed by David Small, Keller Williams Realty Winter Haven
 
Asked
 

Did you buy your first home in Lakeland?
A. Yes I did.
B. No, I bought mine somewhere else.
C. Not yet, but I’m planning to.
D. I’m looking to buy my first home elsewhere.
 
 
Events
 
Wednesday, July 17
  • Summer Naturalist | Wednesday, July 17 | 9-11 a.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Create a nature journal in the AgAmerica Heritage Gardens.
  • Women’s Self-Defense Classes | Wednesday, July 17 | 6-7 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $12-$38 | Enhance personal safety in this class for women ages 15+.
Thursday, July 18
  • Polk Pride Happy Hour | Thursday, July 18 | 6-9 p.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub, 111 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Connect with members of the local LGBTQ+ community at this monthly meet-up.
  • Harry Potter Trivia Night | Thursday, July 18 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | CRAVE Hot Dogs & BBQ, 2250 Griffin Rd., Lakeland | Free entry | Prove your Potterhead status by playing trivia over dinner.
Friday, July 19
  • Belgian Independence Weekend Celebration | Friday, July 19-Sunday, July 21 | Times vary | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | Join a family-friendly celebration with Belgian beers on tap, glassware giveaways, live music, and food trucks.
  • 52nd Annual Fine Arts Exhibition Opening Reception | Friday, July 19 | 6-8 p.m. | Florida Southern College Melvin and Burks Galleries, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr., Lakeland | Join the Lakeland Arts Association for the opening of its exhibition, on view through Aug. 2.
  • Blast from the Past: 70’s, 80’s, Funk, & Modern Hits | Friday, July 19 | 8 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $10 | Hits by Prince, Aerosmith, Whitney Houston, and more are all fair game at this tribute concert performed by Blankets.
Saturday, July 20
  • Meat Canning Class | Saturday, July 20 | 10-11:30 a.m. | UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, 1702 S. Holland Pkwy., Bartow | $10-$18 | Join this workshop in-person or virtually to learn how to safely preserve meat.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
News Notes
 
Development
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County will break ground on renovations of its George Jenkins Memorial Unit in Winter Haven tomorrow morning. Members will soon enjoy updated classrooms, recreation space, and a new technology center.
Legacy
  • Businessman and philanthropist Jack Harrell Jr. died on Saturday after battling brain cancer. Harrell was CEO of fertilizer producer Harrell’s LLC and was instrumental in developments at places like Bonnet Springs Park + Lakeland Regional Health. (The Ledger)
Edu
  • Florida Poly has added its first South American Fulbright partner by entering into an agreement with the Fulbright Commission Brazil. The program facilitates international educational exchanges, opening doors for Brazilian academics to study in Lakeland.
Biz
  • Leave your cash at home. The RP Funding Center will go cashless for all transactions starting Oct. 1. The move comes as the City of Lakeland introduces new electronic payment policies to increase security + efficiency.
Real Estate
  • Winter Haven is increasing its number of apartment units after a decades-long lull in development. There are 100+ new units now available downtown, and another 1,400 are in progress across the city. (WFTS)
Cause
  • Stuff that bus. The Lakeland Kiwanis Club is leading this year’s Stuff the Bus campaign to collect school supplies for students in need. Drop off supplies at local donation sites before joining the finale event on Monday, Aug. 5 at Hall Communications.
Watch
  • Lakeland photographer Scott Audette was featured on WEDU’s “Arts Plus” program for his underwater portraits. Watch the episode to learn how Audette is helping to put Lakeland on the map as an arts destination.
Drink Up
  • Drink Up Week — a celebration of our city’s vibrant beverage culture — is coming up quickly from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26. We asked local businesses to join the fun by sharing drink deals; check out this map of promos that are poppin’ just for the occasion.
Seasonal
  • Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? It’s Christmas in July, and we’re celebrating by gifting new and returning advertisers with special promotions to get your message in front of our readers. Get in touch to learn more (read: open your present).
Travel
Trending
 
 
Try This
 

🎶 I get so emoji-nal, baby
An exterior view of Cob & Pen, a restaurant inside a Tudor-style house, surrounded by palm trees.
Here’s a hint for one of our clues below. | Photo via @justlakelandpics
A picture is worth a thousand words. In honor of World Emoji Day, see if you can guess these landmarks + businesses in Lakeland using only emojis.

Disclaimer: Sometimes emojis won’t show up if your software isn’t up to date. You may need to update your device to view these.
  1. 🌊 👑 🦢
  2. 💚 🛒 🤗
  3. 👦 🦢 👧 🦢
  4. ⬛ ☕
  5. ⭕ 🅱️
  6. 🏛️ 🖼️
  7. ☀️ 🎉 ✈️
  8. 💕 🎹
  9. 💗 🐓 🍗
  10. 🦢 🍺
  11. 🏰 🍕
  12. 🍑 🏠
  13. 🥗🍦🍕🍜🌮🍣🍔🥃
  14. 🇺🇸 🥖 🥐
  15. 🏃‍♂️ 🌊 🐊 🦢
Feeling confident? Click below for the answer key and see how many you got right.
 
The Buy
 
⚡ It’s the second (and final) Amazon Prime Day. Shop Day Two lightning deals that just went live.

Get 56% off a wireless charging station that can charge your phone, earbuds, and smartwatch all at once.

This $400 ionic hair dryer is on sale for under $100.

Get a $50 Old Navy gift card for $40, or a $50 Regal gift card for $40.

This five outlet surge protector includes four USB ports and charges your devices with notable speed.

Get a Bentgo stackable lunch box 55% off.

Keep your eye on this bestselling tennis dress for a lightning deal later today.
 
 
The Wrap
 
Connor Jacobson

Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
We asked you which Drink Up Week deals you’re most excited for, and 42% of you are looking to get your caffeine fix with a coffee special. Pro tip: You can filter our map of deals by drink type to find whichever beverage fills your fancy next week.
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