Plus, meet Auburndale's Olympian.
 
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Today’s Forecast

94º | 20% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:46 a.m. | Sunset 8:21 p.m.

 

👋 Have a nice flight
Posters showing illustrations of Avelo's new destinations sit on easels.
Where will you head next? | Photo by LALtoday
Clear your fall schedule, because Avelo Airlines and Lakeland International Airport announced seven — yep, seven — new destinations in a press conference yesterday. It’s part of the airline’s largest ever expansion in its history.

Passengers can already book tickets starting at $52 for biweekly flights to these cities:
  • Charlotte, NC/Concord, NC | Beginning Oct. 24 | Flying on Thursday + Sunday
  • Manchester, NH/Boston, MA | Beginning Oct. 25 | Flying on Monday + Friday
  • Rochester, NY | Beginning Oct. 25 | Flying on Monday + Friday
  • San Juan, PR | Beginning Oct. 26 | Flying on Wednesday + Saturday
  • Atlanta, GA | Beginning Nov. 7 | Flying on Thursday + Sunday
  • Wilmington, DE/Philadelphia, PA | Beginning Nov. 7 | Flying on Thursday + Sunday
  • Hartford, CT | Beginning Nov. 8 | Flying on Monday + Friday
Passengers line up to board an Avelo Airlines plane via a ramp on the tarmac

Flights from Lakeland to New Haven have been 95% full on average since June.

|

Photo by LALtoday

“Since taking flight a little over a month ago, the customer response from Lakeland to New Haven has been tremendous,” Avelo’s Head of Commercial Trevor Yealy said in the press conference. “We’ve carried over 3,300 customers on the 24 flights we’ve accomplished so far.”

Avelo is also making a major investment in Lakeland by establishing LAL as part of its Central Florida base in October. A dedicated Boeing Next-Generation 737 will be positioned there, meaning more local jobs for Lakelanders.

Airport Director Kris Hallstrand commented on customer satisfaction as travelers fly in and out of LAL with ease. “The community is the shout out I want to give the loudest. Without you, we can’t do what we do here at the airport.”

Ready to jet set? Prepare for takeoff with our guide to flying out of Lakeland, and let us know your pro tips for visiting these new destinations. We’ll see you on the tarmac.
 
Asked
 

Which destination has you packing your bags?
A. Charlotte, NC/Concord, NC
B. Manchester, NH/Boston, MA
C. Rochester, NY
D. San Juan, PR
E. Atlanta, GA
F. Wilmington, DE/Philadelphia, PA
G. Hartford, CT
 
 
Events
 
Thursday, July 25
  • Yogadance | Thursday, July 25 | 4-5 p.m. | Lake Crago Outdoor Recreation Complex, 525 Lake Crago Dr., Lakeland | $0-$5 | Dance to music from around the world in this uplifting exercise class — Silver Sneakers members get in free.
  • Trivia Thursdays | Thursday, July 25 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | The Back Nine, 124 S. Tennessee Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Test your knowledge with themed and general trivia.
Friday, July 26
  • Jellyfishing - Crystal Glaze Class | Friday, July 26 | 5-7 p.m. | Picassoz Art Cafe, 4636 Cleveland Heights Blvd., Lakeland | $21 | Walk in to paint a bisque jellyfish with a crystal glaze technique.
  • Floating SoulBath Meditation | Friday, July 26 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Welcome Canary Apartments, 1030 Browning Rd., Lakeland | $25-$110 | Close your eyes and relax to the tune of a sound bath while floating around the pool.
Saturday, July 27
  • Birthday Book Fair | Saturday, July 27 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Pressed, 213 E. Bay St., Lakeland | Price of purchase | Celebrate three years of Pressed with fan-favorite drinks, custom tote bags, and local vendors.
  • Christmas in July | Saturday, July 27 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Lake Mirror Center, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | Free | Bring a toy or blanket donation for Tri-County Human Services, and celebrate with crafts, carols, and Mr. + Mrs. Claus.
  • World Passport Wine & Food Festival | Saturday, July 27 | 2-5 p.m. | Historic Ritz Theatre, 263 W. Central Ave., Lakeland | $75 | Sample 100 wines from 20 countries paired with international small bites from Agape Agora.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
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Check out this 2024 Hurricane Guide
An alert on a phone showing outages in Lakeland. A family discusses hurricane prep around a coffee table. workers fix a broken power line pole.
The Hurricane Guide also includes important emergency numbers to have on hand.  | Photos provided by Lakeland Electric
Even if you’re a hurricane season veteran, double-checking your preparedness checklist is always a smart move.

Luckily, Lakeland Electric recently released its free, comprehensive 2024 Hurricane Guide, which includes everything from an emergency kit checklist and pet tips to the latest evacuation recommendations.

Let’s look at the highlights:

📱 Get real-time updates

Update your number on file to receive real-time outage updates. A quick call to (863) 834-9535 is all it takes to stay in the loop.

🧰 Restock your emergency kit

Lakeland Electric uses a smart meter system that registers outages the moment they occur — without needing to call.

But even if their teams work around the clock (and they do), some residents may be without power for hours or days.

Use this checklist to ensure you + your neighbors (and even your furry friends) are equipped to handle any outage.

🌴 Don’t get electrocuted

If trees go down, power lines may go down with them.

Use (863) 834-4248 to report downed lines, and always assume a line is (dangerously) energized.
 
News Notes
 
Number
  • $200,000. That’s how much philanthropists have donated to seven Polk arts and culture groups after $1.27 million in state funding for the county was vetoed. The donations are being coordinated by the GiveWell Community Foundation and the Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance. (LkldNow)
Community
  • The City of Lakeland Housing Division will host an open house for the Community Development Block Grant’s 50th anniversary. Drop by the Coleman-Bush Building on Thursday, Aug. 22 to tour the Housing Showroom + learn about the Housing Rehabilitation program.
Sports
  • When the Paris 2024 Olympic Games begin tomorrow, keep an eye out for Monae’ Nichols. The Auburndale High School grad will represent Team USA as a long jumper — qualifications begin Tuesday, Aug. 6. (The Ledger)
Civic
  • Winter Haven city commissioners voted to keep the city’s property tax millage rate at 6.59. Thanks to property value increases, the city could still rake in $2.7 million more for its proposed 2025 budget, which includes capital improvements + additional staff. (The Ledger)
Pets
  • SPCA Florida is partnering up with Subaru Lakeland for the Cat & Dog Days of Summer adoption event this Saturday, July 27. Visit the dealership from 12 to 2 p.m. to adopt a pet and enter a raffle for a brand new car.
Answered
  • We asked how often you visit a local brewery, and 46% said never. Try one this week and look for these locally inspired beers suggested by readers: Swan Brewing’s Pine Street Porter, Dissent’s Swan Lake + Grove Roots’ Slanted Ladders.
Trending
  • Have you seen the trend where you and a partner paint portraits of each other and reveal them at the end? Try it for yourself at Art Centric Studio’s Date Night Challenge this Saturday, July 27. Tickets include supplies for two artists.
Environment
  • We know you have a cabinet full of plastic shopping bags. Give them new life by donating them to Inklings Book Shoppe where they’ll be reused for purchases. Plus, you’ll get five cents of trade credit for each bag.
Active
  • A new season of Ax-Caliber’s team league is swinging into session next month. Sign up your team to compete from Thursday, Aug. 8 to October — prizes are on the line.
Drink Up
  • Grabbing a coffee or post-work drink this week? Find a local drink deal and raise a glass to Drink Up Week, our annual celebration of our city’s buzzy beverage industry. Businesses around Lakeland are offering fun deals — see what’s poppin’.
Giveaway
  • We’re partnering with Welcome Canary for our Lakeland Summer Staycation Giveaway for two, which will award one lucky winner and their guest with $1,500 worth of local summer sips, dishes, stays, and spending. Enter to win on our Instagram now through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 29.*
Home
  • You deserve beautiful, energy-efficient windows in your home. Get $400 off per window and $850 off per door with Renewal by Andersen®’s limited time offer.*
 
 
Drink Up
 

☕️ A new chapter for Lakeland’s oldest cafe
An exterior view of Mitchell's Coffee Shop in Lakeland, FL
Mitchell’s has been serving Lakeland since 1998. | Photo by @theblizzardofboz
The year was 1998, and the coffee shop boom of the nineties was about to hit Lakeland. Mitch Harvey and his family opened Mitchell’s Coffee House at 235 N. Kentucky Ave., the first of its kind in town.

Mitchell’s has been a Swan City staple ever since, but this year brought a major change when Harvey sold the business to Lakeland couple Mark and Saundra Biddinger this spring.

The Biddingers decided to keep the same Mitchell’s name, menu, and staff that the community loves, but guests can also expect some updates (like online ordering). We’re looking out for the top secret lunch item coming soon that Saundra told us is sure to be a new favorite.

In honor of Drink Up Week, Mitchell’s is offering BOGO hot or iced lattes through Saturday. Stop in to see what’s new and try our favorite drink: the I Dream of Jeanie latte with hazelnut, coconut, and white chocolate mocha.
 
The Buy
 
A bestselling set of bamboo cutting boards, so you can ditch plastic boards and chop on a 100% Moso bamboo wood surface.
 
 
The Wrap
 
Connor Jacobson

Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
I’m holding it down here in Lakeland this week while my husband is off in the Florida Keys for lobster mini-season. Yes, I’m very jealous. Is this something your family is into? Would you be interested in a guide to lobster season? Give me your tips or your thoughts.
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