Plus, your travel tips for LAL's new flights.
 
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Today’s Forecast

91º | 60% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:49 a.m. | Sunset 8:19 p.m.

LAL_High Tower Roofing_Weather Sponsorship_7.1.2023-6.30.2025

 
🥇 He shoots, we score
3x3 basketball player Dylan Travis smiles in front of a USA flag wearing a Team USA basketball jersey.
Travis helped FSC win an NCAA Division II national championship — will he and Team USA win gold? | Photo via Dylan Travis
When we heard that this year’s Games included a 3x3 basketball player who honed his craft in Lakeland, we jumped at the chance for a one-on-one before he hopped on a flight to Paris. Meet Dylan Travis, an athlete for Team USA in the 2024 Olympic Games.

Q: You played basketball at the collegiate level for Florida Southern College. How did you get into 3x3 basketball?

A: I played professionally in Germany and Australia for four years, up until COVID happened in 2020. I needed to make some money to keep a job, so I used my degree and hung up the basketball shoes and started to become a special education teacher and basketball coach at an inner city high school here [in Omaha]. Then I had a buddy who was playing 3x3 basketball, and they asked me to play.

I played all around the world, and Team USA offered me a contract to play. It was so much travel that I had to quit teaching and go back to full-time basketball, but with 3x3 instead of 5x5. So it’s been a kind of crazy roller coaster.

Four basketball players smile for a picture on a subway holding up a small Team USA flag.

Team USA’s 2024 roster includes Jimmer Fredette (left), Kareem Maddox, Dylan Travis, and Canyon Barry.

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Photo via Dylan Travis

Q: So what makes 3x3 different from regular 5x5 basketball?

A: Obviously, it’s three guys versus three guys on a court, and it’s half-court, not full-court. We play to 21 by ones and twos. It’s a 10-minute game clock, 12-second shot clock, so it’s super fast-paced. There’s no check balls after made baskets; it’s just continuous.

Dylan Travis dribbles a basketball past an opposing player during a Florida Southern College game.

Travis played as a guard during his time at FSC.

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Photo via Dylan Travis

Q: Thinking back to when you were in Lakeland (2014-2016), what were your favorite memories or your favorite spots?

A: I love Lakeland, Florida. I just remember going on my visit, my very first time, and just how beautiful the campus was and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. I remember the fitness center that overlooks the lake and all the palm trees. I’m from Nebraska, so I see a palm tree, and I think it’s the coolest thing ever.
 
Asked
 
Did you participate in Drink Up Week?
A. Yes, I loved the deals.
B. No, I wasn’t into it.
C. What’s Drink Up Week?
 
 
Events
 
Monday, July 29
  • Around the World Week Camp | Monday, July 29-Thursday, Aug. 1 | 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | What’s Cooking Lakeland, 6935 S. Carter Rd., Ste. 6, Lakeland | $395 | Young chefs ages 5-13 will learn to cook dishes from a different country each day.
  • Movie Mondays | Monday, July 29 | 2 p.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library, 1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Watch the movie “Wonka” with themed snacks — we expect chocolate in your future.
Tuesday, July 30
Wednesday, July 31
  • Chair Yoga for Beginners | Wednesday, July 31 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $5 | Take a seat for this flow designed to improve flexibility, balance, and range of motion.
Thursday, Aug. 1
  • Stuffed Animal Flight School | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 3-4 p.m. | Florida Air Museum, 4175 Medulla Rd., Lakeland | Free | Drop your child’s favorite toy off to attend “flight school” overnight.
  • Night Market | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 6-9 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | Price of purchase | Shopping from local vendors is even better when you can pour your own drinks from the tap wall.
Friday, Aug. 2
  • First Friday: Back to School | Friday, Aug. 2 | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free entry | Kick off the month with family activities in Munn Park, plus later hours at downtown shops + restaurants.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
News Notes
 
Stat
  • 56%. That was PCPS’ overall score for the 2023-2024 school year, just one point shy of a “B” grade. Superintendent Frederick Heid said the district may request a review of some schools to appeal the score. Fifteen Lakeland schools earned “A” grades. (LkldNow)
Coming Soon
  • Tina + Tim Calhoon, owners of Frescos Southern Kitchen & Bar, will soon open a new concept called Market on Kentucky in the former Taco Bus location. The biz will include restaurant catering space, as well as a market area for food entrepreneurs. (LkldNow)
Biz
  • Frescos isn’t the only eatery eyeing an expansion. Il Forno Italian Restaurant announced plans to open another location on the north side of Lakeland. The site is still TBA, but the original in the Merchants Walk plaza is open Wednesday-Sunday.
Development
Number
  • 154. That’s the IQ of Winter Haven five year old Samridh “Sam” Sarhan. Before even starting second grade, Sarhan has already become a card-carrying member of the high-IQ society Mensa. Call him if you need a tutor. (WFLA)
Biz
  • SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate has a new president, current CFO Tyler Davis, who joined the company in 2019. The firm is one of Florida’s largest land dealers, and Davis will help to keep expanding its reach. (Business Observer)
Outdoors
  • If you love things with wings, it’s your weekend at Bonnet Springs Park. Head there this Saturday, Aug. 3 for a Monarch Monitoring Blitz from 8 to 10 a.m. and free Bird Day activities from 9 to 11 a.m.
Drink
  • You may not be an Olympian like Dylan Travis, but you can still sip one. Try the eight internationally inspired drinks available at Andrew’s Coffee during the Olympic Games, like the Dutch Stroopwafel Latte + American Twinkie Coke (yes, you read that correctly).
Edu
  • Camp Margaritaville is helping to clear teacher wishlists before the school year begins. Nominate yourself or another local teacher by Sunday, Aug. 4 to receive free classroom supplies. Plus, all wishlists will be shared for community members to show support.
Giveaway
  • Have you entered our Lakeland Summer Staycation Giveaway in partnership with Welcome Canary? There are still two days to grab your chance to win $1,500 worth of local sips, stays, eats + spending. Enter to win on our Instagram.*
Featured Deal
  • Ready, set, shop — and save big. Today’s the last day to score discounts of up to 80% off on thousands of items like outdoor furniture, grills + more during Wayfair’s Black Friday in July sale. Psst... look out for flash deals + enjoy free shipping sitewide.*
Kids
  • Gearing up for the school year? Shop Nike’s Back to School Sale for sneakers, athletic wear, and backpacks. Save an extra 25% with promo code SPORT25.*
 
 
Answered
 
Which destination has you packing your bags?
The reflection of the Uptown Charlotte skyline is seen in the water of a pond surrounded by trees.
Charlotte, NC was the top destination our readers said they were excited to visit. | Photo by CLTtoday
Avelo Airlines + Lakeland International Airport just announced seven new destinations last week, and we asked which one you’d like to visit first. Charlotte/Concord, NC was the most popular answer, with San Juan, PR not far behind. Since we know how well-traveled our readers are, we also got your pro tips and must dos.

Reader Jo L. has ideas for racing fans heading to Charlotte + Concord, NC. “Visit the NASCAR Race shops, NHRA Dragstrip, and Charlotte Motor Speedway.”

Reader DB says the Manchester, NH airport is easy to navigate. “Very little traffic and easy to get through TSA due to reduced number of travelers compared to Boston’s hub.”

Don’t forget this simple advice from Reader Deborah R. when traveling to San Juan, PR: “Pack lightly. It is HOT.”

We’re putting together guides to these new destinations, starting with the Charlotte, NC area. Have you been? Tell us everything.
 
The Buy
 
A portable projector — a must-have for streaming your next movie night by the pool in high definition 4K quality.
 
 
The Wrap
 
Connor Jacobson Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
That’s a wrap on another successful Drink Up Week, and these city editors are feeling caffeinated + refreshed. Thanks to all of the local businesses that joined us to celebrate the drinks we all love. Cheers until next year.
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