Plus, Polk utilities to increase.
 
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Today’s Forecast

90º | 40% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:14 a.m. | Sunset 7:29 p.m.

 

👟 Run, Lakeland, run
Runners take off at a starting line in a road race.
Get stepping, Swan City. | Photo by Lakeland Police Foundation
It’s a lot easier to reach your goals when you have others supporting you every step of the way. Whether you’re training for a distance race or prefer to socialize while you exercise, find community at these local running + walking groups.

Lakeland Runners Club
If a long-distance run is in your future, this club makes the perfect starting line. Join for 5K training and weekly group runs around locations like Swan Brewing, Lake Hollingsworth, and Lake Morton. Keep an eye out for races throughout the year, including the Lake to Lake 10K.

Fleet Feet
Visit this store to get fitted for running shoes, then join its weekly social runs around Lakeside Village on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. After you work up a sweat, gather at the Brass Tap next door for food + beverage discounts.

A group of adults in running shoes pose for a photo after a walk

Find your pace and meet a new community on a walk together.

|

Photo by @lkldgirlswhowalk

Lakeland Girls Who Walk
Prefer to take it slow and socialize? This group welcomes “all people, pups, and strollers” to its weekly walks — just follow along on Instagram to keep stride with location updates. You can also find friends off the sidewalk with meet-ups to grab coffee or craft together.

LRC Kids Run Club
Junior joggers can kickstart a healthy lifestyle and find a passion for running with the Lakeland Runners Club’s kids group. Bring your elementary schoolers to Bonnet Springs Park for free practices on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. Pro tip: LRC also has a summer program for middle schoolers interested in cross country running.

We also pounded the pavement to find a few one-off group walks coming up. First, check out the Lakeland Walk Club this Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 6:45 p.m. on Lake Mirror. Then, join the Brandon-based Walk and Talk’s visit to Bonnet Springs Park on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 9:30 a.m.
 
Asked
 

What’s your favorite way to work up a sweat?
A. Running or walking
B. Yoga
C. Bicycling
D. Swimming
E. Does binge watching true crime count?
 
Lakeland Christian School
 
Events
 
Tuesday, Sept. 17
  • Constitution Day | Tuesday, Sept. 17 | 10:30 a.m. | Southeastern University | Free | SEU will host former Florida Supreme Court Justice R. Fred Lewis for a keynote address in the Buena Vida West Auditorium.
  • Dedication Ceremony — “One Nation, Many Stories: Polk County” | Tuesday, Sept. 17 | 4 p.m. | Bartow Civic Plaza, Bartow | Free | Celebrate the opening of this outdoor exhibit marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed.
  • Tasty Tuesday + Tunes in Munn Park | Tuesday, Sept. 17 | 4:30-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | $25 | Grab tickets from the LDDA for this self-guided tasting event of downtown eateries.
Wednesday, Sept. 18
  • 2024 Diversity Luncheon | Wednesday, Sept. 18 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Bartow Civic Center, Bartow | $20 | The City of Bartow’s Community Relations Committee will host lunch and recognize this year’s Diversity Award winner.
Thursday, Sept. 19
  • Ballet Class | Thursday, Sept. 19 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building | Free | Kids ages 5-17 will learn basic ballet skills + terminology in a supportive environment.
Friday, Sept. 20
  • Night Market | Friday, Sept. 20 | 6-9 p.m. | Brew Hub | Free entry | Happy hour lasts all night — grab a drink while shopping from local vendors.
Saturday, Sept. 21
  • Girls in Aviation Day | Saturday, Sept. 21 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Aerospace Center for Excellence | Free | All are welcome at this event celebrating aviation and aerospace with hands-on activities.
  • Cinéma Art Historique | Saturday, Sept. 21 | 6-9 p.m. | Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art | Free | Join a screening of “The Da Vinci Code” before a film discussion with the museum’s director, Dr. Alex Rich.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Your CBD Store Lakeland
 
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Plan Ahead
 

Party like it’s 1924 with this once-in-a-century celebration

two rotating photos depicting an old black and white photo of the terrace hotel and their 100 year anniversary emblem
Don’t miss this month-long showcase of events that journeys back to the bygone era of the 1920s. | Photos provided by Naples Hotel Group
The Terrace Hotel is celebrating 100 years with events throughout October — and it’ll be the bee’s knees.

Jump back to the roaring 20s with these themed events:
Bonus: The hotel will be decked out to fit the occasion.
 
News Notes
 
Civic
  • County commissioners held their final hearing last night to adopt the $2.9 billion budget for the next fiscal year. Highlights include a lower property tax rate, 81 new positions, and $4.4 million in expected additional grant funding. (The Ledger)
Stat
  • Polk County water + wastewater rates will increase by 6% on Oct. 1, followed by 6% increases each year through 2028. Residential water and wastewater connection fees for new customers are also set to increase, starting Jan. 1, 2025.
Wellness
  • Lakeland’s new Veterans Affairs clinic has opened a Veterans Service Office. Vets and their families can walk in on weekdays to ask questions or get help filling out paperwork. (LkldNow)
Sports
  • The Lakeland Flying Tigers have flown into the MiLB’s Florida State League Championship series against the Palm Beach Cardinals. The Flying Tigers won the first of their three games on Sunday, and they’ll play again tonight in Palm Beach.
Open
  • Hong BBQ & Hot Pot is now open on South Florida Avenue, in the former Shells Seafood location. Visit any day of the week for all-you-can-eat hot pot + Korean barbecue that you can make at your table.
Community
  • Chief Hezedean A. Smith of Polk County Fire Rescue has resigned, effective Sept. 30, following reports of management challenges. Assistant Chief Shawn Smith has been named the department’s interim chief. (The Ledger)
Lakelander
  • Make sure to stay until the end of the Lakeland Christmas Parade to see Tom Hicks — better known around town as Santa Claus. Hicks has played Santa since the early 2000s, and now his wife Cindy joins as Mrs. Claus for local events. (Bay News 9)
Seasonal
  • Before we get to Christmas, let’s talk fall. Keel Farm’s Harvest Days will take place each Saturday + Sunday in October, featuring hay rides, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and new seasonal drinks. Plus, admission is free.
Eat
  • Good news for night owls — LoveBird has extended its Friday and Saturday hours to 10 p.m. If you’re hungry for more, check out our list of eight more eateries open late.
Drink
  • Pinkies up. Lavender ‘n Lace Tearoom in Lake Alfred is holding its next Afternoon Tea on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 4 to 6 p.m. Buy tickets to enjoy a serene afternoon with teas, pastries, sandwiches, and petit fours.
Edu
Shop
 
 
Community
 

📍 Find your next favorite spot
A digital map of Lakeland, FL with colorful points on different happy hour locations
Never get lost with our maps of Lakeland’s top destinations. | Map via Proxi
Consider LALtoday your friend who knows all the best places in Lakeland and gives the most accurate directions (take a right at Lake Hollingsworth and a left on South Florida Avenue). We didn’t get here based on our sense of direction alone, though. That’s where our community maps come in.

We use Proxi to create interactive maps that everyone in Lakeland can add to. In case you missed them, here are a few we’ve created so far:
Here’s how you can help other Lakelanders out: If you notice that your favorite spot is missing from one of our maps, you can add it in just a few seconds. Simply click the green icon that says “Add Point,” choose the best-fitting category, and add the location. You can even show off your photography skills and upload a photo.
 
The Buy
 
A soft knit sweater that’s available in six different colors. Bonus: No dry cleaning necessary — it’s machine washable in a handy laundry bag.
 
 
The Wrap
 
Connor Jacobson

Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
Today is National Voter Registration Day — a great time to make sure you’re registered before the Oct. 7 deadline. LkldNow wrote a very informative piece about election security at the Polk Supervisor of Elections Office. I recommend reading to see what goes into keeping our votes secure.
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