It’s great to be a Phoenix — just ask Dr. Stephenson. | Photo provided by Florida Polytechnic University
Walking into Florida Polytechnic University’s Innovation, Science, and Technology Building feels like walking onto the set of a futuristic sci-fi movie. Decked out in stark white architecture and filled with students huddled around laptops, it could double as a backdrop in the next “Star Wars” installment.
But when you enter new school president Dr. Devin Stephenson’s office, it becomes a warm, inviting place to chat — and grab one of his signature president’s pins.
Florida Poly specializes in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, and it’s recently been rated the No. 1 public college in the Southeast for the fourth year in a row. Dr. Stephenson himself is beginning to rack up the accolades since becoming president this summer, including a spot on the Florida 500 list of top state executives.
If you ask him, though, it’s the students’ accomplishments that are top of mind. In our conversation, he rattled off an impressive list of the student body’s GPA averages (4.17), SAT scores (1313), and post-college plans (around 20% of seniors already have job offers or grad school plans), and you can see the pride in his eyes as he talks about them.
You’ll often find Dr. Stephenson getting to know students around campus. | Photo provided by Florida Polytechnic University
Lakeland life
Stephenson is not just the university’s president — he’s also a new Lakelander. The most surprising part of local life? “Traffic. I’m getting accustomed to the traffic patterns now,” he told us, but added on a positive note, “People have been extremely friendly, and they’ve welcomed me here, and that really means a lot.”
He’s also finding his new favorite local spots, several of which he said he learned about while reading LALtoday each morning. You might see him shopping at the farmers market, grabbing dinner at Peking House or Palace Pizza, or buying his latest bike accessory at the Trek store just south of Dixieland.
Read on for more of our conversation, including what Stephenson wishes every Lakelander knew about Florida Poly.
Pumpkin Patch | Friday, Oct. 25-Thursday, Oct. 31 | Times vary | Shepherd’s Community UMC | Free+ | Pick your pumpkin, big or small, and pose for a photo in the patch.
Joinery After Dark | Friday, Oct. 25 | 8-11 p.m. | The Joinery | Free+ | Dance your worries away on the patio with tunes by DJ Barca and guest DJs.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” Experience | Friday, Oct. 25-Saturday, Oct. 26 | 9 p.m. | Polk Theatre | $22+ | Arrive early to grab a prop bag before a midnight showing of this cult classic.
Saturday, Oct. 26
Pumpkin Paws and Spooky Claws | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Paws Plus Vet | Free+ | Take a walk through of this veterinarian’s new facility while exploring vendors, food trucks, and trick-or-treat opportunities.
Fall Night Market | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 5-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free+ | Shop 100+ vendors at this seasonal, family-friendly market — costumes are encouraged.
Halloween Bash ft. Smokepoint | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 7-10 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free+ | Don your best costume for a night of food, brews, and rock music.
Sunday, Oct. 27
Second Sunday Market | Sunday, Oct. 27 | 12-5 p.m. | Lakeside Village | Free+ | Shop from 100+ vendors, enjoy the Trick or Treat Trail, and cheer on furry friends in the Pooch-O-Ween Pet Parade.
Stillness Through Sound Sunday | Sunday, Oct. 27 | 5-6 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | $35 | Start your week on a calm note with a sound bath session on the farm.
Tuesday, Nov. 5
44th Annual Lake Morton Swan Roundup | Tuesday, Nov. 5 | 7 a.m. | Lake Morton | Free | This annual health checkup has been rescheduled for November following Hurricane Milton.
Polk County says it aims to pick up all storm debris by Sunday, Nov. 24, just in time for Thanksgiving. To speed up the process, be sure to separate your debris properly, or bring it to the county’s Lakeland drop-off location on Strickland Avenue. (Bay News 9)
Outdoors
The county is also keeping an eye on increasing mosquito populations as a result of Hurricane Milton. Aerial sprayers are set to begin spraying for mosquitoes this weekend, so expect low-flying aircraft from dusk to dawn.
Civic
Voting by mail? Send your ballot in early so it’s received by the 7 p.m. deadline on Tuesday, Nov. 5, or drop it off in person. If yours is in the mail, check its status on the Polk Supervisor of Elections’ site. (The Ledger)
Legacy
Winter Haven author Velma Daniels died this week at 93 years old. Daniels was published in many genres, from children’s literature to biographies to romance, and she was known for her TV interviews with other writers. (The Ledger)
Opening
Tri-County Human Services will celebrate its 50th anniversary today with a grand opening at its new Lakeland campus off of Commerce Point Drive. Attend the ribbon cutting ceremony from 1 to 3 p.m. to hear from guests like Mayor Bill Mutz + Mayor Nathaniel Birdsong.
Festival
Sanchez Farms in Plant City is now open daily for the Festival de Cempasúchil. Visit from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 3 to celebrate Mexican culture in the picturesque flower fields. Admission is free, but parking is $8.
Seasonal
Seeking spine-chilling fun this Hallo-weekend? Find it at Ominous Descent, a haunted trail on the Winter Haven Moose Lodge property. It’s open tonight through Sunday, and next weekend, Nov. 1-2. Tickets start at $20.
Drink
Grab coffee for a cause. Black & Brew’s 13th Annual Pumpkin Latte Giveaway has been rescheduled for Monday, Oct. 28-Wednesday, Oct. 30. Visit any location from 7 to 11 a.m. to make a $1+ donation to United Way of Central Florida and receive a free pumpkin pie latte.
Biz
Rec Room will commemorate four years in the arcade bar biz with a party on Saturday, Nov. 2. Visit to grab a drink, play your favorite classic arcade games, and get a late-night snack at the Good Thyme pop-up starting at 10 p.m.
Listen
Get some Halloween in your headphones. The local podcasters behind the show “Florida Men on Florida Man” went big for their 300th episode by recording in a haunted house. Listen to the episode — jump scares included — or watch the special video edition.
Try This
ICYMI: College is about so much more than studying. From experiencing campus life to meeting students + faculty, we’ve got four reasons SEU Preview Days are worth attending. Bonus: The next Preview Day on Friday, Nov. 1 coincides with Homecoming Weekend (think: a great time to visit).*
Plan for detours as crews work around the clock. | Map via the City of Lakeland
Residents living in flooded homes around Lake Bonny could soon have relief from high waters. The City of Lakeland coordinated with regional, state, and national organizations to devise its strategy — here’s how it’ll work.
Staff are operating industrial pumps from the US Army Corps of Engineers 24/7. Water will move through more than a mile of piping to a nearby outflow that empties into Lake Parker. From there, it will flow south to Lake Hancock, then to the Peace River where water levels will be monitored. The pipes can move more than 4,000 cubic feet of water per second
With pipes installed over land, several streets north of Lake Bonny are closed to traffic + pedestrians until further notice. If you’re driving in the area, plan to avoid East Main Street and take Memorial Boulevard instead.
The Buy
The Buy
An emergency roadside kit. The 90-piece set comes with a LED headlamp, tire repair kit, jumper cables, window breaker and seat belt cutter, first aid kit, and more.
If you’re heading out to Halloween parties this weekend, you might be looking for a late-night snack to enjoy after the festivities. Help us round out our guide to restaurants that stay open late by sending in your favorite places.
Answered
Answered
Do you plan on retiring in Lakeland?
Swan City is living up to its reputation as a hotspot for retirees, with 67% of our readers telling us they’ve retired here in Lakeland. Another 15% said they plan to retire here later on, with around 17% undecided or planning to live elsewhere. Maybe our list of activities will convince you otherwise?
