Legendary Lakelanders Carol and Barney Barnett founded ReadingPals in 2012 as a statewide early learning initiative to help improve literacy. | Photo courtesy of @uwcf
March is Women’s History Month, a month dedicated to celebrating women and their achievements. Get to know some of the game-changing women who have made history + are paving the way for the future in Lakeland.
Carol Jenkins Barnett
Jenkins Barnett served as the president of Publix Super Markets Charities, earning acclaim as a philanthropist not only in Lakeland, but all across Florida. Her accolades include the Florida Arts Recognition Award, Women in Philanthropy Award, Chiles Advocacy Award, and Champion for Literacy Award — just to name a few.
After Elder’s transatlantic flight in 1927, she got to attend numerous engagements like the opening of the new terminal at Miami for Pan American World Airways — she’s the one in white.
Photo by Florida Photographic Collection
Ruth Elder
Elder came to Lakeland with her husband in the 1920s to pursue careers in aviation. On Oct. 11, 1927, she attempted to become the first woman to fly across the ocean. While Elder did not make it all the way across the Atlantic due to a ruptured oil line, her over-water, 36-hour course of 2,623 miles still set a new distance record.
Mom and Dad’s Timeout | 6-8 p.m. | Medulla Resource Center | Free | Kids will participate in activities alongside Recreation Staff while parents take a well-deserved break.
Swiftie Skate Night | 7-10 p.m. | Skate World Lakeland | $16 | You’ll have a marvelous time roller skating along to Taylor Swift tunes.
Mardi Gras Masquerade Party | 9 p.m.-2 a.m. | La Gran Muralla | Free+ | Disguises are encouraged at this speakeasy’s party with a live DJ and beads galore.
Saturday, March 8
Spring Obsession | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | Munn Park | Free+ | Browse 60+ vendors selling everything from specialty plants to art in support of the Lakeland Rotary Club.
Buttons & Bows Craft Fair | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Hamptons Golf and Country Club, Auburndale | Free+ | Residents will sell their handmade jewelry, candles, and decor — don’t miss the door prizes + raffles.
The Art of Tablescaping | 12-5 p.m. | The Junior League Building | $25 | Register for a one-hour time slot to view elegant + creative tablescapes that will inspire you to be the host with the most.
Champagne & Shamrocks | 5:30 p.m. | Nora Mayo Hall, Winter Haven | $125 | This black-tie optional event will feature a social hour, cash bar, and champagne dinner, followed by a Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra concert.
Sunday, March 9
Silent Book Club | 2-3:30 p.m. | Pour Bear Coffee | Free | Head to this coffee shop after hours to read in silence + connect with other book lovers.
Charcuterie Class | 2-4 p.m. | Graze Craze Lakeland | $65 | You’ll meat your match as you try to create the best board to win a prize.
Monday, March 10
Health Screening with BayCare | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library | Free | Check in with your body by getting a free blood pressure screening from a healthcare professional.
No. 3. That’s where Lakeland comes in on Good Migrations’ list of most-changed US cities. Rankings were determined based on Lakeland’s change in population, median household income, employment, home value, and job creation. Tampa + Orlando ranked No. 25 and 27, respectively.
Biz
Twelve Joann stores are hitting the auction block, including the Lakeland and Winter Haven stores. A&G Real Estate Partners out of New York and GA Group out of Los Angeles will oversee the bidding + auction process, which is expected to occur by mid-April. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Legacy
Lakelander George Lowe, best known for lending his voice to the Space Ghost cartoon character, died on Sunday. In addition to his prolific career as a voice actor, Lowe also had an affinity for art collecting — four pieces of his collection were donated to the AGB in 2016. (The Ledger)
Feel Good
Publix: where birthdays are a pleasure. A Lakeland couple is going viral after Amanda Mickenburg shared a video of her husband Alex having a surprise 32nd birthday party at Publix. Since sharing the video on TikTok on Feb. 25, it’s amassed more than 9 million views. (People)
Plan Ahead
Venue Salon is bringing its hair affair back to Lakeland. Inspire Hair, an avant-garde hair show where stylists can color outside the lines + show off their most creative styles, will take place Sunday, April 6 at Union Hall. Get the deets on how to apply for the free event.
Try This
Oh say, can you sing? Auburndale Speedway is hosting an open search for its National Anthem singer at Crashomania, a monster truck and stunt show, on Saturday, March 29. Upload your 15-20 second clip to social media before Monday, March 17 — the top-voted singer will also win $500.
Cause
Help raise funds for survivors of domestic violence by attending a screening of the short film “The Night Shift Security” tomorrow at Catapult. Stick around after the 6 p.m. showing for a discussion with leaders from Peace River Center — tickets are $10 at the door.
Shop
Get a squeeze of this — Sow Exotic is offering buy one, get one on select citrus trees for a limited time. Prefer to leave the growing to the pros? Get your fill of Florida fruit at local U-pick farms.
Biz
Calling all business owners. For a limited time, we’re offering 15% off your first advertising purchase on our self-service ad portal. No long-term contract required — simply use the code NEW15 at checkout to redeem the discount.
Eat
Terrace Grille’s All-Day Menu is here, meaning you can snag classic faves + new bites for lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday. Make a reservation to get a taste of what’s new.*
Community
Lakeland Regional Health invites the community to celebrate the opening of its state-of-the-art Freestanding Emergency Department. Join the open house on Saturday, March 8, for an exclusive first look before it opens for patients on March 10. Enjoy guided tours, games, free giveaways + delicious snacks — fun for the whole family.*
Wellness
Want thicker, fuller hair in just 3-6 months?† Through Hims & Hers, you can get access to personalized, clinically proven treatments all from the comfort of home. No office visits, no insurance hassles — just real results. Get started.*
Job
Do you have a passion for all things Northern Virginia, a knack for storytelling, and a drive to engage readers? We’re hiring a creative and dynamic Newsletter Editor to join our team at NOVAtoday and craft daily, hyper-local content. We’ve got the perks just for you: competitive salary, 401K with company match of 4%, and so much more. Apply now.
†Based on separate individual studies of oral minoxidil and oral finasteride. Prescription products require an online consultation with a healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Restrictions apply. See website for full details and important safety information.
Category
Asked
💡 We’re hanging on to this idea
Coffee makes any day better if you ask us. | Photo by @lakelandbites
If there’s one thing we love about the Lakeland community, it’s that we’re always down to help out a member of our flock. So when Reader Sandy G. reached out to share the concept of “hanging coffee” with us, our ears perked up.
The tradition can be traced back to Naples, Italy as far back as a century ago, when customers experiencing good fortune would visit their local shop and order a caffe sospeso, or “hanging coffee.” Essentially, customers would pay for hot coffees in advance, and baristas would then make them as needed for other customers who could not pay for one themselves. The practice could also apply to more than coffee — sandwiches, snacks, or other basic necessities could easily be swapped in.
Is this a tradition you’d like to see Lakeland get in on? Tell us which spots you could see incorporating the practice, and we may just share your answers in a future newsletter.
The right pet insurance to offset rising veterinary costs. Clinics are increasingly focused on revenue — and some vets are encouraged to squeeze in more appointments, recommend extra tests, and upsell services. The result? Higher vet bills for you. View Money’s top pet insurance picks to see plans starting at only $10 per month.
The Florida Strawberry Festival might be wrapping up this weekend, but plenty more fruit-themed fun awaits us this spring. Every weekend in April, Keel Farms will host the Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival, featuring blueberry U-pick, shortcake eating contests, and seasonal wine + cider. Count us in.
Answered
Answered
What new restaurant would you like to see in Lakeside Village next?
38% — CAVA
26% — Blaze Pizza
22% — Naked Farmer
Several respondents had other ideas — 13% to be exact — with top suggestions including Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang’s, and Bahama Breeze.
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