Say hello to Blinky, Ollie, Polly, Toby, and Morty — we hope to see them all around town. | Image provided by City of Lakeland
Thanks to the new Learning Lakeland program, education doesn’t have to stop when the school bell rings. The City of Lakeland debuted this program, along with five animated characters, to make learning about civics more fun for kids ages 4-11.
Free downloadable booklets are available (with more to come) to keep little Lakelanders entertained + educated. There are a few topics that could even teach grown-ups a thing or two, like:
How Lakeland’s water treatment works
The history of Lake Morton’s swans
How to safely cross at a roundabout
This isn’t Toby’s first time on the town, either — here he is in last year’s Lakeland Christmas Parade.
Photo by LALtoday
Keep an eye out around town for the Learning Lakeland Explorers: Toby the Turtle, Morty the Swan, Ollie the Otter, Polly the Pollinator, and Blinky the Alligator — inspired by the real-life reptile that was once Lakeland’s “communal pet.”
Give the booklets a look and see how much your kids (or even you) can learn about Swan City. Loving them? Snap a photo of your family using Learning Lakeland + share it with the city.
Asked
Asked
Which of these is not a fact from Learning Lakeland?
A. Lakeland’s swans were delivered from England in 1957. B. Downtown’s oldest building is the Terrace Hotel. C. Most local water comes from the Floridan Aquifer. D. Lake Parker, Lakeland’s largest lake, covers 2,185 acres.
“Twilight” Trivia with Tower 10 Burger | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free+ | This is the skin of a trivia whiz, Bella — how well do you know this series?
Sunset Dance Series | 7-10 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free | Thanks to instruction from pros Ronny + Jennifer Moquea, you can salsa dance the night away at the Event Center.
Thursday, Aug. 14
Silent Book Club | 5:30-7 p.m. | Pressed LKLD | Free+ | Bring a book of your own — or buy one from the bookshop — and read it in a quiet atmosphere.
Friday, Aug. 15
Friday Fest - “Back To School” | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Bartow | Free+ | Join this street party for food + craft vendors, a school-themed photobooth, and live music by Spankin’ Sadie.
Saturday, Aug. 16
Pottery Show: Rachelle Eason | 2-7 p.m. | Marvelous Mud Pottery Studio | Price of purchase | Shop functional pottery, ceramic sculptures, and plant-stained paper art to benefit this studio’s expansion.
Purrs & Popcorn Movie Night | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Kitty Cat Lounge | $15 | Curl up in the cat room for a showing of “The Cat from Outer Space.”
Sunday, Aug. 17
2025 Walk/Run 5K “Que Vivan los Niños” | 7-8:30 a.m. | Thomas B. Mack Park | $30 | Proceeds from this race will go toward treatment for children in Guatemala fighting cancer.
Dixieland Mid-Day Market | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Union Hall | Price of purchase | Bakers, makers, and entertainers will be on hand for weekend shopping.
Ask your physician about telehealth appointments for an added layer of convenience. | Photo via Lakeland Regional Health
Like having a go-to hairstylist at the salon, or a barista who knows your order before you reach the counter, having a trusted healthcare partner makes all the difference when you aren’t feeling your best.
Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) at Lakeland Regional Health are the first line of defense, whether you aren’t feeling well, have a specific concern, or need an annual wellness exam.
Why should you have a PCP?
PCPs provide medical expertise when you need it the most. With a comprehensive understanding of your health history, PCPs help prevent small issues from becoming bigger problems and can coordinate a specialist visit if it becomes necessary.
Why choose LRH?
Convenience: With 10+ primary care offices across five cities, it’s easy to find a location near you.
Availability: LRH is accepting new patients, providing walk-in care, and offering same-day appointments.
Offices are open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the Morrell location offers walk-in care and same day appointments.
Southeastern University broke ground on its future Robert and Sandra Graper Early Childhood Center yesterday, which will offer classical education for children up to 4 years old. SEU College of Education students will also get hands-on experience working there when it opens next fall on South Crystal Lake Drive.
Ranked
No. 498. That’s where Auburndale-based Ultra Cryo & Recovery ranks on this year’s Inc. 5000 list of the country’s fastest-growing companies. The business focuses on cryotherapy + wellness, and it saw a three-year revenue growth rate of 813%.
Environment
Mosaic has received permits to construct exploratory wells to research if it can inject wastewater 8,000 ft underground. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection + Mosaic will answer questions at public meetings happening Sept. 9-10 at the Bartow Agricultural Arena. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Edu
Families were all smiles on the first day of school at Elbert Elementary School, which has reopened in Winter Haven with a fresh look. The school has been closed for the past two years while undergoing a $62 million rebuild. Now, it has space for 900 students. (WFTS)
Biz
Get your ears pierced while you still can. Claire’s announced that it may close 1,100+ stores nationwide soon, including its locations at Lakeside Village and the Lakeland Square Mall. If you’re ready for the real thing, check out a locally owned jewelry store. (The Ledger)
Sports
USA Waterski and Wake Sports is teaming up with Ann’s Angels Adaptive Waterski Foundation to host a clinic for disabled veterans on Saturday, Aug. 23. Register for a spot, then head out to Lake Silver in Winter Haven for a day on the waves.
Mailbag
Everybody loves a sequel. The new Barnes & Noble won’t be Lakeland’s first — there was another in north Lakeland until 2010. One reader wrote in to say, “In fact, when they tore down the BN, my husband got me a chunk of it because I love BN so much!”
Feel Good
For Lakelander Erika Gilbert, horsing around is a good thing. She’s made it her mission to save horses from slaughterhouses by giving them a new life at Grune Heidi Farm Rescue on Swindell Road. Check out a few of the horses available for adoption. (Bay News 9)
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Read
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Category
Edu
📦 Welcome back, Swan City students
This photo from the library’s Ledger archives shows students moving into Florida Southern in 1985. | Photo via Lakeland Public Library
Let the great migration begin. After returning home for the summer, thousands of students will soon start the time-honored tradition of college move-in days in Lakeland.
Whether you’re the bright-eyed student, the family member assigned to carry their coffee machine (and not to say anything embarrassing), or just a driver looking to avoid traffic, here are the dates to know for Lakeland’s three residential colleges.
Southeastern University
Friday, Aug. 22-Saturday, Aug. 23 Expect traffic: Crystal Lake Drive, Bartow Road, Combee Road
Florida Southern College
Saturday, Aug. 23-Monday, Aug. 25 Expect traffic: Lake Hollingsworth Drive, South Florida Avenue, Frank Lloyd Wright Way
Pro tip: This is also prime shopping time at big box stores — plan accordingly if you’re making any Target or Walmart runs during these dates.
The Buy
This summer, make every weekend count with Groupon. Score up to 70% off chef-curated experiences, wine tastings, riveting tours + attractions, spa days that melt the dress away, and more.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
It’s safe to say I’m obsessed with Lakeland’s new characters. Here’s hoping they all get the Toby treatment with full-size characters in the next parade. I volunteer for a shift inside.
‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, and prevent any disease.
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