Bring the map along with you to dive into the stories behind monuments like this. | Photo by LALtoday
Lakeland’s streets were filled with cheers during this past weekend’s Veterans Day parade, but if you’re looking for a quiet moment of reflection today, head to Veterans Memorial Park.
This small, peaceful park on Lake Beulah Drive is packed with meaningful tributes to Polk County veterans and others who have made an impact on our country’s history.
Explore the park before visiting with the city’s interactive map. You’ll find 14 monuments and memorials representing many groups, from the Buffalo Soldiers who camped out on Lake Wire to the organizations that support Polk’s 60,000+ veterans.
Read the stories of locals who served our country and look for their resting places.
Learn about more local veterans at Oak Hill Burial Park off of US Highway 98 South. The city offers a veteran’s memorial tour of the park’s three sections: Temple Emanuel, Laurel Hill, and Oak Hill.
Bring along this map to locate the graves of military members like Kate Winn Carver, Jimmie Lee Mosely, and the Wolfson Brothers, and get to know their stories along the way.
Flying out of LAL soon? The airport shared that it is not on the list of airports impacted by the FAA’s travel cuts, and flights are scheduled for all eight of its destinations this month. In a Facebook post, it asked travelers to check in with Avelo Airlines for any flight updates.
Development
Bonnet Springs Park will bring back its Light Up BSP holiday event in 2026 after adding more guest parking. The park will get $1.5 million from the state to add around 375 spaces, with the first new lot near the Welcome Center set to open by February. (LkldNow)
Edu
Meet Kate Wallace, the newest member of the Polk County School Board. Wallace was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the seat of Rick Nolte, who died this August. The Lakelander will finish Nolte’s term, but she would have to run next year for another. (The Ledger)
Biz
A century home in the Dixieland historic district will soon be the new office for R. Nickson Interiors. This interior design firm, which has been featured by Martha Stewart and Architectural Digest, is known for residential + commercial design — just check out its latest lakefront project.
Award
PCPS’ School-Related Employee of the Year is Angelica Ortiz, school nutrition manager at Winston Academy of Engineering in Lakeland. The district applauded the efficiency of “the captain of the cafeteria,” but it also said Ortiz’s welcoming heart for students + staff made her stand out.
Open
IKEA has opened its planning center at Best Buy in north Lakeland. Book an appointment to design living spaces, storage solutions, kitchens, and more with a consultant. Pro tip: You can pick up the pieces you purchase from Best Buy without shipping fees, too.
Outdoors
Steer clear of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve Hampton Tract on Rock Ridge Road from Tuesday, Nov. 18 to Thursday, Nov. 20. A small group of permitted hunters will use the area for a feral hog hunt to cut down on habitat damage. Find a hog-less hike.
Sports
The AMA Partzilla ArenaCross Series events scheduled for this weekend at the RP Funding Center have been postponed. A new date is TBA, but motocross fans can still get their fill of thrills at the Bone Valley ATV Park in Mulberry.
Registration is now open for the Promise Run, supporting Lakeland Regional Health’s Hollis Cancer Center. The event is set for March 7, 2026, and includes a 10K and 5K race. Learn more + sign up.*
Job
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Read
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Category
Editor’s Pick
We’re peachy keen on The Peach House for a celebratory dinner.
Let’s go, GNO. Reader Cari T. reached out to us, saying, “I’m from out of state. Any recommendations of a nice restaurant for dinner to celebrate 40 years of friendship?” The friend group is also looking for a girls’ night out spot.
Forty years of friendship is worth going all out, so I sent along my top restaurant recommendations (Nineteen61, Scarpa’s, The Peach House, and the Terrace Grille). Now, I’m coming to you for girls’ night out ideas. Share your favorite activities and places for your crew to gather, and we’ll share the best hits in a future newsletter.
Nordstrom Rack’s Holiday Gift Guide is here. Shop some of the season’s best deals on stocking stuffers, top-rated gift sets, cashmere favorites, and unique fashion finds. Five can’t-miss deals from the guide include:
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.
I always love hearing from readers who don’t live in Lakeland but like to keep up with Swan City’s happenings. Whether you’re a seasonal snowbird, frequent visitor, or future resident getting a feel for the area, slide into our inbox to say hi and let me know where you’re reading from.
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