The Junior League of Greater Lakeland is known for philanthropy projects, including the Lakeland Christmas Parade and World of Reading Festival. | Photo via @aftonlorenz
Many of Lakeland’s stories are kept alive today through historical markers found all over the city. Look out for one outside the Sorosis Building, where the City of Lakeland Historic Preservation Board + the Florida Department of State erected a historical marker in 2001.
A women’s sorority called the Sorosis Club was formed in 1922, but it needed a home to meet up at. In 1925, they purchased a plot of land by Lake Morton, had a local architect named W.B. Talley design an Italian Renaissance-style clubhouse, and had it built by 1927. Keep an eye out for a goldenrod motif around the building’s exterior — it’s the official flower of the Sorosis Club.
The building is still part of local sisterhood today, as it’s home to the Junior League of Greater Lakeland. If you want to bring a piece of history into your future, it’s also available to rent for weddings.
Expert cancer care close to home at Hollis Cancer Center
Presented by Lakeland Regional Health
Advanced cancer care doesn’t have to mean traveling far from home. | Photo provided by Lakeland Regional Health
Patients in Central Florida no longer need to travel far for advanced cancer care. At Lakeland Regional Health (LRH), fellowship-trained surgical oncologists provide expert treatment for malignant and benign digestive tract cancers, gynecologic cancers, skin cancer, and more — all at the Hollis Cancer Center.
By bringing surgical oncology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology under one roof, the center makes care more convenient for patients while allowing physicians to easily coordinate treatment plans.
Surgical oncologists at LRH use advanced technology to improve safety and outcomes, including robotic Whipple surgery, sentinel node resection for melanoma, lymphadenectomy, minimally invasive procedures, and plastic reconstruction for skin and soft tissue cancers.
“We are bringing fellowship-trained surgical oncology to you, instead of having you travel to other centers,” said Dr. Kelly Koch.
Dr. Manuel Molina-Vega adds, “We are proud to train our Graduate Medical Education residents in a health system that offers these types of innovative, advanced surgeries.”
$117,000. That’s how much the GiveWell Community Foundation + United Way of Central Florida awarded to 27 local nonprofits helping those in need of food assistance. The organizations will use the grants from the United Community Relief Fund to restock their food pantries and maintain assistance programs.
History
After nearly 90 years on Florida Southern College’s campus, the President’s Residence will have a new address. Preservationist Gregory Fancelli plans to relocate the home to a lakefront property down the street. Following necessary restorations, the home could be used as a residence again. (LkldNow)
Sports
Remember when Winter Haven’s Chain of Lakes Park was the MLB’s spring training hub? Baseball is back thanks to a $20 million overhaul. Tournaments there are expected to generate $60 million per year in economic impact. (WFTS)
Feel Good
That 716 Pizza Joint owner Phil Imperi shared a slice of comfort with families in need last month by providing 450+ meals and 52 Thanksgiving turkeys — in case you needed proof that the pies on the menu are made with love. (Bay News 9)
Arts
Viola Davis, Timothée Chalamet, and Harrison School for the Arts senior Cendall Williams — all three are now national YoungArts Award winners. This year, there were nearly 13,000 applicants, and Williams was recognized for her musical theater talents. (The Ledger)
The Word
Galacticoaster. That’s the name of Legoland’s first indoor roller coaster, which is now slated to open on Feb. 27. Until then, build your own adventure with our list of kid-friendly fun.
Seasonal
Happy almost New Year’s. We’re celebrating the countdown to 2026 with 26% off all Newsletter Text Ads and Email Banner Ads on our advertising portal. Use code COUNTDOWNTO2026 at checkout — no long-term contract required.
Finance
Lakeland drivers: Stop overpaying for car insurance and use FinanceBuzz’s free tool to see if you can save $600+ a year in minutes.*
Particle Face Cream was engineered for men to tackle skin issues in one simple step — reducing eye bags, diminishing wrinkles, brightening dark spots, hydrating, soothing after shaving, and nourishing deeply with Dead Sea minerals. Use code CITY20 for 20% off today.*
Editor’s Pick
Find native wildflowers, grasses, and more at The Nectary.
Want more from your lawn? Meet Homegrown National Park, a nationwide grassroots movement that invites property owners to restore wildlife habitats by planting sustainable species and removing invasive ones.
Here’s how it works: Swap a portion of your lawn for native plants, then watch it transform into a wildlife oasis. Registered habitats are tracked on a digital map, so you can see which Swan City neighbors are pitching in — I see fewer than 10 registered here.
Which was one of the two plays in Lakeland Community Theatre’s first season?
“The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” It also featured “Really Rosie,” but you may have caught shows like “The Glass Menagerie” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” in its later years.
Are you a fan of LALtoday’s daily games? We’ve changed up the look of our Games section in the newsletter, but the crossword, word search, sudoku, and more are still available every day. Not to brag, but I guessed yesterday’s WordroW in four attempts.
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