Hey, Lakeland. 👋 One of our team’s guilty pleasures is driving around different neighborhoods + looking at our dream houses.
Ya know, the house you’d live in if you could have your pick of the real estate market.
Not to mention, driving around fantasy house-hunting is a great way to get out of the house and is a social distancing approved activity.
We curated a list of our favorite million-dollar-listings on the market this spring for you to plan a fun fantasy house hunters driving tour through Lakeland. 🚗
1.) 400 Lake Hollingsworth Dr.
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| 400 Lake Hollingsworth Dr. | Photo via Keller Williams Realty Smart
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6BR/7 full bathrooms, 1 partial | $2,473,000 | This 1.69-acre property has a pool area, greenhouse, a den with a wet bar + even has a butcher block island with a view of the lake.
2.) 4488 Homewood Ln.
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| 4488 Homewood Ln. | Photo via Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Fine Living
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6BR/5 full bathrooms | $1,500,000 | This home features pure timber frame art, solid wood beams, wood pegs, and most floors are made of koa wood shipped all the way from Brazil. There is also a barn + a workshop that can easily be converted into horse stables.
3.) 1957 Heritage Estates Dr.
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| 1957 Heritage Estates Dr. | Photo via Xcellence Realty, Inc.
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5BR/6 full bathrooms, 1 partial | $1,600,000 | This Grasslands home is complete with a heated pool + spa.
Click the button below for more additional swoon-worthy homes.
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| If you were in the market, what style of house would you be looking for? |
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| Know any friends who spend their time daydreaming about fancy houses? Share these beautiful homes with them via these social share buttons.
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| Coronavirus
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○ Nearly $600K is left for Lakelanders via the City’s CARE Program. The program was originally launched in May, with $930,000 in the fund to help individuals living within the City of Lakeland pay rent + utility bills. To date, the City has received 595 applications requesting assistance. To apply for the funds, recipients must live in Lakeland, show loss of income due to COVID-19, be delinquent on rent or utility payments, and more. (The Ledger)
○ The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Florida Chamber Foundation on their Florida Prosperity Initiative. Currently, FL has nearly 900,000 children living in poverty – which is more than 20% of all of Florida’s population ~18. This number is likely to increase due to job loss caused by to COVID-19. According to Lakeland Chamber President + CEO, Cory Skeates, “With several of our Lakeland area zip codes designated as ‘economically distressed’ and many residents under the age of 18 currently living in poverty, the Chamber has made it a priority to address the many root causes of poverty such as education, housing, and access to employment.”
○ In true phoenix spirit, Florida Polytechnic University’s reopening plan has an additional emphasis on technology. Some of these include the campus adding six-foot markers on the floor, partitions, touchless entries, and the possibility of changing the airflow in the university’s building + installing air monitoring sensors. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
○ How is COVID-19 spreading in area code 33801? According to this tool from Tampa Bay Times, the number of cases in 33801 has risen. On June 16, 80 people in the zip code had contracted the virus (or 227 per 100,000 residents or 1 in every 441 people). You can enter your zip code to find more info here. (Tampa Bay Times)
○ On Wednesday, the Florida Department of Health announced 2,610 new cases of coronavirus and 25 additional deaths in Florida. That brings the total number of cases in FL of COVID-19 to 82,719, and the total deaths to 3,018. (Click Orlando)
○ Earlier this week, Gov. DeSantis stated “We’re not rolling back,” in reference to whether FL would consider rolling back any reopening efforts due to the state’s incline in coronavirus cases. In response, FL’s Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said that “Governor DeSantis has lost control of Florida’s COVID-19 response.” (The Ledger)
○ A first in the country – Florida dogs are being trained to sniff out coronavirus. Trainer Jeff Minder (a former survival instructor for the Air Force) is developing a system for his 50 dogs at Top Tier K9’s training facility in North Florida to sniff out coronavirus in areas where people congregate in big groups – like churches + airports. According to Jeff, “There are independent individual odors within that virus that these dogs are finding. We think we know exactly what part of the virus they are finding, but that’s very hard to prove.” (WFLA News Channel 8)
○ Scientists worry that the new garbage caused by the coronavirus (like masks + rubber gloves) could pollute the world’s oceans. To help solve this issue, the Environmental Protection Agency issued guidance last month for people to keep this PPE outside of recycling bins. Check out what goes in the City of Lakeland’s recycling bins here. (Tampa Bay Times)
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| Hey, there. Looking for today’s #MustDo events? In accordance with the
CDC’s recommendations regarding public gatherings, we have decided to postpone public event coverage for the time being. We look forward to bringing you Lakeland’s #MustDo events soon (until then, feel free to submit your virtual events
here).
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| #LALtoday
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Do you know who has the best buns in town? How about where to find a solid piece of ‘za?
Our friends at Haven Magazine + Lkld Haven Magazine are hosting their first-ever Best of LKLD awards.
Vote for your favorite food businesses, the best patios in town + more until July 31. Winners will be announced in the September issue of the magazine. |
| #DYK that your photo could be featured in our newsletter? Just use #LALtoday on social media.
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| News Notes
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Weather
○ 89º | PM Thunderstorms | 80% chance of rain
TodayIs
○ National Dump the Pump Day is marked each year on the third Thursday in June. Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association, the holiday encourages us to use public transportation resources for today’s commute or for running errands. ⛽
Ranked
○ Florida ranked no. 35 on WalletHub’s list of Most + Least Federally Dependent States. The results were calculated by weighing a number of factors, including state government dependency, state residents' dependency, and more. 💸 (WalletHub)
Lakelander
○ The Florida League of Cities recognized Commissioner Phillip Walker with a 2020 Home Rule Hero Award this week at the City Commission Meeting. Walker was chosen because of his efforts to promote “local voices making local choices,” his advancement of the League’s legislative agenda, and more. Walker represents Lakeland’s Northwest District and serves on Florida Municipal Insurance Trust Board + several committees and organizations. (Lakeland Chamber)
Civic
○ On Monday, the US Supreme Court ruled that LGBTQ+ workers are protected under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The ruling was 6-3. Upon the announcement, LGBTQ advocates in Polk County shared with The Ledger how they feel about the ruling + talk about experiences of those they know who have been fired due to orientation or gender. While Polk County’s current employment policy cites the 1964 Civil Rights Act in barring discrimination “on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation or belief, marital status or disability,” some officials say this may soon be updated in adherence to the court’s ruling. 🏳️🌈 (The Ledger)
TBT
○ Florida Southern College (go Mocs!) shared an early #TBT yesterday on their Instagram account, featuring the 1922 Joseph Reynolds Hall building in its early years. DYK what the oldest building on campus is?
Development
○ Thomas + Madison Brawner, a Lakeland couple, has received city approval to open a new preschool. The Lakeland commissioners voted to allow conditional use of a house at 220 Carleton St., marking the third time the Brawners sought city approval for their small business. The Brawner's plan to convert the 5 bedroom house into a preschool that can serve up to 104 students, a number that is contingent upon parking spaces provided. (The Ledger)
Job
○ Calling on all wannabe teachers. Polk County Public Schools is offering a virtual job fair today from 2-4 p.m. Connect with hiring administrators via a text-based chat to talk about the 2020-2021 academic year and how you fit into the classroom. #ProTip: Make sure to register to lock in your attendance. 🍎
Politics
○ This week the Polk County Commission voted unanimously to put two county charter amendments that were previously rejected on the general election ballot this November. The first amendment would extend how often a citizens’ Charter Review Commission would meet from every eight years to every 12 years. The second would abolish the Efficiency Commission. 🗳️ (The Ledger)
○ BusinessVoice of Greater Lakeland, a political committee that supports pro-business candidates + issues impacting the state + local business community, is accepting new members through July 1. BusinessVoice works to ensure the election of business-minded candidates to state + local office and interview candidates across various races. This year's interviews include the Florida State House + Senate, Polk County Commission, Supervisor of Elections, and the Polk County School Board. (Lakeland Chamber)
State
○ You’ve probably heard the phrase “defund the police” over the last few weeks + in Florida, it won’t be so easy. Currently, county commissioners set budgets for sheriffs’ across FL, but have little say over how the money is spent. However, if the sheriffs don’t approve of their given budget, they can appeal to the governor + Cabinet, which rarely happens. Gov. DeSantis hasn’t shared his thoughts on the movement yet, but decreased budgets from a coronavirus-impacted recession could make Gov. DeSantis an arbiter in any coming disputes. (Tampa Bay Times)
TheBuy
○ The Doggie Bag Boutique, a local boutique specializing in a variety of human-grade dog foods, dog clothes, pet dental care, and more, is having a paw-some 15% off sale this Saturday. To get the discount, all you have to do is wear your pajamas to the store (located at 1702 E. Edgewood Dr.).
Number
○ 30 million. The Southern Poverty Law Center announced an investment of up to $30 million to various voter outreach organizations in five Southern states, including Florida, in an effort to increase voter registration among people of color. Many states are noting a major decline in voter registration when compared to 2016, which may be due to social distancing + closures related to COVID-19, according to a report done by The Center for Election Innovation and Research. (Bay News 9)
Stat
○ 1 in 5. That’s how many small businesses fall victim to a cyber attack. Catapult member Joel Sierra, founder of Jed’s Tech, shares 6 ways to protect your business. Ⓟ
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| #Deal
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| Photo provided by Ancestry
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Want to think outside of the usual gift box this Father’s Day? AncestryDNA® is offering $40 off test kits now through June 21 so you can discover your family’s roots together, affordably.
AncestryDNA test kits allow for users to discover their origins (not just the countries, but even the specific regions), historical details, and DNA matches. No other DNA test connects you to as many specific places in the world or more living relatives around it. Ⓟ
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| #Shareworthy
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| The Wrap
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