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Weather
○ 88º | PM T-storms | 60% chance of rain
○ Smoke from the ongoing blaze of wildfires in the west has impacted everywhere else in the adjoining US – except for Florida. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says one reason that the smoke is being kept at bay, may be due to the circulation around Hurricane Sally. Reports from last Sunday on air quality in Polk County + Lakeland remain “good.” (Tampa Bay Times)
Watch
○ Yesterday, mayors from Polk County cities met for Polk Vision’s 10th Annual Mayor’s Round Table, where they discussed topics surrounding their cities. Some of these conversations included COVID-19, the 2020 census, affordable housing, transportation, and more. You can watch a recap of the full meeting here.
Community
○ The choice is yours: Broncos, Colts, or Trailblazers? Polk County Public Schools needs your help in deciding on a mascot for a new high school opening up in August 2021 in Davenport. The mascot options are based around the area’s history, as the land the school is being built on was previously a horse rescue and breeding property. The school board will review the choices at the end of September. 🐴
DYK
○ This week marks Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month? First recognized in the US in 1989, Sept. 15 is technically the first day of the commemorative month, as that is the day Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua – celebrate their independence. While this year’s festival is cancelled, Club Hispano de Lakeland is still planning to give away $10,000 in scholarships to Polk County Public School students who graduate in 2021. Scholarship applications will be available on the club’s website at a later date.
Development
○ The City of Winter Haven is in phase two of construction on the Lake Conine Recreation Project – which includes recreational activities. City officials are currently in the process of preparing a Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program Grant Application for funding pending amenities like a paved trail system, playground, fishing pier, kayak launch, picnic facilities, and more. You can check out the full conceptual site plan here. If interested, attend the in-person open house on Sept. 22 at the Wilfred Smith Resource Center (135 Ave. Y NE) from 6-7 p.m.
ComingSoon
○ Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux – a sports bar with Louisiana cuisine – is headed to Lakeland at 3770 US Hwy 98 N. Chow down on complimentary bites + take home swag at the groundbreaking ceremony on Thurs., Sept. 24. While you may have to wait until next spring for the restaurant to open, you can start dreaming about Boudin Balls, Voodoo Shrimp and Grits, and Louisiana Street Corn now. 😋
Biz
○ Amazon’s newest facility in Auburndale opened yesterday, offering 500 new jobs to the Polk County region. ICYMI: Catch up on what’s been happening in Polk’s warehouse scene here.
Number
○ $10,000. That’s how much Lakeland-based startups can apply for in micro-grants with Catapult Lakeland’s Launch Program. Submit your application by Oct. 26 and pitch your plan in a Shark Tank-like setting (except, nicer). Check out the application requirements here. 🦈
TryThis
○ Drive-thru Halloween festivities. #SpookySzn may look a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely cancelled. Central Florida will play home to events like Drive-in Halloween movies at Old Town, Scream n' Stream, the Haunted Road + more. 👻 (Click Orlando)
TheWord
○ “The Invasive Aquatic Chomper.” That’s the new name of the City of Lakeland’s aquatic plant harvester boat, courtesy of Isaac Kendricks – a fifth-grader at Excel Christian Academy. The boat will be used to remove invasive species and for water ecology maintenance + restoration.
Drink
○ It’s #NegroniWeek – one week out of the year when thousands of venues around the world participate + raise money for charities by selling the popular Campari, gin + vermouth-based cocktail and donating a portion of sales revenue to a local non-profit. In honor of the week, Revival (119 S. Kentucky Ave.) has created the “New-Groni,” which includes Waterloo Antique Barrel Aged Gin, Aperol, Antica Sweet Vermouth, and Bitter Girl Bitters Batch One. 🍹
Cause
○ After working 300 hours on other people's homes, Polk County mother of six, Allison, finally has her dream home, built by Habitat For Humanity. The house was furnished with a brand new car and is accessible for Allison’s family, as a few of her children have special needs. (Bay News 9)
Home
○ September marks the start of hygge season in our minds – regardless of the temps outside. From lighting to aromatherapy, here are 6 easy ways to make your home feel warm + cozy. 🏡 Ⓟ
Event
○ The ABCs of Art History | Thu., Sept. 17 | 6-7 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art | Virtual | Free | Brush up on your art knowledge through this crash course webinar + strengthen your art vocabulary one letter at a time with the help of four art historians. 🖼️
Find more of this week’s local events in our September PlanAhead.
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Disclaimer: It is up to readers’ discretion to determine whether they feel comfortable participating in any mentioned events based on COVID-19 protocols and precautions. If you have questions, please contact the event’s organizers directly.
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○ To help her three-year-old son understand the changes happening in the world due to the pandemic, Polk County Public Schools teacher, Lyndsay Gendreau, wrote: “C Is For Coronavirus.” The Sand Hill Elementary teacher turned to independent graphic artists for help with illustrations + self-published through Amazon. The children’s book talks about mask-wearing, social-distancing, and more, and is available on Amazon + Barnes & Noble. (10 Tampa Bay)
○ Lakeland Restaurant Week has been rescheduled to Jan. 25-31 2021, due to COVID-19 concerns. Restaurants with lower cost menus are also able to join next year’s event by offering a $20, three-course prix fixe menu. More information – including which restaurants will be at the event – will be shared in the coming weeks. Stay up-to-date at www.LakelandRestaurantWeek.com.
○ The City of Winter Haven has extended the COVID-19 mask mandate for an additional 30 days – through Oct. 15. Commissioners are planning to further explore data + engage in talks with local health experts to eventually lift the mandate. (The Ledger)
○ While federal guidelines still mandate that nursing home staff be tested for COVID-19, the staff at assisted-living facilities in Florida no longer have to be. This is due to the expiration of a state rule requesting that assisted-living facilities routinely test staff. (Tampa Bay Times)
○ Due to COVID-19, FL lawmakers are looking at a multi-billion dollar revenue shortfall, the tourism industry will take a couple of years to recover, and it will take several more years for unemployment rates to fall under 4%. However, according to economists, Florida’s COVID-19 recovery will not last as long as the Great Recession + the state is still better positioned than other states. (Tampa Bay Times)
○ On Wednesday, the Florida Department of Health announced 2,355 new cases of COVID-19 and 152 additional deaths in Florida. That brings the total number of cases in FL of COVID-19 to 671,201 + the total deaths to 12,939. You can find more updates on the Florida Department of Health dashboard. See Lakeland numbers here.
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Photo provided by The Bouqs Co.
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