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Polk Students Celebrate 50 Years of Poetry
The 50th Annual Polk County Schools Poetry Contest Awards ceremony took place May 11 where students and teachers were presented with the 2026 Poetry Anthology.
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Lakeland’s Squeeze Shuttle Is Going Uber-Style
The free downtown circulator will shift to app-based, on-demand rides Oct. 1, including long-awaited Dixieland service.
Search Committee Recommends Kamoutsas for Polk State President
The Polk State College Presidential Search Committee has recommended a single finalist in its search for the college’s sixth president — Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas, Florida’s current commissioner of education.
Award Winning Chefs with Lakeland Roots Prepare to Open La Piñata in Lake Morton
Owners hope to provide a “memorable and delicious dining experience” when the restaurant begins serving traditional Mexican cuisine in late summer 2026.
Mayfaire by-the-Lake 2026 Art Festival Winners Announced
Olga Nenazhivina, of Bradenton, Fla., earned “Best of Show” and a $5,000 prize at Mayfaire by-the-Lake 2026.
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Dixieland’s Alleys Move to Center Stage in New CRA Vision
Residents asked for safer crossings, slower traffic, better sidewalks, and more walkable connections.
After Months of Anticipation, Wingnutz Opens in Dixieland Thursday, May 14
Bartow native Pat Spinosa wants the Buffalo staple coming to the former Good Thyme location to keep Lakelanders in town with good wings and football.
New Wedgewood Proposal Cuts Homes, Adds Roads, and Rekindles Doubts
The developer’s latest rewrite would reduce density and improve traffic flow around Carpenter’s Way, but residents say trust remains the bigger issue.
Over 150 Artists Take to the Banks of Lake Morton for Mayfaire by-the-Lake 2026
Everything you need to know to enjoy the 54th annual arts festival, featuring painters, photographers, jewelers, fiber artists, ceramicists, glass artists, and more.
Planning a Move to Bartow, Mi Escuela Wants People to Think Differently About Montessori
The bilingual, tuition-free public charter school’s new Bartow campus will feature a student kitchen, art studio with a kiln, dance space, and gardens.
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Obituaries
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