December 2014 Access Lakeland by City of Lakeland

30290-I-0151

A RECIPE FOR FIRE SAFETY BEWARE OF KITCHEN FIRES

HOLLIS GARDEN

A HABITAT FOR BUTTERFLIES

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

CINDY SHARP CRIME PREVENTION SUPERVISOR

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LPD SWAT TEAM

INTERNATIONAL GRAND CHAMPIONS

A RECIPE FOR FIRE SAFETY

Cooking fires and fires that begin in the kitchen are the leading cause of home fires in the United States and that holds true for Lakeland too. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home injuries and are the third leading cause of fire deaths in the nation, responsible for 480 fire deaths each year. Since January 1, 2014 of the 100 building fires in the Lakeland Fire Department’s service area to date, 52 of those have been attributed to kitchen fires. This alarming trend of over half of the fires in Lakeland beginning in the kitchen is why the department is reminding all residents how to prevent kitchen fires and what to do in the event that a kitchen fire occurs. Ingredients for Safety: Cook with Caution • Be alert • Stay in the kitchen when cooking • Check what you are cooking regularly • Keep anything that can catch fire (oven mitts, towels, utensils, etc.) away from the stovetop If it does go up in flames: • Get Out • Dial 9-1-1 • Keep a lid nearby to smother grease fires if small enough • Fire in the oven? Turn the heat off and keep the oven door closed Cooking with Oils? Be Extra Careful: Oil is a key ingredient found in the majority of today’s kitchens. Whether a recipe calls for frying or sautéing, we include oil in almost all of our daily cooking. When using any of the many oils to prepare your meals like olive, canola, corn or soybean, consider the following safety tips when cooking: • Always stay in the kitchen when using oil; no exceptions • Smoke coming from oils is a sign of danger. It means the oil is too hot so immediately turn off the burner or remove pan from heat source • Add foods gently to avoid splatter which often leads to injury • Always cook with a lid nearby. Grease/Oil fires are very dangerous and adding water in an attempt to extinguish it will cause the grease to splatter which will only help the fire spread. If the oil does combust, we recommend you: • Smother the fire with a lid if fire is small enough • Use an extinguisher capable of handling grease fires or, • Quickly evacuate and dial 9-1-1 for assistance. The Lakeland Fire Department also reminds you that every home needs working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms will warn you of a possible fire in your home and are proven to save lives. The department offers free smoke alarms to those in need. More information about the LFD Smoke Alarms Program and fire safety, including more about kitchen fires, is available at www.lakelandgov.net/lfd.

CITY OF LAKELAND NEWS & EVENTS

DECEMBER 2014

CITY SUCCESSES: TELLING OUR STORY

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently recognized The Lakeland Center for being the first venue in the nation to achieve both the Storm Ready and Lightning Safety for Venues designations. The project was completed with the generous support of Polk County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service office in Ruskin. Brandon Flynn, Guest Services Manager for The Lakeland Center, created a comprehensive communication plan designed to keep both patrons and employees safe in the event of severe weather. Through his coordination, the Lakeland Center received this prestigious dual certification. Congratulations to The Lakeland Center for this accomplishment and for making the City of Lakeland a safer place!

www.lakelandelectric.com

@mylakelandelectric LAKELAND ELECTRIC OFFERS $200 REBATE

FOR ATTIC INSULATION

Lakeland Electric is offering a $200 rebate to residential customers that upgrade their attic insulation. Customers must have an inspection done by Lakeland Electric before installing additional insulation. A Lakeland Electric Energy Analyst will inspect attic insulation and issue the rebate certificate. The amount of insulation (R value) to be added will be stated on the certificate. The customer can use any of the insulation contractors in our area or self install. The rebate is available for customers that have an R-19 or less and the total R-value achieved must be R-30 or greater to qualify. For more information: http://www.lakelandelectric.com/Customers/SaveEnergy/Rebates

ROUND UP FOR PROJECT CARE Visit lakelandelectric.com to sign up today!

We may not have basted the turkey or mashed the potatoes, but we will be there to help you serve up one of the best holiday feasts ever. When it comes to power quality and reliability, we understand the important role that energy plays in your everyday life. Lakeland Electric has one of the highest reliability ratings for all utilities. In fact, you can count on Lakeland Electric for quality services that benefit your quality of life. We’ll even stay around to help with the dishes.

And that’s something to be thankful for!

As a City-owned utility, our goal is to provide Lakeland with reliable electric service but we also feel it is our responsibility to help improve the quality of life for our customers. To help our fellow citizens in need, a program called Project Care was developed to assist people with paying their utility bills. Lakeland Electric customers who are 60 and older and/or disabled are eligible for assistance. Lakeland Electric is pleased to offer a convenient program that provides assistance to those less fortunate. Round Up for Project Care is a voluntary program that allows Lakeland Electric customers an opportunity to help low income senior and disabled members of the community. Through the Round Up program, Lakeland Electric customers can choose to automatically round up their utility bills to the next highest dollar amount. For example, a participating customer’s monthly bill of $245.34 would be automatically rounded up to $246.00, with the additional 66 cents going to Round Up for Project Care. Each month the donation will vary, depending on the amount of your utility bill. There will be a separate line on your utility bill indicating the amount donated to Round Up for Project Care for that particular month. The minimum amount you contribute each month is one cent, and the maximum is 99 cents. The maximum any customer can contribute in a year is $11.88 ($0.99 x 12 months). If you are interested in participating in the Round Up program, please call Customer Service at 834.9535 or visit www. lakelandelectric.com and fill out the short form.

YOUR SMALL CHANGE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERNCE!

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LakelandPD UP CLOSE

The sworn and civilian members of the Lakeland Police Department take pride in the work they do and continue to protect and serve this community with a Commitment to Excellence. In an effort to increase transparency with the community, LPD created a new video series this year to give citizens an in-depth and behind-the-scenes look into its operations and meet its personnel. The video series, called LakelandPD – Up Close, is produced in conjunction with the City of Lakeland’s Communications Department. Up Close highlights a unit or function of the Police Department. Some of the segments covered this year include the special purpose vehicle, crime scene unit, emergency telecommunications, property and evidence, patrol unit and officer-involved shooting. Attendees of Chief’s Chat, the Lakeland Police Department’s monthly community forum, are first to view the exciting new video. Chief’s Chat is held on the first Monday of the month in the LPD Community Room located at 219 N. Massachusetts Avenue. Up Close is also used to lead discussions during Chief’s Chat. WATCH IT NOW: http://www.lakelandgov.net/lpd http://www.youtube.com/LakelandPD LGN (Channel 615 on Bright House | Channel 43 on Verizon FiOS)

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Hollis Garden Recognized as Butterfly Garden

Hollis Garden was just recognized by the North American Butterfly Association as an officially certified butterfly garden because of the garden’s resources that help increase the world’s population of butterflies. The certification of Hollis Garden as a butterfly habitat reinforces the fact that the garden supplies food and shelter for all stages of a butterfly’s life. Providing caterpillar food plants, butterfly nectar plants, and about half a day’s worth of sun are the basic elements of a butterfly garden. The City of Lakeland’s Parks & Recreation Department is dedicated to promoting habitats for butterflies as well as other pollinators. Pam Page, Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation said, “Butterflies supply a vast food source for predators and they are significant plant pollinators. They also have an aesthetic value because of their beauty and fluttering colorful wings.” In order to be considered for the Butterfly Garden Certification Program, a garden must meet the following requirements: • At least three different native caterpillar food plants must be grown, preferably more than one plant of each selected species. • At least three different native butterfly nectar sources must be grown, preferably more than one plant of each selected species. • The use of pesticides is discouraged. Pesticides can kill butterflies as well as other important pollinators. Page said, “We have made a conscious effort to increase butterfly producing plants at not only Hollis Garden but in many of our plantings throughout the City.” She added, “We are very proud to be recognized by the North American Butterfly Association for our efforts.

CITY OF LAKELAND EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

CINDY SHARP

CRIME PREVENTION SUPERVISOR

Meet Cindy Sharp, an 18 year employee of the City of Lakeland’s Police Department. Sharp began as a part time employee in the Neighborhood Watch division. She thoroughly enjoyed her behind the scenes job, happy to never be in the spotlight. With a little encouragement from her supervisor, Sharp applied for the Crime Prevention Practitioner job opening. A short two months after beginning with the City, Sharp became a full-time employee and had to get adjusted to the spotlight. Sharp says, “Because I love serving, I am able to put aside my nervousness and get in front of people.” Whether speaking to a retirement community or kindergarteners, Sharp has learned how to adapt no matter the audience. Every day is different for Sharp. One day she may be at a drug house that is getting boarded up or welcoming a new neighborhood to the Neighborhood Watch Association. Sharp is also committed to working with community members and businesses to identify ways to better protect their property and themselves from criminal activity. Sharp is instrumental in preparing for the annual Lakeland Police Department’s Open House which showcases the many services available to the community. A program that is near and dear to her heart is Cops for Kids. In its eighth year, Cops for Kids has provided Christmas toys to hundreds of children that would otherwise go without. Through various fundraisers and events, toys and monetary donations are collected. With the monetary donations, Sharp and other members of the police department are able to go shopping for presents. Another holiday campaign that Sharp enjoys is Lock It or Lose it. Sharp, who is now a supervisor, and her team will disperse 2,500 to 3,000 rolls of gift wrap tape on Black Friday

and throughout the Christmas season. As vehicle burglaries are at a high during the holiday season, the tape will serve as a reminder -“Lock it up so you can wrap it up!” Sharp has been married to her husband Tony for 26 years. Between them, they have six children and 17 grandchildren! With after hour work related functions and spending time with family, Sharp has little quiet time. When she does though, she “loves, loves, loves to crochet”. All the children and 15 of the grandchildren have blankets made by Sharp, known affectionately as Gigi. A self-proclaimed dog lover, it’s surprising to learn that Sharp has eight kitties. It all started when her husband brought home a three week old kitten that had been abandoned. Little Sophie was obviously just the beginning. Along came Ziggy, Herbie, Tinker, Isabella, Razzmatazz, Daisy and Bugsy. Asked if all the cats sleep with her and Tony, Sharp gives a little grin. Apparently, their babies have self-assigned spots in the bed and don’t like it when someone tries to take their space. Along with crocheting and cats, Sharp loves to cook. She fondly recalled a Christmas tradition with her children when they baked hundreds of Christmas cookies. Once the cookies were complete, they would visit their elderly neighbors, sing Christmas carols and deliver the freshly baked goods. When it comes to Sharp’s favorite thing to eat, baked macaroni and cheese is the winner. However, a big plate of crab legs from Red Lobster while being serenaded by country artists Rascal Flatts or Little Big Town would have her on cloud nine! It’s clear to see Sharp has a real heart for the citizens of Lakeland. Thank you so much for all you do!

LPD SWAT TEAM - 2014 SWAT Round-Up International Grand Champions Congratulations to the Lakeland Police Department’s SWAT team. The team came in FIRST PLACE at the 2014 SWAT Round-Up International Competition last month. The team of eight competed against 51 other agencies from across the globe. This makes six wins since 2000 for the department! Team Members: Sgt Pat Guity • Sgt Bob Bernhardt • Sgt Brent Addison • Sgt Bryan McNabb Det Jasper Yzaguirre • Det Mike Glass • Officer Kolby Hodge • Officer Preston Chatmon

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:

CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF:

CHRISTMAS: DECEMBER 25-26, 2014

NO SOLID WASTE PICKUP ON DEC 25. Collection will occur one day later for remainder of week.

The Lakeland Police Department Welcomes Nine New Officers

NEW YEAR’S DAY: JANUARY 1, 2015

Congratulations to Brenda Crispin, Duy Dao, Parker Harvey, Jeffrie Hernandez, Kent Kulcher, Joel Mailly, Travis Miller, John Renew and Allen Wasmund - All new members of the Lakeland Police Department family. The officers were recently sworn in after completing the department’s Mini Academy and have now begun the Field Training portion of the program. We wish them the best in their new careers.

NO SOLID WASTE PICKUP ON JAN 1. Collection will occur one day later for remainder of week.

MLK: JANUARY 19, 2015 NO CHANGE TO ANY SERVICE.

STAY CONNECTED

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

City Hall • 863.834.6000 Lakeland Electric Customer Service • 863.834.9535 Power or Water Outages • 863.834.4248 Pollution Hotline • 863.834.3300 LPD Crime Tips Hotline • 863.834.2549 LPD (Non-Emergency) • 863.834.6900 PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILL: ONLINE | www.lakelandelectric.com BY PHONE | 863.834.9535 IN PERSON | Lakeland Electric has partnered with over 50 local businesses including area AMSCOT offices to accept your utility payment.