LOCAL NEWS

WORDS Kimberly C. Moore/LkldNow.com

BONNET SPRINGS PARK ANNOUNCES OPENING DATE: OCT. 22

Lakeland is now just four months away from the much-anticipated grand opening of a 168-acre, privately funded public park. Officials with Bonnet Springs Park announced that the park on the east shore of Lake Bonnet will open for visitors on October 22. Developers have spent $110 million to completely transform an old railroad maintenance yard into a sprawling green space that leads to the edge of a peaceful lagoon. Concerts are planned for The Great Lawn, while visitors can plan to enjoy a large playground for children, biking and walking paths, a butterfly conservatory, a wooden walkway through the tree line, meals in several locations, and even a rooftop bar.

FUEL CHARGE ON LAKELAND ELECTRIC BILLS RISING IN JULY

Lakeland Electric’s fuel charge will increase July 1 from $40 per 1,000 kilowatt hours to $60. The change, necessitated by increases in natural gas costs, was approved on a Monday in June by the Lakeland City Commission. For a typical homeowner, that will mean a $20 increase in the monthly bill, a utility spokeswoman told News Channel 8. Without the increase, “We would have had to draw into our day’s cash on hand, which makes us not as financially stable,” Lakeland Electric’s Cathryn Lacy said. The rate is reviewed every three months, and this is the highest it has been since 2009.

ARTIST DEPICTS LAKELAND ICON, WINS TOP AWARD

The mid-century modern, 70-foottall orange arch and green slash, with Southgate scrawled across it in white, has long been an icon of the South Florida Avenue shopping center. Since it was built in 1957, it’s made appearances in the films “Edward Scissorhands” and “The One and Only Ivan.” Now it is part of an award-winning painting by Lakeland artist Karla Pirona. Southgate earned first place in the Faces and Places regional juried show at Art Center Sarasota on June 8. Pirona immigrated to the United States from Venezuela in 2017 and now calls South Lakeland home. She is currently working on more paintings showing her adopted hometown. For more information, visit: pironapainters.com.

CITY GIVES A THUMBS DOWN TO LAKE MIRIAM APARTMENTS

The Lakeland City Commission voted 5-2 to deny Publix and a partnering developer a zoning change that would have allowed them to build a 211-unit apartment complex along Lake Miriam Drive. The commission cited a massive change in the square footage of impact, along with adding transportation impacts to an overcrowded road that is “already failing.” Mayor Bill Mutz and City Commissioner Chad McLeod were the two commissioners who were in favor of green-lighting the controversial project that has been discussed for months by the planning and zoning board, along with the city commissioners.

POLK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CELEBRATES LGBTQ+ PRIDE

The Polk County School Board meeting room was awash in rainbow colors on a Tuesday evening in June for the district’s annual Pride Proclamation. School Board member Kay Fields read the district’s proclamation: “The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students within Polk County contribute to this vibrant, innovative, culturally-inclusive, world-class community and to its diversity.” Kerri McCoy thanked Superintendent Frederick Heid and the School Board members “for letting our LGBTQ+ kids and their families know that they are accepted here at Polk County Schools.”

CNBC SPOTLIGHTS SUCCESSFUL LAKELAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Cable titan CNBC featured Lakeland-based photographer Grace Jicha Torres in an article and video titled, “This 23-year-old spent $45,000 to become a wedding photographer — now she makes $177,000 per year.” The article describes how Torres, a Southeastern University grad, applied a strong work ethic to elevate her passion for photography from a hobby to a side hustle to a successful business. Gracetorresphoto.com

POLK SCHOOLS CONSIDER OFFERING MORE SPORTS

Especially for girls, Polk County Public Schools is considering adding four sports to its lineup of offerings at high schools in the coming years to stem a decline in girls sports participation and to ensure adherence to federal Title IX requirements. PCPS athletic officials have said they are researching offering girls flag football, girls beach volleyball, boys and girls bowling, and boys volleyball for the 2023-2024 school year. In addition, officials are hoping to add competitive cheer this upcoming school year, but that will take winning an appeal to the Florida Department of Education. Several of those sports are played at colleges and in the Olympics.

PAWSITIVE IMPACT: CAT CAFÉ TREND FINDS ITS WAY TO LAKELAND

Cat cafés, where adopting a feline becomes a social experience, are becoming popular in Lakeland. Botany Cats, a mobile cat lounge, already opened, and two more cat cafés, Purrology Café, and Kitty Cat Lounge, are in the works. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said it welcomes the help. As of June 1, 2022, it had 379 cats in its shelter. Every Saturday, it offers free adoptions of all of its animals. Janette DeLoach, 25, of Lakeland, a former veterinary nurse, opened Botany Cats on Feb. 8, 2022, and since then has seen 23 cats from her lounge adopted.

ANOTHER REPUBLICAN LEAVES PRIMARY FOR AN OPEN U.S. HOUSE SEAT

A once-crowded Republican primary field for an open U.S. House seat that will represent the western half of Lakeland continues to shrink. Jerry Torres, a new Lakeland resident who has pledged to spend up to $15 million on his campaign, has switched races. He decided to run instead against Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Torres’ announcement comes after former U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross left the race for the District 15 seat that stretches from western Lakeland to eastern Tampa. There are still six Republicans vying for the seat, including high-profile politicians such as Kelli Stargel of Lakeland, Jackie Toledo of Tampa, and Laurel Lee of Thonotosassa.

TOMKOW WILL FACE A GOP PRIMARY OPPONENT

State Rep. Josie Tomkow of Polk City has picked up an opponent in the Republican primary for District 51, which includes portions of Lakeland north of Old Polk City Road. Bill Olsen of Davenport had earlier planned for a rematch against Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, to whom he lost 44% to 56% in 2020. However, he decided to shoot for the Florida House after eastern Polk was removed from U.S. House District 9 earlier this year, Florida Politics reports.