Metro I-4 News

Polk Community College has many activities in September and October for the celebration of Hispanic Heritage including a Hispanic Art themed exhibition.

Vilas Tonape, PCC’s new art instructor, painted a students portrait in less than one hour at the opening of the Students Art exhibition. It was an awesome experience watching him paint (video to come soon). Many students showed up for the opening, which included food from Guava Berry Bakery. The gallery is on the Lakeland PCC Campus in the Technology Building (LTB) and open Monday to Thursday at various times.

photo credit: Darby Critendon

photo credit: Tom Hagerty

Various outlets reported today that Graham Packaging will close one of two Lakeland facilities. The Pennsylvania-based company announced that it will close the McCrue Road plant on October 9. The company reported that most of the 15 employees will be eligible for severance packages and may apply at other Graham locations. Some McCrue plant employees will be transferred to the County Line Road facility.

“In July, Graham Packaging disclosed an agreement to be acquired by Texas Rangers owner Thomas O. Hicks for $700 million. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter.” — Tradingmarkets.com

If you’ve had some difficulty with broken links after our switch to Wordpress…

They should all work now. I won’t bore you with details.

Please let me know in comments if you find any other broken links.

Thanks.

Now back to posts on traffic cones, buses, breakfast, and socialists.

And isn’t it time for another look at local main stream media?

The Citrus Connection took a big step to help the Lakeland Vision process this morning. On the evening of September 22, the company will extend the bus schedules of three bus routes to help those attending the Idea Gathering meetings held at Kathleen High School.

For the 6pm to 8 pm meeting Citrus Connection will change three bus routes:

• Rt. 42, West Memorial, will have extended hours until 8:45 (route pdf)
• Rt. 41, Central Avenue, will have extended hours until 9:45 (route pdf)
• Rt. 50, Kathleen/Providence, will have extended hours until 9:45 (route pdf)

The affected routes serve those traveling to the Downtown terminal to make a connection with Rt. 42, W. Memorial, on to Kathleen High School. Routes 41 and 50 will be extended to 9:45 PM to allow those attending the meeting to travel on Route 42 back to the Downtown terminal and continue on one of the extended routes. No other routes are extended.

According to Danny Ours, executive director of Lakeland Area Mass Transit District, ADA eligible Handy Bus riders attending the event can make a reservation on any of the three routes, but must do so no later than Saturday, September 20th.

“From the beginning, we have hoped for the broadest possible involvement in these idea gathering meetings. Thanks to the flexibility of our friends at Citrus Connection, more people will have a chance to ‘make their mark’ in our planning process.” — Shannon Lanier, executive director of Lakeland Vision

Additional Information

For an article on the Idea Gathering process: Plan the Trip

For more information on Lakeland Vision

For more information about Citrus Connection mass transit RideCitrus or call at 688-RIDE (7433)

photo credit: Tom Hagerty

Evidently a transformer blew near Southgate Shopping Center. Knocked power out from Edgewood North to at least parts of South Lake Morton.

Yes. I’m typing by the light of the monitor.

Update: 8:56….That’s the longest we’ve been without power in three years. Back in Louisville, that would happen 3-4 times a tornado season.

Brian Moore, Socialist Party candidate for President, will speak tonight on “How America Can Change from Capitalism to Socialism.” After his presentation, Moore will take questions from the audience. Literature on the Socialist ticket for President will also be provided.

The Social Concerns Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland is hosting Moore as part of their weekly community forum series. Open to the public, the forum is expected to start at 7 pm, and last until 8:30.

• Directions

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland
Sanctuary Hall
3140 Troy Ave.

• Additional Reading

Independent Political Report

Vote Brian Moore

Stewart Alexander Cares

This just in from my friends at Emerge Lakeland:

Emerge Lakeland presents “Voting 101,” a professional development breakfast.

A Polk County Supervisor of Elections representative will discuss the upcoming election and voting trends, including who is voting, who isn’t, how Polk County compares and how new election laws may effect voters.

There also will be an opportunity to register to vote, update records and request an absentee ballot.

This event will be held Oct. 2, 7:45-9 a.m. at Imperial Swan Hotel & Suites. Cost is $10 for Emerge members and $15 for non-members. Credit cards can not be processed at the event. RSVP by Sept. 26 via the EMERGE website: www.emergelakeland.com. Credit card payments also can be made via the Web site.

Imperial Swan Hotel & Suites is located at 4141 S. Florida Ave.

About EMERGE Lakeland

Emerge Lakeland is a networking organization of professionals ranging in age from 21 to 42. Formed in partnership between the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Central Florida, its goal is to provide social interaction among young professionals, opportunities for philanthropic and volunteer engagement and career enrichment.

Commentary

Whoever added the barriers on Harden Blvd at North Parkway Frontage Road, I thank you.

The barriers…barely seen in the background of this cell camera photo…stop drivers on the frontage road from trying to immediately move over two lanes into the left lane of Northbound Harden Blvd.

There is a ramp there, designed to let the frontage road traffic turn right and merge onto Harden. The barrier also stops drivers on northbound Harden from immediately getting in the merge lane as they cross North Parkway Frontage Road.

The Harden Blvd and Polk Parkway interchange is one of our most accident prone intersections. Barriers and red light cameras will only do so much. We need something new to help improve drivers. Of course, I have a suggestion.

LPD stations unmarked at the corner. But, instead of tickets, drivers are immediately sent to a traffic school in the Target parking lot. Job, kids going to school, doctor’s appointment…no excuses to get out of class. The students spend an hour or two relearning what “merge” and “yield” mean and leave better drivers.

photo credit: Chuck Welch

The Florida Land Report posted today that a major land deal has closed. More than 44 acres was transfered from the Jerry Tanner family to Rooms To Go for approximately $3 million.

The tracts were sold in August 2008 with plans to expand the RTG warehouse footprint by over 700,000 SF. The approximately $16 million expansion for one of the nation’s leading furniture distributors will be the largest warehouse in Polk County. — Florida Land Report

View Larger Map

The new property is across Airport Road from the current Rooms to Go warehouse. Florida Land Report has another map.

Lakeland students participated in the first of a series of Idea Gathering Meetings for Lakeland Vision

photo credit: lakelandlocal

Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. is gearing up for its Annual Awards Dinner and Ceremony on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at Historic Bok Sanctuary.

Environmental Champion, Sadie Says “Litter Bugs Me”, Community Improvement and Adopt-A-Road Group of the year Awards will be given out at this prestigious ceremony to businesses, community groups, non-profit organizations and individuals who have a goal of cleaning up and improving communities. This includes litter prevention, beautification, minimizing the impacts of solid waste in the county and improving the general aesthetics of our county by utilizing eco-friendly methods.

If you know anyone who would qualify for these awards, please contact the Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. office to request a nomination form at (863)676-7019 or download a nomination form from the kpcbeautiful@yahoo.com home page.

Call Katie Perritt Chiappisi, Executive Director if you need descriptions of any of the above awards.

photo credit: Tom Hagerty

CommunityWalk Map - Lakeland Fl New Listing 09/06 to 09/13

Full Page Map - Lakeland Fl New Listings 09/06 to 09/13

For more information about Lakeland housing trends see: the Lakeland Real Estate Blog by Petra Norris

photo credit: Tom Hagerty