Longtime readers of Metro I4 News will remember when we reblogged the best writers of the I4 corridor. During that time, one of the most prolific and read writers was Robert Pickering over at Interstate4Jamming. After we converted to an (almost) all-original format we really missed having Robert's insights. Recently, Billy Townsend sought out Robert and spoke to him about rejoining MI4. This morning I met with Billy and Robert to discuss the particulars. Based on the headline above, you won't be surprised Robert wrote the following today over at I4Jamming:
This morning we updated the Metro i4 News look to reflect our other sites. Mi4 and sister sites, Lakeland Local and The Arts in Lakeland use Wordpress and the Digital Statement theme. The color scheme is consistent on all sites, but some small changes to reflect different focus.
A new map for MetroI4News.com readers. The following is a map of the Winter Haven homes sold last month. An extra special bonus is the write-up from Kevin Sandridge, FloridaMortgageBlogger.com • Full size November 2008 Winter Haven Homes Sold Greetings! Kevin Sandridge, here. I'm starting something new this month - a Winter Haven, Florida Area Monthly Home Sales Market Report. Lord willing, and the creek don't rise... these will be available the first part of every month forward! I first got the idea from our good friend and Lakeland, Florida Realtor Petra Norris, who issues a similar report for the Lakeland, Florida area. Petra has graciously agreed to provide the raw home sales data, and Metro I-4's Own Journalist Extraordinaire and all 'round good "Human" Mr. Chuck Welch will be mapping out the homes sold via his interactive map. Very cool stuff! Some Points of Clarification Homes Sold Defined: For the purposes of this report, the term "homes sold" refers to Single Family Homes and Condominiums. Figures do not include "for sale by owner" homes. Area Covered: The geographic area covered in this report edition is confined to the Winter Haven, Florida area. Zip Codes Covered (Edition Specific): The Zip codes included in this report include: 33880, 33881, and 33884. So without any further adieu, let's get this show on the road! Overall, the November 2008 Homes Sold number for the Winter Haven area is down 15 % from the October 2008 totals from 66 to 56, with an average sales price of $126,969. Of the 56 homes sold, 54 were single family homes and 2 were condominiums. The average price per square foot was $73.11, and the average List Price to Sales Price Ratio was 97.19 %, which means that sellers reduced their asking price by an average of 3 %. The data for this report was obtained from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS and is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. The data for actual homes sold, average list price, sold price, and the LP/SP ratios for Winter Haven, Florida - November 2008 breaks out as follows: For more information on the location of the Winter Haven, Florida homes sold, along with price and size of each home, click on the interactive November 2008 Homes Sold map above, which was created by Chuck Welch of MetroI4News.com
A little press release news for you: Lakeland, FL. (July 9, 2008) - Starting Sunday, July 13, 2008 traffic will be reduced to one-lane in each direction on Martin L King Jr. Boulevard from Lake Wire Drive to Pear Street. Traffic will also be reduced to one lane in each direction on Kathleen Road just north of Pear Street and continuing through the intersection at Lake Wire Drive. These traffic switches will continue through September. Motorists can expect delays. Construction of the second phase of the Lakeland In-town Bypass (SR 548) from North Florida Avenue to George Jenkins Boulevard began January 28, 2008. The contractor will construct approximately one mile of a four-lane divided highway in this areas including sidewalks, lighting, drainage and landscaping. The project also includes realignment of Kathleen Road and construction of a concrete bridge over CSX Railroad on the west side of Kathleen Road. The anticipated completion date is October 2009. • A pair of questions: Will the "concrete bridge over CSX Railroad" be wide enough if CSX wants to double track? Will it be tall enough if CSX wants double-height cars? View Larger Map
Not that many people ever really wanted this, but it is good to hear there is little chance: Trails May Not Get Rails Polk Community College has joined the ranks of the 4-year universities. They're looking for your help. Read the Ledger's article PCC Seeks Comments On 4-Year Degree Plan and give the college some help. Businesses are asked to take the survey here, while other community members should follow this link. Please note the business survey is not anonymous.
Each crime icon clues you into the type of crime committed. Cars for the stolen and recovered vehicles, a business building for a business burglary, a house for a residential burglary, a shopping bag for a business robbery. You get the picture. These icons are part of the site I use to make the maps. I'm working on a set specifically for Lakeland Crime. Here's this week's map: CommunityWalk Map - LakelandLocal.com Crime Map 06/30 to 07/06 2008 Full Size LakelandLocal.com Crime Map 06/30 to 07/06 2008 49 This week's stats: 08 Business Burglary 01 Business Robbery 00 Gang Grafitti 01 Personal Robbery 25 Residential Burglary 00 Residential Robbery 01 Attempted Stolen Vehicle 02 Recovered Stolen Vehicle 05 Stolen Vehicle 06 Vehicle Burglary Cross-posted at Lakeland Crime
Today USF Polytechnic debuted their new logo in all its green, white and gold glory. That's the vertical version. The horizontal version is just as pretty: Readers of the Tampa Tribune may be surprised at the prominent placement of USF in the logo. For those unaware of the current address of the campus it is: University of South Florida Polytechnic 3433 Winter Lake Road Lakeland, FL 33803 (Astute map readers will note that the university is far off Winter Lake Road and probably closer to Bartow Rd. Any long-time residents know why it has a Winter Lake address?) If you're wondering where in Lakeland the new campus is being constructed. I have that for you also. It's at the "corner" of I-4 and the East End of Polk Parkway. That's about a 17-mile drive from the old campus...assuming there was an exit there for the campus. I can't tell you what that address will be. Based on the poll, I'm guessing One J.D. Alexander Parkway, Lakeland, FL 33805 Both addresses in Lakeland? Hmm, shouldn't be too difficult to rename the campus Lakeland Polytechnic if USF decides to divest itself of regional campuses. • PS: Dear USF web techs. Please fix the forward for www.lklnd.usf.edu. I know it should be http://www.lakeland.usf.edu/, but the old version is still the second hit on a search for "USF Polytechnic".
The Polk County Bloggers, a not-for-profit, bylaws free, organization sans leadership, is happy to announce two meetings in July for area bloggers, citizen journalists, paid journalists privileged to write blogs, business bloggers, and anyone with an hour to spare. July 21, 2008 Noon to 1 pm at the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce (Yes, you read that correctly.) 35 Lake Morton Drive Lakeland, FL This meeting is focused on the business that blogs, hopes to blog, or wonders why customers always ask for the company "blog." It doesn't matter if your company is for profit, not for profit, or wondering what this "profit" thing is that everyone talks about. We'll mainly discuss some of the problems and opportunities blogging brings to your business, but the floor is open to any of your questions. By July 17, please email me at meeting [at] lakelandlocal.com if you plan to attend the Noon meeting. I'd like to give the Chamber a head count. • July 28, 2008 6:30 to 8:30 at Mimi's Cafe 3770 Lakeside Village Court Lakeland FL This is a casual meeting of a very informal network of Polk County bloggers. You're invited even if you have never written a single blog post. We spend the time talking about blogging -- how, why, and where. Members are known to take the conversations far afield. Yes, "conversations". This isn't the traditional one member speaks at a time kind of meeting. We split up into small groups to chat. It's a restaurant and you can eat, drink, and be merry if you wish. If you plan to come please do me a favor and email me so I can call the restaurant with an idea oh how many will attend. So, by July 21, please email me at meeting [at] lakelandlocal.com if you plan to attend the dinner meeting. Thanks.
It looks like the Tampa Tribune has finally started posting again to the Polk County News Blog. When it was helmed by Billy Townsend, the blog was an important part of the local news community. Whoever takes it over has big shoes to fill. (Just ask Joe Girardi what it has been like to take over for Joe Torre.) So who's the new reporter? Jennifer Leigh. Not the poker player, that's Jennifer "Jennicide" Leigh. Not the actress, that's Jennifer Jason Leigh. It's actually Lakeland resident and WFLA Polk County reporter and weekend anchor Jennifer Leigh. There's no indication on the site that Leigh is getting a job with the Tribune. So, I'd hazard a guess that the newspaper is getting her services as part of the WFLA and Trib "converged multimedia news organizations." You'll find Leigh's entry here: Polk Schools Dealing With High Diesel Costs
Public Service Announcement The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) invites the public to participate in an open Stakeholder Workshop to discuss the Rail Traffic Evaluation being prepared by FDOT. This Workshop is to explain the scope of work and receive comments form the public as the evaluation is being initiated. The purpose of the FDOT Rail Traffic Evaluation is to identify potential projects, improvements or strategies to address community concerns related to rail services in Polk County . The study focuses on identification of opportunities in three key areas: 1) traffic and grade crossing impact and potential mitigation strategies, 2) options for relocation and/or reconfiguration of freight services, and 3) passenger rail and bus solutions. The Workshop will also be used to explain the planned stakeholder public outreach effort and engage the public early in the study process. This will be an on-going exchange of information between the project team and the public. The Public Workshop for the FDOT Rail Traffic Evaluation will be held: Thursday, July 10, 2008 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Bartow Civic Center 2250 South Floral Avenue Bartow , Florida 33830-7104 Phone: (863) 537-0120 Attend anytime during the hours specified to view study materials and to speak to the study team. To send comments or for additional information, please contact: Arlene Barnes FDOT District 1 810 N. Broadway PO Box 1249 Bartow, FL 33831 Phone: (863) 519-2349 Email: Arlene.Barnes@dot.state.fl.us This workshop is being held in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Ms. Arlene Barnes at (863) 519-2349 or Arlene.Barnes@dot.state.fl.us at least seven (7) days prior to the public workshop. Your attendance at this public information workshop is encouraged and any comments made will be appreciated.
This week marks the return of meaningful icons. Each crime icon again clues you into the type of crime committed. Cars for the stolen and recovered vehicles, a business building for a business burglary, a house for a residential burglary, a shopping bag for a personal robbery. You get the picture. These icons are part of the site I use to make the maps. I'm working on a set specifically for Lakeland Crime. You can find the small map at Lakeland Crime or check out the Full Size Map at LakelandLocal.com Crime Map 06/23 to 06/29 2008 40 This week's stats: 08 Business Burglary 01 Business Robbery 00 Gang Grafitti 02 Personal Robbery 17 Residential Burglary 00 Residential Robbery 00 Attempted Stolen Vehicle 02 Recovered Stolen Vehicle 04 Stolen Vehicle 06 Vehicle Burglary
Now we start the campaign for the day the university completely leaves the USF system and becomes Lakeland Polytechnic... or maybe MetroI4 Polytechnic. Both have a nice ring, don't you think?
You may have noticed sporadic posts from Lakeland Local. Due to an unexpected set of unrelated events this pattern will continue until mid-July. That doesn't mean I've stopped tracking local news. While I'm not working on my own stories, each morning I am reading the Ledger, the Orlando Sentinel, and the Tampa Tribune. I suggest you give it a shot. If you don't have that kind of time, then at least check out MetroI4News.com. Each day I'll post links to the articles I feel that are important to residents of the region, but don't get as much promotion as stories of sex, celebrity, or gossip. • I do have a couple of quick notes: Dear Tampa Tribune - You received a lot of good will when Billy Townsend was your Polk County reporter. Don't let that fade. Who is taking over the Polk County News Blog? • Longtime fans of this site (Hello, dear wife) may be surprised by this recommendation: add the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce blog to your reading list. I like the approach Aaron Bates is taking with the blog. It's pro-business, as it should be. However, it doesn't read like those stodgy press releases of old, but has a loose, open feel to the writing. Personally, I hope we get columns and posts from various members of the Chamber staff. I believe the Lakeland Chamber blog has the opportunity to become a humanizing peek into the organization.
You can see the small Lakeland Crime Map at Lakeland Crime or check out the Full Size LakelandLocal.com Crime Map for 06/16 to 06/22 2008 53 This week's stats: 09 Business Burglary 00 Business Robbery 00 Gang Grafitti 03 Personal Robbery 13 Residential Burglary 00 Residential Robbery 02 Attempted Stolen Vehicle 06 Recovered Stolen Vehicle 07 Stolen Vehicle 13 Vehicle Burglary
In the mess that has been our software, Lakeland Local missed telling you about the Black and Brew Customer Appreciation Week. We missed four days of freebies, but today you can get a Free Frappe between 2 pm and 4pm. Hurry, there is a limited number. Best of all is Sunday when the Black and Brew brothers offer free lunch between 11:30 and 12:30. Not just any lunch. After all, as Henry Ford once said, you can have any color you want, as long as it's black. Sunday you can have any lunch you want as long as it's either their Tuscan Panini or the Wedge Salad. You'll have to buy a beverage to get the free lunch. You missed Free Beverage day.
Bio: The short line? Father, husband, writer. My online presence is primarily through as the editor, writer, and occasional photographer for the news sites, Lakeland Local, a sampling of the news, concerns, and events for Lakeland, Florida, and Metro i4 News, which covers the Interstate 4 corridor in Central Florida. Both sites feature the work of myself and other contributors. As a hobby, I manage a forum and some web sites that feature a pulp fiction series written by Lester Dent -- Doc Savage Organized, Doc Savage Info, and Flearun.
