Hello Lakeland! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Trail network expansion, a bright pink little library, and a mother and son sneaker ball + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Trail network takes shape: Construction has begun on Hartsell Avenue and Chase Street trails near Bonnet Springs Park, but the CSX underpass at Sloan Avenue remains a $20 million hurdle for Lake Hunter network -- learn more about the project.
Growing design talent: Florida Southern College School of Architecture marked a successful first year as students strengthened studio, public speaking, and communication, and the program prepares for NAAB accreditation visit in November 2026 -- see architecture's first year.
A child’s community project: Plant City’s bright pink Lylabrary, created by 5-year-old Lyla Howard, is spreading kindness with children’s books and messages, including Sammy the Cellphone Gets Thrown Away, teaching children to recycle devices -- discover the pink book box.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You can change that in just 10 minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks. In fact, 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold -- take 55% off.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Neighborhood reset button: Sometimes you just need fresh air that isn’t your front yard. Bonnet Springs Park is the easy local fix this week, with room to wander, a legit playground for the kids, and enough quiet corners for you to sip coffee, think, and pretend that’s cardio.
Game night delivered: Skip the cleanup and let Next Level Gaming and Entertainment Experience roll up with a mobile game theater, VR, and even a 360 photobooth. Perfect for birthdays or just because, they bring consoles, big screens, and a game coach to Polk County driveways so you can relax, play, and claim MVP.
Craveable plant power: Vegetation is Lakeland’s vegan go-to, turning veggies into craveable comfort that even your carnivore buddy will steal bites of. Great for a midweek reset or treat-yourself lunch, expect bold flavors, generous portions, and that pleasantly smug feeling of eating plants without sacrificing joy.
|
04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
Makeup for skin that's changed, now up to 65% off: Laura Geller has built its following on formulas made for mature skin, led by the baked foundations women over 40 keep coming back to. Right now, new email subscribers get up to 65% off plus an extra 22%. Enter your email on the page and the discount activates. *See the VIP pricing →
Need cash but can't take on another monthly payment? This gets you a lump sum from your home's equity with no monthly bill and no interest, because it isn't a loan. Use the funds for anything, whether that's home improvements, paying off debt, or a large purchase, and pay it back by the end of your 30-year term. Checking your offer is easy, fully online, and won't affect your credit score. *See your cash offer →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
Wish you had someone to talk to right now? The quiet hours are the hardest, especially when you just want someone to talk to. That's exactly what this is built for: real conversations, real matches, real people. Not endless swiping, but actual chats with singles who want to connect as much as you do. Someone to talk to could be a message away. *Join now and start chatting → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
|
05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🐢 Clay Class - Turtle Dish @ PicassoZ Art Cafe | Wednesday (6/24) at 5:30 PM – Make a beginner-friendly turtle dish from raw clay, perfect for soap, trinkets, or just looking cute. You craft it, they fire it, you come back to paint, they fire it again. Great for date night, kid diplomacy, or dodging email, and only $29.
🐝 Pollinators and Their Havens: A DIY Workshop @ Lakeland Electric | Friday (6/26) at 10:00 AM – UF/IFAS Extension Polk County and Lakeland Water Utilities are hosting a hands-on pollinator class, and you get a free mini house for tiny tenants. Learn which buzzers and flutterers actually help your Lakeland yard, build something useful, and feel smug every time basil blooms.
🚙 Jeep Night @ Steak 'n Shake | Friday (6/26) at 6:00 PM – Whether your Jeep is stock, lifted, or held together by zip ties and optimism, this Steak 'n Shake meetup delivers burgers, shakes, and a rolling slice of the Shake, Rattle & Roll show. Expect Lakeland locals, kid-friendly chaos, and plenty of parking lot bragging rights.
👟 Kickin' It With Mama: A Mother & Son Sneaker Ball @ Black Swan Venue | Friday (6/26) at 6:30 PM – Swap the dress shoes for fresh kicks at a Mother and Son Sneaker Ball celebrating love, memories, music, and your best footwork. Twinning sneakers, goofy photos, and a dance floor where you prove you were cool before carpools.
🚗 CFLSRA's 37th Annual Fathers' Day Rod Run @ Christina Park | Saturday (6/27) at 8:00 AM – Father's Day calls for chrome and coffee, so roll through Christina Park for CFLSRA’s 37th Rod Run. Shiny classics, food, music, and raffles await, spectators are free, and proceeds benefit The Mission of Winter Haven and Meals on Wheels, so the tire talk feels noble.
🐶 Dog Days Of Summer Customer Appreciation Day @ Pupcake Cafe | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Swing by Pupcake Cafe for a Dog Days customer appreciation bash, because around here the dogs run the social calendar. Expect a prize wheel, a sunny photo booth, a free raffle, and freebies, including a custom dog tag when you pick up a few favorites.
🌿 Wonderfully Wild: 4-H Nature Explorers Camp @ Circle B Bar Reserve | Monday (6/29) at 9:00 AM – Send the 9 to 12 crowd to Circle B Bar Reserve for four days of actual Florida, not the screen saver. They’ll try beekeeping, archery, and bug sleuthing, with hands-on science, journaling, and art. No 4-H membership needed, scholarships available.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Lakeland report Weather forecastToday — High: 94°F — Low: 75°F — Precip: 42%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 103. West wind 2 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Heat index values as high as 99. West wind 0 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 95°F — Low: 76°F — Precip: 39%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. Southwest wind 0 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. South southwest wind 1 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. This house is wildThis 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath Colonial in gated Ashton Oaks offers 4,579 square feet of polished family living, from the two-story foyer and formal dining room to the wood-burning family room with French doors. The chef’s kitchen, 850-square-foot primary suite, upstairs loft, and resort-style lanai with summer kitchen, pool, spa, and firepit steal the spotlight.
Take a peek inside → |
| |
