Buyer's Guide Quality of Life

8/14/2019 Buyer's Guide Quality of Life

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BuyersGuide

2009 Lak land A a Chamb of Comm c

Lak landChamb .co


2/412 2009 Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce

That trip to the outlet mall in Orlando didnt save much after all.

The pleasure of dining out is experiencing di erent cuisines and exciting

atmospheres. The satisfaction of dining in Lakeland is the many choices close to home.

Lakeland features more than 300 restaurants o ering a variety of menu items for

every taste and budget. So, you can enjoy a casual family meal, a romantic dinner for

two or a celebration of friendswithout an I-4 tra c jam for dessert.

When your appetite says lets go outBuy Lakeland, It makes good cents!

Experience dining around the worldright around the corner.

y supporting businesses in

akeland, your purchases:

AN INITIATIVE OF THE


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Discover Badcock

R

Lakeland Combee1225 N. Combee Rd.

(863) 665-3111

Lakeland North1409 N. Florida Ave.

(863) 682-8107

Lakeland Christina6100 S. Florida Ave.

(863) 646-2921

Lakeland Gibson6625 US 98 North(863) 858-3866

www.badcock.com 1-800-BADCOCK7 other locations throughout Polk County

We Make It Easy with Our Own In-Store Financing!


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Tableof Contents

La ela d A eaChambe C mme ce35 Lake Morton DriveLakeland, Florida 33801863.688.8551Fax: 863.683.7454

@La ela dChambe .c mLa ela dChambe .c m

Publ he & P e de :Kathl n L. M n on

Ma ag g Ed :

Aa on J. BatDe g :Am D nniC ativelabo ationwww.CreativElaborations.com

C bu g Ph g ape :Thoma Hag tFor more information on photosby Tom Hagerty contact [email protected]

The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce Buyers Guide is published

by the Chamber, 35 Lake MortonDrive, Lakeland, Florida 33801,(863) 688-8551 for its use. No part of this publication may be reproducedin any form without the expresswritten consent of the Lakeland AreaChamber of Commerce. All rightsreserved 2009. The publisherscannot guarantee the correctnessof this publication, and assume noliability of the contents nor for any errors or omissions.

2009 Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce 3

Quality of Life

Buyers Guide

Lak land fo Wo k o Pla .............................................................. 4Living in Lak land .......................................................................... 8emplo m nt Oppo t niti ............................................................ 10

T an po tation ............................................................................. 13H althca .................................................................................. 14ed cation ..................................................................................... 21

A t &C lt ...............................................................................26F tival & Att ation .................................................................... 30Downtown ................................................................................... 32A Plac to Call Hom ................................................................... 33

On Th Town ............................................................................... 34spo t & r c ation ..................................................................... 36

Chamb Acc ditation ................................................................. 39Pa t Chai man of th Boa d .......................................................... 39Chamb Accolad ..................................................................... 40

2009 ex c tiv Committ ........................................................... 412009 Boa d of Di cto ............................................................... 42Chai man Ci cl ........................................................................ 44ex c tiv Of c ........................................................................... 54Chamb Fo ndation .................................................................... 54Lak land economic D v lopm nt Co ncil (LeDC) ........................... 54Chamb staff ............................................................................. 56T t ....................................................................................... 57M mb hip Di cto ..................................................................58



For Workor For Play

groups and Lakeland residents.Nearly 90,000 people live in L

lands city limits, and the greater land area is closing in on a populat220,000. Over 7.5 million peopl within a 100-mile radius, somethiother city in the Southeast can b

With a Parks and Recreation de

o Lakelandslast downtowntower has added 76

units o upscale, urbanhousing to downtown Lake-land. Lake Mirror CommunityPark, anchored by historic Lake MirrorPromenade, has inspired continuing en-hancements and public/private partner-ships, including Kryger Overlook Park,Barnett Family Park and Hollis Garden.Te Peggy Brown Center, the MagnoliaBuilding and the Lake Mirror Center

continue to be popular with community

Built upon historic character,heritage, philanthropy and volunteerism, Lakeland o ers its resi-

dents and visitors a true sense o place.From its pedestrian riendly downtownto quiet picnics on the shore o one o its lakes, Lakeland has something too er each o its diverse residents and visitors.

In the last 10 years, City- unded public improvements in the downtowncore have triggered over $284 millionin private investment to downtown

Lakeland. Te restoration & renovation

4 2009 Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce


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o innovation and progressive thinkers.Notwithstanding its own identity,

Lakeland is ideally situated between thelarger metro areas o ampa and Orlan-do. Whether it is pro essional sports,beaches or theme parks, Lakeland is30 minutes to an hour rom it all. Lo-

cated o Interstate 4 in the middle o Floridas High ech Corridor, Lakelandboasts o drives less than 1 hour to thenations top 2 airports. According toConde Nast raveler readers, ampaInternational Airport ranked #1 in thecountry and #3 in the world, and Or-lando International Airport ranked #2in the country and #5 in the world.

We invite you to see how Lakelands

commitment to downtown develop-ment, redevelopment, historic preserva-tion, cultural amenities and a businessriendly environment make Lakelandthe best place or residents, visitors andbusinesses alike.

ment second to none, Lakeland utilizesits diverse neighborhoods, numerouslakes and public spaces to create an at-

mosphere that welcomes newcom-ers to join old riends through-

out the area. With an averagedaily temperature o 73

degrees (Fahrenheit), resi-dents and visitors alikecan enjoy Lakelandsgreat outdoors all yearround.

Founded by AbrahamMunn, Lakeland was in-corporated January 1,

1885. Built on excellentrailroad service in the mid-

1890s, Lakeland was quicklyone o the premier cities in all o

Florida. From the winter strawber-ry crops o the mid-1890s to being the3rd city in all o Florida to have electriclights, Lakeland has always been a hub

Can Your Insurance Company Weather the Storm?


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Carleton Arms


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Carleton Arms



Living InLakeland

Numerous options are availableto those looking or homesand accommodations in Lakeland and

the surrounding area. Single- amilyhomes range in price rom $65,000 to well over $1,000,000 or some exclusiveestate homes. Te median sale price o ahome is $131,600.

DowntownHi to ic Di t ict

Digital Cable

Call 1-866-976-EASY or visit mybrighthouse.com

Start Over! Our newest feature allows you to restart certain shows in progress

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Serviceable areas only. Some restrictions apply. Products and services subject to change.

Whats inside a Bright House?

see how bright life can be.



11/412009 Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce 9

Homes and neighborhoods match-ing a wide spectrum o needs or indi- viduals and amilies alike exist in ourbustling community. Selections include

water ront property, historic homes,custom-designed homes, gol coursecommunities, modern condominiums,rental apartments and country estates with all amenities included. Nursing and assisted care acilities are availablethrough the city and several are located within some o the larger develop-ments. Whether youre looking or thatcommunity you never have to leave, ahome close to downtown in an eclecticor historic neighborhood, or something on the water, Lakeland has a home too er you.

In addition, our community is servedby almost 400 churches representing virtually every aith and denomination.

www.colonialbank.com | Member FDIC

2008 Colonial Bank.

Lakeland Offices

Downtown Lakeland (863) 519-2133Oakbridge (863) 519-2184Christina (863) 519-2159Foxwood (863) 519-2162

Edgewood (863) 519-3081

N m o optiona availabl to tholooking fo hom inth Lak land a a

Flo idaP bt ian Hom



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EmploymentOpportunities

more than $25 millionin revenue. Because tour-ism is such an importantindustry to Lakeland, theLakeland Area Chamber o Commerce, City o Lakelandand Central Florida Visitors &

Convention Bureau work both inde pendently and in unison on variousketing e orts to keep this industry and well.

A growing sector o Lakelands omy is health care. Major healthemployers include Lakeland ReMedical Center (the 5th largest hoin the state o Florida, housing 851 Watson Clinic (one o the states lamedical clinics with over 1,500 emees), Clark & Daughtrey Medical Gand two cancer centers the CenteCancer Care and Research and

lion square eet on manu-acturing/warehouse spaceannually, with over 28 million

square eet in the entire market.According to the 2008, third quarterreport by Cushman & Wake eld, TeLakeland Industrial Market remains sta-ble when compared to Floridas other in-dustrial markets. Te Lakeland Marketsoverall vacancy rate remains the lowesto all Floridas major industrial markets.

Each year more than 1.6 million visi-tors travel through Polk County, spend-

ing nearly $1.8 billion in taxable salesrevenue and employing 17,000 residents.Te Detroit igers spring training camp,and the year-round Lakeland Flying igers located in Lakeland account or

Lakelands top three industriesare tourism, manu acturing anddistribution. Lakeland distinguishes it-

sel as a business riendly city due to ourquality o li e, diverse culture & people,available labor & labor costs, locationon the Interstate 4 corridor betweenampa and Orlando, access to univer-sities, ports and two International airports and the cost o doing business.More and more employers rom otherindustries are calling Lakeland home as we see a continued growth in popula-

tion and the regeneration o the city.Lakelands location between ampaand Orlando makes it an ideal locationor manu acturing and distribution. TeLakeland market absorbs between 2 mil-


Lak land TopTh Ind t i a

To i m, Man fact ingand Di t ib tion



city and county development impactees and are also entitled to various taxcredits and other incentives.

Downtown Lakeland has gone wire-less. Bring along your WiFi- enabledlaptop or PDA and browse the internetor ree on Sur Lakeland, our Down-

town wireless internet hot zone.

Other major employers include GEI-CO Insurance, GC Services, FedEx Na-tional L L, Saddle Creek Corporation,Summit Consulting, Key Sa ety, Mc-Donald Construction, Country HearthBakery, Pepperidge Farm, Te Ledger,ampa Maid Foods, the City o Lake-

land and Polk County Public Schools.Te citrus industry (the growing, pack-

ing, processing and selling) contributesmore than $9 billion in economic impactand 90,000 jobs to the state o Florida.Polk County leads the states citrus-pro-ducing counties with 81,109 acres o com-mercial citrus groves and ranks second with 9.6 million citrus trees, according

to the most recent USDA statistics.

Polk ranked rst in Florida, 2006-07 production, with 22.4 millionboxes o citrus harvested.

Te Lakeland Downtown De- velopment Authority, in coopera-tion with the City o Lakeland, has

undertaken development projectsbased upon attracting the private sec-tor to invest in the historic Downtownarea. Private and public development

has pumped more than $284 millioninto Downtown Lakeland. Developersbene t rom the exemption o some

land Regional Cancer Center. WellDyneRx announced plans or its ull service prescription bene ts management andSoutheast operations center, which willemploy 671 employees by year three o operation. Watson Clinic just completeda 50,000 s expansion which will house

several specialties including plastic sur-gery and a medical spa.

Polk Co nt l ad thtat cit -p od cing

co nti with 81,109ac of comm cial

cit g ov and ankcond with 9.6 million

cit t


P blix s p ma k tP blix s p Ma k t iLak land la g t m-plo with ov 9,000 m-plo locall . F om 1998-2008, P blix i li t d aOn of th top companiin FOrTuNe li t of 100B t Compani to Wo kFo . P blix i al o th n m-b on p ivat mplo in th tat of Flo ida, with2007 tail al of $23 bil-lion. P blix i on of th 10la g t vol m p ma -

k t chain in th unit dstat . P blix Lak landfaciliti incl d n m o

p ma k t , man fact -ing (bak , dai and d likitch n), di t ib tion andcold to ag faciliti aw ll a th i c ntl com-pl t d 320,000 q a f tco po at h adq a t .Con tantl adding n wto , P blix c ntl ha

ov 961 p ma k t in5 tat .


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Go where your customers are buses are where people are! Reach them where decisions are made. Get them where they

work, shop, eat or play.

Get the tough-to-reach customer (reaches all age groups). Lakeland Area / Polk County Focus No clutter. Simple. Direct. More impact! Frequency and Reach. Affordable best cost per thousand,

just pennies a day!

www.RideCitrus.com

Transit FactsWhy Bus Advertising? More than 20 Bus Routes Serving Customers 6 Days a Week Over 2 Million Rides a Year 38 Buses and 15 Handy Buses in Todays Fleet

Each Bus Averages over 6,000 Miles a Month

Taking Your Message to the Community

Colorful buses available and waiting for your message.Call tm+r at 583.0081 to get your message rolling!

Citrus Connection has a marketing partnership with tm+r

60 Years as Lakelands Community Blood Bank

Please call today to host ablood drive at your placeof employment or specialevent. Bloodmobiles areavailable 7 days a week.

Call Kelly Jacobs at863-687-8925

BloodNet bloodmobiles areready for your next drive



Travel &Transportation

interwoven throughout the county.CSX provides the ideal method o transportation or the train, truck, bareand container tra c it serves.

Lak land Lind r gional Ai po t

With over 123,000 aviation operationseach year, city owned and operated Lakeland Linder Regional Airport is one o

the busiest contract towers in the country.Situated our miles southwest o the cityscommerce center, this airport providesservice to general aviation aircra , in-cluding approximately 200 business and personal aircra based at the airport. Teairport can accept large aircra up to, andincluding a Boeing 757.

Te airport is also a reliever acilityor both ampa and Orlando Interna-tional Airports. Facilities include abeauti ul terminal and ramp, two run- ways, associated taxiways, o ces, hangar space, and two restaurants.

Approaches are available or air-cra t arrivals during inclement weath-er. Lakeland Linder Regional Airporto ers two FBO acilities providing services or arriving and departingaircra t.

recreation and it makes our communi-ties sa er and saves valuable resourcesand all o that adds up to a boost in our

areas quality o li e.Te Citrus Connection service is

available Monday through Friday 5:45a.m. to 7:15 p.m. and on Saturday rom7:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Te buses runover 20 routes in requencies o 30 and60 minutes and cover the great majorityo shopping centers, medical acilities,educational institutions and recreationcenters in the local area. Direct connec-

tions can also be made to several neigh-boring communities. All route mapsare available at www.ridecitrus.com or viewing and printing.

Te Lakeland Area Mass ransit Au-thority (d/b/a Citrus Connection) isapproaching over two million rides an-nually on the xed route buses and over170,000 rides through the Handy Bus(Para ransit Service), providing door-to-door service or disabled citizens ona reservation basis.

Te Citrus Connection is part o your li e whether you are using one o the many transit services or just realiz-ing the value o transit.

CsXFreight needs are served by CSX

Railroads extensive network on tracks

Lakelands proximity to Inter-state 4 adds to the magnetismo the City or residents, businesses and

visitors alike. I-4 now boasts three travellanes in both directions along the entirePolk County corridor. In addition toI-4, motorists have the additional op-tions o using the In-town Bypass andthe Polk Parkway. Te In-town Bypassmakes east and west bound tra c inand out o downtown Lakeland trou-ble- ree. Te Polk Parkway is a limitedaccess toll road connected to I-4 that

eases the access to the interstate orthose in the southern part o the city.Expansion o the Amtrak system

brought the convenience o passengerrail service to Lakeland. Te carriersstation, located downtown overlook-ing Lake Mirror, enables passengers toboard trains or Miami, Jacksonville, andbeyond. Nearby Winter Haven is alsohome to a passenger boarding station.

Cit Conn ctionTe public transit service provided by

the Citrus Connection has something to o er everyone in our area, whether you ride or not. Te act is that an a -ordable, working mass transportationsystem is important to local commerce,li e and progress. It gets people to work,medical appointments, shopping and


Lak landT ain station


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Hospitals& Healthcare

Care and Hyperbaric Medicine built. Te Emergency DepartmenBartow Regional Medical Centone o the most e cient ERs in

services, dialysis andlithotripsy. Te hospital also o ers a wide

variety o diagnostic/ancillary services including C s, MRIs, echocardiographyand mammography as well as providing a ull-service laboratory, radiol-ogy and respiratory care departments.Since Health Management Associates,Inc. acquired the acility in April 2005many services have been added. Sixteenbeds have been added or a Progressive

Care Unit and Post-Surgical Unit, theEmergency Department has been en-larged, a Cardiac Cath Lab was built,and a new Center or Terapy and Wellness and a new Center or Wound

Should there be an intro here?Should there be an intro here?Should there be an intro here? Should

there be an intro here?

Ba tow r gionalM dical C nt

Bartow Regional Medical Centeris a 72-bed acute care acility serving south Lakeland, Bartow, Mulberry, Ft.Meade, southwest Winter Haven andsouth Polk County. Te newest hospital acility in Polk County o ering

emergency services, inpatient and outpatient surgical services, cardiac cath-eterization, wound care/hyperbaricmedicine, intensive care, progressivecare, post-surgical care, rehabilitation

Lak land ha aw alth of a t

and c lt if oknow wh to look


Ba tow r gionalM dical C nt



progressive surgical interventions,and the latest in radiation therapyand chemotherapy alternatives. Teacility houses state o the art equip-ment and technology, and doctorscon er with Mo tts physicians andresearch scientists or unusual orcomplex cases. Teir mobile screen-ing unit serves area employers by

providing on-site screenings suchas mammography, skin checks andblood testing. Te Center or CancerCare & Research -- armed with onlythe best -- stands united in their com-mitment to ght cancer.

days a week with board certi ed phy-sicians and specially trained nurses totreat all types o emergency situations.

C nt fo Canc Ca & r a chNo need to travel outside o the

county as rst-class cancer treat-ment is available right in Lakelandat the Center or Cancer Care &Research. Tis state-o -the-art a-cility is an a liate o the acclaimedH. Lee Mo tt Cancer Center &

Research Institute in ampa, whichmeans that patients gain access to thelatest in cutting edge clinical researchtrials and treatment options. Te

Center is operated by two o CentralFloridas most respected medical practices: Watson Clinic and Clark &Daughtrey Medical Group, as well assome o the areas nest independentoncologists. Expert physicians utilize

county with its quick turn-aroundtime. Te emergency services depart-ment is sta ed 24 hours a day, seven

A Lak land continto advanc and

d v lop, th d mandfo q alit , innovativ

h althca g ow

863-680-7780 863-284-50 40 863-683-59 41

1730 Lakeland Hills Blvd. Lakeland, FL www.LakelandCancerTreatment.com

Watson ClinicLLP

Clark & DaughtreyMedical Group, P.A.

IndependentPhysicians

When ghting cancer, you need a team of specialists whonurture your well-being every step of the way. At theCenter for Cancer Care & Research, we have the areasmost experienced team of cancer specialists, all dedicatedto preserving a better quality of life for you. Armed withthe latest technologies and treatment options, werePolk Countys only afliate of the world renowned H. LeeMoftt Cancer Center & Research Institute. And, we areone of only two freestanding cancer centers in the country to earn a highly coveted 3-year accreditation by the

American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.

When cancer is the diagnosis,choose the team with the credentials

you can trust with your life .

V in C nt at Wat on ClinicH a t & Va c la In tit t


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Since 1941, Watson Clinic has been Lakeland's medical provider of choice,delivering compassionate and skilledhealth care services to generations of families. As this community has grown,so have we. Watson Clinic now offers14 convenient locations and more than

200 physicians in a wide variety of medical and surgical specialties. We remain committed to providing the expert care and advanced technologiesyou deserve. For more information,call today at 863-680-7000 or visit us online at www.WatsonClinic.com.

We are a proud member of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce,the Board of Directors, Chairmans Circle and the

Lakeland Economic Development Council.

200 Physicians 40 Spec ia l t i es 14 Loca t ionswww.WatsonClinic .com



Lakeland and a pediatricso ce in Winter Haven.

Wat on Clinic LLP

Watson Clinic has proudlyserved Central Floridashealthcare needs or over65 years. First establishedin 1941 with only ahand ul o physicians, Watson Clinic has growninto one o the largestand most respected outpatient medi-cal clinics in the southeast. oday, the

Watson Clinic team includes nearly 200 physicians practicing in 38 di erentmedical and surgical specialties rom12 convenient locations -- including their widely-recognized main campus

Cla k & Da ghtM dical G o p, P.A. reating each patient as a special individual has been the trademark o Clark

& Daughtrey Medical Group since it was ounded in 1949.

Te group combines old- ashionedcare with the most modern technologyand treatments. Forty skilled doctorsand eight advanced physician extend-ers o er a broad range o medical spe-cialties, including cardiology, oncol-ogy, surgery, pulmonology and criticalcare, internal medicine, pediatrics and

womens health. With a main campus centrally lo-

cated on South Florida Avenue, Clark& Daughtrey also operates convenient walk-in clinics in north and south

284-5941

Come see us:

50 medical providers.

More than 20 specialties.

More services (including

a new, full-service

Radiology Department )7 convenient locations, so

were easy to nd

Healthcare for the whole ock!

www.clark-daughtrey.com

Lakeland Winter Haven

Looking for a Doctor?

M E D I C A L G R O U P , P. A .

Healthcare Continued

Wat on Clinic ha g own

into on of th la g tand mo t p ct d

o tpati nt m dical clinicin th o th a t

Wat on ClinicWom n C nt


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hyperbaric medicine thoracic stents PICU

daVinci robotic surgical system video-assisted technologies 64-slice CTscans

Technologies are constantly changing. And improving.No one understands this morethan Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where youll find the latest advances formore effective diagnostics and treatment.

As home to Polk Countys only da Vinci Robotic Surgical System,wereleading the way to providing patients less invasive treatment options. We offer theareas only BrainLAB VectorVision, a sophisticated software technologythat moreaccurately guides surgeons in delicate brain procedures. And with our real-timeorthopedic navigation system, were revolutionizing the precision and outcomesof knee and hip replacement.

These are just some of the amazing technologies that are improvingour delivery of care. And more importantly, improving lives. For more information,visit www.LRMC.com or call 68-LRMC (5762).

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Constantly evolvingtechnologies.



patients convenience and need or pri- vacy. A healing garden and putting green provide necessary relaxation and dis-traction. Volunteers rom the hospitalsHealing Arts program as well as local pet

therapy volunteers can o en be oundinteracting with patients, their amilies,and sta . Patients and caregivers alsobene t rom support group meetings.

LRCCs multidisciplinary cancercare team o physicians, oncology cer-ti ed nurses, pharmacists, and othersare committed to providing compas-sionate care while advancing the cureor cancer. For more in ormation, visit

www.LakelandRegionalCancerCenter.com.

Lak land r gionalM dical C nt

Founded in 1916, Lakeland RegionalMedical Center is one o the largest andmost innovative healthcare acilities inFlorida. Polk County bene ts rom ascope o specialized services and highlytrained and experienced sta uncom-

mon in a community o our size.Lakeland Regional Medical CentersHeart Center is the largest, most experi-enced, and most comprehensive cardiac

ratory, medical, surgical, urologic, andgynecologic oncology services, as wellas a resource library and post-mastec-tomy boutique. Te Womens Imaging Center, an LRCC and RIS a liation, provides digital mammography and

other womens imaging services.LRCC physicians are ellowship-

trained within their specialty areas.Tey are leaders in advanced treat-ments and technologies, such as senti-nel lymph node mapping, cryosurgery,robotic surgery, hyperthermic limb per-usion, mammosite, and IMR /IGR .

Te Cancer Research and Clinicalrials program at LRCC o ers patients

access to clinical trials on a national ba-sis that test promising new therapies orapproaches in cancer care.

Te patient experience comes rst atLakeland Regional Cancer Center. Teacility provides a soothing environment

with a beauti ul view and attention to

on Lakeland Hills Boulevard. WatsonClinic physicians are partners in theCenter or Cancer Care & Research, acutting-edge acility that delivers a newdimension o cancer care to our region,aided in no small part by an o cial a -

liation with the world-renowned H.Lee Mo tt Cancer Center & ResearchInstitute in ampa. Te recently opened Womens Center o ers expert mam-mography and breast surgery servicesto women throughout the communityand beyond. Te Watson Clinic Foun-dation, Inc., the philanthropic arm o the clinic, promotes the wellness o mankind through education and com-

munity service. Watson Clinic has ahighly regarded national reputation orsecuring top-notch physicians, ostering the advancements o tomorrow with theCenter or Research, using the latest intechnology and innovation, and linking their many specialties and resources orthe bene t o their patients.

Lak land r gionalCanc C nt

Lakeland Regional CancerCenter, a liated with Lake-land Regional Medical Center, provides advanced cancer carethrough clinical research, state-o -the-art diagnostic and treat-ment services, patient educationand support services. Te acilityhouses chemotherapy, radiation, labo-


Lak land r gionalM dical C nt Lak land r gional

Canc C nt

Wat on Clinic No th


22/41

program in Polk County. It is the only accredited Chest Pain Center, ing streamlined care rom the emerdepartment to the catheterizationand throughout the patients stay. I

dition, LRMCs cardiovascular su program has been awarded the h possible distinction as determined bSociety o Toracic Surgery, the 3 Rating achieved by only 12% o tals in the country. LRMCs cardia vices o er everything rom preve programs and innovative diagnosthe medical management o congheart ailure and complex open-

procedures to the personalized cCardiac Rehabilitation support.

LRMC is also a Joint Commisaccredited Primary Stroke Centeis Polk Countys rst and only prog with advanced technologies tostroke beyond the three-hour win when permanent damage is more

Other specialized hospital serinclude emergency care (includin

areas only trauma service); neugery; orthopedic surgery; roboticgery; obstetrics; pediatric and neintensive care; as well as general mand surgical care units. LRMCs MHeath and Addictions Recovery dement provides inpatient services aas an outpatient Center or CounseAn outpatient wound care center vides treatment o problem woundeatures two state-o -the-art hyperchambers.

LRMCs e ective outreach e oinclude health airs, ree educatseminars, a Senior Care program,ree physician re erral service. LRalso proud to have been named oPolk Countys Best Places to Worve years in a row and one o theEmployers o Distinction. For morormation, visit www.LRMC.com


Helping Clients SucceedEvery Step of the Way.

LAKELAND WINTER HAVEN SEBRING

Audit & Accounting Services

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811 E. Main StreetLakeland, FL 33801863-683-6783

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THE HEARTLANDS LEADING LOCALLY OWNED ACCOUNTING & CONSULTING FIRM.

Polk County Offices724 South Florida Ave Lakeland, FL 33801 863-616-1234

5404 South Florida Ave Lakeland, FL 33813 863-709-12341285 1st Street South Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-293-4321

Member

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Learning & Education

and Schools (ACICS). Degrees availablinclude Associates and Bachelors degreein Criminal Justice, Medical Assistingcriminal justice, medical assisting, business administration, accounting, computer in ormation science, health careadministration, marketing and pharmacytechnician. Everest University has added programs in Medical Insurance Billinand Coding, Business Administration,

Accounting, Computer In ormation Sci-ence, and Paralegal Studies. Everest Un versity also o ers two diploma programsPharmacy echnician and Massage Ter-apy. Te student body consists o morethan 7000 students who bene t rom theselection o day, evening, weekend, andon-line courses.

years o experience.Polk County Public Schools have a

strong community involvement com-

ponent. Nearly 30,000 volunteers provide more than 1.2 million hours o service to schools each year. Te PolkEducation Foundation awards nearly$600,000 in scholarships to Polk stu-dents annually. More than 2,100 localbusinesses and organizations partner with schools in programs and projects.Students provide more than 112,000hours o service to the community

through service projects that link thecurriculum to community needs.

ev t univ itFounded in 1890, Everest University is

the oldest business college in the state andis nationally accredited by the Accredit-ing Council or Independent Colleges



Polk Co nt schoolTe Polk County Public Schools are the

eighth-largest Florida school district andamong the 40 largest nationally. Morethan 92,000 students are enrolled. Tedistrict has 160 school sites including traditional elementary, middle and highschools, magnet and choice schools, char-

ter schools and career schools.Te district is the largest employerin Polk County with more than 13,000employees, more than hal o those areemployed as teachers. Approximately23 percent o Polk County teachershave advanced degrees beyond a bach-elors degree. Polks teachers average 8


Polk Co ntel m nta school



Everest University o ers a quality ca-reer education with many advantages.Everest University has instructors withreal-world experience. Everest Univer-sity recruits quali ed pro essionals with

industry-speci c expertise. So, studentsget the bene t o real-world knowledgeand gain the kind o practical insightsthat can not be learned rom a textbook.

Representatives who assist each s with everything rom interviewingto improving resumes.

Flo ida so th n Coll g

Founded in 1883, Florida SoutCollege is a private, comprehensiveed Methodist-a liated college with aeral arts core. Florida Southern mai

Everest University o ers hands-on ca-reer training. Everest University incorpo-rates hands-on training into all o our pro-grams. We also help with each studentssearch or nancial aid. Upon graduation,

Everest University help our graduates nd jobs within the appropriate career. Ourcampus has a Career Placement O cesta ed with dedicated Career Placement

P blic Lib aLak land njo th b n t of th p bliclib a i and ov 500,000 vi ito p a to th faciliti . Th Lak land P blic Lib a ,

con id d th cit Main Lib a at 100 LakMo ton D iv , compl t d a novation andxpan ion of it yo th s vic nit in 2006.spac fo xpand d child n coll ction , toincl d mo comp t o c and t doom mak th lib a a conv ni nt andatt activ plac fo t d nt . yo th s vic ,which v infant th o gh t n , off w klp og am fo babi , toddl and p choolin addition to book di c ion g o p and

mm activiti fo old child n. Th Lar. Jack on B anch Lib a , at 1700 No thFlo ida Av n , v th n d of id ntin no th Lak land. lib a so th Lak land ia to f ont facilit at th Lak Mi iam sq ahopping c nt at 4740 s. Flo ida Av n .Th lib a , o xp lib a , f at thmo t pop la p blic lib a o c in onconv ni nt location. B t ll , comp t acc , DVD and m ic CD a availabl fo ch ck-o t. Th lib a t m i f nd d b bothth cit of Lak land and th Polk Co nt Boa dof Co nt Commi ion .

TeCHNOLOGyInt n t acc fo all ag main a pop la

vic . Th Main Lib a , th La r. Jack onB anch Lib a , and th lib a so th Lak landoff f acc to comp t and v a fwi l hot pot fo int n t conn ctivit . T aining

cla on oftwa p od ct and comp t ba ici p ovid d monthl b both th Main Lib aand th lib a so th Lak land. In addition, th

lib a i f at onlin databa fo a ch anddownloadabl vid o and a diobook fo t chavv .

HIsTOryr a ch Lak land ich hi to in th sp cialColl ction o Lak land room at th MainLib a . u hav acc to photog aph ,po tca d , map and man c ipt both in thoom a w ll a onlin .

ACCessPolk Co nt id nt can obtain a lib a ca df of cha g with p oof of id nc . yo lib a ca d can b d th o gho t th co ntat all p blic lib a i and cip ocal bo owingp ivil g appl to man n ighbo ing co ntich a Pin lla , Lak and O c ola.

To learn more about the libraries in Lakeland and the servicesoffered, access the Web site at www.lakelandgov.net/library.

Education Continued

Lak landP blic Lib a



its commitment to academic excellencethrough 50 undergraduate programs o study and distinctive graduate programsin business administration, education,and nursing. Te College has a 13:1 stu-

dent/ aculty ratio and provides students with numerous opportunities or engagedlearning, including student- aculty collab-orative research and per ormance, studyabroad, service learning, internships,and honors study. Te College boasts 26NCAA Division II national champion-ships and is ranked by U. S. News and World Report among the op 10 BestBaccalaureate Colleges in the South.

Te Princeton Review includes the Col-lege in its 2009 edition o Te Best 368Colleges, and Te Fiske Guide to Col-leges 2009 ranks FSC a Best Buy privatecollege. Located on scenic Lake Holling-sworth, Florida Southern is the home o the worlds largest single-site collection o Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.

Polk Comm nit Coll g

Polk Community College servesapproximately 20,000 students on itsLakeland and Winter Haven campuses.Outstanding aculty provides qualityeducation using technology-equippedclassrooms or the internet.

PCC credit students attend classeson one o two tracks: Associate in Arts degree (AA). Stu-

dents earn this degree, which transfersto a four-year university, working to-ward a bachelors degree.

Associate in Science (AS) and Associatein Applied Science (AAS). Students inthis track learn the skills necessary for immediate employment in a high wagecareer in technology or health care elds.A new $28.7 million technical build-

ing opened on the Lakeland campusduring 2007. Te 125,000 square eet

Winter Haven LakelandLake Wales Airside

Polk Community College

Polk Community College is committed to and encourages equal opportunity / equal / access for its programs, services and activities.

DISCOVERYour Career

At PCC Youll Discover: Faculty dedicated

to your success Classes close to home Financial aid available Over 190 degree

programs

Online classes

polk.edu/learn



building includes a large state o the artteaching auditorium, classrooms, labs,o ces and student support acilities. Itis the third academic building and likethe rest o the Lakeland Campus, the

new acility is used by students, acultyand sta rom both PCC and USF.

PCCs Corporate College helps powereconomic development, working in co-operation with the Lakeland EconomicDevelopment Council and with localbusinesses and industry. Customizedtechnical and leadership training by theCorporate College helps local businessesand industry remain competitive in the

world economy. Quick Response rain-ing is provided when needed to meet theemployment needs o new companies orlocal companies needing more trained workers in order to expand.

so th a t n univ itSoutheastern University has captured

national attention or rapid growth,

nology that contributes to the learenvironment and includes techngy-enhanced classrooms, a ca wide wireless network, and pro who teach students around the g

through online classes. In additinationally-ranked athletics, the unsity o ers students and the Lakecommunity concerts, theatre, and cultural events.

In 2007 and 2008, Southeasterncomed hundreds o guests or its rstNational Leadership Forums. Presincluded General Colin L. Powell,(Ret.), ormer Florida governor Jeb

and Super Bowl-winning ootball ony Dungy o the Indianapolis Col

In addition to its stunning, 87-Lakeland campus marked by Meranean-style architecture, Southearuns the new 13,250-square- oot salem Studies Centre in Israel, whInternational Studies Program is bTe university also plans to use thi

tripling enrollment between 1999 and2008. Tis Christian university o ers45 undergraduate majors and sevengraduate degrees through day, evening and weekend, and online programs.

In 2008, Southeastern opened a re-modeled 32,000-square- oot acility orits College o Business and Legal Stud-ies and College o Education. Last year,the university built uscana Ristorante,a $7 million, 25,000-square- oot res-taurant on its campus.

Within the last seven years, South-eastern has newly built or remodeled100% o university-owned, student

housing and opened a sports complex and the Pansler Alumni-StudentUnion. It also completed Kelly Gar-dens, the universitys lusciously land-scaped quadrangle, which incorporates plazas dedicated to past presidents andother Southeastern leaders.

Te university maintains an aggres-sive, award-winning program o tech-

Education Continued

so th a t nuniv it

so th a t n univ it ha t ipl d th i n ollm nt b tw n 1999 and 2008



cility in West Jerusalem to host visitorsor summer con erences.

T avi Ca C nt raviss Career Center has been serv-

ing Polk County and Central Floridasince 1964, o ering accredited, a ord-able career education.

raviss Career Center is a Polk Coun-ty public school serving approximately1,050 ull-time high school and adultstudents and o ering over 35 high skill/high wage programs. Program clusters in-clude: Business echnology, Health Sci-ence Education, Industrial echnology,

Service Careers and Specialized and Eve-ning Programs. Tese programs o eringsinclude over 20 industry certi cations.Te programs are available on the maincampus and at local high schools. Tere isabundant nancial aide available.

Te Center is located at 3225 Win-ter Lake Road (Hwy 540). Tey areaccredited by the Council on Occupa-tional Education, Southern Association

o Colleges and Schools and the Com-mission on International and rans-Regional Accreditation.

usF Lak landTe University o South Florida

Lakeland is a part o a nationally rec-ognized research and public universitysystem. Located 30 miles east o ampaand 40 miles west o Orlando just o the Polk Parkway, the USF Lakelandcampus is at the heart o the emerging Florida High ech Corridor.

Established in 1988, the Lakeland campus o ers upper-level and graduate coursesand awards undergraduate and graduatedegrees through the areas o Arts and Sci-ences, Business, Education, Engineering,and In ormation echnology. Te campusalso supports a number o individual class-

research in a personalized setting: smalclass sizes, convenient locations, innovative programs, and exible ormats.

USFPs aculty members have dem-onstrated high levels o scholarly

achievement as well as excellence ireal-world settings outside the class-room. Tese pro essional mentorsmodel practical, multidisciplinary approaches to learning that make a di er-ence or students and or the organiza-tions and communities in which thosestudents will work a er graduation.USFP students pursue degrees and cer-ti cates in more than 20 programs and

have learned to expect the polytech-nics multidisciplinary ocus, hands-onlearning, and real-world applicationall delivered within a supportive campus community. Degrees earned on thePolytechnic campus are ully accred-ited USF degrees through the SouthernAssociation o Colleges and Schools(SACS) and other discipline-speci caccrediting bodies.

USFP students enjoy a vibrant andgrowing campus li e through on-campusevents, numerous student organizations,intramurals, and athletic events. Te universitys sports teams participate in theNCAA Division I-A level as memberso the prestigious Big East Con erence.

As a top-tier public university, USFPolytechnic is poised to have a dramatic impact on the economic uture andquality o li e o central Florida. USFPis also engaged in the process o building a new campus at the eastern inter-section o I-4 and the Polk Parkway,between Lakeland and Auburndaleat the heart o the emerging FloridaHigh ech Corridor. Tis new campus,designed by one o the worlds leadingarchitects, is expected to be a model othe new American university.

es, electives, web-based courses, certi cate programs and program partnerships withthe main campus in ampa.

USF Lakeland partners with Florida public community colleges including

Polk Community College, South Flor-ida Community College and Hillsbor-ough Community College-Plant Cityto provide their graduates with upperdivision education. Speci cally, this partnership allows students to obtaintheir rst two years (Associates o Arts-A.A. or Associate o Science-A.S.) romthe local community college then complete their baccalaureate and/or gradu-

ate degree through USF Lakeland. Tiscollaboration allows students to obtaina 4-year degree, as well as a graduate de-gree, without leaving their community.

USF is one o the ten largest universi-ties in the nation, and the USF Lakelandcampus serves several thousand studentseach year. USFs mascot is the bull, andits school colors are green and gold. Teuniversitys sports teams participate in the

NCAA Division I-A level as members o the prestigious Big East Con erence.As a top-tier public university, USF

Lakeland is poised to have a dramatic impact on the economic uture and qualityo li e o central Florida. USF Lakeland isdedicated to serving the citizens o Polk,Highlands, Hardee and eastern Hills-borough counties in a regional setting.Te Lakeland campus is a distinctive,locally available University with premierresearch and instructional status.

usF Pol t chnicTe University o South Florida

Polytechnic (USFP) is the states only polytechnic university and providesupper-level undergraduate and graduatestudents with an extraordinary opportu-nity to experience applied learning and


28/41



theatre productions, concerts rom thePiano Department and Dance Depart-ment, visual arts exhibitions and an an-nual school-wide musical. School in or-mation and the per ormance calendar canbe ound at www.harrisonarts.com.

Imp ial s mphonO ch t aTe Imperial Symphony Orchestra

o ers an enriching season o live orches-tra concerts and events, that includesour popular Music & Martinis seasonkick-o , ve uesday evening master- work concerts, a ully staged opera, aSunday a ernoon Cookie concertor amilies, all outdoor pops in Lake-

land and Winter Haven, and ConcertUnder the Stars at Historic Bok Sanc-tuary in the spring. Educational pro-grams or young people include masterclasses with guest artists, a young art-ist competition and our school day per ormances or nearly 9000 o PolkCountys ourth and h graders. TeOrchestras un and enriching ea &Symphony music appreciation pro-

grams, primarily geared toward theadult business a er-hours crowd, areheld rom 5:45-7:00pm on the uesdaybe ore each masterworks concert.

Lak land Comm nit Th atLakeland Community Teatre, Pied

Piper Players, is entering its 22nd sea-

Flo ida Danc Th atFlorida Dance Teatre is a contempo-

rary ballet and modern dance companydedicated to the enhancement o ourcommunity, through the art o dance.Florida Dance Teatre gives several per-ormances during the season to enrich the

cultural landscape o Polk County. Tereis also a training academy or children agethree to adults and pro essionals.

Florida Dance Teatre takes pro es-sional dance into area public schools, has

a ree granted Summer Youth DanceCamp, scholarship programs and

Community Arts Projects.Tey have reached more

than 10,000 young people

throughout Polk Coun-ty. Each season, FloridaDance Teatre intendsto provide a multitudeo extraordinary anddiverse dance pro-grams, continuing itsmission to be one o

Central Floridas leadersin American Dance.

Ha i on schoolfo th A t

Located on the campus o LakelandSenior High School is Te Lois CowlesHarrison Center or the Visual and Per-orming Arts. Harrison o ers programsin music, theatre, musical theatre, danceand visual arts or studentsin grades 9 12. Studentsare admitted to the HarrisonSchool or the Arts by audi-tion only and attend Lake-land Senior High Schoolor their core curriculum.Per ormances are open tothe public and include theHarrison Symphony, Har-rison Singers, theatre mainstage production, musical

than 60 countries, making a majorcontribution to Lakelands economicdevelopment.

Flo ida so th n Coll gFrank Lloyd Wright Architecture & Visitors Center

Florida Southern College is hometo the largest single-site collection o

Frank Lloyd Wright architecture inthe world. he Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center eatures a collectiono in ormation about the master ar-chitects 20-year relationship with theCollege, including a permanent exhib-it o his photos, drawings, correspon-dence, and a model o the 12-struc-ture campus he named Child o theSun. A walking tour brochure is alsoavailable. For Center hours and tourin ormation, call 863.680.4444 or log on to www. lsouthern.edu/ llwwctr.


Flo idaDanc Th at

Lak landComm nit Th at



son at the Lake Mirror Center Teatreon beauti ul Lake Mirror near down-town Lakeland. Te theatre producesve Main Stage Productions per season

which run rom October through July.

Te Main Stage season consists o twolarge musicals, two comedies and a dra-ma. In addition, the Childrens Teatreo ers a production in June and Septem-ber. Teatre classes are o ered through-out the year, as well as several summertheatre camps. Lakeland CommunityTeatres traveling troupe entertains orlocal charitable and civic events.

as well as stage and produc-tion crews who raise the per ormance bar ever higher.o view some o Mr. Cooks

past production work, please vi www.scottacook.com

HEA REWORKS FLORIDAsta is committed to creating the est pro essional theatrical experi

available in Lakeland, FL and throunding Central Florida region.speci cally strive to bring a Broastyle experience not only to the but also into the hearts o theaterers around the community. We hopnurture theatergoers with shows may never have the chance to see wise and deliver top-notch qualitya ordable price.

Polk M m of A the Polk Museum o Art h

served Lakeland and Polk Countover 40 years. he Museums divexhibition schedule eatures oveexhibitions per year in a wide vo artistic styles and genres: romrealistic to the abstract, and romancient to the extremely contem

Th P fo ming A tTe Lakeland Center is

a our-building, multi- purpose complex andis home to many di-

verse per orming arts programs including the Lakeland Broad- way and Entertain-ment Series, ImperialSymphony Orchestra,Te Lakeland ConcertBand, various childrens per-ormances and numerous danceand talent competitions. Te exible

venue eatures 100,000 square eet o modern exhibit space or corporate meet-ings, tradeshows, banquets and sporting events. Te Jenkins Arena at Te Lake-land Center is a choice location or largeconcerts, meetings and indoor sports. TeArena is home to the Lakeland Tunder-bolts, our indoor arena ootball team, as well as the State High School Basketball, Volleyball, and Wrestling Championship.

During the winter season visitorscan enjoy public ice skating.

THeATreWOrKsFLOrIDA

A brand new, community-based theatre company working toward its regional, pro ession-al status. We o er the newesttheatrical musicals available to-day as well as produce original works rom area artists and art-ists rom around the country.

Led by Artistic Producer/Director Scott A. Cook, origi-nally rom New York, HE-A REWORKS FLORIDAhas already attracted many o Central Floridas best actors,singers, dancers and musicians,

Arts Continued

Th Lak land C nt i a fo -b ildingm ltip po compl xand i hom to mandiv p fo ming a tp og am th o gho tth a

show at ThLak land C nt

Polk M m of A t



rary, youre sure to ind something you like on display! Want to do something un or en-

lightening? Te Museum also providesa comprehensive calendar o events andeducational activities. Just look at all wedo: Volvo May aire by-the-Lake outdoorart estival; Family Day, a ree day o artand un; art classes; lectures by visiting artists; un parties like Te Gala, Drink-able Art, and Red, White & Te Blues;holiday events like our Holiday Lun-cheon, Gems & Jewels: A Wearable ArtEvent, Break ast with Santa, and Kwan-zaa Celebration; and dont orget ourlm series and unique Museum Store.

Polk Th atTe Polk Teatre is one o only 3 at-

mospheric theatres still in existence in

Fields

social gatherings. Te Polk Teatreshows quality lms, independent lms,

oreign lms and hosts a yearly Per-orming Arts Series that brings nation-ally acclaimed shows to its stage and isexcited about the debut o Opera Te-atre o Lakeland . Backstage tours andschool tours are available upon advancerequest.

the state o Florida.Te Historic PolkTeatre opened in December 1928 as

a vaudeville and movie house andis listed on the National Reg-

ister o Historic Places. Te

Polk was the rst air con-ditioned building in

Lakeland and whenthey turned the air on,the lights down towndimmed! It was onceowned by PublixTeatre Group o NYC and is wherePublix Supermar-

kets got its name!Restored in 1999, it

now has a renewed li eas the ideal venue or Per-

orming Arts per ormances,lms (Fri-Sunday), a ordable

rentals, (including weddings) and

Th Polk Th atin Downtown

Lak land wa onc

own d b P blixTh at G o pof NyC and that

i wh P blixs p ma k t cam

p with th i nam

Polk Th at


32/41

Festivals& Attractions

o Flight through a serieso immersion elementseaturing the history o aviation rom early ightthrough World War II in-cluding a walk through on anauthentic B-17 bomber.

A collection o over 40 beauti-ully restored aircra is on displaytwo art-deco hangars. Featured icollection are planes used in the ies Indiana Jones and the emplDoom, Te Great Waldo Peppermost recently, Flyboys.

An aerial demonstration o a vinaircra is eatured daily and o ers guthe opportunity to learn more abthe aircra rom the pilot himsel . an additional charge, guests can real hot-air balloon or ride in an cockpit vintage bi-plane, two ove o its kind in the world!

wo new experiences premiereFantasy o Flight in 2007. A sel -ed audio tour eatures ten immestories o aviation history that enguests and provoke thought. Te W

sular Floridas highest point.Music rom a 60-bell carillonlls the garden daily. Te Pin-

ewood Estate showcases one o the nest examples o Mediterranean-style architecture in Florida. Christ-mas at Pinewood is an annual holidayhome tour showcasing the mansion inresplendent dcor. Te Imperial Sym- phony Orchestra and Orlando Philhar-monic Orchestra play to large crowds atthe annual outdoor pops and light clas-

sics concerts. A nature preserve

and walking trails, as well as a visitor center, ca and gi shopare available.

Fanta of FlightAn experience or the entire

amily! Located on Interstate 4at exit 44, the attraction is set ina stunning 1940s era airportlayout eaturing unique exhib-its, behind the scenes tours, andFun with Flight, a hands-oninteractive area or kids o allages. Kids can test their ying skills on a virtual reality hang glider and hot-air balloon simu-lators or climb aboard a Corsairghter simulator and challengeother yers.

Guests are greeted at Fantasy



Bok Tow Ga d nBok ower Gardens, a National

Historic Landmark and one o Amer-icas nest gardens located in Lake Wales, o ers the beauty and serenityo a 250 acre Olmsted-designed land-scape garden located on one o penin-


Bok Tow Ga d n

Fanta of Flight



tion events: the Sun n Fun Fly-In. Heldat the Sun n Fun Complex at LakelandLinder Regional Airport, this popu-lar week-long event eatures over 4000airplanes, daily air shows and a Fridaynight air show complete with pyrotech-nics. In addition, educational orums,seminars and workshops or virtually

every aviation interest are available. Teattraction brings in guests rom all 50states and more than 60 countries, mak-ing a major contribution to Lakelandseconomic development.

Flo ida so th n Coll gFestival of Fine Arts

Te Festival o Fine Arts at FloridaSouthern College is an annual series o

live per ormances in theater, music anddance. Te Festival eatures internation-ally renowned artists, such as sopranoKathleen Battle, pianist Andr Watts,and the Russian National Ballet, as wellas members o the talented College ac-ulty and student body.

s a onal F tivalEvery January, more than 30,000 peo-

ple enjoy Lakelands Annual Pig Festival.Attendees enjoy sampling ood rom300 BB teams competing in variouscategories and or a chance to quali y orthe America Royal Invitational, the larg-

est barbeque contest in the world. igerown, the spring training acility or theDetroit igers, serves as the per ect venueor an a ernoon o un or the whole

amily.In April, the Lemon StreetCelebration or the Salute to

the Florida Outdoor Sculp-ture Competition is cele-brated with a street party

in Downtown. Docentsintroduce the ten newsculptures along LemonStreet and Downtownrestaurants provide

samplings o their ood.Tere is street entertain-

ment and amily un!October is the month or

the Munn Park Garden Extrav-

aganza and the Lake Mirror Clas-sic Auto Festival. Te Lake MirrorClassic Auto Festival attracts over 500show vehicles and 25,000 spectatorsaround Lake Mirror and into the hearto Downtown.

December is the month or theHoliday Walk-About, anevent which enables attendeesto enjoy the Downtown areasholiday decorations while supporting its eclectic array o mer-chants. It is also the month orthe annual Christmas Paradeand Snow est.

s n n F n Fl InEach April, tens o thousands

o aviation enthusiasts travel toone o the worlds largest avia-

ens Air orce Service Pilots Exhibit is atribute to the rst women yers who volunteered to y or the military dur-ing World War II.

Fantasy o Flight is open daily rom10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is closedTanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Volvo Ma fai b th LakBegun in 1974 as a cra ts air on

the lawn o the Lakeland Public Li-brary, Polk Museum o Arts VolvoMay aire by-the-Lake has grown intoone o Floridas premier outdoor artestivals. Every Mothers Day week-end, more than 180 artists displaytheir creative wares around the shoreso beauti ul Lake Morton in Down-town Lakeland. Enjoy great ood, liveentertainment, and ree art activitiesat the Childrens Art ent. Come see why Volvo May aire by-the-Lake hassuch a great reputation!

With a locationb tw n Tampa and

O lando, Lak landid nt can njo

th man att actionof C nt al Flo ida


F tival of Fin A t

Lak Mi o Cla icA to F tival


34/41

DowntownLakeland

Te Citys commitment to growand progress while maintaining ao history and hometown eel has exempli ed by a number o e orts. streetscapes in Downtown Lako er wide sidewalks with geom pavers, trees and historic streetNearly 400 container gardens placed along the streetscapes o Dtown, adding color and interest tsetting. New signage is planned tlocate retail businesses, dining, tainment, cultural, educational, hand parks.

or lease. Manyopportunitiesexist in the Down-

town area or those who wish to be part o theDowntown community.

Developers have invested their dol-lars by building new residential unitsin Downtown. Sixteen lo s were built with retail space on the rst oor. Teseare the rst owner occupied units avail-able in Downtown. Te LakelandDowntown Development Authority

has acquired 14.62 acres or the uturedevelopment o 500+ condos and town-homes in the area o Downtown northo the Lakeland Police Department.

Te Lakeland Downtown Develop-ment Authority, a public agency, in co-operation with the City o Lakeland,

has implemented a redevelopmentstrategy based upon attracting the private sector to invest in the his-

toric Downtown.Public in rastructure and civic

amenities, development incen-tives, land assembly and othertechniques are being used to cre-ate an environment that is riend-

ly to both the investor and the user. With ongoing public investment,

the Downtown has been and will con-tinue to be a desirable destination.

I n the last decade, LakelandsDowntown has seen a resurgencerom what was once a sleepy city center

to an energized core or the Lakelandarea. Government, nancial institutions,businesses, restaurants, retail, entertain-ment, parks and residential housing allcreate an exciting destination or work-ers, residents and visitors alike.

New and renovated Class A o cebuildings such as the Pilot Bank Build-ing, Sun rust Bank at the Lakeland Pla-za, Colonial Square, Heritage Plaza and

Century Plaza o er attractive locationsor businesses in the Downtown area.Smaller buildings have also been builtor renovated and are available or sale

Gov nm nt, nancialin tit tion , b in ,

ta ant , tail,nt tainm nt, pa k

and id ntialho ing all c at an

xciting d tination fo wo k , id nt and

vi ito alik .


Th Loft



structure is con-stantly adapting to accommodate

new business growthas commerce continuesto expand past city limits.Our top notch education sys-tem, our dynamic assortment o arts, cul-ture and recreational opportunities o ersomething or everyone. Weve got it all,rom Pics on the Promenade to Opera atTe Polk.

Lakeland has retained the charm o

a small town, because its made up o

haugerbunch

REALTOR

great people people rom walks o li e and rom all age gSimply put, these people are procall Lakeland home, and so will y

We hope youve enjoyed leabout all the bene ts living in Lake

brings to you and your amily.

A Place toCall Home

It xciting to thi a a g ow,d v lop and b comon of th mo to ght aft plac to

liv in th tat We boast success ul newer business

development, such as industrial tech-nology, avors and essence companies,and major distribution centers while weimprove upon our roots o agricultureand phosphate mining.

We take pride in our community, and we have our own identity. Lakelands in ra-

Our commitment to excellenceallows Lakeland to continueto grow.Lakeland is the most dynamic city

to emerge on the I-4 Corridor betweenampa and Orlando.

It is exciting to see this area grow,develop and become one o the mostsought a er places to live in the state.Employment opportunities are con-stantly emerging as more and amoretechnology based companies are mov-ing into our are. National retailers are

taking note o our tremendous growthand becoming major anchors in ournew retail centers.


Downtown Lak land


36/41



is home to exciting retailers such asHollister, Charlotte Russe, AnchorBlue, Demo, Zumiez, American Eagle,Limited oo, GAP and Old Navy.Owned and operated by GeneralGrowth Properties, Lakeland Squarealso eatures top name departmentstores such as Dillards, Macys, JC-

Penny and Sears. Families with smallchildren enjoy pre erred up ront park-ing while moms and kids receive reegoodie bags at customer service. Withlittle hands busy, youll have more timeto shop!

complex that combines retail, hospital-ity, entertainment and o ce space. Lo-cated in Lakelands upscale Grasslands

area, its beauti ully landscapedcourts and streets invite you to

stroll, shop and enjoy Lake-side Village. Some o the

retail shops that you willnd at Lakeside Villageinclude Belk, Jos. A.Bank Clothiers, Inc.,Gymboree Play andMusic Center. You willalso nd a good selec-tion o restaurants in-

cluding Chilis, LonghornSteakhouse, Mimis Ca

and Coldstone Creamery.

Lak landsq a Mall

Lakeland Square Mall is centrallylocated in the heart o Lakeland and

Lak id Villag ia d namic lif t l

compl x that combintail, ho pitalit ,

nt tainm nt andof c pac

Located at the corner of Harden Boulevardand Polk Parkway in Lakeland, Florida.

www.shoplakesidevillage.net863-616-9360

Stay a While!You'll want to spend the whole day

at Lakeside Village. Shop at Belk,

Kohl's, Bed Bath & Beyond,

Books-A-Million and stylish boutiques.

Enjoy a dozen great places to eat.

Relax at our 18-screen Cobb Theatres.

There's something for everyone.

Come see for yourself!

Lak id Villag


38/41



by the city o Lakeland. Te LakelandsParks and Recreation Department is re-sponsible or maintaining the acilities.

Nearby ampa is home to NFLs 2003Super Bowl Champions, the ampaBay Buccaneers, the NHLs 2004 Stan-ley Cup Champions, the ampa Bay

Lightning, and MLBs 2008 American

League East Division Champions, theampa Bay Rays. In Orlando, youllnd the NBAs Orlando Magic.

Fi hing With more than 600 reshwater

lakes, rivers, and phosphate pits, PolkCounty has a world-renowned repu-tation or great reshwater shing.Excellent saltwater shing is available just a short drive away in the Gul o Mexico. Required shing licensesare easily attainable at most bait andtackle shops or through the FloridaFish and Wildli e Commission Web

Lak land Famil yMCA

Th yMCA p ovidawa d-winning aft

chool child ca in

th i faciliti and in 20a a chool . D ingth mm and choolholida , th yMCAp ovid camp , ldt ip , and d cationaln ichm nt. yo th p og am

b gin with Wat O i-ntation and p og to

Momm and M pla andTotna tic . yo th po t incl dg mna tic , ba k tball, occ ,t-ball, ag football, nch o-niz d wimming and wimmingl on . All o th po t incl din t ction in val f om at ain d Cha act Coach whompha iz th yMCA co val- of ca ing, hon t , p ct

and pon ibilit .M n, wom n and t n can

wo k o t in o w ll- q ipp dW lln C nt , wim lap ino pool and tak g o p x -ci cla in t ngth t aining,a obic , Pilat and wat a o-bic . s nio x ci oppo t ni-ti incl d wa m-wat a th iticla , wat a obic , J t

st tch, and low-impact chai tn cla . O Activ Old Ad lt m t monthl fo a cov-

d di h l nch on.Fo a comp titiv wo ko t,ad lt can join a acq tball o ba k tball l ag .

T n p og am incl d T nNit , L ad Cl b, yo th inGov nm nt, and man oppo t -niti fo comm nit vic .

YMCA PAr 3, HoME of

tHE first tEE in LAkELAnDTh light d d iving ang ,p actic g n , n tt d p acticcag , and 9-hol , pa 3 golf co a op n to th p blic.P of ional golf in t cto off individ al and g o p in t ctionto ad lt and o th.

Th Fi t T p og am c ic l moff p og iv l v l of golf

in t ction and incl d l onin Lif skill which mpha izth nin co val of hon t ,po t man hip, co t , j dgm nt,int g it , p v anc , p ct,

pon ibilit and con d nc . Allcamp and p og am a availablto bo and gi l ag 6-18.Financial Aid is available toqualifed applicants.




site, www.my wc.com. Te Web sitealso contains use ul in ormation such

as shing tips, orecasts, regulations,and events. Many o the areas park a-cilities eature boat ramps, providing direct access to the countys beauti ulassortment o lakes and rivers.

Lak land Pa kand r c ation

Lakeland Parks and Recreation De- partment oversees a ull complement o tennis, swimming, so ball, basketball,and soccer programs. Te city maintainsover 50 parks with an array o amenitiesincluding baseball, ootball, lake ront picnic areas, walking trails, an in-lineskating rink, skate park, playgrounds,shing, volleyball, and boat ramps. Teaward winning Hollis Garden locatedon historic Lake Mirror is a must seeor everyone. Te beauti ul ormal bo-

Huntington Hills Gol & CounClub also o ers public play. Champ

ship gol can be ound at private such as Grasslands Gol & CouClub and Lone Palm Gol Club asas semi-private clubs such as GreGol and ennis Resort, Te Club Eaglebrooke and ImperiaLakes and Country Club.

Various PGA tournaments are in our area, including the PGA CaOpen, the PGA our Quali ying Finand the Lakeland Futures Classic hthe Cleveland Heights Gol Course

For tennis, a number o superbcilities complete with amenities pro essional tennis instruction arcated throughout the region, or b private and public play includinnewly renovated Beerman Familynis Center located at Veterans ParEdgewood Avenue.

tanic garden showcases the latest plantspecies native, exotic, and common

to Florida. Te city operates six recre-ational acilities including a ull service27-hole gol course, two pools, two topquality weight rooms, 32 lighted ten-nis courts, six three-wall racquetballcourts, 32 covered shufeboard courts,an arti cial lawn-bowling green, biketrails, and recreational programming or adults, youth and teens.

Golf and T nniLakeland and the surrounding area

play host to more than two dozen gol courses, o ering a variety o challeng-ing venues or both public and private play. Cleveland Heights Gol Courseeatures 27 classically designed holesthat o er a challenge to all skill levels.Cleveland Heights is a municipal acil-ity with a private club eel.

Sports Continued

B ca of th g at climat ,o ll alwa b abl to nd

om thing to do, wh th o anactiv pa ticipant o a p ctato

Holli Ga d n

Cl v land H ightGolf Co


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