Tom Hagerty went to the 10th Annual Lake Mirror Classic Auto show, but we can't get his photos until later today. We'll tease you with a couple of amatuer shots I took this morning.
Over at another site, there was a discussion about the reopening of the Southgate Publix. One person questioned the coverage: "It's a grocery store. A. GROCERY. STORE. A place to buy groceries." I've only been here a few years, but it researching the articles about Southgate I found that it has survived and prospered when many contemporary and later shopping districts failed. In the Dixieland community the Southgate Publix isn't just a grocery store. It's a meeting place. We find our neighbors there every time we shop. It's a touchstone of history. 52 years in the same location doesn't happen by accident. We can walk and bike to this store. Generations have done so, though it was built for cars during the time the city wasn't quite up to its edge.
Yesterday, I presented a Social Media Workshop. Hosted by the Dixieland CRA @DixieCRA & lab use donated by @USFP photo credit: Tom Hagerty for Lakeland Local
For a few weeks I'm volunteering for NFocus, a Lakeland company making an independent film here in town. It's my job to handle writing for their official "behind the scenes" site, Endure. I'm also tweeting what I can at @enduremovie. I'm shooting a lot of photos for the production, though some can't be published. C'est la vie. The crew shoots from at 7am to 7pm, so I can't be on the set at all times. The other day I was visiting a friend who lives near one set and spotted those young women watching production. With Devon Sawa in the film, they've had quite a few bystander scenes like that one. photo credit: Chuck Welch for Lakeland Local
You might have read a bit about today's rally held near Lake Mirror. We had a couple of daring reporters with cameras wandering through the crowd. Inside you'll see some signs, speakers, and spectators....
Lakeland area bloggers and other social media users are all invited to the next "tweetup/meetup" on March 31st at 7pm. We're taking a more laid-back approach this time. No presentations teaching the wonders of Twitter. Just a group of social media fans with the opportunity to meet in person. It's a chance to mingle with Lakeland's social media cutting edge. We're trying a new meeting place this month. Barry Friedman, the Ledger's Managing Editor/Digital, offered the use of the Ledger's lobby. He's going to supply refreshments, and offer tours of the Polk County newspaper of record. To help me let Barry know how many to expect, please comment below if you plan to come. Or email me at tweetup [at] lakelandlocal.com, or send me a tweet at @chuckwelch. (Map & directions inside)
Always mindful of safety, Billy Townsend couldn't post the following questions while riding on Interstate 4... 1) What is up with all the fires? 2) Why are all the worst drivers driving on I4 right now? I apologize if I've misquoted him. Please imagine the incredulous tone to his voice as he pondered the pair of questions. -- Chuck Welch
Today is Buy A Newspaper Day. The effort is an attempt to get readers back to purchasing their local newspaper. The fact the campaign was conducted entirely online doesn't escape me. Nevertheless, I bought a newspaper today. In fact, I purchased two. The Ledger and the News Chief. The former, based in Lakeland, covers Imperial Polk county and cost $.75. What did I find?
Yes, Lakeland Local does look different. Read our guide to the new look and features.
Now that much of Lakeland is on Google Street View we can play with it a little. Each week Petra Norris sends us the data for new homes listed for sale. She writes up the report and we make a nice map. This week I made a second map to test adding Google Street View to the [...]
View Larger Map With much of the nation covered, it looks like Google Street View recently made it to Lakeland. Street View uses a special camera rig to take 360-degree photos around a vehicle as it moves through the city. The images look like this. How does it work? I'm glad you asked. Read on...
Tuesday night there were a pair of meetings where area residents discussed long range community planning. At the one I attended, Lakeland Vision brought together over 100 concerned residents to discuss Lakeland growth priorities. The Ledger described the other as supporting a study: "...called the Gateway Selected Area Study, is part of an effort to look at the expected growth impact of the planned CSX freight terminal in South Winter Haven and the expected spinoff industrial, commercial and residential development." In Lakeland, citizens expressed that the top growth priority should be before the development comes: "Growth will be well-planned and managed to ensure that public infrastructure investments can keep up with the needs of a growing population." At the other meeting, they were addressing the growth impact of the CSX rail yard. However, some government officials seemed a bit confused why they were conducting the study:
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.