Empirical Polk - an alternative view of Imperial Polk County, Florida

The City of Lakeland plays host to the fall season of Lakeland Electric’s Music on the Promenade starting Friday, August 18, 2006 when renowned jazz saxophonist Eric Darius and his band take the stage from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. during the FREE music series.

The monthly music series takes place at the Lake Mirror amphitheater which is in-between Hollis Garden and the Lake Mirror Center. The event is free to the public and families are encouraged to attend. There will be food and drink vendors on site so bring a blanket and enjoy the lake setting with music under the stars.

Music on the Promenade Fall Schedule
• August 18, 2006 – Eric Darius (Jazz)
• September 15, 2006 – Azwon (Reggae)
• October 20, 2006 – Michael Bell & the Boogalizers (Rock)

Eric “Smooth Breeze” Darius will start the fall series in support of his newest recording entitled Just Getting Started. Darius took the contemporary jazz world by storm with his 2004 Jazz debut, Night on the Town. The critics raved! Fans clamored! His awesome talent and unjaded enthusiasm make him an instant favorite everywhere he performs.

His current release is a bold statement by a jazz star well on his way to the top. Darius said, “I have to admit this was by far the most incredible recording experience I’ve ever had.” He added, “Throughout the past year, I have progressed as a songwriter and a player, and in my opinion, this new CD clearly reflects that.”

Darius quotes his influences as John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Kenny G and David Sanborn. He plays the saxophone, flute and the piano. This young star is fast becoming a regular on jazz radio and his current CD is climbing the jazz charts. Eric Darius is an exciting emerging saxophonist whose versatility will be demonstrated as he hits the Music on the Promenade stage on August 18th.

Uncle John's Band will play the Friday, April 21st Music on the Promenade. The FREE Music Series takes place at the Lake Mirror Amphitheater (downtown Lakeland) from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. The group is one of the best Grateful Dead tribute bands in the land. Bring a blanket and enjoy great music under the stars. There will be food vendors on site and there is even the added bonus of a chili cook-off. Chili and Sugar Magnolia on a beautiful night – it just does not get any better.

The City of Lakeland will play host to the Grateful Dead tribute band, Uncle John’s Band from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday, April 21, 2006 during the Music on the Promenade.

The monthly music series takes place at the Lake Mirror amphitheater which is between Hollis Garden and the Lake Mirror Center. The event is FREE to the public and families are encouraged to attend. There will be food and drink vendors on site so bring a blanket and enjoy the lake setting with music under the stars.

Uncle John's Band was formed in 1990 in Clearwater Florida from a combination of talented musicians who love to play the music of the Grateful Dead. The purpose of Uncle John's Band is to recreate the atmosphere and musical adventure of a live Dead show. Over the past many years, Uncle John's Band has performed hundreds of shows full of musical energy and pleasure for all those who have attended. Over the last fifteen years the band has developed a loyal fan base in the thousands who enjoy the music, atmosphere, and experience of the Grateful Dead.

Lakeland Electric’s Music on the Promenade is proudly sponsored by The Ledger, the City of Lakeland, Lakeland Parks & Recreation Department, Center Door Productions and Lakeland Electric. Parking is available at the Lake Mirror Center's parking lot and in the Iowa Street parking garage. No glass bottles within the park please.

Lemon Street Celebration honoring the Sixth Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition will take place on Friday, April 7, 2006 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in downtown Lakeland. The public is invited to this FREE event to see the new sculptures that have been installed along the Lemon Street Promenade.

Prize winners for the sculpture competition will be announced during the event and the public will vote for their favorite piece of artwork. The piece that receives the most votes is awarded the coveted People's Choice Award.

This year's event includes the pop sounds of Blind Ambition on the stage and there will be street performers strolling along Lemon Street adding to the festive atmosphere. Local restaurants and vendors will have food and drink samples available for purchase. The sculpture competition winners, including People's Choice will be announced shortly before 7 p.m.

Lemon Street will be closed from South Florida Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue to accommodate the event. Portions of Tennessee Avenue and Kentucky Avenue will also be closed from Lemon Street to Preservation Alley.

The artists and their artwork on view this year are:
Andrew Arvanetes (Colleyville, TX), City Mouse
Carl Billingsley (Ayden, NC), Three Graces
R.F. Buckley (Miami, FL), Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care
James N. Burns (Santa Fe, NM), Tastego
David J. Eisenhour (Port Hadlock, WA), Dandelion
Ted Sitting Crow Garner (Chicago, IL), Uppercutted
Ralph Provisero (Miami, FL), Rider
Derek C. Riley (Buzzards Bay, MA), Lash
Edwin C. White (Siler City, NC), Game of 12 Ball
Glenn Zweygardt (Alfred Station, NY), Verde Voyager

The exhibit is a joint project between the City of Lakeland and the Polk Museum of Art. Sponsors include Heritage Plaza, MIDFLORIDA Federal Credit Union, Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc., Peterson & Meyers, P.A., Smith Barney, SunTrust Bank, The Ledger and Watkins Motor Lines.

Red Trail Racing of Lakeland will host an Urban Mountain Bike race in downtown Lakeland this Saturday April 8, 2006 from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. The race will take place in the Iowa Avenue parking garage and along Lake Mirror. Iowa Avenue will be closed between Lakeland’s City Hall and Lakeland Electric. A portion of Lemon Street will be closed at Massachusetts.

Spectators are admitted free and can view the outlined course along Iowa Street and the Iowa Street Garage from designated positions. Ray Wells, promoter of the event said, “There is no other mountain bike event like this in the country that we are aware of. In fact, I am not aware of any other urban mountain bike race in the nation.”

StreetX will take place between the Urban Mountain Bike heat races. StreetX is a combination of dual slalom and motocross that takes place over a 200-yard course laden with obstacles.

Prizes for the Urban Mountain Bike Race include: Medals for the top three finishers of each round, prizes for top three series finishers and cash prizes for the top five expert division winners: 1st $150.00, 2nd $125.00, 3rd $100.00, 4th $75.00 and 5th $50.00.

For more information and to get a diagram of the course visit www.redtrailracing.com.

Does anyone else out there in cyber world notice that the headlines in newspapers including our community news source are sensationalized? Take for instance today, Lakeland Electric reduced the fuel charge for customers by $3.45 per 1,000 kWh and there was one person in the audience that wanted to talk about a completely different issue.

Utility's Fuel Surcharge Reduction Fails to Impress was the headline. By the headline you would think that the entire community was against the reduction. The member of the audience wanted to talk about the dividend that Lakeland Electric pays the City. A privately held utility pays dividends to stock holders. A municipal utility pays dividends to its stockholders who happen to be the taxpayers or residents of the community.

This is not a practice that is unique to Lakeland. It is very common for municipal utilities to pay some sort of payment in lieu of taxes. This includes not only electric utilities but water, waste water and solid waste as well. These practices assist communities to expand the level of services without continually raising taxes.

If you are really going to write a story about it and try to inform your readers wouldn't you mention other municipal utilities in the State that do the same thing such as Gainesville and Tallahassee? I am all for Freedom of the Press and our First Amendment Rights but give us the whole story and not just a sensationalized piece of it.

The City of Lakeland will have the Grand Opening of Westside Park on Saturday, March 4, 2006 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Westside Park is located at 1800 West Oakhill Street. There will be live music, refreshments, children’s activities including face-painting and displays on hand from the Lakeland Police Department as well as the Polk County Sheriffs Department.

This newly designed 22.6 acre park features four soft-ball fields, three picnic shelters, paved walking paths, half basketball-court, swings, playground equipment and restroom facilities. This well-shaded and much needed addition to the park system was funded in part by the City of Lakeland, Polk County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. It truly is the result of a collaborative effort.

This park is a gem for the area but we have experienced vandalism at the park during the building phase, including the burning of a pallet of modular playground equipment and repeated graffiti taggings. It is a shame because this area needs a park like this and the kids in the surrounding area need a safe, fun place to play. Hopefully, the area will take pride in the park and the vandalism will cease once the park officially opens.

This is just a quick reminder to check out Pigfest on Saturday. The event brings some of the best professional cook teams in the country to Lakeland and of course some of the most talented local teams take part in the Backyard Division. Don't miss lip-smackin' good BBQ on Saturday, January 28th from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The event is at Tigertown (Joker Marchant Stadium). WPCV is sponsoring the entertainment and I understand there will be some great bands on hand. Live music, good Q and the aroma of searing pig - it just does not get any better.

Do you want to learn more about City government? Well now is your chance! Local residents are encouraged to sign up for the Lakeland Citizens Academy. The program starts February 22, 2006. The Citizens Academy is a free, hands-on, interactive public information program that allows citizens an insight into City services and the functions of City departments.

The Citizens Academy program will consist of six (6), two (2) hour evening sessions. Enrollment in the class is based on a first-come-first-served basis and is limited to 20.

2006 Citizens Academy Sessions

February 22, 2006 – Governing the City, History & Finance
March 22, 2006 – Lakeland Police Department
April 26, 2006 – Lakeland Fire Department
May 24, 2006 – Public Works, Planning
June 28, 2006 – Electric and Water Utilities
July 26, 2006 – Parks & Recreation and The Lakeland Center

The FREE program is designed to familiarize citizens with City government. Those interested in participating should contact me at kevin.cook@lakelandgov.net to secure a spot on the roster.

Are you ready for some great BBQ? Coming up on January 28th is one event that I look forward to each year. It's the 10th Annual Lakeland Pig Festival at Tigertown (Lakeland) on Saturday, January 28th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some of the best cooks in the country attend this sanctioned event. There is one cook team from Mobile, Alabama that has some of the finest baby back ribs....I purchase two slabs each year from him. Quite a few of my friends compete in the backyard division so I make my way through the crowd to see them, stopping to taste a sample or two on the way. Bring your appetite and don't miss this fun event. If you want to compete or just want some additional information go to www.lakelandpigfest.com.