The Lakelander

The Lakelander Lakeland's City Magazine
www.thelakelander.com
www.instagram.com/lakelandermag Independently produced in Lakeland. Want to make sure you NEVER MISS AN ISSUE?

The Lakelander
Beautiful, perfect-bound, coffee-table quality magazine published monthly. Rediscovering the Lakeland you love. 84-116 pages. Go to thelakelander.com/subscriptions to subscribe!
*FREE copies are distributed, in limited quanities, at select locations throughout Lakeland. General Counsel: Ted W. Weeks IV

The Lakelander is published bimonthly by Patterson Jacobs Publishing.

“What do you want to be?” As thousands of students at Polk County Public Schools aim to figure that out, organizations l...
09/11/2026

“What do you want to be?”

As thousands of students at Polk County Public Schools aim to figure that out, organizations like Lakeland Regional Health, Orlando Health and others are providing more local internships and entry level jobs to bring clarity to the search.

Find out how local teens are being spurred on and into the job force --> https://www.thelakelander.com/the-lakelander-issue-127/what-do-you-want-to-be

Whether he is handing out freeze pops to students on move-in day, praising facility staff for maintaining what some call...
09/09/2026

Whether he is handing out freeze pops to students on move-in day, praising facility staff for maintaining what some call “the most beautiful campus in America”, or following his favorite Florida pro and college sports teams, Dr. Jeremy Martin is exactly where he wants to be.

Find out how the Florida Southern College President and his team continue to build what he calls a "comprehensive university" that is focused on producing graduates who are prepared to make a difference in the community's they live, work and play in. --> https://www.thelakelander.com/the-lakelander-issue-127/first-name-basis

What is it like to be the leader of a school district that spans more than 2,000 square miles and is home to more than 6...
09/04/2026

What is it like to be the leader of a school district that spans more than 2,000 square miles and is home to more than 6,700 teachers and 120,000 students?

A word or phrase doesn't do it justice, so we sat down with Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Heid to discuss how to better serve teachers, working with the state, tools for progress and how a crucial referendum will shape Polk's education future. --> https://www.thelakelander.com/the-lakelander-issue-127/the-blueprint-for-better

Just outside the gates of a university that continues to make significant contributions to the local community and abroa...
09/01/2026

Just outside the gates of a university that continues to make significant contributions to the local community and abroad, through raising up students who are equipped to live out their God-given purpose, is a brand new space where the littlest hearts and minds will soon be able to begin that journey at a much earlier age.

Southeastern University is embarking on a new era for early childhood education that inspires wonder and meets a community-wide need.

Learn all about the Robert and Sandra Graper Early Childhood Education Center at SEU -->
https://www.thelakelander.com/the-lakelander-issue-127/inspiring-wonder

Women and babies in South Lakeland finally have a hospital to call home with the opening of Orlando Health Watson Clinic...
08/31/2026

Women and babies in South Lakeland finally have a hospital to call home with the opening of Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital.

Find out the experience moms-to-be can expect at the new facility with these longtime OB-GYNs leading the way --> https://www.thelakelander.com/top-docs/bringing-life-to-lakeland

A real life story from the Trauma Unit at Lakeland Regional Health that changed the course of a family's life. ---Sue Ko...
08/26/2026

A real life story from the Trauma Unit at Lakeland Regional Health that changed the course of a family's life.
---
Sue Koepfle remembers the morning of Jan. 6, 2017, like it was yesterday. She had recently retired and was happily preparing to celebrate her son Joe Koepfle’s wedding in just two days. She went over to his house to pick up his suit so she could make some alterations—a simple task for an accomplished seamstress. He planned to come by later to pick it up.

Knowing the whole family would be around for dinner, she ordered a pizza. She jumped in her truck to pick it up, but she dropped something on the floorboard and looked down for a split second.

She felt the truck lurch right, then left.

She thought, “Not my new truck!” She vaguely recalls yelling for help.

The next thing Sue remembers is waking up in a hospital bed with her son standing over her. She apologized for disrupting his plans and said, “Please don’t postpone the wedding because of me!”

Joe responded gently, “Mom, that was two months ago.”

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗱 --> https://www.thelakelander.com/the-lakelander-issue-126/making-up-for-lost-time

The assignment Stephanie Heidel had for the class attending her wellness workshop was this: Create a painting of the wea...
08/24/2026

The assignment Stephanie Heidel had for the class attending her wellness workshop was this: Create a painting of the weather forecast that best describes you.

“Paris’s forecast was sunny with a chance of dumpster fire,” the former elementary teacher recalls with a hearty laugh, talking about her friend and business partner.

Paris Cousins is the founder and owner of Oak Wellness Center and Stephanie is the founder and owner of Foundation Mindset which offers wellness workshops as part of Oak Wellness’s holistic approach to overall health that involves laughter and tears, deep conversations, and proven modalities that bring healing and wellness to the forefront.

Venture inside their wellness haven --> https://www.thelakelander.com/the-lakelander-issue-126/you-cant-pour-without-an-empty-cup

When you see Dustin Dixon out and about, odds are it could be at the local theatre, coaching his kid’s youth sports team...
08/21/2026

When you see Dustin Dixon out and about, odds are it could be at the local theatre, coaching his kid’s youth sports team, sponsoring an event for a nearby school or church or out for a mountain bike ride.

When the proud Mulberry High School alum sees you, he is hoping that you can see well, because all week long he is focused on helping people prioritize their vision.

Read about what sets Vision First apart --> https://www.thelakelander.com/top-docs/locally-grown-community-focused

Some people spend a lifetime trying to leave the world a better place. Tripp Nugent did it in just seven years.In our re...
08/18/2026

Some people spend a lifetime trying to leave the world a better place. Tripp Nugent did it in just seven years.

In our recent Heroes issue, Tripp's dad, Nick, shares a poignant tribute on how even battling Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma for 18 months could not stifle Tripp's joy. --> https://www.thelakelander.com/the-lakelander-issue-126/lasting-imprints

Although she had a certain high school teacher who wanted her to diversify her career options, Dr. Alexandria Cummings u...
08/14/2026

Although she had a certain high school teacher who wanted her to diversify her career options, Dr. Alexandria Cummings ultimately fulfilled the dream of her 4-year-old self by earning the right to now help families navigate the health and future of their children.

See how she is constantly reassuring parents and helping kids feel good about being at the doctor's office in her role as a pediatrician for Central Florida Health Care, Inc.

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