In his search for a way to serve God and his neighbor, what’s a tattooed, cigar-loving, drum-playing Pentecostal-raised boy to do? Meet Lakelander Stetson Glass, a middle-school teacher, graduate student and candidate for the priesthood in an obscure Episcopal denomination.
Author Archives: Cary McMullen
Posted inActivism, Public Safety
Forum on Race Relations Produces Contention, Progress
A town hall meeting Monday night brought city leaders together with leaders of recent social justice protests and the black community, yielding a mixture of agreement and contention about the state of police policy and race relations in Lakeland.
Posted inSchools
Parents Launch Effort to Save Historic St. Joseph Academy
St. Joseph Academy, the oldest private school in Lakeland, will close permanently this week, according to a letter to parents. The school, which was begun in 1938 under the auspices of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lakeland, appears to be another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Posted inActivism, Housing
Mutz Agrees to Push for Special Housing Trust Fund
Pressed by a local activist group to continue to expand the city’s affordable housing, Mayor Bill Mutz agreed Tuesday night to work for the creation of a special trust fund.
Posted inA & E
Local Arts Groups in Turmoil Due to Pandemic
Concerts canceled. Galleries emptied. Fundraisers lost. Over the past eight weeks, it is not just small businesses in Lakeland that have lost revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic. Arts organizations report they have collectively lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in ticket sales, fees for classes, sponsorships, galas and promotional events.
Posted inA & E
Vanguard Room Unveils ‘A Lakeland Christmas’ Album
To the musical question — Do we really need another Christmas album? – Matt Wilbur has a ready answer. “If the Christmas season stresses you out, you don’t need another Christmas album. But if you love Christmas, you can never have enough. There’s always one more Christmas decoration, one more Christmas album to have,” he […]
Posted inA & E
Imperial Symphony’s Season Goes from Brahms to Beat Box
In its ongoing quest for a wider audience, the Imperial Symphony Orchestra is tweaking its formula a bit as the 2019-2020 season gets underway. In its choice of venue, its educational strategy and its programming, the orchestra’s leadership is trying different approaches.
Posted inA & E, People
Indie Atlantic’s First Feature Documentary Gets Awards
In the 13 years it has been in business, Lakeland’s Indie Atlantic Films has carved out a niche in the video and film production industry, producing visuals for businesses, schools and colleges and nonprofit organizations. Now the company has produced its first feature-length film, a documentary that is getting some attention in the American film-festival […]
Posted inActivism, Business
Ledger Reporters Protest Staff Cuts
A handful of newsroom staffers at The Ledger staged a brief demonstration today in front of the newspaper’s downtown office, urging the public’s support in the face of recent and anticipated cuts by the paper’s corporate owner, GateHouse Media.
Posted inA & E, People
Carol Erkes Hands Florida Dance Theatre to a New Generation
Carol Erkes didn’t imagine she would go from being a dancer to an impresario, managing an arts organization instead of creating art. “I never had any intention of getting to where we are today. It snowballed,” she said. Erkes retired in June as the executive and artistic director of Florida Dance Theatre, the professional dance […]