Lakeland, Polk County | featured news

It was a weekend in which the words "transcendental" and "transformational" were regularly used to describe the free-spirited days of dancing, meditating, communing and working on a seemingly collective journey towards a global unity. "Earthdance Florida" ended at 6 p.m. Sunday, wrapping up three days of Florida's part of the "Earthdance Global Peace Party," an international underground music and dance event for peace held annually since 1997.

Lakeland native Gary Ballard wasn’t sure what he wanted to do for a career while attending Kathleen High School. Air conditioning, he thought. He took some trade classes and started in that business, but was sidetracked when he saw a note on a door.

The high grasses have been tamed and the 12,000 panels will be aligned as the half year of darkness for Lakeland Electric's fifth completed but currently inactive solar farm comes to an end. The array at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport — the third solar installation at the airport — had been completed by the utility's private sector partner, SunEdison, but the go-live date was delayed by the sudden bankruptcy of the green energy company in April.