Access Lakeland October

30290-I-0200

BASKETBALL IS BACK

THE LAKELAND MAGIC ARE READY FOR THEIR SECOND SEASON

RED RIBBON RUN

PREVENTING BULLYING AND DRUG ABUSE

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

MEET JIM DEHNE

GET OUT AND VOTE

VOTE NOVEMBER 6

LAKE CITY OF LAKELAND NEWS & EVENTS
CRAGO
OCTOBER 2018

2GET READY FOR PHASE 2!
The City of Lakeland will begin an exciting part of the grand vision that is Lake Crago Park this month! Lake
Crago Park is located at 525 Lake Crago Drive in north Lakeland. The park currently features Lake Crago Dog
Park and a boat ramp. Phase II will bring two distinct facilities, contributing excited additions to the Parks and
Recreation inventory. One space will provide a spot for vendors, offering canoes, kayaks and sailboats for rent.
According to Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Pam Page, “We’re bringing a new recreational opportunity
that our citizens do not currently have, a place to teach our kids how to canoe and kayak.” The second space will
house classrooms and spaces available for rent for recreation and community needs.
The following lakes will be accessible from Lake Crago Park by water: Lake Crago, Lake Crago
Canal, Lake Parker, Hourglass Lake and Little Lake Parker. Tern Lake and half Moon Lake will be
accessible by foot. Future phases of Lake Crago Park will include baseball and multi-use fields.

Lakeland Magic
NBA G League Basketball

TIPS OFF SECOND SEASON THIS NOVEMBER

Mark your calendars as the Lakeland Magic tip-off the 2018-19 season with opening night on Saturday, November 10 at 7p.m.
at the RP Funding Center. Be there as the Magic face off against the Westchester Knicks, NBA G League affiliate of the New York
Knicks. The season includes exciting theme nights such as Star Wars Night, Space Jam Night, Hunt the Herd, Honoring our Heroes
and many more!

The Lakeland Magic will play a 50-game regular season: 24 home, 24 away, and 2 neutral site games at the annual G League
Showcase. The teams affiliation with the Orlando Magic and proximity to Lakeland significantly helps the Magic develop players
and evaluate talent.

Lakeland Magic season tickets, group tickets and suites are on sale now. Highlights for the Magic’s second season at the RP
Funding Center include a 14 million dollar renovation which will elevate the overall fan experience. Group tickets are available for
as low as $10 per game and season tickets start at $8.63 per game. Single-game tickets for all regular season games will go on
sale on Wednesday, October 3 at 10:00 a.m.

Lakeland Magic | HOME SCHEDULE | 2018-2019

Sat Nov. 10 Westchester 7 PM Opening Night For ticket information
Fri. Nov. 16 Greensboro 7 PM Honoring our Heroes visit lakelandmagic.com
Tue. Nov. 20 Austin 7 PM
Fri. Nov. 23 Delaware 7 PM Kid’s Takeover or call 863.825.3258
Sun. Nov. 25 Delaware 6 PM Food & Wine
Fri. Dec. 7 Grand Rapids 7 PM Blast from the Past
Sun. Dec. 9 Long Island 6 PM Star Wars Night
Tue. Dec. 11 Westchester 7 PM Paws in the Paint
Sat. Dec. 15 Rio Grande V. 7 PM Home for the Holiday’s
Sun Jan. 6 Wisconsin 6 PM Badges & Ladders
Fri. Jan. 11 Texas 7 PM Hunt the Herd
Tue. Jan. 15 Capital City 11 AM Faith & Family
Wed. Jan. 23 Canton 7 PM School Days Game
Fri. Jan. 25 Greensboro 7 PM Space Jam Night
Tue. Feb 5 Maine 7 PM Youth Basketball
Fri. Feb. 8 Erie 7 PM Black History Month Celebration
Mon. Feb. 11 Long Island 7 PM Orlando Magic
Wed. Feb. 13 Ft. Wayne 7 PM Senior Takeover
Wed. Feb. 20 Capital City 7 PM Hoops for a Cure
Fri. Feb. 22 Salt Lake City 7 PM Swish’s Birthday
Sun. Mar. 3 Erie 3 PM Oscar’s Night
Tue. Mar. 19 Windy City 7 PM College Night
Fri. Mar. 22 Raptors 7 PM Teacher Appreciation
Sat. Mar. 23 Raptors 7 PM Lakeland Swans
Fan Appreciation

CELEBRATE OUR VETERANS at Polk County’s Only
Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K & Kids Fun Run
Saturday, November 10, 2018

Our community’s Red Ribbon tradition continues with Polk County’s Half Marathon,
5K & Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 10th, 2018 in support of bullying
prevention and substance abuse prevention. The Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K &
Fun Run, presented by Title Sponsor Publix Super Markets, Inc., InnerAct Alliance,
and MidFlorida Credit Union, is a family event where adults can compete in the
Half Marathon or 5K, and K-8 students can participate in the Kids Fun Run. Early
registration is encouraged at www.RedRibbonHalf.com.

The Kids Fun Run for K-8 students begins at 8:00 a.m. with check-in at 7:00 a.m. at
the Lake Mirror Auditorium. The Fun Run is FREE for those who pre-register before
November 1st ($5 fee after 11/1/18) and includes a commemorative Run t-shirt
and free refreshments. The Kids Run will start and finish at Lake Mirror Promenade
and follow a route around Lake Mirror. Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd
place runners in gender categories, and to the top three elementary schools and
top middle school with the largest percentage of participating students, based on
school census. The private school with the highest percentage of participation will
also receive a trophy.

CELEBRATING OUR VETERANS! In celebration of the Veterans Day Weekend,
we are offering an opportunity for all race participants to honor a Veteran by
nominating them for a FREE HALF MARATHON or 5K REGISTRATION when you
register to run! Veterans slots are limited. For registration and event information,
please visit www.RedRibbonHalf.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.
com/RedRibbonRunSeries. We look forward to seeing you November 10th!

JIM DEHNECITY OF LAKELAND EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
CODE ENFORCEMENT SUPERVISOR

Meet Jim Dehne, Code Enforcement Supervisor for the City of committed to improving quality of life for all who call Lakeland home.”
Lakeland. After almost 18 years of employment with the city, Dehne Dehne was born in Chicago, Illinois, where he graduated from
says he still loves everything about his job. That is saying a lot since
his line of work is not always easy. When Dehne started with the City, Roosevelt High School. After graduation, Dehne joined the military and
he was a Code Enforcement Officer, citing residential and commercial was enlisted for 21 years. Throughout his service, Dehne travelled the
locations for code violations. For 11 years, he has been supervising world twice; the two years he spent in Guam were some of the most
that Department and while he is not issuing citations anymore, he is still memorable. Initially, Dehne serviced safety systems which included
very much hands on. A visit by a Code Enforcement Officer indicates ejection seats, air conditioning and pressurization systems on a variety
there is some type of problem that needs a resolution. This is typically of Naval aircraft. While training recruits at the Recruit Training Center
not an enjoyable situation and Dehne occasionally has to step in to help in Great Lakes, Illinois he met his wife Jill. In order to be stationed
remedy the issues. He is also the one that approves all the demolition together, he attended the Joint Forces Law Enforcement Academy in
of structures that are not brought to code in a specific time frame. He San Antonio Texas and moved to Guam. The last four years of his military
administers the red-light camera program also; his Department accepts career was spent as the Military Chief of Police at NAS Key West, Florida.
citation payments and issues extensions. More than half the violations
his officers inspect are submitted by citizens; the rest are found while The best part of being in the military is that he met Jill, who he has
the officers are in the field throughout the course of their day. Violations been married to for 25 years. They both retired from the military after 21
can range from derelict vehicles, housing violations that do not meet years. The Dehnes have four children and seven grandchildren. While
minimum housing standards, overgrown grass, commercial signage all the kids are out of the house, it is certainly not an empty nest. They
that does not adhere to standards and environmental concerns like share their home with a 17 year old cat, Minnie Moe and seven dogs,
raw sewage leaks. The issues are not always pleasant, but the goal one Borzoi and six French bulldogs. Jill has participated in showing dogs
for Dehne and his team is to make Lakeland an enjoyable place to for over 10 years all over the country.
work, live and play. Community Improvement Manager Brian Rewis
says of Dehne, “Jim is an invaluable member of the City’s Community For fun, Dehne loves to go fishing, listen to live music, specifically
& Economic Development team. His job is an extremely thankless job. Southern Rock, and watch football. Go Gators! His favorite food is
He is a professional who acts in the community’s best interest and is sausage pizza and he enjoys eating at Il Forno and 716 Burgers & Brew,
both in Lakeland.

Jim Dehne, thank you for your service to our Country and for your
dedication to the City of Lakeland.

8

ELECTION DAY: VISIT
NOVEMBER 6TH WWW.POLKELECTIONS.COM

FOR INFORMATION

Wed.,October 31 6 pm-8pm UPSCAOVME TINHGE EDVAETNE:TS
BRING
YOUR OWN SIMPSON PARK COMMUNITY CENTER POLICEATHLETIC/ACTIVITIES LEAGUEANNUALDINNER
FLASHLIGHT!
1725 Martin L. King Jr. Avenue Lakeland NOVEMBER 8 • 6:30PM

KIDS AGES 3-5 AND 6-10 WILL HUNT FOR TREAT FILLED EGGS LAKE MIRRORAUDITORIUM
OUTSIDE USING THEIR OWN FLASHLIGHTS!
VETERANS DAYCEREMONY& PARADE
CTHIMIPE-D DLAARI$SCKE5CACEOOLEDAUFSEFNNRSDT
NOVEMBER 10
DECEMBER 1T5RATIHL THROUGH NOV. 5
CEREMONY• 10AM •VETERANS PARK | PARADE • 11AM • DOWNTOWN LAKELAND
THREE PARKS ACCESSUSE PROMO CODE:
LAKELAND CHRISTMAS PARADE
REGISTER ONLINE AT:
DECEMBER 6 • 7PM

DOWNTOWN LAKELAND

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF:

VETERANS DAY
NOVEMBER 12, 2018

NO CHANGE TO SOLID WASTE PICKUP SCHEDULE

THANKSGIVING
NOVEMBER 22-23, 2018

NO SOLID WASTE PICKUP ON NOV. 22.
Collection will occur one day later for remainder of week.

J_AccessDiscountAd.indd 1 STAY CONNECTEDOnline | www.lakelandgov.net ­ In Person | City Hall • 8AM – 5PM • Monday-Friday
FACEBOOK TWITTER SNAPCHAT N8E/X7T/1D8OO1R0:I5N6STAAMGRAM VIMEO YOUTUBE |
Listen Lakeland • First Sunday • FM 97.5 WPCV @ 8:30AM | FM 98.3 WWRZ @ 8AM | AM 1430 WLKF @ 8AM | AM 1230 WONN @ 9AM
Public Meetings | City Commission Meetings • First and Third Monday • 3PM | Utility Committee Meetings • First Monday • 1PM
Live Broadcast on LGN | Channel 643 (Spectrum) | Channel 43 (Frontier FiOS)

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

City Hall • 863.834.6000 Lakeland Electric Customer Service • 863.834.9535 Power or Water Outages • 863.834.4248
Pollution Hotline • 863.834.3300 LPD Crime Tips Hotline • 863.834.2549 LPD (Non-Emergency) • 863.834.6900

PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILL:
ONLINE | www.lakelandelectric.com BY PHONE | 863.834.9535
IN PERSON | Lakeland Electric has partnered with over 50 local businesses including area AMSCOT offices to accept your utility payment.