Lakeland

Fab Food, Fine Art Fuel This Couple’s American Dream In Lakeland

She's a gifted cook with a masters in language and economics. He's a talented artist who mastered the art of showcasing his wife's skills at two defunct Plant City eateries. The third time may be the charm, though, for Berna and Erkan Nar, a couple of Turkish transplants whose recipe for success simmers in a busy little Mediterranean bistro near downtown Lakeland.

Lakeland Ranked Seventh Among EPA Energy-Efficient Cities

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency recently ranked Lakeland seventh among the top 25 cities containing the most energy-efficient buildings. It is the smallest city in the nation to make the list and, along with Miami in 19th place, the only other city in Florida recognized by the EPA.Read the complete story.

Lakeland Gears Up To Build Special Park For Toddlers, Families

Construction will begin in April on a Lakeland playground to be devoted solely to young families with toddlers ages 3 to 5. The Sunflower Preschool Playground is to be completed in time for its grand opening on Dec. 4, 2010. "We are very eager to start this play opportunity," says Bill Tinsley, director of Lakeland Parks and Recreation. "We have already started some preliminary design of the park and we know it is going to feature unique playground equipment that is currently not available in our community. Young families are going to be thrilled when this park is completed." The Sunflower Preschool Playground is to be built in the Mirror Lake district at Barnett Family Park, named for Carol and Barney Barnett of Lakeland. Mrs. Barnett is the daughter of George Jenkins, founder of Publix Supermarkets. It is hoped that the toddler playground will augment the success of the Common Ground Playground, another Lakeland city park. "Common Ground is just so successful and crowded, you can barely find a place to park," explains Weezie Vreeland, who is spearheading fundraising for the project." And once the older children come, it's hard for toddlers to keep up. We just thought it would be nice to give the little ones their own space." According to Vreeland, the planned equipment is designed specifically for toddlers to provide a sense of comfort and spatial stability, especially for children with disabilities such as autism. In addition, the plans provide for plenty of shade and room for strollers, as well as an 18-foot square sandbox and other amenities to suit young families. The project funds grew from a memorial fund for Vreeland's grandson, John Kyle, who died in 2008. Additional funds have been raised by the Lakeland Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, as well as private donors.Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Weezie Vreeland, Sunflower Preschool Playground

Lakeland Summit Addresses High-Speed Rail Connecting Tampa, Orlando

The Lakeland Civic Center hosted a group of businessmen, community leaders and visionaries  on March 24, 2010, who gathered to discuss the high-speed rail proposed between Tampa and Orlando. It marked the first meeting of its kind since President Obama announced that Florida would receive $1.25 billion toward railway construction. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer listened as representatives from the Tampa Bay Partnership, Central Florida Partnership, Florida Rail Enterprise and other entities with a stake in the proposed rail system presented their findings and plans related to the proposed route, which would run from Tampa's Ybor City and the Orlando International Airport. "We start today to create a vision, a template for connectivity," says Ed Turanchik, founder of ConnectUs, a grassroots organization. "High-speed rail builds a bigger community from smaller ones." Representatives from Florida Rail Enterprise presented an overview of the high-speed rail plan, which provides for stops at USF Polytechnic in Lakeland and Kathleen Avenue locations, Walt Disney Resort and the Orange County Convention Center. Dyer of Orlando and Ronnie Duncan of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) spoke about their region's plans for additional rail service to augment transportation from the high-speed system to key locations throughout Orlando and the Tampa Bay area. These reports and others from Orlando's SunRail and Tampa's transit system sound promising, says Shelley Lauten, president of myregion.org and project director of Connecting for Global Competitiveness: Tampa Bay Central Florida Super Region. The Tampa-Orlando rail line is designed to become part of a bigger network that will link Orlando with Miami. Proponents of the plan say construction along the Interstate 4 corridor could begin as early as February or March of 2011, and conclude in 2015. Writer: Missy Kavanaugh Source: Ed Turanchik, ConnectUs

USF Polytechnic Professor Elected To Florida Gulf Coast Alzheimer’s Board

Dr. Aryn Bush of Lakeland has been elected to the board of directors of the Alzheimer's Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter.Bush is an undergraduate instructor of psychology and gerontology at the University of South Florida Polytechnic. She is also the cognitive aging psychologist at the USF Polytech Rath Senior ConNECTions and Education Center.Read the complete release.

Interior Design Firm In Tampa Seeks Additional Subcontractors

Studio LTR, a Tampa-based interior design firm specializing in residential projects involving new construction and renovations, plans to hire  additional subcontractors in 2010. Linda Cox, one of the company partners, says the business is in a growth pattern and is adding more projects and participating in commercial and high-end residential work. Cox says her business employs a wide variety of talented subcontractors, ranging from licensed building contractors who pull permits and work on multistory buildings projects to architects, who sign and seal drawings. Various craftsmen specializing in textile work are also employed as subs. Cox describes her firm's role as "the conduit'' between a client who has a vision for what he or she wants and the architect and construction experts who can make it happen. The firm is akin to "a ringmaster in a circus,'' she says. Every project is different, and none is typical, she says, pointing out that projects can range from remodeling an exercise room in a large multistory condo to doing a bathroom remodel for a 1960s ranch style home. Through the end of March, Studio LTR is a participating design firm in the Florida Orchestra Designer Showcase at Ovation in downtown St. Petersburg. Two fully decorated condos by Studio LTR are on display at the Showcase at 180 Beach Drive NE. Proceeds benefit The Florida Orchestra. Writer: Lisa Clementi Source: Linda Cox, Studio LTR

Tampa Bay Trane Begins 2010 By Adding Jobs, Now Hiring

Tampa Bay Trane, the exclusive representative of Trane Commercial Air Conditioning Products and Services on Florida's West Coast, is currently seeking to fill three positions: commercial A/C technician, service estimator and outside sales representative. "Trane has a good, solid business because of its service and preventative work in the commercial business sector,'' says Sarah Davis, HR manager. "As the commercial sector improves, Trane will plan to continue to hire staff at a moderate level of growth." Tampa Bay Trane's workforce is a team of highly skilled project managers, sales and engineering professionals, and technicians, Davis says. Trane has already hired nine people this year, four in new sales and skilled technician positions. The company also transitioned one current part-time employee into a fulltime staff member. TBT's current workforce is at 150 employees; a vast majority are full timers. Davis forecasts future hiring in 2010 to possibly include more skilled experienced techs with solid commercial experience as well as another addition to the sales team. Tampa Bay Trane was established in 1969 and has franchises in 13 counties in Florida. Over the years, Trane's service offerings have increased from primarily supporting the sale of Trane equipment to many expanded services including operator training, system energy analysis, replacements, retrofits and repair contracting, emergency services, rental equipment, performance contracting and HVAC system on-site operations. Writer: Lisa Clementi  Source: Sarah Davis, Tampa Bay Trane

Seven Florida Companies Make Forbes List Of Most Admired

“New Florida” Campaign Touts Investment In Universities As Economic Fix