Practical Considerations

By: Rachel Gearhart

Part of college is entering into the world of adulthood.  This means adult decisions and activities must be made and done.  Probably for the first time in their lives students must make decisions about their personal finances.  These decisions include things like where to shop for groceries, which clothing store has the best deals, where school supplies can be found inexpensively, or where the cheapest gas in town is.  Lakeland, FL, home to Southeastern University (SEU) and Florida Southern College (FSC), offers several options that fulfill these needs.

One popular store among college students is Walmart.

“It has everything, you can buy a pocket knife all the way to salad,” says Shay Sweet, 21.

Walmart is somewhat of a one stop shop, as shoppers can peruse food items, clothing, electronics, school supplies, toys, toiletries, garden items, and beyond; all for relatively low prices.

“I buy snacks, and breakfast foods, I like to get hot pockets. [For clothes I get] funny t-shirts, they’re usually the cheapest, I also go there for flip flops and work pants,” says Sweet.

Sweet also says, “They have really low prices and their app is pretty cool because you can earn points.”

The Savings Catcher App compares Walmart prices with prices at other stores.  If a price from another store is lower than Walmart’s then the app user gains points that can go towards future purchases.

But be aware, “The people aren’t very helpful, the lines are always long because there’s only like two open lines,” Sweet says.

Despite long lines and unhelpful people, Walmart is a one-stop shop for college students on a budget.

Lakeland has two Walmart locations; 3501 S Florida Ave and 5800 US Highway 98 N.

Another inexpensive shopping option in Lakeland is Goodwill.  Goodwill is a nonprofit thrift store that sells everything from preowned clothing and accessories, furniture and home décor to books and toys.

Most college students do not have a home to furnish, so they are likely to mostly reap the benefits of inexpensive clothing from Goodwill.  Clothing prices range from $2.17 all the way to $15, depending on the clothing item and its quality.

As Sweet says, “When I shop there the prices are reasonable and everything is easy to find and it is nice and neat. And everyone is very nice, also they are very organized.”

Though there seems to be a stigma behind buying used clothing, its nothing a little digging for better quality and some laundry soap can’t fix.

Lakeland has several Goodwill stores, the closest to Southeastern’s and Florida Southern’s campuses being at 5411 S Florida Ave.

Another all important resource that college students need to purchase is gasoline, and the cheaper the better.

As Amberlynn Drewes, 19, says, “Being a college kid is difficult, we are already poor enough so it’s awesome to find cheap gas!”

With upwards of 184 gas stations in the city, according to Yellowpages, there are plenty of tank-filling, or at least half-filling, gasoline options available.

Although gas prices vary, the cheapest stations tend to be Shells, Wawas, and Sunocos.

Three Lakeland Shell station locations include 1705 Bartow Rd, 1026 Walt Williams Rd, 2425 W Memorial Blvd.  There is a Wawa located at 4320 US Highway 98 N.  Three Sunoco locations include 2707 US-92, 825 S Florida Ave, and 2100 West Memorial Blvd.

To keep up with the cheapest gas prices in town periodically visit http://www.tampagasprices.com/index.aspx?area=Lakeland

Growing up and becoming an adult can be difficult, but with a little research and determination, it doesn’t have to be too expensive.

For more college money saving tips check out the video below

Homegrown

By: Rachel Gearhart

Saturday mornings at 8am sharp downtown Lakeland comes alive.  Tents pop up, fruits and veggies and flowers and artisan goods of all colors and varieties are articulately laid out.  Coffee is brewed and popcorn is popped.

Downtown Lakeland

The Downtown Farmers Curb Market is in town.  This weekly event is a mix between a traditional farmers market and an arts and crafts fair.  Vendors sell everything from food items and natural soaps and lotions to handmade jewelry and lawn decorations.  It’s the perfect time and place for Lakelanders to take a lazy Saturday morning stroll, right through the heart of downtown.  On Saturday the 21^st of February Kendall Nizza, 19, spent her morning wandering around the market.

“It feels really homey, you can get homegrown fruits and vegetables and also handmade crafts. People are just really friendly,” says Nizza, a Southeastern freshman.

The market gives downtown an old-time feel, almost like Lakeland is in a time where the only place to buy fruits and vegetables is from neighbors and local farms.  Fruit and vegetable sellers are among the most popular vendors found at the market.  Several of these vendors include EcoFarm, Barefoot Creek/Scotty’s Produce, Bilbrey Family Farms CSA, and AquaOrganics.  These vendors pride themselves on producing organic and wholesome produce, without the use of harmful chemicals.

This organic and naturally grown produce is also extremely affordable.  Shoppers can get three baskets of Plant City strawberries for $7, a basket of three large sweet potatoes for $2, or a bowl of four to five yellow squash for $2.  Being organic and inexpensive, as well as tasty, makes this produce an attractive option Lakeland shoppers to purchase.

“[The fruits and vegetables] looked better and were cheaper than the ones at Publix.  They were all organic and looked delicious.  You know they’re homegrown because you can meet the people who grew them,” says Nizza of the produce at the market.

Along with fruits and veggies, patrons can purchase handmade jewelry, pottery, and art.  The artisans who sell these products produce handmade and quality goods that are also unique and one of a kind.  Several of these vendors include Sunspot Creations, Mud Hut Pottery, Images by Ar, and KRAP (Kimberly’s Recycled Art Projects) Art. Sunspot Creations sells unique rocks, jewelry, and flameworked glassbeads and fish, the jewelry and glass work being handmade.  Arlene Creevy of Images by Ar takes pictures she has taken and prints them on canvas that does not need a frame.  She also restores old photographs and special orders client’s photographs on mouse pads.  Sunspot Creations and Images by Ar are just two examples of the wide range of unique and creative artisan creations that can be found at the market.

Of the handmade jewelry items Nizza stated, “It sort of awakened my inner hippie. It also made me want to make stuff like it.”

Another type of product that can be found at the market is natural soaps, lotions, candles, and textiles.  These products, like most of the ones at the market, are also organic and homemade.

“They all smell nice and they look real cool, like they look like what they say they are so you know that that’s what they’re made of,” says Nizza.

Several of these vendors include Soap for the Soul, Boondock Studios, and The Soap Magician. Soap for the Soul and The Soap Magician both feature handcrafted vegan soaps, to include soap for dogs.  Boondock Studios sells accessories made of blended media and fine leather.

Overall, the Downtown Farmers Curb Market is a fun way to spend a Saturday morning.  Attendees can purchase quality produce and other unique and handmade products.  Or they can just enjoy the Florida sunshine and see what the creatives of Lakeland have to offer.

In order to gain a better perspective of the general atmosphere and feel of the market, check out the video below. Also, for information regarding the market visit
http://www.ldda.org/Home/FarmersCurbMarket.aspx

It all Starts with a Friday

By: Rachel Gearhart

The first Friday of every month brings an air of excitement in downtown Lakeland.

Lake Mirror

The streets fill up, businesses stay open later, live music can be heard, and everything just seems to be more alive.

This event is known as, aptly named, First Friday.  It occurs in the evening of the first Friday of every month in downtown Lakeland.

First Friday is a family-oriented, free event that features a different theme each month.
For example, February’s theme highlighted the different colleges in the Lakeland area.  Five major colleges around Lakeland represented themselves with different booths.  These colleges included Polk State College (PSC), Florida Southern College (FSC), Southeastern University (SEU), Florida Polytechnic University (POLY), and Keiser University (KU).

Each school had a booth where attendees could get information, talk to school representatives, or just hear a little about the school.  Some also served food or featured other booths that highlighted special qualities and activities of the school.

Local businesses, clubs, organizations, and high schools were also represented at the event.  Palace Pizza had a food truck, churches gave out information about their service times, the Lakelander handed out copies of its magazine, and high school improv groups acted in the streets.

Put simply, First Friday is an event that showcases the best of Lakeland.

As Abigahil Ramirez, 18, says, “It’s very nice, I liked it, you get to see what Lakeland has to offer, different types of shops, what goes on in daily life, you see art, you see organizations, how people help the community.”

A local artist and his booth

Ramirez is a freshman at Southeastern University.  On February 6^th she volunteered with an SEU booth at First Friday, her first time attending the downtown event.

She says that First Friday is an event college students would enjoy if, “you like to walk around and explore and just look at things, if you like active things.”

Genesis Cordova, 18, has been to First Friday twice.  Both times she saw several people from college.  She enjoys the live music, booths from the different business and organizations, and the classic car show, describing it as, “one of the coolest things [of the event.]”

Regarding First Friday she says, “[It was] fun, [there was] free stuff, everyone seemed to be having a good time.”

Cordova was a volunteer on February 6^th as well.

She characterized the event by saying, “It just felt like family, it felt like everyone knew each other, and [you get to] meet new people. I was stressed before I got there, but it was a relief to be there around people, music, and friends.”

This event is always from 6pm-9pm, with various ongoing activities and entertainments spread throughout the evening.

Munn Park

First Friday is a perfect event for college students to attend.  It is free, showcases different business and services of Lakeland, and offers entertainment, all in a fun and relaxed environment.  As such, it is an ideal venue for college students to use as a tool to have fun and learn about the city they live in.

For more information regarding First Friday please visit http://downtownlakelandfl.com/events/first-friday/

Feeling Fit with Fitness

By: Rachel Gearhart

College is a time of choosing pizza for multiple meals in one week, stress from high amounts of work, and busyness due to homework and maintaining a social life.  Eating poorly and carrying around stress can begin to take a toll on students.

There’s a host of different options out there for students who wish to relieve themselves of these types of burdens.  One popular option is partaking in physical activity.

“I exercise because I like being in shape and love the way I feel afterwards.  [It] makes me feel accomplished and refreshed,” says Travis Burnam, 20.

For many students, exercise is a way to relieve stress and blow off steam, as well as a way to stay healthy.

Of the benefits of exercise Burnam reveals, “…you stay in shape and you have a lot more energy. It’s also a great outlet for stress and frustration! It definitely helps to clear my head.”

Rachel Hoover, 18, says, “It makes me feel better (stress reliever), helps me be more productive, wakes me up in the morning, [and] I know it’s good for me….”

Lucky for students in Lakeland, there are many fitness opportunities available around town.  Between all the parks and lakes that Lakeland has to offer students have ample opportunities to get out and get active.

Among the options available two of the most popular include Lake Hollingsworth and Circle B Bar Reserve.

Lake Hollingsworth

Lake Hollingsworth is right outside of downtown Lakeland.  With Florida Southern College (FSC) on the lake and Southeastern University (SEU) 2 miles away it is a perfect place for Lakeland college students to go for a quick walk, run, or bike ride.  A 5k (3 miles) length trail runs around it.  The trail is paved and shaded in some places by various types of trees.  It also sees a fair bit of traffic, so there’s rarely any need to feel unsafe from being alone.  As an added bonus, it also offers the stunning view of Lake Hollingsworth and the houses and architecture on Lake Hollingsworth Dr.  Many students, especially Southeastern students, run to the lake and then around the lake for their workout.  This not only increases the distance of the workout but provides a bit of the scenery of Lakeland as well.

“I like running to Lake Hollingsworth, around Lake Hollingsworth….  One thing I like to do is run for a set amount of time and explore the area all around SEU,” says Burnam of exercising at Lake Hollingsworth and around town.

Lake Hollingsworth running trail

Another favored exercise venue in Lakeland is Circle B Bar Reserve.  Circle B’s land was obtained by the Polk County Environmental Lands Program and the District.  It is a former cattle ranch, which was the namesake for the reserve, and is maintained by Polk County.  The reserve is located 6 miles from SEU and 7 from FSC.  Circle B offers its patrons paved and unpaved hiking and running trails, and a paved bike trail.   At 1,267 acres there are plenty of trails with varying lengths and difficulty available for use.  It is a wooded and marshy area as well, so there’s plenty of nature, animals, and birds to watch and enjoy.

Circle B Bar Reserve

A hiker

Along with places around town to workout, Lakeland students also have the option to stay right on their campuses.  FSC and SEU each offer on-campus gyms.  Both facilities provide basic exercise equipment such as weights, treadmills, and ellipticals, along with health and wellness classes and on campus pools.  FSC provides students with the options of kayaking and water skiing on Lake Hollingsworth as well.  SEU also offers a basketball court and outdoor fields that can be used for activities like Frisbee and football.

Whether you’re a runner, a lifter, a cyclist, a swimmer, a kayaker, water skier, or hiker, there are innumerable fitness options at your disposal.

Where you go and what type of exercise you do, “…just depends on personality and what types of exercise you like to do,” according to Hoover.

No matter your preference you’re sure to find an activity and setting that will suit your needs right here in Lakeland.

The Perks of Lakeland

By: Rachel Gearhart

How is that college students balance academics, extracurricular activities, and social lives?  For many students, that answer is simple: coffee.

Sarah Reed, 18, says that the caffeine in coffee sometimes helps her accomplish what she needs to get done in a busy day.  Reed also claims that, “It also gives me a social life [because] I can make coffee dates a social activity.”

There is a culture that surrounds coffee lovers.  Everyone takes it a different way.  Some want cream and sugar, others simply take it black.  He may like dark roast, she may prefer blonde.  While the age-old stereotype that college students need caffeine to function is still true to a point, it is not the only or main reason they partake.  Drinking coffee and going on coffee dates has become a hip and chic thing to do.

As Dylan Gearhart, 22, says, “Coffee is a way of life. Most people’s lives can’t function without it. Some people choose for coffee to be their way of life.”

Amberlynn Drewes, Rachel Rizzo, and Shemariah Sweet enjoying cups of coffee

Lakeland, Florida is home to Southeastern University (SEU), Florida Southern College (FSC), and Polk State College. Southeastern and Florida Southern both boast on-campus coffee locations.  FSC has TUTU’s Cyber Café, a place for students to come hang out, watch TV, study, or enjoy a cup of Starbucks coffee.  SEU offers Portico Coffeehouse as a place for students to hang out or do homework while enjoying specialty coffees.

Sometimes you just need to get off campus, though.  Given that a chunk of Lakeland’s population is made up of college student’s coffee is a hot commodity.  Downtown Lakeland is home to two independently owned coffee shops: Mitchell’s Coffee House and Black & Brew Coffee House and Bistro.

Downtown Lakeland

Mitchell’s Coffee House

Mitchell’s was opened by the Harvey family in 1998.  Now with two downtown locations, the coffee house serves coffee and pastries all week, with the original location also serving lunch on weekdays.  Mitchell’s is a place where local artists can showcase their original artwork as well.  With a subdued and calm ambience that offers many places to sit and bookshelves chalk full of books, Mitchell’s has a studious and serious feeling to it.  It’s a perfect place for students to come and get some homework and studying done.

“[College students] who come in spend the majority of their day here,” according to a Mitchell’s barista, Alec (last name unknown), 17.

Black & Brew Coffee House and Bistro

Brothers Chris and Mike opened Black & Brew Coffee House and Bistro in 2008.  The brothers were both college students with dreams of opening a restaurant that could become a gathering place in the heart of downtown Lakeland.  Despite all the possible risks, the brothers dropped out of college and quit their jobs to pursue this dream.  Black & Brew boasts a menu of specialty coffees, expressos, frappes, hot and iced teas, hot chocolate, fountain drinks, soups, salads, and sandwiches.  The atmosphere of Black & Brew is warm and inviting, it produces a lively aura that is very fitting for students to gather and socialize over a cup of coffee or some lunch.

Along with independent coffee houses, Lakeland also offers a classic staple: Starbucks.  With 11 locations peppered throughout town students have ample opportunities to grab a cup o’ joe during the school day or while out and about.  With a stock menu that features hot and iced coffees, blended Frappuccino’s, expresso, hot and iced tea,  smoothies, and hot chocolate students can count on Starbucks to have the drinks they already know they love.

A Starbucks giftcard ready to be used.     

With these many coffee choices available for Lakeland college students, it should be a breeze to balance all the demands of college as well as foster a culture of coffee.