Bike Derby and Movie Night

The Lakeland Lions Club and Lakeland Parks and Recreation are scheduling a Bike Derby and Movie night on Friday, October 3 at City Hall Park. "Rockin Robin" will be present as DJ for part of the event.

A Bike Derby for children age 5-12 is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Friday, October 3 at City Hall Park on Highway 70. Trophies will be given to the 1st and 2nd place winners per age group. Age groups (tentative based on sign ups) are ages 5 and 6, 7, 8 and 9 and 10,11 and 12.

Sign up is immediately prior to the Derby on Friday, October 3.

Participants must bring their own bicycle. A bicycle helmet is required while riding in the Derby.

A drawing for a free bicycle is planned.

There is also an opportunity for children to be fingerprinted for security from 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

The movie "Madagascar" will be shown at 7:15 p.m.

Isty Bitsy Spider

At a training session recently, the speaker started off with a demonstration of gestures (without words) and asked the audience to start singing the words and following when they knew what song he was signing.

The audience quickly joined in (one person almost as soon as the first gesture started). The speaker noted about “three people” in the audience of roughly 200 people didn’t understand, and we must be “International” attendees.

Even after he explained the song was “Isty Bisty Spider” and that “everyone” knew it, I realized I had never consciously heard or remembered it.

I mentioned this to Aliene and she said “Everyone” knew the song and to ask my 6 and 8 year old granddaughters.

Sure enough last night I called my 8 year old granddaughter and asked if she knew the “spider song” and she immediately started singing the entire song. (My 6-year-old granddaughter was crying in the background for the chance to sing it also).

The speaker was trying to demonstrate that we all retain a lot of information in our memory that can be accessed.

What I learned was that no one knows everything, and, again, it demonstrates the importance of involving as many people as possible in solving a problem and the importance of comments and suggestions! I was reminded again of the importance of public input and the persons who serve on volunteer Boards and Commissions and how valuable their contribution of knowledge and information is.

Perhaps appropriately, the speaker was Robert Fulghum, author of “All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” and, yes, I am one of those persons who never attended Kindergarten!

City Hall E-Mail Off line Tuesday, October 7

The Lakeland City Hall e-mail will be off line all day Tuesday, October 7, 2008, for a scheduled e-mail upgrade. E-mail cannot be received or sent during this time.

Phone service and the Lakeland web site(www.lakelandtn.gov)is not expected to be affected.

New Sewer Emergency Number

For life-threatening emergencies requiring Police, Fire or Medical response: Dial 911

The new Sewer Emergency number is 870-8594. This is for "after hours" calls. PLEASE don't hesitate to call this number for the City to respond and check the sewer to determine if the problem is on the City line.

If you don't call, and call a plumbing company first, the City cannot reimburse you for the plumbing call.

There is no charge for the city to check the City sewer lines for blockages.

For other non-sewer emergencies, call 867-8920.

During regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays), call 867-2717.

Public Wi Fi connections, Surveillance Cameras to debut at City Hall Park

The final adjustments are being made to the system to provide Public Wi Fi connections at City Hall Park and in City Hall. Surveillance cameras will also be operational.

The Wi Fi system will allow persons using the park (or inside City Hall) to connect to the public wireless internet system. Coverage areas will include the picnic area and the soccer field area as well as inside City Hall. The Wi Fi system will be public access without the need for a password.

The Lakeland Economic Development Commission is planning a “Connection Day” ceremony . The Lakeland Economic Development Commission initiated the project, developed plans, guided the project through approval by the Lakeland Board of Commissioners, and provided assistance during the implementation stage.

Members of the Lakeland Economic Development Commission include Chair Mark Lawrence, Josh Roman, John Dudas, Pamela Womack, Connie Hess, Don Barber, Shirlee Clark, and Boyd Ruppelt. Vice Mayor Mark Hartz is the Board of Commission liaison to the Economic Development Commission.

Josh Roman was especially instrumental in researching and developing plans for the Wi Fi system. Past EDC members Don Oliver and Melissa Smithmier were also active in the development stages of the Wi Fi in the park concept.

Critical Edge Technology is the company installing the Wi Fi and surveillance system in the park. Michael Allsup and Forrest May of Critical Edge Technology worked closely with the City in implementing the project.

The “Connection Day” ceremony (the Economic Development Commission may select a different name!) will be scheduled in the near future.

Design Review Commission Meeting Canceled

The Lakeland Design Review Commission meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 9, 2008 has been canceled.