Community Corner
🌱 How a Bartow graduate could reshape Polk schools from the inside
Make time for Seniors on the Move on the Bartow Patch calendar
Good morning Bartow! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How a Bartow graduate could reshape Polk schools from the inside
- Why Bartow’s airport project just won a top engineering honor
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Bartow? Post it to Bartow photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Find out what's happening in Bartowfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Bartowfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 76 and low of 55 degrees.
- Wednesday: Beautiful with clouds and sun, temps: high: 77, low: 60.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high of 81 and low of 65 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Kate Wallace to Serve on Polk County School Board After DeSantis Appointment (lkldnow.com) — Bartow residents now have a hometown voice on the Polk County School Board, as Bartow-raised Kate Wallace has been appointed to represent District 3, which includes several Bartow schools. Wallace, a Bartow High IB graduate, brings a strong pro–school choice and charter-partnership stance that’s drawing both praise and concern, and her decisions could shape funding, programs, and expectations for Bartow students in the coming years. 
• American Council of Engineering Companies gives awards to 14 firms that worked on Florida projects (floridapolitics.com) — A major engineering firm has been honored for its work on the new digital air traffic control tower at Bartow Executive Airport, highlighting a significant local infrastructure upgrade. The statewide awards recognize projects that improve transportation, water resources, and environmental resilience, but Bartow’s airport tower stands out as one of just seven top “Grand Award” winners in Florida.
📸 Around Bartow
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Bartow
- Seniors on the Move
Bartow, FL Calendar Bartow, FL 33830
2:00 pm - Family Craft Night
Bartow, FL Calendar , 2150 S Broadway Ave. , Bartow
4:30 pm - Book Babies
Bartow, FL Calendar , 2150 S Broadway Ave. , Bartow
10:00 am - Songs & Stories
Bartow, FL Calendar , 2150 S Broadway Ave. , Bartow
11:00 am - Seniors on the Move
Bartow, FL Calendar Bartow, FL 33830
2:00 pm - Teens Get Crafting
Bartow, FL Calendar , 2150 S Broadway Ave. , Bartow
4:00 pm - Open Adult Table Game Night
Bartow, FL Calendar , 520 S Herbert Dixon Blvd. , Bartow
6:00 pm - Novels at Night
Bartow, FL Calendar , 2150 S Broadway Ave. , Bartow
6:30 pm
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
📣 Bartow Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- City Commission Meeting
City Administration Building , 201 W. Central Ave , Lake Wales
6:00 pm - Winter Haven White Christmas Event
Nora Mayo Hall , 500 3rd St NW , Winter Haven
12:00 pm - Winter Haven Writers
Winter Haven Public Library , 325 Avenue A NW , Winter Haven
12:30 pm - Blood Drive at the Library
Lake Wales Public Library , 290 Cypress Garden Ln , Lake Wales
1:00 pm
Tuesday December 16
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
🪧 Patch Classifieds
- Former Florida Tile employees
Looking for former Florida Tile maintenance workers in the Lakeland plant, between 1983-2000. Contact Brittney Fries @ 813.230.7702 or bfries... (More info)
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
FOUND on December 14, 2025 in Lakeland, FL 33803 near on edgewood heading towards cleveland heights! was first spotted near collins ave. Sharing for… (Nextdoor N 1st Ave) - Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
Moka was LOST on December 15, 2025 in Lakeland, FL 33801 near Cleveland heights blvd Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to… (Nextdoor N 1st Ave)
- Pizza Hut posted a job opening for Team Member in Bartow. Apply here.
- H&R Block posted a job opening for Guest Services Coordinator in Mulberry. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bartow here.
🗞 Nearby News
Winter Haven
- In Loving Memory of Patricia Gale Prindle (winterhavendaily.com)
- Want your kids in bed earlier on New Year's Eve? 16 kid-friendly countdowns in Florida, online (pnj.com)
- Man Wanted For Attempted Murder Arrested After Anonymous Tip: Polk County Sheriff (patch.com)
Lakeland
- Lakeland Could Nix Oak Street Project — And Keep $205,000 (lkldnow.com)
Ok Bartow! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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