Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Lakeland mom’s giant custom dollhouse is changing her son’s life

And check out BLS CPR Training Lakeland Saturday December 27th 9:00 am on the Lakeland Patch calendar

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Morning Lakeland! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Lakeland mom’s giant custom dollhouse is changing her son’s life
  • Lakeland native and music educator Alice Marie Siebert Philp remembered
  • How Lakeland neighbors turned one toddler’s Christmas wish into reality

Also on today's calendar: Campfire Cooking.

Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the clock say when it ran out of batteries? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Sunny to partly cloudy, with a high of 81 and low of 55 degrees.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 77, low: 57.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny and delightful, with a high of 79 and low of 55 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. With Just 3 Weeks to Christmas, Mom Handcrafts Enormous Custom Dollhouse for Her 15-Year-Old Son (Exclusive) (people.com) — A Lakeland mom poured weeks of work into building a five-foot-tall, custom dollhouse to help her 15-year-old son, who has a heart defect and developmental delays, practice social and life skills. Packed with Tampa Bay Rays decor, Disney art, and even a tiny TV playing a real game clip, her creation has gone viral online while also sparking conversations about inclusive play for older kids.
   

2. Alice Marie Siebert (thecolumbiastar.com) — A longtime music educator and organist who was born and raised in Lakeland and attended Lakeland High School has passed away at age 94. Her life’s work spanned teaching, church music, and Christian service across several states, and she is remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and mentor whose influence reached students and congregations far beyond Florida.
   

3. Community helps Lakeland boy get specialized therapy for rare genetic disorder (baynews9.com) — A Lakeland family’s holiday wish came true as community donations surpassed $14,000, allowing 2‑year‑old Keegan Newmyer to attend intensive therapy in North Carolina for a rare genetic disorder. The funding will cover two trips, giving him a better chance at reaching early milestones and bringing him closer to playing more fully with his big brother.
   

4. Broward 7A-5A football defensive player of the year: Jermiyah Douglas, St. Thomas Aquinas senior (sun-sentinel.com) — Lakeland High School’s football team is noted here as the shutout opponent in St. Thomas Aquinas’ 29-0 win that secured a record seventh straight Class 5A state title. The story focuses on Broward standout Jermiyah Douglas, detailing his versatile defensive play, leadership, and key moments that helped fuel the Raiders’ championship run and earn him defensive player of the year honors.
   

📸 Around Lakeland

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Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Lakeland PatchAM possible:

  • Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
    Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • My goal for next year is to build a friend group.
    Isolation has been a big part of my life ever since I was young. It's gotten old. Now I have to work pass the awkwardness and fear of being a friend… (Nextdoor Union Dr)
  • Off of Broadway and Combee, please keep an eye out for this boy!
    Senior cat with medical needs, been missing since this morning. No collar on and not microchiped. Thank you! (Nextdoor E Memorial Blvd)
  • Sam's Club posted a job opening for Meat Cutter and Wrapper in Lakeland. Apply here.
  • Domino's Pizza posted a job opening for Assistant Manager(03150) - 1235 Ariana St in Lakeland. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lakeland here.

Ok Lakeland! 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 guess I’m out of time.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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