Grumpy Cat, Little Bub and more. Don't miss Central Florida's First Internet Cat Video Film Fest featuring all your favorite cat videos.

Bartow leads the world in so many ways, and now the City of Oaks and Azaleas will be the first in Central Florida to host a cultural phenomenon.

It's true! The Impurrial Polk County Internet Cat Film Festival, presented by Main Street Bartow, will be in Downtown Bartow on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 4-9 p.m.

If you've never been on the Internet or watched "America's Funniest Videos" on television, you may not know about cat videos. But you will after Nov. 22, and it will give you something to be grateful for on Thanksgiving.

Event organizer Trish Pfeiffer says, "It's not about watching cat videos; it's about watching Internet cat videos together." But it's about so much more: Festival  "cativities" will include feline face painting, mewsic, photo booth pictures, a cat costume contest for humans and a people's choice award for the crowd's favorite cat video. The cat celebration will include a showing of "dog-shaming" photos, which should a-mews feline fanciers.

pawsitively fetching picnic on the lawn,

This free family festival is a "leave your pets at home" event so that none of our furry friends accidentally get loose or stressed out.

Interested vendors and sponsors may contact Main Street Bartow at 863-519-0508 for more information.

A new permanent exhibit showcasing the contributions of Jacob Summerlin to Bartow and Polk County opens Thursday, Oct. 23, at Polk County History Center.

Guests at the 4 p.m. opening ceremony will take a trip back in time to May 12, 1887, when local schoolchildren presented a golden-topped cane to the cattle baron during the cornerstone-laying ceremony at Summerlin Institute. Summerlin donated the land for the school, the courthouse and two churches.

The cane was recently purchased for the History Center by the Polk County Historical Association and will be part of the exhibit. Actor Brian Shea will portray Summerlin at the 4 p.m. opening program; the exhibit opening will be at 4:30. Refreshments will be served. RSVPs are requested by calling 863-534-4386 or emailing [email protected].

Learn about unusual history, legends and strange places of Florida at Tuesday's Lunch and Learn on Oct. 21, from 12:15-1 p.m. Presenter Charlie Carlson is a historian and author of several books on Florida's past, and was host of the PBS show "Weird Florida: Roads Less Traveled." Admission is free and guests are encouraged to bring their lunches.

November's Tuesday Book Club selection is "March," by Geraldine Brooks. The discussion group meets Nov. 4 and 11 from 12:15-1 p.m. at the History Center, located in the historic courthouse.For more information contact Shelly Drummond at 863-534-4386 or [email protected].

Laura SImpson joins MSB as Executive Director in November.

Laura Mills Simpson will officially join Main Street Bartow as the new executive director on Nov. 3.

A hometown Bartow gal, she is the daughter of Ralph and Darlene Rogers Mills. Laura has been working at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

New officers have been elected and some new directors have joined the board. They are:  President Brian Hinton, Bartow Consulting Group, Inc.; Vice President Blanche Bryant, Travel Leaders/International Sun Travel; Treasurer Donna Jeffries, Jeffries Bookkeeping & Tax Service; Secretary Glenda Reeves, {tay'-cho} an art gallery;  Directors: Virginia Condello, Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce; Jennifer Daniels, PalletOne; Dawn Decaminada, Small Business Assistance Center; Clint Edwards, Tom Edwards Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram; Chandra Frederick, Girls Inc. of Lakeland; Dan McDaniel, Mine & Mill Industrial/Commercial Supply; Josh Palmer, Palmer Insurance Agency, Inc.; Jane Waters Thomas - Arts Ensemble Education Foundation.

Tindale Oliver, a Main Street Bartow supporter, and a planning, design, and engineering firm with a Bartow office, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a redefined mission, a new logo and a revised company name.

The company, headquartered in Tampa, was previously known as Tindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc. The changes reflect its recent expansion and growth, a spokesman said.

Locally, Richard Dreyer, associate principal and Bartow office manager, has served several years as a Main Street Bartow board member and officer. Most recently, he served as president for two years, and can often be found at Friday Fest making announcements. His wife, Cheryl, also volunteers at Friday Fest, usually at the token tent.

Congratulations!