By the time actress Charleene Closshey is done starring in her first feature film., she will have lived Christmas all year long. “An Evergreen Christmas” is a holiday-themed dramedy that will start shooting in February. It is set to release Christmas 2013. “It’s my favorite time of year, and I’m so happy that my first […]
Continue ReadingChurches unite to create community ministry
The mantra of the new Plant City Community Ministries is “Helping Families Stand,” and the ministry intends to do just that by utilizing an educational approach in its work. The new Plant City ministry will open Feb. 4. “It’s not just a band-aid approach,” Benny Keck, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dover, said. […]
Continue ReadingWLCA drafts formal policy on enforcements
Walden Lake Community Association board members hope an official copy of the association’s policies will help stymie any confusion regarding the community’s rules and regulations. Last month, the board directed its enforcement committee to draft a formal policy on code enforcements. Chairman Jim Chancey presented the draft at the WCLA’s Jan. 21 meeting for board […]
Continue ReadingNew crops take root at Keel and Curley
The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class received last week a sneak peek at the beginnings of what may be a plentiful blackberry harvest at Keel and Curley Winery. The self-pollinating ouachita blackberries were planted in October on about 4 acres of the winery’s property. Ryan Keel, director of farming operations, designed a […]
Continue ReadingClemons Road readies for national spotlight
Most of us receive one or two Likes on a Facebook picture we post. But within 30 minutes of posting a photo of two Clemons Road bandmates on the Plant City Observer’s wall holding the newspaper, there were 20 Likes, two shares and two comments. These guys are popular. It seems Plant City music lovers […]
Continue ReadingCar show attracts German TV show
It wasn’t the Florida Strawberry Festival that caught the eye of German television producer Andreas Vollbach while he was doing research online for an upcoming show. Instead, it was Plant City’s Strawberry Classic Car Show that sparked interest. Vollbach works for “Auto Mobil,” Germany’s most successful and longest running TV magazine on automobiles. It airs […]
Continue ReadingFirst Baptist Church pastor accepts new position
After three-and-one-half years, Feb. 3 will be the last Sunday the Rev. Dr. Michael Lewis will serve as pastor of Plant City’s First Baptist Church. “First Baptist is a wonderful church, and I love the community and am just so grateful for being able to be a part of it,” Lewis said. “I have nothing […]
Continue ReadingSchool Board denies extra security at elementaries
Hillsborough County School Board members voted down Jan. 15, a $4.1 million measure that would have added police officers to every elementary school campus in the district. However, the board agreed to hire Michael Dorn, a nationally recognized school safety expert, to review district safety and security protocols. The board also agreed to conduct a […]
Continue ReadingKnights Elementary students get personal with reading
When first-graders at Knights Elementary School cracked open the pages of their free book, “School is Fun,” on Dec. 14, they never expected they would be part the story. The surprise came when students realized they were a character in the book and saw their name, teacher and family members incorporated into the text.
Continue ReadingJunior Royalty pageant to kick off festival events
Carly Knox, 15, is too old to compete in the Florida Strawberry Festival Junior Royalty Pageant this year, but the current queen will make one more appearance as she crowns her successor this weekend.
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