Everywhere the Florida Strawberry Festival Queen and Court goes, Sandee Sytsma is in tow, making sure everything goes off without a hitch. It’s been 13 years of glamorous wardrobe shopping and special appearances for Sytsma, who has been serving as the court’s chaperone. But in preparation for her upcoming role as the festival’s president, she […]
Continue ReadingPay It Forward
Twice in two years, Jama Hoffman, a school counselor at Simmons Career Center, found a particular student in tears in her office. But, the second time, the student’s tears of despair had turned to tears of joy. Student Adriana Saldierna and some other girls at the school had come to Hoffman’s office one day about […]
Continue ReadingRelay for Life hosts first tea party
Plant City Relay for Life will host its first tea party Saturday, Feb. 21, as a fundraiser for teams who will participate in this year’s relay. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 5. “I know everyone loves the idea of high tea, so I figured it would make an excellent fundraiser,” said Janice Perkins, fundraising […]
Continue ReadingBible Institute offers new classes for 2015
The Biblical Leadership Institute, formerly Evangelical Seminary and University, will be offering some new classes in 2015 for anyone who wishes to increase his or her biblical understanding and church leadership abilities. Dan Morris, who has been president of BLI since June, has served as a pastor and missionary for 50 years. “BLI trains both […]
Continue ReadingGov. Rick Scott visits Highland
The morning of Thursday, Dec. 18, was not a typical work day for the staff at Highland Packaging Solutions. The company, which specializes in the design and manufacturing of produce packaging like the popular clamshell, was visited by Gov. Rick Scott, who traveled to the facility to congratulate the company on its growth and contributions […]
Continue ReadingHospital expansion to be complete by spring
In order to better serve more surgery patients, South Florida Baptist Hospital has been undergoing an operation itself since March 2014, and the project is almost complete. The addition covers more than 6,000 square feet at the corner of Alexander Street and Reynolds Street, in a space that used to be a parking area. More […]
Continue ReadingNew boutique offers unique clothing, gifts
There is only one shop in Plant City where colorful, flowing tunics, coffee mugs with mottos and stylish day-planners can all be found in the same place: RAOK Boutique. The new shop opened in The Village off James L. Redman Parkway Dec. 2. The shop is owned by Hannah Benton and her mother, Brigitte Hodge. […]
Continue ReadingRailroad Romance
Robert and Felice Willaford have a unique distinction in their relationship that not many other Plant City couples can claim: They were married on a train as it carried their guests and other passengers across central Florida. This month is the couple’s 14th anniversary. It only made sense the Willafords were married on a train. […]
Continue ReadingProfessor cites Plant City roots
Barry Qualls is one of Rutgers University’s most beloved and renowned English professors. After 40 years at the university, he will be retiring in 2015. But, before he launched his career as a northeastern intellectual, his interest in literature was sparked here in town, at Plant City High School. “I had an amazing teacher in […]
Continue ReadingChildren’s Board program promotes father-child bonding
“Nurturing” is often a word associated with a mother. But it’s just as important for fathers to spend quality time with their babies. And dads can do just that at a new program offered at the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County’s East County Center. The program called, “Who’s the Man?” is run by Dan Bergman, […]
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