No one comes to the Florida Strawberry Festival without sampling the local favorites: strawberry shortcake, strawberry pie and the works. There’s more food tucked away in this little part of Plant City than most people know about, and many of the items are quite good. But some of the offerings that one can get on […]
Continue ReadingNeighbors
Shortcake Showcase
There are three main vendors of strawberry shortcake at the festival, and here’s why you should save room for all of them. St. Clement Catholic Church St. Clement is the oldest and largest shortcake operation at the festival. It is also the only vendor that allows customers to build their own shortcake. The church began selling shortcake […]
Continue ReadingTips from a festival veteran
It’s tough to top a good trip to the Florida Strawberry Festival on any given day. But, there are so many things to do and get caught up in that many festival-goers may miss out on something great. Or, in some cases, they may not even be able to find the parking to get there […]
Continue ReadingPlant City celebrates Black History Month
The sounds of several marching bands, roaring cars and more filled the streets near downtown Plant City on Valentine’s Day, as the Black Heritage Parade made its way down Martin Luther King Boulevard. The parade was a part of the city’s three-day celebration of Black History Month, which included an awards banquet and a youth […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Betty Lou Fletcher
Betty Lou Fletcher, 72, of Plant City, died Feb. 10, 2015. Born May 18, 1942, in McAlpin, she was the daughter of the late Pete and Lou Bryant Lee. Mrs. Fletcher was a teacher’s aide at Cork Elementary School for 25 years, retiring in 2000, and was a member of Plant City Church of God, […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Timothy Allen Brock Junior
Timothy Allen “Tim” Brock Junior, 53, of Plant City, died Feb. 14, 2015. He is survived by his children, Timothy Curtis Brock and Diane Nicole Brock; grandson, Christian Aquino; parents, Elizabeth “Midge” and Rev. Floyd Yarbrough; and siblings, Michael (Andrea) Ray Brock and Charlene Elizabeth (Ray) Zugay. A celebration of life will be held at […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Paul Edward Crouse
Paul Edward Crouse Sr., 84, of Longwood, and formerly of Plant City, died Feb. 13, 2015, at Florida Hospital Altamonte. Born Oct. 14, 1930, in Canebrake, West Virginia, he was the son of the late Lewis Sr. and Ola Wade Crouse. He was the husband of Betty Jean Dillon Crouse; she survives. He was a […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Jeane A. Gilson
Jeane A. Gilson, 91, of Plant City, died Feb. 14, 2015, at Melech Hospice House. Born March 28, 1923 in Minot, North Dakota, he was the son of the late George and Myrtle Tucker Gilson. He was the husband of Leona Deuel Gilson; she survives. Jeane was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, was […]
Continue ReadingObituary: James C. Fite
James “Jimmy” Clayton Fite, 32, of Smyrna, Tennessee died Feb. 10, 2015. He was a native of Plant City. Mr. Fite is survived by his wife, Tabitha Fite of Smyrna; sons, James Clayton Fite Jr. and Logan Alexander Fite, both of Smyrna; parents, Daryl Gene and Judy Swanson Fite, of Plant City; sister, Laura Nicole […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Luis Miguel Belmontes
Luis Miguel Belmontes, 26, of Plant City, died Feb. 14, 2015, at UF Health Shands Hospital. Born July 30, 1988, in Michoacan, Mexico, he was the son of Rojelio Sr. and Esperenza Contreras Belmontes; they survive. Also surviving are brothers, Gonzalo, Arturo, Rojelio Jr. and Jaime Belmontes; sisters, Alicia Melgoza, Maurilia Hernandez, Gabriela Rosales, Cristina […]
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