Chalk it up to great weather, great entertainment or a combination of both: The Florida Strawberry Festival ended its 2013 run with two record-setting days in a row. On March 9, about 90,000 came through the gates. The next day, nearly 100,000 flocked to the festival for its final day — and the Blake Shelton concert. […]
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PHOTO GALLERY: Pioneer Village
Take a step back in time when you visit the Pioneer Village at the 2103 Florida Strawberry Festival.
Continue ReadingDCF unveils new recruitment campaign
Tanya Wilkins, statewide child advocate and wife of Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins, joined Eckerd Community Alternatives to unveil “Each One — Reach One,” a new parent recruitment campaign March 8, at the Florida Strawberry Festival. The campaign will focus on reaching out to the ultimate “soccer moms and dads” — those […]
Continue ReadingPHOTO GALLERY: Neighborhood Village
You’ve been OBSERVED! Look who was spotted at the Neighborhood Village.
Continue ReadingVIDEO: Canadian wins Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest
It’s safe to say John Rozon won’t be craving a strawberry shortcake for a few days. The 54-year-old from Ontario, Can. gobbled down two and one half pounds of shortcake March 7 to win the 2013 Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest at the Florida Strawberry Festival. The four-pound strawberry shortcakes were supplied by the St. Clements […]
Continue ReadingHigginbotham Hosts International Delegation Day at Festival
On Monday March 4, 2013, Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham, District 4, hosted the 2nd annual international delegation day for events surrounding the Florida Strawberry Festival Parade. Sponsored by the City of Plant City, representatives from seven countries began the day with a roundtable meeting at Plant City City Hall with Congressman Dennis Ross, Commissioner […]
Continue ReadingSole Sisters
Sisters Angie Rollyson and Autumn Parrish are coming out of their starting blocks in full force. The women — the honorary survivors for this year’s Plant City Relay for Life — are organizing the first Sole Sisters 5K as a benefit for the annual American Cancer Society event. The 5K will take place at 8 a.m. March […]
Continue ReadingVanquish drumline rolls with community support
Ollis Greaves was tired of hearing, “No.” As a band member at Plant City High School, the students wanted to start a drumline, but the administration killed the idea. When he graduated and got a job at the high school to teach percussion, he wanted to start a drumline for the students, but again, the […]
Continue ReadingObituaries 03.07.13
Edwin E. “Buddy” Cook Edwin E. “Buddy” Cook, 78, of Plant City, died Feb. 24. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joyce; daughters, Cheryl Redman (Larri), Vicki Kennedy (John) and Lori Smith (Troy); six grandchildren, Nichole, Terry, Jessie, Nick, Jake and Damian; five great-grandchildren, Dylan, Sydney, Hannah, Savannah and Caleb; two sisters, […]
Continue ReadingCorny Strawberry Festival challenge accepted
When I decided to participate in the fried corn eating contest at this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve been fascinated with competitive eating since I was a preteen. I remember the first time I saw the famous Nathan’s Coney Island hotdog eating contest, and in 2001, witnessed Japan’s Takeru […]
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