Plant City was first chartered in 1885, and as Plant City historian, David E. Bailey, Jr., wrote, it was an “instant town.” By 1902, the town had progressed to the point that Philander Allen Merrin, then editor of the Plant City Courier, wrote, “Plant City’s future was assured.” Merrin wrote of the many different businesses […]
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SHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Walden Lake needs quality golf course
Healthy property values and happy residents are not the only things Walden Lake Golf & Country Club lost May 15, when it closed the Hills golf course. With the closing, Walden Lake and Plant City lost another golfing option for players in town and surrounding areas. When I took this job and moved down from […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: Community key in newspaper’s success
My wife, Assistant Managing Editor Jessica Eng, had trouble sleeping the nights leading up to the launch of the newspaper you’re holding in your hands today. And my mood swung wildly — from confident excitement to sheer panic. Sure, we’ve been publishing the Plant City Observer for more than a year. But this joint venture […]
Continue ReadingPlant City newspaper brings hometown memories to Big Apple
Kenya Sykes felt disconnected from her hometown. Her childhood growing up in Plant City was a distant memory, overshadowed by her busy adult life as the owner of an accounting firm in New York City. But that all changed when she read a Plant City Observer Facebook post shared by one of her Facebook friends. […]
Continue ReadingPERMACULTURE LIVING: Designing your garden homesite
Gardening, as a science, includes many features that may not be readily apparent until you pay close attention to the natural dynamics on your site. In a permaculture garden, a well-developed design is the central feature leading to a rich successful garden. Many gardeners fail to plan out a specific property design, which can result […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Pro soccer short-lived in Plant City
Longtime Plant City residents will never forget the decade when the Cincinnati Reds called Plant City home during the spring. Few, however, will remember the time when the facility hosted a professional soccer franchise. It seems VisionPro Sports Institute’s time in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World will be short-lived. After two request for […]
Continue ReadingLETTER: City’s help welcome in golf-course battle
Editor’s note: This letter was sent to Plant City Assistant to the City Manager Michael Karr. I want to thank you for the time you gave me earlier this week to speak to you regarding the present conditions of the Walden Lake Golf and Country Club, and the rumors being floated by the current owners […]
Continue ReadingLETTER: WLGCC owners: We will work with you
Editor’s note: This letter was originally published on savethecourse.com. Vision Golf LLC understands the concern and anxiety over the preliminary suggested changes with the golf courses, because they and the other amenities have been an integral part of this community since its beginning. As we move forward with our proposals, our intention is to work […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Big League Dreams has potential
Fifteen years after the Cincinnati Reds left the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, a major league ballpark may soon call Plant City home. OK, so technically, it’s not an actual major league park, but it will look like one — albeit a smaller version. After it received two request for proposals for a sale […]
Continue ReadingLETTER: Relationships matter in Walden Lake dispute
Dear Editor: I am a new resident of the Walden Lake community. I purchased a home in Walden Lake for the beauty of the area, proximity to Tampa and Disney, as well as having a golf course within the community. I wasn’t much impressed with the course when I bought here. As a matter of […]
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