FLORIDA STRAWBERY FESTIVAL HORTICULTURE SHOW
The Plant City Garden Club will once again host the Horticulture Exhibit at the Florida Strawberry Festival from February 27 through March 9. The club’s exhibit is the longest-running exhibit in the history of the festival. The club will be accepting entries on Tuesday, February 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please note that this is the only time plants will be accepted, and entries must be made by amateur growers only. There is no entry fee, and participants may enter up to five plants. All residents of Hillsborough County are encouraged to participate in the adult and youth divisions. The location for the drop-off and the exhibit is the Neighborhood Village Building located on the south side of the Administration Building, 303 Berry Fest Place. Enter through Gate 4. To expedite the entry process, this year’s plant entry forms can be downloaded from the following website: https://flstrawberryfestival.com. Go to the Info Tab, Contests, Neighborhood Village Contests, 2025 Plant City Garden Club Rules and Registration. Please note the list of rules and regulations. The registration form can also be found at https://plantcitygardenclub.com. Go to the Events Tab located on the bottom of the web page, February calendar, February 27, and click on the green plant registration box. The exhibit will be judged, and cash prizes will be awarded. Questions can be emailed to Cecilia Gayle at la.design.tampa@gmail.com.
HOPE LUTHERAN MOBILE FOOD PANTRY
On Thursday, February 20, Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 North Park Road, will again host their mobile food pantry in the church parking lot. This pantry, in association with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Lakeland, will begin distributing food to those in need beginning at 6:00 p.m. until the supplies are distributed. Anyone in need of grocery assistance is encouraged to join. Various goods are available, from vegetables to meats to dairy and bakery goods. The pantry, “Moving Hope,” takes place at Hope Lutheran on the 3rd Thursday of each month. No identification is required, and the pantry is open to anyone in our Plant City community needing that extra hand. For additional information, contact the church office at 813-752-4622.
LOOK OUT FOR NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS
New traffic signals have been installed at the intersection of Airport Road and Turkey Creek Road. The signals were previously in a flashing mode for testing but went into full operation on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.
PLANT CITY YOUTH COMPETES IN STATE REGIONAL HOOP SHOOT
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks held their State Regional Hoop shoot at the Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla on Saturday. Liam Demontmollin competed in the 12–13-year-old boys’ category for Plant City Elks Lodge #1727. Demontmollin sank 20 out of 25 free throws to take second place. “It was a great experience for him, and he represented Plant City well,” George Domedion, Southwest Central Hoop shoot District Chair, said.
REBA SHOW SOLD OUT
Tickets for Reba McEntire’s performance at the 90th Annual Florida Strawberry Festival have officially sold out. The country music icon is scheduled to take the stage Friday, February 28, at 7:30 p.m. on the Wish Farms Soundstage, with an expected crowd of approximately 10,000 festival-goers. “Reba is a true country legend, and we anticipated her show would sell out,” said Kyle Robinson, President of the Florida Strawberry Festival. “We’re thrilled to have her back, and we can’t wait to see so many people come together to enjoy her performance.” While McEntire’s show has sold out, there are still reserved seats available for other headline performances at the festival. Tickets for these concerts can be purchased online at www.flstrawberryfestival.com, by phone at 813-754-1996, on the festival’s app, or in person at the Amscot Main Ticket Gate located at 2209 W. Oak Avenue in Plant City. “Other concerts are also selling quickly, so we encourage attendees to secure their tickets soon to ensure they don’t miss out,” Robinson added. In addition to the star-studded concert lineup, the festival will feature over 20 free stage performances, more than 85 thrilling rides, 150 food vendors, seven livestock shows, eight food contests, and a wide array of arts and crafts for all ages to enjoy.
SHARING LOVE WITH THE UNITED FOOD BANK OF PLANT CITY
Thanks to a THRIVENT action grant, the members of Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 North Park Road, Plant City, shared some love – 855 pounds of it to be exact – with the United Food Bank of Plant City. A member of Hope received a grant from THRIVENT FINANCIAL to assist the Food Bank. Hope members Gloria and Wayne Warner distributed shopping bags to the congregation with the task to not only bring the bags back to Hope on February 9 with the items listed on each bag but also to decorate the bags with a message of God’s love in time for Valentine’s Day. The congregation was certainly up for the challenge and full to overflowing shopping bags filled the narthex. According to Gloria Warner, “What more can we say than to God be glory!” Hope’s Pastor and Food Bank Board Member Rev. Dean Pfeffer said, “This was an awesome opportunity for Hope members to share the Gospel in a simple way with so many people. I hope this is a project that the congregation will do each Valentine’s Day. God has given us many opportunities to be His hands and feet in our community, and what a joy it is for us to work together with our Food Bank to help eliminate an empty bowl on people’s tables.”