SYDNEY DOVER CONSERVATION PARK REOPENS
Hillsborough County reopened Sydney Dover Conservation Park on March 8. The park, located at 536 N. Dover Rd., was temporarily closed in October and then used as a countywide vegetative debris collection site to accommodate the unprecedented amount of downed trees and other vegetation resulting from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The conservation park, located east of Brandon, features a popular 7.5-mile equestrian trail. The trail has changes in contour because of its history as a reclaimed phosphate mine. The trailhead has plenty of space for horse trailers, plus an informational kiosk and trail map.
JAZZ IN BEALSVILLE
Jazz Under the Trees was established four years ago to raise funds in support of the historical Glover School in Bealsville. There will be live music, vendors and food. The community of Bealsville uses the Glover School facility for clothing and food distribution, meetings, award ceremonies, celebrations and repasses after funerals. The event will be held March 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
STRATEGIZING COW NUTRITION IN PLANT CITY
The Hillsborough County Extension Service, in partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), offers a wide variety of interesting educational classes, seminars, and workshops on such topics as parenting, youth development, gardening, nutrition, money management, agriculture, and professional certifications reviews and exams. A Strategizing Cow Nutrition seminar will be held Thursday, April 24, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hillsborough County Cattlemen’s Building, 6404 South County Road 39 in Plant City. Participants can learn about cattle nutrition, supplementation options, and the economics of feeding cattle. The registration fee for this event is $15 which includes a meal and accompanying print materials. The registration price increases to $25 if registering less than seven days in advance. For questions, contact Allie Williams at allisonwilliams@ufl.edu or (813) 744-5519, x54119.
Annual keel farms blueberry festival returns every weekend in april
The 17th annual Keel Farms Blueberry Festival kicks-off Tampa Bay’s Spring Season with a month-long celebration of Florida’s Blueberry Harvest. Every Saturday and Sunday in April. April 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 19, 26 & 27, will be open 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Closed for Easter Sunday April 20th).
This family and pet friendly weekend event will feature u-pick blueberries, local craft vendors and food trucks, bounce houses and a kid’s zone, camel rides and a petting zoo and blueberry shortcake eating competitions, games and special blueberry releases by Keel & Curley Winery and Keel Farms Agrarian Cider.
Where: Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Road
When: Sat/Sun: April 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 19, 26 & 27 (Closed for Easter Sunday April 20th)
Time: 10am – 3pm
Blueberry U-Pick is offered each day of the festival while supplies last and weather permits. Harvested pre-packaged blueberries will also be available for purchase by the pound. Buckets are included for U-Pick.
Admission is free and on-site parking is $10
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE HOURS
The staff for Congresswoman Laurel Lee has mobile office hours in Plant City on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The location is the Plant City Community Resource Center at 307 N Michigan Avenue in the conference room. The staff can help residents with:
FEMA disaster relief and recovery efforts
Passport requests
Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits and claims
Tax returns, credits, or fraud claims with the IRS
Veterans Affairs benefits, claims, and records
SBA loans or relief and assistance for small businesses
Appointments for mobile office hours are not necessary but are recommended to secure a spot. People can also go in just to say “Hello.”
Wish Farms Announces
Strawaberry U-pick
This Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wish Farms is opening up their farm for strawberry u-pick. This is a rare opportunity for the public to enjoy fresh Wish Farms strawberries that come straight from the field. The cost is $15 per quart box, individual quarts not for sale. Address is 37381 SR 62, Duette. Add this to your list of upcoming things to do in the area and you can enjoy some of the “BERRY” sweet strawberries!
