Hope Lutheran to break ground on new sanctuary
This Saturday, Hope Lutheran Church will host a groundbreaking ceremony for its new sanctuary at 9 a.m.
It will kick off the first phase of Hope’s three-phase building program to better serve its congregation.
“Hope’s current sanctuary has served the congregation and community for 55 years and has been so expanded, tugged and pulled that there is no additional room for growth or flexibility,” Rev. Dean Pfeffer said in a press release.
Hope’s new sanctuary will seat 300, a 110-seat increase from the old building, and the construction will also add a new parking lot right next to the current strip of parking spots just off of Park Road. The building is expected to be completed in March or April 2021.
The event is open to the public. The church is located at 2001 N. Park Road.
Bing House to celebrate Ginger Forte Day
Plant City will celebrate Ginger Forte Day on June 1, but the Bing Rooming House Museum has something special planned a few days later.
The museum, 205 S. Allen St., will celebrate the day and honor the life of the late Plant City native on 12 p.m. June 6. Some of her personal items, including pictures and her basketball jersey, will be donated to the Bing House’s collection in an event open to the public. Forte was Plant City High School’s first-ever black homecoming queen and the first player from its girls basketball team to have her jersey number retired. She went on to play college hoops at the University of South Florida and later went back to PCHS as an educator.
Refreshments will be served at the event and the Bing House asks guests to abide by social distancing guidelines.
Local group gives gifts to church mothers
Rise and Explore the Dream made sure the “mothers” of several Plant City-area churches got the recognition they deserve on Mother’s Day.
President and founder Rudyne Lee delivered gift baskets containing poetry, cards, candles, flowers and other personal items to the following church mothers:
Louise Shepard, Allen Chapel AME Church
Teresa Ruth-Nunley, Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
Pearl Nesbitt, New Grace Chapel CME
Jimmie Sykes, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church
Shaunda Williams, Kainos International Church of Florida
Willie M. Williams, St. Mary’s Community Church
Margaret Shaw, Greater New Hope Anointed Ministries
Bernice McClain, Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist
Jessie Cooper, Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist
Geri Marshall, New City Church of Plant City
Daisy Thomas, Mt. Olive Baptist Church
Tax collector’s offices, Elections Service Center reopen
A few more government offices are now open to the public in some capacity.
Hillsborough County Tax Collector Doug Belden announced Tuesday the reopening of almost all county Tax Collector offices — including Plant City’s office at 1834 James L. Redman Parkway. The branches will be open every week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. At this time, walk-ins are not accepted and anyone coming to an office must have an appointment for the following services:
Driver’s licenses and ID cards services, except for road testing
Commercial driver’s licenses
Written driving tests
Vehicle, vessel and mobile home tag and title
Property tax payments
Disabled parking placards
Hunting and fishing licenses
Birth Certificates
Concealed Weapon Permits (only at the North Tampa office)
Road testing will resume in June with “new remote driving test procedures.”
All customers will be screened before entry and are encouraged to wear face masks. Visit hillstax.org to set an appointment.
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer also announced Tuesday the reopening of the Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center, 2514 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, to customers with appointments starting June 1.
The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and those who wish to make an appointment can call 813-744-5900 or email voter@hcsoe.org.