TRASH CAN-VAS ART ADORNS PLANT CITY WITH ART

By Kathy L. Collins

whimsical paintings and digital art are found in local galleries and exhibits across Tampa Bay, including Lucid Vending Machines, Green Bench Brewing and Only Rain Down the Drain, a recently completed mural for the city of Pinellas Park completed in 2022.

JOANN and Nordstrom Rack, this exciting new store is stocked with trendy clothing and accessories for men, women and teens. The grand opening on June 15 gave customers in attendance first dibs on bringing home items with familiar high-end brand names, such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach and Kate Spade. Not only was the guarantee of obtaining these products at thrift store prices extremely high, and well received, but one of the first 40 customers in line was lucky enough to win a $25 gift card to Crumbl Cookies. This afordable ‘treasure-hunting’-style of shopping is fun and endless. Because locals are able to swap clothes for cash on the spot, the store is restocked each week.

Uptown Cheapskate’s minimalistic design generates a sense of welcomeness for customers or passersby. Upon entry, it is hard to ignore the eye-catching storefront and pops of color. The interior is modish and organized and is a value location for trendsetters and those looking to shop their favorite brands.

“This job is just plain fun,” said Watt. She wholeheartedly believes in bringing good fashion resale options to the area. The amiable and dedicated team of staf works to upcycle clothing items for the greater good of the community.

Uptown Cheapskate’s general manager, Kylie Duncan, explained, “We’re excited to bring sustainability to Brandon.” Upcycling clothing introduces ‘zero-waste lifestyles.’ In today’s society, fast fashion has a negative impact on the environment, and consignment’s positive efects and healthy cash flow are needed more than ever.

Alongside Uptown Cheapskate, the Brandon area is also home to multiple other consignment stores with inexpensive prices and good deals. After visiting Uptown Cheapskate, make sure to stop by Plato’s Closet, Style Encore, Julie’s Walk-In Closet or Agape Chic, all vital members of the local consignment retail ring. For more information on Uptown Cheapskate, visit www.uptowncheapskate.com/location/brandon/.

Plant City is a vibrant and growing downtown. Much of its charm is due to its hometown feel, but a lot also has to do with how the city partners with organizations and individuals to bring art to the downtown area.

The newest collaboration between Plant City Main Street, MAKE Plant City and the City of Plant city is called the Trash Can-Vas program. The first one is an art decorated trash dumpster located in a parking lot of of Palmer Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Plant City. The dumpster is part of an initiative to bring more public art to Downtown Plant City. The collaboration between Plant City Main Street, MAKE Plant City and the City of Plant City is a follow-up to the Electric Art Box project, which saw many of downtown’s electric boxes wrapped in vinyl artwork from a number of area artists.

The dumpster art is titled Always in Season. It features Florida-native flora and fauna painted by Courtney Dodson, a St. Petersburg visual artist. Dodson was selected from a pool of artists who responded to the project’s call for artists. Dodson’s bold colors and clean lines in her

“We were thrilled with the art community’s response to the Trash Can-Vas program,” said Arley Smude of MAKE Plant City. “With over 20 incredible submissions, it was another reminder of the vast, and pent-up, creative talent in the area,” added Smude.

“The Trash Can-Vas program adds a piece of unexpected beauty, which helps to make downtown a more interesting and vibrant place to walk, shop and enjoy,” said Dawn Hyatt, executive director of Plant City Main Street. “We are so appreciative of this collaboration to support the Downtown Vision Plan by adding public art,” added Hyatt.

MAKE Plant City is a nonprofit organization that aims to inspire and connect people for a more creative and dynamic community. For more information, follow them on Facebook.

Plant City Main Street is an afliate of a national network that wants to create high-quality places and build strong communities through preservation-based economic development. For more information, please visit www.plantcitymainstreet.org.

For more information on the City of Plant City, visit www.plantcitygov.com.

Saint Anne Catholic Church

Saint Anne Catholic Church

Saint Anne Catholic Church

Vigil Sunday8 Monday-Friday Wednesday &

~Masses~

Masses

Vigil.....................................................................Saturday 4:30 p.m.

Sunday........................ 8 a.m., 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (12 p.m. Spanish) and Facebook page.

Monday - Friday......................................................................8 a.m.

Wednesday............................7 p.m. Jueves.........................7 p.m.

Reconciliation Tue. at 8:30am, Thurs. at 6pm, Sat. at 3:15pm and By Appointment.

Te Masses will be streamed and uploaded to the St. Anne website (SaintAnneRuskin.org) and Facebook page.

Te church will be open weekdays for private prayer between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Reconciliation Tues. at 8:30 a.m., Tur. at 6 p.m., Sat. at 3:15 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, please check the St. Anne website.

For more information, please check the St. Anne website. Registration is now open for the 2021-2022 Faith Formation year. Please call the ofce for more information.

Proverbs 11:14 (AMP):

“14 Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go of course like a ship without a helm],

But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counselors there is victory.”

Great plans are based on having the right people, who have the most benefcial information, at our table. The only way to do that is to have highly educated, quality people around us to give us wise counsel. We do not have to be the smartest person in the room, but we must have the smartest people around us. Do not be intimidated by degrees or Ph.D.s. Understand that the goal is to gather the best information we can in order to make the best decisions for our business.

Proverbs 15:22 is yet another scripture that lets us know how critical getting quality advice from a great team can be.

Proverbs 15:22 (AMP):

“22 Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they are established and