ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

BLUEGRASS NIGHT AT KRAZY KUP FEATURING JACK LAWRENCE AND JON GARON

Krazy Kup, a unique and fun cofee house located in downtown Plant City, is excited to announce that it will host a special Bluegrass Night event on Thursday, October 6. This Bluegrass Night will feature Jack Lawrence with Jon Garon. The event will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. in The Loft at Krazy Kup.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at www.eventbrite.com/e/jack-lawrence-jon-garon-a-special-night-of-bluegrass-tickets-391970754077 or at Krazy Kup. Space is limited, and it is expected that this event will sell out fast.

Krazy Kup is owned and operated by Frank Trunzo and his wife, Wenda Trunzo. Frank said, “Jack Lawrence and Jon Garon are two greats of the bluegrass world. Jack Lawrence was the musical partner of Doc Watson since the 1980s. Jon Garon’s band, Comfort Station, was joined by Vassar Clement quite often, and he also did time with the John Denver Band.”

Frank added, “This will be Jack Lawrence’s first performance at Krazy Kup; Jon Garon played The Loft this past March with Grammy Award winner Clay and Brennan Hess for a sold-out crowd. We cannot overemphasize how the connection between audience and the bands are our best success.” The Trunzos started hosting events in The Loft in 2013. Frank said, “The Loft at Krazy Kup ofers a unique opportunity to enjoy quality, award-winning bluegrass talents in one of the most intimate venues in the area. It is like being in the band up close and personal.”

In addition to special events like Bluegrass Night, Krazy Kup ofers monthly events. On the second Friday of each month, it ofers Movie Trivia Night. On the third Friday, you can attend Retro Movie Night. On the fourth Friday, enjoy Bluegrass Night. On the first Saturday of each month, it has Bluegrass Jams, and on the second Saturday it ofers Open Mic Night.

Frank said, “We do this for the love and joy that music brings to not only the audience but, just as importantly, to the musicians. They love to perform here, and they show it with engaging enthusiasm. We ofer live entertainment weekly from rock to faithbased music and everything in between. We have become a very popular venue for the bluegrass community. Our Bluegrass Jam night is free to jam and sit back and enjoy.”

Krazy Kup is located at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. in Plant City. For more information, please visit www.krazykup.com.

A CALL TO ARTISTS IS ISSUED FOR ARTWORKS 2022

The Brandon League of Fine Arts (BLFA) is holding its Artworks 2022 art show this September. The BLFA would like to invite local artists to enter new artworks in the show. The show will be held in the Mook Gallery at Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association, located at 619 Vonderburg Dr. in Brandon, from Thursday, September 1 to Tuesday, September 30.

Interested artists may submit new artworks to be juried. New artworks is defined as work that has been completed after September 2016 and not previously shown at Center Place or in a BLFA competition.

Artworks should be brought to Center Place on September 1 between 9:30 a.m.12 Noon. A judge will jury each artwork. If accepted, the artwork is eligible for awards, which total over $1,000. Artists will be notified by 3 p.m. if they are not accepted, and their artwork must be picked up by 5 p.m. that same day.

This year’s judge is Alice Anderson, an award-winning artist.

Artists may enter up to two pieces. Art can be 2D or 3D. Artists should review all rules regarding framing, size and hanging. The rules and entry form can be found at www. blfa.us. The show is open to all artists within the Tampa Bay area. The entry fee for nonmembers is $35 for one entry and $50 for two. The entry fee for BLFA members is $25 for one entry and $40 for two. Membership in BLFA is $35 annually. An opening reception will be held on Thurs-

Area artists are encouraged to enter day, September 15 from artworks in the Brandon League of 5:30-7 p.m. at Center Fine Arts upcoming art show known Place. Awards will be anas Artworks 2022. Tis is a juried art nounced at that time. show open to all artists who live and Christopher Klein, work in the area, regardless of whether president of BLFA, said, they are members of BLFA. “This is an open show. This show highlights the very high quality of art we have in the Tampa Bay area. It is a good experience for any artist to enter and be mixed with high caliber artists. Even if you are not accepted, you are still happy to be a part of it.” Klein added, “The opening reception is open to the community. It is good for the public to see the art which includes watercolor, oil paintings, photography, mixed media, sculptures and more. They also get to meet the artists.” For more information, please visit www. blfa.us.

MY FAVORITE NATIVE PLANTS

BY LYNN BARBER, FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING™ AGENT

After paging through the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design, I identified 14 native plants that are my favorites. The top five were hard to choose and are firebush, beach sunflower, climbing aster, coontie and blanket flower. Ornamental grasses are not included because I recently published an article about muhly and fakahatchee.

Our ecosystem contains many native plants which provide shelter and food for birds, butterflies, bees and other animals. Your site conditions, sun, shade, mature size (height and spread), soil pH, soil moisture and texture should be considered when making plant selections.

Firebush, Hamelia patens, a fast-growing, large shrub, can reach a height of 5-20 feet and a spread of 5-8 feet. It can survive in full sun or partial sun/shade and has low to no salt tolerance. The orange-red flowers attract birds, bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Some people prefer the darker green foliage in the shade; others prefer the orange/red/yellow leaves in full sun. This shrub dies back if there is a freeze, but shoots appear when the temperature warms and post-pruning.

Beach sunflower, Helianthus debilis, a fast-growing perennial, can reach a height of 1-4 feet and a spread of 2-4 feet. It has high drought and salt tolerance and prefers full sun. This plant attracts butterflies and birds, sports year-round flowers and is a great ground cover. We have it around our two-level pond in the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden at our ofce courtyard. Climbing aster, Aster

Firebush carolinianus, can reach a height of 1-12 feet and a spread of 2-4 feet. It prefers full sun and does well in partial sun/shade. Its lavender fall flowers attract birds and butterflies. This plant is in the mint Beach Sunfower family. Coontie, Zamia floridana, is a fast-growing, native, palm-like plant. It can reach a height of 1-5 feet and a spread of 3-5 feet. Coontie is highly drought tolerant, easy to propagate from seed, attracts birds and butterflies and is the sole larval food source for the Atala hairstreak butterfly. Blanket flower, Gaillardia pulchella, a fast-growing, native perennial, can reach a height of 1-2 feet and a spread of 2-3 feet. It has high drought tolerance, prefers full sun and produces yellow/orange/red summer flowers that attract butterflies. You can order a free copy of the FFL Plant Selection Guide from the Southwest Florida Water Management District at www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/resources/free-publications. For assistance with horticultural questions, call us at 813-744-5519 or visit us at the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, located at 5339 County Rd. 579 in Sefner. Contact Barber at her at labarber@ufl. edu.

SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR BY FACTE

Staf Report

The Florida Association for Career and Technical Education (FACTE) has named Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Superintendent Addison Davis the CTE Superintendent of the Year. The awards committee bestowed the honor for the superintendent’s dedication to workforce development to prepare students for high-paying careers in demand in our community.

Superintendent Davis was presented the award at the school board meeting on July 26 to honor his expansion of CTE programs throughout the district. One of the central focuses of his tenure has been to help fill critical labor gaps in our community by preparing students for in-demand jobs upon graduation.

“FACTE would like to recognize Superintendent Davis’ positive impact on Career and Technical Education within Hillsborough County Public Schools. The success of the Future Career Academy is one of many incredible initiatives we believe makes a tremendous diference in student success. It is clear that Superintendent Davis recognizes the importance of career pathways which allow students to earn multiple industry certifications preparing them for career advancement,” said Marsan Carr, executive director of FACTE.

“Superintendent Davis has empowered his leadership and staf to ensure new and innovative programs are created for our students in the area of workforce development. Mr. Davis has been instrumental in creating three new high schools with a focus on medical, con-

Te Florida Association for Career and Technical struction and Education (FACTE) has named Hillsborough County logistics, and Public Schools (HCPS) Superintendent Addison Davis it is exciting to the CTE Superintendent of the Year. see this work honored by an esteemed organization like FACTE,” said Scott Brooks, executive director of CTE. “I am truly honored to be the CTE Superintendent of the Year and deeply appreciate FACTE for taking notice of the important work we have just begun here in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Strengthening our career and technical education oferings will have impacts not only on our students but also on our community as we work collectively to fill a critical labor shortage in key areas in our community,” said Davis. Davis began his tenure as superintendent for HCPS, the nation’s seventh largest school system, in March 2020. He is a member of the Children’s Board, American Heart Association Board, Junior Achievement Board, Starting Right Now Board, Tampa Bay Chamber Ex Ofcio Board, Stratz Center Board, and Trustee for Florida Palms. For more information on HCPS and Davis, visit www.hillsboroughschools.org.