5.24.18 PLCO

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PLANT CITY

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

learn how to make the most out of their prime real estate and blossom along with the shifting community. This month’s discussion highlighted “Summer in the City: Preparing for a Season of Success.” Two branch managers and a business consultant from SunTrust Bank formed the panel for the morning chat and dove into

topics like financial wellness and how to optimize staff size for small businesses. “How many of you have felt like you needed to stay open an hour or two after closing to have a successful day?” Jennifer Milley, branch manager for SunTrust in downtown Plant City, said. “Only

VOLUME 5, NO. 47

FREE

A SEASON OF SUCCESS

This month’s Hot Coffee Topics explored how local businesses can take small steps to prepare for success, even in the midst of the slow summer months.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Early Tuesday morning, small business owners gathered in the music loft at Krazy Kup to take part in the second meeting of Main Street Hot Coffee Topics. The new series will offer businesses expert advice on a variety of topics in order to help them

Crest baseball bound for states. PAGE 8

LITTLE MISS RETURNS

SEE COFFEE PAGE 5

YOUR TOWN

Courtesy of Chris Black

Helping the fur babies

Breanne Williams

Queen Madelynn Hardwick, First Maid Makyla Brown, Court Members Mia Jones, Makinley Jensen and Brightyn Willis.

The annual Little Miss Plant City crowned new royals. SEE PAGE 9

Summer in the Bay This summer, spend your vacation making memories in your own backyard. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Summer excursions don’t have to involve elaborate trips out of state or weekend stay-cations at the nearby theme parks. Thanks to Kristen Hare’s book, “100 Things to Do in Tampa Bay Before You Die,” you can spend your days exploring local hidden gems and become reacquainted with the Gulf Coast community tourists flock to from around the world. Hare’s guide came out in 2014,

and during her author visit at Bruton Memorial Library last week she announced its second edition is nearly complete. As she chatted with attendees about their favorite places in the area she gave insight on how to make the most of the unique and thriving community we live in. “We live in this beautiful place, don’t let the tourists have all the fun,” Hare said. To fully maximize the joy of being a hometown tourist, Hare, a journalist at Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, recommends you follow three simple steps. Think like a tourist, think like a local and then stop thinking altogether. When Hare moved to Florida

from St. Louis in 2012 she thought she would only have a year to see every nook and cranny of the state she was quickly falling in love with. As a journalist, she was writing a review for the St. Louis Beacon about the book, “100 Things to Do in St. Louis Before You Die.” When she called the publisher with a question for her article he asked where she was currently located. She said the Tampa SEE LIST PAGE 4

After more than 300 cats were confiscated from Fur ’n Feathers Farm, a rescue in Plant City, by Hillsborough County Animal Control, local shelters were having difficulty handling the influx of animals. Plant City’s Tractor Supply Co. stepped up to help by hosting a donation drive for the furry friends. Its customers provided more than 800 pounds of cat food. A large orange sign was taped to a pushcart asking shoppers to donate a small or large bag of cat food or canned food for the “fur babies.” Thanks to a ruling by a judge, the county can begin adopting the animals out as soon as they are healthy. The donated food will assist the shelters as many have reached capacity due to it being “kitten season.”

Paul Davis’ new presidential title Paul Davis, president of the Florida Strawberry Festival, was recently named the incoming president of the Florida Federation of Fairs & Livestock Shows board. The group was founded in 1951 to “increase the overall quality of Florida’s Agricultural Fairs, provide the members the support and guidance needed to enlighten our youth and educate the fairgoers on agriculture, trade, entertainment and heritage of Florida.”


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5.24.18 PLCO by Plant City Observer - Issuu