April 2016
Email: [email protected] (813) 610-7336
Sun ‘N’ Fun Airshow Kicks off in Lakeland
The 42nd
annual Sun ’n' Fun
International Fly-In and Expo opens
April 5 at Lakeland’s Linder Airport,
and the show promises something for
every aviation enthusiast up until it
closes on Sunday evening. According
to show organizers, there are more than
500 exhibitors booked this year and the
number of aircraft coming in for the
event is estimated at 10,000, ranging
from ultralights to light corporate jets.
One of the largest and longest running
events of its kind, the fly-in and
expo features workshops, forums,
displays, car shows, live entertainment,
and of course, an airshow daily.
Gates open daily at 8:00 a.m. with
workshops and forums for all ages
beginning at 8:30 a.m. Spectacular
airshows begin daily at 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday and 1:30 p.m.
Friday – Sunday, weather permitting.
Attendees will enjoy exhibitors, a Kids
Zone play area, tours, displays, a wide
variety of food vendors, car shows,
evening entertainment, and much more.
A twilight airshow is scheduled for
8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. The
evening airshow on Saturday, April 9 at
8:00 p.m. will include fireworks.
General admission rates for daily
tickets are $37/adult and $15/youth
(ages 11-17.) Children 10 and under are
free. Weekly admission passes are
$150/adult and $60/youth. Parking is
cash only at $10/day or $40/week.
Florida residents with photo ID can
come back free on Sunday, April 10,
with each admission ticket purchased
on Saturday, April 9.
Honoring Our Armed Forces is the
theme for the week and each day will
be dedicated to a specific branch of the
military. Active military personnel with
appropriate ID will receive free
admission Tuesday ‒ Thursday and
discounted admission Friday – Sunday
at the gate. Retired military with
appropriate ID will receive discounted
admission Tuesday – Sunday at the
gate. Details and directions are
available on www.sun-n-fun.org.
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 2 ~
Just a Thought… By: Christine Wynne-Andrade Editor
It may be hard to imagine that before
1970, a factory could spew black
clouds of toxic into the air or dump
tons of toxic waste into a nearby
stream, and that was perfectly legal.
They could not be taken to court to stop
it.
How was that possible? Because there
was no EPA, no Clean Air Act, no
Clean Water Act. There were no legal
or regulatory mechanisms to protect
our environment.
Cities across the country hold various
events and festivities in honor of Earth
Day. In Plant City, you will find Earth
Day Fest and Garden Rhythms on Sunday, April 17, 2016, 4:30-7:00
p.m. There will be live music, garden
strolls & tours, dinner and a drum
circle. Plant City Commons
Community Garden – 2001 E. Cherry
St. on the campus of HCC.
This is a community paper and we are
happy to print your stories,
announcements, opinions and letters to
the editor. Different opinions and
interests is what make a community
unique and interesting. Contact me at
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Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 3 ~
Spotlight on Entertainment
The Rainmaker
“The Rainmaker,” written by N.
Richard Nash, is a warm play about
self-esteem, beauty and love, all
symbolized by a drought and the
promise of rain.
At Plant City Entertainment, the
presentation of this play is endearing
and sweet, driving home most, if not
all, of the things the script has to say.
During the 1930s at the time of a
paralyzing drought in the West we
discover a girl whose father and two
brothers are worried as much about her
potential future as an old maid as they
are about their dying cattle. For the
truth is, she is indeed a plain girl. The
brothers try every possible scheme to
marry her off, but without success. Nor
is there any sign of relief from the dry
heat, when suddenly from out of
nowhere appears a picaresque, sweet-
talking man with quite the sales pitch.
Claiming to be a “rainmaker,” the man
promises to bring rain, for $100. It’s a
silly idea, but the rainmaker is so
refreshing and persistent that the family
finally consents, banging on big brass
drums to rattle the sky. Meanwhile the
rainmaker also turns his magic on the
girl, and persuades her that she has a
very real beauty of her own. She
believes it, just as her father believes
the fellow can actually bring rain. Rain
does come…, and so does love.
The show features Darryl Parish, April
Smith Golombek, Brendan Jacoby,
Terry Abbott, Jeffrey Sirmons, Jim
Fortinberry, and Keith
Director: Kelley Gustafson
Cast members will bring the story to
life at 8:00 p.m. on May 13, 14, 20 and
21 and at a 2:00 p.m. matinee on May
15 and 22. Doors open at 7:00 P.M. for
evening performances and at 1:00 P.M
for Sunday Matinee.
Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for
students and senior citizens and $12 for
members or group advance sales.
Reservations are recommended and can
be purchased in advance online at
PCEShows.com or by calling Frances
Hardee at 813-754-4929. Tickets are
generally available at the door as well.
The Plant City Entertainment
Community Theater is located at 101
North Thomas Street.
"The Guide---100 Percent
Plant City Owned"
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 4 ~
Spotlight on Entertainment
The Little Mermaid
The Village Players Valrico presents
“The Little Mermaid…the Disney
Musical Live on Stage” this month.
Set under and above the high seas,
“The Little Mermaid” tells the story of
Ariel, an adventurous young mermaid
who’s got a thing for disobeying the
rules and following her heart. Ariel’s
fascination with the human world often
leads her to the sea surface, a zone
that’s designated as “off-limits” by her
father Triton, the sea king. One day
while sneaking to the surface, Ariel
witnesses a shipwreck and rescues
Prince Eric, with whom she become
instantly smitten. Furious at Triton’s
inability to understand her love for the
prince, Ariel runs away and strikes a
deal with Ursula, Triton’s evil witch of
a sister, to experience the life she
dreams of on land.
The opening night dinner theater for
this show is on Friday, April 1. This
serves as a fundraiser for the ongoing
renovations and maintenance of the
James McCabe Theater. Built in 1915,
The James McCabe Theater is the only
remaining commercial structure from
Valrico's own small land boom at the
turn of the century.
For the low cost of $25, guests will be
treated to dinner sponsored by Chick-
fil-A of Westfield Mall & Lake
Brandon Village and a ticket to the
show. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. for the
dinner theater.
Director Vinnie Natale said, “I wanted
everyone, including my three-year-old
son, to experience this fun family
friendly play. No part is too big or too
small for any of the actors.
Cast members will bring the story to
life at 8:00 p.m. on April 2, 8, 9, 15 and
16, and at a 3:00 p.m. matinee on April
3 and 10. Doors open at 7:30 P.M. for
evening performances and at 2:30 P.M
for Sunday Matinees.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for
students and senior citizens and $12 for
groups of ten or more. Reservations are
recommended and can be purchased in
advance online at
www.thevillageplayersvalrico.com or
by calling 813-480-3147. Tickets are
available at the door as well.
The James McCabe Theater is located
at 506 5th Street in Valrico.
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 5 ~
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 6 ~
Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival
The Busch Gardens Food & Wine
Festival returns this spring with wild
flavors and concerts for every taste.
The popular Busch Gardens Food &
Wine Festival returns with a lineup of
concerts from musical legends,
sensational new culinary selections –
including duck tacos, lobster ravioli,
truffle fries and almond coconut truffles
– and an expanded selection of more
than 120 wines, craft brews and cocktails
from around the world.
The chart-topping artists will take the
stage on weekends throughout March
and April with the headlining act starting
at 6 p.m. The artist lineup includes:
March 5: TBD
March 6: Huey Lewis & The News
March 12: Goo Goo Dolls
March 13: O.A.R.
March 19: George Thorogood & The
Destroyers
March 20: MercyMe
March 26: Chino Y Nacho
March 27: Third Eye Blind
April 2: The Commodores
April 3: Andy Grammer
April 9: Chris Young
April 10: The All-American Rejects
April 16: Meat Loaf
April 17: Lynyrd Skynyrd
April 23: Gente de Zona
April 24: Jordin Sparks
“We are excited for the second year of
our acclaimed Food & Wine Festival.
Our guests gave last year’s event rave
reviews and this year promises to be
even better, with one of the best
concert lineups of 2016,” said Jim
Dean, President of Busch Gardens
Tampa Bay.
The Busch Gardens Food & Wine
Festival takes place starting Saturday,
March 5 and runs through Sunday,
April 24. The event is included with
any Pass, Fun Card or daily admission
to the park. Food and beverage is not
included with park admission and is
available for an extra fee.
New culinary stations this year are
Artisan Eats which introduces
sophisticated flavors crafted to treat
guests’ appetites, including truffle
fries, shrimp & grits and pan-fried
bread pudding with Nutella-
mascarpone drizzle and Garden Gate
Café joins the Festival this year with
pheasant sausage flatbread topped
with filet de pomodoro and tuna poke.
Guests must be 21 years of age or
older to consume alcoholic beverages.
For more information, visit
buschgardens.com.
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 7 ~
Lighthouse Clipper Coupon Book Comes
to Plant City
A new coupon book has recently
arrived in Plant City. The
Lighthouse Clipper Coupon Book offers
business owners in East Pasco and East
Hillsborough counties the opportunity
to have their ad in over 20,000 books
placed in over 300 local
businesses every 5 weeks, for about a
penny per potential customer. Perhaps
the best part is that they do not require
contracts.
People seem to like advertising in the
Lighthouse Clipper Coupon Book, as
indicated by an over 80% renewal rate
each month. Why? Because the book
works. Here are just a few reasons why
business owners choose The
Lighthouse Coupon Clipper:
No contracts
Professional Graphic Design at
no additional cost
Renewal discounts
Online digital version linked to
your website
Diversified Marketing
Coupons are really another
form of marketing; in
themselves they are not money-
spinners. Concentrate on using
them to build awareness of your
business among new markets
and to new customers. From
here you can hope to up-sell
and generate repeat customers.
When a small business opens, it has to
work hard to gain the attention of
consumers. And as is often the case,
small businesses have equally small
advertising budgets. The owners
know they need to advertise, but
they’re not sure how or where to find
the extra money.
The Lighthouse Clipper Coupon Book
exists so every small business can
have the opportunity to get their name
out there. They offer businesses an
easy and affordable way to promote
themselves.
Owner Ed Cottrell recently told the
Guide, “To every entrepreneur who’s
going out on a limb to bring a dream
to life, we’ve got you covered. To
anyone with a dream of one day
opening a small business of your own,
we say “Go for it!” “We believe in
small businesses. We are a small
business. It is the small businesses
that give the city that local feel.
They’re the heart and soul of the
community.”
To learn more about the Lighthouse
Clipper Coupon Book, visit www.
lighthouseclippercoupon.com or call
(863) 602-7320.
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 8 ~
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 9 ~
The Beauty of University of South Florida’s
Botanical Gardens
By: Jennifer Jordan
If you’re a gardening enthusiast, admirer
of nature, or are obsessed with
volunteering, the University of South
Florida’s Botanical Gardens is a gem
that you or anyone can enjoy! Located
on USF’s Tampa campus, it is home to
over 3,000 plants, animals, and natural
habitats, and attracts about 35,000
visitors annually. Plant festivals and
other events attract enthusiasts from
around the state to shop for rare and
unusual plants. The Botanical Gardens
was established in 1969, and has been
growing ever since! Pharmacy and
environmental science students study the
plants and are researching in medical
botany, hoping to find new treatments
for various diseases. If you love
volunteering, the gardens allow you to
volunteer to propagate for the Plant
Shop, or you can volunteer in their front
office or at the many events they hold.
You can even have your wedding at the
gardens!
The Botanical Gardens are open to the
public; Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm,
Saturday from 9am-4pm, and Sunday
from 12pm-4pm. Admission is $5 for
adults, $3 for children ages 6-13, and $4
for seniors (60+). Admission is free to
children under 6 and USF students get in
for $1 with a valid student I.D. You can
go check out the plants and habitats, or
visit them during one of the many
festivals they hold at the gardens every
year.
In fact, the Botanical Gardens is holding
their 27th annual Spring Plant Festival on
April 9th and 10
th, where growers
share their tips and advice, and
workshops on beekeeping and organic
vegetable gardening are held. Plants
such as bamboo, orchids, butterfly
plants, and ferns will be sold at the
festival, and parking is free.
Admission for the Spring Festival is
$5.
With about 16 acres of gardens home
to rare and unusual plants, USF
Botanical Gardens is the perfect spot
to take gardeners and families, and
with a myriad of beautiful and unique
plants, animals, and habitats, the
Botanical Gardens is a place where
your senses will never be bored. For
further details pertaining to USF’S
Botanical Gardens, you can contact
them at (813) 974- 2329 or visit their
website at gardens.usf.edu.
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 10 ~
Local High School Student Shines as a Film Maker
A 17-year-old junior from
Bloomingdale Senior High School
could be the next Steven Spielberg.
Derrick Bell Perez is a local actor,
director, producer and writer,
whose newest film “Rosalina”, is
premiering at the AMC Theater in
Brandon this summer. The feature
length film is a thriller about a boy’s
road to recovery after nearly being
killed by escaped psych ward patient
Rosalina Williams. As lead character
Michael, his twin brother Matthew, and
their parents Cassandra and Daniel
Price begin their road to recovery, they
experience some strange and
unexplainable occurrences. When
Michael begins isolating himself from
everyone, his brother, parents and
therapist begin to worry about his
wellbeing and his chances of ever
getting better. The more Michael
isolates himself from his family, the
more and more he begins acting like
Rosalina.
“My first project was the summer
before 6th grade, it was a Fantastic Four
Fan Film,” Derrick told the Guide. “I
gathered friends from around the
neighborhood and we made the film
and submitted it to the Tampa Bay Heat
Homeschool Film Festival.”
In 8th grade, Derrick attended the
Progress Village Middle Magnet
School for the Arts. There he made
another fan film and was able to host a
mini premier at Bell Shoals Baptist
Church. At the premier, Derrick and the
other actors greeted the audience and
talked about making the movie. Then
they made their way to the back of the
room and watched the movie and
watched the audience’s reaction. “We
laughed and had a blast. It was at that
moment where I realized I've never felt
so content,” says Derrick.
The following year, Derrick moved to
Bloomingdale High, where he started
the school’s first film club. “The
founding of that club allowed me to
form a full cast and crew and together
we made the short film ‘1313 Dead
End Lane,’ which premiered at our
local AMC Theaters here in Brandon,”
explains Derrick. “In my sophomore
year I made my first feature length
project, an action film that involved
spies trying to take down a terrorist
from unleashing a weapon that causes
mass destruction, which was called
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 11 ~
‘The Star Team.’ The private premier
of ‘The Star Team’ raised $450, which
Derrick used to purchase his first
DSLR camera.
Derrick has teamed up with his mentor
and partner Ryan Brison for his next
film, ‘Queena,’ which focuses on the
Bloomingdale Library attack several
years ago. Audiences will be shown an
extraordinary tale of a mother and her
amazing unconditional love for her
daughter who has experienced such
tragedy but continues to push for an
amazing recovery. In the beginning the
audience will know her as the
Bloomingdale Library attack victim,
but will leave the theater knowing her
as the Bloomingdale Library attack
survivor.
The teachers and principals at
Bloomingdale High are continually are
continually surprised with Derrick’s
work ethic and the amount of effort and
passion he puts into every project. He
is known for taking a dollar and
making it look like a thousand dollars
when it comes to filmmaking. He has a
natural talent and will go far.
Donations to his ongoing film projects
are always welcome. If anyone is
interested in becoming a sponsor,
Derrick has a special sponsorship
program, where each donor who
donates $20 will get their name in the
credits. If someone donates $50 or
more their name will appear in the
credits and they will receive two tickets
to an upcoming event. Lastly for
anyone who donates $100 or more,
they will receive all of the above, plus a
poster signed by the cast and a copy of
the film ‘ROSALINA’ the day of the
premier.
For more information about Derrick’s
upcoming projects, visit
www.youtube.com/user/dbperez54. To
reach Derrick, call (813)304-7984 or
email [email protected].
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 12 ~
Making Cents
Creative Ways to Slice Your Next
Restaurant Check
Americans are now spending more
money eating out than they spend on
groceries. It was the first time that has
happened since the U.S. Department of
Commerce started collecting such data.
The price of a restaurant meal has
jumped 3 percent compared with a year
ago. But that doesn’t mean you have to
give up the occasional meal out. These
tips can help you cut the cost of eating
out by more than half.
1. Buy a discount gift certificate
You might not hear about them as
much because their novelty has worn
off, but websites like Restaurants.com
are still around. They sell discounted
restaurant gift certificates that can
drastically cut the cost of dining out.
Buy the gift certificates online, and
then print them out at home. Or, simply
display them on your mobile device.
Discount websites like Groupon and
LivingSocial also sell similar dining
deals.
2. Join AAA or AARP
AAA membership benefits include
discounts at some restaurants. By
eating at those restaurants, you can also
earn AAA dollars, which help pay for
your membership renewal. AARP
member benefits include discounts at
certain national restaurant chains and
on Restaurant.com certificates. Our
own Outback Steakhouse offers a 15%
AARP discount.
3. Join email lists
Many eateries - from sit-down
restaurants to fast-food joints and ice-
cream chains - have an email list they
use to notify subscribers of deals. Look
for a sign-up option on the websites of
your favorite restaurants and other
restaurants you would like to try.
During Nascar season, Outback
Steakhouse offers a free Bloomin
Onion every Monday if their driver
finishes in the top ten.
4. Use social media to get discounts
Some eateries share discounts via
social media networks like Facebook
and Twitter. Other places offer
discounts or freebies to customers who
“check in” via location-based social
media networks such as Foursquare
(which calls them check-in specials)
and Yelp (which calls them check-in
offers).
5. Take advantage of your birthday
Some restaurants with email lists ask
for your birthday upon sign-up and
send you a freebie to celebrate each
year. Others toss in a freebie like
dessert if you ask. For examples, check
out “25 Birthday Freebies Worth the
Trip.” Our local Applebees and Moe’s
offer free birthday goodies.
6. Dine during off-hours
Pick a restaurant with lunch or early
bird specials. Some restaurants also
offer specials on certain weekdays.
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 13 ~
Locally, Fred’s Market offers an Early
Bird Special MarketTable TM
where you
will receive your beverage FREE with
the purchase of a MarketTableTM
each
Monday thru Friday, from 2:00 p.m.
until 5:00 p.m.
7. Don’t walk in starving
Yes, hunger is what brings us to
restaurants. But just as you’re liable to
spend more on groceries when you go
to the supermarket on an empty
stomach, you’re likely to order too
much if you walk into a restaurant
famished.
8. Beware of menu mind tricks
Studies show that certain menu
characteristics make customers more
likely to spend more, according
to Mental Floss magazine. Examples
include putting photos next to menu
items, using fancy language and
omitting dollar signs from prices.
9. Rethink your drink
Over the past 30 years, the price of
alcohol in stores has gone down when
adjusted for inflation, while the price of
alcohol at restaurants and bars has gone
up, NPR reports. Save the nightcap for
when you return home.
While many people love soda and sweet
tea, the markups can be up to 90
percent, so consider asking for water
with lemon instead.
10. Eat dessert at home
This is especially smart if you plan to
eat a simple dessert like ice cream. The
carton you bought at the grocery store
can be just as tasty for a fraction of the
price.
Even if you’re in the mood for a slice
of cake, single servings generally can
be found in a grocery store’s bakery
department or frozen-dessert aisle for
less than the cost of a slice at a
restaurant.
11. Gift Cards
Around holidays like Christmas and
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, many
restaurants offer a $10 free bonus gift
card if you purchase a gift card worth
$50 or more. That is a 20% return on
your dollar. Where else can you earn
an immediate 20% return on your
dollar.
You can also buy gift cards for less
than their face value on websites
devoted to helping people sell
unwanted cards. Examples of these
online marketplaces cited by
Consumer Reports include Cardpool,
GiftCardRescue and
MonsterGiftCard. Just watch out for
deals that are too good to be true.
12. Pay with a rewards credit card
If you eat out often, look into rewards
credit cards that give a greater
percentage of cash back for such
purchases.
If you would like to get your finances
on track or create a plan for a
successful and sound financial future,
contact Christine Wynne at
[email protected] for a
complimentary financial needs
analysis. It is never too late to start
saving for the future. However, if you
do not start, you will be working well
into your seventies like so many
people you see around town.
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 14 ~
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 15 ~
One Tank
Getaways
Epcot International Flower &
Garden Festival
For a few weeks each year, Epcot is
transformed into a floral wonderland
blooming with hundreds of gorgeous
flowers and topiaries, many of which
are Disney characters. While no one
flower ever takes center stage at the
Flower & Garden Festival, a whirlwind
of Disney character topiaries certainly
does. You will find more than a
hundred throughout the park. Do you
enjoy live music? The Garden Rocks
Concert Series runs Fridays through
Sundays, as well, featuring three half-
hour shows nightly. Thirteen pop bands
with hits spanning the decades will take
the stage each weekend through
Memorial Day at America Gardens
Theatre from March 2 – May 30.
Here’s the lineup (subject to change
without notice):
March 4-6 – The Orchestra starring
former members of ELO
March 11-13 – Starship starring
Mickey Thomas
March 18-20 – Little River Band
March 25-27 – Village People
April 1-3 – Herman’s Hermits
starring Peter Noone
April 8-10 – The Guess Who
April 15-17 – NEW! Blood, Sweat
& Tears featuring Bo Bice
April 22-24 – NEW! Bad
Company, former lead singer
BRIAN HOWE
April 29-May 1 – NEW! Georgia
Satellites
May 6-8 – Gin Blossoms
May 13-15 – NEW! Darlene Love
May 20-22 – Night Ranger
May 27-30 – The Spinners
Performances are at America Gardens
Theatre at 5:30, 6:45, and 8 p.m. every
Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the
Festival and included with park
admission.
Back by popular demand, the festival
will feature garden and backyard living
inspired food and beverage items at 13
Outdoor Kitchens around the World
Showcase promenade. The booths are
similar to those featured at Epcot's
Food & Wine Festival.
Absorb sage advice from world-class
gardening gurus during a series of
complimentary how-to demos at the
Festival Center—plus, celebrate the
great outdoors at themed events.
For more information, visit
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/even
ts-tours/epcot/epcot-international-
flower-and-garden-festival
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 16 ~
From the Bleachers
By: Dylan Tice
As most of us know, the anticipated
baseball season is approaching shortly.
In this month’s column we will take a
look and breakdown the Tampa Bay
Rays organization and see what they
are looking like as a team for the
upcoming season. On top of that, I will
also explain and tell you why you
should consider buying Rays “Flex
Passes”.
In 2015, The Tampa Bay Rays
finished the 2015 season 4th in the
American League East division, with a
record of 80-82. The Rays team’s
biggest move this offseason could
have been the acquisition of outfielder
Corey Dickerson. This power hitter
could very well lead the team in home
runs this season. Although many
things didn't go right for this team in
2015, no one could ignore the
emergence of young ace, Chris
Archer. The talented starting pitcher
became a first time all-star last season,
while setting the Rays record for 252
strikeouts in a single season. Although
the Rays roster is younger than the
average team, manager Kevin Cash is
still all in on trying to be a better team.
The Rays have looked solid
throughout the entire offseason and
will look to be one of those “under the
radar” teams.
Lastly, I wanted to go over why you
should buy a Tampa Bay Rays flex
pass. The flex pass gives you 10 games
you can pick to go to whenever you are
available. For $150, you can pick any
10 games you want for the whole
season. You can go to the games
against your old hometown, teams in
the division, teams with players you
like, and so on. You could go with
friends, family, etc. Tell me a better
way to spend a Sunday afternoon than
relaxing in Tropicana Field with some
people you like having a good time. If
you think about it, $150 isn't all that
expensive. That is only $15 a game!
Get yours before they stop selling
them. My friend and I already
purchased ours and were going to the
season opener against the Toronto Blue
Jays.
Good luck to the Tampa Bay Rays this
season.
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Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 17 ~
Social Scene
Rail Fest 2016
April 2 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Union Station Depot
102 N. Palmer Street
Strawberry Classic Car Show
April 16 – 4:00 p.m.
Historic Downtown
Relay for Life
April 8 – 6:00 p.m. to April 9 –
12:00 p.m.
Plant City High School
Plant City Local Harvest Farmer’s
Market
Thursdays from 4:00pm -
8:00pm
McCall Park
42nd
Annual SUN ‘n FUN
International Fly-In & Expo
April 5-10, 2016
Linder Airport - Lakeland
Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival
April 29 – May 1, 2016
Keel & Curley Winery
"Showcasing Plant City Area
Dining, Entertainment, Arts,
Music...THE GUIDE"
Salon, Nails and Tanning
Services include Facials, Pedicures, Manicures, Gel Nails, Spray Tan and Waxing
**Call Sloan at 754-6592 for new client specials**
1309 S. Collins Street, Plant City
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 18 ~
Library Corner
April 11-15 is National Library Week!
Visit throughout the week for reading-
themed events and activities, random
acts of hospitality (including treats and
beverages), and much more fun! Meet
your local newspaper staff on Monday,
April 11 at 10:00 a.m. during our Open
House with members of The Plant City
Observer and Times.
Orchids 101: Join us for “Orchids 101”
presented by the Master Gardeners of
the Hillsborough County Extension
Services on Monday, April 11, at 6:30
p.m. Don’t forget to bring a plant for
the plant exchange afterwards!
English Classes: On Tuesdays, April 5,
12, 19 and 26 there will be a beginning
English Conversation Corner group
held from 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. This
class is in conjunction with the
Hillsborough Literacy Council. For
questions about the class, please call the
Hillsborough Literacy Council at 813-
273-3650.
Computer Classes: are held on
Wednesday April 6, 13, 20 and 27 from
10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Join us for
classes on computer basics and
introductions to other forms of
technology. Pre-registration for classes
is not required. Get ready to learn!
Afternoon Book Club: On Tuesday,
April 12, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.,
we will discuss Bailey White’s Mama
Makes up Her Mind: And Other
Dangers of Southern Living. Share
your thoughts on the book and help
select future titles! Pick up copies of
next month’s club pick at this
discussion.
Evening Book Club: On Tuesday,
April 19, from 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Share your thoughts on Lisa See’s
Dreams of Joy and pick up a copy of
next month’s selection. Copies of the
book will be available to check out
prior to the discussion.
Evening Crochet group: Instructor
Gina Cannon leads the group and
instructs beginners on simple stitches
and projects. Evening Crochet meets
third Monday of every month from
6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Our Knit 1, Purl 2
classes are still suspended as we
continue to restructure the program,
but if you need your crafting fix, stop
by for Evening Crochet on April 18! If
you have any questions about Evening
Crochet or Knit 1 Purl 2, please
contact Susan Miles at (813) 757-9215.
Walking Club: The Bruton Memorial
Library is proud to begin a walking
club! Join us at 8:00 a.m. on April 20
for our first trip around the block. The
walking club meets at the library and
walks around the neighborhood for 30
minutes. The library restrooms will be
available for the walking club to use. If
you have any questions about the
walking club, please contact Susan
Miles at (813) 757-9215.
All programs are free and open to the
public unless otherwise noted.
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 19 ~
Library Corner
Infant to Pre-K
Motion Commotion: Tuesdays, April
5th, 12
th, 19
th & 26
th at 10:00 a.m. Move
to the rhythm, dance to the beat! Shake
and shimmy, tap those feet! This 30-
minute program that incorporates
music, literacy, and fitness. For
children ages 18 months to 5 years.
Babytime: Thursdays, April 7th, 14
th,
21st & 28
th at 10:00 a.m. Early literacy
begins at birth. Bond with your baby
through stories, bouncy rhymes and
songs in this 20-minute lapsit program
that introduces early literacy skills and
encourages language development.
For children ages 0 to 18 months.
Storytime: Thursdays, April 7th, 14
th,
21st & 28
th at 11:00 a.m. Stories,
action rhymes, songs and interactive
activities make up this engaging 30-
minute program that highlights early
literacy skills and encourages reading
readiness and social interaction. For
children ages 18 months to 5 years.
Elementary
Family Movie Time: Monday, April
25th at 3:00 p.m. Join us for popcorn
and a movie at the library! Children are
welcome to bring a blanket to lie on.
Fun for the whole family! This movie
is rated G. For more information about
the movie, please call the Bruton
Memorial Library at 813-757-9215 or
visit plantcitygov.com/library
Crafternoon: Monday, April 11th from
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Get creative and
make crafts to take home.
Family Game Zone: April 4th and 18
th
from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. The whole
family is invited to play board games,
including, Connect Four, Scrabble
Slam, Candyland, and many more!
Board games enhance math and
communication skills as well as
sportsmanship. Spend quality time
with your family! For grades K - 5.
Teens
Teen Game Zone!: April 5th and 12
th
from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.. Come play
Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 Kinect and
PlayStation at the library on our large
projection screens. Bring your friends
and get in the zone! For grades 6 - 12.
Teen Book Club: Tuesday, April 26th
from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Join us for our
monthly Teen Book Club. We read and
talk about books selected by teens like
you! On Tuesday, April 26th, at 4:30
PM we will be discussing The
Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
Come join the discussion and help
select future books for the group to
read. Copies of the book are available
at Bruton Memorial Library for check
out. For grades 6 - 12.
Teen “Go” Board Game Club:
Tuesday, April 19th from 4:30 – 5:30
p.m. Come learn and play one of the
oldest games in the world: the ancient
East Asian board game “Go.” A
popular Anime/Manga series called
“Hikaru No Go” has made many very
curious about how to play the game.
Now you can learn and play with your
friends. The rules are simple, the
strategy complex. For grades 6 - 12.
Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide
April 2016 ~ Page 20 ~
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