Kristen Smith's dream come true – her reign as Florida Strawberry Festival queen - draws to a close at a pageant Jan. 17. ...more

January 6, 2009

Kristen Smith's reign as Florida Strawberry Festival queen is drawing to a close. ...more

January 5, 2009

PLANT CITY Two Florida Strawberry Festival pageants will take place next month. The Junior Royalty pageant will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 10 in the Tomlin Middle School auditorium, 501 N. Woodrow Wilson St. The festival queen's pageant is 6 p.m. Jan. 17, also in the Tomlin auditorium. ...more

December 30, 2008

LUTZ Schwarzkopf Elementary kindergartners were impressed when firefighter Gary Guy donned his full uniform and helmet, but the ladders on the 1973 fire truck he brought with him drew the most "wows." ...more

November 19, 2008

PLANT CITY The path to Florida Strawberry Festival queen sometimes begins with the Junior Royalty pageant. Girls 5 to 15 as of Jan. 1 who are interested in competing in next year's contest need to be at the festival's expo building Nov. 17 for a mandatory meeting, when applications will be distributed. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and close at 7. No one will be allowed to enter the building before 6:30 or after 7. ...more

November 8, 2008

The area's social and historical heritage will be recalled during the 31st annual Pioneer Heritage Day. ...more

October 22, 2008

The area's social and historic heritage will be recalled during the 31st annual Pioneer Heritage Day. ...more

October 22, 2008

Martin T. Girling has been elected by his peers at South Florida Baptist Hospital as the new chief of staff. The West Point, N.Y., native has been in Florida almost 20 years and maintains a podiatry office in Plant City. ...more

August 20, 2008

Last week was vacation time for me, and it featured a family trip to the Southwest, including the Grand Canyon, San Diego and a stop at Disneyland in Anaheim. The original Disney complex, which opened in 1955, pales in comparison to our Disneyworld in Orlando that came along some 16 years later. ...more

August 13, 2008

Katie Sharer recalled how nervous she was as a 16-year-old competing in a swimsuit for Florida Strawberry Festival queen. ...more

July 25, 2008