March 2018

www.plantcityguide.com (813) 610-7336

Florida Strawberry Festival

It is that time of the year again, Festival

time! Every year, the Florida

Strawberry Festival rolls out the red

carpet to welcome over a half a million

visitors from throughout the Sunshine

State and the world.

Guests come from near and far to enjoy

exhibits of agriculture, commerce,

industry, livestock, fine arts,

horticulture, and crafts. The fabric of

American life is woven into the

Festival through social events, contests,

youth developmental programs, top-

name entertainment, and parades with

glorious floats and high-stepping

marching bands.

Monday, March 5 is the annual

Strawberry Festival Parade. Schools

and many businesses will be closed as

the parade begins downtown at 1:00

p.m. and passes by the festival grounds

at 2:00 p.m.

The 83rd

annual festival will be held

March 1 to March 11 and will include

24 headline acts on the Wish Farms

Soundstage, an assortment of free

family oriented daily shows, more than

80 carnival rides, nearly 400 vendors

and of course — plenty of strawberry

shortcake.

The theme this year is “Building New

Memories!” Yes, it points to the new

entertainment venue we’ve

constructed,” said President Paul

Davis. “But most of all, we want our

guests to know we’re in the business

of continuously making new and better

memories for families.”

See the music lineup on page 3.

Happy St. Patrick’s

Day

May your pockets be heavy and your heart

be light,

May good luck pursue you each morning and night. – Irish Blessing Be sure not to miss the return of

Clemons Road at the 1916 Irish Pub’s St. Patrick’s Day Party

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 2 ~

Just a Thought… By: Christine Wynne-Andrade Editor

Strawberry Festival season is upon us

again. We will welcome up to 750,000

visitors to our town over an eleven day

period. Take a deep breath, slow down

and Let’s give them a warm welcome

and show them the hospitality Plant

City is famous for. They will leave

Plant City not only with fond memories

of our Festival, but they will also want

to return and share it with friends.

Catch the Irish spirit this month.

Tampa Bay’s largest St. Patrick’s Day

party is at the Tampa Bay Renaissance

Festival the weekend of March 17 and

18.

If you want something closer to home,

we recommend visiting the 1916 Irish

Pub by the Publix at 2309 W.

Thonotosassa Road. They are hosting

the town’s largest St. Patrick’s Day

party from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on

St. Patrick’s Day. There will be live

bands, delicious Irish food, drink

specials and lots of fun. See page 12 for

more information.

This is a community paper and we are

happy to print your stories,

announcements, opinions and letters to

the editor. Don’t hesitate to drop me a

line at editor@plantcityguide.com.

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Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018~ Page 3 ~

Entertainment lineup announced for 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival

Over 24 artists will perform at this year’s

Strawberry Festival March 1-11.

Advance tickets for admission and for

headline entertainment shows will go on

sale Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017 at 8 a.m.

and can be purchased online at

www.flstrawberryfestival.com, at the

Amscot Main Ticket Office located at

2209 W. Oak Avenue in Plant City and

over the phone at 813-754-1996.

“The theme of this year’s festival is

‘Building New Memories!’ with a strong

emphasis on the construction of our new

GT Grandstands seating area,” said

Florida Strawberry Festival President

Paul Davis.

The event’s board of directors broke

ground on the project in March, and

construction is expected to be complete

by the end of the month. The new

bleacher-style seating will accommodate

9,200 total guests, is closer to the stage

and will be more comfortable for guests,

Davis said.

Another change with the construction

project is that the event will no longer

offer free seating to headline shows.

“This was an extremely difficult decision

for us,” said Davis. “But we absolutely

had to construct new seating. And when

you start crunching the numbers, there

was just no way economically for us to

offer free seats any longer.”

The lineup is as follows:

Thursday, March 1

10:30 a.m. Jimmy Sturr

3:30 p.m. Oak Ridge Boys

7:30 p.m. DNCE

Friday, March 2

3:30 p.m. Jerry Lee Lewis

7:30 p.m. Justin Moore and

Dylan Scott

Saturday, March 3

3:30 p.m. Cam

7:30 p.m. The Band Perry

Sunday, March 4

3:30 p.m. Lee Greenwood

7:30 p.m. REBA McENTIRE

Monday, March 5

3:30 p.m. Jimmy Fortune

7:30 p.m. Josh Turner

Tuesday, March 6

3:30 p.m. Gaither Vocal Band

7:30 p.m. Casting Crowns

Wednesday, March 7

3:30 p.m. Engelbert

Humperdinck

7:30 p.m. Trace Adkins

Thursday, March 8

10:30 a.m. The Lettermen

3:30 p.m. Drifters, Platters and

Cornell Gunter’s Coasters

7:30 p.m. I Love the 90s Tour

featuring Vanilla Ice, Tone Loc and

Salt-N-Pepa

Friday, March 9

3:30 p.m. Charley Pride

7:30 p.m. Earth, Wind & Fire

Saturday, March 10

3:30 p.m. Sawyer Brown

7:30 p.m. Kenny “Babyface”

Edmonds and Anthony Hamilton

Sunday, March 11

3:30 p.m. Chase Bryant

7:30 p.m. Brad Paisley

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 4 ~

Plant City Entertainment Presents…

April 20, 21, 22, 27, 28

& 29

Fridays/Saturdays -8:00

Sundays – 2:00 p.m.

At a large, tastefully-

appointed Sneden’s Landing ownhouse, the Deputy Mayor of New York has just

shot himself. Though only a flesh wound, four couples are about to experience a

severe attack of Farce. Gathering for their tenth wedding anniversary, the host lies

bleeding in the other room, and his wife is nowhere in sight. His lawyer, Ken, and

wife, Chris, must get “the story” straight before the other guests arrive. As the

confusions and mis-communications mount, the evening spins off into classic

farcical hilarity.

CAST

Ken – Vince Evangelista

Chris – Kayla Janine Kopeck

Lenny – Tyler Hollis

Claire – April Smith Golombek

Ernie – Darryl Parish

Cookie – Lisa Westcott

Glenn – Roberto CJ Bachetti

Cassie – Jenny Morgan

Officer Welch – John Durbin

All performances held at the Plant City Entertainment, Inc. Theater, 101 N.

Thomas Street, Plant City, FL 33563

To purchase tickets online & for more information, visit: www.pceshows.com

Tickets are also available for purchase at the door

ADULTS (18-59) – $18

SENIORS (60+ with ID) – $14

STUDENTS (under 18) – $14

GROUPS OF 10+ – $12 (only available in advance at Hardee’s Fashions)

PCE MEMBERS – $12 (only available at Hardee’s and at the door)

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018~ Page 5 ~

Valrico Village Players Presents…

Ten strangers are

summoned to a

remote island. All

that the guests have

in common is a

wicked past they're

unwilling to reveal

and a secret that will

seal their fate. For

each has been marked

for murder. As the

weather turns and the

group is cut off from

the mainland, the

bloodbath begins and one by one they are brutally murdered in accordance with

the lines of a sinister nursery rhyme, Ten Little Indians. One of Christie’s

darkest tales and a masterpiece of dramatic construction, its growing sense

of dread and unfaltering tension will keep you guessing to the very end. In

writing the stage version of her most successful and darkest novels during

the Second World War, Agatha Christie responded to the mood of the

times by introducing a more positive ending. The play was a smash hit in

the West End and on Broadway..

The play will open with a dinner theater on April 6th at 7:00 pm the James

McCabe Theater & will run for 3 weekends. Other show dates & times will

include...April 7, 13, 14, 20, 21. Doors open at 7:30 pm Curtain is at 8:00

pm.

There will be 2 Matinees April 8 and 15 ...Doors open at 2:30 pm Curtain

at 3:00 pm.

Tickets are: $18 for General Admission, Seniors, Students & Military with

ID $ 15, Groups of 10 or more $15 each. ...call our box office for reserved

seating prepaid in advance... 480-3147 or our information line 813-643-

8292 or visit www.thevillageplayersvalrico.com

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 6 ~

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 7 ~

Social Scene

Florida Strawberry Festival

March 1 – 11

Strawberry Festival Grounds

Strawberry Youth Parade

March 3 – 11:00 a.m.

4-H Strawberry U-Pick

March 17 – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Fancy Farms - 1909 S. Wiggins

Road

Strawberry Classic Car Show

March 17 – 4:00 p.m.

Historic Downtown

Easter Festival

March 31 – 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

600 W Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Boulevard

Live Music

Thursdays 8:00 p.m - midnight

1916 Irish Pub

Live Music

Friday & Saturday 7:00 -11:00pm

Sundays 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Keel & Curley Winery

Plant City Connections Networking

Tuesdays – 7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Crossroads - 106 W. S.R. 60

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

March 2018 ~ Page 8 ~

Making Cents

Boost Your Credit Score with These Easy Steps

Like it or not, your credit score dictates

everything from whether you’re

approved for a credit card to what rate

you’re offered on a mortgage to how

much you pay in auto insurance.

As the economy has recovered from the

Great Recession, many Americans have

managed to get on better footing. But

even as the average FICO credit score

reached a new high last year, 20

percent of consumers still had “bad”

scores — meaning less than 600 —

according to Fair Isaac Corp., aka

FICO.

If you are one of them, it’s time to give

that baby a boost. Here are some of the

fastest ways to increase your credit

score.

1. Clean up your credit report:

Before you do anything else, go to

AnnualCreditReport.com and request a

credit report from each of the three big

nationwide credit reporting companies:

Equifax

Experian

TransUnion

By law, you’re entitled to one free

report each year. Once you have the

report, examine everything. Look for

any accounts that show late payments

or unpaid bills. If that information is

inaccurate, the report should tell you

where to send a dispute.

2. Pay down your balance:

According to FICO, the company that

calculates one of the most widely used

credit scores, 30 percent of your FICO

score is based on the amount you owe.

However, it’s not simply how much

you owe that’s important. It’s how

much you owe compared with how

much credit you have, a ratio known as

your credit utilization.

For example, if you have a $10,000

credit limit and a $5,000 balance, your

credit utilization is 50 percent. If

you’ve maxed out that $10,000 limit,

your utilization is 100 percent. If you

owe more than that amount, paying

down your balances is a quick way to

boost your score.

3. Pay twice a month:

You might think you’re doing great

because you pay off your card every

month, even if it’s maxed out. The

problem is that your creditors are only

reporting balances to the credit bureaus

once a month. If you run up a big

balance each month, it could look like

you’re overusing your credit.

For example, assume you have a credit

card with a $1,000 limit. It’s a rewards

card, so you use it for everything. In

fact, every month, you hit your limit.

The statement arrives, you owe $1,000,

and you send in a check to pay it off.

But the credit card company is likely

reporting the statement balance each

month. So, it looks like you have a

$1,000 limit and a $1,000 balance.

That’s a 100 percent credit utilization

rate.

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 9 ~

You can help alleviate the problem by

breaking up your credit card payments.

Go ahead and charge everything to get

the rewards, but send in payments at

least twice a month to keep your

running balance lower. In addition, if

you make a large purchase on your card

and have the cash handy, pay it off

immediately.

4. Increase your credit limit:

Maybe you’re not in a position to pay

down your balances. You could take a

different approach to improving your

credit utilization rate: Call your creditor

and ask for a credit limit increase.

If you’ve maxed out your $1,000 card

and get a limit increase to $2,000,

you’ve instantly cut your credit

utilization rate in half. The key is to not

spend any of your new credit. It defeats

the purpose of getting a limit increase if

you immediately charge the card up to

$2,000.

5. Open a new account:

If you can’t increase your limit with

your current credit card issuer, apply

for a card from a different issuer. It will

still help your credit utilization rate,

since your utilization rate is based on

all your open lines of credit and

balances.

Someone with $10,000 in credit who

owes $5,000 will have a 50 percent

credit utilization rate regardless of

whether that $5,000 is on one card or

spread out over multiple cards.

Be aware, though, that opening

multiple accounts at once is not good

either. Too many new accounts can

make you look like you desperately

want to go on a spending spree. Don’t

risk dinging your credit score — apply

for only one or two new cards if you’re

going to try this strategy.

6. Negotiate outstanding balances:

Maybe your credit score took a dive

because you have bills in debt

collections. You can’t wipe out past

mistakes from your credit report, but

you can do some damage control by

settling them.

Contact your creditors and ask them to

lower your balance in exchange for

paying off the card. Be sure to get an

agreement in writing.

If you don’t have any cash on hand to

offer as a settlement, you can sell some

of your stuff for quick cash or work

some extra hours.

7. Become an authorized user:

Finally, if none of the above

suggestions helps you, don’t despair.

There is one final option, and that is to

be added as an authorized user on

someone else’s credit card account.

Now, for this to work, you’ll need to

find someone who loves you very

much and who manages his or her

money very well. Once you find this

very special person who is going to do

you a huge favor, explain you have no

intention of using the credit card. You

just want to be added to their account

as a way to build credit.

When you’re an authorized user, the

account will show up on your credit

report. Then, your credit report will

reflect the primary cardholder’s on-

time payments and (hopefully great)

credit utilization rate. As a result, your

credit score gets a boost, too.

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 10 ~

Suit Case Capers

Guess Who’s Coming to

Dinner….Broadway Palm Dinner

Theatre

By: Christine Wynne

If you are looking for the perfect

dining experience that is unique,

special and fun, look no further than

the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre.

For over three decades, the

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre,

located in picturesque Fort Myers,

has welcomed and entertained

millions of enthusiastic dinner

theater patrons from all over the

country. Broadway Palms provides

patrons with a theatrical experience

on par with the Broadway National

Touring shows. Each season is

filled with energetic performances

ranging from Broadway shows, to

vibrant musicals, special music

events, and comedic plays. With

delicious, freshly prepared cuisine

and their famous dessert buffet

included in the ticket price, it’s no

surprise they are considered to be

Florida’s premier dinner theatre!

On October 29, 1993, Broadway

Palms opened its doors with their

first ever production, “Me and My

Girl.” Almost two hundred shows

later, their unmatched dinner theatre

experience has brought in over

3,600,000 guests. The 448-seat

main stage venue features full-scale

professional Broadway musicals

and specialty concerts. Each year

there are eight main stage shows,

four children’s theatre productions,

and numerous concerts, functions,

meetings and special events.

Broadway Palm also offers the Off

Broadway Palm Theatre, a 100-seat

black box theatre, opened in the fall

of 1996 to showcase smaller-scale

musical revues and comedies. Each

season there are five productions

and the theatre is also a venue for

other local performing arts groups.

From the moment you enter the

building, it is a party for your

senses. The Playbill Bar, the lobby’s

full-service cocktail bar, is open in

the evenings for cocktails before the

show, at intermission and after the

show. The bar features a selection

of fine wines and specialty drinks.

At your convenience, stop by the

lovely Broadway Palm Gift Shop, a

unique shop with a theatrical flair,

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

which features one-of-a-kind gifts

including jewelry, collectibles,

theatre memorabilia and more. Upon

entering or leaving the theater, visit

The Palms Gallery, a large open

space located just off of the main

lobby. The gallery features modern,

local art and a relaxed atmosphere

which make it perfect for cocktail

style gatherings.

During your visit, you’ll be

comfortably seated in a grand dining

room, custom built with a tiered

seating arrangement which allows

you to enjoy the show from any seat

in the house. The gracious staff will

accommodate your every request and

make your experience one to

remember. The dining menu features

freshly prepared entrees and side

dishes made with the finest

ingredients available.

While the culinary selections change

per show, a typical dinner will

include the following:

Slow roasted prime rib with Au Jus

and horseradish sauce served with

garlic and chive whipped potatoes

and seasonal vegetables; Breaded

chicken parmesan smothered with

tomato sauce with mozzarella cheese

served over angel hair pasta

accompanied with warm garlic bread;

Crab and shrimp stuffed hog fish

snapper topped with a lemon butter

sauce served with garlic and chive

whipped potatoes and vegetables.

Now, about those shows… One

national artistic producer selects

principle actors and ensemble

members from auditions in

Chicago and New York. Unified

auditions attended: SETC’s

(Southeast Theatre Conference),

NDTA’s (National Dinner Theatre

Association), UPTA’s (United

Professional Theatre Auditions)

and FPTA’s (Florida Professional

Theatre Auditions).

Local auditions are typically held

once or twice annually for children

and adults, depending on casting

needs. More than 300 young local

performers have appeared in

Broadway Palm productions, in

addition to many local adult actors

and musicians. Each musical

production features a live

orchestra.

Tickets range from $45 to $70.

For more information, visit

www.broadwaypalm.com or call

(239) 278-4422.

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival

The Busch Gardens Food & Wine

Festival returns on March 3 with wild

flavors and concerts for every taste.

The festival features signature dishes

along with exciting new cuisine,

including 16 all-new dishes plus a large

selection of wines, craft brews and

cocktails. Eighteen of the biggest acts in

musical entertainment will take the stage

every weekend on Gwazi Field.

The artist lineup includes:

March 3: Sister Hazel &

Edwin McCain March 4: Grupo Niche

March 10: The Fray

March 11: Southern Uprising Tour

March 17: Olga Tanon

March 18: Goo Goo Dolls

March 24: Better than Ezra & Tonic

March 25: Michael Bolton

March 31: Boyz II Men

April 1: Natalie Grant

April 7: Hank Williams, Jr.

April 8: TLC

April 14: Brett Michaels

April 15: To Be Announced

April 21: The All American Rejects

April 22: Cole Swindell

April 28: Flo Rida

April 29: Kaleo & Bleachers

The Festival features all-new twists

on cuisine at 13 culinary cabins, along

with favorites like mango shrimp

ceviche and beef brisket on a spiced

corn waffle. Experience bold new eats

at the Savory Tavern with fried frog

legs with bacon corn fritters, or

indulge in flavorful treats at Artisan

Eats with beloved dish duck fat truffle

fries and then spice it up with tostones

rellenos de pollo at Comfort

Kitchen. Opt for lobster tart with

leeks and Swiss cheese or mushroom

vol-au-vent at the Light Fare Canteen,

or relish in the robust flavors at Chef’s

Plantation with salmon cake with

lemon aioli, Korean-style ribs and all-

new short rib and brie grilled

cheese. Guests can elevate the Food

and Wine Festival experience even

more by sipping a carefully curated

selection of fine bourbons and new

tequila tastings.

The Busch Gardens Food & Wine

Festival takes place on Saturdays and

Sundays from March 3 through April

29 and is included with any Pass, Fun

Card or daily admission. Food and

beverage is not included with park

admission and is available for an extra

fee. Guests must be 21 years of age or

older to consume alcoholic beverages.

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

Real Stuff

By: Joe Bowles

Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church

Indian Mounds

Growing up I loved family vacations, but

not as much as my dad. My dad became

a Christian later in life and I had the

wonderful privilege of being his pastor

until he passed away. I have tried to

share his love for travel with my family,

as well. You see, Dad was

adventurous… most of the time. We

lived frugally except on vacation. Dad

would save all year so that we could

enjoy these two week excursions.

Sometimes we wouldn’t have a clear

idea of where we were headed. Dad

would drive, mom would supervise, and

we kids would navigate through a series

of state maps that we kept in the station

wagon. Occasionally, our navigation

skills failed us and we ended up taking

unnecessary detours. Some of the

detours led us to interesting sights and

we saw things that we wouldn’t

normally see, if not for our mistakes.

One such trip led us to the Georgia

Indian Mounds. First of all, we had no

clue what they were. So, our curiosity

fed us as we went down an unpaved road

away from civilization. I’m convinced

that if the Indians would have stayed

around these mounds that the white man

would have never found them to ship

them off to Oklahoma or somewhere

else that I can’t remember. I made a ‘C”

in American History.

When we got there, these mounds, built

about 950 A.D., stretch upward about

100 feet. Some were used as burial sites

for tribal leaders. Others were

platforms that Indians priests resided

on. Some had manmade stairs. Others

were a series of natural inclined steps.

I was probably about 8 years old at

the time. I loved it. I ran as fast as I

could up the steps, my sisters

followed close behind. Mom lingered

behind us, but eventually scaled the

mound. When I got to the top and

looked down, dad was at the bottom

looking up. He was staring at the

mounds trying to be impressed,

chewing his cud, working up a

thoughtful expression of wonderment

and amazement. What he really

wanted to do was herd us all back into

the station wagon and hunt for a Biff

Burger. But, like a good dad, he acted

like he was reading the historical sign,

while praying that we wouldn’t beg

him to join us at the top. We yelled,

“Dad, come on!”

So, he started his way up. A hundred

feet is a long way when you don’t

exercise and you smoke a pack-and-a-

half a day. Finally, after the sundial

shifted, dad made it to the top. He

celebrated by lighting up a Camel.

This was one of those few occasions

that Dad wasn’t adventurous.

A few years later, on another

vacation, we saw an interstate sign

pointing to some Indian Mounds.

“Hey dad, can we go?” Dad said, “I

ain’t climbing no d#*n Indian

Mounds.” We kept on going… in an

hour, we pulled into a Biff Burger.

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

One Tank

Getaways

Epcot International Flower &

Garden Festival

Blossoming once again in 2018, the

Epcot International Flower & Garden

Festival is a fun-filled destination for

Guests of every age—and the perfect

place for nearly every member of the

family to dig up their sense of curiosity

and discovery. Highlights may include:

Outdoor kitchens offering

delectable bites and libations

Dozens of world-renowned,

Disney-themed topiaries

Breathtaking garden spaces and

wildlife habitats

Inspirational exhibits, a “How-

To” Garden, and engaging

Tours

An outdoor concert series

featuring fan-favorite bands

The 90-day festival, open February 28-

May 28, will feature an irresistible

array of new gardens and character

topiaries, popular entertainers and tasty

food and drink offerings.

Embark on a mouthwatering mission to

taste your way around a healthy,

wholesome smorgasbord… With over a

dozen delectable stops, the World

Showcase at Epcot plays host to the

Festival-exclusive Outdoor Kitchens,

each offering a specialty menu of

creative cuisine and libations. Savor,

sip and stroll while satisfying appetites

large and small!

Do you enjoy live music? The Garden

Rocks Concert Series runs Fridays

through Mondays.

Here’s the lineup (subject to change

without notice):

March 2 to 5 – Night Ranger

March 9 to 12 – Starship

March 16 to 19 – Simple Plan

March 23 to 26 – Little River Band

March 19 to 20 – Plain White T’s

March 30 to April 2 - ELO

April 6 to 7 – Foghat

April 8 to 9 – Survivor

April 13 to 14 – Smash Mouth

April 15 to 16 – Rick Springfield

April 20 to 21 – Jo Dee Messina

April 22 to 23 – Lonestar

April 27 to 30 – Blood, Sweat &

Tears

May 4 to 7 – Herman’s Hermits

May 11 to 12 – Village People

May 13 to 14 – Don Felder/ Eagles

May 18 to 21 – The Guess Who

May 25 to 28 – 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.

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class: Thursdays, March

1st, 8

th, 15

th, 22

nd and 29

th from 2:00

– 4:00 p.m. Whether you’re a first-

time player or a seasoned expert,

join us every week to play American

mahjong!

A Land Remembered Tour:

Thursday, March 8th, 7:00 p.m. Popular

book A Land Remembered comes to

life and in a crowd-pleasing show by

author’s son, Rick Smith. You can

see A Land Remembered and Patrick

Smith’s other books jump off the pages

through a truly unique multimedia show

his son Rick (Patrick Jr.) produced to

explore his father’s colorful life as a

writer and how he came to write his

books.

Please call (813) 757-9215 to reserve

your seat. Funded by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library.

Master Gardener: Dragonflies

Monday, March 12th, 6:30 p.m.

Join us

for an evening discussion about

beautiful dragonflies. Participants are

invited to bring a plant for the plant

exchange afterwards! Presented by the

Master Gardeners of the Hillsborough

County Extension Services. Morning

Book Club: The Story of Arthur

Truluv by Elizabeth Berg Tuesday, March 20

th, 11:00 A.m.

Since his wife’s passing, Arthur does

the same thing every single day. After

an unlikely encounter with a teenager

named Maddy, Arthur’s world changes

and soon the pair is joined by a third

member. The trio helps one another to

start fresh and once again enjoy life

despite their differences.

Evening Book Club: Deep Shadow

by Randy Wayne White: Tuesday,

March 20th, 7:30 p.m. Our Evening

Book Club is led by Kim Fields. Share

your thoughts on this month's book

and pick up a copy of next month's

selection. Doc Ford is able to escape

after being trapped when a cave

collapses in a Florida lake.

Craft Night Out-Spring Theme:

Thursday, March 22nd

, 7:00 p.m.

Adults, join us for a fun night of

crafting! Create a piece of spring time

flair to add to your home décor! Sign

up at the library or by calling (813)

757-9215. We hope to see you there!

Understanding Credit: Friday, March

23rd

, 2:00 PM-4:00 p.m. Learn how

your personal credit affects your

business and how you can use it as a

positive financial tool. Presented by

SBDC Florida. Registration is

required online or by phone:

http://bit.ly/FloridaSBDCHC or 813-

204-9267

VITA Tax Assistance: Thursdays,

February 1st-April 12

th

It’s that time of year again…tax time!

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households. Please note, names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment. For more

information, contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM.

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion: Tuesdays at

10:00 a.m. March 6th, 13

th, 20

th and

27th. Move to the rhythm, dance to the

beat! This 45-minute program that

incorporates music, literacy, and

fitness. For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers.

Babytime: Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.

March 8th, 15

th, 22

nd and 29

th. 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 and their caregivers.

Storytime: Thursdays at 11:00 a.m.

March 8th, 15

th, 22

nd and 29

th. 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

Games, Gears & Blocks: Monday,

March 19th from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Join us for a building adventure! Kids

use Lego building blocks to build a

fun, interactive and creative afternoon.

The library provides the Legos; kids

provide the imagination!

Family Movie Time!: Monday, March

26th from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 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! Rated G. For more information

please call the Bruton Memorial

Library at 813-757-9215.

Strawberry Crafternoon!: Monday,

March 12th from 3:30 PM – 4:30 p.m.

Have a sweet time making a

strawberry craft at the library! For

grades K - 5.

Teens

Teen Game Zone: Tuesday, March 6th

and 13th from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Come

play Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 Kinect

and PlayStation (2 & 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens.

Robotics with Ozobots!: Tuesday,

March 20th from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Meet

Ozobot – a tiny robot you can program

using a computer OR by drawing on

paper! Learn how to code a robot that

can change colors, explore mazes,

dance, race, and more. Limit 20

participants. Register at the library or

by calling 813-757-9215.

Teen Book Club: The Eighth Day

Tuesday, March 27th from 4:30 –

5:30p.m. Do you love reading?

Looking for something new? Join us

for our monthly Teen Book Club! We

read and talk about books selected by

teens like you! On Tuesday, March

27th, at 4:30 PM we will be discussing

The Eighth Day by Dianne K. Salerni.

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. Refreshments

funded by the Friends of the Bruton

Memorial Library.

Plant City Dining & Entertainment Guide

March 2018 ~ Page 20 ~