Author: Melissa Hart

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Meet the New Board Member

Frank Cummings has lived in Plant City for 10 years and he is the owner of Walden Lake Car Wash. He is married to Plant City girl Kelli Hoffman “Cummings.” Frank has a son and daughter.

Frank has served as President of the Plant City Lions Club for 2 years and has been the Lions Club Chairman for the Food Booth at the Florida Strawberry Festival for 7 years. Lion’s Club International collects eyeglasses and recycles them to provide eyewear to people who many not otherwise be able to afford them. This projects holds an important role in Frank’s life. He even collects them on site at his business.

Frank is originally from New York, specifically the Long Island area. He is very happy to call Plant City home.

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Meet the New Board Member

Joe Knox has lived in the Plant City area for more than 20 years. He has supported the Plant City Arts Council for many years by volunteering at many special events.

He is employed at Tata Tea Extractions in Plant City where he oversees the maintenance department. He is humbled to be able to serve as a board member and is looking forward to all that is in store the Plant City Arts Council.

Joe is married to the beautiful, Melanie Knox who has served on the board for many years. They have 4 children; Greg, Cassie, Chelsea and Magan and 2 granddaughters; Adalyn and Aynah. Welcome JOE!

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Meet the New Board Members

Randy and Laurette Valdez have been residents of Plant City for the past thirteen years.  After graduation from college in 1971, Randy served in the U. S. Air Force as a Russian linguist before returning to school to become a dentist in 1981.  Laurette enjoyed working many years as an elementary school teacher.  They relocated from Tampa to Plant City in 2007 and have enjoyed the smaller and friendly atmosphere of Plant City.  They both have expressed how honored they are to be a part of the Plant City Arts Council.  

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Plant City High School Reflections Awards

Each year the Art Council sponsors the Plant City High School Reflections program. The Arts Council sends a donation to help cover the cost of supplies for the artists who enter the program. Melanie Knox was one of our board member who participated in the judging while Darcy Stottlemeyer spoke at the awards ceremony.

Congrats to the artists who took home ribbons:

Jordan Young, Katherine Hamilton, Gabrielle Broeders, Hannah Holm, Gilselis Perez Espada and Gustavo Vazquez( not in picture )

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Seward Johnson Sculptures are coming back….

We all remember the Seward Johnson Sculptures in downtown Plant City. Who could forget Marilyn Monroe in 2018? They will be back in December 2020! They will be on display December 7th thru the end of March.

The Art Council would like to thank the City of Plant City and The Unity in the Community for making this happen. More information to come…

Dodie and Marsha could resist a Photo Op!

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Thank you Unity in the Community

A huge thank you to Sharon Moody from Unity in the Community, Inc. for presenting the Art Council with a $3,000 donation. We were all so surprised and thankful when Sharon visited us on our August 20 for our board meeting. The board had not been able to meet since February due to COVID-19. This boosted our spirits!

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The New Downtown Banners are Here!!

The banners are colorful and vibrant and an inspiration to Plant City’s new branding that was introduced to the city by Community Design Solutions in its vision for the future of Plant City.  The Arts Council is proud to have partnered with the City of Plant City and Main Street in this endeavor, and we hope our residents, and visitors alike, will enjoy this new look for our downtown area for years to come.  We are truly appreciative to the City of Plant City staff, Main Street, Paul Hetrick (Paul’s Hand Lettering), and members of the Arts Council who have made the banners in our downtown area, go from a dream to a reality in recent years.

  • Several members of the Arts Council, Main Street, Plant City Commissioners, City Manager and City Staff met to dedicate the new banners in a short ceremony on June 29.
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2019-2020 Scholarship Recipient

Rylee Marchese

GPA: 5.7236

Ranking: 49 of 503

The Art Council of Plant City is proud to introduce you to the 2019-2020 Scholarship Recipient, Rylee Marchese. Even during an unexpected ending to her senior year, she stayed positive and finished strong. Rylee earned her diploma from Plant City High School where she was involved in the National Honor Society, Art Club, GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) and the East Hillsborough Art Guild.

Rylee has received numerous art awards from different organizations and held many leadership positions in the clubs she was involved with. She was a Historian, Secretary and Officer in GSA and was Vice President and President of the Art Club. Rylee was very active in sports as well. She was on the Varsity Tennis and Swim Team for all four years.

Rylee impressed the council by being very involved with the community. To name just a few, she helped with the Plant City Food Bank, Walden Lake Elementary and Christmas Lane.

Rylee wrote an essay describing the work of Keith Haring and captured how art was a safe space for her to express her emotions. She also stated the best word to describe her is “hard working.”

Ms. Rylee Marchese will be attending the University of South Florida for the fall semester where she will be majoring in Art and Political Science. We are truly very proud of all she has accomplished and wish her all the best in the future.

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2020 Chili Cook Off

Congrats to our winners!
Holloway Heat- 1st Mild
Brick City Bricks- 2nd Mild

Ya Ya Sisters X 6- 1st Novelty
Krazy Kup- 2nd Novelty

Focus Magazine- 1st Spicy
Holloway Heat-2nd Spicy

People’s Choice- Brick City Bricks

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🌶 Chili Cook Off! 🌶

“It is almost showtime for the Chili Cook-Off on this coming Saturday. There are 19 teams, a host of sponsors, Drawdy’s Dance School to perform, and all of you to make this the perfect day!” – Marsha Passmore, President


When: Saturday January 25, 2020

Where: Robert W. Willaford Railroad

Time: 11am-1pm

Cost: $5.00


TEAMS

  1. Unity in the Community – Sharon Moody, Joyce Hooke – Novelty
  2. South Florida Baptist Hospital – John Belcher, Jana Butler – Mild
  3. South Florida Baptist Hospital – Mike Ambrosino, Jana Butler – Spicy
  4. Circle Z Acres – Brian Zygmunt, Catie Orr – Spicy
  5. Walden Lake Car Wash – Frank Cumming – Mild 
  6. Melanie & Joe Knox, Nick Faranna – Spicy
  7. Chris Smith / Melanie Knox – Novelty
  8. Ron & Valerie Smirlock – Novelty
  9. Holloway Heat – Amber & Bill Tew – Spicy
  10. Holloway Heat – Amber & Bill Tew – Mild
  11. All A Bloom Florist – Darcy Stottlemyer – Mild
  12. Krazy Kup – Wenda Trunzo & Tyler Hollis – Novelty
  13. Plant City Entertainment Inc. – Victor Hamilton & Tyler Hollis – Spicy
  14. Team Hillbilly Chili – Corey Canfield, Carasyn Canfield, Sandy Canfield, Mark Poppell – Spicy
  15. Focus Magazine – Cierra Craft & Chandler Workman – Spicy
  16. Ya Ya Sisters X 6 – Sondra (Faye) Hanneman – Novelty
  17. United Food Bank – Mary Heysek & Mark – Novelty
  18. Brick City Bricks – Gregory, Jordan, & Sandi Williams – Mild
  19. Roots Tap Room & Wine Bar – Brandon Snyder – Spicy

SPONSORS

  1. Poppell Insurance, Inc.
  2. Jarrett Scott Ford
  3. South Florida Baptist Hospital
  4. Krazy Kup
  5. Walden Lake Car Wash
  6. Dodie White
  7. Bill & Gwen Thomas
  8. Joe & Melanie Knox
  9. Maggie Carlisle
  10. Billy & Marsha Passmore
  11. AP Tew Services LLC
  12. Trinkle, Redman, Coton, & Davis P.A.
  13. Pat & Darcy Stottlemyer
  14. Plant City Photo Archives
  15. United Food Bank- Mary Heysek

IN-KIND SPONSORS

  1. Drawdy’s Dance School
  2. Florida Strawberry Festival
  3. Plant City Parks & Recreation Department
  4. Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum
  5. Plant City High School – Students Community Service