PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS REUNION
PCHS Class of 1975 will be holding their 50th class reunion on Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11, at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, 3839 Don Emerson Dr, Lakeland, FL. The classes of ’73, ’74, ’76, and ’77 are invited Friday night for cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres. Saturday night is restricted to the class of 1975. If you have not reserved your spot or have any questions, please contact Roy Gaither at 813-465-8939 or Patricia Smith at 863-739-0593, or go to the class website at PCHS75.com for ticket pricing and details.
SCHMOOZAPALOOZA!
The Plant City Chamber is holding its annual Schmooza palooza on Thursday, September 4, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There will be a tailgate party, food, beer, and wine samples from local restaurants, exhibitor booths, door prizes, a $250 giveaway, and networking. Admission is $10.00, and every ticket comes with a swag bag. The event will be at Hillsborough Community College’s Trinkle Center at 1206 N. Park Rd. in Plant City. For more information email events@plantcity.org or call (813) 754-3707.
LOCAL BATON TWIRLERS COMPETE NATIONALLY
Members of the Patrick’s Patriots Twirling Corps., from the Plant City areas, took their talents to national competitions this summer. Three members traveled to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, to compete in America’s Youth on Parade. This event was sponsored by the National Baton Twirling Association. The Patriots who attended were Lorelai Benfield, Destine Lewis and Millie Rigdon. Several top 10 medals were brought home. All three twirlers competed in individual events like Solo, X-Strut, 2-Baton and 3-Baton. Millie had the honor of representing the southeast region in the Miss Majorette of America Pageant. These twirlers have worked hard all year. They represented Florida and their hometown as true champions at this prestigious national competition. Patrick’s Patriots is taught by Barbara Patrick, Lynann Patrick-Hudson, and Raelyn Hudson. Classes are held at Sadye Gibbs Martin Recreation Center in Plant City. Classes will begin on August 21. For more information on the baton twirling opportunities offered by the Patrick’s Patriots Twirling Corps, contact Barbara Patrick at 813-731-4915 or patrickpatriotstwirl@gmail.com.
TAX NOTICES MAILED
The office of Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez is currently mailing all property owners in the county their Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (also known as a “Truth in Millage” or “TRIM” notice). The notice includes important information about individual properties, including:
• The property’s assessed value as of January 1, 2025
• Exemptions, if any, applied to the property
• The proposed taxes are calculated using the taxing authorities’ proposed millage rates
• The dates, times, and venues of budget hearings for each of the various taxing authorities
The notice being mailed is not a bill. Rather, it is an estimate of ad valorem taxes based on the proposed millage rates, a property’s value, and exemptions. It is important for property owners to note that the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser (HCPA) does not set the millage rate, issue the bill, or collect taxes. The HCPA only determines the property’s market value.
“Given the recent trends in real estate value in our area, we understand many property owners may have questions,” Henriquez said. “I encourage all property owners to carefully review their Notice of Proposed Property Taxes and contact our office if they have any questions.”
The Notice of Proposed Property Taxes can also be reviewed on the HCPA website by performing a property search. Once the parcel’s “Property Record Card” page is located online, property owners can click on the “TRIM” PDF icon found at the top of the page to view their 2025 Notice of Proposed Property Taxes.
To help property owners understand the information found on the notice, the HCPA has created an online explanation page. Henriquez’s office has also created a new “Property Tax Playbook” web page offering homeowners valuable advice to help keep the steady rise in property values in check by ensuring they have applied for all the property tax exemptions they are entitled to by Florida statutes.
Property owners who have additional questions about their Notice of Proposed Property Taxes should contact the HCPA by visiting their website, hcpafl.org, where they can join a live chat with a staff member. In addition, information is available by calling (813) 272-6100. If there is a discrepancy, property owners are encouraged to contact the HCPA for an informal review. They can also appeal their assessment by filing a petition with the Value Adjustment Board. The deadline to file a petition is Sept. 12, 2025.
