BOOK SALE
Friends of Bruton Memorial Library will be holding their biannual book sale at the library on November 7 from noon to 5:00 p.m., and November 8 from noon to 3:00 p.m. Used books in excellent condition for adults, young adults and children will be available at just $2.00 for hardcovers, and $1.00 for paperbacks. Several beautifully-wrapped or Christmas-decorated books will also be available for $5.00 each. This is a cash only sale. All proceeds go to support numerous library programs that serve the entire community. Donations of books in excellent condition are always welcomed by Friends of the Library to use in the library bookstore throughout the year.
PLANT CITY CHAMPIONS FOR YOUTH HONORS LOCAL STUDENTS
Every Fall, Plant City Champions for Youth holds an annual Youth Excellence Awards Ceremony recognizing eight local high school students for their outstanding accomplishments. A dinner in their honor was held at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center on November 3 with the students, their relatives, school representatives, and club members. The eight students from Plant City High School (PCHS) were selected for recognition because of their efforts in athletics, academics, and community service. Each student received an award for their accomplishments.
PCHS Principal Traci Durrance and College & Career Counselor Jamie Stephens introduced the students and summarized the youths’ amazing accomplishments and involvement in community service through projects and school clubs, which make them role models for underclassmen to look up to for leadership and guidance. Plant City Champions for Youth president Jeff Arnold spoke to the students, sharing some words of support and appreciation for their outstanding contributions to the community, and wishing them the best in the future. In addition to recognizing the students, Plant City Champions for Youth made a financial contribution to the PCHS Senior Awards Ceremony to be held in May.
WOMAN’S CLUB RAISES
SCHOLARSHIP MONEY
The GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City, under the helm of President Gwendolyn Thomas, recently held its annual “Pigs Help Education” fundraiser. The ladies spent September and October selling $15 tickets, then, on October 16, they served up a barbequed pork dinner with sides at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum.
The event helps bring in funds for three scholarships for local high school students and one scholarship to a woman returning to college to earn a degree. Pigs Help Education is just one of several fundraisers the Woman’s Club holds every year to support local community programs.
The club meets every second Tuesday of each month in its clubhouse at 1110 N. Wheeler St. The club also recently welcomed and installed new members Doreatha Brown, Linda Dunn, Barbara Forrest, Gloria Smith and Deborah Toth at the September monthly meeting, where Plant City Chief of Police, Richard Mills, Jr., was the guest speaker.
COMMUNITY MEETING TO HELP HOMEOWNERS APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIRS
Hillsborough County will hold several community meetings to help residents applying for assistance to repair their homes under Affordable Housing Services’ Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program. The Hillsborough County Program is designed to ensure low, very low, and moderate income Hillsborough County families have the opportunity to live in safe, decent, and sanitary homes. The countywide initiative utilizes State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) funding to rehabilitate the homes of residents who live in unincorporated Hillsborough County, Plant City, and Temple Terrace.
The program provides financial assistance to homeowners who cannot afford to bring their homes into compliance with the Florida Building Code or make other necessary repairs to flaws affecting life, health, safety, and accessibility. There are income restrictions, and the program focuses on single-family homes that have been homesteaded as a primary residence for at least two years.
Eligible funding may be used for:
• Roof repair or replacement
• Failure of electrical, plumbing,
or HVAC systems
• Failure of structural systems
such as floors and walls
• Exterior/interior deterioration
(walls, foundation, porches, siding, etc.)
• Water heater replacement
• Accessibility improvement (ramp,
widening doorways, countertops,
bathroom and kitchen
modifications, etc.)
• Lead-based paint remediation or
other environmental issues
• Weatherization activities (doors,
windows, air conditioning, roofs,
insulation, and energy- efficient
appliances)
• Demolition-reconstruction may be offered for homes whose repairs exceed 50% of the appraised value according to the property appraiser valuation.
Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Services will hold five community meetings over the next several weeks. Residents are encouraged to bring their completed applications and supporting documents to the meetings. Staff will be on site to help identify any missing documents, or accept applications as complete and place the applicants on the waiting list. Application forms are available online. Applications will be accepted from November 3 to February 2.
One of the meetings is scheduled for December 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Sayde Gibbs Martin Community Center, 302 S. Maryland Ave.
