Plant City Icon Helen Parke Dies
Helen Parke, co-founder of Parkesdale Farms and Parkesdale Farm Market, passed away on December 21. She turned 100 on July 7. A city proclamation read on her birthday said, “She has been a pillar of our community, and her legacy is felt, not only through the land she helped cultivate, but through the countless lives she has touched as a wife, mother, friend, and neighbor.”
ROAD CLOSURE
There will be a temporary road closure on N. Merrin St. between E. Baker St & E. Reynolds St. for approximately one month. N. Merrin St. will be closed to through traffic beginning on December 22. The expected completion date is January 23. Work hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WILD GAME COOKOUT
Plant City Elks Lodge #1727 will hold its annual Wild Game Cookout & Membership Drive on Saturday, February 21, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Elks Lodge at 1501 N. Alexander St. Entry is a $100 donation in advance. Attendees must be 21 and stag only. Door prizes will be given out.
SANTA’S SLED
Plant City Black Heritage hosted its Annual Santa Sled Festival at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. More than 200 families came out for their kids, ages five to 12 to be given toys, bicycles, and clothes. Bounce houses and taking photos with Santa added to the children’s enjoyment. Groceries and turkeys were also handed to the families. Sponsors of the event were C&S Wholesale Grocers, Kiwanis Club of Plant City, Hope Lutheran Church, Winn-Dixie, and Feeding Tampa Bay.
ELKS TREAT POLICE AND FIRE FOR CHRISTMAS
On December 19, the Elks Lodge hosted its annual lunch for the Plant City Police Department (PCPD) and dinner for Plant City Fire Rescue (PCFR). The Lodge selected Enrique Freire as their Firefighter of the Year, and Jeanett Mesta as the PCPD employee of the year. She obtains, organizes, and archives body camera footage for the department. Mayor Nate Kilton and Vice Mayor Jason Jones joined in to encourage the officers and celebrate the departments. PCFR gave a special recognition to Judy Wise, the Coordinator of the meals for the Elks Lodge.
Elks volunteers spent 14 hours during the day cooking and cleaning, and then cooking and cleaning again for the 100 first responders and family members able to attend. “It is an honor to give back and thank the men and women who protect our community,” Wise said. “Fire Chief David Dittman gave me his challenge coin and a wonderful certificate. This is my thirteenth year of leading a wonderful group of volunteers. I must try to thank each by name because I love and appreciate them so much. Thank you, Ed Wise, David Brewington, Bruno Kazenas, Rich and Judy Glorioso, Nancy Ryan, Don Morong, Kevin Michael Wise, The Plant City Republican Women’s Club, Lisa Molinari, George Padilla, and Wendy Brown. We are so fortunate to have the high level of first responders we have in Plant City. May God continue to keep them safe and sound.”
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections invites college students to apply for a scholarship provided by the Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE). The FSE is offering three $1,200 scholarships to eligible Florida residents who are accepted or enrolled as a full-time student in a college or university in Florida. Students must also be at least a junior in college, or have enough credits for enrollment as a junior prior to the application date.
Hillsborough County residents must apply through the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office. Students who apply must be either Political Science, Public/Business Administration, or Journalism/Mass Communication majors.To learn about the full list of requirements and how to apply, applicants can visit VoteHillsborough.gov/Scholarship or they can email communications@votehillsborough.gov. The application deadline is March 6, 2026.
