Brandon/ Winthrop
March 2025
Volume 20, Issue 3
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than 12,000 animals 15TH ANNUAL CRAWFISH FESTIVAL HISTORY TALK th HIGHLIGHTS THE Day Camp: K-12 Grade -class coasters, th th FOUNDING FAMILIES OF BRANDON BRINGS BAYOU FLAVORS TO WINTHROP Resident Staff Report ens® Tampa BayCamp: 7 -12 Grade By Libby Hopkins The 15th antival, the Fishboth The animal History lovers Talks Tampa Bay. nual Crawfish Hawk-RiverREGISTER NOW program,alike. sponsored “The McKay Family is seekers Festival is set view Rotary by the Plant City Hisone of the oldest foundto be anothClub Foundatory & Photo Archives, ing families in Tampa,” BuschGardens.com/camps th er hit for the tion awarded p: K-12 Grade the Tampa Bay History Kite-Powell said. “DatFishHawk-Rivover $35,000 (4386) ing back to the arrival of erview RotaCenter, Preserve Branth (813) th 884-4FUN to a variety -12 Grade mp: 7 don and 7th Sky VenJames McKay; his wife, tures, is back for the Matilda Cail McKay; and second topic in the HisMatilda’s mother, Sarah tory Talks series. This Cail, in 1846, generations ©2025 United Parks & Resorts,of Inc. McKays and their extime, the topic of the talk will be the foundtended families have had ing families of Brandon. a huge impact on the “This latest installgrowth and development ment of our History of the Tampa Bay area.” Talks series will focus Gil Gott, interim dion the families that rector and historian for helped build Brandon, the Plant City History & Tampa and Plant City,” Photo Archives, will be said the Plant City Hisdiscussing James T. Evers ©2025 United Parks & Resorts, Inc. tory & Photo Archives’ and how he helped to community outreach build Plant City. manager, Libby Hop“The people living in kins. and around the areas of Michael Wigh is the The History Talks program, sponsored Cork, Shiloh, Knights and local historian for PreWilder in the early 1880s by the Plant City History & Photo serve Brandon. His por- Archives, the Tampa Bay History Center, became the new busition of the History Talk Preserve Brandon and 7th Sky Ventures, nessmen and founders is back for the second topic in the will focus on the famiof the new town of Plant History Talks series. lies that built Brandon. City,” Gott said. “Among “The founding families of Brandon were those was an entrepreneur, James T. Evers, a diverse group, drawn to the promise of who was one of the earliest to move from Florida’s sunshine and opportunity,” Wigh Shiloh to the center of the nascent town said. “It’s often said that people came to of Plant City, established his general store Florida in search of health or wealth, and on what became Evers Street, where the Brandon was no exception. From humble Plant City History & Photo Archives is curfarmers to successful businessmen, set- rently located.” tlers arrived seeking government land The Founding Families History Talk will grants, extended growing seasons, winter take place on Sunday, April 6, from 4-6 retreats or a healthier climate. These early p.m. at Stowers Funeral Home in Brandon. pioneers were resilient adventurers, over- The doors open at 3:30 p.m., with the talk coming challenges unfamiliar to us today. starting at 4 p.m. The event is free to atThrough hard work and cooperation, they tend, and light snacks and drinks are inbuilt the foundation of a thriving commu- cluded. The event is capped at 75 guests. nity.” Althought registration for this event is Rodney Kite-Powell is the historian for full, call the Plant City History & Photo Arthe Tampa Bay History Center, and he will chives at 813-754-1578 to find out about be speaking about the families that shaped future History Talks in the area.
TER NOW
IN THIS ISSUE:
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
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ens.com/camps -4FUN (4386)
ry Club. This of local and year’s event global causwill take place es. Donation on Saturday, requests are April 26, from submitted by 11 a.m.-4 p.m. active memat Founders bers and Square Park, Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Crawfish Festival, are awardto be held on Saturday, April 26, at Winthrop Town Centre. located at ed based on Winthrop Town alignment with Centre. Chris the Rotary club’s Ligori & Associmission to alleates, Attorneys viate poverty, at Law, serves illiteracy, hunger as the event’s and disease. The title sponsor. 2024-25 recipEntry to the ients include festival is free, organizations with food and such as the Flordrinks available ida Society of for purchase. Clinical OncoloHosted by the gy, Senior ConFishHawk-Rivnection Center, erview Rotary YMCA Camp Club, the festiCristina, ECHO val’s proceeds of Brandon, Hillbenefit the sborough County FishHawk-RivPublic Schools’ erview Rotary Migrant EduClub Foundacation Program tion, a 501(c)(3) and many others. nonprofit that supports both local and The FishHawk-Riverview Rotary Club global community initiatives. meets weekly on Mondays at 12 p.m. at In addition to the great food and live JF Kicks Restaurant, located at 3345 music by Tommy RoXX, families can en- Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico. For more joy a dedicated children’s area with fun information, visit https://fishhawkriveractivities for all ages. Admission and viewrotary.org/. Tickets for the Crawparking are free. fish Festival can be purchased online at For food enthusiasts, the festival will www.luvcrawfish.com. feature a Cajun-style crawfish dinner (approximately 2 lbs. of crawfish with corn and potatoes) for $25. Additional offerings include pulled pork sandwich- SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY.....PG 3 es, hamburgers, hot dogs, red beans and SHE RISES COLLECTIVE.... .............PG 5 rice, chicken and sausage gumbo, craw- MOSELEY HOMESTEAD....... .........PG 15 fish étouffée, Broussard’s dirty rice and EYE ON BUSINESS.................PGS 34-35 more. Thanks to the success of last year’s fes- SUMMER CAMPS....................PGS 24-33
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