Brandon/Winthrop
October 2025 Volume 20, Issue 10
Saturdays & Sundays
Sept. 6 – Oct. 26
See Our Ad On Page
Included with park admission
10
Ph: 813-657-2418
Save on Tickets at BuschGardensTampa.com
Don’t Miss The Fun!
CELEBRATING 23 YE ARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS
NEW FREE EXHIBIT HONORS PLANT CITY’S PIONEERING PHOTOGRAPHERS By Libby Hopkins BILL FRIEND & GLADYS JEFFCOAT ton. The Bran-
STITCHING FRIENDSHIPS: SEWING GUILD WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA, FL PERMIT #1456
Do you like to sew? Do don/East Bay you want to Chapter was learn more incorporated about sewing? in 2003 when If so, then the the charter Brandon/East was signed. Bay Chapter of We currently the American have two of Sewing Guild the founding (ASG) wants members in you to become our group.” a member of its The chapchapter. “The ter’s meetings Brandon/East The Brandon/East Bay Chapter of the American Sewing Guild is a consist of a group of 110 women who have a passion for sewing and creating. Bay Chapter of sewing tutoriASG offers you support, al, and then members have learning and camaraderie,” time to share their current said Judy Rich, chapter projects with the group to president. “We welcome inspire their fellow memall levels of sewists and inbers. terests. Our sewing group “We love seeing what consists of members who other members are workdo garment sewing, quilting on,” Rich said. “It gives ing, hand-sewing, machine us the opportunity to get embroidery and a variety our creative juices flowing.” of charity sewing.” The group also works The group meets on the with local nonprofits and first Wednesday of the organizations to create month at Brandon Community Center, lo- items that will be donated. cated at 502 E. Sadie St. in Brandon, from “We make clothes for premature babies 10 a.m.-12 Noon. that are in NICU units in local hospitals,” “There are smaller neighborhood groups Rich said. “We also make an Anti-Ouch that meet in Sun City, Brandon and River- Pouch, which is a pillow that hangs from view,” Rich said. “At the moment, our chap- the shoulder, fitting snugly under the arm ter has 110 members, and they come from to cushion the area after breast surgery or as far as Wimauma and Wesley Chapel to be during radiation treatment.” a part of our group.” If you ask Rich what she likes most about The American Sewing Guild’s headquar- being a part of her chapter, she will tell you ters is located in Houston, Texas, and serves it’s camaraderie of the group. as a link between its chapters. ASG’s mission “We are all friends, and we inspire each is dedicated to advancing sewing as an art other all the time,” Rich said. “Come to a and life skill. couple of meetings to see if we are a good “The national organization started in 1978 fit for you.” as the American Home Sewing and Crafting Visit its website at www.asg.org. For the Association,” Rich said. “In 1983, it became Brandon/East Bay Chapter of ASG, contact a nonprofit organization, and in 2001 ASG Rich at judyrich49@gmail.com or www. opened their national headquarters in Hous- facebook.com/brandoneastbayasg.
The Lee Building strove to protect in historic downJeffcoat’s collectown Plant City tion and was able has been home to to repossess the local businesses cameras, identify and restaurants them, carefully over the years, but box them and reloit is now the home cate the collection to the Bill Friend to the Lee Build& Gladys Jeffcoat ing. Photography and “With more Photo Collage Exthan 300 framed hibit. historic photoFriend and Jeff- Plant City’s Historic Lee Building is now the home of the graphs by Bill and coat were both lo- Bill Friend & Gladys Jeffcoat Photography and Photo Gladys lining the cal photographers Collage Exhibit. The exhibit is free and open to the public. public hallways of in Plant City. the Lee Build“Gladys starting, a decision ed early in by was made to riding her bike highlight their after school to industry,” Gott Hollywood Phosaid. “The mural to Studio, where of Bill and Gladshe learned ys’ photographs quickly and soon was created by felt she could local artist Amemanage her own lia Bitting with business,” said the help of her local Plant City historian Gil father. It adorns the walls Gott. “At 19, she accomplished in the lobby area of the Lee this and set up her own shop in Building along with Gladthe Arcade on West Reynolds ys’ cameras. The public is Street in Plant City. Her phowelcome to enjoy this new tos ranged from the ’40s to exhibit and relive some of ’90s when she concluded her the local history both phocoverage of the Strawberry tographers have captured Festival.” over the years.” Over the years, Jeffcoat had accumulated The Bill Friend & Gladys Jeffcoat Photogmore than 400 cameras, which now call the raphy and Photo Collage Exhibit is free and Lee Building home. open to the public during the Lee Building’s Friend was intrigued by photography, operating hours of Monday through Friday, learning at Lakeland High School in the ’40s. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Lee Building is closed on “He had a small job in Lakeland, but the weekends. It is located at 110 E. Reynolds breakthrough came when he entered the St. in Plant City. Marines in 1950 and was an official cameraman while stationed in Korea,” Gott said. “Returning to the states, he followed his RAILROAD MUSEUM.........................PG 3 brother, the station manager of WPLA radio in Plant City, and he started his own photog- MINI-GRANT APPS DUE................PG 8 WINGSPREAD FARM......................PG 15 raphy shop on East Reynolds Street.” After Jeffcoat died in 2012 at the age of ESTATE LAW 2 GO............................PG 18 86, the Plant City History & Photo Archives
IN THIS ISSUE:
Postal Customer
EYE ON BUSINESS................ ..........PG 26
ECRWSS EDDM Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
By Libby Hopkins
Brandon High School’s Community School is in its fourth year of supporting its students and their families by providing food and clothing. The community school recently received two refrigerators and a freezer through a partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay. See full story on Page 7.