12.30.16 PCTO

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PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

2016: The year in photos

SEE PAGES 3-15

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 4, NO. 25

YOUR TOWN

CareFest seeking volunteers

FREE

FRIDAY,DECEMBER 30, 2016

The Plant City MLK Festival will take place from Friday, Jan. 6, through Saturday, Jan. 21.

#PlantCityMLK Courtesy Photo

CareFest Plant City is seeking volunteers for a day of community service. CareFest unites churches, businesses, organizations and cities every year to serve the community. The event is normally held in Plant City in September, but this year will be held in conjunction with the Plant City MLK Festival from Monday, Jan. 16, to Saturday, Jan. 21. CareFest Plant City is currently seeking financial sponsors, supply donors and project volunteers. Projects this year include a homeowner in need of a new sliding door, homes needing landscape work and homes needing new carpet. Further projects can be found online at CareFestUSA. com. Those wishing to help with CareFest Plant City can email Coordinator@CareFest.com, or can call (813) 326-0749.

Far Left: Allysen Kerr and Vicky Saunders took a selfie at the Bing Rooming House Museum. Emily Topper

Left: William Thomas Jr., Improvement League president, hopes the festival will raise $42,000 for the Bing Rooming House Museum.

EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

For William Thomas Jr., it’s all about purpose. Thomas serves as the president of the Improvement League of Plant City, which will be hosting the 31st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Festival in Plant City from Friday, Jan. 6, through Saturday, Jan. 21. This year, the organization is inviting Plant City residents to celebrate history in an interactive way. The MLK Festival will include the Plant City African-American Selfie Tour, which incorporates historical African-American landmarks around town. “It centers around the Bing House,” Thomas said. “That museum highlights the African-American history of Plant City and it helps bring more attention to what we’re trying to do. We’re doing the sites and the selfie tour to draw more attention to what we’re doing and what our purpose is.” The selfie tour will kick off Monday, Jan. 2, and includes 25 sites of historical significance. In addition to the Bing Rooming House Museum, other sites of significance include the Glover School, Bealsville Park, Antioch Church and Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church. Thomas hopes that younger people will be encouraged to actively learn about history through the area. Selfies can be posted to Instagram with the hashtag, #PlantCityMLK.

ABWA to host Plant City-themed race The first annual Amazing Race in Plant City will take place Saturday, Jan. 7. Plant City’s American Business Women’s Association chapter is bringing something “amazing” to town. The organization announced plans to host its first annual Amazing Race from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Hillsborough Title, 1605 S. Alexander St. The race will see teams of two conquer a course full of obstacles, challenges and road blocks, incorporating Plant City’s landmarks and businesses. Prizes up to $500 will be awarded to the top three teams, as well as a $100 team spirit award to the team with the most creative props, accessories and team name. The cost to register is $125 per team, and registration must be completed by Saturday, Dec. 31. For more information, visit ABWAAmazingRace.com, or visit Facebook.com/ABWAPlantCity.

SEE TOUR PAGE 2

Mimmy’s Makes Moves Mimmy’s Dog House, which regularly caters parties and events in the Plant City area, will be making a permanent home at the University Mall in Tampa.

Starting the first week of 2017, the daily dog hunt will come to a close. The Aviretts will host a soft opening of Mimmy’s Dog House in Tampa’s University Mall food court on Wednesday, Jan. 4. It’s a dream come true for the couple, who has seen their business grow rapidly since first opening Mimmy’s with the desire to put family first.

EMILY TOPPER

DOG-GONE GOOD DECISIONS

MANAGING EDITOR

Emily Topper

Richard and Kimberly Avirett frequently serve hot dogs from Mimmy’s Dog House to Plant City residents. In January, they’ll take on Tampa Bay.

It’s not unusual for Richard and Kimberly Avirett to get calls from their regulars after hours. The Mimmy’s Dog House owners have a loyal following of customers who seek out their roaming hot dog cart multiple times per week.

Before there was Mimmy’s, there was mail. Lots of it. Kimberly Avirett was working for the post office as a mail carrier, a job that took her away from seeing her family as much as she would like. “I have two small kids,” Kimberly SEE MIMMY PAGE 2


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