🌱 Patch AM: How four generations keep this iconic Plant City restaurant thriving

Coffee in hand, Plant City? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How four generations keep this iconic Plant City restaurant thriving
• How a Plant City police login became the key to a DMV hack

Also on today's calendar: Free Dog Training Class and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one wall say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: A heavy t-storm in the p.m., with a high of 89 and low of 72 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Wednesday: Humid; an afternoon t-storm, temps: high: 89, low: 73.
• Thursday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm, with a high of 89 and low of 72 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Four generations operate Plant City Fred's Market restaurant (fox13news.com) — Fred's Market, a beloved Plant City staple since 1954, is still run daily by four generations of the Johnson family, including 99-year-old matriarch Evelyn. Locals pack the restaurant for its southern-style buffet and fried chicken, with some regulars eating there once or twice a day. The family says their success comes from treating customers like neighbors and keeping the focus on simple, home-cooked hospitality.
   

• Hackers Prove Florida DMV Breach by Leaking Jeffrey Epstein's Driver Record (startupfortune.com) — Florida officials say a statewide driver database breach was traced to credentials belonging to a Plant City Police Department employee that were stored on a personal device. Hackers used that access to pull at least one high-profile driver record and are claiming they stole more than 200,000 records, though the state hasn't confirmed the number. For Plant City residents, the big unknowns are how many records were actually accessed and whether local drivers' identities are at risk.
   

📸 Around Plant City

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Plant City

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 26
• Free Dog Training Class →
  Elite K9 Service, 2502 Leaning Pine Ln, Plant City
  9:30 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday September 24
• Entrepreneur/Small Business Consulting Services
  Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 2504 Walden Woods Drive, Plant City
  9:00 am
• Baby Café - Children's Board Family Resource Center (Plant City) →
  Children's Board Family Resource Center Plant City, 301 N Palmer St, Plant City
  10:00 am
Friday September 25
• Last Friday
  Downtown Plant City
  9:00 am
• Off The Record: A Storytelling Show →
  The Stage Room, 310 E Lemon St, Lakeland
  9:00 pm
Saturday September 26
• Medal Madness 5K & 10K at Plant City, FL (39) →
  Plant City FL
Monday September 28
• Community Free Food Pantry
  The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 402 West English St., Plant City
  6:00 pm
Tuesday September 29
• Senior Adult Breakfast →
  Plant City FL
Thursday October 1
• Entrepreneur/Small Business Consulting Services
  Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 2504 Walden Woods Drive, Plant City
  9:00 am
• Baby Café - Children's Board Family Resource Center (Plant City) →
  Children's Board Family Resource Center Plant City, 301 N Palmer St, Plant City
  10:00 am
Friday October 2
• Sangria Night at Keel Farms →
  Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City
  5:00 pm
• Connect 2026 →
  Abundant Life Non-denominational Church, 410 Swilley Rd, Plant City
  7:00 pm

📣 Plant City Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Plant City PatchAM possible:

• Refresh - Aesthetics & Wellness — (813) 723-6117

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• This little guy was hanging around in the parking lot of Circle K on Sparkman Rd.
  and Jap Tucker Rd. Very skittish and I have no way to contain him. I'm worried he might get hit. He was hanging around a bigger white pit (named Max)… (Nextdoor In The Country)
• Some of my beautiful plants!
  The dessert rose and angel trumpets were grown from seeds! This plumeria was a cutting but I have grown some from seeds. (Nextdoor Shannon)

• AutoZone, Inc. posted a job opening for Shift Supervisor (Full Time) in Lakeland. Apply here.
• MyJobsCorner posted a job opening for Retail Supervisor Jobs: Hiring Immediately! Full Time / Part Time - $12-$22/Hr in Lakeland. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Plant City here.

🗞 Nearby News

Lakeland

• Major upgrades underway at Lakeland Linder as passenger demand grows (mynews13.com)
• Big night from Jenkins' Raymond leads this week's Tremendous 10 poll (theledger.com)
• For 15 Years New Beginnings High School Has Offered an Alternative Path to a Degree (lkldnow.com)

Brandon

• Routine traffic stop lands Florida woman behind bars on drug trafficking charge, deputies say (cbsnews.com)

Tampa

• FL's 1st Dengue Fever Death Confirmed By Health Officials (patch.com)

Ok Plant City! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I'll meet you at the corner! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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