Lazy Locals?

The Most and Least Active Cities in America

Men's Health

Summer is the season for kicking back and doing nothing, which means it's always summer in Lexington, Kentucky. In fact, folks there didn't need to lift a finger to be named America's Most Sedentary City, since movement of any kind means you're not a committed couch potato.

Now, we don't doubt the Lexington work ethic—it's the workout ethic we question. We looked at where and how often people exercise (Experian Marketing Services); the percentage of households that...

Ordinarily, I like to draw a (big) distinction between being a resident of Plant City and being 'from Tampa'.  However, this list was too interesting to pass up.  That said, I comPLETEly disagree with even the slightest suggestion that we're lazy.  Also seems a bit funny that Tampa gets a D, but our neighbors across the bay in St. Pete get a B...!?!  At any rate, enjoy reading...  [Ed.]

Community Cooperative

Community supported agriculture provides fresh, local food for members

Tampa Bay Times

The heat filled the air even as the storm clouds rolled in. Cherice Ridgeway picked through the vegetables on the table, lovebugs flitting about, occasionally landing on her as she examined a carrot. Her local grocery store might be bug-free with air conditioning and no threat of rain, but the 30-year-old from Brandon prefers to go straight to the source for her vegetables.

"It forces you to eat healthy," Ridgeway said. "I like that it's a variety of stuff, some of it I probably wouldn't have tried before."

Ridgeway and about 25 other families are part of a Community Supported Agriculture program at Steed Farms in Plant City. Commonly referred to as CSAs, programs such as this allow individuals to buy a membership to a farm. For one annual fee, they get...

tampabay.com photo

Blueberry Benefit

Fewer birds boosted season for blueberry farmers

TBO.com

It's nearing the end of the u-pick season, but it's been a fruitful year, according to blueberry farmers in Hillsborough County.

Doug and Joy Stafford own Stafford Blueberries at the intersection of John Moore Road and Bloomingdale Avenue in Brandon. Joy said this year has been a particularly good year for blueberries because they weren't overrun with birds – specifically the Cedar Waxwing.

“We have had fewer birds this year compared to last year,” she said, adding the birds came in flocks of 200...

Tumbling Temps

Tuesday Temperature

As you can see from these NWS graphics, we have a decent likelihood of showers tonight as a cold front crosses Florida.

After that, our temps will drop to highly unseasonable lows--and will be downright chilly Tuesday morning.

Don't pack up the jackets yet...stay warm...

Coldest Conditions

March 2013 ends up in the top ten coldest and also colder than the last four months for the first time in over 80 years.

NWS Report

Disney Decisions

Vintage Walt Disney World: An ‘A’ Attraction or an ‘E’?

Disney Parks Blog

A few weeks ago, I shared my very first ticket to Walt Disney World Resort. This prompted blog reader Skip to ask if we had any photographs of the old A to E tickets used at Magic Kingdom Park. With the help of my friends at the Walt Disney Archives, I was able to track them down.

Want to take a ride on the Omnibus on Main Street, U.S.A.? Grab your A ticket and enjoy the double-decker view!

Don’t know what to do with your B ticket? Climb aboard a Mike Fink Keel Boat and sail around the Rivers of America.

That C ticket you’re holding would have been perfect to...

disney photo

Weekend Weather

Looks like our run with the spring-like temps may be drawing to an end soon.

Over the next three days, we will see highs around 90 and lows nudging toward 70.  Rain chances stay around 10% before creeping up to around 30% for Sunday and Monday.

Speaking of possible rain, we at ILovePlantCity.com like to keep a close watch on the NWS's Drought Monitor--and despite having been dealing with Mother Nature's stingy rain output of late, we seem to be doing rather well compared with some of the western states:

If history is any indicator, we're now into the time of the year during which short afternoon showers should be growing much more common--which obviously isn't happening yet.  This graphic from WeatherSpark shows preciptiation increases sometime around the second week in May.

Speaking of rain, we've all been relishing the mild temps and wonderful weather over the last few weeks.  This national forecast map from Weather Channel shows us this pattern will likely hold through most of Sunday, with rain chances revving back up for late Sunday into Monday.

Practice Progress

New tempo in Plant City

Big County Preps

The Plant City Raiders have literally “Turned Up.” The high paced practice had a small college feel. There was lots of movement, players sprinting from location to location, coaches involved and teammates holding each other accountable.

The offense was fast paced with a good mixture of the quick screen game and the intermediate route concepts. Landon Galloway and Rayquan Johnson are sharing repetitions at the quarterback spot, battling for the starting position. Both threw the ball extremely well at yesterday’s practice.

Behind the QBs was rising sophomore Ervin Michael. Stands around 5 foot 6 inches, Michael is a shifty bowling ball. He has a similar running style to former Plant City RB, Daz Patterson.

The defense has a chance to be...

Coolness Continues

Looks like we've got another day of unseasonably cool weather--followed by a mid-week warm-up as well as increased chances of rain.

Enjoy it while you can...alas, summer is almost here...