Good morning, East of Tampa.
It finally feels like fall. 81 and sunny today, low 60s tonight, and a dry week behind us.
This is the big weekend before Halloween: Monster Mash, Pioneer Day, Trick or Treat Street and the last pumpkin weekend at Keel Farms. And tonight, a crosstown game in Plant City. Here is the plan.
John
FRIDAY NIGHT
Game of the Week: Durant at Plant City, 7:30. Plant City is 6-2 and one game behind unbeaten Lennard in the district. Durant is 4-4 and coming off a 29-26 loss to Newsome. Same town, same district, a lot riding on it. Get there early. Scores and schedules
THIS WEEKEND
Photo: Keel Farms
Last pumpkin weekend at Keel Farms. Saturday and Sunday, 10 to 3 on Thonotosassa Rd in Plant City. Free admission, $10 parking, $5 hayride wristband. Corn maze, pumpkin patch, a pie-eating contest, and cider for the grown-ups. Dogs welcome. Details
Monster Mash, tonight and Saturday. Plant City Stadium, 6 to 10 tonight and 7 to 10 Saturday with a movie at 8. Free for the kids, $5 cash to park. Plant City fall roundup
Pioneer Day, Saturday. Plant City's 49th, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center on N. Collins St. Free. Kids get a Pioneer Passport through eight museum rooms, and families who have been here 100 years or more can claim a Pioneer Certificate. Details
Trick or Treat Street, Saturday. 5 to 8 p.m. at Riverview High. Candy trail, costume contest, foam party, food trucks, a sensory area and a pirate ship, and no line to get in this year. Details
Trunk or Treat at Dinosaur World, Saturday. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Plant City, included with admission. Tickets
ShredFest, Saturday. Free drive-thru shredding for old papers, phones and hard drives at Veterans Memorial Park on US 301. Check the hours before you go. County info
NEED TO KNOW
Photo: Osprey Observer
New bagels on Bloomingdale. Jeff's Bagel Run is open at 875 E. Bloomingdale Ave, between Bealls and EOS Fitness, daily 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Baked in small batches all day. Local owners Rob and Teresa Shuffield. Their story
Early voting runs every day through Nov. 1. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., including Bloomingdale Regional Library and Riverview Public Library. The mail ballot request deadline passed Thursday. Sites
REAL ESTATE CORNER
Meet Madison Patron, for first-time buyers in Valrico and Brandon. Madison Patron of Foundation Realty Group keeps her focus simple: helping families and first-time buyers find the right home at the right price. She works Valrico, Brandon and Bloomingdale, and she is our partner on Bloomingdale football all season.
Wondering what your house is worth before you list, or whether buying this winter makes sense? Start with her free home value report. No pressure, just numbers. Call or text Madison at 813-955-9092.
OUR PARTNERS
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
The kids decorate, you skip the baking. PattiCakes Custom Cakes makes Halloween DIY cookie and cupcake kits with themed frosting and sprinkles: 6-pack $20, 12-pack $35. Message her on Facebook to order, pay by Venmo or Zelle, and pick your pickup day. (352) 942-3455.
Braces and aligners, right in Riverview. MVP Orthodontics is Dr. Mayuri Patel, Tufts-trained, at 11573 US Hwy 301 S. Call (813) 640-0220.
Stoner's Pizza Joint, Bloomingdale: Friday night, pizza handled. 813-436-0016.
The #1 Meat Guy: a month of dinners in one delivery, the 27 lb box for $225.
Brandon Crossroads Bowl (813) 621-2363 and The Alley at SouthShore (813) 672-8353: bowling for the whole crew.
55 Rides: a night out and nobody has to drive. 813-545-6058.
Little Fins Pediatric Dentistry: accepting new patients. (813) 454-0821.
Osprey Observer: your free monthly paper, online any time.
Say Hello to my Little Friend!!!
