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Dade City Jazz Musician Gillespie Releases 5th CD

Photo from Valerie Gillespie

Dade City jazz musician Valerie Gillespie and the Valerie Gillespie Quartet have released their fifth CD entitled "A Little Rough Around the Edges;" and according to the veteran vocalist and musicmaker, who also has performed with such legendary artists as Ray Charles and Rosemary Clooney, her newest recording is exactly what her fans made it.

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2008

Updated: 12/03/2008 12:22 am

DADE CITY - Jazz musician Valerie Gillespie and the Valerie Gillespie Quartet have released their fifth CD titled "A Little Rough Around the Edges."

According to the veteran vocalist, who also has performed with legendary artists such as Ray Charles and Rosemary Clooney, her newest recording is what her fans made it.

"I was really inspired by some of our live performances, and the requests that we've been getting lately," Gillespie said. "This CD has some of the tunes we've been getting the most requests for, and was really fun to record because of that."

Gillespie, of Dade City, picked up her first saxophone at age 8 and has played professionally since she was 14.

Megan Hussey

Strawberry Fest Gets New Leader

PLANT CITY - After 32 years of fighting crime, Paul Davis is in a jam.

Strawberry jam, that is.

Davis has taken over as the Florida Strawberry Festival's general manager. His last day with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was Nov. 26.

"To me, it's a dream come true," he said. "Bar none, it's probably the best community fair in the country."

Davis is no stranger to the festival; Sheriff David Gee said Davis has been in charge of security there for years.

The festival in Plant City runs from Feb. 26 to March 8.

Josh Poltilove

Plant Sale Helps Future Farmers

GIBSONTON - There's nothing like a live plant to spruce up your home for the holidays: a poinsettia on the porch, Christmas cactus on the patio or decorative holly hung on the door.

Two South Shore high schools will host annual holiday plant sales today through Friday to provide those plants and more, and to raise money for their FFA chapters. The funds are used to purchase program supplies and help student members attend leadership events, summer camp and the state FFA convention.

East Bay High's sale will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 7710 Big Bend Road in Gibsonton; hours at Lennard High at 2002 Shell Point Road, Ruskin, will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For information or directions, call East Bay teachers Belinda Gran or Kimberly Willis at (813) 671-5134, ext. 291, or Lennard teacher Erin Elsberry at (813) 641-5611, ext. 280.

Lois Kindle

Fundraiser Focus Is Toys For Kids

TAMPA - A holiday tradition will raise money to purchase toys for children in need and showcase the work of The Lamplighters.

The nonprofit group, which assists Metropolitan Ministries and Joshua House, will have its 19th annual Christmas Silver Coffee from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the home of Suzanne and Roger Perry, 702 S. Edison Ave.

The Perry home will be decorated for Christmas and the organization's multimedia show will be presented in the home's theater.

Edda Gibson and Nancy Leach are co-chairwomen for the public event, which has a $20 minimum donation to purchase toys for children in Metropolitan Ministries' programs.

For information, call (813) 928-5378.

Lenora Lake

Hospital Benefit Set For Saturday

PLANT CITY - The annual South Florida Baptist Hospital Parking Lot Sale will be from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Century 21 office at 1905 W. Baker St. Like-new items, arts and crafts, baked goods and plants will be featured. Vendor space is available for a $10 fee.

Call Candy Greene at (813) 764-2258 or (813) 763-4124 for information.

Betty Briggs

City Offers Help To Businesses

TEMPLE TERRACE - For the second time this year, the city of Temple Terrace is offering to help businesses in the redevelopment district cover the cost of storefront improvements.

For businesses that qualify, the city will reimburse 50 percent of improvements that cost $10,000 or less or a maximum of $5,000 for projects greater than $10,000, the city release said.

Businesses should apply by June.

Kenneth Knight

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