FOCUS PC 04-06 June 2005 by Floyd Publications

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PLANT CITY EDITION

SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW

Bill Ulbricht with South Florida Baptist Hospital

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 1

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PLANT CITY EDITION

CONTENTS FEATURE 40-45

SPORTS 88-91

We are proud to announce our winners of the FOCUS On You Makeover. They are Shari Rounds and Junior Lane. We spend the entire day with them as they are manicured, massaged, buy new clothes and have their hair done. We’d like to thank all of the generous Plant City businesses who donated their time, services and products to make the 2005 Makeover a success.

We recap the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department Optimist Youth Soccer League Tournament Finals that were played at Sansone Park on June 2nd. The Stars and the Stingers took the field to determine who would win the title of champions of the “Girls Under 15” soccer teams.

SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW 49-51

This month the FOCUS Food Critic takes us to the Courtyard, a new café adjoining Sister’s & Company, offering soups, salads, some side orders and sandwiches. You can take a break from your shopping and enjoy its unique and appealing atmosphere. Almost half the menu is devoted to cakes, pies and cookies, and after reading the review, you’ll probably have to go on down there! We also tell you about the recent appearance of Johnny Love in the Ramada Inn Plantation House’s Red Rose Dining Room. His show was very mesmerizing and entertaining. Love was the opening act for the phenomenal Bill Pinkney and the Drifters. As usual, the caliber of entertainers the Ramada brings in continues to be top-notch. We also pick the flicks on some of the chart-topping movies in theaters now. Looking for a place to eat? Check out the complete guide to Plant City dining out on the town.

This month we sit down with Bill Ulbricht, the Administrator of South Florida Baptist Hospital. He’s been an active member of the community since arriving in Plant City ten years ago. We talk with him about his background, his family, new things at the hospital, and the current state of healthcare.

DID YOU KNOW? 56

The Plant City Photo Archives remembers the World War II era, when it seemed as if Plant City was changed overnight. All the young men from ages 18 to 38 either joined one of the armed forces or were drafted. The Archives received over 400 photographs from “Plant City” men and women still living in Florida, and from many who are scattered across the country.

HOME SECTION GUIDE 59-76

This section is dedicated to buyers, sellers and owners. FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 4

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT 97-118

ON THE COVER: Bill Ulbricht, South Florida Baptist Hospital Administrator. Read his story on page 48. Photo by Mike Floyd

PUBLISHER Mike Floyd mike@floydpublications.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Linda Floyd linda@floydpublications.com MANAGING EDITOR Jeff Neely jneely@floydpublications.com OFFICE MANAGER DeDe Floyd dede@floydpublications.com CREDIT MANAGER Bob Hughens bob@floydpublications.com SALES Tania Summers tsummers@floydpublications.com Suzanne Gross sgross@floydpublications.com Darsey Tyler dtyler@floydpublications.com ART DIRECTOR Phil Ransdell philrand@floydpublications.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Stefanie Burlingame sburlingame@floydpublications.com DISTRIBUTION Tony DeVane Zac Shelby PHOTOGRAPHER Billy Friend STAFF WRITERS Sherri Robinson, Brian West, Sophia Dedon, Kristen Toney, Lynne Warren, Ken Lawrence, Laverne Stevens, Christopher Diaz, Amy Ellis, Chris Ricketts, Connie DuBois, Dawn Marie Simpson CONTRIBUTORS Sherry Nueesch, Gil Gott, Jim Brown, Shelton Keely, Shelton Keely, Michael Cameron, Al Cohen

FOCUS Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Lakeland businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. Letters, Questions and Comments can be sent to us at linda@floydpublications.com. Advertisers warrant and represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. Focus Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All letters and their contents sent to Focus Magazine become the sole property of Floyd Publications, Inc and may be reproduced thereof. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Floyd Publications, Inc. Use or duplication of material used in this publication is prohibited without approved written consent from Floyd Publications, Inc.FOCUS Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Plant City businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed to 13,000 homes.

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

et me start by apologizing for my own grammatical error in last month’s letter. There was an introductory phrase that was supposed to say, “I don’t know why…” Unfortunately, my brain and fingers weren’t cooperating and I wrote, “I don’t why…” Obviously, this doesn’t make any sense. I won’t try to backpedal and give some cockamamie justification, like artistic license, or some nonsense like that. The fact is that as the managing editor I have a responsibility to catch these things, especially when they’re of my own doing. My ineptitude in this matter has caused me to seriously question my ability to serve as the managing editor for Focus. I have decided that this will be my last letter as I will be stepping down to allow someone else to fill the editorial role for this magazine. OK, I’m only kidding – well, halfway kidding. The truth is, I will be stepping down and this is my last letter, but not because I am a reactionary extremist and excessively self-critical. I actually have been blessed with the opportunity to work at the Kennedy Space Center for an internship this summer, writing for the NASA website and working in other areas of their media relations. As it would be tough to work for Focus from the other side of the state, I must regretfully say goodbye. I’m not just blowing sunshine to say that it has been a genuinely rewarding experience to work for Focus. Words really don’t do justice to tell how cool and caring the team here is. From the writers, to our sales crew, to the artists, and, of course, the entire Floyd family, I can honestly say everyone has been more than a delight to work with. It has also been a privilege to get to know Plant City better. There are so many warm and friendly people here that it has really made finding the stories easy. I wouldn’t leave you without giving you some more great stories to tide you over until next month. Check out the local section for stories like coverage of the Margarita Ball, our Spotlight Interview with Bill Ulbricht, and many more in this month’s issue. Thank you all for a great time. It’s been a blast! Here are the stories. Enjoy.

Jeff Neely, Managing Editor

CONTRIBUTORS

JOE LANE Joe Lane is an aspiring writer. He has lived in Plant City for 18 years. He is currently counseling at Miracle Mountain Ranch, a Christian camp in Pennsylvania. He enjoys reading books on history and woodworking, and is currently putting the ﬁnishing touches on an electric guitar he is making. He is working on publishing a collection of short stories. When he returns, he plans on going to college and continuing his writing career.

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 6

LAVERNE STEVENS LaVerne Stevens resides in Lakeland. She has written a biographical novel titled Bread and Butter Days. She is a poet, a member of Poets on the Park, and has had poetry readings at Arts on the Park, Florida Southern College and with Florida Dance Theatre at their Poetry in Motion presentation at Polk Theatre. LaVerne is married to Ted Stevens, a teacher and author. She has completed courses with Writers Digest School and attended many workshops put on by the Florida Publishers Association.

SHERRI ROBINSON A self proclaimed Air Force Brat, Sherry moved to Plant City as a teenager, where she attended local schools. She later received a BA from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and an MSW from Fordham University, both in NY, NY. She and her husband, Tom, have one daughter, Melissa, and two grandsons, McKenzie and Shawn-Michael. Sherry and Tom currently live on a small farm they call Sleepy Hollow, just north of Dade City, with their two dogs Chuck and Sally.

LOCAL

7 Plant City High School brought home honors from the 2005 SchoolTo-Careers Celebration. Jessica Burkman, a junior at Plant City High School, was a featured speaker who praised her opportunities in technology education. Laurel Ritenbaugh, head of the school’s Cosmetology Program was recognized with the “School Program Award of Excellence.” Only 5 vocational programs in Hillsborough County received awards. Laurel was nominated by Colleen Richardson, Assistant Principal of Curriculum. Jim Jones, Manager of Publix

After 50 years of hosting many of Plant City’s most memorable events, the Tomlin Middle School auditorium is in need of refurbishment. They are requesting your support for their Auditorium Restoration Project and offering you an opportunity to be a part of this exciting project. There are individual seat sponsorship opportunities with an engraved plaque on the back of the seat(s) purchased, ranging from $35 - $100, depending on location. An Auditorium Sponsorship will offer a recognition plaque in the auditorium lobby and an invitation to their recognition luncheon. Those range from $250 - $1000. For additional information, please call 813-757-9400, or visit their website at www.restoretomlin.com. Two of Plant City’s ﬁnest in public safety were honored at the annual Our Heroes’ Luncheon on May 6 in Tampa. Vincent Probst was recognized as Plant City Fire Rescue Fireﬁghter of the Year for

his involvement with Divisional Training as an instructor and his overall volunteerism for department projects. He has been with the department since 2000. Detective Matthew Lawson was recognized as Plant City Police Department Officer of the Year for his outstanding investigation of several business burglaries, resulting in the arrest of three individuals and the recovery of over $100,000 in stolen property. He also served as lead detective on a double-homicide of a young married couple on January 15, resulting in the arrest of the suspect in connection with what turned out to be a robbery homicide. He has been with the department since 2001, first as a Patrol Officer and then as a Detective with the Criminal Investigations Unit. The City of Plant City Recreation & Parks Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Carlton L. Benton as

Superintendent of Recreation. Benton will ﬁll the position vacated by Jack Holland, who was promoted to the position of Director of Recreation & Parks for the city in December, 2004 following the retirement of Richard Calhoun after 29 years of service. Walden Lake Art & Frame would like to announce the addition of a new full-time employee, Pat Ungerer. By increasing their staff, Walden Lake Art & Frame has been able to expand their line of services and add new store hours on Wednesdays. Please stop by to meet Colleen, Pat & Von Watson, a part-time employee for the past two years. They are located at 1514 S. Alexander Street, where they have been selling and framing art for nearly 12 years.

Supermarket #271, received the Business Partner Award. Publix was recognized for employing students from Plant City High School and working with their extracurricular activities to encourage education. Publix is also a sponsor of educational programs and often provides speakers for school events. Jim was nominated by Sherrie Mueller, Guidance Resource Specialist.

Pictured L-R: Jim Jones, Sherrie Mueller, Jessica Burkman, Colleen Richardson and Laurel Ritenbaugh

Season” the campaign suggests the purchase of a different disaster preparedness or mitigation items over the ﬁrst Twelve Days of Hurricane Season. Many of these items also fall within the list of hurricane preparedness supplies that will be exempt from sales tax during the same twelve days. To access the “Twelve Days of Hurricane Season” and information on the sales tax exemption available, please visit the following web site: http://www. ﬂoridapreparesnow.org./

Florida’s American Red Cross chapters have launched a hurricane preparedness campaign focused on preparing Floridians for the 2005 Hurricane Season. Entitled the “Twelve Days of Hurricane

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 7

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STORY BY SHERRI ROBINSON PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HALL FAMILY

CHELSEA HALL & THE JUVENILE DIABETES FOUNDATION CHELSEA HALL IS CHOSEN FOR DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON

t is tough enough to be a young person these days, but if you have an illness, it makes it even more complicated. Chelsea Hall is a bright, beautiful young lady who has been dealing with her diagnosis of Diabetes for the past 5 years. This disease is scary and Hall never knows when her blood sugar will become unstable, so she keeps close tabs on her levels several times a day, takes insulin and eats on time to help prevent lows and highs.

Hall continues to stay involved in the activities she loves, such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk. She receives lots of support from her family. Together they have raised over $4,000.00 over the past few years. Hall’s involvement with fundraising and walks has allowed her to make new friends, like Courtney Beahn, who also has diabetes. She is also learning all she can about Diabetes so she can provide information to her teachers and peers. She wants them to understand Diabetes and the adjustments she needs to make to stay healthy, as well as stressing that they have a responsibility to be aware of signs that she needs help.

She is very positive about it all, and says, “I don’t let it limit me.”

This year Hall has been given a great honor. She was chosen out of approximately 1,000 applicants to

be a Children’s Congress Delegate at the 2005 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Children’s Congress in Washington DC, being held June 18 - 22. In preparation for the event, Hall has been busy creating a personal scrapbook to present to the Congress and Senate, making public appearances and recruiting volunteers that will work in government advocacy for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She and the other delegates will have the opportunity to meet with Washington lawmakers and help them realize the need and urgency for a cure. Good Luck, Chelsea! For more information on Diabetes, upcoming events and how you can help, log onto www.jdrf.org./

We built this bank one satisfied customer at a time. If you think the big banks are getting bigger at your expense and are treating you like a number, it’s time you give Sunshine State Federal Savings a call. We offer small town service that is second to none. After all that is how we built a business that has been dedicated to Plant City for over fifty years. We are not a bank, we’re better.

Plant City (Main Office) • 102 Baker Street • 813-752-6193 Walden Woods • 2400 Jim Redman Pkwy • 813-754-1844

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 8

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Sisters & Company FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 9

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LOCAL STORY BY BRUCE RODWELL

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE For the third year running the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce had a very successful and fun-filled Margarita Ball. New this year was the very exciting Hermit Crab races. Then came the fish derby. It was great fun watching those battery operated fish make it across Rick & Di Lott’s swimming pool. The food was great, the band was excellent and there were some great auction items. Mark your calendars for the fourth annual Ball which will take place May 20, 2006. ❖ Two years ago, our Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce presented one scholarship to a deserving student. Last year, because of the Chamber’s fund raising efforts, we were able to award four scholarships. This year we awarded Seven Scholarships to some most deserving students. For the last two years the Chamber has partnered with the Hillsborough Education Foundation and this year we were pleased to award Scott Cutsall, Justin Hall and Jill Welsh with $1000 each, to be used at the college of his or her choice. For the second year, our Chamber also partnered with the Hillsborough Community College Foundation. Christopher Swanson, Katie Johnson, Jenny Brewster and Kaitlyn Jenkins will each be receiving a $2000 scholarship, with $1000 coming from the Chamber and the other matching $1000 from the HCC Foundation. These scholarships will be used for their second year of college. These four students will be attending Hillsborough Community College at the Plant City Campus.

on June 23 rd. at 6:30 PM in the Community Conference Room. The seminar will be presented by the Hospital’s Heartburn Treatment Center. Ziauddin Shamsi, MD, who is board-certiﬁed in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, will answer questions about heartburn and explain the latest diagnostic and treatment approaches available. He will address what sufferers can do to relieve symptoms and reduce damage to the esophagus. This very informative program is free, but seating is limited. To reserve a space, please call 813754-4444. Plant City’s Bruton Memorial Library offers preschool story programs. These are designed to give children an excellent introduction to books and our library. These programs last about 20-30 minutes. On June 21 and 28 Toddler Time takes place at 9:30 AM. This program is for 2 and 3 year olds and their caregivers. Also on June 21 and 28. Story Time is held at 10:30 AM. This program is for 3 to 5 year olds who can sit by themselves in a group with other children. Children in grades K – 5 can prowl around Florida through exciting stories. On June 21 at 2 PM the program is entitled “Clowning Around at the Circus”. Children will be told action packed stories and participate in activities about circuses and circus animals. On June 28 the 2 PM program will be all about the wonderful world of trains. For additional information on these and other programs, please call the library at 813-757-9215. ❖

Congratulations to these seven outstanding students! ❖ Our South Florida Baptist Hospital is offering a free lecture on “Heartburn, Indigestion and GERD”

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 10

Our CHAMBER SOFTBALL TEAM ﬁnished in second place in the Springtime 2005 softball league. The team is made up of the following members: Doug Driggers, Matt Durrance, Trish Ellinsworth, Tony Gamez, David Gott, Wesley

Joyner, Amy Niazmoff, Steve Solomon, Aimee Sparkman, Bill Ulbricht, Matt Wiggins, Martin Wisgerhof and Heather WigginsRaulerson. Congratulations are in order to the SOUTH FLORIDA BAPTIST HOSPITAL team. They finished in first place. Way to go! ❖ You won’t want to miss the amazing Bill Heard Chevrolet Fourth Of July Celebration at Plant City Stadium. This event is coordinated by the City of Plant City Recreation & Parks Department with the assistance of our Chamber. Gates will open at 5:00 PM. There is a $2.00 parking fee and admission to the stadium is free. There will be free kid’s activities, concession foods for sale, stage entertainment and then a SPECTACULAR fireworks display. Since seating is limited, plan to arrive early for this great family-oriented extravaganza. ❖ On June 29th the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce is hosting a breakfast at the Ramada Inn. EGGS N’ ISSUES will provide our state lawmakers a chance to summarize the 2005 Legislative Session. You will have an opportunity to ask questions about issues that are important to you. The cost is $10.00 per person. Call the Chamber at 754-3707 by Monday, June 27th.to reserve your place. ❖ CORRECTION: In last month’s column, it was stated that Susan Marshall was the Membership Director of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce. Her correct name is SUSAN WILSON. Sorry for that mistake. ❖

10 MARK YOUR CALENDAR June 18 – Jazz Supper and Show. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Bing House, the Improvement League of Plant City and American Ideals Inc. Proceeds will benefit the restoration of Plant City’s historic BING HOUSE. Featured will be Ronda Paramoure, known as the Princess of Jazz and also the jazz artistry of Robert Moffa. The event will take place at Father Cronin Hall, St. Clement Catholic Church, 1104 Alexander St. Tickets are $35.00 and can be purchased by calling 813-7576760. June 18 – “Tea of Significance” sponsored by PREGNANCY CARE CENTER OF PLANT CITY. The tea will take place at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Charlie Griffin Road from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Individual reservations are $25.00. Call the Center at 813-759-0886 to reserve. June 18 - Strawberry Classic Car Show in Historic downtown Plant City 4-9:00 PM June 29 - Eggs & Issues at Ramada Inn. RSVP by calling 813-754-3707 July 2 - Bike Fest in Historic Downtown Plant City. Starts at 5:00 PM July 4 - Fourth of July Celebration at Plant City Stadium – Gates open at 5:00 PM July 8-9-15 - Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at Hillsborough Community College. Call Jennifer Jackson at 813757-0425 for additional information. This Broadway Musical will also be preformed on July 16-22 & 23 with a Sunday Matinee on July 17th. July 15-16 - Ms. Dixie’s Aurora Music & Performing Arts will present “Peter Pan” At Durant High School. Call 813545-0685 for further information. July 16 - Strawberry Classic Car Show in Historic Downtown Plant City. Starts at 5 PM July 21 - Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce BUSINESS AFTER HOURS at Kristii’s, 110 East Reynolds Street, Plant City. Starts at 5:15 PM. Call the Chamber at 813-754-3707 to RSVP.

MODEL • KATIE SHARER • SISTERS & COMPANY ASSOCIATE

Your Life...

Sisters & Company FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 11

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY SOPHIA DEDON

OUTBACK STEAK HOUSE CONTRIBUTES TO CHARITY THE JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FUND IS VERY GRATEFUL is the number one non-government funder for Type 1 diabetes. A large part of their purpose is to provide education and raise awareness and contribute towards research for the cure. “The cure looks close-it just takes money and time,” said Tyler Williams, manager of the Plant City Outback.

any organizations exist that often need thousands of dollars of funding, but how many go to actually beneﬁt children in this local area? The Tampa Bay

Foundation of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund raises money of which 87% goes directly to care and treatment of the disease. JDF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund)

Thanks to the help from Tyler Williams and money others at the local Outback Steakhouse restaurant raise, they were able to make a donation of $2500, plus another $1000 from Plant City. Every little bit helps, and the people at JDF are extremely grateful for every penny donated. Money was raised for JDF in a 6 county area covering about 18 Outback Restaurants. For more information about JDF or any other

STORY & PHOTOS BY DAWN MARIE SIMPSON

SHEAR EXPRESSIONS OF GENEROSITY DONATE YOUR HAIR TO WIGS FOR KIDS

f you’ve been thinking about shearing off that mane of hair you’ve maintained since the days of “Big Hair”, here’s something that might give you the cutting edge to make a ﬁnal decision Shear Expressions, located at 1514 S. Alexander St. in Plant City, is holding a community event on June 28th. From 9AM to 5PM, the stylists will be cutting & collecting ponytails for donation to Wigs for Kids, a nationally recognized notfor-proﬁt charity that provides wigs at no cost to children who have lost their hair.

Every year, 12,000 children who are diagnosed with cancer will lose their hair as a result of medical treatments. There are other reasons children lose their hair too; like perhaps, as a result of a ﬁre.

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 12

Whatever the cause, the results are the same: at a time when children ﬁnd themselves struggling with painful medical conditions, they must also deal with the potentially crippling blow to their self-esteem that results from the loss of their hair. Wigs for Kids was created to help these children feel like themselves again. It takes up to 12 ponytails and $1500 to create the hair systems, each of which is painstakingly constructed to meet the individual need of the child. While there is absolutely no cost to the donor for the haircut, Shear Expressions is encouraging hair donors to contribute $1 with each ponytail to help offset the charity’s other expenses. Anyone whose hair is at least 12” long is qualiﬁed to donate their ponytail for

free and for a special price, can get a great new hair style after their tail has been cut. Misty at Shear Expressions, says, “Donating hair to Wigs for Kids is one way to make a real difference in the lives of children and their families. It’s a great cause we’re proud to support.” So, if you’re a longhair who’s ready to cut loose and change your image, give it up for a worthy cause - and help change the life of a child. Wigs for Kids is a charity that never turns down a request for assistance and gives the wigs to every kid for free.

question, you may speak to Tyler Williams at the Outback Steakhouse in Plant City or call Julie Robertson, the executive Director of the Tampa Bay Chapter of JDF at 727-3442873. Type 1 diabetes is an auto immune disease that causes those with it to become insulin dependant for life. To ﬁnd out more about it, you can visit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund at www.jdfr.org Tyler Williams has been working with JDF for the past two years and in that time, Plant City has contributed over $7,000. Eventually, through the help of JDF and other organizations, a cure should hopefully be found to put an end to those who suffer from Type 1 Diabetes.

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Your Dreams...

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 13

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STORY BY LINDA FLOYD PHOTOS BY MIKE FLOYD

PLANT CITY’S FINEST GETS A NEW HOME NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW OPEN

1313 – Communications Center (L-R) Tanya Taylor, Kelly Hargraves, Rita Lipham

echnology in every field is growing by leaps and bounds, but nowhere is it more apparent than in the new police station at One Police Place (at the end of Willamette Drive, south of East Alexander Street, and just west of Jim Johnson Road). From 23,000 square feet of old building into 68,000 square feet of well-planned, efficiently designed, technologically modern, and expansive facility, the police department will have room to grow for the next fifty years. It is definitely 21st century, with its own crime lab, wellness center, on-site training facilities, computercontrol capable indoor firing range, and tightly controlled evidence

and property rooms. The holding cell’s façade is clear Lexan, a polycarbonate plastic with the unique combination of high impact strength and ﬂame- retardancy, making it ideally suited for security applications. The facility has several server rooms which houses all the computer equipment needed to keep their communications center running smoothly, including dispatch and emergency services, such as 911. The interior common space (or atrium) on the east and west sides of the facility have sealed hurricane shutters on the windows and will double as the Emergency Operations Center. The facility also has

a large kitchen and dining area capable of feeding many people at once. There is a 3000 square feet concrete mezzanine for storage, complete with elevator for transporting. One of the things that really demonstrates the thought that went into this building is a “quiet room”, a room like most living rooms, with a couch, chairs, cocktail tables, lamps, etc. This is where a family would be escorted to if they had to be given bad news, such as a loved one killed in a car accident. Unlike the other interview rooms, which are clinical in nature, it is located on the opposite side of the building from the detective’s division or where the ofﬁcers would do their investigating, so there would be no chance of overhearing something that could further traumatize them. The facility at One Police Place is certainly very impressive, but so are the people that work there. They put their life on the line every day to keep our community safe. We would like to say a special thank you to all the police ofﬁcers with the Plant City Police Department for all they do. They are as follows:

The Wellness Center

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 14

Albano, Kenneth R. Captain Allen, Russell D. Senior Police Officer Andrel, Kent R. Master Police Officer Baker, Gerald A. Officer Bass, Russell S. Officer Bergau, H. Bryan Lieutenant Best, Jay J. Detective Blade K-9 Borders, John W. Captain Buchanan, Ernest A. Officer Christy, Tony S. Officer Craven, Sherrie L. Sergeant Cristofaro, Joseph A.(Inactive) Senior Police Officer Cross, James R. Detective / SPO Culmer, Darren G. Police Officer First Class Daniel, James E. Detective Eckard, Trenten R. Police Officer First Class CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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Visit One Of Our Three Locations 104 E. Reynolds St Historic Downtown Plant City • 813.754.0990 37836 Meridian Ave. Historic Downtown Dade City • 352.521.5700 23801 Hwy 27 Lake Wales • 863.676.6295

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 15

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PLANT CITY’S FINEST GETS A NEW HOME CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

1311 – Chief Bill McDaniel

Enfinger, Billy G. Officer Fender, Kenneth M. Senior Police Officer Gamez, Tony P. Police Officer First Class Gilmore, John P. Officer Haggerty, Arden A. Detective Hammersla, Michael R. Officer Hancock, David A. Officer Holste, Mark T. Senior Police Officer

1337 – PC’s Policeman of the Year Det. Matthew Lawson

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 16

Honcharik, Richard A. Officer Kelleher, Patrick E. Officer Lane, Carl E. Lieutenant Lawson, Matthew A. Detective/OFC1 Lee, W. Justin Detective Mathis, Mark A. Officer Mauer, Barry C. Officer McDaniel, Bill C. Chief

1332 – Lt. Bryan Bergau

McDowell, John W. Officer McLellan, Robert A. Officer Miller, Bryan L. Sergeant Millich, David L. Officer Morris, Fred T. Master Police Officer Neo K-9 Osmanski, William T. Police Officer First Class Owen, Andrea K. Sergeant Pawlowski, Dennis S. Senior Police Officer Perkins, Robert W. Officer Peterson, Dale S. Sergeant Pfister, Mark E. Master Police Officer Polk, Signe J. Detective/SPO Porter, Richmond E. Senior Police Officer Rader, Chad H. Police Officer First Class Rehbein, Scot E. Detective Rex K-9 Salerno, Joseph N. Officer Shultz, James A. Sergeant

Shultz, Kevin M. Sergeant Singletary, Steven S. Sergeant Smith, Daniel S. Master Police Officer Smith, James E. K-9/SPO Stasiak, John C. K-9 / SPO Stwan, Jerry K. Lieutenant Tester, Paul K. Senior Police Officer Towles, M. Tray POFC/Detective Uko K-9 VanDuyne, Alfred S.(Inactive) Officer Vega, Aaron J. Detective Walker, Patrick J. Officer Ward, Michael M. Officer Warnell, Rick A. Crime Scene Tech/MPO Watkins, James J. Sergeant Whitney, E. Rebecca K-9/OFC1 Williams, Curtis L. K-9/OFC1 Wilson, Darrell E. Captain Young, Leo L. Officer

1319 – Crime Scene Tech Det. Rick Warnell

Moon Walks • Birthdays • Graduations • Weddings • Festivals • Church Events

Slides

Bouncy Bounce

The Hop Stop Call to schedule your FUN! Bruce 813-986-5357 • Kelly 813-757-6683 More To Choose From Than Pictured!

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 17

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STORY & PHOTO BY CHRIS RICKETTS

OPERATION SHOEBOX

SHOEBOXES OF GOOD WISHES FOR OUR TROOPS

roops serving overseas are frequently deprived of the creature comforts of home. The little things that the average person likely does not think about are not handy or easy to ﬁnd in a war zone. Nationally, Operation Shoebox is trying to ease that burden for the troops. They are assembling care packages to send to the troops in Iraq. Locally, Hillsborough Community College’s Honors Leadership class and Student Government Association at the Plant City campus are leading the effort.

Lynne Halleran presents a donation on behalf of Coldwell Banker of Plant City. Her husband is stationed in Arizona.

The effort came about because of the Honors Leadership class, an elective that is a requirement of the Honors Institute. Half of the total grade for the class is a service

learning project. Professor Joette Naftel allowed the class to pick the project, according to Robert Goodwin, President of the Student Government Association. Goodwin says that originally the class wanted to help citizens who were affected by the Coronet pollution after the class saw “Erin Brockovich,” but Goodwin says, “We could not get the details worked out with the law ﬁrm representing the residents.” L. Tai Maccicotti-Humphrey, an SGA senator suggested that the SGA adopt Operation Shoebox as a club SLP. The vote failed but Goodwin asked Prof. Humphrey if the class could do the project instead. Goodwin brought it up in class. “Immediately, ideas started ﬂowing, and we knew this was the right

project for us. We agreed to keep the project as a joint SGA-Honors Leadership venture since the idea originated with the SGA, although the bulk of the work was done by the class,” says Goodwin. Goodwin says that, to date, they have received over 200 letters for the troops. Donations have also poured in from many different sources. “At the request of Operation Shoebox in Tampa, we are not putting the actual shoe boxes together. They will distribute the items evenly between all of the boxes they ship to ensure that all the boxes are relatively equal,” Goodwin explains. Operation Shoebox stresses that the drive is non-political and is simply a way of saying thank-you to the troops ﬁghting overseas.

STORY BY DAWN MARIE SIMPSON

A FRIEND IN NEED

LOCKS OF LOVE HELPS FILL IT

ometimes, we can solve a problem without undue effort on our part. Friendship allows us to bridge time and space to supply what is needed. Diane Bochy’s dear friend lost all her hair due to chemotherapy and while Diane came through with emotional support for her friend, she longed to do more. Diane has decided to donate her hair after it reaches 10 inches in length, in solidarity for her friend and others that suffer from hair loss. In Diane’s research of hair loss she found “Locks of Love,” a non-proﬁt agency that helps disadvantaged kids experiencing hair loss due to medical treatments or other conditions, such as Alopecia Areata, which has no known cause or cure.

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 18

Diane found that there are several problems facing kids who suffer from hair loss. Most wigs sold by retailers are made to ﬁt adult heads. The wigs require the use of glue to keep them from falling off, and the adhesive can burn the scalp. The hair prosthetics that Locks of Love provides are custom-made from donated ponytails 10” in length. The hairpiece forms a vacuum seal and doesn’t require the use of glue. Only the wearer of the hairpiece can remove it by breaking the vacuum seal at the temples. Diane knows ﬁrst-hand that the kids who have endured an illness or treatment causing loss of their hair have lost more than that; they suffer from a loss of self. While wearing a hairpiece is not a cure for these kids, it can help

restore some of the normalcy Photo 1 - Roberta (Before & after) in their lives that most of us take for granted. Diane feels if a middleage woman Emily Ann (Before and after) can grow her hair If you would like to donate, either and shear it off for a good cause, monetarily or with a ponytail, please so can others, if they look into their contact Locks of Love at (888)896hearts. Donating hair is painless, but 1588. Locks of Love’s home ofﬁce it’s priceless to the well being of a is located at 2925 10th Avenue person who will be thankful for a North, Suite 102, Lake Worth, FL friend who would donate. 33461.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 19

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STORY & PHOTOS BY KRISTEN TONEY

THE 4TH ANNUAL MARGARITA BALL AN EVENING ENJOYED FOR A GOOD CAUSE

milled about, the men sporting Hawaiian-style shirts and khakis, the women gracefully displaying brightly-colored sundresses and various other summer outﬁts; further proof that a “ball” doesn’t have to be characterized by uncomfortable bodices and choking black ties.

A few of the guests enjoy the serene setting of the evening around the patio of Rick and Dianna Lott’s home.

he breezy twilight hours, the ﬁrst-class refreshments, the chance to catch up with friends and colleagues at a casual event. This year’s Margarita Ball offered all of the above and more to those who attended the affair. At the home of Rick and Dianna Lott on the

evening of May 14, approximately 350 people gathered to not only give their support to the Chamber’s fundraising activity, but to have a great time themselves! Guests were invited to the patio of the Lott’s home to enjoy the

sounds of the live Steel Drum Band, partake in food and drink offered by brightly-clad servers who wove expertly between the masses, and take advantage of the chance to participate in all of the fun Plant City society has to offer. With margaritas in hand, attendees

As the evening progressed, the casino tables opened up under a cool tent covering the Lott’s tennis court, and those in attendance were able to place their bets on games of Black Jack, Roulette and Craps, while listening to the soothing island-style music of a delightful band named Tropical Idea. Not the greatest when it comes to gambling? No problem. Grab a few good friends or some newlymade acquaintances and enjoy the evening in the gazebo, where the

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These three who make up The Steel Drum Band enjoy making their music as much as other enjoy hearing it!

music can still be heard drifting across the lawn, creating the perfect soundtrack for good conversation. The main goal of the Margarita Ball is to act as a fundraiser for the Chamber, aiming to raise money for scholarships which will beneﬁt many students in the community. Each year, various students work through an application process with the help of Hillsborough

County Education Foundation and Hillsborough Community College, sharing their reasons to receive the monetary aid which this event provides. This year, $13,000 in scholarships and grants will be awarded to a group, larger than ever before, of very deserving students, making their higher education a clear and present experience instead of a distorted and distant dream.

The majority of the fundraising was done by auctioning off items which had been donated for the event. Some of those items featured were a one week trip for two to Crested Butte Ski Resort in Colorado, two suite tickets to a Buccaneers game, one full day ﬁshing trip in Tampa Bay, one week in a beachfront condo in St. Augustine, diamond jewelry, two nights three days at The Inn on the Fifth in Naples (including private massages, wine and dinner for two), three day four night cruise, dinner for four at the Ramada Inn Plantation House Red Rose Dining Room, and also several other auction items. “It really went well,” said Chamber President Marion Smith of the live auction. “Once we got it started, the

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In 2004, a Fish Derby was added to the event, which helped to add money to the scholarship fund. This year, in addition to the Derby, the featured new event was the Caribbean Crab Races. “Most people had never seen that before, but they did seem to enjoy it!” laughed Smith. “We do try to add a new event each year, as a boost to further the scholarship monies.” By all accounts, the event was a great success, leaving all who participated looking forward to next year. “We appreciate all the support we received,” commented Smith. “We were able to help students in need, and that’s what this event was really all about.”

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 21

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STORY & PHOTOS BY SOPHIA DEDON

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SCHOOL OF MUSIC

HARD WORK LEADS TO SUCCESSFUL RECITAL

Andrea Corzine performs “A Special Place in my Heart” for her piano recital.

eventeen total weeks, thirty minutes per week with the instructor, 150 minutes requested of practice per week and it all comes down to one day: the recital. Students at the First Baptist Church School of Music performed on Thursday May 19, Friday May 20, and Saturday May 21.

First Baptist offers lessons for voice, piano, strings, guitar, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, saxophone, and ﬂute to students of all ages. They have children as young as four years old and adults as old as, well …..Ms. Yeager put it best when she said, “They don’t ask how old I am, so I don’t ask how old they are.” Ms. Shirley

Yeager is one of the teachers at the school of music. She taught music in public schools for 32 years and after that experience, compared to what she is doing now, she said,” The people here are so helpful and friendly. It’s been terriﬁc. The administration is wonderful and that makes the program wonderful, because it starts from the top down. It used to take months or even years to get something that I asked for, and here, it’s almost instantaneous.” The school of music offers lessons during the summer for 6 weeks, and there are also fall and spring semesters, both of which are 17 weeks long. The students were all awarded for their participation. There were special awards given to those with long term participation. Bronze, silver, and gold medals were given to students with one, two, or three years of commitment, respectively. A trophy was given to students with 4 years of participation and one special gift was given to the student that has been in the program all ﬁve years of its existence.

The director of the school of music, Linda Wilkerson, said, “The recital is such a great opportunity for the students to display everything they have learned over the semester. It gives them a motivation to work harder”. The main recital is always in the spring. There is a small Christmas recital in which some of the students perform, but the school encourages everyone to participate in the fall. This ministry at First Baptist church allows a more affordable way for everyone to become more familiar with the art of music.

Erica Scarff sings “Shout to the Lord” in the fellowship hall at First Baptist Church.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS RICKETTS

DURANT TURNS TEN BUT THEY DO THE GIVING

lant City’s Durant High School has already turned ten. The party was held at Boggy Bottom Ranch outside of Plant City. Former teachers, students and administrators got together at the ranch to eat barbecue, play games and remember their time together. According to Lydia Kimler, head of the Technical and Career Education Department, the facility has something for everyone. The ranch has a large pavilion with seating and a good-sized playground for children. There is also western-style facades making guests feel like they are really in a different place. The festivities included a DJ playing songs while guests ate their meals. The Science Department took on the English Department in a softball game. The English Department won.

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 22

There was a piñata for children ten years old and under. The school was assembling a time capsule to open at the twentieth anniversary. It included newspaper clippings of great Durant moments, pictures, t-shirts, and various letters of congratulations. Some students also painted a commemorative mural for the occasion. Amber Sheppard, Christina Sirmans, Bethany Thompson, Jacob Ballons, Lindsay Hinckley, and Kara Sujansky were responsible for the painting. They are all students of Lydia Kimler and hope to become teachers themselves one day. They are all sophomores and juniors. But the night was not just about reminiscing and the English

Durant’s 10th Anniversary time capsule is assembled.

Department’s athletic prowess. There were two good causes being helped by the events. Heifer International is going to use $5000 to send a “Gift Ark” of animals to an impoverished part of the world. Kimler says the idea was Sabrina Gates-McCarty’s. Gates-McCarty said that this is a way to help people in need with their economic structure. Another beneficiary was the field house that Durant High has needed for so long. Kimler says that Coach Gottman is leading the charge for the field house, which will benefit

Durant’s athletes. It will be a place to store equipment and for the athletes to dress and shower. Right now they have to walk from the ﬁeld to the locker rooms inside of the school. A committee made up of Kimler, Gates-McCarthy, Cindy Newman, Aimee Ballans, and Angela Salamy helped plan the event. Kimler says, “We couldn’t have done it without all the participation.” The event managed to raise money for two causes, as well as pay the bills for the facility.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 23

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STORY & PHOTOS BY KRISTEN TONEY

RAINBOW LANE STUDIOS

THE DIGITAL STANDARD FOR PICTURING YOUR MEMORIES

Husband and wife team Ken and Sharon Spicer are the owners of Rainbow Lane Studios

hristian Principles, Quality Products and Family Prices: these points comprise the Golden Rule of Rainbow Lane Studios. They represent the pattern which Ken and Sharon Spicer model their business after, and anyone can see that the inspiration for the work they do comes from the heart. Incorporated in January of 2005, the business is already highly recommended and definitely going places! Member of the Tampa Area Professional Photographers Association, the Nation Association of Photoshop Professionals and the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, the digital photography company was birthed out of a love for taking pictures and a desire to work in the field by an incredibly talented couple. “It was something we knew we enjoyed doing, and enjoyed learning, so we figured; why not make a career out of it! And now here we are,” commented Sharon with a smile. The company itself may be new, but the experience of those who run it is quite extensive. Ken worked in Indiana as a videographer for a TV program which broadcasted for several solid years, and Sharon has a background with years of skill

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 24

in digital photography and graphic design under her belt. Together, they have been working with event, product, portrait and architectural photography since 2000. Although the studio is able to promote itself as being locally convenient and ﬁlled with the latest equipment and technology, it also boasts a comfortable atmosphere where all are welcomed to be themselves in front of the camera. “We want people to come in and feel at home,” said Ken, gesturing to the “living room setting” in the lobby of the studio. A small Christian gift shop is also housed on the premises, selling items such as frames and photo albums, with new products added each week. Some other specialties the Spicer’s and Rainbow Lane Studios have to offer include family portraits, pet portraits, business (including construction, product, farm and farm animals), auto and motorcycle, real estate, high school and college senior photos, weddings and other events. For more information on Rainbow Lane Studios, contact Ken and Sharon at (813) 707-0243.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 25

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STORY & PHOTOS BY BRIAN WEST

ANNUAL GALA OF PHOTO ARCHIVES CELEBRATES WWII JIM REDMAN NAMED HERITAGE AWARD WINNER

beloved stuff. But these “triple threat” people are hard to ﬁnd.”

Mary Buzza and Debbie Gibbs view some of the many photos submitted to the Plant City Photo Archives to commemorate the 60th anniversary of WWII.

n Saturday evening, June 4, 2005, the Plant City Photo Archives held its 3rd Annual Gala at the Ramada Inn Plantation House Red Rose Ball Room, “An Evening of Picture Perfect Memories.” The evening included a WWII photo exhibit, the presentation of the Heritage award, entertainment, and a “splendiferous” photo trivia contest; all complemented by hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and dessert. Best of all, the event was sold out with the largest crowd to date for the annual gala, with approximately 250 guests in attendance. Gil Gott and Ed Verner founded the Plant City Photo Archives just a few years ago as a non-proﬁt corporation formed to preserve the photographic history of Plant City by collecting, identifying, and scanning photographic prints and negatives. Since that time, they have hosted an annual gala to share and celebrate their accomplishments with the community. In anticipation

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 26

of the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII and as a tribute to those whose lives were touched directly or indirectly by the war, the archives began soliciting the community for photos from WWII. Ed Verner said, “When we started this, we thought we’d probably get 20, maybe 30 photos. So far we’ve received over 400 photos.” Photos were brought in by members of the community and scanned into the archives computer. It should be noted that the photos held by the archives are all copies. The originals are returned to their owners. In fact, the owners of the photos are able to watch as the photos are scanned and returned to them within minutes. For the WWII project, the archives received photos of soldiers; combat, including some aerials, and some photos of interesting moments of “down time” from ﬁghting. Many of the photos were printed onto large banners for display.

During the gala, 7 large banners bordered the room which contained many of the photos received for the WWII project. There were also hundreds of photos on display on the sides of the room, mostly WWII photos, but also photos of Plant City from years past, even a photo of the old Dairy Queen. You could see the old step-block used by children to reach the counter so the ice cream could be handed to them. The old Dairy Queen was rebuilt several years ago, but the step-block still resides next to the counter. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Heritage award. The Heritage award was ﬁrst conceived by the archives 2 years ago. It is awarded to someone who meets three criteria; they have made a longstanding impact in the Plant City area, contributed to the heritage and preservation efforts, and are generally beloved. Verner received laughs when he said, “Last year I spoke brieﬂy about that generally

This year’s recipient was Jim Redman. Redman had just been released from the hospital the day before and had informed his wife the afternoon of the event that they would be attending a cruise with their family the next morning. Concerned he might not be able to sit through the entire evening, Redman requested that Verner change the schedule for the evening and move the presentation to immediately follow dinner. Verner obliged. Last year’s recipient was D.E. Bailey. Bailey was one of Redman’s teachers while Redman was attending high school in the old 1914 building downtown. The two built a friendship and have remained close over the years and Bailey had the honor of presenting the award to Redman. Verner did a wonderful job of narrating a slide show of photos of Redman’s life from early childhood through high school, to his service in the military, to his service as a State Representative during the 1970’s. Redman’s is known for his outstanding character. In an attempt to illustrate this, Verner shared a quote from a fellow representative of Redman’s who described Redman as “bullet proof.” Congratulations to Redman and to the archives, keep up the great work.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 27

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STORY & PHOTOS BY KEN LAWRENCE

THE WAR IN IRAQ HITS HOME

THE FLORIDA NATIONAL GUARD OF PLANT CITY IS CALLED TO DUTY

Specialist Brian Benko of Tampa giving a goodbye kiss to wife Esther.

for the National Guard members who are to be deployed overseas.

The 61 soldiers will be billeted at Camp Atterbury, south of Indianapolis, and will be joined by another 200 plus Guardsmen in August. The camp operates almost exclusively

The Plant City battalion is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Hearon from Titusville, who, in civilian life, is a security supervisor for NASA at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. Col. Hearon tells FOCUS that he expects his troops will command a base camp in Iraq (he knows where, but cannot say for security reasons) “I’ll be almost like a mayor”, says the Colonel, “and my troops will operate like municipal workers, alongside Iraqi military”. As we know, the plan is to train and even-

hile support across America continues to slide for our military presence in Iraq, the Pentagon has reached into Plant City to call to duty members of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery, Florida National Guard. The ﬁrst group of upwards of 300 local Guardsmen has left for Indiana where they will train for the next 8-10 weeks, before being shipped to the war ravaged Middle East.

Lt. Olan Stephens with daughter Emma-16 mos and Grandpa holding Mary Catherine-2 yrs.

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 28

tually turn over complete control of the country to the Iraqis.

for any family that is separated for whatever reason.

The Plant City Guardsmen will be gone from home for upwards of 15 months, and keeping families united was the central theme of the departure ceremony held recently at the armory on Airport Road. The Chief of Staff for the Florida National Guard is Colonel Gerry Vaughn, who represented Governor Bush at the departure. He told the large audience of relatives and friends that while the soldiers are away, those left behind will become part of a larger family. “I make this commitment to you,” said Colonel Vaughn. “There might be times when things get difﬁcult for a family, whether it’s illness or monetary. We’ll not let you down, whatever it is”. The Florida Legislature recently approved $5 million in support funds for state families who may suffer ﬁnancially while their loved ones are overseas.

Battalion Commander Hearon tells FOCUS that “This is my 3rd deployment as a National Guardsman, and I can say that this is the best group of ofﬁcers and NCOs I’ve ever served with”. The Colonel went onto say “My troops will serve Plant City and all of Florida with distinction and pride”.

In addition, a group of wives of deployed Guardsmen is part of a program called “Family Readiness”. They’ll hold special events around the area to keep wives and children busy. They also have a couple of special coloring books for youngsters from 6 to 15 years old, which deal with their fathers’ being away. They are quite tastefully produced and can actually work

Capt. Joseph Devries from Sarasota with son Joseph.

Special Coverage Your writer, who has been throughout the Middle East on a number of occasions as a former TV journalist, only wishes he could go along with our Guardsmen. The next best thing is the Internet, and we’ve arranged to have regular reports and greetings from the Plant City National Guardsmen each month until they return home, sometime late next year. In addition, we’ll also arrange to send “goodie boxes” over to our soldiers, such as candy, shaving and other personal products, and one thing they always ask for “duct-tape”. It comes in handy on so many occasions for them. In next month’s issue we’ll have a special edition with photos of many of the National Guardsmen and the ﬁrst of their diaries. God Bless Them All!

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY SOPHIA DEDON

TELL YOUR TALE

THE MIRACLES IN THE LIFE OF PASTOR WAYLON CARLISLE

nyone who has reached the age of 68 most deﬁnitely has a life full of interesting stories to tell, and none could be summed up in one short story. However, the life of Waylon Carlisle in particular is beyond interesting and could never be completely recorded.

Born in 1937, he and his family traveled by mule and wagon while in Alabama, the state of his birth. At the age of nine, they moved to Plant City. He attended Turkey Creek, which

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back then was a high school and a strawberry school, meaning, they went to school from March through December so that they could pick strawberries in the winter. He got married right out of high school and went to work for TECO. While working as a lineman, one day he suddenly felt the calling to be a minister. Within a few months he, his wife, and their three daughters moved to east Tennessee, where he attended Carson-Newman College. At one point, he was working, going to school full time, pastoring a church, working at an electric company, and managing a wife and four daughters. ” Looking back, I have no idea how I did it. I really don’t. All I can tell you is that God provided”, Carlisle says. Amazingly enough, at the pinnacle of their hardships they lived in a small community in Tennessee where all admired him and treated him as the local pastor, even though many did not attend his church. Every morning when he would wake

up there would be some type of food sitting on his doorstep. Usually it was whatever they had grown in their gardens, or of what they had a plethora. “I can’t help but see God’s hand in everything. He had us in the perfect location for that time. We could have never made it through it all without them,” said Carlisle. After earning a master degree in psychology and counseling, a doctorate in behavioral science, and becoming a licensed clinical Christian psychologist, he left Tennessee for Lake Wales to pastor a church. In 1979 he and his family moved back to Plant City, where he has been the pastor of Eastside Baptist ever since. Very rarely does one man last as the pastor of a church for 26 1/2 years. ”I have seen quite a lot of changes in my day, but nothing has been more amazing than the miracles I have seen. The power of God’s hand in my life and in those around me has made me feel so privileged just to be a part of the experience,” said Carlisle.

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t’s been 5 years since artist Blake Emory went into business with his brother James to form JABINK. Emory is a muralist who paints his colorful creations in places such as local restaurants and other places of business. His work has taken him from the Plant City and Tampa area to as far away as Seattle, Washington and California. Though Emory has other skills, such as carpentry, cabinet building and mechanics, all taught to him by his dad, he has chosen to live his life as an artist. He has done very well for himself by painting his way and making a living at it. Like most artists, there have been some lean weeks, but he says he knows that will sometimes be the case, and he would still “rather be selfemployed.” The hardest part of earning your living as an artist is the business side, such as selling your ideas to a potential client. Emory says a client may come up with a rough idea,

but it is up to him to ﬁgure the rest out, supply the vision to share with the client. Emory says, “I’m glad I started now. When I get older, I’ll be well established and have a lot of connections.” Connections are so important. Some of those connections have come from the art work he has done and some from his work as a musician. Emory also has a band called “Espionage”, which performs several times a month locally at places like The Jerk Hut in Tampa. Having a full calendar with different shows and traveling world-wide to places like Japan, Italy and Spain are on the list of things Emory hopes to accomplish with his music. It has been a real asset to have his foot in the door of both the music and art world. One or the other is always offering the opportunity of work. If interested in contacting Blake Emory or seeing his work, call (813) 380-7866 or email him at houseoffunkus@yahoo.com.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 33

LOCAL

AROUND TOWN

STORY BY SOPHIA DEDON PHOTOS COURTESY OF KASH N’ KARRY

KASH N’ KARRY & LOCAL SCHOOLS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS RAISED TO BENEFIT STUDENTS

hat old adage “two heads are better than one” proves to be true under many circumstances. In this case, the saying should be adjusted to “two teams are better than one”. Local public schools teamed up with Kash n’ Karry to provide more funds for students. The basic run-down of the way the program works is that certain vendors partnered with Kash n’ Karry so that for every 4 products parents buy from the list of over 750 items, the school receives $3.

This year was the third year that Kash n’ Karry has provided this fund-raiser to schools and each year hundreds of thousands of dollars are donated to schools in Florida. Not to mention, every year the dollar

amount raised has signiﬁcantly increased. Really, the money is out there and all parents have to do is participate for the school to proﬁt.

LOCAL FISHERMAN IS GOING PLACES

HE WORKS, MENTORS KIDS AND ENTERS FISHING TOURNAMENTS

Robby weighing in.

obby Johnson is a ﬁsherman. Yes, he works too, but he enters ﬁshing tournaments on the weekends. To him, it’s more than

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 34

The local Kash n’ Karry stores are hoping that next year more schools and more families will participate. It is so beneﬁcial for schools to receive

money that they have free reign to spend. Most of the time, money for schools comes in the form of grants or budgets and they are limited in how it can be spent. This program allows the schools to evaluate where the money is more needed and spend it as they see ﬁt. The community is extremely grateful for opportunities such as these that allow for the betterment of the students.

Of all the schools in Florida, the 20 that raise the most money receive an additional $1000. For the second year in a row, Walden Lake Elementary has placed in the top 20 out of more than 600 participating schools. With the help of Henry Falcon, the store manager at the Kash n’ Karry on Alexander, 6 local Plant City schools raised more than $16,000 alone! In reference to this program, Falcon said, “It is so wonderful because both the vendors and the schools beneﬁt, and it all goes to help the students”. Falcon played

STORY BY JOE LANE PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBBY JOHNSON

an instrumental role in the success of Plant City schools. Walden Lake Elementary this year raised $3,454, and since they came in 9th in the state, they received a total of $4,454. They plan on spending the money mostly in the media center on AR tests, books, and technology.

a hobby, it’s a life-long sport. But it’s not all fun and games. Fishing, itself, is hard work. In order to win tournaments and maintain sponsors,

he has to be very dedicated. There is a lot more than just luck involved. There are many things to consider before even casting. The weather, which direction the weather front is going; moon phase, full moon or new moon; location, grassy/sandy, shallow/deep; tackle; pole, line, bait. It is confusing at first. It gets easier to get the hang of after a few years. Robby’s dad took him fishing at the early age of four, so he has a few years experience. Once you cast, it’s still no game. The only thing on his mind is: “the next place to cast”; he is focused on the task at hand. The fun comes when it’s time to weigh in. They take the fish from the live well and total up the weight. The person who caught the fish that weighs the most gets the prize. The more people who enter a tournament, the bigger the prize, but then there’s less chance of winning. Robby hopes to enter the Everstart series soon. There are thousands of dollars to be made in that one for first place.

“Fishing is a family sport, mentally they are there.” Robby can expect to look into the crowd during weigh in and see friends and family supporting him. Things are looking good for him. He’s getting a new boat soon. He is always getting supplies from his sponsors to test. He advertises for them by holding classes and mentoring at schools. He gets the name out and they give him free stuff. His current sponsors are: Culprit Soft Plastics, Rat-L-Trap hard lures, Terminator spinners, Shakespeare rods, Pflueger reels, Ranger boats and Payroll consultants. It can be an expensive hobby; Robby’s first four years of tournament fishing he didn’t make a dime. But his real payoff is in mentoring kids. That means they are doing something good and staying off the streets. The kids enjoy it as much as he does. It can take years to be a good fisherman, but anybody can drop a line in the water and enjoy getting back to nature.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 35

LOCAL

AROUND TOWN

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KEN LAWRENCE

Strawberry Festival Queen and Court (L-R) Caycee Hampton, Catie Walker-Queen Ashley Watkins, Brooke Ellis and Amy Stewart.

A GOLF TOURNEY FOR KIDS A REPORT ON THE 2ND ANNUAL ST. JUDE GOLF EVENT

his report is not really about golf. It’s about one of the most “gut-wrenching” things that can happen in this world of ours….. a catastrophic disease that befalls a child who has barely had a taste of life. There is nothing that drives a dagger into a parent’s heart with such ferocity than to learn that your child is probably going to die from a disease or genetic malady and there is really nothing that medical science can do. Back in the 1950’s a struggling entertainer living in Detroit was praying in church one day, asking God to give him a sign as to what he should do in life. The name of the entertainer was Danny Thomas, who went on to become one of the great pioneers in early television history. Thomas, who was not exactly a Robert Redford looking type, simply had that warmth about him as he performed, what has commonly been called “shtick-comedy”, devoid of any sexual innuendo.

Danny Thomas won so many Emmy Awards that your writer could not determine how many during my research. In addition, he received hundreds of awards, honorary

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 36

degrees and keys to cities, plus the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award in the country. However, the greatest achievement in Danny Thomas’ life was when he criss-crossed America in the 1950’s begging for funds to start a hospital for sick children. That goal was realized in 1962 when the doors opened to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Named after St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, the hospital has been the real achievement of Danny Thomas, who died in 1991 and is buried on the hospital grounds. That visit to the Detroit church was the catalyst for Danny Thomas to start the sick kids’ hospital. Today, St. Jude is one of America’s premiere children’s hospitals and requires a million dollars a day to operate. Now thousands of people follow in Danny Thomas’ footsteps, criss-crossing America seeking funds to keep St. Jude in the forefront of medical research. That brings us to Walden Lake Golf and Country Club, where the 2nd annual St. Jude Golf Tournament

was held recently. Some 50 golfers participated in the day-long event and coupled with an auction of sports memorabilia, supervised by the Florida Strawberry Festival Queen and her Court, raised more than $5,000 for St. Jude. Think of how many events are held around America to help make up that $1,000,000 a day that is required for St. Jude. Some $370,000,000 was raised last year. One of the co-chairs of the Walden Lake event is Dinah Helton, who, along with Steve Ryan-Tampa Builder, hopes to build the annual St. Jude Tournament into a major local event. It’s not going to be easy, because many charitable groups have seized on golf tourneys as a fund raising endeavor. However, when they talk about the sick children, one sees the

commitment in their eyes to raise every dollar possible for St. Jude. Ms. Helton says she knows of six families in the Tampa Bay area that were served by St. Jude and it didn’t cost them a dime, including transportation and lodging while they were in Memphis. The hospital even has homes for parents, two of which are sponsored by TARGET Stores, plus Ronald McDonald House and another by the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. Not all the “hopeless” cases end up with a funeral. St. Jude treatment has led to many children surviving and leading productive lives. The St. Jude Foundation is still in the hands of the Thomas family. His children Terre, Tony and Marlo, an actress herself and wife of talk show host Phil Donahue, work year-round to keep Dad’s Dream ﬂourishing.

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1:37 PM

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GET ANS WERS TO YOUR B URNING QUES TIONS. W W W. S O U T H F L O R I D A B A P T I S T. C O M

"FREE Seminar On Heartburn, Indigestion And GERD" Thursday, June 23 6:30PM Community Conference Room

South Florida Baptist Hospital

Guest Speaker: Ziauddin Shamsi, M.D. Board-certified in Internal Medicine Board-certified in Gastroenterology

If you suffer with chronic heartburn or indigestion, you may have a disorder called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Find out what you can do to relieve your symptoms and reduce the damage to your esophagus from the experts, at a FREE seminar sponsored by the Heartburn Treatment Center at South Florida Baptist Hospital. Dr. Shamsi will answer your questions about heartburn and explain the latest diagnostic and treatment approaches available. This informative program is FREE, but seating is limited. To reserve your place, please call (813) 754-4444.

HEARTBURN TREATMENT CENTER 3 0 1 N . A l e x a n d e r S t r e e t P l a n t C i t y, F L 3 3 5 6 3

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W W W. S O U T H F L O R I D A B A P T I S T. C O M FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 37

LOCAL

AROUND TOWN

STORY BY SHERRI ROBINSON PHOTOS BY BILLY FRIEND

PAUSING FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

he National Day of Prayer is a day that is set aside every year to pray for those issues that are and will be affecting our country and our freedom. It was a call to people of all denominations and beliefs to come together in like-mindedness and pray. This year’s Day of Prayer was held on Thursday, May 5th, starting with a Day of Prayer Breakfast from 7 - 8 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in the Wesley Centre. The host pastor was Pastor Alan L. Beaver. Many local pastors and business leaders offered prayers. Pastor Ron Hubbard of Grace United Methodist Church prayed for government. Father Tom Morgan of St. Clements Catholic Church prayed for education, Pastor Ron Churchill of First Baptist Church

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 38

in Plant City prayed for family, Mr. Jim Lane of Lane Stairs, Inc. prayed for media, Pastor Mitch Welssman of First Baptist Church of Midway prayed for church. Reverend Tim Ireland of the Christian Leadership Council was the special guest speaker. Virginia Helper, City Clerk for Plant City blessed us with a message in song, and Sherril Blanton of Somebody Cares Plant City led us in The Lord’s Prayer. The prayer service concluded with words of encouragement from Reverend Norm Blanton of Somebody Cares, Plant City. The day continued with a Noon Time Prayer from 12 noon - 1 p.m. at the City Hall Auditorium. The host pastors for noon prayer were Pastor David Delph, Pastor Thomas

Thoeni and Pastor Julio Santana. A Proclamation was offered from the City of Plant City. The Evening Praise and Prayer was held at the Plant City Church of God from 7 - 8 p.m. Host pastors included Pastor Robert Herrin and Pastor Don Mason, but many other ministers participated in this service. Special music was added to the evening prayer service. Reverend Norm Blanton is the Coordinator of Events for Somebody Cares Plant City. For more information on this organization, or the National Day of Prayer, call 813-752-4671.

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FOCUS ON YOU 2OO5

A DAY OF PAMPERING AND RENEWAL STORY AND PHOTOS BY LYNNE WARREN

FOCUS ON YOU 2OO5 A DAY OF PAMPERING AND RENEWAL

THE WINNERS He is a wonderful husband and father of three girls. He just turned the 40 on 03/22. He set a goal for himself of losing 30 lbs by his 40th b-day and DID IT! He deserves to be pampered for a day. He works very hard at making a good life for his family, not just ﬁnancially, but also at being a Godly leader in our home. He takes his daughters ﬁshing and on dates and just looks for things to spend time with his family. He also devotes his time every week to our church as a youth worker. Thanks, Stephenie Lane, his wife.

I would like to nominate my friend, Shari Rounds, for the “focus on you” makeover. This past year Shari found out she had breast cancer and had to endure painful surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. During these hard times Shari continued classes at HCC, maintaining almost a 4.0 average, learning to be an interpreter for the deaf.

cancer. Through treatments and surgeries, Shari’s friend, Rhonda Stephens, says Shari always maintains a positive attitude and demonstrates unwavering faith, making her a real inspiration to others. Rhonda felt that Shari was the perfect candidate for the makeover and day of pampering. The evening Jr. received the call from FOCUS telling him he had won the makeover, he was a little surprised. His wife, Stephanie, conveniently forgot to mention that she had nominated him. Jr. said he had to wonder if something was wrong with him that Stephanie thought needed to be changed. Never fear, though Jr., Stephanie just thinks you are a wonderful husband and father to your three girls who strives to make a good life for your family. Stephanie wanted to reward Jr. for being a great guy, and for meeting his goal of losing 30 lbs. by his 40th birthday. So, she ﬁgured a day of pampering would do the trick. The day began early – 7:00 am – with breakfast courtesy of Fred’s Market Restaurant in Plant City, where Vivian Ruis made sure we were well taken care of. After breakfast and some time to get to know Jr. and Shari, we set off to select new

Her positive attitude and unwavering faith is truly an inspiration to all who know her. I would like for her to know how special she is by giving her a day of pampering. She deserves it.

outfits and accessories for our two makeover subjects, courtesy of Sister’s & Company boutique owner, Cathy Davenport. Sister’s Manager, Devony Scott, met us at the door when we arrived to help with the selection and fitting process. Jr. settled on a nice, dressy-casual outfit with black pants and a patterned shirt that could be described as subtle-tropical. Shari chose an aqua-blue, jeweled top over a green tank top and aqua and green print capris. The finishing touches to her outfit were color-coordinated slip-on sandals, purse, and jewelry. Once the clothing was selected, we were off to The Artistry and its beautiful new facility, where the real pampering began. The Artistry is a full service salon offering a wide range of services. There was no doubt our two subjects were going to get the royal treatment here. Thanks to owners Ron and Jana Evers for helping provide the pampering. The Evers say they love having the opportunity to participate in FOCUS On You every year, and their wonderful staff is willing to donate their time to provide services for a good cause. Shari was excited and admitted that she had never had a facial or

Thank You, Rhonda Stephens Before Pictures of Shari and Jr. - our two makeover subjects

ometimes special people deserve a day just for themselves: a day to be treated like a king or queen, a day where everything revolves around them and only them. That is precisely the idea behind the FOCUS On You Makeover, sponsored by FOCUS Magazine and several Plant City businesses. Friday, June 3, 2005 was just that kind of day for two very special Plant City residents. They were the recipients of this year’s third annual FOCUS On You Makeover.

Potential recipients of the makeover must be nominated by a friend or loved one. Once all the nominations are in, they are voted on by impartial judges. This year, the two lucky winners were Shari Rounds and Jr. Lane. Shari has had a very busy and challenging year, attending classes at HCC to become an interpreter for the deaf, and maintaining a very high grade point average, at that – all the while she has been battling

Shari and Jr. at Fred’s Market Restaurant with Vivian Ruis

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 41

FOCUS ON YOU 2OO5 A DAY OF PAMPERING & RENEWAL

chest, and face. Tonya guarantees her clients will see a great difference in their skin after this facial. Both Shari and Jr. received One Hour, Full Body Therapeutic Massages, performed by Leah Clark, Licensed Massage Therapist. Apparently Leah did a great job because both of our subjects wanted to just stay on the massage table and sleep for a while after their treatments. No rest for the pampered though. Up and at ‘em, Jr. and Shari. Stacy O’Malley, Nail Technician, treated Shari to a Classic Pedicure and Classic Manicure, involving a massaging foot soak, cuticle treatments, nail shaping, and polish. Shari chose a French manicure polish. Nail Technician, Angela Jones, gave Jr. a Therapy Manicure

and Therapy Pedicure, which are similar to the Classic Manicure and Pedicure, but also include a Parafﬁn Treatment. To top off all of the pampering, each of our makeover winners got a new cut and style. One of them even got a little color – and it wasn’t Shari….. Carol Ann Taylor was Jr.’s hairstylist. She updated his style a little with a new cut and a beard trim. Then she managed to talk him into what’s called Camo Color for Men by Redkin. And no, that does not mean that his hair came out green, tan, and black. This quick, simple process takes just 10 minutes and gives the client a choice of three different tones: light, medium, or dark. The idea is to blend a little “pepper” back into the “salt. Carol Ann used ‘light natural’ and a little bit of ‘medium ash’ to very subtly blend in

Jr. and Shari with Devony Scott, Manager of Sister’s & Company.

massage before, and it was Jr.’s ﬁrst facial, too. He was a little hesitant, but was not too difﬁcult to convince that the pampering would do him good. At one point he even asked if they were going to put cucumbers on his eyes. Jr. did mention, though, that he might have to leave town if a picture of him getting a facial was ever made public. Hmmmm… Kelly Glisson, Licensed Esthetician, performed the Men’s Renewal Facial on Jr., which includes a deep cleansing, full skin analysis, exfoliation, extractions, facial massage, massage of the neck, shoulders, arms, and

hands, a customized mask, and hydrating moisturizer. The idea behind this treatment is to reﬁne the surface texture of the skin and counteract the effects of shaving. Shari was treated to the Deluxe Spa Facial by Tonya Frizzell, Licensed Esthetician. This treatment includes deep cleansing of the skin, a skin analysis, exfoliation, extractions, a specialized mask tailored to the client’s skin type, toning, and an appropriate moisturizer based on skin type. Also included are hot steam and hot towel treatments, and massage of the feet, hands, arms,

Shari & JR receiving their Therapeutic Massage from Leah Clark, Licensed Massage Therapist

Kelly Glisson & Tonya Frizzell perform facials on the winners.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 43

FOCUS ON YOU 2OO5 ��

Jr. really had fun with the parafﬁn treatment that was part of his manicure

Shari enjoying her manicure by Stacey O’Malley

Angela Jones, Nail Technician, gave Jr. a pedicure as well as a manicure.

Stacy also performed Shari’s pedicure

Carol Ann Taylor giving Jr. his “camo color” hairstyle

Hair Stylist, Deanna Clemons, creating a cute pixie style for Shari

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and give Jr. a natural, but not-quiteso-gray look.

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Shari already had short hair, which she had always colored prior to her chemo treatments, so she chose to stick with her natural color for a change of pace. Hair Stylist, Deanna Clemons, cut, razored, and textured Shari’s hair into a cute, short, pixie style. A blow dry and separating cream ﬁnished off the look.

In the midst of all the excitement, and since we were way too busy to leave for lunch – Cathy Davenport and Devony Scott came to our rescue. Cathy and Devony have just opened a café next door to Sister’s & Company, called the Courtyard. About noon, a special delivery from the Courtyard arrived for our two pamperees – and none too soon. All that pampering can make a body hungry! Delicious picnic-style

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�� Shari, at Merle Norman Studio, with owner Holley Clark working her makeup magic

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 44

FOCUS ON YOU 2OO5 bag lunches were hand delivered, courtesy of the café, and they were thoroughly enjoyed (and devoured). After a good, long day of pampering at the Artistry, Jr. headed home to relax a little and don his new duds for an evening out to celebrate. Shari was escorted to Merle Norman Studio, where owner Holley Clark expertly handled her makeup design. A moisturizer and then moisturizing foundation was applied. These products are great for women who have undergone medical treatments, like chemo, that severely dehydrate the skin. Holley used the new Summer Color Collection by Merle Norman to give Shari a natural but polished look that wonderfully complemented

her new outfit. Then Shari, too, was off to spend a little time at home relaxing and getting prepared for the night out. All dressed up and ready to go, our two pampered makeover recipients were picked up at their homes by a limousine, along with the people who nominated them. They were taken first to Rainbow Lane Studios, where owners Ken and Sharon Spicer donated their time and services to make portraits for each.Once the picture taking was done, the group was whisked via limo to the Ramada Inn Plantation House Red Rose Dining Room for an evening of fine dining and music, courtesy of owners Batista Sr. and Evelyn Madonia. As always, dinner at the Red Rose was wonderful, and the evening was a great way to top off a super day.

At Rainbow Lane Studios for portraits. Standing L to R: Stephanie & Jr. Lane, Rhonda Stephens, Shari Rounds, and Sharon Spicer. Kneeling: Ken Spicer

But wait, there was one more surprise. The folks from Rainbow Lane Studios stayed late to process the portraits and

AFTER Shari and Jr. after the makeover and day of pampering

Jr. & Shari, along with the folks who nominated them, arrive via limousine at theRamada Inn for a night out

The makeover team. Back row L to R: Tonya Frizzell, Leah Clark, Carol Ann Taylor, Ron Evers, Jana Evers, Devony Scott, Deanna Clemons, Holley Clark. Front Row L to R: Kelly Glisson, Angela Jones, Stacy O’Malley.

then hand delivered them to the Ramada during dinner. Everyone was really surprised, and the portraits were beautiful. At the end of the night the limo returned our guests back to their homes to relax after a hard day of pampering.

Well, another year of FOCUS On You is now in the books. And once again we thank everyone who sent in nominations, and give special thanks to the generous Plant City businesses who donated their time, services and products to make it a great success.

Makeover recipients celebrating at the Ramada Inn Red Rose Dining Room

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 45

EXTRA

Mary Thomas Mathis

STORY BY MARY THOMAS MATHIS, VICE MAYOR

IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO SERVE AND PROTECT the Plant City Police Department says, “In partnership with the community, and while affording dignity and respect to all persons, our mission is to maintain order, improve the quality of life of our citizens, and develop our members to their greatest potential.” This statement represents the department staff of 95 personnel; 70 of who are sworn law enforcement ofﬁcers. We need the services of our Plant City Police & Fire Department to give us a soothing feeling of protection.

ear grips us all, even though must of us are taught to fear not. With 911 happening, we need to know that beyond a higher authority there are others protecting us. This month’s article is in honor of the men and women in this city that serve to protect us. This year we are especially grateful for their

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 46

hard work and dedication to us. Our men and women in blue protect us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When called upon, they are ready in minutes to perform whatever duty needed. Our police department is under the direction of Bill McDaniel, Chief of Police. The mission statement of

Our fire department is under the leadership of George Shiley, Fire Chief. I must say in Plant City we have been rewarded by great service from our public safety personnel. The police department has a crack down on drug and gang activity and we all know about the great job our firefighters did during the downtown fire. I was on the scene and personally witnessed their skill and success to maintain the fire to only one area of downtown.

We will always be truly grateful to the men and women who risk their lives for us everyday. We are also grateful to the volunteers who lend a helping hand to both departments. More than 1100 volunteer hours has been provided to the police department each year since 2000. Ten volunteers supplement the fire department. The following poem is dedicated to our public safety personnel, the Plant City Police Officers and the Plant City Firefighters: WE HONOR the Police Officers and firefighters, who change our lives everyday, The men and women who protect us day and night; and in everyway, People who respect for their dedication to the cause, For when faced with danger, they never even pause. WE HONOR the police officers and firefighters, who always stand true, Whatever the color of uniform; brown, gray or blue, With pride and integrity they say, “To serve and protect” For what they give, we offer our respect. WE HONOR the police officers and firefighters, to the ones we know and to the ones we never really knew, Persons strong enough to answer the challenge are very few, With loving hearts we honor you and all the rest, There’s more to you than the badge on your chest. -Author Unknown

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NTERVIEW TI

SPOTLIGH

Always Looking to Improve 49 Bill Ulbricht Leads the Team at South Florida Baptist Hospital

Story by Brian West Photos by Mike Floyd

Bill Ulbricht, Administrator, South Florida Baptist Hospital, wanted to be involved in healthcare from the time he was just 12 years old. Ulbricht has been an active member of the community since arriving in Plant City just 10 years ago. I recently sat down with Ulbricht and we talked about his background, his family, new things at the hospital, and the current state of healthcare.

Spotlight Interview: Bill Ulbricht Focus - Where are you from? Ulbricht - I’m originally from Chicago, but I grew up in Kentucky. I went to school at Saint Xavier [High School], a private school there. I’ve been in healthcare since I was 12 years old and I knew that this was the job I wanted to do since then.

Focus - Tell me about your family. Ulbricht - My mother was the director of an emergency room and my father was a General in the Army. I never had the desire to go into the service, but my parents didn’t push it either. I just always knew I wanted to go into healthcare. I have a brother in Texas who is an administrator at a hospital. I have three sisters; one is a massage therapist and registered nurse in Colorado, one is an electrician in Montana, and one specializes in embroidery work for a company in Kentucky. I’m the fourth of the ﬁve. My brother is the youngest and all my sisters are older than me. My mother passed away from multiple myeloma in 1989, and my dad lives in Venice, Florida. That was the reason I came to Florida. He was 75 years old and I just wanted to get a little bit closer to see if we could help out, but I had to make sure I was about an hour and a half away so he didn’t show up for dinner everyday [jokingly]. I have a wonderful wife, Ann, and we’ll be married 15 years this year. We have 2 daughters, Emilie and Lindsey. Emilie is 7 years old and Lindsey is 4 years old, and they will be 8 and 5 this year. They were both born here at this hospital and I wouldn’t have had them delivered anywhere else. They are both wonderful children. They really bring perspective in what I do. They’ll ask the questions that no one else will.

Focus – How did you get into hospital administration? Ulbricht - After I graduated from Saint Xavier, I went to school at the University of Kentucky and got a Bachelors Degree in Finance. I was already working at the Humana hospital chain at their hospital in Louisville when they opened a new hospital in Lexington where the

University of Kentucky is. When they opened the new hospital, I got hired on there. After I graduated, they had a specialist program for either Administration or Finance. I chose Finance because I thought if I ever became an administrator and understood the numbers, I’d do a better job of running the hospital. While working, I completed my Masters in Business Administration from Regis University in Denver, CO.

Ulbricht – When I left the University of Kentucky in Lexington, I moved to Virginia, West Virginia, Michigan, Atlanta, and then New Orleans. I was working for a company called Health Trust as the Chief Financial Ofﬁcer and I wanted to get into administration and get to Florida. I interviewed for a position at Brandon Hospital and several people said to me, “You need to check out South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City.” My ﬁrst reaction was, “Where?” They

“There was an administrator there, John Morris, who would walk around the hospital and talk with everyone and he’d take me around with him. I thought that was the coolest job in the hospital and now that I’m doing it, I still think it’s the coolest job in the hospital.” Focus – You said earlier that you got involved in healthcare at age 12? Ulbricht - My mother would bring me to the hospital with her so I didn’t stay at home beating up my little brother [jokingly], and I would transport patients from the radiology department. There was an administrator there, John Morris, who would walk around the hospital and talk with everyone and he’d take me around with him. I thought that was the coolest job in the hospital and now that I’m doing it, I still think it’s the coolest job in the hospital.

Focus – What was the path that brought you to Plant City?

said, “They’re doing a lot of neat things over there and they’re about to do the deal with the Baycare Hospitals.” Finally, a gentleman named Tom Stone, who just happens to be Diane Sparkman’s cousin and the administrator at a hospital in Louisiana, said I had to go check it out. So I decided to come over as the Chief Financial Ofﬁcer for the experience of working on the Baycare deal, because nothing like it had been done before. When that was complete, some of the board members went to my boss and asked that I stay on as the hospital administrator.

Focus - Describe a typical day

for me. Ulbricht - My typical day starts pretty early. I like to get up between 4:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. and exercise and run. It gets the day going. My day may start at the hospital as early as 7:00 a.m. with morning physician meetings or as late as 9:00 a.m., depending on what’s going on that day. My major focus is to work with the physicians to establish stronger relationships between them and the hospital. I believe that if we take care of the physicians, we’re going to take care of the patient’s needs. I also spend a lot of time working between Baycare St. Josephs Hospital and South Florida Baptist Hospital, making sure we get what we need to run the hospital, whether it’s capital, equipment, services, or programs. I’m the point person between South Florida Baptist Hospital and the rest of the Baycare organization.

Focus - What’s new at the hospital? Ulbricht – The construction going on will be our new emergency room. It will be three times the size of our existing ER. Currently we have about 11 beds in the ER. The new ER will have 36. Our current ER is built for about 20,000 patients a year. A couple of years ago we saw 42,000 patients and we’re on pace for about 45,000 patients this year. We’re seeing some challenges with wait times and we’re trying to work through that. About 65 – 70 percent of patients admitted to the hospital come through the ER. When patients come in to the new ER, they’ll go directly to a room and be registered at bedside. There isn’t even a registration area in the new design. While we’re building the new emergency room, we’re going to shell in space above it for a new intensive care unit. It probably won’t be built out until 2009 or 2010, but we’ll have the shell in place so we don’t have to go back and build on top of the new ER when it’s in operation. The new ICU space will take us from 8 beds to about 18. We’re also developing a new pediatric unit that will be on the third ﬂoor of the North wing of the building. Construction will start Continued on page 52

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 50

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 51

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Continued from page 50 in the middle of this summer and we expect that to be open by the third or fourth quarter of this year. There has been input from everyone on each of these projects. We get things done by getting people involved in the decisions; the design of the emergency room, the design of the surgery center. We brought in team members, physicians, board members, and community focus groups to get their feedback. The last thing we wanted to do was to get the administrator and an architect together and say, “Okay, this is what we’re going to do.” That would just never work.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 52

Ulbricht – Well, parking is a challenge; it’s always one of the prices for growth. We do have enough parking spaces for the campus; unfortunately, they’re not all right by the front door. On the South end of the building, we have valet parking available for any patient or family members who’d like to use that and we’re assessing that service for the front door of the hospital. It’s been a huge patient satisﬁer, especially with those in the surgery center, because it’s right there, but again, it’s available to anyone who would like to use it. It’s already paid for, so it’s complimentary. Long term, we’re trying to avoid building a parking garage because they usually bring high rates of crime. The entire campus is under surveillance so if something happens, we’re usually quick to respond.

Focus – How do you see the state of healthcare today from an administrative viewpoint vs. that of the average family struggling to pay for healthcare? Ulbricht – The entire healthcare industry is going to have to make some signiﬁcant changes. There is a real focus on processes and efﬁcien-

cy from our perspective to be able to provide the level of care and patient satisfaction that we need to provide. A large portion of our patients in the emergency room don’t need to be there. They need access to a primary care or access to their physician to take care of some of these smaller ailments. Unfortunately, the physicians’ offices are so busy that they can’t fit in those patients every day. There are also a number of patients that don’t have a primary care or a physician to go to and they end up using the emergency room as their primary care physician. The difficulty with this is that the most expensive point of care within a hospital is the emergency room, because patients show up and we have no history. So we spend a lot of time getting that information so we can give them the care they need. If you show up to the emergency room, you will be treated. We don’t turn anyone away. That’s part of our mission and the direction of the hospital. So when you have a patient who’s been sick for a week and decides on Friday night they need to go see a doctor, well, there’s a disconnect there. But that’s not a problem in Plant City, that’s a problem nation wide. Ulbricht told me that one thing that is very important in his life is balance; that he tries to do that between family, work, and church, and that community is also very important, that last piece of the puzzle. Ulbricht said, “I believe you can really make a difference, not only in what you do and what your family sees, but also in the community. I have a personal philosophy that you should always be getting better, that there is always room for improvement.” It was very apparent that Ulbricht means what he says, and we’re lucky to have him as part of the Plant City community. Thanks for all you do, Bill.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 53

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 55

LOCAL STORY & PHOTOS BY PLANT CITY PHOTO ARCHIVES, INC.

PLANT CITY’S GREATEST GENERATION THE BOYS & GIRLS – MEN AND WOMEN

That being 60 years ago, we felt we needed to honor all those who gave so much and sacriﬁced so selﬂessly in order to preserve the liberty we continue to enjoy today. We recognize now that these people changed the world, rescued it from the abyss, and gave it back to us.

hen World War II hit Plant City, “it was like a vacuum that sucked out every man between the ages of 18 and 38 and shipped him off to war.” Betty Barker Watkins remembers it well. She said the town changed almost overnight. David E. Bailey, Jr. was chosen as draftee #1. Then all the rest were sent off, too. They served in the U.S. Army, the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. And those that couldn’t go

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 56

joined the Home Guard. In one way or another, everyone was involved. Some came home on leave, if they could get it, some came home to recover from their wounds, some came home after their discharge, and some never came home. The ﬁghting ended in 1945 and the peace treaties followed many years later, but the worst years for America were from 1941 to 1945.

We asked for photos of those that served, and they answered. The Photo Archives has received over 400 photographs from “Plant City” men and women still living in Florida, and from many who are scattered across the country. We had numerous wonderful octogenarians visit our ofﬁces to bring us their photographs and regale us with wonderful, sad, enlightening, and horrifying stories. After meeting them, the meaning of “The Greatest Generation”

becomes immense, very real, and deep-felt. From A to Z they came. Some ﬂew over the hump, from Burma into China, delivering supplies behind Japanese lines. Some ﬂew over the channel deep into German held territory. Some landed on the beach on D-Day, more than one had his ship blown out from under him, and tales of excruciatingly painful, long cold marches were all too frequent. We’ve had individuals, and families consisting of as many as four brothers serving concurrently. We’ve heard disheartening stories of missed opportunities, and glorious stories of reunions in places that barely exist on the map. These were and are incredibly wonderful people, and we extend to them our eternal gratitude for what they gave of themselves to give to all of us. They did change the world. No more words – here are some photos. Sources: Plant City Photo Archives, Inc., “WWII Era Photo Project”, and “Oral History Project – 2005”.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 57

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 58

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This Block Beauty has 4 bedroom, 2 bath split plan. 2 car garage, eat-in kitchen, volume ceilings and much more. 2 1/2 years new. Davy 376-4444. $174,900

“Farm Charm” Marvelous mobile home with 3 bdrms, 2 baths, large great room w/ﬁreplace, formal dining room, spacious kitchen w/island, dinette, Florida room, laundry room, den, elegant master bedroom w/jetted garden tub, tiled shower stall & 2 porches! This property is over 2 acres w/a good portion fenced for the ownerʼs cows & goats! There is a small barn/shed & chicken coup should the new owner succumb to this “enticing farm charm”. Call Barbara Jean Kulykʼs cell phone at 813-781-1915 for more info. #145

Quick..Circle this ad! 2 are better than 1! 2 adjacent commercial properties previously used as a ﬂorist (1984) & a used car lot sales business (1957). Lots of potential bus./land uses, located on main thoroughfare of Burgeoning Plant City, FL. The 2 combined properties are over 1/2 acre. Call Barbara Jean Kulyk on her cell for more details. 813-781-1915.

Rutenburg built w/bonus room - Quiet cul-de-sac, front porch, large yard for children, green thumb enthusiasts or add a pool! Owners added bonus room (with permit), completely tiled with winter/summer windows. Yard is fenced, perfect for your favorite pet. This spacious home can be yours. Visit it quickly as fresh paint and landscaping makes it one of the neighborhoodʼs best! $239,900. Call Jayne Rawnsley @ 763-0495.

Hey, Look Me Over! Charmer of a home with 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, eat in kitchen and completely fenced. Perfect for budget minded home buyers or enterprising. Call Barbara Jean Kulyk on her cell for more details. 813-781-1915.

“Spruced Up & Special” 3 bedroom, 2 bath, great room, screened porch home w/1 car garage, fenced back yard, new appliances & fresh interior/exterior paint, new Berber carpet & tile.. This sweetheart of a home will not last long! Call Barb Jean Kulyk on her cell at 813-781-1915

Call John Walmsley. Evenings 752-4835 One of many we have for sale in 55+ park & family community.

Fairway Fantasy! Great opportunity for Golf Course home with wonderful view. Very spacious 3,194 sq. ft. under air with a unique design. There are 3BD, 3BA, a versatile den/guest room/computer room, formal living and dining rooms plus family and bonus room! Call Barb Jean Kulyk @ 781-1915

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�� FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 62

�� REALTOR®

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Carl’s Pick of the Month

Walden Lake 4Bds/3Baths 2,485 Sq. Ft. Built 1995 2 Car Garage Caged Pool Waterfront Lot Summer Kitchen Formal Living Formal Dining Breakfast Room Island Kitchen Breakfast Bar Ceiling Fans 3 Way Split Irrigation System Home Warranty

$375,000

�� FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 63

�� LISTING HOMES FOR 2% or 4%

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 64

�� LISTING HOMES FOR 2% or 4% ��

�� currently available, please call our office for more details. Homes by David Catlin

UNDER CONSTRUCTION - Beautiful custom home on 1.5 acres, still under construction. When completed the split floor plan home will feature 10ʼ ceilings w/3,200SF of living space, a huge master BR suite w/sitting area, hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, Crown moldings & a separate den. Estimated to be completed by July 2005. #21

Homes by TGC

Homes by David Catlin Forbes Road

Bob Head

UNDER CONSTRUCTION - Beautiful custom home on 1 acre lot in the Cork area. Still under construction, when completed the split floor plan home will feature 10ʼ ceilings w/3,200SF of living space, a huge master BR suite w/sitting area, hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, Crown molding & a separate den. #22

Homes by Pro Edge Builders

Lake Avenue

THREE CUSTOM BUILT HOMES - Near Plant City Fair Grounds, currently under construction, these cute concrete block 4BR/2BA homes w/a garage are due to be completed in May. They will feature living room, dining room, vaulted ceilings & all new Roper appliances. Call for more info, these will go fast! #24

Homes by Pro Edge Builders

GREAT 3BR/2BA - “Brittany II” floor plan w/bonus room above garage. This home will sit on a nice squared acre lot. The home will feature Cathedral ceilings, ceiling fans, wood cabinets, double insulated windows, breakfast nook, dining room w/step ceilings & a screened lanai. The master BR will feature step ceilings, a master BA w/a Jacuzzi tub & walk-in shower. #38

Constructed by Dave Catlin

Lot 4

GREAT 3BR/2BA - Floor plan w/bonus room above garage. This home will sit on a nice squared 1 acre lot. The home will feature Cathedral ceilings, ceiling fans, wood cabinets, double insulated windows, breakfast nook, dining room w/step ceilings & a screened lanai. The master BR will feature step ceilings, a master BA w/a Jacuzzi tub & walk-in shower. #39

Lot 2

Lot 13

BEAUTIFUL - Custom executive style home being built on a 1 acre lot located in the new Mystic Oaks subdivision in Plant City. This home will be 3,400SF of living space when finished. It will feature 10ʼ ceilings, hardwood floors, granite countertops, central vacuum system, intercom & security system, stainless steel appliances, Crown moldings, a separate den & a huge master BR suite w/a sitting area.

Homes by Pro Edge Builder Joe McIntosh

THIS WILL BE A STUNNING 3BR/2BA HOME - Featuring vaulted ceilings, Corian countertops, Crown molding, ceramic tile, wallto-wall carpet & much much more. Too many upgrades to write about, please call for more details. #23

1+ ACRE LOTS For site built homes only, in the desirable Cork area. Call for more details #27

Homes by Pro Edge Builders

Lot 1

Buildable Lots Available

ONLY 8 LOTS LEFT! 1+ ACRE LOTS NORTH OF PLANT CITY - For executive style homes only. Featuring beautiful grandfather oaks, paved streets & street lights. Call today, we would love to give you more details on these lots! #26

Homes by TGC

Lowry

COMPLETELY RENOVATED - 1,184SF, 3BR/2BA home w/ carport on 55ʼx118ʼ fenced lot. Features include all new roof, flooring (carpet & tile), air conditioning, kitchen cabinets, appliances, drywall & lighting, tiled BAʼs, electrical & plumbing upgrade. Warranties on the A/C, shingled roof & appliances. $105,000. #25

Constructed by Dave Catlin

Lot 3

BEAUTIFUL - Custom executive style home being built on a 1 acre lot located in the new Mystic Oaks subdivision in Plant City. This home will be 3,400SF of living space when finished. It will feature 10ʼ ceilings, hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, Crown moldings, a separate den & a huge master BR suite w/a sitting area.

2 SITE BUILT HOMES AVAILABLE Each home will be 3BR/2BA/2-car garage w/2,200SF on an acre lot. Each home will feature a bonus room, den, large porches. The homes will cost approx. $300,000, please call our office for more details. #28

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 66

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 67

SEARCH STOPS HERE… Nearly new 3Bd/2Ba, 1566 sq. ft. Homes of Merit home, beautifully maintained, cathedral ceilings, great floor plan, lots of storage, a beautiful country setting w/ separate shed, 6‘ C/L fence and screen room- An inviting retreat price reduced to sell at $119,900. #2

SIZZLIN‘ SUMMER days will find you relaxing in your sparkling pool & screened lanai. Lovely 3/2, CB offers custom gourmet kitchen w/tons of cabinetry, computer desk, custom tile backsplashes and floors. Kids & Dad‘ll love the huge 20x16 Family room, lovely Florida room and Formal LR. Solar heated water, DBL car garage, all wrapped in 8.5ft wood privacy fence - Nearly 2200sqft living area in this well built home. A great value w/loads of amenities - $242,500 #41

GOD‘S COUNTRY 1.54 acres located in Lithia, secluded, beautifully wooded, this paradise won‘t last long! 3/1 CH/A, 1104sqft home is a great start or retirement haven. This stilt home has gorgeous laminated-wood floors, storage and 2 c carport beneath. Call for info, Priced to sell fast at $129,900.#78

�� WALDEN LAKE - Fully remodeled, enjoy huge great room, FR w/ fireplace, huge kitchen w/new appliances, 3/2, CH//A, 2 car garage. Enjoy community pool, tennis court and clubhouse - $1295/Month. 3/1 BUNGALOW on 1⁄2 acre inside City Limits. Backyard C/L fenced, 1 car detached garage, new carpet, freshly painted inside and out, washer & dryer included - $1000/Month. OAKBRIDGE/BRIDGEFIELD, 3700 sq.ft. Executive Home. 4Bd/3Ba, office, Family Rm w/FRPL, Huge gourmet kitchen w/appliances, and sparkling pool w/lanai. Beautifully landscaped corner lot.Make this prestigous home yours. $3000.Mo.

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for more info and detailed list of personal property that is available. A place to worship that is completely set up and priced at $249,900. #53 GREAT POTENTIAL In this 2.85 acre site in Eagle Lake, FL. Frontage on both SR 540 and Cooley Road. Can be annexed into City of Eagle Lake and be zoned commercial - Prime Development

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�� FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 68

Area! Must see - $650,000. #63 ENTRY TO WALDEN LAKE! Don’t miss this opportunity! 8.92 Ac, ideal for church, development, south of new YMCA, is pretty, high and dry! Additional sites adjoin parcel and are available. Call for more details. $895,000. #65

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�� FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 69

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�� FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 72

HOME GUIDE

WALDEN LAKE REVIEW

STORY BY KEN LAWRENCE-SENIOR WRITER

It must be golf month in the Ken Lawrence office at FOCUS Magazine. Elsewhere in this month’s edition are two separate articles about charitable golf tournaments and in The Walden Lake Review, the main topic is also golf. The Walden Lake Golf and Country Club has been sold (well, sort of). It’s under contract to a company apparently named Fantasy Golf and when you receive this issue, the sale might have closed. The present owners, Meadowbrook, operators of several golf courses in the southeast, have been divesting themselves of a number of their courses in recent months and Walden Lake has had the proverbial “For Sale” sign on its doorstep. Officials at Walden Lake Golf Course have neither confirmed nor denied the sale, but it has not been a very well kept secret. Your writer, a Realtor, was actually working with another group

that wanted to buy the club, but other real estate deals had to happen at the same time and that did not occur. The purchase price is said to be between $3.2 and $3.7 million and word on the street is that the new owners plan to pump some $2 million more into the facility. Everyone hopes they start with the greens on the Hills Course, which have not been in very good condition lately. THE VOTE PASSES The Walden Lake Community Association has ﬁnally received enough votes (most of them proxies) to enable it to change the constitution, so that only 20% of the membership must be present for any vote to approve or reject initiatives. This should make things much easier for the Board of Directors to get things done. Speaking of the Board, two sitting directors have been reelected

and a new person has been voted onto the board. The returnees are Eileen O’Leary and Glenn Allen, while the rookie is Richard Strand, a resident of the Preserve. Best wishes to the trio and their fellow board members. THE POLO FIELD The Community Association is inching closer to an agreement to take over the Polo Field from WCI, the Walden Lake developer which still owns the property. WCI wanted Walden Lake to assume all insurance policies now held on the 11 acre site. Included was a policy for any polo matches. Imagine a horse and rider being hurt and what that could have cost. The proposed new deal would eliminate insurance for polo matches or practices from the association, at a saving of close to $100,000 in annual premiums. The polo participants would have to carry their own insurance under the new plan.

As we were writing this column, coincidentally, we received a call from Patricia Wing in Park Wood, who informed us that the previous column we wrote about doggie-do at the Polo Field appears to have been ignored. Actually, Mrs. Wing says not only are animal droppings an issue, but garbage is, as well. This despite the fact that the Association has placed several trash cans at the ﬁeld entranceway. Everything from soda cans, chip and candy wrappers, beer cans, liquor bottles and even used baby diapers have been found on the ﬁeld. Mrs. Wing also reports that she notices many cars at the Polo Field without Walden Lake windshield stickers. The facility is supposed to be for residents only. At the very least, outsiders can show respect and pickup their trash. Till Next Month!!

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 73

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HOME GUIDE

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

COURTESY OF SHELTON KEELY

LOWER YOUR TAXES

HOW TO MAKE MONEY IN REAL ESTATE INVESTING Tax incentives for real estate investors can often make the difference in your tax rates. Deductions for rental property can often be used to offset wage income. Tax breaks can often enable investors to turn a loss into a proﬁt. For which items can investors get tax breaks? You can claim deductions for actual costs you incur for ﬁnancing, managing and operating the rental property. This includes mortgage interest payments, real estate taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, property management fees, travel, advertising, and utilities (assuming the tenant doesn’t pay them). These expenses can be subtracted from your adjusted gross income when determining your personal income taxes. Of course, these deductions cannot exceed the amount of real estate income you receive. In addition to deductions for operating

costs, you can also receive breaks for depreciation. Buildings naturally deteriorate over time, and these “losses” can be deducted, regardless of the actual market value of the property. Because depreciation is a non-cash expense - you are not actually spending any money - the tax code can get a bit tricky. For more information about depreciation and various tax alternatives, ask your tax advisor about Section 1031 of the U.S. Tax Code. Have a Positive Cash Flow There are two kinds of positive cash flows: pre-tax and after-tax. A pre-tax positive cash flow occurs when income received is greater than expenses incurred. This sort of situation is difficult to find, but they are usually a strong and safe investment. An after-tax positive cash flow may have expenses

that outweigh collected income, but various tax breaks allow for a positive cash flow. This is more common, but it is generally not as strong or safe as a pre-tax positive cash flow. Regardless of what kind of real estate you choose to invest in, timely collections from your tenants is absolutely necessary. A positive cash flow - whether it is pre-tax or aftertax - requires rental income. Be sure to find quality tenants; a thorough credit and employment check is probably a good idea. Use Leverage One of the most important factors in determining a solid investment is the amount of equity you are purchasing. Equity is the difference between the actual worth of the property and the balanced owed on the mortgage.

Benefit from Growing Equity While investing in real estate is relatively complex, it is often worth the extra work. When compared to other financial investments, like bonds or CD’s, the return on investment for real estate purchases can often be greater. The key to real estate investing is equity. Determine an amount of equity that you want to achieve. When you reach your goal, it’s time to sell or refinance. Determining the proper amount of equity may require the assistance of a real estate professional. Shelton Keely Broker-Associate Walden Lake Realty Inc. 813.752.2087

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�� FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 75

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EXTRA

STORY BY AL RUECHEL

THE HIDDEN TAX HEIST Here’s what I hate about government. If you want to tax me, then be bold about it. Step up to the bar, take the tax gun out of your holster and point it at my head and say pay up! I want it clear and understandable and in black and white. I’ll send you a check. I may not be happy about it, but you don’t get something for nothing. It’s those hidden taxes and fees that drive me bonkers because no one can explain what those fees are, how we got them, or the logic behind them. Take your phone bill for example. You can have mine if you wish. According to Consumer Watch, just 20 years ago taxes and fees made up less than 8 percent of your basic service charge. Today, on average, for your home telephone service, you and I are paying 31 percent. And if you have a cell phone, that rate is a whopping 42 percent or higher, depending on usage. According to my last phone bill from Verizon I was taxed by the state, by local government, by the federal government, by emergency services, for universal connectivity fees, to help pay for the lines that run to our homes, to offset the money the phone company is losing to cell phones, for having an unlisted phone number, an FCC access charge, gross receipts tax, a portability fee and ﬁnally, the latest blow to our pocketbooks, the Federal Universal Service Fund. Those

charges made up 39 percent of my phone bill. Enough is enough! So here’s what I did. I called three different phone companies and talked to a total of 9 different customer service folks about the taxes and fees I was charged. They all had about the same answers, which they read off their computer screens. “I’m sorry, “said one of the gals, “that’s all the information I have. I honestly can’t tell you what these all mean or how they got here.” Thank goodness she was honest. As I joked with some of the other service folks about writing the commentary, they admitted the fees change so often even they get confused. Do lots of folks call and complain about the additional fees and taxes? No, very few complaints. We are such stinking sheep! Then again, how can you complain about something you don’t understand? Four of the reps passed me on to their supervisors who, in an effort not to make me mad, put on their smiley faces and gave me the company line. “These fees are all approved by the FCC and local and state governments. Everything is clearly printed on the bills and we’d be happy to explain them to you.” Translated? We’ll read the screen and you nod your head and say thank you. Here’s the truth! Like many companies, the phone

companies are having a hard time ﬁnancially. The rates for their services continue to drop from local calling to long distance. So they get their high paid lobbyists together and go to Washington and beg and cry and paint all this gloom and doom so the FCC will create additional fees they can pocket. And the FCC, in it’s wisdom, wants to make sure all those elderly and poor families can always afford phone service, so we are charged an additional fee to help subsidize those most in need. You and I don’t get any say in these matters. The Public Service Commission and other government regulators are given the authority to determine what’s fair and in the best interest of the industries and we the people. Some folks argue all these additional fees and service charges are nothing more than taxation without representation. The ghost of King George is lurking near! But it doesn’t stop in Washington. The state has to get its share of tax revenue. Local governments, both in the counties and cities, have also found a mini pot of gold in these utilities. They charge franchise fees and emergency operations fees, otherwise called municipal service tax units, on your tax bill. Again, you and I aren’t questioned or polled or are even part of the equation. We have to trust our politicians and trust the big utility companies that their billing practices are accurate.

Are you getting the picture? This is the new way of taxing us without calling it a tax. It’s adding a teaspoon of sugar to the medicine, or is it poison? The phone company does it with incredibly complicated bills that no one, not even their employees, fully understand. The federal government does it by giving in to the lobbyists who paint Armageddon if additional fees aren’t imposed. Local politicians buy into the fee lingo because they’re desperate for operating capitol and know if they pass an outand-out tax hike they’ll kiss their jobs good bye. And on and on it goes and grows. So, the next time someone suggests to you that your taxes aren’t all that high, ask them to take out their “blank-it-E-blank” phone bill, or property tax bill, or water or utility bill, and explain what each charge line by line means. Hidden or not, a tax is simply an instrument designed to separate you from your hard earned money. Disguising it in sheep’s clothing doesn’t change the wolf hiding underneath.

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 77

BUSINESS & FINANCE

BUSINESS PROFILE

STORY & PHOTOS BY KRISTEN TONEY

PLANT CITY’S NEWEST REINVENTED HIGH-CLASS SALON THE ARTISTRY

pond and sparkling fountain and enjoy a serene setting with a clear signal! Although the majority of the new facility is dedicated to cutting and styling, there are plenty of other services to take advantage of. Enjoy a massage, facial, manicure or pedicure, along with numerous specialty services which are also offered. Take advantage of the services provided for large groups during special events, such as weddings, proms and children’s birthday parties. Some of the most popular services include: Deep Tissue, Stone and Sports Massages, Permanent Make-Up, Ear Candelling, Microderm Abrasion, Monthly Specialty Pedicures, Spa Packages

The staff of the Artistry is here to serve you!

ive years ago, Ron and Jana Evers established a salon that has become a Plant City icon. They began with only three people inside a 700 square foot building, and it soon became obvious that an expansion would be needed in the future. The future has ﬁnally arrived! On May 9, the Artistry Salon and Spa moved to its new location at 1505 Alexander Street, taking a giant leap into a beautiful brand new 3,000 square foot structure. “The main reason we moved was the space issue,” said Ron. “We wanted a different location, and we also wanted to be able to offer more options when it comes to services. If a mother and daughter came in and wanted to have a full day of beauty, one service after another, and all at the same time, we wanted to be able to accommodate them. Now we can!”

Accommodation is certainly an issue when it comes to the approximately 3,000 customers who call the Artistry “their salon”. Instead of the former cozy waiting area combined with the salon’s office, customers are now welcomed into a spacious entrance, boasting plenty of comfortable chairs and shelves full of numerous products to browse while they wait for their styling appointment. Potted plants, colorful artwork and refined furnishings give the salon a flair which can be appreciated as much as any fine salon in a major city.

for technicians and clients alike. Now there is no more need for stepping over purses or switching from station to station, and once the customer has had their hair washed, there is no longer a wait to sit under the dryer! A hall of shampoo stations and upright dryers grace the back of the salon, making convenience and efﬁciency easily achieved. Need to make a quiet call on your cell phone away from the chatter of clients and technicians? Step outside the back door onto the deck overlooking the

Stop by the Artistry Salon and Spa to obtain a full brochure listing services offered, or call (813) 7177700 to make your appointment. Superior pampering is just a phone call away!

In the old location, the service was wonderful; however, the space had become a bit cramped Come to the Artistry and enjoy a manicure and specialty pedicure

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 78

“We’re just so excited to be here,” said Jana. “We’re ﬁnally in a place where we can grow comfortably, and we welcome anyone who is looking to join in with us. If you’re in need of a career change, and you want to be involved in something that is very hands-on, we would love to have you!”

The new look leaves plenty of room for clients and stylists alike

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 79

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BUSINESS & FINANCE

INVESTING

SUBMITTED BY EDWARD JONES

Financial Focus WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE GOOD INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES?

ack in first grade or so, you learned that the U.S. territory ended where Mexico’s or Canada’s began. Geographically speaking, that is still true. But when it comes to investing you can find investment opportunities anywhere in the world. This fact shouldn’t surprise you. After all, we all buy a great many products produced outside the U.S. - and the companies making those items might be traded on a foreign stock exchange. But there are a lot of foreign companies. How can you know which ones offer the best investment potential? And when you buy shares of international stocks, is there anything special you need to know? Before investing in global equities, you may want to work with an investment professional - someone with the experience and research capabilities necessary to evaluate investment opportunities and risks in an unfamiliar environment. But, whether you work with someone or not, keep these points in mind: • Special risks - Every investment - no matter where it originates - carries some type of risk. But if you’re evaluating a foreign stock, you have to consider the usual risk factors - strength of management, competitiveness of products, history of earnings - and then look at some special risks, including considerable changes in market value, lack of liquidity, political instability, currency fluctuations, economic climate, foreign taxes and differences in financial reporting standards. (These risks are not meant to be inclusive of all risks associated with international investing. Talk to your investment representative for more information.) As you’ll notice, most of these elements share a high degree of unpredictability, so you can’t “plan”

for them in your assessment of a foreign stock’s overall risk. But you should factor in these uncertainties when making investment decisions. • Diversification - Some investment principles are universal - and diversification is certainly one of them. By investing in foreign stocks, you can help diversify a portfolio that may be exclusively devoted to U.S. companies. But even within your global stocks, you can diversify - by company, industry and country. This last item is particularly important; if a country is going through some type of turmoil, the effects can drag down the entire economy and all industries. • “Hot” regions - Every so often, a particular region grabs the attention of market watchers. The Pacific Rim, Latin America, Western Europe - all have taken their turns as “hot” regions in which to invest. However, by the time you get around to investing in these areas, they may already have begun to cool off. And, in any case, a “hot” region does not guarantee a sizzling investment. Evaluate the special risks, diversification and fundamentals before jumping on the bandwagon of a particular country or region. • Limit foreign holdings Ultimately, you’ll probably want to limit your foreign holdings to no more than 10 percent to 15 percent of your overall portfolio. The U.S. represents only 30 percent of the world’s economy, which means you could benefit from international investments. Exposure to these investments may also provide additional diversification benefits for your portfolio.

Michael Cameron 2501 Thonotosassa Rd. Plant City, Fl. 33563-1464 (In Publix Shopping Center) 813-759-1491 www.edwardjones.com

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 81

EDUCATION STORY & PHOTO BY CHRIS RICKETTS

PLANT CITY’S FUTURE IS BRIGHT

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR STUDENTS!

Clay Bavinger with Mike Butler

wo Plant City High School student athletes were recently honored at the Thirty-Seventh Annual Banquet of the Tampa Chapter National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. Scott Williams, linebacker, received a Scholar-Athlete award in recognition of his football ability, academic achievement and school leadership. Scott was Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-Conference, County All-Star Team, Defensive Captain and has a 4.45 weighted GPA.

Clay Bavinger received the NFL Players Association Scholarship. Clay recently won the #1 singles and #1 doubles championship titles at the Class 4A District 6 Tennis Tournament at USF. He was Western Conference 1st Team and All-County Honorable Mention Boy’s Tennis Team. Clay is class valedictorian and has a 6.84 weighted GPA. Former Devil Ray’s player, Wade Boggs, was the keynote speaker. Scot Brantley, from the University of Florida and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, presented the Scholar-Athlete Award to Scott Williams. Mike Butler, from the Green Bay Packers, presented the NFL Players Association Scholarship to Clay Bavinger.

Juniors competing in the ﬁnal Saturday of competition: L to R; Ryan Napier, Scott Presnell, Antoinne Jackson, and Steven Mosser.

The Plant City High School Academic Team competed in the First Annual Smarty Pants Quiz Show. This show was taped on consecutive Saturdays, culminating with the Championship Round. Hillsborough County Schools competed until eliminated by a loss to another school. Plant City High School made it until the ﬁnal round and was named the county runner-up, with Bloomingdale High School taking top honors. The Smarty Pants Quiz Show was televised in May on HTV22.

Representing Plant City High School were seniors: Will Anderson, Clay Bavinger, Scott Cutshall and juniors: Antoinne Jackson, Steven Mosser, Ryan Napier, and Scott Presnell. The contest was a Social Science, local government and current events quiz show. The taping took place in the HTV22 studio at the Hillsborough County Center in Tampa.

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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES �� FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 82

• Maintenance Line Mechanic • Farm Supervisor • Production Supervisor • CDL Driver • Part-Time Shipping Clerk �� 813.305.1170��

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Check us out on the web www.plantcitygov.com/rec

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 83

SPORTS

STORY & PHOTOS BY BOB HUGHENS

SHOOTING FOR THE STARS

GIRLS UNDER 15 SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

It’s starting to get physical out there.

fter days of waiting for a A break in the weather, the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department Optimist Youth Soccer League Tournament Finals finally got under way at Sansone Park on June 2nd. The Stars and the Stingers took the field to determine who would win the title of champions of the “Girls Under 15” soccer teams. Pre-game pep talk from Coach John Traylor of the Stingers and Co-coaches Robin Glover and Dan Haines of the Stars got the ladies on both teams fired up and ready to do battle. They took the field with enthusiasm and determination.

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 84

From the beginning tip off, most of the first half turned out to be a defensive struggle for both teams. While each team got its share of shots on goal, most of the shots went wide right or left of the goal. At the end of the first half, the score was tied, Stars 0-Stingers 0. After each team discussed their strategy for the second half, the teams took the field with renewed energy and one thing in mind: WIN! Up until midway through the second period, it remained a defensive battle, with each team turning over possession of the ball a number of times. Then the Stars found an opening, as Jane Rosales

was able to slip the ball past the goalie for the Stingers first score. The Stingers went up 1-0. But almost before the celebrating was over for the Stingers, Shauna Seckman scored for the Stars to tie the game, Stingers 1-Stars 1. Neither team could muster any more offense and with the score tied at the end of regulation play, the rules called for a “Shootout” between the teams. The officials explained how the shootout would be conducted. Each team would pick five “shooters” to each take one shot at the other team’s goal. The teams would alternate shots at the goals. After each team takes five shots, the

team with the most goals would be declared the winner. If the score was still tied after the five shots each, the game converts to a “sudden death” shootout. This meant that the first team to score would be awarded the win. The coaches picked their five shooters and the shootout began. The Stars won the toss and sent their first shooter, Lauren Morris, to the line. Lauren took the ball downfield and made her shot. The kick was good, however she kicked the ball after the five-second whistle had blown and the goal was no good. Each kicker has to kick the ball before the whistle is blown. If the

SPORTS

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Co-Coaches Robin Glover and Dan Haines watch the action from the sidelines.

ball goes into the goal after the whistle, it is scored as a goal as long as the kick is made before the whistle. First up for the Stingers was Marlee Kvaltine. She took the ball downﬁeld and scored! The Stingers go up 1-0. Next up for the Stars was Selidonia Espinoza, but her goal was no good. Jane Rosales, who scored the only goal for the Stingers in regulation, took her turn as shooter, but her goal was no good. Next shooter for the Stars was Monica Reinsch whose goal was good. The score is now tied 1-1. Briana Corzine is the next shooter up for the Stingers, but her goal is no good. For the

Stars, Shauna Seckman, who scored the Stars only regulation goal steps up and takes the ball downfield and scores the Stars second shootout goal. The Stars are now leading 2-1 and the Stingers desperately need a goal to tie. Cortney Mountjoy’s attempt was no good for the Stingers. Janette Ramirez made the final attempt for the Stars but it failed. It all came down to the Stingers last shooter, Cindy Rosales. Cindy started taking the ball downfield. Her shot was no good and the Stars win a tightly fought battle and are awarded the title of champions of the under 15-Girls soccer teams. These two teams were about as evenly matched as two teams Continued on page 86

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 85

SPORTS Continued from page 85

�� With it being the summer months, is your stomach ready for greasy hamburgers, fried chicken and rich ice cream cones at picnics and barbeques? A sound digestive system depends on a functioning network of nerves throughout the body. These include nerves between the shoulder blades, the vagus nerve running from the neck to the abdomen, and both sympathetic and parasympathetic systems that control bodily functions. Misaligned vertebrae or subluxations can pinch, constrict or irritate spinal nerves. These may alter normal nerve funcition and cause or contribute to various chronic digestive problems such as heartburn, ulcers, gastritis and colitis. If subluxations result in internal problems, a doctor of chiropractic can relieve if not help to eliminate the problem. The doctor of chiropractic locates subluxations, and through a series of gentle adjustments, can correct improperly positioned bones and relieve pinched nerves. This puts the body back in the most effective working order. With nerve passages open and unrestricted, the body's nervous system can heal itself. SPECIAL NOTE: On this Fourth of July, remember to pray for our country. Please, remember to pray for our leadership and those serving in our military.

Blessings, Dr. Dukes

Coach Traylor discusses strategy during time out.

could be. The Stars had defeated the Shadow to get into the ﬁnals, while the Stingers had defeated the Sparks to put them into the championship game. It was a great game to watch and there is a tremendous amount of talent on both teams. Focus Magazine would like to congrat-

ulate Coaches Robin Glover and Dan Haines and the ladies of the Stars in their championship win. We would also like to offer congratulations to John Traylor and the tremendous ladies of the Stingers. We look forward to seeing all of you back next season!

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The Stingers try a shot at the goal.

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 86

CALL FOR YOUR FREE INTRO CLASS TODAY!

4017 N. Lois Ave. Ste. 105-106 Tampa

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Ms. Dixie’s Aurora Music & Performing Arts

Upcoming Events Modeling class beginning in July: Runway, posing, dress, stance, make-up & hair will be taught in this class.

$45.00 per month

Musical Theater class offered in July: Musical skits, dance, and song are included in this class.

$45.00 per month

Private lessons for the summer session are available from June to July. Voice, piano and woodwinds.

Dance classes beginning in August!

Call Call Ms. Ms. Dixie Dixie for for more more info info

813.545.0685

CHRISTIAN KARATE

Classes for Adults, Teens, and Children • Family Discounts Classes held on Tuesday and Thursday Evenings @ Hillsborough Community College Plant City Campus

FREE TRIAL LESSON! SHOTOKAN KARATE

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 87

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HEALTH & FITNESS

SUBMITTED BY DR. SUSAN OTT • SAND HILL BONE & JOINT

SHIN SPLINTS:

WHAT ARE THEY? WHAT CAUSES THEM?

hin splints….What exactly are they? Well that is an interesting question. In general, it has become a wastebasket term for leg or shin pain. It originated as a lay term that was adopted by the medical professional due to its common use. More recently, it has been noted to be a “nonspeciﬁc term used to describe exertional lower leg pain from almost any cause.” It general, shin splints are pain in the medial (inside or towards the midline) and posterior (towards the back) of the mid third of the tibia (shin bone). For the purposes of this article I am going to focus on leg pain not caused by stress fracture or compartment syndrome. Shin splints occur in up to 13.1% of runners. There are many theories regarding the origin of shin splints. 60% of those presenting with shin splints have problems in their training routine. Most commonly

symptoms begin after a rapid increase in training of either duration, intensity, increased hill training or frequency of training. Changes in training surface and shoe problems; either worn out shoes, inappropriate shoe wear or a change in shoe wear can be the source of the problem, as well. Poor technique and warm-up, poor calf ﬂexibility, and excessive foot pronation can also be contributing factors.

found to have less bone mineral than others in their age group without pain. What does that mean? Basically there was less bone mineral (calcium) in the bone or osteopenia. Another possible cause for shin splints is as training increases there is a stress reaction of bone. When bones heal, the body basically (very basically) takes away bone (makes it osteopenic) before laying down new bone.

So, what causes the pain? Well, we aren’t really sure, but there are several theories. One theory is that of periostitis, or inﬂammation of the periosteum (the covering of the bone). This may be caused by the muscles, tendons, or connective tissue pulling excessively hard on their attachment to the bone. The pain is most likely boney in origin whether it comes from the periosteum or the bone itself. Athletes with shin splints were studied and

So what do you do when you have shin splints? First, look at your training. Have you just changed your program in some way that could cause an injury? Second, look at your shoes. Are they worn out? Third, look at your body. Are your calves too tight? Are you overpronating? Where is the pain? The basic treatment for shin splints is relative rest, stretching, strengthening, ice massage, and perhaps antiinﬂammatory medication to start. If these simple steps do not relieve

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the pain after a few weeks consider seeing a sports medicine physician. At Sand Hill Bone & Joint, my partner and I can help you evaluate your pain and can recommend the most appropriate course of treatment. It could be as simple as making a few slight modiﬁcations to your training. You may need to have an orthotic (a shoe insert) made, especially if you are over-pronating. Bracing can sometimes speed recovery. When training is resumed, remember to start at 50% of what your previous intensity and distance was, and increase only 10% per week. Most people recover from shin splints with conservative care.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 89

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 90

HEALTH & FITNESS STORY BY SHERRY NUEESCH

WE’VE GOT THE PROOF Did you know that 70% of the calories you burn every day are determined by the amount of muscle you have on your body? Did you know that when you diet, up to 40% of the weight loss can be muscle? Did you know that the leading cause of weight gain is DIETING!!!!!!? How many of you are still going down the old Oprah path? You know, trying every diet plan out there, the diet du jour! You ask Oprah what were the ﬁrst things she had to learn to get her weight off PERMANENTLY. She will tell you, eat breakfast and strength train. If dieting worked, we would all been skinny. We have done enough of them. It is a very interesting question we ask our members when they come to Curves; how many diets have you been on? Very few women say none. Most of them list several, plus all the diet pills and gimmicks. What most of us end up doing to ourselves with all this looking for the quick ﬁx is cause our metabolisms to become diminished. We dig ourselves deeper into the fat hole. Some never get out. Well, thank God for Curves. We don’t just say we can get you out of the fat hole, we can prove it, too! That’s right, Curves has put up their own money to do research at Baylor University, Texas. We have proven that Curves works. Yes, CURVES WORKS!!

national. “We have a proven method that protects muscle, burns body fat, and raises metabolism. You can then eat healthfully and normally, rather than live on a maintenance diet.” No other ﬁtness franchise has funded a research project of this magnitude. Curves has stepped up to the plate, and the data has proved them wise in doing so. We have two major studies performed by Baylor University’s Exercise and Sport Nutrition Lab that validates Curves effectiveness. So there it is. We have put our money where our mouth is. God bless Curves. You come in, we can help you, and it’s not just hype. We’ve got proof. And guess what else? The research also proved a 21 percent increase in strength and a 7 percent increase in aerobic activity. Blood

cholesterol level and resting blood pressure also improved, reducing the odds against cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of women in America. Curves is a thirty minute workout that combines strength training and sustained cardiovascular activity through safe and effective hydraulic resistance. Curves also offers a weight management program featuring a groundbreaking, scientiﬁcally proven method to raise the metabolic rate and end the need for perpetual dieting. Wow, does that not sound good? We are not real good at dieting anyway, are we? So, there you’ve got it: Curves works and we can prove it. All you have to do is come in and let us teach you the truth, not hype or gimmicks, but

the proven truth. We’ve got it and we would love to share it with you. When you are ready, we are ready for you. You will see why we are the fastest growing franchise in the history of the world. We accomplished in 7 years what it took McDonalds 26 years to do. All in all, there really is only one Curves! All the others just try to be. We are so sure we can help you, we will let you join 2 for 1 (see our ad on next page). We care, we care deeply. Each and every one of you is someone’s mommy, sister, aunt, or grandmother. We know your loved ones want you healthy and we know we can give them their wish. See you at Curves soon. And as always, to your health, Sherry Nueesch.

“I’ve been advising women for years that the overly simplistic conventional wisdom of ‘eat less, move more-be smaller’ has contributed to the failure of long-term weight management,” says Gary Heavin, architect of the Curves plan and founder and CEO of Curves Inter-

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 91

EXTRA

HOME COMPUTING TIPS:

STORY BY JIM BROWN

SPAM ZOMBIES & RANSOM-WARE ON THE RISE.

his month I would like to write to you about two of the largest threats on the Internet right now, and your machine could well be at risk. First of all, let me explain to you what Spam Zombies and Ransom-ware are, so you will be an informed user.

Spam Zombies come from viruses like the SoBig virus and turn your machine literally into a zombie that sends spam constantly. The spam is enormous and by accounts of those investigating the origination of spam e-mails, Zombie machines account for 80 percent of all spam sent. The FTC is calling for network and Internet service providers to identify which customers have zombie machines on their networks and disconnect them from the Internet. Now, remember that spam you complained about, be aware, because it could be your computer sending them out.

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The FTC said it would ask 3,000 Internet providers around the globe to make sure that their customers’ computers haven’t been hijacked by spammers who want to cover their tracks and pass bandwidth costs on to others. Because many home users lack the technical smarts to ﬁght the problem on their own, the FTC hopes their Internet providers will help, although they are not required to do so. The FTC is also requesting that Internet providers help keep you, the consumer, safe from these types of hi-jacks, but to do this, they may have to disconnect you. The interesting thing I have found in most of the reports that I have read are that there are 25 countries with law enforcement ofﬁcials working on this problem, and the one country that has the largest growth of Zombie computers that hasn’t joined in, is China.

The next problem you want to be aware of is Ransom-ware, and, yes, it is exactly as it sounds. It holds your ﬁles for ransom until you pay the desired amount before it releases them back to you. Don’t do it, it will only lead to bigger problems. This type of ransom-ware has also been dubbed SpywareNo. SpywareNo exploits browser vulnerabilities to download onto users’ computers when they visit certain adult or pirate websites. The visible symptoms of infection are apparent immediately. When installed on a PC, it creates an icon both on the desktop and in the system tray, warning of a false infection by spyware. It also alters the registry to ensure that the malware is run on every system startup. After a time, it displays a message onscreen warning of the dangers of spyware and inviting users to buy the full version of the product to disinfect the computer. Don’t do it, people, now you are giving your credit card information to thieves. There are so many variations of this type of ransom-ware out there now, it is staggering. We have seen them many times in the last few months. So be aware of what you are clicking on and scroll over the address with your mouse to see exactly where the link goes, because many times it is going somewhere different than where it says it is going. If you think your machine has been infected by Spam Zombies or Ransom-ware, give us a call or bring your machine in, but do not pay the ransom. Until Next time, Happy Computing Jim Brown Product Consultants Unlimited, Inc. 601 N. Michigan Ave. Plant City, Fl 33566 813-717-7717 www.pcustore.com www.plantcity.com www.pcuvoice.com

EXTRA STORY BY BRIAN WEST PHOTOS COURTESY OF GMC

COMFORTABLE TRAVEL FOR SEVERAL PASSENGERS 2005 GMC YUKON XL

f you ask most people what comes to mind when they think of a Volvo, you’re most likely to get a response like, “The boxy looking car that’s safe to drive.” Safety has always been a high priority at Volvo, but if you look a little closer, the cars aren’t so boxy these days, and the new 2005 S40 T5 isn’t an exception. The 2005 S40 T5 maintains the distinctive lines of a Volvo, speciﬁcally when viewed from the front, but designers have softened the edges of the car and rounded it out a bit. The proﬁle of the S40 T5 is very similar to the Volkswagen Passat and the Ford 500, a short vehicle with a dome style roof line. The car was responsive, had a very smooth ride, especially for a car with a shorter wheel base, and the turning radius

was incredible. U-turns were almost effortless. The S40 T5 is a 5-cyclinder turbo that produces 218 hp. Given that the weight of the car is just 3,120 lbs., this is quite a bit of power. Looking under the hood, surprisingly, there is quite a bit of room around the engine. But all this room serves a purpose. Each space acts as a crumple zone for impacts to the vehicle, providing for a safer vehicle. In fact, the engine itself is designed to move downward, or drop to the ground if the impact is sufﬁcient. This is to prevent the engine from penetrating the driver’s compartment. On the interior, the car has plenty of room to seat 4 comfortably. In fact, I found the seats of the S40 some of

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the most comfortable of any vehicle. The interior of the car is really where the fun of the car begins. To start, the layout of the A/C and stereo is eye-catching, to say the least. Volvo used optical ﬁber technology for the cabling of the center console. This technology allowed Volvo to make the console ultra thin, and even provides an open space immediately behind it. The console contains a menu of controls that allow the driver to customize everything from how many doors will be unlocked when the key fob remote is used, to what temperature should be maintained in the interior of the car. The buttons are set up to look like a television remote, and I thought this helped the learning curve quite a bit. I couldn’t say anything about this car without mentioning the stereo. The S40 T5 has one of the best factory stereos I’ve heard. The system has 12 speakers combined with Surround Sound and a 140 watt subwoofer. I only had the car for a couple of days but listened to more

“boom” than I have in a long time. Young buyers should really like this. The system also has a 6 disc in-dash CD player. Some other interior features include one touch up and down operation for the windows and the sunroof. And I know what you’re thinking, “One touch operation to put the window up! What were they thinking? What if my child had their hand or their head out the window?” That’s just it, Volvo was thinking. The windows and the sunroof have builtin sensors similar to today’s garage doors. If a window or the sunroof touches anything while attempting to close, they immediately open. How about that? The new S40 T5 really was fun to drive and a lot of value for the money. The MSRP of the model I drove was $30,999. You can ﬁnd the new Volvo S40 at Central Florida Euro Cars. Central Florida Euro Cars is located on Lake Parker Avenue in Lakeland, FL, just north from Highway 98 South. I don’t believe you’ll ﬁnd better customer service.

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 93

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

TRAVEL

STORY BY SOPHIA DEDON PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAMP ORGANIZATIONS

FLORIDA SUMMER CAMPS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF THE STATE

children to improve social skills, health, and eating habits. For more information, visit www. newimagecamp.com. Traveling quite a few miles south will bring you to Big Pine Key, Florida, in the Florida Keys where Seacamp is located. Seacamp is a marine science camp that children from all over the world travel to for the summer. It is an 18 day residential program that offers 21 different courses mostly related to marine science.

ids are bored. You’re at work. You don’t want them cooped up inside all day, but they won’t go outside and play. What are you supposed to do? Isn’t there somewhere that you could send them for a while to get them active and entertained? Well, yes! There are so many places for you to send your children all around the state of Florida. The following are simply three large camps in Florida where you can send your children and make everybody happy. Starting in the north, Camp McConnell is located in Micanopy, Florida, right outside of Gainesville. This is a YMCA camp that offers a wide range of activities, such as canoeing, horseback riding, ropes courses, swimming, arts and crafts, sports, archery, target shooting, dance classes, and a newspaper class. Kids arrive on a Sunday and depart on a Saturday. They select three

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 94

activities to participate in during the week and attend those classes Monday through Friday. There are evening activities like camp ﬁres, camp dances, and camp carnivals. The cost is only $415 per week and that covers all the child’s costs. Discounts apply for multiple children, YMCA members, and for registering for more than four weeks. With over 200 acres of land completely devoted to the camp, it is more than enough room for the 120 campers. There are no registration deadlines. When it is full, it’s full. Call today or visit the website to ﬁnd out more about Camp McConnell, or to register your child for as many weeks as you desire. Their website is www. ymcasummercamp.com and their toll free number is 1-800-232YMCA. Not too far from Plant City is New Image Camp at Vanguard. Located in Lake Wales, this camp

is actually a weight loss camp that focuses on building healthy habits in the children. Camps are available from June 17 through August 4. They combine healthy eating with a very good activities program to fulﬁll their motto of “weight loss, self esteem, and having fun”. Everyone comes to the camp for the same common purpose and the counselors work with the children on building their self-esteem and creating healthy habits. There are nutrition classes and cooking classes to teach them how to eat. There are many sports offered and various aerobics and weight training classes for physical activity. Because it is located so close to Orlando, they take ﬁeld trips to attractions, such as Disney World, for a treat. The camp is $1000 per week, with a minimum required stay of at least two weeks. It is a wonderful opportunity for

This program is offered to teens ages 12-17. There are opportunities such as scuba diving, wind-surﬁng, snorkeling, sailing, and others. If one chooses to go scuba diving, they can earn either a basic or master certiﬁcation. Sessions begin June 24 and are $2875 per session. There are other fun opportunities, such as luaus and dances. Every child will receive personal attention, considering there is a 3:1 counselor to student ratio. They have the opportunity to observe marine life in the last remaining living coral reef in all of America. If your child has any interest in the sea, Seacamp is a wonderful opportunity to get them more acquainted with such a spectacular gift of nature. For more information, visit www.seacamp. org. These camps offer so much for the students. Depending on the camp, the price range scale does end up on the steep side, but if a child shows that special interest, what a wonderful opportunity for them, one that they’ll never forget. If you know your child will be spending their summer bored at home playing video games or watching TV, consider a wise and fun investment for them to occupy their time for a couple weeks and send them to summer camp.

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

STORY BY LYNNE WARREN PHOTOS BY MIKE FLOYD

COURTYARD

A TASTY ADDITION TO THE SISTER’S & COMPANY FAMILY Fridays and Saturdays, there will be fresh ﬂowers available for patrons to take home for the weekend, and the plan is to eventually have dips, relishes, and the like so the place will feel like a cozy market. If one cannot satisfy their shopping desires in the Courtyard, they only have to step through the door that adjoins the café to Sister’s and Company, where a shopping haven awaits. But, we were here on this day – the opening day for Courtyard, in fact – to get a taste of the food. The setup here is unique and appealing. Each table is named: Midnight Jasmine, Summer Rose, English Ivy, etc. Menus are on the table and customers can leisurely make their choices and mark them directly on the menu. Once selections are made, the menus are taken to the counter and the order is then brought to the table.

Devony Scott, Owner, & Cristin Long

ince the beginning, when Cathy Davenport opened Sister’s & Company in Plant City, she and daughter Devony, who manages the boutique, have tossed around the idea of opening a café adjoining the store. When the restaurant next door closed, it ﬁnally seemed like the right time to give the café a shot. Research has shown, Devony says, that women want to go to ‘shopping

destinations’. Places where they can shop, eat, and relax, like The Rosemary Tea Room in South Tampa and The Barn in Lake Alfred. Courtyard is deﬁnitely that kind of place. It is evident as you enter through the old-timey wood and glass doors that this café is different. The old brick walls and tile ﬂoors take you back to a much slower and more leisurely era. The entry area is full of unique, seasonal gifts and novelties. On

The core menu is ﬁlled with fresh lunch items, like the Contessa’s Chicken Salad sandwich served on a freshly baked croissant, and the Tuna Salad served in a spinach wrap. Each day there are two soups on the menu, along with several salads and some side items. Evident in the menu is Devony’s background and interest in cakes and desserts. Nearly half the menu is devoted to cakes, pies, and cookies. Gourmet coffees and iced teas are also available. Today I tried the chicken salad croissant, loaded baked potato soup, and I could not turn down dessert. It is my job after all, right? I went for the Tuxedo Brownie Cake, but also had a taste of the Italian Princess Cake. The Italian Princess consists of three layers of sponge cake with rum, a double ﬁlling of chocolate Bavarian and vanilla Bavarian

cream, topped with whipped crème and almonds. The Tuxedo Brownie cake boasts a white chocolate mousse laced with chunky brownie bits, sandwiched between a moist layer of rich, chocolate cake and a black and white brownie bottom. All of this decadent chocolate is topped with fudge and white chocolate shavings. Both cakes were absolutely sinful and delicious. I am a potato soup fanatic, and this was some of the best I have ever had – loaded with bacon and cheese, nice and creamy without being too heavy. The chicken salad was delicious, and the croissant fresh and ﬂaky. I also sampled one of the oatmeal raisin gourmet cookies, which was soft and moist and tasted like homemade. The core menu is limited to several fresh and varied items. Aside from the base menu, daily specials will be available, and both Cathy and Devony look forward to providing some different and unique choices for patrons who stop in for lunch. Courtyard is a peaceful, relaxing place to have a leisurely lunch or to drop in for a quick bite. It reminded me of having a picnic lunch, but in a nice, cool, comfortable atmosphere. Stop by Courtyard when you are in downtown, and tell them you read about them in FOCUS Magazine.

CRITICAL INFORMATION: Days: Monday through Saturday Hours of operation: lunch served 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Gift shop open and gourmet coffees available 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Address: 106 E. Reynolds St. Phone #: 813-754-0990 Forms of payment: cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 101

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

STORY BY DAWN MARIE SIMPSON PHOTOS BY DAVE WRIGHT AND BEN SIMPSON

A NIGHT WITH SHINING STARS wowed the crowd with his opening song of “Kansas City, Here I Come”, followed by “Darling, You Send Me.” His music was very bluesy and extremely entertaining.

ans of all ages turned out at the Ramada Inn Plantation House’s Red Rose Dining Room to listen to the soulful tunes of Johnny Love. He was raised in Polk County and attended Rochelle School in Lakeland. In 1956, Johnny Love began singing Gospel in churches all over the country with such names as Aretha Franklin, Sam Cook and the Blind Boys. Most of his work was concentrated in New York, Detroit and Chicago. He crossed over to singing R&B in 1965, touring with such artists as Otis Redding, Pattie Labelle, Jackie Wilson, and many others.

In the 1980’s he played in a house band in Auburndale at the Starlight Lounge. The Starlight was a club

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 102

At 63, Love can still mesmerize the crowd! Backed up by Free Time, whose electric guitar and saxophone work were particularly impressive, with the bass work by Ed Lanier being one of the high points in Johnny’s show, Love’s voice really complemented the whole package. that entertained all the great soul R & B artists of that time. He retired in 1998, but his promoter, Ed Lanier of Magnolia Entertainment and bassist for “Free Time”, the Jazz band that plays every Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 6-9 pm at Ramada Inn Plantation House’s Red Rose Dining Room, encouraged Johnny to come out of retirement. He did, and he also cut a CD, which will be called “The Best of Collection,” soon to be released. Johnny was supported by “Free Time”, whose members include Jody Marsh on keyboards and Louie Nagy on drums, in addition to Ed Lanier’s bass. The moment Love stepped out on stage in his crisp white suit, he

I asked Love who selected the music he sang for each performance and he assured me that he is a handson performer and selects his own music. While he enjoys performing the oldies-but-goodies by great artists such as the Drifters, this night, in honor of opening for the Drifters, he chose from a different collection. When asked what music he would be recording for his new CD “The Best Of”, he replied,” I have an entire vault ﬁlled with songs I have written and not yet recorded.” His desire when cutting this new CD was to see others touched by his music before he moves on to the big place in the sky.

Love was the opening act for the phenomenal Bill Pinkney and the Drifters. Although personnel has changed over the years and have led to many permutations of The Drifters, Pinkney is the sole surviving 1953 original member. Pinkney continues touring with the Drifters, keeping the sounds of the ﬁfties alive. He is a member of the Beach Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. At the ripe-old age of 80+ something, Bill Pinkney still puts on a great show! He crooned, softshoed, and shufﬂed in front of the crowd as he sang “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” A devout Christian, people often ask him “How can you be a Christian and perform in nightclubs?” Pinkney replies, “If you’re a real Christian when you walk into a nightclub, you will be one when you walk out. Gospel music is part of my show everywhere, and if I never live to see another birthday, I know I have been blessed.” Anyone who has seen Bill Pinkney and the Drifters feel similarly. The Ramada Inn Plantation House continues to bring in top artists and stars to Plant City, almost singlehandedly keeping the 50’s and 60’s era music alive in this area. The Rat Pack Too will be there on June 18th and Troy and Trina Shondell will be appearing on June 25th. Troy Shondell’s biggest hit was “This Time We’re Really Breaking Up”, but he also sang “Kissin’ at the Drive-In”, “C’mon Everybody”, “Love Stuff,” and “Rip it Up.” For additional information on upcoming shows, please visit their website www.ramadaplantation.com/

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 103

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT MOVIE REVIEWS BY SHERRI ROBINSON

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FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 104

Determined to see if the grass is greener on the other side, he escapes to Central Station, where he plans to hop a train to his dream destination. His friends ﬁnd him missing and set out to rescue him. They all end up on a boat to Africa, but manage to get themselves marooned on an island where they will discover adventure and themselves. Follow Alex, Melman, Gloria and Marty on an adventure of a lifetime. Madagascar is a great ﬁlm for the whole family. After all, we are all kids at heart. Parents, though this movie appears to be geared toward kids, be aware that there is some mild language and crude humor, so you might want to check it out beforehand or attend the movie with the kids. Rating 3

THE LONGEST YARD - PG13 Starring: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds, William Fichtner,

Paul Crewe is a former Pro Quarterback who is a screw-up. He purposely wrecks his girlfriend’s car in a pile up with the police on a televised chase. He lands himself in prison only to ﬁnd he is the most hated man there. He is between a rock and a hard place when he is requested by the warden to get a team of prisoners together to play a football game against the guards. Help is on the way when he ﬁnds Coach Nick Scarboro. The Longest Yard is humorous and creative. Even if you don’t like football movies, you will still like this one. It is about getting a second chance to do the right thing. Sandler did a great job on this one. Rated 4

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT STAR WARS EPISODE 3: REVENGE OF THE SITH - PG13

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christense, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiamid, and Samuel L. Jackson

This is last in the series of a prequel trilogy. It is the story of how and why Anakin Skywalker turns to the dark side. He was a good man, but the haunting nightmares turn him into someone who is tormented and determined to save the one he loves at any cost, sort of a galactic Romeo and Juliet. Star Wars has so many fans that some businesses in surrounding areas were letting employees off work to go to see it. Those theaters that had

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midnight showings were packed. It was one of the few times parents lifted curfews and allowed their kids to stay out until the wee hours of the morning on a school night. It is well worth waiting in a long line whether it is your ﬁrst or return trip. Star Wars is AWESOME! May the Force be with you! Rated 5

the characters are relatable. Though some may disagree, Fonda does a fantastic job bringing craziness to the ﬁlm. And the award goes to........Wanda Sykes for stealing the show with her performance as Viola’s assistant. Monster-in-Law is entertaining and delightful, but not a good date movie. Rating 3

MONSTER-IN-LAW - PG13

DVD/VHS RELEASES

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan, Wanda Sykes, Monet Mazur

June 28 Diary of A Mad Black Woman The Paciﬁer

Relationships are hard enough without meddling family members, but for Charlie (Lopez) it is becoming a nightmare when her new Mother-in-law-to-be, Viola (Fonda), decides no one is good enough for her son, Kevin (Vartan). Kevin loves them both, but is in the dark about a conﬂict between them that is about to erupt into chaos. Monster-inLaw is funny, however, not so creative. Though the pranks are a bit way out there, the feelings, thoughts and chemistry between

July 5 Hide and Seek July 12 Million Dollar Baby July 19 Constantine Ice Princess The Upside of Anger July 26 XXX State Of the Union

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Drop in bring a friend our menu has something sure to please everyone!

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 105

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

DINING GUIDE

ABC Pizza 114 N Alexander St 752-5146

Catﬁsh Country 712 S Collins 752-0126

El Rincon Mexicano 4109 State Rd 574 754-0620

Manatee Bay Café 119 S. Collins S 707-1450

Snellgrove’s Restaurant 109 S Collins 752-3652

Alexander’s Café at S Fla

Chancy’s Catﬁsh Shack 2509 N Park Rd 754-3433

Fred’s Market Restaurant 1401 W Dr MLK Blvd 752-7763

Maryland Fried Chicken 315 N Alexander 752-9200

Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q 1102 Goldﬁnch Dr 757-3118

Checker’s 2405 Jas Redman Pkwy 759-0151

Frontage Sports Bar & Grill Days Inn 1301 S Frontage Rd 752-0570 exit 168 & 169

Norma’s Ybor City Cuban Shop 1305 Baker St E 754-6557

Grandpa Johnsons BBQ 1305 Dr MLK Jr Blvd 759-0009

Orange Blossom Tea Room 106 Evers St S 759-2247

Baptist Hospital

301 N. Alexander St. 757-8451 Anna’s Restaurant 3410 Baker St W 754-6215 Apple Tree 2218 Jas Redman Pkwy 707-8109 Applebee’s Neighborhood

Grill and Bar

1204 Townsgate Ct 719-1500 Arby’s Roast Beef Restaurant 1909 Frontage Rd S 719-3321 Arby’s Roast Beef Restaurant 201 Alexander St W 754-4881 Baker St. Café 1801 W Baker St (Hwy 92 W) 717-9785 Beef O’Brady’s Sports Pub 2418 Jas Redman Pkwy 757-0300 Bobs Sports Grill 226 Alexander St W. 719-8187 Bogey’s Restaurant 2001 Clubhouse Dr 752-1171 Boston Market 238 Alexander St W 759-2652 Brooklyn Bridge Deli 1309 S Collins St 659-3621 Branch Ranch Dining Room 5121 Thonotosassa Rd 752-1957 Buddy Freddy’s Restaurant 1101 Goldﬁnch Dr 754-5120

Cherry’s Bar & Grill 1701 S Alexander St W 764-8818 CiCi’s Pizza 211 Alexander St W 659-3400 China King Restaurant 2410 James Redman Pkwy 754-8098

Heavenly Sinsations Inc. 1803 Jas Redman Pkwy 717-7512 Hong Kong Buffet 213 Alexander St W 764-8255

Outback Steakhouse 1203 Townsgate Ct 759-4329 Papa John’s Pizza 1829 Jas Redman Pkwy 719-7300

China One 1862 James Redman Pkwy 707-8898

Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs 208 N Alexander St 752-6113

Pesos Mexican Restaurant 2006 Reynolds St W 752-8841

China Palace 1106 Collins St S 754-7145

Hungry Howie’s - #200 2424 Hwy 92 E 764-0363

Pizza Hut 2316 James Redman Pkwy 752-8222

Church’s Fried Chicken 703 Collins St S 754-5200

Joann’s Country Kitchen 12650 McIntosh Rd Thonotosassa 982-0739

Pizza Moni 2607 Thonotosassa Rd 759-6664

Curbita Inc (Only speaks Spanish)

Strawberry Hut Sandwich Shoppe 1505 Wheeler St N 752-3779 Strawberry Paradise 4511 James L. Redman Parkway (813) 737-3866 Subway 2305 Thonotosassa Rd 754-4550 Subway 2403 James Redman Pkwy 754-4878 Subway 2209 N Park Rd 659-0288 Taco Loco Restaurant 14672 Dr MLK Blvd 659-0916 Tim’s Café 10903 Lithia Pinecrest Rd 737-4026

4109 State Rd 574 754-0620

Kazbor’s Grille 2212 James Redman Pkwy 752-2700

Plant City Restaurant & Drive-in 2005 W Baker St 752-9202

Dairy Queen 1902 W Reynolds 752-2236

Kentucky Fried Chicken 2305 Collins St S 752-0437

Ponderosa Steak House 1914 Jim Redman Pkwy 754-1129

Wafﬂe House 1201 Townsgate Ct 707-0190

Denny’s Restaurant 2001 Frontage Rd S 752-3338

La Esperanza Mexican Restaurant 113 Prosser Dr W 659-3940

Popeye’s Famous Fried Chicken & Biscuits 2005 Frontage Rd S 757-9742

Westshore Pizza 1701 S Alexander St 754-5600

Linda’s Crab Shack 202 Reynolds E 754-0492

Quiznos 1818 James Redman Pkwy 719-2999

Lin’s Express 2307 Thonotosassa Rd 719-6066

Ramada Inn Red Rose Dining Room 2011 N Wheeler St 752-3141

Domino’s Pizza 202 Alexander St W 759-9424 El Buen Gusto Michaocano 3414 Baker St W 759-6635 El Mirasol Bakery Cafeteria 1419 Collins St S 752-2108

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 106

Long John Silver’s Seafood Shoppe 1805 Jas Redman Pkwy 752-1717

Shanghai Chinese

Restaurant

805 Collins St S 759-0518

Twistee Treat 2301 Jas Redman Pkwy 707-9303

Whistle Stop Café 102 S Collins 752-7340 Woody’s Bar-B-Q 203 Alexander St W 754-3229

Serving up Plant City’s Best BBQ since 1955

Lunch Dinner •

Family Style Meal Packages Call Ahead Drive Thru Catering

759-0009 • Tues - Sat • Closed Sun & Mon Located on the Florida State Farmers Market • I-4 exit (Alexander St.) South One Mile

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT questions about issues that are important to you. The cost is $10.00 per person. Call the Chamber at 754-3707 by Monday, June 27th, to reserve your place. June 16th Thursday Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at FOCUS Magazine offices, 702 West Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. It will start at 5:15 PM. June 17th Friday Scrappers Delight at 1705 C Jim Redman Pkwy. Plant City is holding a Scrapper’s Social. It starts at 6:30pm and lasts until midnight. The cost is $8.00, and dinner and drinks are provided. Call by Friday morning to reserve your seat. For additional information, please call 813-754-6755. June 18th Saturday Strawberry Classic Car Show in historic downtown Plant City. It will start at 4:00 pm until 9:00 p.m. The Pregnancy Care Center of Plant City’s “Tea of Significance” takes place at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Charlie Griffin Road and starts at 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 pm. Suggested ticket donation is $25 per person. There will be music, entertainment, tea tasting, a silent auction, and voting on your favorite decorated table. The menu will be catered by Simply Country. You can obtain information on hosting or sponsoring a table by calling the Pregnancy Care Center at 813-759-0886 or Tina Mallare-Pike at 813-759-1037. The Rat Pack Too will be appearing at the Ramada Inn Plantation House’s Red Rose Dining Room at 2011 N. Wheeler St. in Plant City. The show will start at 8:00 pm. For reservations, please call 813-752-5452, or visit their website at www.ramadaplantation.com. Jazz Supper and Show sponsored by the Friends of the Bing House, the Improvement League of Plant City and American Ideals, Inc. Proceeds will benefit the restoration of Plant City’s historic Bing House. Featured will be Ronda Paramoure, known as the Princess of Jazz and also the jazz artistry of Robert Moffa. The event will take place at Father Cronin Hall, St. Clement Catholic Church, 1104 Alexander St. Tickets are $35.00 and can be purchased by calling 813-757-6760. June 19th Sunday First Baptist Church Plant City is offering summer classes each Sunday evening, 5:00-6:15 p.m. A new study synopsis will be presented each evening as follows: June 19th, “Experiencing God as Couples” a study that has influenced thousands of lives, resulting in saved marriages, spouses coming to Jesus, rededication, couples volunteering for missions, and enriched marriages; . For further information, call the church office, 752-4104. June 20th Monday The start of Orbital Paintball Summer Camp. $250.00 per person for entire

FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 108

week includes 3 cases of paintballs per person, food, air, and gear rental. (extra paint available). Camp Will Include: Marker Safety Marker Care Speedball Basics Speedball Advanced Techniques Scenario Basics Scenario Advanced Techniques Speedball Tournament Wednesday With Prizes! Overnight Scenario Game on Friday! Different groups will be made depending on overall skill level to assure fair play. Food will be provided! Monday – Thursday from 8am - 4pm, Friday night from 6pm – overnight, Saturday from 8am - 4pm. Register online today at OrbitalPaintball.com. Located 1 mi. north of CR579 on Hwy301, Thonotosassa, FL 33592. Jeff & Ericca McDaniel, owners. For additional information, go to info@PaintballStoreOnline.com, or call (813) 789-8159. June 25th Saturday Florida Estates Winery, located 4 miles west of I-75 at 25241 State Road 52 near Land O’Lakes, will host a Wine Festival, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. The event will include a variety of fresh foods, sauces, sandwiches, plants, homemade arts & crafts, live music, and an opportunity to sample the Winery’s offerings. For information, please call 813-996-2113, or visit our website at www.ﬂoridaestateswines.com. The winery is open daily 11am-5pm. Troy & Trina Shondell will be appearing at the Ramada Inn Plantation House’s Red Rose Dining Room at 2011 N. Wheeler St. in Plant City. In 1961 he had a #1 hit with “This Time We’re really Breaking Up”, and he’ll also be performing his famous “Kissin’ at the Drive-In,” “C’mon Everybody,” “Love Stuff,” and “Rip It Up.” The show will start at 8:00 pm. For reservations, please call 813-752-5452, or visit their website at www.ramadaplantation.com. June 26th Sunday First Baptist Church Plant City is offering summer classes each Sunday evening, 5:00-6:15 p.m. A new study synopsis will be presented each evening as follows; June 26th, “Recovering From the Losses of Life”, offering encouragement and practical guidance for anyone who has lost a loved one through death or who had experienced other profound losses such as loss of a job, a broken relationship, leaving home, or even loss of a dream or goal; . For further information, call the church ofﬁce, 752-4104. June 29th Wednesday The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce is hosting a breakfast at the Ramada Inn. EGGS N’ ISSUES will provide our state lawmakers a chance to summarize the 2005 Legislative Session. You will have an opportunity to ask

July 1st Friday Scrappers Delight at 1705 C Jim Redman Pkwy. Plant City is holding a Scrapper’s Social. It starts at 6:30pm and lasts until midnight. The cost is $8.00. For additional information, please call 813-754-6755. July 2nd Saturday Bike Fest in Historic Downtown Plant City beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Rat Pack Too will be appearing at the Ramada Inn Plantation House’s Red Rose Dining Room at 2011 N. Wheeler St. in Plant City. The show will start at 8:00 pm. For reservations, please call 813-752-5452, or visit their website at www.ramadaplantation.com. July 4th Monday The Bill Heard Chevrolet Fourth of July Celebration at the Plant City Stadium. This event is coordinated by the City of Plant City Recreation & Parks Department with the assistance of our Chamber. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. There is a $2.00 parking fee and admission to the stadium is free. There will be free kid’s activities, concession foods for sale, stage entertainment and then a spectacular fireworks display. Since seating is limited, plan to arrive early for this great family-oriented extravaganza. July 8th – 9th Friday – Saturday Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Broadway Musical at Hillsborough Community College Auditorium, brought to you by Plant City Entertainment. Call Jennifer Jackson at 813-757-0425 for additional information. July 9th Saturday The Rat Pack Too will be appearing at the Ramada Inn Plantation House’s Red Rose Dining Room at 2011 N. Wheeler St. in Plant City. The show will start at 8:00 pm. For reservations, please call 813-752-5452, or visit their website at www.ramadaplantation.com. Florida Estates Winery, located 4 miles west of I-75 at 25241 State Road 52 near Land O’Lakes, will host a Wine Festival, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. The event will include a variety of fresh foods, sauces, sandwiches, plants, homemade arts & crafts, live music, and an opportunity to sample the Winery’s offerings. For information, please call 813-996-2113 or visit our website at www.floridaestateswines.com. The winery is open daily 11am-5pm. July 10th Sunday First Baptist Church Plant City is offering summer classes each Sunday evening, 5:00-6:15 p.m. A new study synopsis will be presented each evening as follows; July 10th, “Mis-Guiding Lights?”, a scriptural evaluation of the gospel according to Satanism, Mormons, Muslims, Unity, Hinduism, Unification Church, New Age, Buddhism, Scientology, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Tran-

scendental Meditation; . For further information, call the church ofﬁce, 752-4104. July15th Friday Scrappers Delight at 1705 C Jim Redman Pkwy. Plant City is holding a Scrapper’s Social. It starts at 6:30pm and lasts until midnight. The cost is $8.00, and dinner and drinks are provided. Call by Friday morning to reserve your seat. For additional information, please call 813-754-6755. Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Broadway Musical at Hillsborough Community College Auditorium, brought to you by Plant City Entertainment. Begins at 8:00 p.m. Call Jennifer Jackson at 813757-0425 for additional information Ms. Dixie’s Aurora Music & Performing Arts will present “Peter Pan” at Durant High School. Call 813-545-0685 for further information. July 16th Saturday Strawberry Classic Car Show in Historic Downtown Plant City, beginning at 5 p.m. Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Broadway Musical at Hillsborough Community College Auditorium, brought to you by Plant City Entertainment. Begins at 8:00 p.m. Call Jennifer Jackson at 813757-0425 for additional information The Rat Pack Too will be appearing at the Ramada Inn Plantation House’s Red Rose Dining Room at 2011 N. Wheeler St. in Plant City. The show will start at 8:00 pm. For reservations, please call 813-752-5452, or visit their website at www.ramadaplantation.com. Ms. Dixie’s Aurora Music & Performing Arts will present “Peter Pan” at Durant High School. Call 813-545-0685 for further information. July 17th Sunday First Baptist Church Plant City is offering summer classes each Sunday evening, 5:00-6:15 p.m.; July 17th, “What Every Mom Needs” with insight and humor, offering practical tips, questions, and exercises to apply to every family situation; Also on July 17th, “A Case For Christ” an investigation into the Biblical and historical evidence of Jesus Christ, and others each Sunday evening through August. For further information, call the church ofﬁce, 752-4104. Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Broadway Musical at Hillsborough Community College Auditorium, brought to you by Plant City Entertainment. Matinee begins at 2:00 p.m. Call Jennifer Jackson at 813-757-0425 for additional information July 18th – July 26th Monday - Tuesday Please note that the PCHS Raider Band will hold our Summer Band Camp July 18-July 26 at the school. This is really the kick-off to our season. It’s an excellent opportunity for the community to see how hard our students work to get ready for the marching season.

Visit our web site: www.feltonsmarket.com

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Walker Plaza, 617 N Maryland Ave. Plant City, FL 33563 ATM Available at Customer Service TECO Payments Accepted

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�� FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • June 15 - July 15 • 2005 PG 111

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