FOCUS Plant City 17-02 by Floyd Publications

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Contents Table of

focusplantcity.com / Issue 17-02 / February 2018

LOCAL

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The first two months of the year are filled with popular events such as pageants, fashion shows, and fundraisers. In this issue, you’ll find those stories and more.

SPOTLIGHT

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Five talented, bright and beautiful young women have just been selected as 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival royalty. Meet the new Queen Ally Burt, First Maid Dallas Baker, and Court Members: Baylee Astin, Selena Berrios, and Zoe Rasmussen. They have already begun their reigning adventure and look forward to seeing you around town.

F E AT U R E

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It’s always our pleasure to preview the city’s, or should we say state’s, Florida Strawberry Festival to help you plan your visit. Read and learn a little more about our “berry” big attraction to which more than half-a-million folks flock each year. This one is a time for “Building New Memories.”

DINING

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Norma’s Cuban Sandwich Shop enjoyed a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate its Grand Opening on February 9. The backstory behind the new owners and new location are definitely worth the read. And definitely, the food is the real deal.

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From The Publisher Publisher Mike Floyd mike@floydpublications.com Office Manager Candy Owens cowens@floydpublications.com Managing Editor Cheryl Johnston cjohnston@floydpublications.com Art Director Anthony Sassano asassano@floydpublications.com Distribution Tony DeVane Staff Writers Cheryl Johnston | Barbara Routen | Kelli Tharrington Katie Loudermilk | Sherrie Mueller | Anthony Bolesta Contributors Gil Gott | Jo-An Lusk | Nate Davis | Candy Owens Natalie Sweet | Wanda Anderson | Heather Davis | Layla Keeler Drawdy

ach year in January our community is abuzz over the pageants that select Queen and Court members from among the lovely young ladies who will then serve as Plant City ambassadors.

It’s a beautiful sight to watch the grace, poise, and confidence displayed onstage by females from ages 5 to 20. It’s encouraging to see the hope-filled eyes and glowing smiles of contestants who’ve worked so hard to put their best foot forward. And perhaps the best is to realize the deepening friendships, even in the midst of some serious competition. Among the many extraordinary hopefuls this year, one has faced challenges that most of us can only imagine, which explains why the audience’s appreciation was tangible when Morgan Pierce was announced the evening of January 13 as the 2018 Junior Royalty Queen. Many are aware that Morgan has been battling neuroblastoma cancer since a diagnosis came in 2008. Her mother Emily continues to chronicle the highs and lows through blogposts at sparklyflower.wordpress.com so followers and prayer warriors can be aware of each new step on the long road to healing.

Got a story idea? Looking to advertise in Focus? Contact us for more information. Floyd Publications, Inc. 702 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd.Plant City, FL 33563 Office 813.707.8783 Fax 813.764.0990 www.focusplantcity.com Standards of accuracy: The goal of the writers at FOCUS Magazine is to provide heart-warming stories that are accurate from the start. Being human, however, we sometimes make mistakes. Please forgive us. So if you notice anything that is incorrect, then please do not hesitate to contact the editorial department and inform it about the fact error. To do so, call (813) 707-8783 or e-mail editorial@floydpublications.com. The staff will fix the error in a timely manner.

There is no doubt that from the words of Shakespeare, “Though she be but little, she [Morgan] is fierce.” Truly, on that night and through each day, the combination of class, composure, and courage Morgan models makes her a winner in life. As Focus Plant City begins its 18th year of publication, we realize anew. It’s the citizens like Morgan, and so many more, who make our local stories worth writing and sharing. We hope you’ll enjoy this issue. Let’s build some new memories and make some new friends. See you soon at the 83rd annual Florida Strawberry Festival.

FOCUS Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Plant City businesses, restaurants and many local venues. 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.

Warmest Regards, Mike Floyd PAGE

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Town Talk of the

Submit your good news to: editorial@floydpublications.com or call it in 813.707.8783

Found on Facebook The Tomlin Middle School FFA Par Pro team won the district competition in January and will head to the FFA State Convention in June. Shown L-R with Arie Fry are Bailey Blanton, Brenna Sturgis, Meghan Hiers, Landen Robert, Drew Blanton, and Madi Conrad.

Plant City Commissioners presented a proclamation in January to Caroline Brummer for her role as Grand Marshal of the Strawberry Youth Parade.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s honor one of our long-term local heroes by attending the Ray Clark Roast & Appreciation Celebration hosted by the Florida Strawberry Festival at the Grimes Agricultural Center in Plant City. Free event from 12:30 - 4:30 PM on Sunday, February 18 features lunch, videos, fun, and remarks by Ray Clark, the retired agriculture teacher and beloved emcee for FSF livestock shows/sales and youth banquets for 45 years. Visit Facebook for additional details. Three junior girls from Plant City High School took home 1st, 2nd and 3rd place honors in the annual speech competition hosted by the Plant City Noon Rotary Club and chaired by Sophia Hyde. Students presented original speeches on the theme, "Rotary: Making a Difference." Katelyn Yarbrough won first place and $100. Delaney Flowers placed second for $50, while Anna Grace Futch won third for $25. Shown L-R: Anna Grace Futch, Delaney Flowers, and Katelyn Yarbrough, who will represent the club at the next competition in March. PAGE

#Royalty

www.FredsMarket.com

Plant City - Lakeland - Riverview - Lake Mary

Congratulations Ally!

www.JohnsonBarbeque.com 1407 W. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Plant City, FL PAGE

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41st Annual Fashion Show

A Florida Strawberry Festival Tradition BY KATIE LOUDERMILK

Wear. With grace and poise as they strode along the runway, each model represented styles from the Plant City boutiques . The show ended with the Royalty Court and Junior Royalty Court walking the runway showing off their gorgeous pageant dresses to the crowd. Once again, the annual fashion show created cherished memories, with a tad of pizazz, for all involved.

Jules Burt, aunt to 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Ally Burt, strutted the runway with fashions from Southside Western and Outdoor Wear.

raditions create unity for the Plant City community. On January 25, 2018, the Florida Strawberry Festival hosted its 41st Annual Fashion Show and Luncheon, which was also sponsored by Alessi. The event followed the festivals theme of “Building New Memories” with their own take of “Frills and High Heels.” The Grimes Family Agricultural Center doors opened at 11 AM and an excited audience filled the seats to view local models attired in the latest trends for the festival season. Lovely, energetic hostesses welcomed each person with a warm smile. The Fashion Show Committee, with Linda Walden as General Chairman and Suzanne Cribbs as Co-Chair, organized the 2018 event. Florida Strawberry Festival Board of Directors Chair, Sandee Sytsma, greeted guests and explained the show’s long held tradition as a fundraiser. Florida Strawberry Festival President Paul C. Davis offered

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the invocation and Adrianna Lane, president of Durant Senior FFA Chapter, led in the Pledge of Allegiance. Kenzie Wheeler engaged guests with his unique singing talent to set the mood for the rest of the afternoon. The luncheon, prepared by Simply Southern Catering, was topped off with a sweet strawberry cheesecake cupcake. While enjoying their meals, guests were able to catch up in conversations with one another and share the excitement of the upcoming fashion show. “I get to share this first time experience with my daughter,” stated Kathy Christensen, “I love seeing the amount of people that have shown up to support their community and share their love for the Strawberry Festival.” ABC Action News Anchor Wendy Ryan served as Mistress of Ceremonies, introducing the models and participating local boutiques. These included Fringe, RAOK, Blessed Berry, Denis Young, and Southside Western and Outdoor

Kenny Peace enjoyed modeling for Southside Western and Outdoor Wear with his grandaughter, Micah.

Queen Ally Burt greets guests at the Fashion Show & Luncheon and modeled the gown she wore when crowned 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen.

Dana Fortinberry, along with her granddaughter Charlotte Brittain, modeled clothes from the new Plant City based online store, Blessed Berry Boutique.

Linda Walden, General Chairman of the Strawberry Festival Fashion Show Luncheon, walks the runway and poses for the crowd with the Mistress of Ceremonies, Wendy Ryan, Anchor/ Reporter for ABC Action News, Tampa.

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PROUD TO PROVIDE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

607 S. Alexander Street, Suite 101 Plant City, Florida 33563 813-747-9100 | info@boggseng.com www.boggseng.com

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Passing the Gavel M PC Chamber Welcomes New Leader

BY ANTHONY BOLESTA PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GREATER PLANT CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The “Passing of the Gavel” from 2017 Chamber Chair, Yvonne Fry, to 2018 Chair, Jason Jones.

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embers of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce shared a celebratory evening on January 25 when Board Chair Yvonne Fry “passed the gavel” to her successor, Jason Jones. As emcee, Michael Cameron welcomed attendees to The John R. Trinkle Center at Hillsborough Community College and introduced Pastor Dean Pfeffer, who offered the invocation. Alyssa Clark sang the National Anthem before all enjoyed the meal prepared by 9-1-1 Catering. Yvonne Fry offered praise for her co-members of the Chamber board, for the City itself, and for the wonderful businesses that support the Chamber’s work. In expressing gratitude, she said, “I want to thank everyone, as individuals, for bringing honor and progress to Plant City. She also thanked “God, for His provision, and for causing me to grow.” The night was more than the passing of the prestigious title to the new chairman. It was also a night for recognizing local businesses that are a vital part of the wonderful Plant City community, as well as the larger organizations that use their success to give back to the people. Companies such as Mosaic, Jarrett Scott Ford, the South Florida Baptist Hospital, and Cameron Financial Management are some, to name only a few. “I love the generosity our city shows every day,” Fry offered. As

she presented Courtney Paat with the Chairman’s Award, Fry credited her for “extreme dedication and hard work that benefits the city.” Paat currently serves as Vice Chair of Membership on the 2018 Chamber Board. As the evening neared its end, Fry’s final job was the passing down of the mantel of Chairman of the Board for 2018 to Jason Jones. Clearly honored to accept the title, he spoke of his love for the community, saying, “I never want to leave Plant City.” He shared also that he opened his company, Advantage Restoration and Contracting, in the city, specifically because he, his wife, and his children “love this town very much.” His closing remarks included his desire of “hoping to inspire” as he leads the next generation of businesses. “I look forward to serving you all,” he said. Truly, the sentimental tone of the evening demonstrated how local businesses are more supportive of each other now more than ever. Through hurricanes, during food truck rallies, and car and bike shows, it’s a wonderful sight to see everyone come together in a spirit of unity. The joy and camaraderie so evident during this event left no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce will continue its efforts to make our city an even better place to live, work, and do business.

The entire Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and staff members enjoyed a moment together onstage.

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FSF Queen Pageant Ally Burt Crowned 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen BY SHERRIE MUELLER

he 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Scholarship Program on January 20 featured 28 beautiful contestants from East Hillsborough County in the pageant sponsored by the Plant City Lions Club. Gail Lyons served as Pageant Chairman with Jean Ann Davenport as co-chair in the event held at the Charlie Grimes Agricultural Family Center at the festival grounds. Emcees for the evening were Chelsea Bowden Barnett- 2012 Strawberry Queen and Denis Phillips- Chief Meterologist for ABC Action News WFTS. The pretty high school and Hillsborough Community College students were judged on personal interviews, casual wear and evening gowns to earn a top ten opportunity to continue in the competition.

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The ten semifinalists included: Chloe Tew, Brenda Dixon, Ally Burt, Abigale DeVane, Taylor Carlough, Baylee Astin, Zoe Rasmussen, Taylor Tew, Selena Berrios and Dallas Baker. For the next round of the competition, all previous scores were eliminated to clean the slate. Individually, these ten were invited back onstage from a soundproof room to hear and respond to this year’s carefully guarded question: “One characteristic we look for in a Strawberry Festival Queen is the ability and willingness to serve others. If you are chosen as the 2018 Strawberry Festival Queen, what is one thing you will do to demonstrate this quality?” Ultimately, the semifinalists were judged on their answer, along with their overall look and stage presentation.

While scores were being tabulated, 2017 Queen Drew Knotts offered her Farewell Message. A slide show also highlighted the 2017 reign of Queen Drew and her court members, First Maid Marlee Arn, Caroline Brummer, Courtney Coton and Ariel Navarette. Next came the attendants for the royal coronation, complete with flower girls Elaina Masek and Yolanda Assie Konate, along with crown bearer Ethan Masek. They were joined by 2017 Queen Drew and her court, along with the ten 2018 semifinalists. Finally, the names of new court members— Baylee Astin, Selena Berrios, and Zoe Rasmussen—were announced before Dallas Baker was named First Maid and Ally Burt was crowned the 2018 Florida Strawberry Queen.

Queen Ally is a Seffner Christian Academy senior and the daughter of Royce and Raquel Burt. She was pleased to share one very specific pageant memory: “My mom wrote the Bible verse Proverbs 31:25 on the soles of all the shoes I wore in the pageant. The words encouraged me -- “She is clothed in strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.” Congratulations to Queen Ally and her court members: Baylee, Dallas, Selena and Zoe. These young ladies are excited and feel honored to serve the Florida Strawberry Festival, the agricultural industry, and the Plant City community in the coming year.

Dallas Nicole Baker

Brenda Dixon

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Plant City Mac & Cheese Festival

was something for everyone! Despite the cold front, many came out to celebrate their favorite comfort food. Plant City native Gabriela Martinez said, “There was great macaroni and cheese, great spirit for the people and overall it was a lot of fun!”

Attendees are hopeful the Mac & Cheese Festival will grow to attract even more Central Florida visitors in the coming years as more vendors get involved.

BY KATIE LOUDERMILK

rom generation to generation, the classic American dish of macaroni and cheese has been a staple in the diets of folks through every life stage. To honor this traditional dish, Say Cheese Please 4 Grilled Cheese Promotion hosted Downtown Plant City’s first annual Mac & Cheese Festival on January 13, 2018 at Big Dog’s Patio. The free event included several food trucks and restaurants serving up their best Mac ‘n’ Cheese dishes and other specialty items. Two of the most popular treats were the Macaroni Bites and the Hillbilly Tacos. Macaroni Bites are deep fried mac & cheese

pieces served with choice of dipping sauce. Hillbilly Tacos feature barbeque chicken topped with mac & cheese and extra sauce in a flour tortilla shell. From the looks of satisfaction on the tasters’ faces, it appeared obvious the food was great. The Skyler Clark Band of Plant City performed while families enjoyed their mac & cheese meals. Children enjoyed the bounce houses and face painting stations. Since this festival was also pet friendly, vendors had bowls filled with fresh water for the furry members of the community. Football fans cheered for their favorite teams while watching the games on the patio’s television screens. There

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15th Annual Black Heritage Festival 2 A Weekend to Remember

BY ANTHONY BOLESTA

Plant City Commissioner Mary Thomas Mathis celebrated the announcement of her Lifetime Achievement Award with husband Tony. Her service to the Plant City community in the fields of government, education, and charitable causes has spanned more than three decades. PAGE

018 has already begun as a momentous year for the African American community in Plant City. Guests at the 15th Annual Black Heritage Gala celebrated on February 9 with dinner, entertainment and awards at Hillsborough Community College. The event hosted by HCC and the Plant City Black Heritage Celebration Incorporated was also a night of great achievement for Plant City Commissioner and Marshall Middle School Assistant Principal, Mary Thomas Mathis, who received a lifetime achievement award in recognition for her extensive work in education and community outreach that has spanned over three decades. The Gala brought Mrs. Mathis, Benjamin James Cooper Junior, attorney Jeraldine Williams, Jeria B. Wilds Esquire, The Johnson Family

(who have appeared on the Steve Harvey Little Big Shots show) and Rod Carter together to share about their community efforts in the fields of education, the justice system, Journalism, and entertainment. Whether attendees were watching, accepting awards, or speaking, everyone enjoyed the great food cooked by local women who used family recipes at a night dedicated to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Embracing the past and building the future.â&#x20AC;? The festivities continued Saturday morning with a Youth Summit with breakfast and lunch for area students, ages 10 and up. Then at noon it was music time during the 15th Annual Jazz Festival in McCall Park and at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum. In addition to the Battle of the Bands and a dance competition, entertainers include R. Anthony (The Voice Season 7) and

Leandra Brown responded to one of the questions posed at the Youth Summit portion of the Black Heritage Festival attended by more than 150 youth from Central Florida.

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Becky S. Knighten (“Prison Bar TV” single) and more than 150 Central Florida students, ages 10 and up. In the group conversation facilitated by Minister Denzel Singleton, students posed questions and comments to a panel that included Plant City Police Officer Darren Culmer, Sarah Smith of Lakeland, and Apostle Clay Cowart of Church of God The Bible Way in Winter Haven. Students representing the Durant and Plant City high schools’ AVID program, PCHS Gentlemen’s Quest and Ladies Quest, Winter Haven Boys & Girls Club, and the Tampa Deliverance Church were excited to be involved, in as one young lady shared, “This group is good because it has so many different cultures, ages, and both genders.” Moody added, “It was so touching to realize how much these kids need an outlet for sharing their struggles with homelife, suicide, cutting, etc. We need to listen and be there for them.” Local businesses embraced the history of their people as they promoted their products. Aaron and Kenee James, for example, owners of All Things Knatural, sold organic vegan products. Another vendor, Jennifer Camp of Queens Fashions and Gifts in Bartow, displayed her

“beautiful African and ethnic-themed fashions for the entire family.” Sharon Moody and Karen Griggsby emceed the evening’s program. Moody, a Citizen of the Year, and Griggsby, president of Plant City GFWC Women’s Club, managed to bring people from all across the county for the festivities. The Tampa Bay Tech high school band performed, as did the Showstoppers, a talented group of young female dancers. The celebratory weekend concluded with thanks to God at a lively Gospel Concert on Sunday at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. . The lively and moving worship added the community’s thanks to God for life in Plant City. The Black Heritage Celebration weekend prompted folks to reflect on local history and consider how ordinary people can shape the future. Thanks to the dedication and drive of so many, Plant City’s is a bright one. Citizens here can exercise their faith, benefit from a great education, and experience a sense of belonging. They can enjoy work, raise their families, and give back, as others before them have done. Ultimately, the goal is to model righteousness and leave a legacy for the next generations to follow.

Tampa Bay Tech band members were pleased to participate in the 15th Annual Black Heritage Jazz Festival in McCall Park.

The Showstoppers, a young dance troupe, performed during the 14th Annual Black Heritage Jazz Festival.

Donald L. Dowridge, Jr. performs inspiring animated history lessons as Frederick Douglass. Visit his page on Facebook. PAGE

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Celebrity Chef 2018: Fabio Viviani BY ANTHONY BOLESTA

he 10th Annual Celebrity Chef dinner, a fundraiser for The United Food Bank, was held February 3, 2018 at the Trinkle Center at the Hillsborough Community College in Plant City. This year, Fabio Viviani, a fan favorite on Bravo’s “Top Chef” show, arrived to discuss and show how to make the Italian dish, Gnocchi. Mixing dexterity and charm, Chef Viviani made jokes about how “an Italian tablespoon is whatever Grandma scoops up” and how he would never be a baker because: “Cooking is an art, baking is a science.” As he told the crowd his stories, he utilized potatoes, eggs, a pinch (or an Italian pinch) of nutmeg, and Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, and a lot of flour. All of this culminated into a thick dumpling to be eaten as the first course and as an alternative to soups and pastas. Overall, the preparation is extremely like pasta as they are both cooked by boiling and

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then are sauced, with sage, pesto, or other sauces accompanying the dish. The chef also said this dish isn’t too hard, even for a novice, making a joke that he did in fact lose the Top Chef competition twice. However, he stressed that cooking is about confidence, saying that practice will “build your confidence to get competence.” Both before and after Chef Viviani’s, two auctions were conducted. The silent auction included the paintings, “Funky Chicken” and “Fun Flowers” by Jules Burt, several bottles of fine wine, signatures of all the members of the Rat Pack, Tim Tebow’s autograph on an official photo, the signature of the 45th President of the United StatesDonald Trump, and even a photo of the Beatles signed by the icons themselves. The open auction immediately after the demonstration was emceed by Chef Viviani, who took bids for

two five-course dinners, estimated to be worth at least $1,200. Another lucky attendee held the winning raffle ticket to receive gift cards totaling $1,000 from a variety of stores. The funds raised will assist the United Food Bank in its mission to end hunger in Plant City. This event was a wonderful fusion of Italian culture and interaction within the Plant City community. Thousands of dollars were raised in order to assist a great cause. Last year alone, the Plant City Food Bank collected 1.2 million pounds of food

to give to the less fortunate, and with the donations of groups and people like Publix supermarkets, Gordon Food Services, Mayor Rick Lott and the Chamber of Congress, as well as many others, the youth of Plant City can do better in school and have a higher quality of life. Fabio Viviani will be opening his new restaurant, Osteria, on the bottom floor of the Downtown Tampa high rise called Nine15. He did say that he loves Plant City, and “would love to come back here.”

Fabio Viviani talking to the audience as ladies from the crowd were brought up stage.

More than 100 guests bid on the wonderful prizes in the silent auction.

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Chamber Awards Luncheon BY KELLI THARRINGTON

• Community Service: Plant City YMCA • Customer Service: Publix • Employer of the Year: South Florida Baptist Hospital • Entrepreneur of the Year: Krazy Kup • Health and Wellness: YMCA • Hospitality and Tourism: Florida Strawberry Festival • New Business: Drawdy’s Dance School

• Downtown Enrichment: Corner Store • Economic Development: Star Distribution • Rising Leader: Arlen Smude of Metals and Nature • Small Business: The Corner Store • Business of the Year: Krazy Kup • Spirit of the Chamber: Alice Bullard [OnPoint IT Solutions]

The YMCA won two awards: Community Service and Health and Wellness

he Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce hosted its Best of Plant City Awards 2018 on February 8 at the Arthur Boring Civic Center. Fifteen business and services were honored in different categories of service to the community. “We wanted to highlight businesses that promote the community and provide leadership in areas of growth,” explained Sophia Hyde, the Chamber’s Community Relations Manager. This year’s awards were presented at a luncheon rather than a dinner as in years past. “This change was in a effort to decrease cost and to get you all back to doing the work for the community that you do best,” said Jason Jones, Chairman of the Board. While the event is not new, the format is. “We wanted to create an awards event that was more

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inclusive of the different areas and services that are important to our community,” said Christine Miller, President of the Chamber. In addition to changing from a dinner to a luncheon and cutting costs by half, the event was moved from November to February to accommodate schedules. Also, different presenters were chosen to present the awards for the area of service they provide to the community. Voting began in December and four nominees were chosen in fifteen different categories. Each nominee could win more than once, but once a category is won, the same business cannot win for the next three years. The categories and winners are as follows: • Best Community Event: Florida Strawberry Festival • City Beautification: Krazy Kup

Customer Service -- Publix

Krazy Kup won three awards: City Beautification, Entrepreneur of the Year, Business of the Year

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All of the winners are integral to the betterment of the Plant City community, but three stand out among them for different reasons. The New Business winner, Drawdy’s Dance School is a labor of love by Amanda Drawdy who, in less than a year has had great success. “I am so grateful for this acknowledgement, and I love what I do,” she shared. The Corner Store won two awards: Downtown Enrichment and Small Business. Owner Cynthia Diaz, whose son is battling leukemia, was completely overwhelmed by the honor. “I can't thank the community enough. We strive to provide quality and service and this is a wonderful acknowledgment.”

Krazy Kup coffeehouse in the historic downtown won three awards: Entrepreneur of the Year, City Beautification and Business of the Year. Frank Trunzo, co-owner with his wife Wenda, was extremely honored. “We started this business not really knowing what we were getting into and you have opened your arms to us. Thank you!” The awards were a success in recognizing the best. The Chamber has been called the thread of the community and the awards are an opportunity for promotion. “When you, as the leaders, are called on for support, you turn out in droves and today was no exception,” praised Miller. “As a member, YOU are the Chamber!”

Economic Development: Star Distribution

The Florida Strawberry Festival won two awards: Best Community Event and Hospitality and Tourism

Employer of the Year: South Florida Baptist Hospital

Spirit of the Chamber – Alice Bullard of OnPoint IT Solutions

The Corner Store received two awards: Small Business and Downtown Enrichment

New Business: Drawdy’s Dance School PAGE

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brokepoorï¬&#x201A;.com PAGE

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2018 Florida Strawberry Festival® Junior Royalty Pageant BY CHERYL JOHNSTON

he annual Junior Royalty Pageant is an important step in the readying process for young ladies who one day hope to become the Florida Strawberry Festival Queen. Sponsored by the Florida Strawberry Festival®, this year’s event was held January 13, 2018 in the Grimes Agricultural Show Center at the Festival grounds. An encouraging crowd of contestants’ family members and friends showed up to support the 120 girls who vied for crowns in four age-related categories. The process is an interesting one. • Registrants must meet the following requirements: • Only one child per adult or legal guardian (18+ years) may apply, unless they are sisters • Hillsborough County residents between 5-15 years-old as of January 1 • Single, never married, never have borne a child, be of good moral character and never have been convicted of a crime. • Previous Junior Royalty Pageant winners are ineligible for competition in the same age group in which they won.

2018 Junior Royalty Queen Morgan Pierce in a quiet moment and wearing her leather jacket for warmth, posed while her sister Jessica snapped a quick photo. PAGE

Participant selection began November 1 with strict guidelines for

timeliness when all girls completed applications color-coded by age group. Patiently they waited as 30 names in each age category were drawn from the barrel to become official competitors. Following this, unfilled slots are filled on a firstcome/first-serve basis through November 6 at the Festival’s office. Those who were not drawn headed home with hope for next year’s chance. Those drawn presented a $30 entry fee. The next requirement was workshop attendance on November 7 for each of the four age groups: Queen [13-15]; Princess [10-12]; Duchess [7-9]; and Baroness [ 5-6]. Chairperson Kay Varnum with Co-Chairs Katie Butson and Dee Parker prepared the girls, knowing that accomplishing this before the holidays allowed the girls plenty of practice time before pageant night. Contestants then attended the required rehearsal on January 12 in the Grimes Agricultural Show Center. To ensure equity, restrictions apply for pageant apparel supplied by each contestant: restrictions apply as well: Girls ages 5-9 must wear short party dresses; Girls ages 10-15 must wear a long gown. No gloves or tea-length dresses are permitted, nor are gowns with slits or midriffs showing. Judges score on Personality (25%), Overall Appearance (25%),

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The 2018 Junior Royalty winners are Queen- Morgan Pierce; Princess- Paige Zarecor; Duchess- Bella Bikowsk and Baroness- Giselle McDowell.

and Natural Beauty and Smile (50%). For privacy, those score sheets are destroyed and not reviewed with contestants. Selected semifinalists answer an emcee’s question, then, after judges tally scores they pronounce a winner, first maid and three court members in each group. Winners receive a crown, sash and trophy. The top in each category represents the Festival in

the Youth Parade on March 3, the Grand Parade on March 5, and in the Fashion Show on January 26. Congratulations to the 2018 Junior Royalty members: Queen Morgan Pierce, Princess- Paige Zarecor, Duchess- Bella Bikowski and Baroness- Giselle McDowell This pageant is always special, but this year was even more so.

Following the greatly anticipated announcement of winners, Jessica Taylor, mother of Princess Paige Zarecor, described the crowd’s excitement when Morgan Pierce was crowned Queen. “It was super cool because most of the audience had already decided she would win because she carried herself with such poise and confidence. The judges did a

fantastic job and Morgan’s win was absolutely deserved.” Morgan’s mother Emily added: “We were a little surprised, because although Morgan just loves to compete, we wanted her to just have fun. These girls have been friends for so long. Morgan loves the Festival and now she’s excited to be a part of the 83rd year themed ‘Building New Memories.’” PAGE

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10th Annual Astin Farms Strawberry Distance Challenge Chip-Timed Community-Minded Fitness-Fun

Male 5k Runner: Dylan Nolan @ 00:17:51.85 Male 5K Master: Pedro Meraz @ 17:52.26 Female 5K Runner: Taylor Lafferty @ 00:23:28.95 Female 5k Master: Stephanie Roehm @ 00:22:42.35 Male 10k Runner: David Ferguson @ 44:30.27 Male 10K Master: George Mason @ 00:41:25.50 Female 10k Runner: Danielle Kissell @ 00:42:39.51 Female 10K Master: Jody Smith @ 00:43:38.65

BY KATIE LOUDERMILK

For additional results and at least 1,863 photos, visit the race page on Facebook for the link to http:// outatimeracetiming.com/OutaTime_ Race_Timing/Strawberry_Distance_ Challenge_1mile___5k___10k_2018. html. Register for the 2019 race at www.strawberrydistancechallenge. com and find Youth Alliance information at youthalliance.com.

JD Woodside (#143) and his son Jayden (#144) Woodside made the 10th annual SDC race one to remember.

n the cool Saturday morning of February 10, 2018, runners gathered at the Walden Lake Polo Fields to begin the 10th Annual Astin Farms Strawberry Distance Challenge. Like the previous year, participants could choose to run the 5k, 5k Ruck, 10k or 1-mile fun run. New and experienced runners from ages 5 to 73 donned shoes and gear to hit the trail and complete their goal. Some even wore colorful Strawberry Festival outfits, tutus, and hats to express their Plant City pride. This race did not end at the finish line. Diego Ambrosio and other finishers were seen running alongside later runners, encouraging them to not give up and to complete the race. Ambrosio shared, “I ran in high school and wanted to prove to myself that I could keep doing it, along with motivating others that they can accomplish it as well.” Sponsors for the 2018 challenge

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included: I-4 Power, Generation Tees, Jarrett-Scott Ford and others. Proceeds benefit Youth Alliance, a non-profit organization that presents anti-bullying presentations in schools across the nation. Whether runners were trying to exceed a previous year’s goal or wanted to try something new, people from various backgrounds enjoyed the morning workout. Scott Vanhoose, a 5k competitor, brought his therapy dog to run alongside him. “I admire the intimacy of this Distance Challenge,” he said. “I appreciate that they gave my dog a medal, too!” Every participant received a completion medal, a black T-shirt, fresh strawberries and bananas and water, of course. The friendly Mr. Strawberry was on hand for photoops with friends. Overall winners for each category also received a ticket to the Strawberry Festival. These were:

Waiting for instruction and the “Ready, Set, Go” start.

Girls just wanna have fun -- and run!

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Dr. Brenda Dukes Chiropractic Physician

NOW OPEN • VISIT OUR NEW STORE

BEE SURE TO

visit us in the North Exhibit Tent at the Strawberry Festival. Gourmet Honey • Chocolates & Sauces Sprecher’s Honey-Brewed Soda Gifts

(863) 825-5245 5212 US Hwy 98 N • Lakeland, FL 33809 beehavenfl.com /BeeHavenHoneyFarm

HONEY • BEEKEEPING SUPPLIES NATURAL SKIN CARE PAGE

OLYMPIC MEDALIST PHILLIP DUTTON CREDITS CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH AND ENHANCED PERFORMANCE

Olympic Medalist Phillip Dutton credits chiropractic care for his body’s enhanced flexibility and functionality during and after competition. The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), the leading voice of the chiropractic profession, asserts that Dutton’s experience with chiropractic care exemplifies the improved balance, performance and overall wellness that athletes can achieve.

“With the aging process, I find that the care provided by my chiropractor is essential in continuing to compete successfully in my sport,” shares Dutton, who won his first individual Olympic Medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. “For those individuals who strive to stay healthy and active, I wholeheartedly recommend regular visits to their chiropractor.”

“Due to the nature of the sport, equestrian riders commonly experience repetitive movement and imbalanced weight distribution, resulting in added stress being placed on the spine,” states Dutton’s Chiropractor, Dr. Charlette Fletcher. “Chiropractic care helps to relax the muscles, align the pelvis and spinal column with the goal of restoring proper function to the joints – ultimately contributing to the good health and competitive edge displayed by athletes, including Phillip Dutton.

Call today for your appointment, why delay possible better health. Special Note: Happy Valentine’s to everyone- As I Cor.13:13 shares “And now abideth Faith, Hope and Love these three: but the greatest of these Love.” Pray for a Successful and Safe 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival Blessings, Dr. Dukes & Staff

Dr. Brenda Dukes • Chiropractic Physician 752-2524 • 2401 Walden Woods Dr. • Plant City, FL 33566

Dr. Dukes encourages you to write her with any questions concerning chiropractic care.

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MI LK KATI E LO UD ER IN TE RV IE W BY

Lori Bayer M

ost will agree life can be a bumpy road. But no matter the hardships one faces, beauty can arise from the hardships. Lori Bayer, born and raised in Northern Indiana, walks by this example. After losing her beloved husband and mother in 2015, Lori keeps her head high above the mountains she had to climb. How did you stay positive during tough times? It was not easy. My husband, Jim, endured ALS disease and lost the ability to walk. I was his caregiver for his remaining months. I met a group of women who also had husbands with ALS and they gave me comfort throughout the process. To this day, I keep in touch with them. But overall, my faith in Christ kept me strong. I went to Him daily to receive the strength I needed. I learned a lot about caregiving. I was at the hospital so much with my husband that people thought I was a nurse and asked me questions I somehow knew the answers to. Later that year I had to take care of my mother after she had another stroke. It was a dark year for me, but I know God has plans for me during the new year. I have always been a strong person, and I know God is not finished with me yet.

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What do you do with your free time? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a choir member at Plant City Church of God. I love to sing and praise God with fellow Christians. I am also a writer. After gaining so much knowledge about caregiving, twelve unconnected people recommended me to write a book about the proper ways of the subject. I enjoy writing. Many enjoy my funny stories I post on Facebook. I write my own devotionals and e-mail them to 50 different people. My granddaughter is creating a blog for me. So, the idea of publishing my own book is exciting. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m working on it now, as it will take time to complete. My goal for this book is to keep the good memories alive, rather than focusing only on the bad. These opportunities are all from God. People may think I am odd for having strong faith, but He is the reason for my joy.

Find more People of Plant City on Facebook. Connecting the community one story at a time. facebook.com/peopleofplantcity Find more People of Plant City on Facebook. Connecting the community one story at a time. facebook.com/peopleofplantcity

RIBBONCUTTINGS

On Thursday, January 4th The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for House District 58 Rep. Lawrence McClure. “State Representative Lawrence McClure looks forward to fostering business growth and job opportunities in the state of Florida. He is committed to listening to the concerns of constituents, providing assistance when needed, and is dedicated to maintaining our conservative values. Rep. McClure will pursue efficiency within state government and get rid of unnecessary regulations that are burdensome to business owners.” On Friday, January 12th The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the Thonotosassa location of Direct Auto & Life Insurance. "Direct Auto & Life Insurance specializes in providing affordable auto insurance. We proudly offer a member-to-member “affinity” discount to the employees of any company that belongs to the Plant City Chamber of Commerce. • Term life insurance • Commercial auto insurance (limited availability) • Roadside assistance • Vehicle protection plans • Mexico auto insurance (limited availability) • Motorcycle insurance (limited availability) • RV insurance (limited availability)" On Thursday, January 18th The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau at their new location at 305 S. Wheeler Street, Plant City. "Although Hillsborough County Farm Bureau has been in the county for over 75 years, our office has not been in Plant City since the late 50’s and we are thrilled to be back. Hillsborough County Farm Bureau is a not-for profit, membership, agriculture education organization. Our mission is to assist the Ag community any way we can. Farm Bureau Insurance is a member benefit for our members. If you’re not a member, consider joining!" The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the new family owned and operated Norma’s Plant City Cuban Sandwich Shop located at 120 N. Collins Street, Plant City. From the family: "When the original Norma’s Ybor City Cuban Sandwich Shop closed suddenly, we knew that we couldn’t let it be the end of one of Plant City’s favorite Cuban sandwiches. With a new location and vibe in Historic Downtown, we’ve brought the original Norma’s Cuban sandwich back to Plant City! Serving breakfast and lunch, as well as providing catering, we strive to create a family friendly atmosphere while delivering a quality product." PAGE

LOCAL

Did You Know? A Story of Dr. Olin S. Wright, Sr. and Olin S. Wright, Jr BY PLANT CITY PHOTO ARCHIVES

Margaret Grace Row Wright (97) and Olin Seymour Wright, Jr. (95) view photos at the Plant City Photo Archives December 13, 2017.

orking in the Archives here is always interesting; we never know who will be coming in the door. On Wednesday, December 13, 2017, Dorothy Stone brought in her two elderly parents in wheelchairs to look at the photos. It quickly became clear that her father knew a lot about the people and places in the photos. We asked, and he said his name was Olin Seymour Wright, Jr. He was 95 years old, and the story of his father is part of Plant City’s early history. We searched our collection and found a 1922 photo of him as an infant on his 26-year-old mother’s lap and with his 70-year-old father. Another was of Olin, Jr., a 30-yearold, admiring a portrait of his famous father. From readings and photos, we knew about some of the early prominent residents and the

development of the town of Plant City, founded in 1885. Dr. Olin Seymour Wright, Sr., was one of them. Born in 1852 in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Wright was schooled in Hornell, New York, received his M.D. degree from the University of Michigan and returned to Hornell to set up practice. Later Dr. Wright moved to Manatee County, Florida, then to Jacksonville, where he became successful in treating Yellow Fever. When the epidemic hit the Plant City area in 1887, Dr. Wright came to Plant City as perhaps the first medical doctor in town, and the most experienced with the dreaded disease. He remained in Plant City the rest of his life. Dr. Wright was active in civic affairs. He was mayor 1893-1896 and again 1899-1901. He served on the

Hillsborough County School Board. He owned two pharmacies, perhaps the first car in town, and the first

gasoline pump, conveniently located in front of one of his pharmacies. He was one of the founders of Hillsboro State Bank, a ranking member of the Knights of Pythias, and the highestranking Mason in Florida. Dr. Wright married Palestine Hamilton Collins in 1888; they had three children – Juno, Pallas Athene, and Victor Olin. After their divorce, Dr. Wright married Dorothy Athene Holloway in Lakeland in 1921. Olin Seymour Wright, Jr., was born July 25, 1922. Dr. Olin Wright died December 17, 1923, at 71 years of age. After completing his early schooling, Olin S. Wright, Jr., graduated the New York State Merchant Marine Academy in1942. After seven years at sea he moved back to Florida and joined the Seaboard Coastline Railroad, from which he retired many years later. He had married Margaret Grace Row in Mexico, New York, in 1944, and raised six children; Dorothy Wright Stone, who escorted her parents on this visit, was the second. Mr. and Mrs. Olin Seymour Wright, Jr., now live in a retirement community in Riverview, Florida.

Olin Seymour Wright, Jr., with portrait of his father [Circa 1952] PAGE

Save $2.00 on Adult & $1.00 on Youth General Admission Tickets at Publix

Building New Memories! Artists Appearing on the

Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra Thu. Mar. 1, 10:30 FREE

Cam

Sat. Mar. 3, 3:30 $20

Casting Crowns Tue. Mar. 6, 7:30 $30

Charley Pride Fri. Mar. 9, 3:30 $20

March 1 –11, 2018 • Plant City, FL

Soundstage:

Gary Allan

Oak Ridge Boys

Thu. Mar. 1, 7:30 $30

Thu. Mar. 1, 3:30 $20

Big & Rich featuring Cowboy Troy Sat. Mar. 3, 7:30

$30

Jerry Lee Lewis Fri. Mar. 2, 3:30 $30

Lee Greenwood Sun. Mar. 4, 3:30 $20

REBA McENTIRE Sun. Mar. 4, 7:30 $50

Engelbert Humperdinck Trace Adkins Wed. Mar. 7, 3:30 $30

Earth, Wind & Fire Fri. Mar. 9, 7:30 $40

Justin Moore with Dylan Scott

Wed. Mar. 7, 7:30 $25

Sawyer Brown

Sat. Mar. 10, 3:30 $20

The Lettermen

Thu. Mar. 8, 10:30 FREE

Fri. Mar. 2, 7:30 $35

Jimmy Fortune Mon. Mar. 5, 3:30 $20

Josh Turner

Tue. Mar. 6, 3:30 $25

Drifters, Platters and Cornell Gunter’s Coasters Thu. Mar. 8, 3:30

$20

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds & Anthony Hamilton Sat. Mar. 10, 7:30

$35

Visit FLstrawberryfestival.com or call 813-754-1996 and get your tickets for the best seats available! While online, check out the Free Entertainment and Special Days for Discounts and full Schedule of Festival Events. Concert dates and times are subject to change

Gaither Vocal Band

Mon. Mar. 5, 7:30 $25

Featuring Vanilla Ice, Salt-N-Pepa and Tone Loc Thu. Mar. 8, 7:30

Chase Bryant

Sun. Mar. 11, 3:30 $20

$35

Brad Paisley

Sun. Mar. 11, 7:30 $50

#berryfest18

• Florida Dairy Farmers • Florida Blue • Netterfield’s Concessions • Verizon Wireless • Images Everywhere! • Candyland Warehouse • AMSCOT • DIRECTV • Stingray Chevrolet • Good Health Saunas • Uncommon USA • Wyndam Vacation Resorts • Local Ford Dealers • TECO • Astin Farms • MetroPCS• Global Frequency Technology • Alessi • O’Reilly Auto Parts • General RV Center • 1-800-411-PAIN • Timeshare Exit Team • Vision Auto Glass PAGE

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83RD ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

THE 2018 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL QUEEN & HER COURT BY C H E RY L J O H N S TO N PHOTOS BY SASSANO PHOTOGRAPHY

At the 83rd Annual Florida Strawberry Festival Lions International Scholarship Pageant on January 20, 2018, Ally Elizabeth Burt was crowned Queen from among the 28 lovely contestants. Congratulations also to First Maid Dallas Nicole Baker and Court Members Baylee Astin, Selena Berrios and Zoe Rasmussen. During the 11-days of “Building New Memories,” our newest community and industry ambassadors will enjoy making new friends, conversing with the media and entertainers, and supporting the fun at the daily contests. A highlight for everyone this year will be the new grandstand where visitors can enjoy the shows on the Wish Farms Stage. As you and your family enjoy Eastern Hillsborough County’s strawberry harvest and celebration, be sure to follow our Queen and Court on social media. We hope this glimpse into their excitement encourages everyone to support our hometown legacy

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FL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL QUEEN

ALLY ELIZABETH BURT In her first pageant competition ever, Plant City native Ally Elizabeth Burt was crowned the 2018 Florida Strawberry Queen. The scholar/athlete and only daughter of Royce and Raquel Burt serves her Seffner Christian Academy classmates as Student Government Association president and as player on the SCA basketball, track and soccer teams. Currently dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College, she plans to attend a Florida university, major in Biology and pursue a medical career. This career dream was affirmed during a mission trip to the Casa Shalom Orphanage in Guatemala last year. Voted by school peers as Best All Around and Best Smile, it’s no wonder the new Queen also earned the pageant title of Miss Congeniality. She believes those who know her would say she is a “goal-oriented people person with a servant’s heart.” Her father played for 20-plus years at the Festival in the Southern Star Bluegrass Band and as a little girl, Ally admired how the Queen and Court were introduced as Plant City celebrities. “I thought that was so cool and wanted to compete one day,” she explained, “but as I’ve grown up and matured, I have realized there is so much more to being the Queen. It is all about serving others and being an ambassador for the Florida Strawberry Festival.” You relied on your Christian faith in this contest, correct? Yes, I prayed a lot backstage, which really calmed my nerves and helped me gain confidence. And my mother had written a Scripture verse, Proverbs 31:25, on the sole of my high heels— “She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future.” Initial reactions? With the final announcement I asked, “Is this real life or a dream?” I was blessed to have many family members supporting me and they were all so happy. My dad called it his ‘most exciting moment’ and ‘even better than the Florida State Seminoles winning the National Championship.’ What do you most look forward to in representing the industry and community? Serving others! Although I won the pageant, this is not about me. As an ambassador for the Festival, it’s about making an impact in other people’s lives by building relationships with them and leading by example.

Person you aspire to be like? I hope one day I’m half the woman my mom is. As her only child, we have a great friendship. Although she’s a hard worker and very busy, she still makes sure to put time with my dad and me first. Aside from a family member, a special dinner guest would be— I really look up to Sadie Robertson, who gained fame from her family’s TV show, Duck Dynasty. I watch her YouTube videos and she seems someone so genuine who knows how to have fun. With all the fame and publicity, she stays true to who she is and uses her platform to spread love and her faith. I’d like to be a friend and ask her tips about staying true to herself. What do you love most about living in eastern Hillsborough County? My father’s family were original homesteaders here and are referenced in D.E. Bailey’s book, The Origin of Plant City. I love the family feel and that wherever you go, you’ll see someone you know, welcoming you with a warm smile.

B U S I N E S S “A D ” BEST SENTENCE? FOR JOHNSON BARBEQUE, I SAID: " O W E N J O H N S O N A N D T H E W H O L E FA M I LY H AV E B E E N S E R V I N G T H E B E S T B A R B E Q U E W I T H A S M I L E S I N C E 1 9 5 4 ."

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s e i r o m Me Monday, March 5 | 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;1pm

Hospital parking is reserved for patients and BayCare team members. Parking for this event is available in the nearby designated Strawberry Festival parking lots.

Thon

otosa

ssa R oad

Oak Ave.

W. Palmetto Ave.

Alexander St.

Main Parking

Cancer Resource Center Plant Ave.

Join us on Reynolds Street, next to the hospital for music, snacks and fun. Stop by and stay to watch the Strawberry Festival Grand Parade.

â&#x2DC;&#x2026; South Florida Baptist Hospital

W. Reynolds (Highway 574)

18-302832_0218

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FL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL FIRST MAID

DALLAS NICOLE BAKER When Dallas Nicole Baker was announced as First Maid in the 83rd Annual Florida Strawberry Festival Scholarship Pageant, she loved the huge hugs from her “proud and still in shock” mom and dad, Waylon and Robyn Baker. In addition to her photography and cosmetology passions, the Plant City native and PCHS junior is also musically talented, singing and playing guitar in the Mel & Dallas duo. Prior to this pageant, Dallas had competed in the Blueberry Festival, Junior Royalty, and Calendar Girl competitions. She believes folks recognize her for being “loud, fun, and compassionate.” When did you decide to compete for Strawberry Queen? At first I was on the fence because this pageant is a really big deal, but after my mom and I talked, she encouraged me to just go and have fun. I did and it was the best experience I’ve ever had. Now I can’t wait to continue serving this beautiful town with my strawberry sisters. Were you nervous onstage? I was very nervous offstage but very comfortable onstage, except for when they announced the Top 5. I was shellshocked when they called my name. Have any relatives been a Queen or court member? My cousin Kori Lane was a court member in 2011 and she coached me for this pageant. I hope I won’t be the only Baker who gets to experience this. I have two little cousins who will definitely be competing in a few years. In addition to Festival responsibilities, what will this year hold? I will begin dual-enrollment classes at Hillsborough Community College and continue to learn more in the beauty industries to ensure I’ll graduate next year with the licenses to start my career.

What role do you most look forward to in representing the industry and community? I look forward to educating people about our town and the Florida Strawberry Festival and also to being a role model to young girls. Who do you aspire to be like in the future? My dad, because I don’t know a better man. He is always there for me and my mom. He works so hard and teaches me to keep pushing on, even if things become difficult. He is my #1 supporter, my best friend, and the best Dad ever! Who would you enjoy a dinner date with? Elvis Presley, but seeing how that’s not possible, then it would be Brad Paisley. I’ve grown up listening to my dad playing Brad’s songs on the guitar and learning as he goes. I’ve been to a million of his concerts but they never get old! What do you enjoy most about your hometown? It’s hard to pick just one thing I love most about our city. But on any given day, going to downtown Plant City and meeting or talking to local people is a priceless experience. It’s incredible to hear the stories they tell about how it has changed over the years. Plant City is just one big happy family.

L O C A L B U S I N E S S “A D ,” B E S T S E N T E N C E YO U W R OT E ? “ M Y FAV O R I T E G R O W E R AT T H E T O P O F T H E H E A P I S T H E W I S H FA R M S FA M I LY, W H O A R E F O U R G E N E R AT I O N S D E E P.”

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FL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL COURT MEMBER

BAYLEE SAMANTHA ASTIN Plant City native Baylee Astin, the youngest and third daughter of Sam and Buffy Astin to serve as Florida Strawberry Festival Royalty, believes peers consider her as personable, compassionate, and enthusiastic. Thankful for a loving, supportive family, she shared, “I couldn’t have done it without my encouraging parents or sisters, who have helped prepare me for this year.” The Durant High School senior and FFA member’s school involvement includes vice-president of Student Government, secretary of Students All Connected, and DHS student representative for the Hillsborough County School Board. Baylee plans to earn a degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of Tampa, which will help her in continuing the legacy of the family’s 95-year-old farm. When did you decide to compete in this competition? As a little girl, I remember the very first pageant I watched. Seeing the stunning contestants grace the stage, I knew I wanted to participate one day. Strawberry Queen definitely represents more than the glitz and glam. As the daughter of a third generation strawberry farmer, I am so happy to be an ambassador for an industry about which I’m so passionate. Any prior pageant experience? I participated in Junior Royalty for several years and in Durant’s Calendar Girl competitions. Were you nervous? It was such an exciting night, but I was also very at ease knowing God was with me. I feel so honored and thrilled to be on court with four special girls that I absolutely already love. Which other family members have served as Festival Royalty? In 2005 my Aunt Ashley (Pippin) Sloan was First Maid and in 2007 my other Aunt Summer (Pippin) Nuhic was crowned Queen. My sisters, Madison and Payton Astin—court members in 2013 and 2015—are especially excited we have this in common.

How do you view your Royalty responsibilities? I hope to educate and bring new information about the strawberry industry to the 500,000 visitors from around the nation who attend our annual Florida Strawberry Festival. I also look forward to meeting new people and being a positive influence in our community. I can’t wait to carry on the Festival’s legacy while also building new memories. Who do you aspire to be like? I hope to be like my momma. She is kind, loving, supportive, fun, and she always stands up for what is right. She has taught me it is okay to be different, even if it’s not the popular choice. I hope to teach my kids the same things when I am a mom one day. Enjoy dinner with? My great-grandfather, Sam Astin – I would really enjoy talking to him about the growth of Plant City through the years. I think change is great, but I also want to fully understand the roots from which our city was founded. What do you love about your hometown? The close knit relationships we all hold make this town very special and truly unique. Whether you were born here or have just moved here, the citizens of Plant City will take you in with open arms and make you feel right at home.

B E S T L I N E I N YO U R B U S I N E S S A D P R E S E N T E D O N S TA G E ? “ O F F E R I N G S I T E D E V E L O P M E N T, T H E I R S P E C I A LT Y WORK IS EASY TO SEE, AND THANKS TO WETHERINGTON T R A C T O R S E R V I C E , T H E N E W S T R AW B E R R Y F E S T I VA L G R A N D S TA N D S A R E T H E P L A C E T O B E .”

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FL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL COURT MEMBER

SELENA SUE BERRIOS Plant City native Selena Sue Berrios, daughter of Dusty and Katina Berrios, describes herself as “energetic, free-spirited, and someone very passionate about family, career, and hometown.” Her roots run deep with grandparents and greatgrandparents born here also. In addition to FFA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Student Council involvement at Durant High School, the senior varsity cheerleader is a Tropicana Speech Contest winner who mentors elementary students and serves on the Ambassador Welcoming Committee for the Florida Strawberry Festival. Other interests include showing livestock, community and church outreaches, bow fishing, and competitive cheer. Selena plans to attend the University of South Florida and pursue a career in Pediatric Medicine. Her prior pageant experience included Baby Parade, Junior Royalty Baroness Queen and Duchess Queen, Little Miss Plant City court, and DHS Calendar Girl- Miss February. Although nervous onstage initially in the Strawberry Queen contest, she explained, “The interview process really helped me become comfortable with the judges.” Selena encouraged, “Being nervous shouldn’t discourage you because the friendships made and the opportunity to represent your hometown definitely outweighs the temporary anxiety.” When did you decide to compete in this pageant? This has always been my dream. I have admired the previous Strawberry Queens for their dedication and hard work as role models to children. Having a younger sister gave me the drive to set an example for her. Family reactions? They were already crying before the crowning ceremony. When I walked onstage in my dress, it brought tears to their eyes because they were so proud of me. This pageant is truly a coming-of-age event for our community. Even without the crown or sashes, you can still take away your experience, memories, and new friendships. Any relatives a prior Queen or court member? My cousin Lisa [Stanaland] was the Strawberry Festival Queen in 1992. She was there at the pageant cheering me on, which was really nice having someone there for me who has been through this process. What will the coming year hold? Having been a livestock exhibitor all my life, I will have the privilege of showing my steer, “Dobbie.” Agriculture is where my heart is. As an ambassador for the Strawberry Festival, I’ll have opportunities to serve people of all ages

through many outreach programs. I can inspire kids by being a good role model and help them realize hard work can make their dreams come true. Our adventure is just beginning and we have big plans to do great things for our community. Special thanks for anyone? I can always count on my family, my true support team, to help and cheer me on. I would like to thank my Mimi and my aunt Kelli (‘My Fairy God Mothers’) for always pulling through when I need it most. Someone you aspire to be like? I have always looked up to my mom, my rock, and a “Super Woman.” She is a very independent and has taught me to independence and responsibility. The love she has for our family and her compassion for others is so inspiring. Dinner with? Princess Diana has influenced my life through her style and grace. More than just a fashion icon, she truly touched peoples’ lives through her humility and kindness.

BEST SENTENCE FROM LOCAL BUSINESS PROMOTION: I WA N T E D T O L E AV E E V E R Y O N E W I T H A ‘ R E M E M B E R A B L E ’ E X P R E S S I O N , S O M Y L A S T L I N E WA S : “J A R R E T S C O T T F O R D H O L D S T H E K E Y T O Y O U R D R E A M S .”

Plant City passion? Our close community filled with tradition and family values makes this town the best place to live. I am proud of my hometown. PAGE

1407 W. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Plant City, FL

Plant City - Lakeland - Riverview - Lake Mary PAGE

FL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL COURT MEMBER

ZOE BELL RASMUSSEN Zoe Bell Rasmussen moved from South Florida to the greater Plant City area at age ten with her parents, Shawn and Renee Rasmussen. She describes herself as “super thankful” for God’s blessing of “a loving family and awesome friends.” The goal-oriented Newsome High School junior dedicates “a lot of time studying, which would explain her memberships in the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Science National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and Rho Kappa. Presently dual-enrolled at Hillsborough Community College, Zoe plans to earn a Biochemistry degree at the University of Florida. In the meantime, this “very happy” young lady who “always looks for the bright side of situations” enjoys playing club soccer and volunteering with Seeds of Hope and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Prior pageant experience? None until I made Top 10 in last year’s competition. I had seen past Queens introducing the country music stars and decided to compete because I’m a huge country music fan. I was thrilled with my experience because I learned public speaking skills, walking in heels, and I made so many new friends.

Anyone special to thank? Yes, I’m very grateful. My mom gave so much of her time and dealt with my sassiness. My dad is my #1 fan and always made me laugh when I felt stressed. Also, my Grandma and Papa, who encouraged me to try again. My friends supported me also throughout the process and at the pageant!

Any onstage jitters? Yes, I was super nervous. My jaw dropped in the surreal moment when my name was called for Top 5.

Who do you aspire to be like? My dad! He works super hard to support our family and purchase all the clothes I need (which I say are necessities) and for being so friendly and motivated all the time.

Family reactions? They were ecstatic and proud because they knew how hard I had worked, constantly practicing my speech and walking around the kitchen in heels. My dad’s eyes were red, so he had probably been crying. What will the coming year hold? In addition to keeping my own grades up, I will continue to tutoring others. I look forward to being a positive role model who gives back; someone little girls can look up to. Events we will attend, such as the Strawberry Picking Challenge, help raise money for childcare and quality education for children of migrant workers, which play an important part in our agricultural industry.

Someone you’d like to talk to over dinner? Dinner with Taylor Swift would be a dream come true. She’s probably the most famous entertainer worldwide and is a positive and humble person who seems down-to-earth. What makes life in Plant City so special? I love the family atmosphere and how friendly, down-to-earth, and caring almost everyone is. The Strawberry Festival is my favorite event, mostly because I love my country music and the Festival definitely has that.

B E S T S E N T E N C E I N YO U R B U S I N E S S P R E S E N TAT I O N ? F O R T H E H O L I D AY I N N E X P R E S S , I S A I D : “ T H E I R F R I E N D LY S TA F F W I L L G R E E T Y O U W I T H A S M I L E A S T H E Y W E L C O M E Y O U T H R O U G H T H E D O O R S ,” W H I C H I S S O A C C U R AT E B E C A U S E W H E N I V I S I T E D , BRIGHT EYES AND WIDE SMILES G R E E T E D M E R I G H T AWAY.

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Big & Rich featuring Cowboy Troy Saturday, Mar. 3

SUNDAY, MARCH 4

2018 FL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL®

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THURSDAY, MARCH 1

FRIDAY, MARCH 2

Florida Blue Senior Citizens Day Those aged 60+ receive $2 off $10 admission

Publix Food & Fun Friday – Present any Publix brand non-perishable item at entry gate for $5 off the $30 ride wristband

O’Reilly Auto Parts Ride-A-Thon Day Present voucher from participating O’Reillys and receive purchase $20 wristband for $17

Public contests: Amish Donut Eating Contest @2PM in Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent

Public contest: Fanta Strawberry Soda Throwdown @2:30 PM at Scott’s World of Magic Stage

Fanta Strawberry Soda Throwdown @2:30 PM at Scott’s World of Magic Stage

Entertainment on Wish Farms Soundstage 3:30 PM – The Oakridge Boys 7:30 PM – DNCE

Entertainment on Wish Farms Soundstage 3:30 PM – Jerry Lee Lewis 7:30 PM – Justin Moore with Dylan Scott

FFA & 4-H: Mosaic Youth Swine Show @7PM in Patterson Co. Livestock Arena PAGE

FFA & 4-H: Dairy Contestant Judging @1PM in Patterson Co. Livestock Arena

SATURDAY, MARCH 3 Free Kids Day / Youth Parade Day / Super Saturday Wristband Day Kids thru high school age are admitted free; Wristband for $30 entitles wearer to ride most mechanical rides from 10AM to 11PM 11AM – 45th Annual Youth Parade begins at State Farmers’ Market Public contests: Youth Strawberry Stemming Contest; 2PM, Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent Fanta Strawberry Soda Throwdown @2:30 PM at Scott’s World of Magic Stage Entertainment on Wish Farms Soundstage 3:30 PM – Cam 7:30 PM – Big & Rich featuring Cowboy Troy FFA & 4-H: Dairy Show Showmanship @11AM and Dairy Show at 1PM in Patterson Co. Livestock Arena

Coca-Cola Family Day Present any empty Coke brand can or plastic bottle at entry gate to purchase $25 Wristband for $20; entitles wearer to ride most mechanical rides from 10AM to 11PM 9 – 10 AM Hillsborough County Baby Contest Registration at FSF Administrative Offices Public contests: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM Baby Contest; Decorated Diaper Contest; Baby Features; Diaper Derby @ Publix Showcase Tent Fanta Strawberry Soda Throwdown @2:30 PM at Scott’s World of Magic Stage Entertainment on Wish Farms Soundstage 3:30 PM – Lee Greenwood 7:30 PM – Reba McEntire FFA & 4-H in Patterson Co. Livestock Arena Dairy Show Showmanship (Adults) @11AM Dairy Pee Wee Showmanship @11:30AM Dairy Costume Ball @ 12:30PM Youth Plant Sale @ 2PM

Josh Turner Monday, Mar. 5

Lee Greenwood Sunday, Mar. 4

MONDAY, MARCH 5

TUESDAY, MARCH 6

Grand Parade Day / Ride-A-Thon Day $20 Wristband purchased at the Midway entitles wearers to ride most mechanical rides from 10AM-11PM

Truwhip TWOSDAY / Ride-A-Thon Day From noon to 11PM, choose to ride any single ride for $2 or ride most mechanical rides all day with $20 wristband purchased at the Midway.

1PM – Grand Parade Begins in downtown Plant City & passes by Festival on Reynolds St. @2PM Public contests: Fanta Strawberry Soda Throwdown, 2:30PM @Scott’s World of Magic Stage Strawberry Spaghetti Eating Contest, 5PM, Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent Entertainment on Wish Farms Soundstage 3:30 PM – Jimmy Fortune 7:30 PM – Josh Turner FFA & 4-H in Patterson Co. Livestock Arena 3PM – Lamb Jumping Contest 7PM – Lamb Costume Contest

DNCE Thursday, Mar. 1

NEW!

Lucy Pet’s Surfing and All-Star Stunt Dog Show

Public contests: Adult Strawberry Stemming Contest, 2PM in Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent Fanta Strawberry Soda Throwdown, 2:30PM at Scott’s World of Magic Stage Entertainment on Wish Farms Soundstage 3:30 PM – Gaither Vocal Band 7:30 PM – Casting Crowns FFA & 4-H in Patterson Co. Livestock Arena 5PM – Lamb Showmanship & Show

NEW!

Scott’s World of Magic

NEW!

Strawberry Jam Meatball Sandwich PAGE

Casting Crowns Tuesday, Mar.6

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7

THURSDAY, MARCH 8

American Heroes Day / Ride-A-Thon Day All active, reserve, retired military veterans, law enforcement and first responders are admitted free with valid ID.

Florida Blue Senior Citizens Day and O’Reilly Auto Parts Ride-A-Thon Day (See March 1 for details)

$20 wristband purchased at Midway entitles wear to ride most mechanical rides from noon to 11PM Public contests: Super Dog Mega Corndog Eating Contest, 1PM at Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent Fanta Strawberry Soda Throwdown, 2:30PM at Scott’s World of Magic Stage Entertainment on Wish Farms Soundstage 3:30 PM – Englebert Humperdinck 7:15 PM – Honor American Heroes 7:30 PM – Trace Adkins

Public contests: Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest, 2PM, Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent Fanta Strawberry Soda Throwdown, 2:30PM, Scott’s World of Magic Stage Entertainment on Wish Farms Soundstage 10 AM – The Lettermen 3:30 PM – Drifters, Platters & Cornell Gunter’s Coasters 7:30 PM – I Love the 90s Tour featuring Vanilla Ice, Salt-N-Pepa, and Tone Loc

Reba McEntire Sunday, Mar. 4

FFA & 4-H in Patterson Co. Livestock Arena – 7 PM – Mosaic Youth Steer Showmanship

FFA & 4-H in Patterson Co. Livestock Arena - 6PM – Mosaic Youth Steer Show

Earth, Wind & Fire Friday, Mar. 9

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Justin Moore

Friday, Mar. 2

Trace Adkins

Wednesday, Mar. 7

NEW!

FL Strawberry Festival® Concert Venue! I T ’ S B E E N Y E A R S I N T H E M A K I N G . W E H AV E C O M P L E T E LY T R A N S F O R M E D Y O U R F L O R I D A S T R AW B E R R Y F E S T I VA L C O N C E R T E X P E R I E N C E W I T H B E T T E R V I E W S , M O R E C O M F O R TA B L E S E AT S A N D A M O R E I N T I M AT E E N T E R TA I N M E N T AT M O S P H E R E T H A N E V E R !

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WHAT'S NEW ENTERTAINMENT Lucy Pet’s Surfing and All-Star Stunt Dog Show Have you ever seen a dog on a surfboard? Most people haven’t! Lucy’s Pet’s Surfing and All-Star Stunt Dog Show combines incredible agility and stunts from rescued canines with surfing skills like you’ve never seen! Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show See these historical, educational and comical world champion lumberjacks show off their skills in log rolling, chopping, sawing, axe throwing and more. Mike Walker Is it Elvis? Is it Frank Sinatra? Close your eyes, and you won’t be able to tell! Mike Walker will have you laughing and in awe at his ability to impersonate and sing just like some of our musical greats. Scott’s World of Magic Scott’s World of Magic brings out the child in us all as we sit pondering, “How do they do that?” in amazing acts of illusion, old-fashioned card tricks and more. Royale Soaring at over 8 feet tall, Royale greets Festival-goers with energetic dancing and witty conversation.

FOODS Way Better Strawberry Shake Your red cup rolled in Fruity Pebbles will be filled with quite a process! A creamy strawberry milkshake is topped with a strawberry cupcake and sponge cake. Those sweet treats are then topped with fresh whipped cream, more strawberries and a strawberry lollipop. Loaded Fried Potato Funnel Cake Calling all potato lovers! The Loaded Fried Potato Funnel Cake combines bacon bits, chives, real potatoes and cake batter that are fried to a golden brown and topped with cheddar cheese, more bacon bits, chives and sour cream. Chompers Known as “crunchy balls of goodness,” Chompers are served in two varieties: bacon cheeseburger or chicken parmesan. Strawberry Jam Meatball Sandwich Juicy meatballs made with sweet strawberry jam are the feature in this sandwich topped with lettuce and chives. Exotic Meats Jerky From old-fashioned to gourmet, big game to gator, sweet to spicy, enjoy all varieties of this classic snack.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9 Tampa Bay Times Day on the Midway / Moonlight Magic Night From noon to 10PM receive $5 discount with a Tampa Bay Times coupon for the $20 Fun Pack Ride Coupon Book Moonlight Magic – 10PM – 2AM Everyone entering Midway is required to purchase $25 wristband for rides Public contests: Fanta Strawberry Soda Throwdown, 2:30PM, Scott’s World of Magic Stage Strawberry Mashed Potato Pie Eating Contest, 3PM, Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent Entertainment on Wish Farms Soundstage 3:30 PM – Charley Pride 7:30 PM – Earth, Wind & Fire FFA & 4-H in Patterson Co. Livestock Arena – 6 PM – Beef Breed Showmanship

SATURDAY, MARCH 10

Kenny “Babyface” Edmons Saturday, Mar. 10

Farm Worker Appreciation Day / Super Saturday Wristband Day $30 wristband purchased at the Midway will entitle wearer to ride most mechanical rides from 10AM – 11PM Public contests: Baby Parade, 10:15AM, GT Grandstands Entertainment on Wish Farms Soundstage 3:30 PM – Sawyer Brown 7:30 PM – Kenny “Babyface” Edmons & Anthony Hamilton FFA & 4-H in Patterson Co. Livestock Arena – 7PM – Mosaic Youth Steer Sale

Assorted Strawberry Coated Nuts Fresh and delicious varieties of nuts coated in a sweet strawberry flavoring Grandma’s Chocolate Chip Cookies It’s the warm comfort food made just like your grandma made them! Coolicious Dot Ice Cream It’s extra cold and extra creamy. Enjoy over a dozen flavors – including two non-dairy options – of everyone’s favorite dot-style ice cream. Fried Strawberry Twinkies It’s the famous sponge cake filled with a sweet twist – sweet strawberry cream filling! The treat is then deep-fried to a golden crisp. PAGE

Charley Pride

Firday, Mar. 9

Cam

Saturday, Mar. 3

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

andee Parke Sytsma Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Florida Strawberry Festival (Anthony, please add Registered Trademark symbol). Sandee Parke Sytsma is thoroughly enjoying her responsibilities as the first-ever Board of Directors Chairman for our city’s increasingly popular Florida Strawberry Festival. The role seems a natural fit since she grew up working in the fields of her father Roy’s farming operation and has served on the board since 1995. Sytsma assumed the top position on April 11, 2017 and is recognized as a strong leader who cares deeply about the Festival experience that visitors enjoy. With a little time to reflect on the new role and the annual happening less than two weeks away, we invited her to share some thoughts.

Coca-Cola Family Day: Present any empty Coke brand can or plastic bottle product at entry gate to receive a $5 voucher off the $25 wristband to ride most mechanical rides from 10AM – 11PM Public contest: Fanta Strawberry Soda Throwdown, 2:30PM, Scott’s World of Magic Stage Drawings: 1 PM – Kitchen Craft Cookware Drawing, Neighborhood Village 2 PM – Pulaski Vacation Giveaway, TECO Expo Hall

Sandee Parke Sytsma

5 PM – Stingray Chevrolet Corvette Drawing Entertainment on Wish Farms Soundstage 3:30 PM – Chase Bryant 7:30 PM – Brad Paisley FFA & 4-H in Patterson Co. Livestock Arena - 11AM- Youth Beef Breed Show

NEW!

Royale

What do you feel the Festival staff and board members are most excited about for this “Building New Memories” themed-event? ”Two major construction projects—the new music venue and the new vendor/ Chairman of the Board of Directors exhibitor building—have consumed much of our time and energy these past 11 months. It's for the Florida Strawberry Festival® the culmination of two years of planning and we're excited to present them to our fairgoers.” By Cheryl Johnston Are there attendance projections and is there any special advice for visitors as to best times to attend? ”With good weather, and we pray for that, we're expecting around 600,000 visitors. As for best times, it's good to check the brochures for specific interests (i.e. Senior Citizen Day, Ride Arm band day, etc).” Do you create a Festival coverage schedule for board members and ambassadors? ”We don't have a schedule for board members because our responsibilities are so varied. At all times there are many directors on the property ‘doing what we do!’ I would guesstimate we have one zillion hours in planning! Most of our 63 committees are headed by dedicated board members who give freely of their time and talents. I think the reason the Festival runs like clockwork is because so many hours are spent pre-planning. Once we open the gates, we're almost on auto-pilot!” ”The Ambassador and Guest Services programs are headed up by Jim Scott and Pam Warnock. They have daily Captains with a shift schedule for all of their volunteers. That's another example of pre-planning. All of those volunteers have to be lined up for every shift, every day for Ambassadors, Guest Services, Trams, Neighborhood Village and more!“ ”Another committee that volunteers selflessly is the Livestock Committee. They work throughout the year weighing, worming and tagging the animals. It's quite the operation. “ Would you say spouses of directors and assistant directors are as time-energyenthusiasm invested in the Festival as their husband or wife? ”Most spouses in our Festival Families are involved one way or another. Our families are all different ages and stages of life, so those with small children already have their hands full.” Are they any comments you hear regularly from out-of-towners who visit the Festival year after year? ”I was talking to a gentleman from North Carolina this year who said he hasn't missed a Strawberry Festival in 15 years. He plans their vacation around it and comes multiple days while they're here. There is something for every family member and they all look forward to it. We hear this often.”

Brad Paisley

Sunday, Mar. 11

Has there been a unique challenge to being the first female Chairman of the Board of Directors? ”I haven't experienced any challenges because of gender. All who held this title before me were passionate about our Festival and our city, so that's the common denominator we share. I know Mom [Helen Parke] is excited (She tells everyone, whether they want to know or not!). Our family has embraced the Strawberry Festival for as long as I can remember, so serving in this role is quite an honor. In April for the swearing in ceremony, I used Dad's gavel from 36 years ago, which brought a tear to both Mom and me. I'm excited to be the first 2nd generation president.” ”And I'm so-o excited for March 1 to get here. I plan to get a lot of hugs from our fairgoers, so if I pass you without a hug, give me a shout! “

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Alison Sizemore enjoys the variety of her work as Marketing Coordinator for the business that began as a family farm in 1903.

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SIZEMORE FARMS A FARMER’S DAUGHTER STEPS INTO THE FAMILY BUSINESS By Cheryl Johnston

PRO DU C I N G TH E H I G H ES T QUAL I TY F LOR I DA- G ROWN FRU I TS S I N C E 1903

tarting with their great-grandfather in the early 1900s, Sizemore’s family of farmers are dedicated to growing the best produce in Plant City. After keeping the 200-acre strawberry farm afloat during the Great Depression, Jack Sizemore senior went into business with his sons. Sizemore Farms was established when they began growing various vegetables and citrus trees along with strawberries. Becoming co-owners in 1996 after studying Ag Economics at the University of Florida, John, Jr. and Jeff Sizemore now operate Sizemore Farms, with approximately 850 acres producing crops - 500 of those in strawberries. Continuing with family tradition, Jeff’s son is already part of the team and John’s daughter Alison is following in her father’s footsteps. This month she shared some insights into farming from a female’s perspective.

What was it like for you to grow up on a strawberry farm? Technically I didn’t grow up on a strawberry farm, I grew up in a normal neighborhood environment. But there were always plenty of opportunities for my sister Kaylyn and I to spend time on the farm. My dad loved to take us to work with him on weekends and, while I think he hoped for the experience to be educational, we typically ended up in the nearest dirt pile or climbing on a tractor. My very favorite memories though, always took place on freeze nights. If the temperature threatened to drop below 32 degrees on a weekend, my sister and I would hop in the truck with Dad and ride around checking on the strawberry plants. Usually we could stay awake long enough for a late-night hot chocolate run to the convenient store, but we would always end up asleep in the truck before morning.

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How did your education prepare you for stepping into the family business? I graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Food and Resource Economics in May of 2016. My time at UF provided me with a ton of helpful business and industry training, but I believe there’s always something new to learn. This season I’ve had quite the crash course on farming. IFAS has trainings and seminars almost every week, many of which I’ve been in attendance for. Marketing is a whole other animal though! I’m always on the hunt for online classes in photography, graphic design, and videography. What about the work do you love most? I love the opportunity to work with customers. In my first job out of college I worked as a credit analyst, and I learned very quickly that wasn’t the career for me. I struggled with being indoors all day, isolated in a cubicle. During that time, my boyfriend Brett Smith and I opened a produce stand at the Lakeland Downtown Farmer’s Curb Market. We spent our Saturdays selling berries and jams, and chatting with customers about anything from production practices to family recipes. I had so much fun. That’s when I started talking with my dad about potentially moving into a marketing role for Sizemore Farms. I transitioned to full-time here this past August and the rest is history! What other crops do you grow? Peaches, blackberries, and a little bit of citrus! While we only have 25 acres of blackberries, I think they are the most exciting. While relatively new to the area, they have great potential to be a wonderful alternative crop for strawberry growers. They are grown on a trellis system, so during the season you can walk through

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the field and be surrounded on either side by ten foot tall blackberry vines. The variety we grow is thornless, so they are fun to pick, too! Sizemore Farms takes great care in the use of pesticides. Tell folks why they should buy Sizemore veggies/berrries. Our family operation has a commitment to the community and the environment to grow the safest and healthiest strawberries as possible. We utilize the latest precision ag technologies (like drones!) to use the smallest amount of inputs as possible. Additionally, we are always looking out for new and creative solutions to replace chemicals used on our crops. Just this season our farm manager, Elvie Engle, engineered a system of tubs to be utilized as a sort of “algae farm.” Water is pumped from tub to tub until the water reaches the final tub as a mature algae-water mixture. I’ll save you the science talk, but this green water makes a great fertilizer for the strawberry plants and it’s completely natural! Unfortunately, I have the unique pleasure of looking at this lovely science experiment out my office window every day. What is the most difficult part about your job so far? Figuring out everyone’s schedules! As the marketing coordinator, I usually need to do some kind of coordinating: whether that’s talking with Elvie about harvesting challenges for a blog post or discussing with my dad about a customer inquiry. I learned very quickly that it’s hard to find someone when there is 500 acres scattered over two counties for them to get lost on! I’m considering putting a GPS tracker on my dad’s truck for the times he won’t answer my calls while I’ve been circling farms for the past hour!

What invaluable things about farming have you learned from your father, uncle, cousin, and others? Oh gosh, I honestly learn something new every day, although I think my favorite thing came from a conversation with my dad. We were building a new company website last year and I asked him he wanted the main message to our customers to be. He told me he wanted everyone to feel like family, so that every time a customer interacted with us–whether that be through pictures on our website, posts on social media, or finding our strawberries at the grocery store—that they would know we did our very best to grow the sweetest possible strawberry for them and that it would, hopefully, bring a smile to their face. Growing up while watching my father and uncle give 110% to the farm really set the bar high for me. I try to carry that same resolve with me every day so that I’m always working to create something beautiful and something with the potential to bring joy to our customers. Does farming lend itself to quality family life as well? Farming is of course a busy job, but it’s perfect for family too. Farming is so far from a corporate environment, so there’s always time for visits from family and friends. I even get to take my dog to work with me! Time for rest is just as important, a lesson I’ve learned from my dad’s example. We’ve got our harvest schedule down to a routine where the farm pretty much shuts down on Sundays. That way everyone has a day to relax and spend time with family. Ultimately, it’s a great life.

Sizemore Family photo taken in 2014 when they received recognition as Hillsborough County Farm Family of the Year. Back Row: Lindsey Sizemore, Jack Sizemore, Jeff Sizemore, Debbie Sizemore, Jenna Sizemore, Jennifer Sizemore, John Sizemore Front Row: Sara Sizemore-Cruz, Jay Sizemore, Donna Sizemore, Meribeth Sizemore, Jack Sizemore, Sylvia Sizemore Not shown are John Sizemoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughters, Alison and Kaylyn, who were both attending University of Florida at the time.

Strawberries - fresh from the field! PAGE

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REAL ESTATE

Self-Employed, Business Mileage and Mortgages BY NATE DAVIS, FLORIDA MORTAGE FIRM

round this time every year, we get a ton of self-employed tax questions regarding how different scenarios impact getting approved for a loan. So I wanted to summarize how the deduction for mileage is viewed through the eyes of lending. Automobiles used for business purposes have an option to deduct expenses based on actual business miles driven. This lowers tax liabilities by decreasing stated profit, which can affect the loan amount for which a person can get approved. There is, however, a way to get some income added back for your loan’s approval. The 2017 mileage deduction rate is 53.5 cents per mile. Part of

the amount-per-mile deduction is allocated for depreciation, which is an accounting loss but not a cashflow loss. When analyzing business income, well-versed lenders understand this and will add back the expenses taken for depreciation to the bottom line, allowing for more qualifying income than the profit shown on the tax return. See why understanding this second layer of business mileage is important? More qualifying income means a possible loan approval for a higher amount. According to the IRS, 25 cents of each 53.5 cent-per-mile deduction is allocated to depreciation. Let’s apply these numbers.

A client who deducted 10,000 business miles on a tax return would show a $5,350 expense (10,000 x 53.5 cents). We would add back the portion allocated to depreciation to the profit of the business in the amount of $2,500 (10,000 x 25 cents). This article is only intended to explain how the results apply to

mortgage lending from an incomecalculation perspective and should not be used for tax-filing purposes. Please consult a tax professional with tax preparation questions. If you have any questions about the mortgage implications of this, please call my team at Florida Mortgage Firm.

Florida Mortgage Firm (813-707-6200) is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #289323, NMLS #294701.

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REAL ESTATE

The January sales are as follows: Address

Sales Price

Living Area

Pool

Garage

Walden Lake Review

2515 S Fairway Drive

$152,000

15138

2 Car

3323 Silvermoon Drive

$214,900

1789

2 Car

3206 Hawthorne Court

$229,900

1789

2 Car

BY NATALIE SWEET

3514 Kilmer Drive

$255,000

2102

Yes

2 Car

3207 Hawthorne Court

$267,000

2554

Yes

2 Car

2704 Laurel Oak Drive

$265,600

2470

Yes

2 Car

2901 Aston Avenue

$290,000

2453

Yes

2 Car

2816 Pine Club Drive

$296,000

2618

Yes

2 Car

3303 Cummings Place

$330,000

2523

Yes

3 Car

3044 Sutton Woods Drive

$344,900

2569

Yes

2 Car

2714 Forest Club Drive

$350,000

4444

Yes

None

he Walden Lake Community Association Board Meetings are the third Monday of each month at the Walden Lake Community Association office building on Griffin Boulevard in Walden Lake. The next meetings are scheduled for February 19th and March 19th at 7:00 PM. The meetings are open to all Walden Lake residents. Watch the announcement boards at all entrances for dates and times for special meetings and events. Save the date for the Annual Homeowners Association Meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 19th at 7:00 PM. It will be held again this year at the Plant City Church of God on Mud Lake Road. The Annual Community Wide Garage Sale is Saturday, April 7th and will begin at 8:00 AM. The HOA will obtain a community wide permit so there is no need for you to obtain one for that day. A major change to this year’s sale is

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that there will not be trucks at the office collecting your leftover items. Please let the HOA know via email if you plan to hold a sale and your address so there is signage available at your neighborhood. Email to Betteg@WaldenLake.org. Today’s Bank foreclosed on Visions Golf on February 8th, which included the golf course, country club, tennis courts and pool area. What next is the question many are asking? Today’s Bank is now the owner of the property and hopefully they will let us know soon although they will most likely put it up for sale. During the month of January, there were 11 sales in Walden Lake with an average sale price of $272,300. The average days on the market were 64 days. There were no sales in Walden Lake East in January. There are currently 11 active listings for sale in Walden Lake and Walden Lake East with an average list price of $337,718 and an average of 60 days on the market.

One of the active listings is in Polo Place and if you remove that higher priced home; the average list price is $272,490 and 44 days on the market. There are 17 properties Pending Contract with an average list price of $236,024 and average of 56 days on the market. The market continues to remain strong for homes that are priced well and in good condition and this is a good time to put your home on the market given the very low inventory. Although interest rates are beginning to tick up a bit, they are still

very low, continuing to make home buying affordable. If you have any question about these MLS statistics, please feel free to contact me at 813-758-9586 or nsweet@ kw.com. Our HOA office on Griffin Boulevard is a drop off center for non-perishable unexpired items to be donated to The United Food Bank. Although the Holidays are past, the Food Bank is always in need of donations. Feel free to contact me about this article via email me at NSweet@KW.com or 813-758-9586.

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SPORTS

Athlete of the Month Joseph Hatfield

SCHS Wrestling Captain BY TARYN STORTER

Joseph has received many awards through his wrestling experiences, but he chooses to focus “not on the reward but more on the process.” As Joseph is already aware, continuous improvement is key when playing a sport. Coach Cranston Gittens inspires Joseph, who shared, “He has become a role model for me and has taught me countless lessons about life and wrestling.” No doubt, individuals who impact us in a positive way contribute sound advice and memories that will last a lifetime. Christie Raburn, SCHS Assistant Principal for Curriculum at Strawberry Crest, is very proud of Joseph and his many accomplishments. She offered,

“Joseph is a great student and the kind of athlete coaches want to build their team around. He is disciplined and committed.” In considering advice he’d offer to younger athletes, Joseph said, “I would tell them to never let anything discourage them.” As for the future, this team captain wants to continue wrestling. Still uncertain about which college he’ll attend, Joseph explained, “My goal is to make the right choice when the time comes.” Regardless, Joseph is excited for everything life has in store for him. Keep your eye on Joseph Hatfield, Plant City! He is sure to accomplish great things at the next level in the wrestling world.

Joseph thrives on wrestling a competitor to the ground.

oseph Hatfield is an exceptional junior at Strawberry Crest High School. As the Chargers’ wrestling team captain, he has enjoyed leading his team to many victories. Throughout his childhood, Joseph has played many sports, including football, soccer, baseball, wrestling and track and field. He explained that while he enjoys them all, he loves to wrestle. He has wrestled with the SCHS team for three years, but has been wrestling since he was in 5th grade. However, he explained, “I really began understanding the sport once I started wrestling my freshman year.” “My favorite sport is wrestling,” Joseph explained, “because It

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teaches you discipline and values you will need throughout life. And not only does it build character, most importantly it reveals it.” Character building is essential, especially for any team’s leader. He added, “I love the sport so much that I can't see myself doing anything else.” Joseph is very proud of his position as team captain for the Chargers. Helping others improve and encouraging his team are important roles to him. He hopes to lead the team to the state competition, where he also wants to place individually. Ultimately, the goal is to become State Champion. At season’s end, the team’s final record is 38-7.

Joseph faces off against an opponent in a match.

Joseph, the Strawberry Crest High School wrestling team captain, has wrestled three years for the Chargers,

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SPORTS

Sports Team of the Month Durant High School Boys’ Swim Team Brains and Skill - a Winning Combination BY TARYN STORTER

The 2017 Durant Boys Swim Team

t Durant High School, athletics are a top priority. Normally we hear about their exceptional football program, their fantastic cheerleaders, or their amazing soccer teams. But, here is a team that is making waves in the sports world. The Durant Boy’s Swim team won the highest GPA award for the entire Hillsborough County school district, with an overall GPA of 3.771. The team began to practice in August for the season. They participated in many meets and enjoyed competing against other county teams. The only prerequisites for trying out were that they needed to know how to swim and were required to understand the basic PAGE

rules for competition. Coach Joanne Rohlfsen is so proud of these boys. In her second year of coaching the Durant Boy’s Swim team, her primary goal was that each swimmer would grow in skill and advance academically. Coach Rohlfsen’s favorite part of coaching the team is “seeing their excitement when they do better than their previous times. They all work very hard and it is nice when their efforts pay off.” The team’s favorite memory would be Senior Night. This is a special celebration for all of the graduating seniors. Before the meet, the seniors are recognized and honored, as it is their last year on the team.

Coach Joanne Rohlfsen says that the MVP of the team is Zachary Hand. He is very supportive of the other team members. She explained, “He would always check before a meet to see if anyone needed anything. Even when he was sick or unable to swim, he would come to the meet to cheer on his team.” The Principal of Durant High School, Pamela Bowden, expressed high praise for the boys, too. She offered, “I am really proud of the Durant boy’s swim team for winning the County's GPA Award. In looking at the trophy, Durant’s team had one of the highest GPA's listed on the trophy for all of the fifteen years it has been awarded. This is a tremendous

accomplishment!” The Durant Boy’s Swim Team members include: Zachary Hand, Sean Kavanaugh, Logan White, Jared Geiger, Connor Coronado, and Spencer Horn. They are all between the ages of 14 and 18, and represent each of the four years of high school. The DHS team has not only excelled in their swim careers, but they have also shined in their academic world. Be on the lookout for these exceptional swimmers, both in the pool and in the classroom!

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EXTRA

Leaders in Faith

Pastor Bill Bender, First Baptist Church of Plant City BY CHERYL JOHNSTON

he Children’s Pastor at First Baptist Church of Plant City absolutely loves his work. In fact, Bill and his wife Carol have fully embraced the joys and challenges of ministering to and educating families of our amazing community. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at eight years of age during a Billy Graham Crusade. While Bill works at the church, Carol has been busy homeschooling their five children. When former pastor Ron Churchill invited the Benders to visit First Baptist here, the high school sweethearts from Baltimore, Maryland moved to Plant City in 2002 from Maine where they were church planters with the North American Mission Board. Pastor Bill also serves on the Board of Directors at the Pregnancy Care Center and is very excited about the church’s move to its new home on State Road 39 South on February 18, 2018. Had you always considered being a Children’s Pastor? No, I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education because I had planned to teach elementary school. In my last year at Towson University, I sensed God impressing me to prepare for ministry instead. He put a burden on my heart and I remember driving home from work in my VW bug, resisting Him, but finally surrendering to His will. Carol finished nursing school while I taught first grade in public school, and then with our first two children, we headed to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest. I was very excited to be learning so much more about the Bible and about our faith. What do you enjoy most about your work? We serve about 300 children each week through small groups,

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The Bender Family

the preschool, and clubs such as Awanas. I try to be always visible to love on them and their families. Others have described children as being “like wet cement,” ready to be shaped for the rest of their life. When I was raised, regardless of church background or not, the public’s worldview was still biblically-based. Today, I feel privileged to help children embrace God’s view. I am honored to get down on my knees and talk to kids face-to-face about Him, to hold newborn babies, and to dedicate and baptize them when it’s time. They are so eager to know Him. Please share one quote that has profoundly impacted your life. D. L Moody wrote: “If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for Christ.”

How about a favorite Scripture? In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asks Peter, “Who do you say I am?” Verse 16 is my answer, too. “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” What would you advise parents about their children’s spiritual health? Sometimes people think baptism ‘completes’ their faith walk. But Deuteronomy 6:4-9 instructs parents to immerse their children in Scripture. I counsel them and their families that this is just the beginning of the learning and growing. I want them to experience the joy of their salvation through every year of life in devotions, Bible study, prayer and honest talks with God, service and giving. I want children to be

intentional about their relationship with Christ, with the support of their parents, who should be determined to model the true Christian life as well. We offer resources to help them, too. What do you love about Plant City? We were so welcomed by this community when we moved here. It was unbelievable. At a Diamonds and Denim event, people kept coming up to Carol and telling her how happy they were to have us serving their children. It’s been a wonderful 15 years so far and we can’t wait to experience the future with these wonderful folks.

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Ghosts, Grandeur and Great Movies Tampa Theatre films, events and tours

BY BARBARA ROUTEN | PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAMPA THEATRE

worldwide as the most complete example of an Eberson atmospheric left in the world, with its original furniture, fixtures and organ—and it is still used primarily for its original programming.” “When those lists come out of the top-ten most beautiful theaters in the world, or the top-ten most incredible movie palaces on the planet, Tampa Theatre is on them,” said Witecki. “Typically, we are one of only one or two theaters in the country that make those lists. And we have this right in our backyard. Some people don’t even realize what a treasure is sitting right there.”

Tampa Theatre 711 N. Franklin Street Tampa, FL 33602 http://tampatheatre.org 24-hour information hotline: (813) 274-8981 Box Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (813) 274-8286

The renovated Tampa Theatre’s proscenium resembles a Mediterranean courtyard and includes original statuary, gargoyles, lights and a peacock.

hen Tampa Theatre was created in 1926 by renowned architect John Eberson for Paramount Studios, it became a centerpiece of downtown Tampa. People flocked to it to catch the latest silent-film releases and weekly (pre-television) current events. The beautiful, luxurious design included a proscenium resembling a Mediterranean courtyard topped with a faux-sky ceiling with twinkling stars and drifting clouds. Phase one of a recent major renovation—the first in 40 years— restored the historic movie palace to its opening-night beauty and mitigated some physical wear and tear. New, chocolate-brown seats have cupholders and more legroom. The concession stand has been expanded and updated for faster service. Here you can watch first-run, award-winning feature films as well

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as exclusive showings of foreign films and documentaries. You can experience a pre-1929 silent movie with live accompaniment on the theater’s Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ, attend a concert or schedule a tour of the magnificent building and learn about its history and ghosts. “Folks coming from Plant City could just as easily go to the Polk Theatre as the Tampa Theatre—two incredible historic theaters that opened in the twenties,” said Jill Witecki, Tampa Theatre’s director of marketing and public relations. “What makes Tampa Theatre so special is our architecture,” she said. “Eberson was famous for these atmospheric theaters with the night sky overhead. There are only a handful of Eberson atmospherics left in the world. Tampa Theatre happens to be not only his favorite atmospheric he built, but it is recognized in theater circles

A larger, more modern concession stand gives patrons more of the snacks they expect from a movie theater.

Tampa Theatre at dusk is a bright spot on brick-lined Franklin Street.

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Candy’s Corner BY CANDY OWENS

Sisters are special from young ones to old. God gave me a sister named Karen who is more precious than gold. We have shared many secrets and the same mom and dad. We have shared lots of good times and held on through the bad. Our memories we cherish with love that has no end. I’m glad she’s my sister and I’m glad she’s my friend.

t’s hard to believe that on February 10, 2018, my sister, my “Sissy,” my “Kay-Kay” turned 58 years old. My sister is almost three years older than I am, so I pretty much grew up thinking her word was the gospel. In fact, I look back now and laugh at some of the things I fell victim to because she was older and I thought she could do no wrong. HA! HA! As little girls, Karen and I would sit under a tree in our front yard with spoons, old metal pie pans, the water hose, and make mud pies and mud cakes. We would have so much fun just laughing and making a mess that Karen would get me to eat a spoon full of mud. She would tell me how good it tasted and that she ate mud all the time with her friend Tammy Napier. So, as usual, I took a big bite and swallowed. I remember the mud smelled good but definitely did not taste good. Before I knew it, Karen ran in the house and told our mother I was out in the front yard eating dirt. She just loved to get me in trouble. There were so many times over the

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years that I fell hook line and sinker for what she said. I remember back in the mid1960s, our parents took us to see the new movie Mary Poppins, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. We were so captivated by the music, costumes, dancing, and the fact that Mary Poppins could fly, that our mother surprised us with the record album. We would have her play that record over and over in our living room so we could twirl around with our umbrellas in our hands while singing: Super-Cali-Fragi-Listic, A Spoonful of Sugar, and Chim Chim Cheree. We probably played the music right off the grooves of that record. Well, that is all that it took for the wheels to start turning in my sister’s head or should I say for the devil horns to start sprouting. Karen whispered in my ear: “I know how to make you fly! Come outside with me and I will show you how!” I grabbed my umbrella and outdoors we went. Karen instructed me to climb up to the top of the iron trellis on the front porch with my umbrella open and jump just like Mary Poppins. So, being the obedient little sister, I took my umbrella in hand and started climbing the trellis. Our mother just happened to be watching us through the living room window and ran to the front door and asked what we were doing. I told her “Kay-Kay” told me I could fly just like Mary Poppins if I jumped off the roof with my “Magic Umbrella.” Needless to say, our mother put a stop to that ideal real quick. Probably one of my most gullible times was back about 1967 when I was between the age of 4- and 5-years old. Our neighbors, Darin

and Linton Williams, invited all the neighborhood kids to their home for watermelon. Well, at that age I ate the yummy watermelon, but I also swallowed the seeds. I guess I was too young to pick them out, so down the hatch they went. My sister keep looking over at me, warning me to spit the seeds out, but I just kept on swallowing them. On the walk back to our house Karen told me I’d better not drink any water or a watermelon would grow in my stomach. I told her I didn’t believe her and she said: “You just ate all those watermelon seeds and you have eaten dirt before, so if you water those seeds, then a watermelon will grow in your stomach, just like “Jack and the Beanstalk.” I thought about what Karen said to me all day long. When supper time came, I would not drink my milk. I was so thirsty that I started to cry. My mother what was wrong and I replied: “I’m thirsty!” and she told me to drink my milk. I told her I couldn’t have anything to drink because I had eaten watermelon seeds at Darin and Linton’s house that afternoon, and that a watermelon would grow in my stomach if I watered the seeds just like “Jack and the Beanstalk.” It didn’t take too long for my parents to figure out where that idea came from. Through the years my sister and I have played many jokes on each other. The last really good prank was about six years ago when she and her sons Tony and Nicholas invited me to their house for my favorite food: Chicken and Dumplings. I should have known there was trouble from the start because my nephew Nicholas told me to sit right down at the table and he would serve me. I thought to myself that this was certainly a special treat because Nicholas was serving me first. My sister told me to dig in and my nephews followed with a big: “How

do they taste? Are they good?” I took a bite and remarked: “These are delicious!” and then I took another bite and another and then another, then I said, “Wait a minute! What is that?” I looked down at my bowl of delicious “Chicken and Dumplings” and there was a real chicken’s foot sticking up just like it was waving at me! I looked at the chicken foot in disbelief and then looked at my sister and nephews, who were just rolling on the ground with laughter. My sister told me people served Chicken and Dumplings with all the parts and especially the feet back in the good old days. I think I turned three shades of green with that prank. To this day, I do not have a love for Chicken and Dumplings like I did in the past. I can laugh until I cry when I look back at the many funny things my sister and I did as children. I can also look back and cry with happiness and gratitude when I think of all the times she has been right by my side through good times and bad. My sister Karen has been the most wonderful friend, teacher, cheerleader, advisor, prayer partner, and example of how to conduct myself through challenges throughout my entire life. I could not have been blessed with a better sister and I love her with every ounce of my being. When I was a little girl I would snuggle up with my “Sissy” on a rainy day and she would read me stories from our “Humpty-Dumpty” or “Jack and Jill” magazines. That was the most comfortable and secure feeling in all the world, and I hope she knows that to this day, every time she is near, I feel that special way. Happy Birthday “Sissy”! I love you

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Wanda’s

Words of Wisdom BY WANDA “LEWIS” ANDERSON

trawberries! We are known for our delicious strawberries here in Plant City. But there are so many other ways to enjoy them. Let’s look at a few… Tired puffy eyes, move over cucumbers! Yes, our beloved strawberries will take that puffiness right out. Simply place a few slices of strawberry under your eyes and relax for 10 minutes. Wash your face with cold water and apply moisturizer. Now that your eyes are refreshed, let’s moisturize with a strawberry mask. All you need is five ripe strawberries minus the stems and one tablespoon of honey. Mash the strawberries with the honey and mix well. Apply the mixture to your face, avoiding the eyes. Leave on 15 minutes, rinse well and apply a moisturizer. You can also prepare an anti-aging face pack by mixing a teaspoon of honey and two teaspoons of milk cream with the mashed strawberries. Simply apply all over your face and neck and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse well with water and pat dry. Since strawberry has anti-aging properties, this pack is great for mature skin, rejuvenating it as well as minimizing pores and lines for younger looking skin. Did you know strawberries can help with thinning of the hair?

Strawberries have a high content of ellagic acid, which protects the hair from thinning or falling out. Other vitamins contained in strawberries are B5 and B6, which both can prevent hair loss. For whiter teeth, brush with strawberries twice a month. Mash one strawberry with a teaspoon of baking soda and brush for 1- 2 minutes before rinsing well. Follow up with a regular brushing and flossing. Now, in Plant City strawberries are very dear to our hearts, but they are also good for your heart. In general, berries like strawberries and blueberries contain antioxidants that combat free radicals to maintain healthy blood vessels, blood pressure and cholesterol. Need I say more…enjoy those berries! With this being cold and flu season I have to share a remedy my Grandpa Russell Lewis shared with me. He always said eat hot sauce to ward off a cold. So anytime I even feel like a cold is coming on, I reach for the Frank’s Red Hot Sauce and dip it in almost anything—French fries, omelets, egg rolls. The next day I feel great! Thank you Grandpa, I miss you. Before trying anything new please contact your physician. Until next time relax, enjoy and be thankful… PAGE

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Samantha Palestrini

Jordan Waters

BY MACKENZIE STEELE

BY RJ ROBINSON

Senior of the Month - PCHS

amantha Palestrini is a prized academic at Plant City High School. With a 1400 on her SAT— far beyond the minimum requirements for any high-achievement scholarship— and a 6.0447 GPA, Samantha is the student many high schoolers aspire to be, thus her naming as January’s Senior of the Month. As a Math Bowl team member for the past three years, it’s easy to see why Samantha so easily excels in school. In addition to her multiple Advanced Placement courses at Plant City High School, Sam has also been able to juggle classes at Plant City’s branch of Hillsborough Community College, where is accumulating college credits for free before her high school graduation. Such credits will follow her to her new home at Florida State University, of which she was most recently admitted (Go Noles!!).

In addition to Samantha’s impeccable academic career, she has had the opportunity to shine as a leader at PCHS. Voted as the Senior Class Reporter, Sam has been given the reins to all senior class social media sites, where she makes important announcements and reminders that can be seen by all members of Plant City’s student body. Samantha was also chosen as Secretary for the American Sign Language Club due to her extensive involvement with the ASL department at Plant City High School over the past four years. Such position enables Sam to spread her lifelong love for the ever-important language. Samantha’s dedication to both her academics and her extracurricular activities makes it clear to see why she is Plant City High School’s January Senior of the Month.

Senior of the Month - PCHS

ordan Waters, one of Plant City High School’s most outstanding seniors, excels in all of his activities. He is not only one of the students leading the class in academics, but he is also highly involved in athletics, extracurricular activities, and his church, First Baptist Church of Plant City. His well-roundedness has served him well throughout his life, and will continue to serve him in the future. Throughout all four of his years at Plant City, Jordan has had a full schedule, packed with rigorous AP and Honors classes. His resume also boasts a spectacular 1370 SAT score. Along with academic success, Jordan has been a vital member of the Track and Cross Country teams. For Cross Country, he won Rookie of the Year as a Freshman, and Most Improved as a Junior. For his extracurriculars,

he volunteers at the Human Society of Tampa Bay, competes on the Envirothon Team, is an active member and Council member of Youth Alive, and Treasurer of the National Honor Society. His involvement in Plant City’s First Baptist Church is definitely something to be proud of. He is a member of the Youth Lead Team, and often participates in “outreach.” During outreach, Jordan and other youth members of the church work hard to recruit new members and get to know the people of Plant City. Jordan’s passion for school, sports, and church are evident in everything that he does, and will take him far in life.

About the Writer:

Plant City High School senior MacKenzie Steele is an outstanding leader in the Plant City community. In a skilled balancing act, MacKenzie dedicates her time to various clubs and organizations at school, numerous Dual Enrollment and AP classes, and spending time with her church youth group. After graduation, MacKenzie hopes to attend the University of Florida as a pre-med student, with dreams to become a pediatric oncologist in the future.

Plant City High School Senior Kyle (RJ) Robinson, 17, is a first-year writer for the Focus Magazine. RJ is the Varsity Swim Team Captain, President of various clubs at school such as the Teenage Republicans and the Interact Boys Service Club, and Editor-in-Chief of the school’s yearbook staff. He plans to attend the University of Florida to study Business Finance and Journalism.

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Alexa Nyiri

Darrius DeJesus

BY MEL HOFFMAN

BY SOFIA IRIARTE

Senior of the Month - DHS

n Advanced Placement student, the president of Durant’s Student Government, a soccer player for the Durant varsity team, and the public relations chair of Students All Connected—these are just a few outstanding accomplishments of senior at Durant High School, Alexa Nyiri. Nyiri has attended Durant since her freshman year and is now one of the school’s finest. She has had many wonderful memories here, but the one that stands out the most is her homecoming experience during her freshman year. “One of my favorite memories at Durant was the freshman year homecoming because it was the first dance I went to at Durant. It was nice to see everyone dressed up, and seeing a different side of everyone,” Nyiri said. Nyiri is currently taking AP chemistry, AP calculus, AP economics, and she takes a dual enrollment class at Hillsborough Community College. While juggling all her PAGE

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classes, she also partakes in a diverse selection of clubs. She is a member of National Honor Society, National English Honors Society, and the Bowling Club. She is the president of Student Government and holds the office of public relations chair in Students All Connected. She is also on the Durant varsity soccer team and used to play for the competitive Tampa Dynamo soccer team. Nyiri has been playing soccer since she was four years old, but she doesn’t plan on playing competitively in college. She hasn’t decided on which college she will attend next year, but her top choices are University of Miami, University of Florida, and Georgetown University. Throughout her high school career at Durant, past Durant student leaders have inspired Nyiri to become an amazing leader herself. Nyiri said she enjoys representing her peers at Durant, and serving as a role model for future aspiring leaders.

Senior of the Month - DHS

edicated 17-year old Durant High School athlete, Darrius DeJesus, is well known for his love of basketball. What makes DeJesus stand out from the crowd is his dedication and commitment to the sport and the team. DeJesus draws inspiration from top tier players in the NBA such as Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, and Kobe Bryant, all who carry themselves with class on and off the court—just like DeJesus. DeJesus credits these NBA players as a major influence for his first involvement in the sport. DeJesus has made many great memories at Durant High School, like being able to prove himself to the varsity coaches, and show them he had what it took to play with them. A timeless memory for DeJesus would be his sophomore year, when he was part of the JV team, and scored 40 points, making the student athlete stand out from the rest. As much as DeJesus adores the sport,

he ensures that his school life is a priority as well. DeJesus says his favorite subject in school is history. Much like any teenager in high school, DeJesus enjoys the weekends when he spends some quality time with his friends away from school. However, you won’t find DeJesus far from the court—even on weekends. DeJesus loves playing basketball, even if it is not for a varsity game. DeJesus has spent almost half his lifetime playing basketball, completely devoting all his time to the sport. He has been playing ball since 2008, since he was only eight-years-old. So what are DeJesus’ plans for after high school? He has high hopes for his future and plans to spend the next years studying to become a physical therapist one day. He hopes to help other aspiring athletes stay fit and healthy, allowing them to also “slam dunk” their high school basketball journey.

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Marianne Ibarra

Zane Floyd

BY TAYLOR NORRINGTON

Senior of the Month - SCHS

arianne Ibarra never fails to impress and work her hardest to be a stellar student, athlete, and friend. From being soccer captain, to being the senior class president, to maintaining exemplary grades, Marianne knows what it takes to be an example and a leader at Strawberry Crest High School. Marianne has been a part of the Student Government Association since her sophomore year. In the 11th grade, she was given the exec position of Junior VP. SGA plans homecoming, pep rallies, spirit days, and makes many posters and banners to promote important school events. She says SGA has taught her how to trust people and how to compromise in group discussions. As president of the 2018 senior class, she leads club meetings, sends reminders to the class for big events and assemblies, plans prom, and organizes the senior skits. Not only is Marianne very involved in school clubs and organizations, she is also a part of the Strawberry Crest

girl's soccer team. She has been playing soccer since she was seven years old. Marianne made it on the 1st and 2nd Team Western Conference in her freshman and sophomore years. On the team, she was named MVP defense her 9th and 10th grade year and was also named MVP over all her 11th grade year. On top of extracurricular activities and a heavy workload to maintain, Marianne has done nearly 100 community service hours working with the Boys and Girls Club, Hope Children's Home, and Metropolitan Ministries. In her free time she enjoys online shopping, movie nights with her family, and eating tacos. With a 5.91 GPA, she is ranked number 15 in her class. She has been accepted into and plans to attend Florida State University and major in Business Financing. Marianne is the SCHS senior of the month because of her many outstanding efforts during her time in high school.

Senior of the Month - SCHS

ane Floyd is the perfect example of an involved and charismatic student. He has shown great pride in everything he has accomplished during his time at Strawberry Crest High School. Zane currently holds the position of Vice President of the class of 2018. As VP, he helps plan events such as senior traditions, pep rally skits, and senior spirit week. He also is in charge of keeping the senior class informed with upcoming events. In the occurrence of the President's absence, he is ordered to fill in and take charge. Zane has always had a love for swimming and decided in his senior year to take a leap and join the Strawberry Crest swim team. He has formed many new bonds and friendships that have made his last year unforgettable. He had experienced many new challenges but managed to shave fourteen seconds off of his original time for the 200m freestyle at swim districts this year.

Not only is Zane authoritative and athletic, but he is a people person and never fails to make someone smile. After running and making homecoming court for three years in a row, Zane wanted to go big or go home for his senior year. One campaign strategy that really stood out was the custom t-shirts he had designed for students to wear during voting week. On October 28th, 2017, Zane was announced as Homecoming King. Another great opportunity Zane has received is serving as a senior ambassador for Leonard's Photography. He was one of three students chosen from Strawberry Crest for a chance to receive the ultimate senior photography experience. Aside from school, Zane enjoys traveling, going to the beach, and hanging out with friends. Zane plans to attend Pace University in New York City after high school. Zane is the SCHS senior of the month because of his countless efforts during his time in high school.

About the Writer: Strawberry Crest High School senior Taylor Norrington is a team leader for the SCHS yearbook staff and first-year writer for Focus Magazine. In addition to involvement in school clubs such as Crest Buddies and Senior Class Council, the Student Government Association secretary was also Captain of the Chargerette dance team. As a member of Dance Quest International's competition team, she dances five days a week. To further her dance career, she hopes to receive acceptance into the Ingredients Dance Training program in Dallas, Texas. After that, she plans to study Broadcast Journalism at Florida State University.

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DINING

Scrumptious Side

Strawberries & Cheesecake Dip KE EL ER DR AW DY RE CIP E BY LAYL A

rty, your guests

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DINING

Norma’s Plant City Cuban Sandwich Shop BY CHERYL JOHNSTON

The secret to a good Cuban sandwich is in the meat quality (ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese) and the press.

The Festival Salad, served with a walnut cranberry dressing, combines mixed greens with strawberries, mangoes, candied pecans, and cheese, makes for a perfectly healthy lunch.

o coincide with a Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce official ribbon cutting ceremony on February 9, Norma’s Plant City Cuban Sandwich Shop welcomed guests and those-alreadyregulars to its Grand Opening in the historic downtown. Business has been brisk for the shop owned by Scott Knapp and his son-in-law, Leo Mesquita, who serves as General Manager. As to how the new but already popular breakfast and lunch stop came into being, Scott shared an interesting backstory. “My work involves travel and on Fridays when I left Tampa’s airport to head home, I usually stopped for a Cuban sandwich at the former Norma’s on US 92,” he said. “When that business closed, I began to investigate opening one, mainly so

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I could still enjoy the food I love so much. One step led to another and here we are today. And thankfully, our son-in-law Leo was ready for a career change, too. He’s a great General Manager who appreciates this community and connects very well with our customers.” Folks who grew up in Hillsborough County enjoying the Cuban food from places like Silver Ring, Brocato’s, and La Teresita are thrilled for the hometown access to Cuban toast and sandwiches, deviled crabs, empanadas, stuffed potatoes, garbanzo bean soup, café con leche, and more. The Snapps take pride in using authentic Cuban recipes. It’s even better that Norma’s is open for breakfast, too. Enjoy your scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon,

sausage and Cuban toast (buttered or with cheese) plated or as a sandwich with sides. The breakfast sandwich for $5.00 has scrambled eggs, cheese, and meat choice on Cuban bread, pressed or not. For $3.00 more, add a side and drink. Those with lighter appetites might order a pastry or Cuban toast with melted butter or cheese. Lunch fare includes five different sandwiches [Cuban, turkey, Philly cheesesteak, ham, or roast beef in full- or half-size), salads, Spanish Bean Soup, black beans, rice, deviled crabs, stuffed potatoes, chips and brownies. A popular choice is the lunch combo of ½ sandwich, one side, and a drink for $8.85. Unless ordered differently, all sandwiches are served with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, mustard and mayonnaise. Sandwiches on Cuban bread can be “pressed” or not, as diners desire. Beverages include soft drinks, tea, and coffee. On this trip, RJ ordered the pressed Cuban, but I tried the Festival Salad. That huge bowl of garden greens packed with strawberries, mangos, candied pecans, and topped with a walnut cranberry dressing definitely satisfied my veggie crunch-craving appetite and perfectly sized for the noonday meal. Diners comment regularly about the comfortable ambiance at Norma’s. The fresh, super clean, and

simple interior invites folks to linger over their meal because it just feels like home. If you’re planning for a group gathering or working business lunch, remember that Norma’s offers catering as well. Ordering online is simple at normascuban. com or for questions, e-mail info@ normascuban.com. The local owners also appreciate your social media liking and sharing [#EatNormas]. Visit often for specials! Scott Snapp has a dream for Plant City’s downtown—and it’s more than simply success for Norma’s. “We love this town and we love good food,” he shared. “We want Plant City to become a foodie destination. With the local shops, the charming downtown parks, and the eating establishments already here, more restaurants will only add to the attraction for visitors to dine, relax and discover entertainment.” He continued, “Add the friendly locals to that combination and Plant City can welcome families from all over Central Florida. I’m dreaming big!”

Norma’s Plant City Cuban Sandwich Shop

120 North Collins Street Plant City, FL 33563 813-704-6015 Hours: Mon-Fri 8AM–5PM; Saturday 8AM–4PM; Closed Sunday Online: normascuban.com and Facebook

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You see them in Movies, T.V. Commercials and in Magazines!

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Jess Anderson index JULY16.indd 1

6/7/2016 7:25:49 AM

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events can’t miss CAN'T MISS EVENTS

Feb. 23 Fri. Strawberry Love Food Truck Rally 5:30 - 9 PM February's Last Friday Pet-Friendly Food Truck Rally will feature a Youth only Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest, Family Karaoke Fun, great food, and vendors! McCall Park Free Admission! Info: 813-210-9236

Mar. 1-11

Sat.

We Honor Veterans Visit our table stations to learn more about Veterans. Wells Memorial and Event Center 1903 W Reynolds St., Plant City Free Admission Info: Verna McKelvin 813-752-1111 30th Annual Wild Game Cookout 6 – 11 PM Plant City Elks Lodge #1727 1501 N. Alexander St. Stag only – must be 21 $80 donation in advance Info: David Brewington 813-299-0542; Ron Johns 813-967-3315

Florida Strawberry Festival 10 AM - 10 PM daily Eleven full days of strawberries, shortcake, concerts, rides, shows, animals and a berry sweet time! Share your photos with hashtag #berryfest18 Info: 813-752-9194 or online @ flstrawberryfestival.com Admission: Adults (ages 13+): $10 Children (ages 6-12): $5; (ages 5-under) FREE w-paid adult Discount Tickets at participating Publix Supermarket stores Adults (ages 13+): $8 and Children (ages 6-12): $4

Tom Chase Night of Comedy 7 – 9 PM 1914 PCHS Community Center 605 N. Collins St., Plant City Cost: $35 Info: 813-757-9226; event.ehhsoc.org

FEBRUARY

Ray Clark Roast & Appreciation Celebration 12:30 - 4:30 PM Former students, co-workers, educators, & all are welcome Grimes Family Agricultural Center Florida Strawberry Festival grounds Free event features lunch, a live roast, videos, and Ray Clark’s remarks

Fri.

Christian Music: 2nd Veil (Featuring [TcYb]) 6:30-8:30 PM Christian HipHop, Contemporary Christian Rock and Worship! Krazy Kup @101 East J Arden Mays Blvd. 813-752-1220; krazykup.com

16-19 Fri. - Mon. Strawberry Cluster All Breed Dog Shows Different contests for dogs from dock diving to a puppy match! Sun N Fun Complex 5175 Medulla Rd., Lakeland Parking $5 Info: Kimberly Cardona 863-268-0118

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Jeremy Simon performs @Krazy Kup 8:33- 10:33 PM 101 E J Arden Mays Blvd 813-752-1220; krazykup.om

Sun.

Thurs.

Learn to Cook Heart Healthy 6-8 PM Tips from a chef & dietitian; enjoy a light dinner! South Florida Baptist Hospital Community Conference Room Free Admission, but registration req’d. Info: 813-644-6720

Sat.

Spring Indoor Yard Sale & Craft Fair 7 AM - 2 PM Yard sale treasures and local crafts American Legion Auxiliary Unit 26 2207 W. Baker St. Free event; Vendor Tables $10 Info: 813-752-8608 Planes, Trains & Automobiles 2018 10 AM - 3 PM Free flights for kids, club scout activities, vendors, and kids’ play area. Plant City Airport 4007 Airport Rd Parking $5 Info: Sophia Hyde 813-754-3707

MARCH

Sat.

2018 Strawberry Youth Parade 11 AM Winners announced at 12:30 110 W. Reynolds St. Info: Pat Pogue 813-754-4680 East Hillsborough Ducks Unlimited Youth Event 1-5 PM Hands-on instruction for duck hunting, fishing, archery, shooting sporting clays & more Fishhawk Sporting Clays 13505 Hobson Simmons Rd , Lithia $20/ youth, includes Ducks unlimited Greenwing membership, lunch, duck call and raffle prizes; parents attend and eat for FREE Info: Rob Hagin 813-927-3382 or Robert. hagin@gmail.com

Mon.

Paint and Sip 7:15-9 PM Fun for everyone, no experience necessary. Unwind & get creative; date night or girls nightout. O’Brien’s Irish Pub 1701 S. Alexander St. $25/person; Register in person or @ 813-764-8818

ONGOING 1st Saturdays Monthly SDK Self-Defense Class 10 AM Our self-defense class includes discussion, real life situations, and hands on training (knife and gun DEFENSE). Senshi Do Kai MMA 601 Hitchcock St., Ste. 105 $15/person Pre-registration & 24hr cancelation req’d! Dates and times subject to change, please RSVP to confirm

Mondays Weekly Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club 7 AM South Florida Baptist Hospital Community Rm. Info: George Banning, 813-759-1638 PC Community Chorale 7 - 9:30 PM Meets every Monday evening Cost: $35 per season Info: Mary Ella Enciso, 813-417-2808; pccchoralesecretary@gmail.com Online: www.pccchorale.org

1st & 3rd Mondays Monthly Improvement League of Plant City 7 PM Historic Glover School Conference Room 5104 Horton Rd. Info: William Thomas, 813-757-6760

2nd & 4th Mondays Monthly Plant City Commission Meeting 7:30 PM City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds St. City Clerk: 813-659-4237 (December: 2nd Monday only)

2nd Monday Monthly Plant City Garden Club 10 AM (Sept. thru May) Walden Lake East Community Center 1304 Teakwood Dr. All are welcome Info: Lisa Firm 813-404-4922 plantcitygardenclub.org

3rd Monday Monthly Family Community Advisory Council (FCAC) 5 - 6:30 PM The Children's Board Family Resource Center at East County invites residents to its Family Community Advisory Council (FCAC) meets monthly to discuss services or programs needed or wanted. Children will enjoy the FCAC Playgroup care, crafts, & activities while the adults meet. 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City Info: Ladislao Sanchez, 813-752-8700

Tuesdays Weekly

Fridays & Saturdays Weekly

1st Saturdays Monthly

Betty Fairbanks’ Art Classes All Mediums 10 Am - 12 Noon The Classroom Gallery 1914 Plant City High School Community Center 605 N. Collins St., Info: Betty Fairbanks, 813-986-3632

Plant City Lions Club 12 Noon @BuddyFreddy’s Restaurant 1101 Goldfinch Drive Info: Tony Lee, 813-752-7202

Music in The Loft @Krazy Kup Fridays 6:33-8:33 PM; Saturdays 8:3310:33PM 101 East J. Arden Mays Blvd. 813-752-1220; Facebook

Free, Beginner-Friendly Workout at CrossFit Plant City 9 – 10 AM Kids 10+ accompanied by parents are welcome, too. CrossFit Plant City 1402B Mercantile Ct. Newcomers: Arrive 10 mins. early to complete waiver Text RSVP to 813-230-7126

1st Tuesdays Monthly (Sept-May) Arts Council of Plant City 7 PM Chamber of Commerce Public Room 106 N. Evers St. Info: Marsha Passmore, 813-245-2244

2nd Tuesdays Monthly GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City 10:30 AM @1110 N. Wheeler St. Info: Karen Griggsby, 813-481-0419

2nd & 4th Tuesdays Monthly Integrity Business Referrals 7:30 – 9 AM Christian networking breakfast BuddyFreddy’s Restaurant 1101 Goldfinch Dr., Plant City Info: Lew Frye 863-521-3360 Norm Blanton, 813-326-0749 American Legion– Norman McLeod Post#26 6 PM @2207 W. Baker St. 813-752-8608 Info: Nancy Miller, 813-754-2544

Recovery for Life 6:30 - 8PM 12-step Bible-based program to help w/ addictions Lorena Jaeb Rainbow House 504 N. Palm Dr., Plant City Info: Debbie Ray 813-763-1562

Wednesdays Weekly Walking Club 7:30AM for 45-minute walk Meet @Bruton Library Info: Susan Miles 813-757-9215 Plant City Kiwanis Club 12 Noon Meetings at BuddyFreddy’s Restaurant Info: David Wolf 813-717-9300

Thursdays Weekly Toastmasters (Chapter 4051) 9 AM – 4 PM PC Chamber Community Room 106 N. Evers St. Info: April Lubrano 813-545-1607

Live Music @O’Brien’s Irish Pub Fridays 530-8:30 Acoustic; Saturdays 9PM ‘til close 1701 S. Alexander St. 813-764-8818

SDK Self-Defense Class 10 AM Class includes discussion, real life situations, & hands-on training (knife/gun DEFENSE). Senshi Do Kai MMA 601 Hitchcock St., Ste #105 $15/person Pre-registration & 24hr cancelation required! Dates/times subject to change; RSVP to confirm

3rd Saturdays Monthly Strawberry Classic Car Show 4-8 PM 102 N. Palmer St., Historic Downtown Plant City Info: 814-754-3707 www.plantcity.org

Entrepreneur/Small Business Consulting Services By Appointment from 9AM - 4PM PC Chamber, 106 N. Evers St. Info: James Chittenden, 813-204-9267 x62017 chittendenj@hillsboroughcounty.org

2nd Thursdays Monthly GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Plant City 7 PM @1110 N. Wheeler St. Info: Lisa Rhodes, 813-376-8294

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LOVE IS IN THE AIR Created by Calvin R. and Jackie Mathews

LOVE IS IN THE AIR COME JOIN THE FOCUS COMMUNITY

“LIKE” US ON FACEBOOK FACEBOOK.COM/ THEFOCUSMAGAZINE

ACROSS 1. Young animal 5. 92 Down’s love 10. 51 Down’s love 14. 5 Down’s love 17. Bush and Dern 19. Name for eight Popes 21. Farmland 22. Capital city 23. Brezhnev, for one 25. Stinger 26. Pro __; for the time being 27. Monster’s lake 28. Nice wives: abbr. 30. 111 31. TV role for 96 Down 32. Thirsty 33. Invitation letters 34. Facial features 35. Prolonged pain 38. Flowery rings 40. Cartoon Betty 41. Wetland 42. Actor Will 43. Conceal 44. __ Mawr College 45. De __; according to the law 46. Dutch cheese 47. Suffix for poet or heir 48. Entrance 49. Slumber song 52. 18 Down’s love 54. Rather, for one 55. __ layer; Gore’s topic 57. Wet sticky stuff 58. Silent assent 59. Didn’t __ him; had no effect 60. No longer here 61. Biblical book 62. Martin’s TV partner 65. Leafy cabbage 66. Kelly or Autry 67. Tropical fruit 68. October birthstone 69. Coniferous tree 70. Rider’s fee 71. Long-haired ox 72. Broadcast 73. Courtroom figure 74. __ Gatos, CA 75. Spanish dollars, once 79. Actor Robert __ 81. Meat market purchase 83. Fellow 84. Commotion 85. __ Summer 86. Pull hard 87. __ for; requests 88. People mover 89. Ease

91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 107. 109. 111. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118.

Repair Depressed Like a poor excuse Anthology contributor “Bonanza” role Toast topper Heavy book Mickey Rooney’s first Beer ingredient Fried, filled and folded tortilla Numerical prefix Crushing snake Show Deliverer of old Football pass Hell’s ruler 13 Down’s love Raise Depend Ken and Barbie Word of disgust

DOWN 1. Look toward 2. Bogeyman 3. Feeling of wonderment 4. Reluctant 5. 14 Across’ love 6. Western movies 7. Bold 8. Historical times 9. Side-to-side movement 10. Minty drink 11. Lode discoveries 1

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London lockup More in Málaga Unsullied Criticism Strong desires Baby kangaroo 61 Down’s love When tripled, a 1970 film title 108 Down’s love Partial amount Univ. group Wrap up East Lansing sch. Polite response Nut varieties On __ with Cherished Floor cleaner 5 Across’ love Christmas greenery Malcolm-__ Warner Spoken Bishop’s hat Weather forecast “A diller, a dollar, a __’clock...” Difficult child Barn fare Thirst quencher 77 Down’s love Food fish __ Perón

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by Calvin R. & Jackie Mathews

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L O V E D

A P A R

O P I E

R O A R A G E D

C E D E

W A R D C L E A V E R H E A L

F O D A G A C R B E E

A L WO O E A G T E T H E E R H M E I L A N O D A N L P J U F O R R E E A Y T H H O E A L V I L E L Y

D E M O L E I D S S H F K A I N D G D Y M E O S P S I R

B O G E L A U R O T T A N E S S D R Y I S B E B R D O O D A N A Z E L E G E F A E L O V E A L A N K N D B S J A T A C C E M A O N A L D O L L

Y A S W A M M R S V O O P Y N R L O Z O G O N E N E R E S P M A A S K L U E M T O T N L D E S

Love Is in the Air

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O R A L

M I T E R

J O U R L E E S P M J U U L N E E M Y A E S N S

H N B A N O N I D C X I E Y E S A R S H R E L A B Y G O O M A R K A N G O K E T A S T O D O T R A M L A M E E B O A E R A L V A T E A T S

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TWO DISEASES that discriminate.

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B O N E D E N S I TO M E T RY

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2/6/18 12:54 PM