Brandon/Winthrop
19
January 2024
Volume 19, Issue 1
Ph: 813-657-2418
Y EIAN R REVIEW
36
CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
12TH ANNUAL PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES RETURNS TO PLANT CITY AIRPORT
Staff Report
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The 12th annual Planes, only aircraft and Trains and Automobiles aviation opporpresented by Tampa Intunities at their ternational Airport is local airport but returning on Saturday, a wide variety of February 10. The be‘how things work’ loved one-day communidisplays and fun ty event features a wide educational acvariety of family activitivities to capture ties held each year at the the imaginations Plant City Airport since of our local youth,” 2010. said PT&A ComFeatured highlights will mittee Chairman be numerous real aircraft and event founder on display, radio-conJason Jones. He trolled aircraft displays added, “We are and demonstrations, a very pleased to large car show and operbe working again ating model train layouts. with the TamA major LEGO display feapa Bay Aviation turing all modes of transAssociation, and portation is scheduled. with their help First responder vehicles we are adding and personnel, along with aviation scholartrain safety vehicles and ships and other equipment, will also be in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, a fami- opportunities to the lineup. There will be ly-friendly community event, returns to the the benefits of our Plant City Airport in February. many hands-on stations event. It’s really a for kids, including STEM education ex- great partnership.” hibits and flight simulators from SUN ’n Planes, Trains and Automobiles is manFUN’s Aerospace Center for Excellence, aged by the Tampa Bay Aviation AssoYoung Eagles discovery flights conduct- ciation and presented by Tampa Intered by Plant City Experimental Aircraft national Airport. As noted by Jones, in Association Chapter 1178, Scout merit addition to promoting and delivering this badge opportunities, a pinewood derby amazing community event, the organizaand many other activities. Younger chil- tion will be taking donations and comdren will enjoy inflatable bounce houses mitting proceeds after expenses to fund and other fun adventures just for them. aviation scholarships and other programs Food trucks and local vendor displays for local youth. The scholarships will be will also be part of the lineup where area for flight training, mechanic and profesbusinesses can showcase their products sional career education. Families are inand services to attendees. vited to come and join the fun. “The purpose of the event has always Parking is free. Ticket pricing is $7.50 been to give families an affordable day online in advance, or $10 at the gate. Vistogether discovering the wonders of it www.mytbaa.org/pta for tickets and transportation, introducing them to not event information
TRIDENT HOSTS HOLIDAY SHOW FOR STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY
By Lily Belcher
High 5 Inc.’s dents gain the TRIDENT program key planning and hosted its annumanagement al talent show to skills they need. showcase the skills “What our proof the program’s gram mostly fostudents. cuses on, or we TRIDENT, or try to focus on, Training and Recis day-to-day life reational for the skills and helping Intellectually them to improve Disabled Enhanctheir indepening their Natural TRIDENT students participated in a talent show to dence or gain showcase their skills. Talents, hosted more indepenthe holiday show dence,” he said. on December 15, “… It gives them 2023, for around that sense of in150 community dependence and members. responsibility.” “Going into the Somers also holidays, our stusaid TRIDENT dents, they’re like will host cookeverybody else. ing classes this They want to peryear. While famform. They want TRIDENT’s annual holiday show gave students the ily members of opportunity to perform. to show off their the students had skills,” TRIDENT director Joe Somers. concerns about the risks associated with Somers said the show gave the 24 par- cooking, TRIDENT developed a way to ticipants the opportunity to do just that: teach students to cook for themselves perform. He said future shows will be using microwaves and other lower-risk more than just singing. Students will be appliances. responsible for creating their own cosStudents will continue to learn imtumes, sets and props to include a wider portant skills, such as creating a budget, variety of talents. using computer programs and hands-on The annual holiday show is just one of workforce development, through the day the events hosted by TRIDENT for stu- and after-school programs available. dents to gain and showcase their skills. TRIDENT is also earning its Agency for Since Somers took over the program Persons with Disabilities provider status in April 2022, he has emphasized inde- early this year. The status will allow it to pendence for students in the program. accept Medicaid and Medicare for stuHe said his approach is to encourage stu- dents hoping to join the program. dents and offer them assistance when For more information on the opportuneeded. nities created for students through the For example, he said TRIDENT students TRIDENT program, visit https://high5inc. will play an active role in planning and ex- org/trident-2/. ecuting a potential walkathon fundraiser event this spring to support the program. “We have a lot of ideas that we haven’t finalized. … That’s one of the things we RODEO MUSIC FEST ..........................PG 3 are trying to teach [the students], that HEF SCHOLARSHIPS ......................... PG 7 ‘Hey, it’s great to have ideas, but let’s talk BELL SHOALS OPEN .......................PG 10 through the process of what it’s going to EYE ON BUSINESS ...........................PG 21 take,’” Somers said. By giving students a hands-on role in YEAR IN REVIEW .....................PG 24-28 the planning process, Somers helps stu-
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