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Art Falcone creates wooden works of art. 9
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Kendall Dawson Monthly Bike begins career Fest rumbles at St. Leo. into downtown. PAGE 11 PAGE 7
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by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Local grocer remembered for his work ethic, faith Felton Williams, founder of Felton’s Meat and Produce, died Dec. 27.
+ Garden produces oversized squash The First United Methodist Church’s Community Cafe had some special menu items Jan. 4 — two 32-pound Calabaza squashes. Delivered by members of the Plant City Commons Garden, the vegetables were two of six that grew on a huge vine. The vine occupies a 10-footby-15-foot area of the garden, located at 309 N. Carey St. “The vine had a mind of its own,” member Karen Elizabeth says. “A vine that big — it grew wherever it wanted.” The two squashes were volunteered to be donated by Harry West, a member of the garden and also a kitchen assistant at Christ’s Community Cafe, which serves food to the needy, the elderly and those looking for fellowship every Friday. The gardeners didn’t plant the squash. Instead, the vine sprouted from a pile of compost prepared in mid-September. Two gardeners each took one squash home. Two more squashes still are available. The Plant City Commons Garden would like to donate the squash to any organization that serves food to those in need. If you know an organization that could benefit, call Elizabeth, (813) 435-8111.
+ Church plans new quilting class The Plant City Seventh-day Adventist Church again will offer a quilting class. The six-week class will begin at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 13, at the church, 2203 Strawberry Drive. Cost is $30. A supply list will be provided for a specific project, or students can bring their own materials and projects. Come join the fun of learning new techniques and meeting new friends. For more, call Linda Hill, (706) 669-9406.
MALAWI, AFRICA. Bill Scannell and Joy Trent took their favorite newspaper with them on a recent trip to Malawi, Africa. They snapped this photo at the Track & Trail River Camp outside of South Luangwa National Park. “We were in our chalet when we heard all this banging,” Trent says. “Turns out, the elephants knock the trees around the camp with their heads so the fruit and nuts drop to the ground, and they can eat them.”
Oh,the
Places You’llGo! One of our favorite features is our It’s Read Everywhere photographs. We love seeing our loyal readers and advertisers take us on vacation with them — and we can’t believe how far the Plant City Observer has traveled in just six months of publishing. Our readers have taken us as far away as Africa, Florence and Paris — as well as dozens of places around the United States. As we grow, we hope to publish these more frequently, so please keep them coming! Snap a photo of you with the paper at your destination of choice and email it to Managing Editor Michael Eng, meng@ plantcityobserver.com. Make sure you include your full name and where the photo was taken.
SEE TRAVEL / PAGE 6
LAS VEGAS. David and Cynthia Wolf took a break from the sights and sounds of Las Vegas to enjoy the Plant City Observer at the Bellagio.
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. Rick and Jan Albritton caught up on their hometown news while visiting the Mast General Store in Waynesville, N.C.
INDEX Crossword.......... 14
When Felton Williams was drafted into the U.S. Army in late 1942, he looked out the window of a bus and thought he would never see his home again. But, Mr. Williams did return home from his service in World War II and eventually started the iconic grocery store, Felton’s Meat and Produce. Mr. Williams died Dec. 27, following a long illness. He was 87. “I was thankful he passed after the holidays,” his oldCourtesy of the Plant City Photo Archives est son, Lee Williams, said. Felton Williams “I was expecting it, but you never think that today is going to be the day.” Although Mr. Williams is gone, his store is still buzzing with shoppers, serving as a living testament to his hard work. Mr. Williams’ father had owned a store on the corner of Alsobrook and Coronet streets. He grew up working at the store. But when Mr. Williams returned from the war, he had dreams of starting his own store. “He wanted to be a man and be his own boss,” Williams said. In 1955, Mr. Williams started an enlarged fruit stand on West Baker Street. When it grew, he built a more modern store behind it in the 1960s. Mr. Williams sold the store in the 1970s, bought it back and then sold it again in the 1980s. But he couldn’t stay away from the grocery business for long. In the 1990s, Mr. Williams bought the current property off Maryland Avenue. “Dad was an incredibly hard worker,” Williams said. “Dad thrived on customer service. He wanted to help people. He wanted to give people a good deal.” Williams and his sister, Karen Davis, worked at the store when they were teenagers, bagging gro-
SEE WILLIAMS / PAGE 2 Vol. 1, No. 27 | One section
Obituaries.......... 10
Opinion.................8
Sports................ 11
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