01.20.17 PCTO by Plant City Observer

PLANT CITY TIMES &

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

Last year, over 560,000 people attended the Florida Strawberry Festival. With added security measures in 2017, General Manager Paul Davis and Security Manager Tim Lovett are maintaining safety as a top priority.

Emily Topper

Daniel Figueroa IV is the Observer’s newest community reporter.

Times & Observer hires new reporter Daniel Figueroa IV has joined the staff of the Plant City Times & Observer as a community reporter. Figueroa, 30, brings more than five years of experience in journalism to the Observer. Most recently, he worked as a copywriter for the marketing branch of AutoLoop in Clearwater. Before that, he covered politics and veteran affairs at the Ledger of Lakeland, and covered crime and the cities of Lake Wales and Frostproof. Originally from the Bronx, New York, he received his associate’s degree from Mercy College before majoring in mass communication and journalism at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. In his free time, he enjoys performing music and comedy, frequent trips to Disney World and getting lost on his Triumph motorcycle. He can also recite nearly the entire script of “Casablanca” verbatim.

EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

n June 12, 2016, 49 people were killed in a shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Just over one month later on July 14, a cargo truck was deliberately driven into the crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France, killing 86 and wounding over 50 others. And on Jan. 6, 2017, a gunman opened fire at the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, killing five. For Florida Strawberry Festival General Manager Paul Davis and Security Manager Tim Lovett, both former deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the safety of the hundreds of thousands of guests that come to Plant City’s 11-day festival every year is a top priority — one they’ll maintain in a world where the unimaginable can become a reality in the blink of an eye. “Everything changed after 9-11,” Davis said. “But it just keeps changing. As time progresses, you have to stay ahead of the curve.” With added safety measures this year that include pre-registering vehicles on the grounds and promoting pedestrian safety, the festival’s security leaders are ensuring that guests are well-protected.

Festival elects teacher to associate board Suzanne Cribbs was elected to the Florida Strawberry Festival’s associate board of directors Tuesday, Jan. 10. Cribbs was elected to fill the position that became vacant when Jon Poppell was promoted to the board of directors in September. Cribbs serves as the gifted consultant at Tomlin Middle School, where she also teaches seventh and eighth grade honors language arts on the school’s STEM team. In 2016, she was chosen Teacher of the Year by her peers. “The (Florida) Strawberry Festival is part of my heritage,” Cribbs said. “I am honored to be part of the organization that my dad was involved in for so many years, and look forward to working as an associate director.” Cribbs’ late father, Jim Walden, was a festival director for 20 years. Cribbs and her mother, Linda Walden, have co-chaired the festival’s annual fashion show for the past 26 years. In addition, Cribbs has volunteered with the annual Grand Parade, youth livestock judging and the festival’s ambassador team. The Florida Strawberry Festival’s board of directors is comprised of 30 people, with 14 serving as directors and 16 serving as associate directors. “Suzanne is a hard worker who has already contributed so much to the festival through her extensive volunteer work,” Florida Strawberry Festival President Dan Walden said. “We are thrilled to have someone who loves the festival so much join us in a leadership role.”

SAFETY FIRST

There were over 560,000 attendees of the 2016 Florida Strawberry Festival. Before any of them entered the festival’s gates, they were required to have SEE SAFETY PAGE 6 Emily Topper

Florida Strawberry Festival Security Manager Tim Lovett and General Manager Paul Davis, both former deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, are dedicated to keeping festival attendees safe.

CenterState’s Platinum Bank acquisition to be approved in April After announcing the acquisition in October, Platinum Bank shareholders are expected to approve the move by April 2017. EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

Later this year, Platinum Bank Holding Company shareholders are expected to approve the acquisition

of Platinum by CenterState Bank Inc., Florida’s second largest community bank. In Plant City, that means the Platinum Bank location at 1804 James L. Redman Parkway will become the primary CenterState location in town. “This location is staying,” David Sullivan, senior executive vice president at Platinum Bank, said. “The CenterState near Midtown is closing, and they will move over here.” In addition to the Plant City locaSEE BANK PAGE 4

Celebrating Diversity

Emily Topper

The MLK Festival Freedom Parade was Saturday, Jan. 14. SEE PAGE 9

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

WEEK OF JANUARY 20, 2017

“I am honored to be appointed vice chair of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee so I can continue my efforts to promote a thriving housing and insurance market for Floridians and all Americans.”

CareFest to host house painting project On Saturday, Jan. 21, Plant City residents are encouraged to gather for the final day of CareFest USA 2017 in Plant City. Volunteers will be painting the residence at 1303 E. Laura St. Prior to painting, volunteers can gather at 7 a.m. at the Bing Rooming House, 205 S. Allen St., for a light breakfast. The painting project will last from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Lunch will follow at 12 p.m. for all volunteers at St. Mary’s Community Church, 907 E. Laura St. Sonny’s BBQ will provide food for the event. Those interested in volunteering can call (813) 924-3829. CareFest USA, in partnership with the Plant City Lions Club, is seeking volunteers as individuals, or from company teams, clubs and other groups. Further CareFest projects are available at CareFestUSA.com.

—U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) on being appointed the vice chair of the Financial Services Committee

PASSING THE GAVEL I

n Plant City, the new year means new leadership. On Thursday, Jan. 26, local entrepreneur Yvonne Fry will be inducted as the chair for the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce for 2017. Fry, owner of Fryed Egg Productions, is a native Floridian with various involvements in Plant City. She currently serves on the boards of the Plant City Economic Development Corp., Plant City Main Street and Frameworks of Tampa Bay. She is the immediate past chair of both the Florida Commission on the Status of Women and the Hillsborough Commission on the Status of Women. Like the leaders before her, Fry will be passed the title with a gavel, an annual tradition. Though it is usually the responsibility of the most recent chairperson to pass the gavel, this year will be slightly different. A number of former chairpersons will take place in passing the gavel down the line, from the oldest chairperson down to Fry.

“I am so honored and excited to continue the legacy of service to our community that the Chamber has provided for so many years. I’m looking forward to championing our members and helping them grow their businesses and find new levels of success. This is such a pivotal time for Plant City and I believe it will be a year of great prosperity and expanded vision of what’s possible for our community.”

RSVPs now accepted for Citizen of the Year

— Yvonne Fry

FORMER CHAIRPERSONS 1924-1926: Col V. B. Collins 1927: Will Schneider 1928: E.H. Dennison Jr. 1928-1934: Dr. C.T. Young 1935: Arthur R. Boring 1945: George A. Carey 1946-1947: Henry S. Moody 1948: Willard D. McGinnes 1949: Otis M. Andrews 1950: Joe R. Gramling 1951: C.G. Green Jr. 1952-1953: Jack H. White 1954: N.J. Bella 1955: C.E. Hardee 1956: Woodie A. Liles

1957: A. E. Shartpon 1958: Harry R. Wells 1959: Wilson Rogers 1960: Frank H. Moody 1961: Ed L. House 1962: N.J. Bella 1963: Wayne Thomas Jr. 1964-1965: W.R. McClelland 1966: R. Ernest Davis 1967: Charles E. Futch Jr. 1968: Horace Hancock 1969: Leo Gillman 1970: W.R. McClelland 1971: Bruce Holmberg 1971-1973: Harold Taylor

1974: Mac Hooper 1975: Evelyn Oszmianski 1976: Marshall O. Watkins 1977: Robert Lastinger 1978: Roger Johnson 1979: W.D. McGinnes Jr. 1980: Don Walden Jr. 1981: Dr. John Bouseman 1982: Richard D. Elston 1983: Gary Bell 1984: Ron Baker 1985: Harold D. Brewer, M.D. 1986: Dave Byars 1987: Charles E. Deusner 1988: Marion M. Smith

1989: J. Floyd Hall 1990: Steven O. Smith 1991: Ray Young 1992: Dan Walden 1993: Douglas W. Granger 1994: Danny Wilkes 1995: Johnnie Byrd 1996: Robert J. Tanner 1997: Dan Raulerson 1998: Robert Brown 1999: Danny Wilkes 2000: Randy Larson 2001: William Keel 2002: Fred Johnson 2003: William G. Ulbricht

2004: Jennifer Closshey 2005: Rick Lott 2006: Danny Coton 2007: Doug F. Gibbs 2008: Paul Hackney 2009: Ed Verner 2010: Charles Harris 2011: Lee Williams 2012: Matt Buzza 2013: Jim Scott 2014 : Nate Kilton 2015: Michael Cameron 2016: Brian West

Tickets are now being sold for the 58th Annual Awards Luncheon to honor the 2017 Outstanding Citizen of the Year on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. The annual event honors one Plant City resident who has made a significant and lasting, positive impact in the community. The event is sponsored annually by the Kiwanis Club of Plant City, and is supported by the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, the GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City, the Plant City Lions Club, the Plant City Optimist Club, the Daybreak Rotary Club, the Noon Rotary Club and the American Business Women’s Association. The winner of the award, chosen by area clubs, is kept secret until the event. Those interested in attending the event must RSVP before Sunday, Feb. 5. Tickets are $25 per person. Checks can be mailed to the Kiwanis Club of Plant City, P.O. Box 1179, Plant City, Florida 33563. The event will be held at the Florida Strawberry Festival’s Expo Hall, 2301 W. Oak Ave. A buffet-style lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact GibbsRealtor@aol.com.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

THEIR CUP RUNNETH

OVER

After a two-month long offering yielded $1.4 million, First Baptist Church of Dover has been able to pay off its worship center. A celebration featuring the musical group Veritas will be held Sunday, Jan. 22. EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

Debt free. Two months ago, those words didn’t apply to First Baptist Church of Dover and its 43,000-square-foot worship center. Built in 2011 for $6.3 million, the church still had $1.4 million to pay off. “We had been on top of our payments,” Dr. Rob Jackson, the church’s senior pastor, said. “The church saved $4.1 million in 10 years. But we were paying $6,000 per month in interest alone.” Just before Christmas, Jackson and the rest of the church staff encouraged the congregation to give toward the payment in honor of the season. After numerous donations, the church’s request had been fulfilled by Sunday, Jan. 8. “We saw donations start in December and every single week they increased,” Jackson said. “The vast majority of the congregation contributed something, and I’m sure many did sacrificially. We’re officially a debt-free church. There’s always upkeep, but we had that anyway. We’re very thankful.” The church will commemorate the competed payment — which Jackson calls a celebration of what God has done — at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22, with a church luncheon and a performance by vocal ensemble Veritas. But the church didn’t start off packing hundreds into its sanctuary on Sunday mornings — just with a small group who wanted to worship. HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Emily Topper

Dr. Rob Jackson, First Baptist Church of Dover’s senior pastor, will lead the state of the union address alongside a performance by Veritas.

Dover Baptist Church was born on July 3, 1904. Its founders were largely men who worked at the nearby depot station. “The church was built for those who had difficulty making it to other churches,” Jackson said. The first pastor, Rev. T.H. Jaudon, received a $5 per month salary. Slowly, the congregation began to grow. In 1916, members collected $28 to light the church, later installing permanent electric lights. In 1958, the

IF YOU GO STATE OF THE UNION: VISION FOR THE FUTURE AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DOVER When: 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 Where: First Baptist Church of Dover, 3223 Gallagher Road

church’s name was legally changed to First Baptist Church of Dover. Today, the church has about 1,200 members, with between 500 and 750 members attending weekly. “It has grown significantly this last year,” Jackson said. “We’ve seen growth in every single area of he church. We all come together for worship. When you have people sharing each other’s burdens, that’s appealing to people. It’s really His blessing.” VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Jackson calls the paid off sanctuary “one of the steps of the process.” Members of the congregation and the public are invited to a service Sunday, Jan. 22, to listen to the church’s vision for the future. The church has also invited vocal ensemble Veritas to perform. The five-member Christian group debuted in 2012, and has since performed over 200 shows and multiple venues, including Carnegie Hall. “We hope and pray we’ll be more effective in using the funds for Christ,” Jackson said. “We’re doing what God has called us to do, and we’re grateful for that.” In addition to the sermon and performance, the church will present a 15-minute video highlighting First Baptist Dover’s history and testaments from the congregation. The loan note for the worship center will be burned ceremoniously following the service. “We’re grateful for God’s answered prayers,” Jackson said. “We’re very grateful.”

ABOUT VERITAS Founded in 2012, Veritas — the Latin word for “truth” — has performed over 200 concerts and at multiple venues, including Carnegie Hall. The five-person ensemble is dedicated to producing a musical message that imparts faith, hope and love. MEMBERS: n Jeff Anderson, First Tenor n James Berrian, Baritone n Andrew Goodwin, Second Tenor n Jordan Johnson, First Tenor n Lucas Scott Lawrence, Bass Visit: VeritasFive. com.

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

GOING BACK TO GATLINBURG A Plant City resident visited Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with her family amid worries about damage from the fire. What she found was a town ready to rebuild. EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

In late November 2016, a wildfire swept through the city of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a tourist destination popular for its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The results were devastating. Fourteen people killed. A total of 2,460 structures damaged or destroyed and about $500 million in damages in Sevier County, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel. While many rallied around the citizens of Gatlinburg — including Dolly Parton, who donated $1,000 monthly over six months to all those who lost their homes in the fire — some tourists were hesitant to spend their vacations in a town that had undergone so much damage. But less than a month after the fire, Plant City resident Brenda Gonzalez Owens and her husband, Vic, ventured to the small Tennessee town. “We hadn’t planned to go because of the fire,” Owens said. “We were going to go to Kentucky to see Noah’s Ark (replica), but we missed the bridge to get there.” Miles off course, the couple decided to try the fire-damaged town. “We’ve probably been up there 25 to 30 times,” Owens said. “It’s usually during September and October

to see bear season.” When the couple first got to town, all seemed well. The main tourist strip hadn’t been damaged by the fires, but Owens wanted to travel along the side roads. Houses were shuttered with red markers. Black streaks of ash dotted the mountainside. One lamp post on a street corner had melted. “It was enlightening,” Owens said. “I told my husband, ‘This had to be massive.’ You can’t really stop and ask questions because it’s a winding road.” An avid traveler, Owens captured photos of the damage with her camera — from a destroyed hotel front to an oven that was found in the rubble. But the residents, Owens said, were optimistic about the future and ready for visitors to return. “That’s what they want to do,” Owens said. “That’s how they put bread and butter on the table for their family. That’s what I want to tell people, just keep going to Gatlinburg. It can happen to anybody.” Hotels and restaurants were open — Owens and her family had no issues with restaurants or lodging while they were there. “They want to let people know that Gatlinburg is still open for business,” Owens, who spoke to many residents and business owners along the strip, said. “This is their livelihood. It was devastat-

Photos by Emily Topper

Above: A burned stove was found among the rubble. Brenda Gonzalez Owens captured the photo on her trip. Right: Brenda Gonzalez Owens recently traveled to Gatlinburg, where she discovered that residents are more than ready for visitors to return to town.

ing. But they have moved on, and they’re rebuilding. We’re planning another trip in March or April.” Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

We care about the people we serve, and we care about the people we employ. We are a vibrant, innovative place to work, where employees are valued for their talents. The Goodwill Plant City store is now hiring the following positions:

FROM BANK PAGE 1

Sales Associates: Responsible for assisting customers, stocking, displaying and rotating store merchandise, and conducting cash register transactions. Processing Associates: Responsible for greeting donors, accepting donations, preparing donated and new goods for sale in stores through sorting, cleaning, categorizing, sizing and pricing.

Job Requirements: High school/GED or equivalent preferred. Prefer some experience in retail. Subject to criminal history background checks. Subject to alcohol and drug testing. Apply online at www.goodwill-suncoast.org/careers or in person at our Plant City store, 2802 James Redman Parkway, Plant City, FL 33566

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tion, CenterState will acquire a total of seven locations in the merger, which was announced in October 2016. Additional locations are in Lakeland, Tampa and Winter Haven. Once the acquisition is complete, CenterState will have over 80 offices throughout Florida. The tentative approval date is April 1, 2017. Platinum currently has assets of $584 million. Once the acquisition is complete, the combined company would have about $5.6 billion in assets. “We’ve kind of followed the I-4 corridor,” Sullivan, who joined the Platinum team in 1997 as an original team member, said. He will retain his position under the CenterState name. “Our model has always been to find a banker ... that’s geographically oriented. CenterState has a similar model, and is such a good fit for the culture at Platinum Bank. If I had to hand pick, I’d pick CenterState.” In October, the merger was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. “We are delighted to announce this partnership with Platinum Bank,” John Corbett, president and CEO of CenterState Bank, said in a statement. “We want to extend a warm welcome to Platinum’s employees and customers, and we look forward to continuing their tradition of service in Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.” CenterState first launched over 25 years ago. In addition to Platinum, its most recent acquisition took place in the first quarter of 2016 when the company obtained Community Bank of Florida and National Bank of South

Florida. The merger does not mean significant changes for customers, as both banks use the same processing system. “Data conversion is scheduled to take place in April,” Sullivan said. “From a customer standpoint, changes will be minimal.” Platinum Bank staff is pleased that the company culture will continue to be one that was maintained over the last 20 years. “We have known the team at CenterState for many years and are excited to merge with a high-performing community bank that shares our values and customer centric culture,” Jerry Kyle, president and CEO of Platinum Bank, said in a statement. “With a larger footprint and product mix, our team will be able to build on the success of the past and provide a greater level of service to our customers.” In addition to Platinum’s shareholders, the acquisition must also undergo regulatory approvals. “It was a difficult decision,” Sullivan said. “It was just a number of issues. The primary driver was due to regulatory pressures. We match with CenterState philosophically and thought it was the time to sell.” Though no jobs will be created through the acquisition immediately, Sullivan hopes that a credit analyst will be brought into the region within the next year. “That depends on growth,” he said. “CenterState has been very good about meeting with people. I’m pleased about what I’ve seen.”

Emily Topper

The existing Platinum Bank on James L. Redman Parkway will be Plant City’s primary CenterState location.

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

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PlantCityObserver.com

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their bags searched and be checked with a security wand at the festival’s entrance. The added safety measure was new last year, after the festival brought on Lovett, a Plant City native, as security manager. He encouraged the use of wands and bag checks at the festival from his time overseeing courthouse security in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. But it wasn’t just installing the measure — it was ensuring that the technique was done properly. Prior to the start of the festival, security officers had to take a safety class to learn proper “wanding” techniques with an estimated cost of $75,000. “Tim was basically hired to head our security,” Davis said. “We’ve updated it substantially. We have security around the perimeter, including mounted and bike officers. You can’t be too secure these days. Our most important weapon is that our customers here are like family. They notice things and they are quick to tell us when they see something wrong. We had no complaints about searches last year because guests want to be safe, too.” In 2017, Lovett and Davis will continue to take measures to ensure that the festival is a fun, safe atmosphere for all who attend. Annually, the festival spends about $500,000 on security, and partners with both the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Plant City Police Department. “The way things are today, we want people to feel safe coming here,” Lovett said. The latest security precaution was Lovett’s idea. This year, all vehicles that enter the grounds of the festival will be required to have a sticker on them with an identification number and pre-registered information about the driver. “If it doesn’t have one, it will be removed from the grounds,” Lovett said. To keep guests safe, vehicles won’t be allowed inside the grounds during the festival’s operating hours and will have restricted access during closed hours. Largely, the vehicles that come on the grounds after festival hours are for festival vendors who need to work on their booths and restock supplies. Emergency vehicles will be the only ones allowed inside the grounds during festival hours. “The sticker can’t be reused,” Davis

Emily Topper

Added security at the Florida Strawberry Festival this year will include pre-registered stickers for vehicles.

IF YOU GO 2017 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL When: Thursday, March 2, through Sunday, March 12 Festival Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily Cost: Adults, 13 and up: $10; children ages 6-12: $5; children five and under: free Visit: FLStrawberryFestival. com.

said. “If you take it off, it will show as void. When we’re closed, there’s usually between 60 to 70 cars that stock and fix stuff.” Like vendors, musicians also will be given temporary stickers to use. Musicians will tell security about their vehicles ahead of time, so that the festival can anticipate their arrival. “We will advance that with every act coming in,” Davis said. “After the 2016 festival ... Tim saw the weaknesses of vehicles driving in.” During last year’s festival, vehicles were required to be off the grounds before the festival opened. Lovett often had to track down drivers who kept their vehicles on the grounds too close to opening hours. That, paired with recent attacks in the United States and across the

globe, led him to come up with the sticker idea. “As an added bonus, we’ll also know that all drivers have a valid license and insurance,” Davis said. “I’m very proud of Tim for thinking of it.” To prevent vehicles from driving into the festival without approval, blockades will be placed around the festival’s entrances. Gates will be equipped with security cameras. “This has kind of become the norm, and people expect it,” Davis said. “That’s a good thing. People aren’t so offended by cameras or security at the gates. Last year, we found that people appreciated it. We tell our employees, ‘If you see something, say something.’ It doesn’t hurt.” Lovett agreed. “Last year I expected more complaints, but we really didn’t receive any,” he said. “People know what’s happening in society these days, and they want to feel safe. I didn’t get called over for anyone who refused to let their bags be checked. All in all, we had a great festival last year.” “We prepare for the worst, hope for the best and pray,” Davis said. The 2017 Florida Strawberry Festival will run from Thursday, March 2, through Sunday, March 12. Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

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CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION

FROM SAFETY PAGE 1

Must See at Least Once in Your Lifetime

JAN 27–28 St. Petersburg The Mahaffey Theater

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“Fantastic! The athleticism, the artistry, the colors and the choreography…beautiful. The way they are able to display and tell the story through dance, so you can see the story and understand it without any words being spoken or any explanation, it is very impressive.” — Rich M. Kruger, President, ExxonMobil Production

“The tone and the pitch interval from the Western and Chinese traditional musical instruments blended and matched seamlessly... Many people had tried to put Eastern and Western musical instruments in an orchestra but they never succeeded. Shen Yun did it. It sounds so unique and terrific!” — Kang Mang Ho., renowned South Korean conductor

“If it’s in your neighborhood, you should go see it. And not only is it a cultural experience but it’s an experience of beauty and love and precision... You’ll be sorry if you miss it.”

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— Anne Jeffreys, actress and singer

“Everything was absolutely perfection...The whole concept of the show is so intelligent. Everybody is spectacular... This show is beyond everything that I have seen... And in this day and age when everything is so fast, when everything is so mechanical, to see this kind of beauty, for two hours, is like we are all renewed... ” — Ginka Ortega, world-renowned flautist

“Superb! Every performance was stunning.” — WNYC

“The dancers were graceful and beautiful! There was something pure, bright and very dignified about them.” — Anna Liceica, former Soloist of American Ballet Theatre

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

JAN. 6

JUST CHECKING 400 block of South Franklin Street. Attempted vehicle burglary: Officers met with complainant, who stated an unknown suspect had attempted to enter several parked cars by checking their door handles.

“Wuthering Heights.” — Brunilda Gonzalez, 69

TRANSACTION CANCELLED 2900 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Fraudulent use of credit card: Officers met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) had been using their debit card at various ATMs around Plant City. Complainant reported $426 had been withdrawn from their account.

JAN. 7

“Crime and Punishment.” — Samuel Carrizales, 22

SCREEN FIEND 2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Grand theft: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) had stolen two television sets from a store on Thursday, Jan. 5. The TVs were valued together at $356. IN AND OUT 610 block of Charter Court. Residential burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) entered her home and stole $600 in cash from a dresser drawer. Complainant believed that the suspect(s) were able to enter her home through the bedroom window.

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY 1100 block of North Shannon Avenue. Residential burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) forcefully entered her home between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and stole jewelry, purses, iPhones, an Xbox One game console and several video games. The jewelry was valued at $50,000. Complainant stated that the home had been secured before the suspect(s) forced entry.

JAN. 8

STIHL TO STEAL 1300 block of North Gordon Street. Business burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) had broken into a locked shed and stolen $1,200 in Stihl brand lawn maintenance equipment.

St. Andrew’s Pipes & Drums Of Tampa Bay

GLOVE BUCKS 1200 block of Townsgate Court. Vehicle burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) entered his car by breaking through the passenger side window and stole $850 from its glove box.

Sunday, January 29, 2017 10:45 Worship Service Concert on the Lawn and Luncheon following the Service ~ You And Your Family Are Invited ~

LOCK YOUR CARS 1000 block of Jenkins Street. Vehicle burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated an unknown suspect entered her unlocked vehicle around 6:30 p.m. and stole a purse, which contained bank cards, headphones and $60 in cash.

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The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from Plant City Police Department.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

Garden Club looking to grow The Plant City Commons Community Garden celebrated its first year in the teaching gardens at Hillsborough Community College. In year two, the club hopes to get more community support.

IF YOU GO PLANT CITY COMMONS COMMUNITY GARDEN Where: 2001 E. Cherry St. Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily Call: (813) 435-8111

MANAGING EDITOR

When the University of Florida stepped away from its teaching garden at the Hillsborough Community College campus in Plant City, something new was about to take root. The Plant City Commons Community Garden started in 2012, but members wanted a permanent home. After leasing a space for three years at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, the garden signed a three-year lease to take on the the space at the college. That was last year. At the start of 2017, garden members and volunteers celebrated their first full year at their new home on Cherry Street. The events hosted in 2016 were successful, including Second Saturday volunteer days and the recent Christmas Garden Stroll. To date, garden spaces include multiple arboretums, two greenhouses, a teaching pavilion and storage space. “It’s a community asset now,” Karen Elizabeth, founder, said. “It’s open sunrise to sunset every day. We held 23 events in our first year, and we want to be available to businesses and civic groups.” The organization hopes to continue to expand. The garden’s proposed projects for 2017 include enhanced entryways, table gardens and areas for compost bins — but they need community support from both businesses and volunteers.

Photos by Emily Topper

Top: Karen Elizabeth and Sharon Spires want volunteers and sponsors to support the garden. Left and Above: Flowers now bloom at the Plant City Commons Community Garden, located on Cherry Street.

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER Locally owned by Ed Verner, Karen Berry, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Times & Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC, a jointventure of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.

Our Core Values: m o w ing -e d g ing -m u l ching -T R imming -s od s p R ink l e R R e pa iR -c l e a n u p s -T R e e w oRk p R e ssu R e w a shing -l a nd s c a p e d e sign p.o. B ox 408 p lanT c iT y, Fl 33564

CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays. It provides free home delivery to several neighborhoods in Plant City. The Plant City Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

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EMILY TOPPER

“We’ve developed an adoption process,” Elizabeth said. “It’s more beneficial to the community as a whole this way. Everything that we’ve done has to do with volunteerism.” The club has spaces available for adoption in the teaching garden. To participate, businesses and other sponsors are required to volunteer one maintenance day every month, and participate in two holiday or themed events per year. While there’s no fee to adopt a space at the garden, the addition of plants, soil amendments, mulch and various chemicals must be pre-approved by the Plant City Commons Community Garden before use. The club hopes that the adoption process will be a new way to unite the community. Existing supporters include Lowe’s, the Suncoast Native Plant Society and individual families. As businesses and sponsors continue to adopt spaces, club members and volunteers are focused on bringing the garden back to its former glory and involving members from all parts of the community — including all ages, backgrounds and ability levels. “We’re passionate about what this brings to the community,” Elizabeth said. “We’ve just started a table garden project for members in wheelchairs, and we’re expanding our walkways into the existing pavement. A lot can get done, but we need donations and muscle.”

SEND US YOUR NEWS We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via: Email: Emily Topper, etopper@ PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Times & Observer, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103, Plant City, FL 33563

BiblicalLeadership.Institute • Phone 813-659-1903 Leavell College Certificate Site 105 Baker Street Plant City

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

Publisher / Karen Berry, kdberry@inthefieldmagazine.com Interim Managing Editor / Emily Topper, etopper@ PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline, jkline@ PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Daniel Figueroa, DFigueroa@ PlantCityObserver.com Editorial Designer / C.J. Major, cmajor@yourobserver.com Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor of In the Field / Sarah Holt, sarah@ inthefieldmagazine.com

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” — Friedrich Hayek, “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

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Enjoy a decadent dessert in a beautifully decorated Christmas setting!

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Photos by Emily Topper

Mt. Olive Baptist Church had colorful flag displays in the parade.

To enhance your dessert experience, Tani’s is now serving wine, cheese and charcuterie!! James L. Redman Pkwy Suite 106

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he 2017 MLK Festival Freedom Parade marched through Plant City Saturday, Jan. 14. Churches, bands, school groups and more marched over one mile from Wells Fargo on Wheeler Street to the Plant City MLK Recreation Center on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The parade concluded with a street festival and drumline competition.

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Residents watched the parade from neighborhood streets.

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Above left: St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church had a float in the parade. Above: Plant City’s youngest residents waved American flags and collected candy. Left: Fans cheered for floats.

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Gwen Thomas walked with the Improvement League of Plant City.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

SATURDAY, JAN. 21

CORK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH YARD SALE 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at Cork United Methodist Church, 4815 W. Sam Allen Road. Call (813) 754-3233. In case of rain, the sale will be rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4. STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CAR SHOW Begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Union Station Depot, 102 N. Palmer St. See classic cars and trucks from the 1990s and earlier models. Contact the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce at (813) 754-3707. TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL SAVE OUR KIDS PROGRAM Begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at Tomlin Middle School, 501 N. Woodrow Wilson St. Attend a forum for students, parents and stakeholders to discuss barriers and bridges to graduation.

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

FAMILY HOOP JAM Begins at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort Street. Cover charge is $5, cash or checks accepted. Hula hoop to dance music while getting a workout.

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

VERITAS AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DOVER Begins at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at First Baptist Church of Dover, 3223 Gallagher Road. Enjoy music by the five-piece vocal ensemble, followed by lunch on the church grounds. Call (813) 719-2273.

MONDAY, JAN. 23

BEST BET

PLANT CITY AREA DEMOCRATS MEETING Begins at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. All are welcome to attend.

SATURDAY, JAN. 21

2017 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL QUEEN’S SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT Begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Grimes Agricultural Center at the Florida Strawberry Festival fairgrounds, 2508 W. Oak Ave. Sponsored annually by the Lion’s Club, the pageant crowns a new Florida Strawberry Festival Queen, First Maid and three Court members every year.

CITY COMMISSION MEETING Begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at 302 W. Reynolds St.

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

CONVERSATION CORNER Begins at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in January at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Learning English? The Conversation Corner at Bruton Memorial Library is a place to practice English skills with students of the English language. The class is held in conjunction with the Hillsborough Literacy Council.

Legion Post 26, 2207 W. Baker St. There is a full kitchen.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25

WALKING CLUB Begins at 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays in January at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. A walk-and-talk begins at the library and walks around the tree-shaded neighborhood for 45 minutes. Library water fountains and restrooms are available for the walking club to use. Members must be 18 years or older.

FRIDAY, JAN. 27

PLANT CITY MAIN STREET FOOD TRUCK RALLY Begins at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, in Historic Downtown at the corner of Palmer and Drane streets. Enjoy food from Willy T’s Crab Shack, Mr. C’s Grilled Cheese, Mac Shack, YoYo Juice and more. Kids between the ages of 10 and 13 can compete

CHRISTIAN MUSIC 6:33 to 8:33 p.m. Thursdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220. in a Florida Strawberry Shortcake Challenge sponsored by the Florida Strawberry Growers Association.

SUNDAY, JAN. 29

19TH ANNUAL KIRKIN O’ THE TARTAN Begins at 10:45 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Plant City, 404 W. Reynolds St. The service celebrates the church’s Scottish heritage. The St. Andrews Pipes and Drums of Tampa Bay will be a big part of the celebration.

ONGOING PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS CLUB #4051 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Thursdays at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 S. Evers St., Plant City. New members welcome. ACOUSTIC HAPPY HOUR 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. BINGO 6:30 p.m. Saturdays, at American

THE CLASSROOM GALLERY 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. Art is on display by members of the East Hillsborough Art Guild. KEEL AND CURLEY LIVE MUSIC 6:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100. KRAZY KUP LIVE MUSIC 8:33 to 10:33 p.m. Saturdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220.

PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA 1507 YMCA Place 813 757 6677 tampaymca.org

JOIN US TODAY!

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JANUARY SPECIAL

Contestant 13

Ariel Navarrete • Daughter of Juan and Lucy Navarrete • Senior at Plant City High School • Active member of Student Government Association, Executive Council, • Daughter Juan and Lucy Navarrete Interact, Fellowshipof of Christian Athletes, Teenage Republicans, and is the Girls Varsity Soccer Team Captain • Senior atHillsborough Plant City High School • Selected for the County 2nd team all-conference for girls soccer, Plant City Observer Athlete ofof theStudent Week, 2015Government Offensive MVP, and won Ms. • Active member April for the 2016 PCHS Calendar Girl Pageant • Hobbies include playing soccer, mentoring young girls on missionFellowship trips to Association, Executive Council, Interact, Nicaragua, interior decorating, and playing guitar • Plans to attend Southeastern University and peruse a degree in Education of Christian athletes, Teenage Republicans, and is

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the Girls Varsity Soccer Team Captain • Selected for the Hillsborough County 2nd team all-conference for girls soccer, Plant City Observer Athlete of the Week, 2015 Offensive MVP, and won Ms. April for the 2016 PCHS Calendar Girl Pageant • Hobbies include playing soccer, mentoring young girls on mission trips to Nicaragua, interior decorating, and playing guitar • Plans to attend Southeastern University and pursue a degree in Education

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

MARCELLIA HALL

Marcellia Hall, 67, of Plant City, died Jan. 6, 2017. She was born Jan. 24, 1949. She is survived by her brother, Floyd Hall (Mary Ann), of Plant City; nieces, Amanda Hall (Jason Schoonover), of Tampa and Sara Wagner (Brandon), of Plant City; nephew, Justin Hall (Christina), of Lakeland; great-nephew, Jaxon Schoonover; and great-niece, Madalyn Wagner. A graveside service was held Jan. 11, at Oaklawn Cemetery in Plant City. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Fellowship Assembly of God, 1110 N. Gordon St., Plant City, Florida 33563. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

MELLA JEANETTE LEWIS Mella Jeanette Lewis, 85, of Dover, died Jan. 2, 2017. She was born in Plant City on Oct. 22, 1931. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Pleasant Grove. She was a loving and kind mother who loved cooking, helping people, organizing family reunions and assisting her husband on his strawberry farm. She is survived by her children, Jane Woods (Ron), Linda Nasworthy (Darryl) and Travis Lewis; sister, Myrt Hodges and Merleen Page; grandchildren, Jennifer Kendall (Eric) and Jonathan Woods; and great-grandchildren, Madison Grace Kendall and Mackenzie Lyn Kendall. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Lewis; and grandson, BJ. A celebration of life was held Jan. 5, at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City. Interment followed at Turkey Creek Cemetery, Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

EVELYN MARIE NEELEY Evelyn Marie Neeley, 71, of Plant City, died Jan. 3, 2017. She was born in Tampa on Dec. 20, 1945. She was deeply loved and will be missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her sons, Randy Hitson, Danny Hitson

(Mechelle) and Donovan Neeley; grandchildren, Cody and Danielle Hitson and Brooke and Braydon Neeley; cousins, Vicky Ditterband and Cathy Music; and husband, William Jones. She was preceded in death by her mother, Kathleen Music; and daughter, Stephanie Marie Neeley. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at Springhead Baptist Church, 3106 S. Wiggins Road. Online condolences may be made ta HaughtFuneralHome. com.

PAMELA “PAM” N. SANFORD Pamela “Pam” N. Sanford, 46, of Seffner, died Dec. 30, 2016. She was born in Plant City to Jimmy and Onzell (Hackney) Potter. She was a stay-at-home mom and loved spending time with her family and grandchildren. She loved to fish, play bingo and travel to Tennessee. She s survived by her husband, James Sanford; daughters, April Potter, Stephanie Sanford and Katie Sanford; son, Michael Sanford; brother, Jimmywayne Potter; sister, Reta Hutson (Alan); and grandchildren, Kenyon, Alexander and Eleanor. She was preceded in death by her parents; and very good friend, Greg Fender. A funeral service was held Jan. 10, at Wells Memorial Funeral Home and Event Center. Burial followed at Springhead Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.

OTIS E. SCHOFIELD Otis E. Schofield, 91, of Plant City, died Jan. 4, 2017. He was born Oct. 30, 1925, in Oxford, Massachusetts. He was a veteran of the United States Army and a retired letter carrier with the United States Postal Service. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Plant City. He is survived by his sister, Evelyn Schofield McInnis, of New Hampshire; stepson, Jerald Wrubel (Laura); step-grandsons, David Wrubel (Laura), Colin Wrubel and Jeremy Wrubel; many nieces and nephews; and dearest friend, Donna Washburn.

He was preceded ind death by his parents, Edward and Olive Schofield; wife, Alice W. Schofield; and siblings, Courtney Schofield and Claire Schofield Cheney. Services will be private. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.

IRMA AUDREY ALRED SIMMONS

Irma Audrey Alred Simmons, 95, of Plant City, died Jan. 6, 2017. She was born July 28, 1921, in Bainbridge, Georgia. She found her joy in the Lord, and was a lifelong member of Dover Advent Christian Church. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, cooking and helping others. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Ceron (German), of Ecuador; grandchildren, Marci, Rick, Dana, Robyn, Claude, Stacey, Gigi, Millie, Claudio and Cristy; 16 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Theo Claude Alred and Calhoun Simmons; children, Judy Creamer and Terry Claude Alred Sr.; and nine siblings. A celebration of life was held Jan. 14, at Dover Advent Christian Church. Committal followed at Turkey Creek Cemetery, Plant City. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to LifePath Hospice, c/o Chapters Health, 12470 Telecom Drive, Suite 300 W., Temple Terrace, Florida 33637 and/or Dover Advent Christian Church. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

JOLYN BARNES TYSON Jolyn Barnes Tyson, 72, of Plant City, died Jan. 1, 2017. She was born in Plant City on Nov. 24, 1944, to Charles Olin and Joanna Taylor Barnes. She graduated from Plant City High School and later attended the University of South Florida, where she graduated magna cum laude and earned her nursing degree. She was a registered nurse, a teacher of nursing and medical assistants, a medical auditor and a director of continuous quality improvement/education. She was a member of Who’s Who of Professional Management, Who’s Who in American Nursing,

Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges, as well as the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, American Association of Managed Care Nurses, Association for Quality and Participation, American Society for Training and Development, GOAL/QPC, Florida Medical Auditors’ Association and the National Association of Female Executives. She was a member of Harmony Baptist Church in Plant City. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Raymond Tyson; daughters, Janice Dorman (James) and Amy Woodall (Michael); brothers, Charles O. Barnes Jr., Noel Barnes (Patricia) and David Barnes (Melody); sisters, Betsy B. Paschall and Lyra Hoeft (Bill); and grandchildren, Victoria Schrack and Kayla Dorman. A celebration of life was held Jan. 6, at Harmony Baptist Church in Plant City. Burial followed at Townsend Cemetery in Bell, Florida. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome. com.

EVELYN JANE BEATY CROSBY Evelyn Jane Beaty Crosby, 83, of Plant City, died Jan. 10, 2017. She was born March 8, 1933. She loved her family and animals. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Alva “Al” A. Crosby Jr.; children, Carol Crosby Austin (George), of Lakeland, Kenneth Marvin Crosby (Teri), of Plant City and Gary Crosby (Joy), of Plant City; grandchildren, Tammy, Neal, Kelly, Matthew, Kevin and Lucas; great-grandchildren, Kelsi, Kaleb, Keristine and Lexi; siblings, Otis Beaty (Vera), of Plant City and Elsie Keel, of Starke; and siblingsin-law, Mildred C. Rodriguez, of

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

Plant Cit, Helen M. Crosby, of Brooksville, David Crosby, of Plant City and Kenneth Crosby, of Plant City. A celebration of life was held Jan. 14, at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City. Committal followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens, Plant City. Memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, c/o Chapters Health, 12470 Telecom Drive, Suite 300 W., Temple Terrace, Florida 33637. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

NELLIE DUKES DUBOSE Nellie Dukes DuBose, 93, of Lakeland, died Jan. 10, 2017. Born and raised in Opp, Alabama, she moved to Lakeland in 1946. She was a member of Griffin Baptist Church for 50 years and retired as a postal carrier in Lakeland with 22 years of service. She is survived by her sons, Clarence and James; daughters, Sara and Mary Lois Dorman (Gene); brother, Foster Dukes; 20 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; and 34 great-greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman C. and Sara Vada Dukes; beloved husband, Charlie Paul DuBose, of Lakeland; son, Billy Leon; sister, Odie Mae Ray; and brothers, Lushion, Otis, Austin, Roland and Olin Dukes. A funeral service was held Jan. 17, at Griffin Baptist Church. Burial followed at Dover First Baptist Church Cemetery. Donations may be made in her memory to Griffin Baptist Church, 3225 Kathleen Road, Lakeland, Florida 33810. Online condolences may be made at LanierFuneralHome.net.

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JANUARY 20, 2017

SPORTS

“Never give up, and do what you do best. That’s what’s going to get you far in life.” —Jordan White is Crest basketball’s leader. SEE PAGE 14

Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

Tri-Star hoops comp this weekend

he 44th annual Youth Basketball Tri-Star Skills Competition is returning to Plant City this weekend. The competition, held at the Tomlin Middle School gymnasium, will be held Saturday, Jan. 21, beginning at 1 p.m. Anyone between ages 8 and 13 can compete for free, and the top three dribblers, shooters and passers in each age and gender group will win trophies. Competitors do not have to be members of a Plant City rec basketball team, but whichever team has the most competitors show up in uniform will win a pizza party. Tomlin Middle’s gym is located on the corner of West Oak Avenue and North Edwards Street, near the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds. For additional information, email RecInfo@PlantCityGov. com or call (813) 659-4255.

FLAG

Youth soccer sign-ups begin

he 41st annual Plant City Recreation and Parks Department/Optimist Club rec soccer season begins soon, and registration is now open. The league is open to anyone age 4 to 18, and is broken up into 11 age groups. A birth certificate is required in the registration process. The season begins in late March and runs through early May. Games are played on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Registration is $35. Families have until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, to register either in person at the Rec and Parks office, 1904 South Park Road, or by mail. The registration form can be found online at PlantCityGov. com/DocumentCenter/ View/19746. For additional information, email RecInfo@ PlantCityGov.com or call (813) 659-4255.

BY THE NUMBERS

898

amount of games played

440 222

highest seen jersey number

amount of brackets, separated by style, age and gender

amount of fields used for tournament play

he Plant City Colts organization is fielding baseball and softball teams this spring to play in the Evan Michael Chambers Youth Baseball-Softball League. The league will enter its first-ever season in February, and will feature teams from Polk and Hillsborough counties. It is open to boys and girls age 5 through 12. Registration will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday in January at the MLK Recreation Center, 1601 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For more information, contact Ja’Quan Dasher at (813) 732-8876 or Angelo Murray at (863) 398-6359. Murray may also be reached by email at PlantCityColtsYouthFB@gmail.com.

SPORTS MEETS BUSINESS PAGE 13

The United States Flag and Touch Football League held its National Championships in Plant City from Friday, Jan. 13, through Sunday, Jan. 15.

amount of participating teams

P.C. Colts registering for youth baseball, softball

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND

FRENZY JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

From Friday, Jan. 13, through Sunday, Jan. 14, over 400 squads from around the United States showed Plant City that flag football is serious business. A total of 440 teams descended upon the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World that weekend, playing for championship gold in the United States Flag and Touch Football League’s annual National Championships tournament series. Thirty-three teams made it all the way through their brackets, with men, women and children leaving Plant City with trophies in hand and bragging rights for a year. It was the second time the tournament has come to Plant City, following a successful outing at a thenunfinished Ellis-Methvin Park in 2016. This year’s tournament used 33 fields between Ellis-Methvin Park and the adjacent Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex. Though the majority of the players and teams did not hail from Plant City, two residents competed in the youth brackets. Anthony and Gemma Stanley, veterans of the Plant City Optimist Club’s local flag football league, helped the Sentinels reach the championship round in the Youth 13-14 Division, where they finished as the runner-up following a 32-7 loss to Ryan Football. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

9-MAN INELIGIBLE A-flag: Gladiators B-flag: Nomads 8-MAN ELIGIBLE A-flag: Extreme Odds B-flag: AthElites C-flag: Four Lokos D-flag: DMV Elite 35 and Older: A.M.C. 7-MAN SCREEN A-flag: Go Getters B-flag: 76’ers C-flag: Arsenal 35 and Over: WHAT! 4-ON-4 NON-CONTACT A-flag: The Crew B-flag: Get a Grip C-flag: We Dem Boyz D-flag: Arsenal 35 and Over: Playmakers WOMEN’S 8-MAN ELIGIBLE A-flag: Black Mambas B-flag: TB FootBallHers WOMEN’S 7-MAN SCREEN Adrenaline 5-ON-5 NON-CONTACT A-flag: All TDs B-flag: Canes C-flag: Marley Boyz 5-ON-5 CONTACT A-flag: Sik Wit It B-flag: Thundercats C-flag: Bang Nation 35 and Over: Queen City Bulls YOUTH 5-ON-5 13-14 y/o: Ryan Football 11-12 y/o: Ryan Football 9-10 y/o: Ryan Football 7-8 y/o: Dolphins Orange 5-6 y/o: Dolphins Orange

Photos by Justin Kline

From top to bottom: The B’Ham Heat’s athletes gave the Nomads a run for their money on Sunday, Jan. 15; Players did everything they could to avoid having a flag pulled; For flag football, there was plenty of physical contact; Athleticism was on full display at the tournament; A.M.C. had some trouble containing W.C. Hammer’s athletes.

WINNERS

The Nomads, hailing from Philadelphia, won the 9-man Ineligible B-flag bracket.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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The Zeno Zone’s play structure is a highlight of the children’s play areas.

Mike & Hope Williams, Owners

Plant City YMCA zones in on family health

SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The water park area gives kids a supervised place to play while their parents swim laps.

supporters of the Plant City YMCA,” Hilferding says. “They’ve made multiple donations, and this was their focus on youth and families.” The Kids Zone staff teaches children basic reading, writing and arithmetic concepts and keeps them moving, through camp-style games and activities, to keep them healthy. After kindergarten, the kids can use the Zeno Zone next door. This room, which features a three-story play structure, is where most of the play time happens. “It is very active,” Hilferding says. “The kids are in there playing, climbing and sliding.” The room also features a rock climbing wall, a computer with educational programs and an Xbox game console with a Kinect attachment — a device that detects bodily movement and comes with sports and dancing games that require children to get up and move to play. Those kids also have the option of using the water park, which has two three-story slides and a mushroom fountain, after passing an annual swimming test. The outdoor area also

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

includes the playground. The Y’s staff made things as fun as possible for the kids in order to keep them interested, which brings parents into the building. Families that want to exercise together do have options, from playing sports to taking group classes designed for parents and children. Most recently, a family Barre3 class was added to the Y, which uses ballet concepts in workout routines. Hilferding also says that an outdoor family boot camp is in the works, though a start date has not been set as of press time. Ultimately, the goal of Hilferding and the Y is to set a standard for healthy living early enough to affect children in the long run. “When your child is tugging on your leg saying, ‘I want to go to the gym,’ what a great start to a family commitment to health and wellness,” Hilferding says. “You’re building a healthier lifestyle for your children for the future.”

4 1

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

JUSTIN KLINE

Sports, business pair well in Plant City Sports Editor Justin Kline offers his take on Plant City’s growth and how local sports contribute to it.

f you read our newspaper regularly, you’ve probably noticed that our past few issues have been business-heavy. That’s no coincidence: big changes are coming to Plant City and coming sooner than later. Plant City’s economic development has been the talk of the town in the new year, getting to a point where I’ve had several of my section interview subjects bring it up. Many people around here are excited to see what will happen to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World as we get closer to reaching our slate of Hillsborough County’s Imagine 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan’s goals. We even have coaches going the extra mile to get their kids more prepared to run businesses in the future. But I also read our Facebook page, and I see that there are quite a few people who are resistant to upcoming changes. Some folks simply don’t want to sacrifice Plant City’s small-

town feel and I understand that. Our town does have charm that other parts of Hillsborough can’t match and that’s valuable. I’m of the opinion that all this growth is a good thing for Plant City. Maybe it won’t be such a small town 20 years from now, but it has the potential to be one of the more economically important towns in the state if everything goes according to plan. We have successful businesses, three of the strongest academic high schools in Florida, the Florida Strawberry Festival and, of course, a thriving local sports scene that does big numbers without big leagues. I know just how important Plant City’s sports scene is to the local government, having covered it for about three and one half years. While we’re not going to host a Super Bowl anytime soon, our current facilities are both well-maintained and versatile — two things that attract leagues and organizations looking to host events. It’s no accident that our parks are being used for sports most weeks out of the year, often for tournament play. The revenue our local businesses generate from such events can’t be understated. That’s (partly) why people are constantly trying to build

new hotels and restaurants here, generally near Interstate 4. That’s why you have groups such as Visit Plant City, which I covered in our 2017 Forecast edition, making a big effort to market our sports scene. And we also have the benefit of an administration that is strongly prosports. Mayor Rick Lott is a longtime soccer coach who gave kids the opportunity last year to go play in Europe — something many of those players probably never thought would happen to them. I’m excited to see Plant City grow, and I’m even happier that sports are currently playing an important part hopefully ‘when’— we in that. If — finally convince Chick-fil-A and Target to come to our town, we’ll have big sporting events ands the Recreation and Parks Department to thank for it.

Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Times & Observer. Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

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Finding motivation to go to the gym regularly can be difficult — especially for people with young families. With that in mind, the Plant City Family YMCA is reaching out to the people who can get those families in the gym: the kids. “Once they get used to you coming, they’ll keep you coming,” Executive D irector Zach Hilferding says. “You’re teaching them how to be healthy and they, in turn, will teach you the accountability of being healthy.” Just shy of 1,500 members, the Plant City Y is hoping to bring in more families this month and showcase all of the changes made under Hilferding and the newly-retooled staff. Though the physical structures in the kids’ areas haven’t changed since he joined the staff, many of the programs have. The Y’s kids programs cater to those as young as six weeks and offer enough physical challenges to keep them busy until they become old enough to work out on the gym floor. It starts in the Kids Zone, which works with children until they go to kindergarten. “If we can help at all, a little bit, to get kids ready for kindergarten, that’s our focus,” Hilferding says. “To keep kids engaged and learning through the Kids Zone experience … we’re trying to offer interactive play and learning for our members’ children.” That zone recently got some help from an outside source. CityPointe Church donated $2,500 to be put toward play areas, teaching tables, educational books and more, and the Y has already implemented most of the new materials. “CityPointe Church and Pastor Scott McIntosh have been really big

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1) Chieftains, 2) Speed, 3) Riverdance, 4) Celtic Tiger, 5) Flute Michael Flatley

NovThis 5 (Medium, 0.52) week’s difficulty Sudoku rating answers

9 3 4 2 1

6 5

6 8 5

3 7

4 9 1

8 5

9 4 3 6

2 1

8 7

6 4 9 3 1

4 1

3 5

9 2 1

3 4 7 5

6 8 9

6 8 3 4 7

6 8 5

2 6 9 7 1

2 7

2 5

4 1

2 9 1 8 5

8 9 3 2 7

6 4

This week’s Crossword answers

2017

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

Jordan White Much to his surprise, Strawberry Crest senior Jordan White hit a big milestone Tuesday, Jan. 10, surpassing the 1,000-point mark for his high school career. White, Crest’s only senior, currently leads the Chargers basketball team with 14.6 points and 2.5 steals per game, and also has a 3.8 GPA in the school’s IB program. Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.

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How did it feel to hit 1,000 points? It feels really good. It was great to finally see my hard work pay off throughout my high school career. You’re the only senior on a really young team. How are you handling your role as the leader? I’m just trying to make sure I’m a vocal leader and a leader by example ... I try to encourage them, keep the atmosphere really positive so they can learn to win in high school, and beyond high school.

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Tell me about the moment you hit 1,000 points. Did you have it on your mind at all? I wasn’t thinking about it at all ... My thousandth point was on a free throw. They stopped the game for a minute, and Coach James got on the microphone and said, “Jordan just scored his 1,000th point.”

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Are there any college or pro basketball players you look up to? I’m really kind of inspired by all of them. The things they accomplish on and off the court are amazing. My biggest role models are my parents. I really look up to them and I thank them for all that they do. What’s the coolest thing you’ve done on a basketball court? There was one time after practice this year, we were messing around. A bunch of players trying to dunk … I did a 360 dunk. It was a really cool thing to be able to pull off. What are your goals for the rest of this year? I want to maintain all As and Bs. I really want to perform well on my IB exams ... for athletics, I want to win a district championship and keep taking the team as far as we can go. What’s the best advice a coach has given you? Never give up, and do what you do best. That’s what’s going to get you far in life. No matter what happens, just stay with it — rain or shine.

And your friends and teammates came onto the court to celebrate with you. It felt like everyone was rooting for me. It was great to know all my teammates were behind me.

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PlantCityObserver.com

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Do you have a photo that speaks to the personality of Plant City? Submit it to Managing Editor Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com

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1 Org. concerned with class issues? 4 Not functioning properly 9 Black fuel source 13 Fireplace need 17 Need a sick day 18 Shipmate of Kirk and Spock 19 Baby night bird 21 “Cogito, ___ sum” 22 Description of a nice, round, bald head 26 Awards for professors 27 Things in fuzzy navels? 28 Pair of two similar or equal things 29 Rugged, craggy mountain feature 30 Strike out, to an editor 31 Amaze or shock 32 Thing on a clothesline 35 Use FedEx anew 38 ___ Mountains (dividers of two continents) 42 Place where stuff gets hocked 46 Important tool for a carpenter 48 Mongolia’s continent 49 Of lesser importance, in law 51 Ripped 52 Cotton bundles in a field 53 One in dreadlocks 55 Well-read types 57 Be victorious over 58 Against the law 60 Barbecue leftover 61 Material from which glass is made 63 It involves a pigskin 71 Insects that cause head scratching 72 Fold or mutilate, e.g. 73 Shrunken Asian lake 74 Intensely passionate 78 Presenters or volunteers, essentially 82 Bolivian capital 83 Guesstimate word 84 Crossword feature 85 Tails on cottontails 87 Refuse to obey 88 Things for last-place finishers 91 Check grabbers at a restaurant 93 Tennis divisions 94 Narrate again 95 St. Louis’ Gateway 96 Ship captain for 40 days and nights 97 Word before “do” or “cost you” 100 War foe 105 Cantina 109 Impersonator’s forte 111 Basketball official 113 Pitch that “drops off the table” 116 Out among the buoys 117 Secretive, shifty one 118 Highway jams 119 Soak up, as gravy 120 Natural or authentic 121 Feature of many horror films 122 In a melancholy way 123 Noon duo?

1. G V U X D B E U C Q 2. Q A X X K 3. T U O X T K E C G X 4. G X P B U G B U S X T 5. D P M B X

This dancer has been called “Lord of the Dance”:

SUDOKU

Solve the puzzle by placing the numbers 1 Nov 5 (Medium,9 difficulty rating 0.52) through in each row, column and box.

4 7

Saturday, Jan. 21

7:20a

6:00p

Sunday, Jan. 22

7:19a

6:01p

Monday, Jan. 23

7:19a

6:01p

Tuesday, Jan. 24

7:19a

6:02p

Wednesday, Jan. 25

7:18a

6:03p

Thursday, Jan. 26

7:18a

6:04p

MOON PHASES

Jan. 27 New

Jan. 21 Last

Feb. 4 First

Feb. 10 Full

0.00 0.11

Friday, Jan. 13 Saturday, Jan. 14

0.00

Sunday, Jan. 15

0.00

Monday, Jan. 16

0.00

Tuesday, Jan. 17

0.00

Wednesday, Jan. 18

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

JAN. TO DATE:

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2016 2.40 in.

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DOWN

4 1

1 Tortellini or macaroni 2 Part of a microwave 3 Apart from all others 4 Painful throb 5 Extinct relatives of ostriches 6 “___ a small world after all” 7 Like old bread

5 7

6 4

Nov 5 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.52)

9 3 4 2 1

6 5

6 8 5

3 7

4 9 1

8 5

9 4 3 6

2 1

8 7

6 4 9 3 1

2 5

8 Emmy-winning role for Sally Field 9 Young horse 10 Temple University athletes 11 Boxing legend from Kentucky 12 Period before results come in 13 “Dragnet” star Jack 14 Verbal exam 15 Desirous up-and-down look 16 Human dumbbell 18 Tossed all over the place 20 Theatrical acting group 23 Strike three result 24 Unable to move or act 25 ___ & Bradstreet 30 Garb worn by Gandhi 31 Leader of a posse 33 Poisonous reptile 34 Whomp but good 36 “I could ___ horse!” 37 Thing removed at the cleaners 38 Military org. near Colo. Springs 39 Arbitrate 40 It’s measured in square feet 41 “___ we forget” (Kipling) 42 Biblical item written by David 43 Type of airplane seat 44 Moisture maker 45 Pockets of dough? 47 Support of wrongdoing

48 Solo from “Tosca” 50 Exam relative 54 Litheness 56 Reason’s mate 57 Christian name in fashion 59 Battery fluid 62 Chicken choice 64 Stone tool of old 65 Unseen TV husband of Phyllis 66 Raise, as a building 67 Grass unit 68 In accordance with 69 Toronto Maple ___ 70 Like one avoiding work 74 Notebook flaps 75 Slender woodwind 76 Radish or carrot, e.g. 77 Emulates a masseuse 79 Fruit juice brand with colorful bottles 80 Put one’s finger on? 81 Like the boondocks 84 Defeating, and how 86 Cul-de-___ 89 Trial prints 90 More foxy and wily 92 They set off burglar alarms 96 “___ a problem” 98 Packing weight deductions 99 Groucho Marx’s “tattooed lady”

101 Bird’s bill 102 Remove chalk 103 Cantaloupe or casaba, e.g. 104 Some kennel sounds 105 Russian ruler of old 106 Church section behind the altar 107 “Not guilty,” e.g. 108 100 dinars, in Iran 109 Petri dish gelatin 110 Snub-nosed pooch, for short 111 A Castro of Cuba 112 Cable TV sports award 114 “The Matrix” hero 115 Nourished

226779

B U L C WacKy

XPRESS WASH

1503 S. Collins Street 813-754-0777

Friday, Jan. 20

FREE Vacuum

d Unlimite

t only a g n i t r Sta onth m r e p 5 $ 17.9

9 3

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Jan. 12

Department of Agriculture

H S A W

RAINFALL

Courtesy of the United States

Congratulations to this week’s I Love PC Winner. Stop in for your FREE Car Wash.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, JAN. 20 Lloyd Thomas captured this photo of a hot air balloon over the train tracks in Plant City.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

“My wait time is always short.” ~ Glenda R., a patient of South Florida Baptist Hospital

Emergency Care When You Need It When it comes to all the health care needs of Glenda and her family, South Florida Baptist Hospital has always been her first choice. From her emergency visits to endoscopies and a robotic surgery, Glenda has received a lifetime of care here. A member of the community since 1953, South Florida Baptist Hospital was built on quality, compassionate care. You’ll find a highly skilled and experienced team that works to make patients and visitors as comfortable as possible during their hospital experience. When you’re treated at South Florida Baptist Hospital, you’ll feel at home, close to home — all your health care needs are covered, without ever leaving Plant City. Let South Florida Baptist Hospital be your partner in getting you well and keeping you well. Fill out a health profile online at SouthFloridaBaptistCare.org and you’ll be sent a complimentary travel first aid kit.

Emergency Care Our modern Emergency Center treats a wide variety of medical and surgical conditions and is one of the largest and most technologically advanced emergency centers in eastern Hillsborough County. We treat adult and pediatric patients, and our fast and friendly service is provided by clinicians focused on delivering the best care to you.

BC1607268-1016 228691