02.27.14 Plant City Times & Observer

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FREE • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014 Plant City Time

2014 FLORIDA STR s & Observer AWBERRY FESTIV AL

SPORTS SPECIAL SECTION

SPOTLIGHT

Dads, daughters share special night at dance.

Charity Polo Classic Read our interview returns to Plant City for with The Band Perry a gallopin’ good time. and much more!

SEE PAGE 11 IN THIS ISSUE

PAGE 8

ENTERTAINMENT GUID E

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW :

THE BAND PERRY

SEE PAGE 11

Meet the 2014 Strawberry Festival Queen and Court See Page 4

ALSO INSIDE:

STYX, PAGE 6 BOYZ II MEN, PAGE 8 KELLIE PICKLER, PAGE 9 CAROLINE KOLE, PAGE 12 AND City MUCH Plant MORE! Times & Observe

Plant City Serves Up Strawberry Recipes, Pages 16-17 1

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OUR TOWN

+ Rachel Green wins ticket contest We received many entries for the first of our NRG/ Plant City Times & Observer Florida Strawberry Festival ticket giveaways.

In the end, Rachel Green’s entry stood out above the rest: “I am thrilled to get the chance to share my special story with you,” Rachel wrote. “Many of my favorite memories are set at the Florida Strawberry Festival, none more so than falling in love for the first and only time in my life.

“I was 22 years old, an employee at Sunshine State Federal Savings and Loan,” she wrote. “I was volunteering that day at the festival on the trams. I had gone to the Plant City High School Raider Band pie and cheesecake booth for a delicious treat, when I ran into an old flame, who just so happened to be Matthew Green, the band director at the time. He treated me to a slice of cheesecake, and we chatted a little. That night, we ran into each other again at the Aaron Tippin concert. He took me aside after the concert and told me what a mistake he had made letting me getaway when we previously dated and asked if he could see me again. I was thrilled! I had never had feelings for anyone else, and I never would.

“Ten months later, Matt took me back to the pie booth, got down on one knee, slipped a ring on my finger and asked me to be his wife,” Rachel wrote. “To which I replied at the top of my lungs, ‘Absolutely!’ We have spent every moment since building our lives together and are beyond blessed with a beautiful family. Every year, the festival is a reminder to us of how great it is to live here, with these people, our family and friends, and of our love for each other.”

We have more opportunities to win! Visit PlantCityObserver.com for your chance to win Rascal Flatts tickets, or see page 4 for a chance to win tickets to The Band Perry!

, 3&

This week’s winner is

Kiersten Denny See her photo on PAGE 17.

paper trail by Michael Eng | Editor

Visions Golf files rezone request for golf course The rezone includes 581 multi-family units, 187 single-family lots and an assisted-living facility.

Visions Golf LLC, owner of Walden Lake Golf & Country Club, filed last week its request for a rezone part of the community’s two golf courses for residential development.

Filed Feb. 19 at Plant City Hall, the request, titled the Villages of Walden

Lake Polo and Country Club, offers some details regarding Visions Golf’s plan for the property. The accompanying map details four separate areas for development. In a 35-acre parcel between Clubhouse Drive and Sydney Road, the request calls for a maxi-

DEVELOPMENT

by Michael Eng | Editor

mum of 425 multi-family units. Across Clubhouse Drive, the proposal shows an assisted-living facility on about 10 acres. Directly south from there is a 13-acre parcel with a maximum of 156 multi-family units.

The largest parcel within the proposal, 75 acres, is reserved for up to 187 single-family lots. It stretches from

SEE VISIONS / PAGE 5 Courtesy rendering

The park’s central feature is a decorative fountain.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Commission endorses concept for Village Green

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

The park, designed to be the central attraction for Midtown, will feature brick pavers, benches and a water fountain.

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Amber Jurgensen

Resident Al Kramer has served as a St. Clement Catholic Church shortcake booth volunteer for six years.

Saints of the

St. Clement Catholic Church has run its strawberry shortcake booth for 41 years.

Buzzing like a hive, 150 volunteers scurry around the fellowship hall of St. Clement Catholic Church. It is just one day before the beloved Florida Strawberry Festival, and the church has one of just three booths on the entire grounds that offers the city’s signature strawberry shortcake.

Last year, green-aproned volunteers sold more than 90,000

decadent desserts at the tinseled buffet line. About 70 volunteers, separated into two shifts, are needed each day to run the hectic booth.

But the highly visible stand is just the strawberry on top of the cream. It’s the extensive operation that goes on behind the

SEE SHORTCAKE / PAGE 4

BY THE NUMBERS 150: The number of volunteers who are at the church each day preparing strawberries.

70: The number of volunteers who work on the festival grounds at the booth each day $137,000: The amount raised last year in shortcake sales.

90,000: The number of shortcakes sold last year.

550: The average number of flats prepared by St. Clement volunteers per day.

3,000: The number gallons of whipped cream consumed at the festival.

In a unanimous vote, the Plant City Commission established Feb. 24 the visual identity of the Midtown project.

With a 4-0 vote (Vice Mayor Rick Lott was absent), the commission endorsed a design concept for the Village Green park, which will become the centerpiece of the redevelopment project just south of downtown.

The park, which will be situated between South Wheeler and South Evers streets, will feature a circular design centered around a fountain.

Brick pavers will serve as diagonal paths from the block corners to the fountain. The park also will include wrought-iron benches, decorative lighting and matching trash receptacles. All the walkways will be lined with trees, which will be chosen for their phytoremediation properties to continue to clean and restore the once-contaminated site.

“The issue for the design of this park is two-fold: It is a place (that would serve) as a meeting center and it also is to provide phytoremediation for the high nitrogen and phosphate that’s there from the Gro Mor Fertilizer plant,” said Steve Boggs, of Boggs Engineering, which created the concept with landscape architectural firm L.A. Design Inc.

SEE PARK / PAGE 5

health care by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

President will focus on recruiting, growth New South Florida Baptist Hospital President Karen Kerr brings a wealth of experience.

After serving for five months as interim president of South Florida Baptist Hospital, Karen Kerr has taken the helm as president.

“I am very excited about the opportunity,” Kerr said.

Kerr took over as interim

president last August, after former president Steve Nierman assumed the same role at Winter Haven Hospital. While Nierman was at South Florida Baptist Hospital, Kerr was able to work alongside him.

“He was a great mentor,”

Kerr said. “We worked very close together. I was able to gain a lot of knowledge.”

From 2002 to 2013, Kerr was employed as the director of patient care services at South Florida Baptist Hospital, overseeing clinical and operation-

al departments of the hospital. Before that, she worked as assistant administrator of patient services at South Florida Baptist Hospital and served as director of patient care ser-

SEE KERR / PAGE 4 Karen Kerr

INDEX Calendar.......................2

Vol. 1, No. 31 | One section Crossword...................17

Obituaries...................10

Sports.........................11

Weather ......................17

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COMMUNITYCALENDAR THURSDAY, FEB. 27 1961 PCHS Planter Classmates Monthly Dutchtreat Lunch — takes place at 1 p.m. the last Thursday of each month, at Outback Steakhouse, 1203 Townsgate Court, Plant City. The next meeting will be Feb. 27.

Born to Run — weekly run takes place at 5:30 p.m.

Thursdays, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. (813) 7529100.

Casey Stidham — performance takes place from 6 to 9 p.m.

Thursdays, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. (813) 7529100.

Line Dancing Lessons — takes place from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Thursdays, at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 E. S.R. 60, Plant City. (813) 7374444.

Open Mike Night — begins at 8 p.m. Thursdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818.

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog — takes place from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

(813) 757-9215.

VITA Tax Program — takes place Thursdays, through April 10, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Registration for assistance begins at 10 a.m. and lasts until that day’s 25

slots are filled. (813) 7579215.

FRIDAY, FEB. 28 After-School Board Games — takes place from 4 to 6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 28, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

(813) 757-9215.

Friday Night Fun — Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill will offer karaoke, cornhole tournaments, a deejay, darts and more beginning at 7 p.m. Fridays, at the restaurant, 106 E. S.R. 60, Plant City. (813) 737-4444.

Mayfair Games Game Night — takes place from 7 to 11 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 28, at the business, 106 Drane St. NE. (813) 707-6659.

The Peacemakers — performance takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

Uncork Your Weekend with Double Barrel Band — live music from 7 to 11 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 28, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City.

(813) 752-9100.

SATURDAY, MARCH 1 Bike Fest — takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at 102 N. Palmer St. For more, visit plantcity.org.

Plant City Colts Football Bike, Car and Truck Show — takes place from 3 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 1, at Dr. Martin

To publicize your event in our Community Calendar, please send by mail: 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563; or by email: meng@plantcityobserver.com. Photos are welcome. Deadline is noon Thursday.

Plant City Fire Department’s David Burnett. For more information, call Nancy Miller, Nanamiller2@aol.com or (813) 754-2544.

Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 1601 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Goodfellaz Motorcycle Club will host the show, which will raise money for the youth football organization.

An after-party will take place from 8 p.m. to midnight, at the rec center. Curt Brooks, (813) 763-0239 or (863) 812-6447.

ONGOING Babytime — takes place from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. For more information, call (813) 757-9215.

MONDAY, MARCH 3 Beginner Square Dance Lessons — classes take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays, at Strawberry Square, 4401 Promenade Blvd., Plant City.

First class is free. Plus Square Dance Lessons begin from 8 to 9:30 p.m. (813) 752-0491.

TUESDAY, MARCH 4 Enrollment Assistance Program (Affordable Care Act) — takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, March 4, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

Machelle Tulalian, (813) 4224917 or machelle.eaptampa@ gmail.com.

Flute Circle — takes place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Utah Farris, (863) 696-0442 or utahflutes1@ wmconnect.com.

Plant City Christian Women’s Connection — meets at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, at Walden Lake Golf & Country Club, 2001 Clubhouse Drive.

Speaker will be Carol Wiersma.

Cost is $14. (813) 752-3786 or cwcpcfl@msn.com.

BEST BETS 2014 Florida Strawberry Festival Opening Day — takes place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the festival, 303 N. Lemon St., Plant City.

The festival continues daily through Sunday, March 9.

This year’s fair will featurea variety of local, regional and national acts, carnival rides, agricultural competitions, the Neighborhood Village,

WED., MARCH 5 Interviewing 101 — class takes place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

(813) 757-9215.

Mouse Skills — class takes place from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, March 5, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

(813) 757-9215.

contests, demonstrations and much more. For more, visit flstrawberryfestival.com.

Plant City Civitan Club’s Annual Youth Parade — begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at the Plant City State Farmers’ Market, 1305 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Florida Strawberry Festival Grand Parade — begins at 1 p.m. Monday, March 3, in Historic Downtown Plant City.

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog — takes place from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

(813) 757-9215.

TUESDAY, MARCH 11 GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City — meets at 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, March 11, at the clubhouse, 1110 N. Wheeler St. Guest speaker will be

Bereaved Parents USA — meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday each month, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, Cancer Resource Center, 1708 W. Palmetto Ave., Plant City.

(813) 659-2555 or (813) 997-1709.

Berry Patch Quilt Guild — meets from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, at First Presbyterian Church of Plant City, 404 W. Reynolds St. Use the entrance on Thomas Street. All are welcome. For more information, call Elaine Green, (813) 763-7353.

Christian Ladies Zumba — meets at 11 a.m. Mondays, 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m.

Saturdays, at HopeWeaver Church, 2203 W. Baker St., Plant City; and 7 p.m.

Mondays and Thursdays, at Shiloh Baptist Church, 905 W. Terrace Drive. Donation only.

Gina, (813) 928-9998.

Cholesterol Screenings — available from 2 to 3 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. Cost is $30.

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check’s not in the mail by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Investigation into mailbox fires continues The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is looking for residents with information about the recent vandalism of the mailbox in front of the Walden Lake community.

Attention Walden Lake residents: If you had a piece of mail mysteriously not make it to its recipient in the last few weeks, this may be why.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating two incidences of fires at the mailbox at the entrance to Walden Lake. The latest occurred sometime between 6:40 and 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. That means any mail that was placed inside the box by residents before the last pick up at around noon Saturday, Feb. 8, was destroyed.

“I have residents that put all their bills in there, even association dues,” Bette Guarino, of Walden Lake Community Association, said. “Everyone thought it would be safer to put their mail in there than their own mailbox.”

Walden Lake was informed by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service about the mailbox after the second time it was set on fire.

Guarino said a postal inspector told her the first incident occurred about a month before the Feb. 9 fire.

“Any mail in there would be ashes,” Guarino said.

Walden Lake’s security camera, which is mounted at the gate, did not pick up any of the vandalism, because it is directed downward to photograph incoming vehicle license plates.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is anyone with information to step forward.

Typically, the post office won’t replace the mailbox after incidences like the one at Walden Lake. The decision to replace the

box is made internally.

Walden Lake residents have fought to keep the mailbox at the front of the neighborhood for years. In 2005, they led a campaign after the post office decided to reduce mailboxes to reduce pick-ups. In 2010, the post office wanted to remove it again, because it wasn’t being used to its full potential. But, residents began using it more to save it.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Mailboxes are considered federal property, and federal law, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1705, makes it a crime to vandalize them or to injure, deface or destroy any mail deposited in them. Violators can be fined up to $250,000, or imprisoned for up to three years, for each act of vandalism.

Source: U.S. Postal Inspection Service

INFORMATION

If you have any information regarding the vandalism to the box in front of Walden Lake, call the post office at (813) 719-6733.

INVESTIGATION

CANINE CENTRAL by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Rocky was all smiles during the first Doggie Carnival.

Charges pending following deadly accident After running a red light, 16-year-old Jennifer Carvajal struck a vehicle driven by Keith Davis.

Chalupa Batman

Every Dog Has Its Day

Many dogs were available for adoption.

Right: Lillyanna Wheeler loved hugging the canines.

THEMES Pysanky eggs are painted with symbols that convey a different theme.

Crown of Thorns: Worn by Jesus on the cross Net: Suggests Christians as “Fishers of Men” Crosses: Suffering, death and resurrection Flowers: Beauty of nature, love, charity and good will Evergreen Trees: Eternal youth Roosters and Hens: Fertility, fulfillment of wishes Deer, Horses and Rams: Wealth and prosperity Wolf Teeth: Protection Duck Feet: Soul or spirit

COLOR CODE White: Purity Yellow: Spirituality Pink: Success Orange: Attraction Red: Love Blue: Health Green: Money Brown: Happiness Violet: High power Black: Remembrance

Second Chance Boxer Rescue hosted the its first Doggie Carnival Feb. 22, at its Plant City facility off Knights Griffin Road.

Dog-lovers and their canine companies enjoyed visiting a variety of vendors and making new puppy pals.

Several Tampa Bayarea dog rescues also were available to prom o t e their adopta b l e friends.

Reena had a “super” time at the event.

Dacey Grabau attended the carnival with Raja.

egg-cellent by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Church to host Pysansky egg workshop Natalie Brennan learned the art of creating Ukrainian eggs from her grandmother.

Natalie Brennan still remembers making Pysanky eggs when she was a little girl with her paternal grandmother, Anna Michaluk. Anna had emigrated from Ukraine in the early 1900s and brought with her the tradition of creating colorfully designed eggs.

Now, more than 50 years later, Brennan still is practicing the folk art, which is also deeply rooted in Easter. She will be teaching a workshop on the Ukrainian style Easter eggs beginning at 11:45 a.m. Sunday, March 2, at the Holy Protection Orthodox Church, in Dover.

The workshop is free to the public, and Brennan only asks that attendees bring one raw egg that has been soaked in warm water or vinegar for about 10 minutes. Brennan will supply all other materials.

“It is not very hard to learn; the technique is very simple,” Brennan said. “But, it does take practice to become good at it.”

And Brennan has had a lot of practice. When she worked alongside her grandmother many years ago, it was “quiet time.” Her grandmother often got lost in the intricate designs, leaving Brennan to experiment on her own.

Over the years, she went from mastering the basic colors like white, yellow, orange, red and black, to learning to work with pinks, blues and greens.

Now, Brennan has moved on to teaching. For about 40 years, she has traveled to churches, schools, libraries and more to teach. She got her start when her hometown high school teachers invited her to their art classes to share the cultural experience. Then she caught the eye of the U.S. Library of Congress American Folklife Center.

When they visited her church in Rhode Island to learn more about the folk art, they asked Brennan to do a video demonstration for the archives.

“In the 1970s and 1980s, folk art was big,” Brennan said.

“They made it easy to document everything. I was privileged. I was humbled.”

Brennan also made eggs for the Library of Congress’ gift shop. From there, she received a National Endowment for the Arts Folk Art/Traveling Exhibition, “Hand to Hand, Heart to Heart,” and was featured at DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, Mass., and the Rhode Island

IF YOU GO

PYSANKY EGGS WORKSHOP WHEN: 11:45 a.m.

Sunday, March 2 WHERE: Holy Protection Orthodox Church, 3820 Moores Lake Road, Dover COST: Free MATERIALS: Brennan asks attendees to bring one raw egg that has been soaked in warm water or vinegar for about 10 minutes.

Brennan will supply all other materials.

CONTACT: (813) 7196266 Heritage C o m m i t t e e ’s Folk Arts in Rhode Island Ethnic Festivals.

“The more you do it, the more you evolve, the better you get,” Brennan said.

Pysanky means “to write,” and the designs are written on the egg with wax, rather than painted. To create the designs,

artists use the batik style, or wax-resist method. Beeswax must be used as candle wax flows too freely and will allow dye to seep through. The wax is melted in the kistka, a tool also used to apply wax to the egg.

Artists then write the design on the egg with wax that acts as a sealant. The egg is then dyed a different color, and the process begins again.

Eggs are dyed from lightest to darkest. Before their were commercial dyes, families made their own dyes out of plants and food.

Pysanky is made during the last week of Lent, Holy Week in the Orthodox and Greek Catholic calendars.

Brennan and many others display their eggs year-round. But, the eggs also are placed into baskets, along with Easter food to be blessed at the church. “(My favorite part) is seeing the results,” Brennan said.

“Sometimes, you really get surprised by the end result.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials still are investigating a Feb. 5 fatal car accident.

Keith Davis, 52, of Plant City, died at Lakeland Regional Medical Center from injuries he sustained when his 2002 black four-door Toyota was hit by a 2004 Gold Lincoln Navigator. That vehicle was driven by 16-year-old Jennifer Carvajal, of Plant City, who ran a red light, according to Plant City Police Department reports.

Carvajal was traveling north on North Alexander Street, when she hit the passenger side of Davis’ car at about 6:30 a.m. Feb. 5. Davis was coming off the eastbound exit ramp of Interstate 4. His car was propelled into a concrete barrier divider wall for North Alexander Street, reports stated.

Carvajal’s car continued to travel into a pedestrian walk sign and a Plant City water main. From there, it traveled into some shrubs and a palm tree, knocking the palm tree down before coming to a final rest.

Carvajal was traveling at 55 mph, according to police reports. The posted speed is 45.

She was transported to St. Joseph Hospital, in Tampa. Carvajal also was tested for drugs and alcohol. The blood tests have been sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

“The length of the investigation depends on how long the FDLE takes,” said officer Tommy Morris, the traffic homicide investigator for the case. “It varies, depending on the case.

But, if there’s a fatality, we usually try and expedite the process.”

Charges still are pending against Carvajal. Depending on the results of the tests, she could be facing DUI manslaughter.

Officers initially heard Carvajal had taken her aunt’s vehicle without permission. But, the vehicle belonged to her mother, Edith Rosales. Her uncle, Marcel Rosales, co-signed for the car.

Investigators aren’t sure where Carvajal was headed so early in the morning, or if she was supposed to be driving the car. She and her mother have given limited cooperation with investigators. During an interview, they would not release a statement regarding her destination that morning.

But, investigators knew where Davis was headed. He had just come from his paper route, where he worked for BeavEx. He usually took a nap in the early morning between routes and was headed home.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP KERR / PAGE 1 vices at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.

“Karen is a dynamic leader with a true passion for serving patients and their families and has earned the support of the board, medical staff, team members and community leaders,” said Glenn Waters, president of BayCare’s Hospital Division. “She has worked to develop new programs and initiatives for neurospine, surgery, obstetrics, radiology and patient experience.”

In her new position, Kerr will focus on recruiting physicians and the construction and operation of two additional operating rooms next to the heart and vascular center at the corner of Alexander and Reynolds streets. This will assist with orthopedics and robotics.

“It will help facilitate scheduling with an increase in patients,” Kerr said. “We needed the additional room to assist those patients.”

Kerr received her bachelor’s/nursing degree from the University of South Florida, Tampa, and her master’s of business administration from Nova Southeastern University, in Ft. Lauderdale. She has served as past president of the Tampa Bay Organization of Nurse Executives, is a past chairman of the Plant City Family YMCA and a past chairman and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club.

Kerr has been a resident of Plant City for 20 years. She is originally from Jamestown, N.Y. “This is a great community, very supportive,” Kerr said.

“The hospital is a big part of the community, and we try to be involved as much as we can. We appreciate the support. We want to provide services here so people don’t have to leave town for their health care.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

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WIN TICKETS TO THE BAND PERRY! Are you NRG’s biggest fan?

If so, you could score tickets to this year’s hottest concert!

Youth pop band NRG and the Plant City Times & Observer are teaming up to give one lucky winner tickets to The Band Perry.

The Band Perry prize pack includes two general admission tickets, as well as two tickets to the concert, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. Sunday March 9.

Plant City’s NRG returns to the festival for a performance at 7 p.m. Monday, March 3, on the Paradise Grilling Systems Variety Stage.

To enter, just email Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com, and tell us why you should be named NRG’s biggest fan. Please use the subject line: NRG Ticket Giveaway.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, March 6. We’ll notify the winner by 9 a.m. Friday, March 7, and the winner can pick up the tickets at the Plant City Times & Observer office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A. For more information about NRG, visit its website, radgeneration.com.

SHORTCAKE / PAGE 1 scenes that serves as the biscuit-flavored foundation to a tradition that has raised the church hundreds of thousands each year.

Throughout 41 years of operating the booth, the church’s booth has garnered much attention as a welloiled shortcake-producing machine.

ORGANIZED CHAOS

The volunteers arrive early, racing back and forth be-

tween a truck loaded down with pallets to the church. A total of 550 flats of strawberries have arrived. In the past, Astin Farms and St. Martin Farms have participated in the tradition. But this year, the church ordered berries from a parishioner who also is a grower.

After unloading nearly six pallets, it’s time to clean and slice.

In this industrial town, even the local Catholic church owns a conveyor belt.

The first of the berries are dropped onto the belt around 9 a.m. The belt lurches to a start. Everyone cheers.

Trekking their way down, the berries are showered with water then sliced by sharp blades. The delicate pieces fall into a bucket filled with a sugar solution. They soak in the sweet moisture while being topped and crated to the festival grounds.

But, it’s not all work and no play.

“It’s a nice social event,” organizer Paul Hetrick said. “It’s the chance for us all to get together. People love it.”

One of those people is Al Kramer.

“You get to talk to a lot of people and get to know a lot of people,” Kramer said.

Kramer has been volunteering for six years. He used to work in the big room slicing the tender leaves off the fruit. But the operation needs strong hands at the conveyor belt. Today, Kramer lifts buckets of berries onto the machine.

And although many volunteers have experience like Kramer, there are some green newbies, too.

This year is Judy Anderson’s first time volunteering. She worked to prepare the berries before they go to the conveyor belt. Throughout the year, Anderson receives food from church’s pantry.

“I figured they give to me, so I can give back,” Anderson said. “I was just shocked all that goes on here.”

“This is a woman who isn’t involved with the church who stepped up,” said Ken Goldbach, who shared a table with Anderson. “That’s what this is about.”

Throughout the 11-day festival, the demand for strawberry shortcake is constant.

The church has cleaned, sliced and carted up to 800 flats in just one day.

But the worker bees don’t just manage strawberries.

WHIPPING SUCCESS

Unlike the strawberries, the whipped cream is taken care of on the festival grounds. The pourable liquid is whipped in five restaurant-grade mixers. Patrons consume about 3,000 gallons of the non-dairy cream throughout the festival.

The whipped cream is carried in strong metal bowls to the buffet set up and replaced upon demand. The strawberries also are replaced on the buffet line.

St. Clement’s booth is set up for patrons to have it their way. Going through the line is like a speed eating contest.

First choose a biscuit or cake disk. Then scoop as much strawberries as you can, followed by whipped cream which is topped with a ruby red berry. You even get a sticker at the end.

“You can make it the way you want to, get the best bang for your buck,” Hetrick said.

“We just like to see people happy eating our shortcake.”

BERRY LONG HISTORY

For 16 years, die-hard shortcake-lover Barbara Caccamisi operated the booth.

Even when she was sick with cancer, Caccamisi still remained involved in the project. She died last year at 66.

“She was a fearless leader,” Hetrick said. “She really made this her baby, and she did a really good job. She kept it pure.”

Now, Hetrick and Kevin McFaul have taken on the conductor’s role of the sweettooth express.

Courtesy photo

ANNUAL PARADES CELEBRATE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL SEASON Plant City will celebrate the beginning of the 2014 Florida Strawberry Festival with not one but two parades.

The Plant City Civitan Club’s Annual Youth Parade will take to the streets at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at the Plant City State Farmers’ Market, 1305 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Two days later, the Florida Strawberry Festival Grand Parade steps off at 1 p.m.

Monday, March 3, in Historic Downtown Plant City.

Attendees of both parades should notice some familiar funny faces greeting kids of all ages: This year, the clowns from Durant High School’s Leo Club will be marching in both. Plant City “We’re a two-headed dragon,” Hetrick said.

Hetrick has been involved with the booth since the mid1980s. After working some shifts at the booth, he began to make signs. From there, he started decorating the stand with “all the glitz and glamour.”

But before Hetrick, it was local restaurateur Lani Purcell who persuaded the church to get involved in the first place.

The booth originally was run

Lions Club members David and Shirley Vick, retired clowns, started the troupe three years ago. This year, the clowns have been working hard to create new costumes, new faces and new talents, with the help of professionals Jerry Crabb, Mike Jones, Dianne McCarthy and Boyd Smith. Focus 4 Beauty Career Center owner Paul Granville opened the second floor of his business to the troupe to use as a classroom.

“Clown captain Daisy Alverez and co-captain Abigail Ponce have been outstanding leaders for years,” David Vick says. “And Ashley Webb, a three-year alum, has not ever missed practice, rehearsal or event.” by the Order of the Eastern Star women’s auxiliary group.

In the mid-1970s, Purcell organized the church’s takeover of the booth.

Last year, St. Clement raised $137,000. Most of the money raised in the past has gone to aid in construction costs of different buildings on the church’s campus and different ministries.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

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PARK / PAGE 1 “In the design, we had to specify trees and shrubs that have the ability to have high uptake of both nitrogen and phosphorus.”

The plans have been submitted to the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission for approval, Boggs said.

City Manager Greg Horwedel said he is pleased with the concept.

“I think they have done a very good job at creating a colonnade of trees that really highlights that really highlights the central feature of the park, which is the fountain,” he said.

The concept originally came before the commission with two different fountain barrier options. One was a 12- to 18-inch-tall solid wall, and the other was a decorative chain with safety bollards.

Ultimately, the commissioners opted for the more open chain/bollard concept, after Boggs assuaged their safety and liability concerns.

The fountain, he said, was designed not to have any standing water. Its outer edges would feature a pebble-laden surface that would slope toward a central drain, and the only pooling of water would be about one-half-inch deep and occur only at the base of the fountain’s center.

Horwedel said preliminary budget estimates are $160,000 for the fountain; $150,000 for the trees and other landscaping; and $140,000 for sidewalks, pavers and hardscaping. Funds for the project will be taken from the Community Redevelopment Agency Trust Fund ($280,000) and the Brownfield Cleanup Grant Fund ($170,000).

With the commission’s approval, the city now will open

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IN OTHER NEWS • The commission voted unanimously to condemn the house, shed, fence and pool at 1101 N. Knight St., which city staff determined pose significant danger to the community.

• Commissioners Mike Sparkman and Bill Dodson will retain their seats on the commission. No one qualified to run against either incumbent by the Feb. 21 deadline. Their three-year terms will begin in June.

• The commission recognized Plant City native Larry Sykes, who was promoted recently to assistant superintendent of student services and federal programs of Hillsborough County Public Schools.

• Mayor Mary Thomas Mathis also presented proclamations to the 2014 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen and Court, as well as the Junior Royalty Court. the project to the development community for bids.

SNOWDEN PARK

While working on a smaller project, city officials discovered broken glass and other debris below the surface in some areas of Snowden Park, 902 Waller St. The city now will excavate the contaminated soil near the sidewalks and other park facilities and then cap the surface with new, clean soil.

Some of the existing facilities will be demolished in the process. The restrooms and newer pavilion will be spared; but the park will receive new ball fields, basketball courts, playground equipment, lighting and landscaping.

Community Develop-

VISIONS / PAGE 1 Clubhouse Drive southeast to Griffin Boulevard and around the Forest Club community.

For the multi-family units, the proposal includes 20-foot front and rear setbacks and 10foot side yards. The maximum building heights for both parcels is 45 feet, and both also will include 1.8 parking spaces per unit.

The single-family homes show 25-foot front and 30-foot rear setbacks, with 10-foot side yards. Maximum building height will be 28 feet.

Although the paperwork has been filed, city staff indicated the application was missing several pieces.

“Our attorney filed the initial package on Feb. 21, and the city supplied us with some additional information (it) will need to process the application,” Visions Golf Managing Part-

ment Block Grant funding of $640,000 has been allocated for the project.

ELLIS-METHVIN PARK

Wet weather and incorrect materials shipped from the vendor were the latest problems to slow work on EllisMethvin Park, 2401 E. Cherry St. City staff now expects the fields to be complete by April 25.

Since the project began, city staff has experienced several issues. The most severe was the discovery of hardpan under the soil, where the soccer fields will be built. This required significant soil removal and additional water-management features.

Originally, the city planned to complete the project using in-house staff. However, because of budget cuts and an the expanding scope of work, the city now will solicit quotes from private contractors to complete the work. That expense will come before the commission for approval at a later date.

DONATION BINS

The city will hold a public hearing regarding permitting and placement of donation bins at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 10, at City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds St. Currently, there are 53 donation bins within Plant City’s boundaries.

The hearing comes after the recent proliferation of donation bins in the city. Many municipalities limit the bins to non-profit charitable organizations and require permits and associated fees. Those organizations also are required to place the bins within certain areas and distances from adjacent properties. Moreover, the city then can restrict the number of bins permitted at any given location.

Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.

ner Steve Mercer said. “It was not unexpected, but we felt it was important to file and present the scope of the project officially to show our intent is what we have stated all along — develop a portion of the property and not the whole property.

“The additional information will be completed over the next couple of months; it includes some engineering and traffic analysis (which is part of the process after filing),” he said. “Our legal, engineering, environmental and other consultants are confident we can provide the information the city has requested in a timely manner.”

Mercer said he plans to mail information about the project to the community in the near future and also host outreach meetings to provide details and address concerns.

Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.

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LETTER Memories made at Daddy-Daughter Dance TO THE observed: just the two of us

I have been to my share of daddy-daughter dances — as a photographer. Most were awkward affairs, with the girls twirling in the middle of the dance floor, while their dads propped themselves up against the wall or sat in chairs across the room.

Even before we had kids, I told me wife: “When we have a daughter and I take her to a daddydaughter dance, I’m going to be out there dancing with her.”

Then, I placed my hands on my hips, puffed out my chest and unbuttoned my shirt to reveal the big, red “D” underneath.

And earlier this month, my Super Daddy street cred remained intact, after I snagged the final two tickets to Plant City’s Daddy-Daughter We like to call Aria Eng my doppelgänger, but she’s much, much cuter!

Dance (special thanks to Planteen Recreation Center Supervisor Jason insisted on wearing her princess would be like to actually dance slippers — the ones that give her Hargrove). with a 4-year-old. Gone were Aria’s blisters. So, my wife placed BandI flew home from the office special “tiptoe-running-man” Aids on her heels to keep them that day, using only my cape, and moves, replaced with the “reckfrom hurting too much. shared the news with our 4-yearlessly-throwing-my-entire-bodyAria’s eyes widened as we old daughter, Aria. weight-straight-back” move. You entered the HCC John R. Tinkle Now, Aria is not a girly-girl. Her know, because I am Super Daddy, Center that night. She marveled favorite color is blue, and she’d and I will catch her. Over. And over. at the balloons floating over rather play with Hot Wheels and And over ... the dance floor, and her hand trains with her older brother than And when she grew tired of wrapped around the stem of a baby dolls or Barbies. More often going backward, we graduated to delicate pink carnation. A sparkly than not, she’s dressed in a T-shirt the “tossing-me-over-your-head” princess crown awaited her at our and jeans, which, of course, have move and did that for another assigned table. She grabbed some holes in the knees. song. Then, came the four minutes decorative diamonds off the table But, when we told her about the of constant spinning. Then, more special night, she stood straight up and asked if she could bring them tossing. home. to demonstrate her favorite dance Just six songs in, and Super DadI am knocking it out of the park! I dy had melted into an exhausted moves, one of which is simply runthought to myself. I am awesome. ning in place on her tiptoes. And puddle. Suddenly, my big red “D” So awesome, in fact, that I had after my wife helped Aria into her stood for “Defeated.” not anticipated exactly what it dress the night of the dance, she (Incidentally, it seemed every girl

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Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563

was dancing with their dates. No wallflowers here. Plant City dads rock!)

After a quick break, the music started up again. Humbled, I squatted down to Aria’s level, mustering up the strength to dance as long as she wanted.

“Do you want to dance again?” I asked her.

“No. I’m ready to go home and play now,” she said in a matter-offact tone she got straight from her father.

The sun was setting as we walked, hand-in-hand, back to our car. I realized this was the first time Aria and I had ever been out together — just the two of us. She was quiet on the drive home, and I wondered if she had fun. I wondered if she would treasure the night — and all the priceless details — like I would. After all, although the dance was designed for the girls, the real beneficiaries were the fathers, grandfathers and other paternal figures who escorted them to the dance.

As soon as I unlocked the door to our home, Aria plopped herself down to pull off her princess shoes. I could see red lines on her feet, where the shoes had dug into them. But, the whole evening, she never once complained.

She slept long and hard that night. In the morning, she emerged from her room with a princess crown atop her head. I rolled myself out of bed, pulled on the shirt with the big, red “D” on the front, and went downstairs for breakfast.

CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. 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, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

EDITOR

+ Remembering Gerald Hooker Dear Editor: When I read in the Plant City Times & Observer that former Plant City Mayor Gerald Hooker died, I started remembering him as someone who meant a lot to people here. He was a friend of my late father’s and mine, and he ran Hooker’s Department Store, in downtown Plant City. The store made way for the super chains more than 20 years ago, but it stocked clothing and other goods.

Gerald was a good, kind man who showed concern for others. He gave his friendliness in a sincere way, just because he enjoyed speaking to people. He cared about people and he cared about Plant City.

When Gerald’s first wife, Kay, got sick with the cancer that took her life, people responded with support and prayers that made that time more bearable for him.

They all knew Gerald would have done just as much for them.

Gerald’s presence around town brought him affection and respect. He invited this admiration when going to church or having visitors for Christmas Eve. I grew up here in the 1970s and 1980s, the time I knew Gerald. It becomes easy to glorify a time when looking back on it, but that time remains a good one in the history of Plant City. Gerald helped make it that way.

This reminds us that we can make the present time in Plant City even better, just by being a positive presence in people’s lives. That stands as one of the reasons I wanted to write this remembrance of my friend, Gerald Hooker.

Scott Toler Plant City

Plant City Times &

Observer General Manager/Editorial / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com

General Manager/Advertising / Tony Del Castillo, tdelcastillo@tampabay.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / (Community) Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Justin Kline, jkline@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Executives / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@PlantCityObserver.com; Joanna Verga, jverga@tampabay.com Circulation/Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.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

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Dancers Alyssa Chevalier and Olivia Campbell performed a modern routine.

Dominick Causey performed as part of a quartet.

CULTURE COLLECTIVE by Michael Eng | Editor

Durant High shines at Multicultural Show From hip-hop and beatboxing to rock ‘n’ roll and even classical, Durant High School’s Multicultural Show, “Living the Dream in 2014,” featured as much diversity as the student body represents.

The show, which included an evening performance Feb. 20 and a morning performance for classmates Feb. 21,

featured 19 artistic selections — including music, dance and baton-twirling — all performed by Durant students.

Students Cody Craven and Corey Hamm served as this year’s emcees.

The annual show is designed to showcase the talents and cultures represented

by Durant students.

Singer Chelsea Profitt showcased her vocal talents at this year’s show.

Right: Emily Monnik performed a challenging solo on the violin.

Saranah Fidele performed a traditional Haitian tune.

The Durant High School JROC presented the colors at the beginning of the show.

Right: Guitarist Cade Kelley performed with singer Chris Phillips.

Baton twirler Hanna Gottman performed a routine with her sister, Olivia.

Left: The show featured several bands comprising Durant students.

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a night to remember by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Dads, daughters enjoy elegant evening together It might have been a family affair, but no moms were allowed.

Dads, grandfathers and father figures enjoyed a night with their special little girls at the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department’s fifth annual Daddy-Daughter Dance Feb. 22, at HCC Plant City’s John R. Trinkle Center.

The honored guests enjoyed a balloon animal show, catered dinner and strawberry shortcakes, before they took to the d a n c e floor for a night o f fun.

Taylor and Kevin Smith

All the girls received princess crowns for attending the dance.

Tim and Kelsey Tice and Sienna and Alex Kremper

Clockwise from above: Ayva and James Ryan Charlotte Thompson and Taylor Peace, with PCHS Key Club Madison, Kennedy, Matt and Michaela Waldron Kameron, Aubree, Taylor and Chad Sands

Right: Justin and Emily Corbett

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FAITH MATTERS

A ticket to grace A month ago, I was feeling or around Stuart. However, sorry for myself, because I I have never been to Stuart. was wrongly accused of park- I called a whole barrage of ing illegally in a town I had numbers in an attempt to never visited. It’s never fun unwind the mystery behind to have to pay a fine when this error. I did finally talk you’re innocent. to someone who had The $40 fine was not the actual citation that big a deal, but I (which, of course, I had an impassioned had never seen). That desire to stand on citation noted the the “principal” of the license tag number was matter. a number which has Eventually, howno connection to my ever, I gave in to the vehicle or any vehicle realization that the in my name. Among DR. DAVID the many times I was fine was just not DELPH worth the effort to transferred during my fight; I simply chose phone calls, one lady to pay it and be done with told me that it may be the VIN it. But, in my “aggravation,” of a car that I once owned in I composed the letter below my name. There is a “Brian and sent it with my payment Delph” along the East/Southin hopes of least assuaging east coastal area — perhaps my sense of “victim-hood.” it was his vehicle. Regardless, Along the way, something it was clear that no one could arrived I had not expected. unravel the obvious mistake.

I spoke with an attorney To Whom it May Concern: friend about the matter, This is David Delph, pasand he said I can take the tor of the First Presbyterian time and fight it in court, Church of Plant City. I am but without hired counsel, writing this letter to share my I most likely would fail. I concern over the helplessness could challenge the court of a citizen of Florida over to go ahead and set a date an overt case of mistaken for trial. I could just ignore identity. everything and hope that the I received this notice early damage to my record would this year. The notice does not come back to bite me have my middle and last later, or I could take into acname, and does have my count the two-hour, one-way address, and it alleges that I drive time to Stuart, the cost illegally parked my vehicle in of hiring counsel, or possible

other costs, and just pay the fine in the full knowledge of my innocence, and that “the system” is stacked against me.

Obviously, I must choose the last option. I have neither the time or the resources to right this obvious wrong.

So, I enclose my check for a penalty not my own. (After I wrote that last sentence, I just froze and sat for a moment before continuing.) But then again, this whole matter reminded me of what Jesus, my savior, must have gone through to pay for my sin, even though he was perfectly innocent Himself. My fine was only a lousy 40 bucks. … His was his life — and instead of trying to find a way out of it because of His innocence, He just paid the fine that was mine and yours, too.

Do us both a favor: As you put this check where ever it goes, say a prayer for someone you know who needs the love of Jesus, and remind him or her what Jesus has done for all His children.

Praise be to God the Father, Son and Spirit.

Yep: God blesses us in times and in ways we could never predict.

David Delph is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Plant City. For more, email him at fpcpcpastor@verizon. net.

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OBSERVEROBITUARIES Rosa Laura Bronson

Rosa Laura Bronson, 73, died of respiratory failure Feb. 17, 2014, in Lake Wales.

Mrs. Bronson was born Dec. 17, 1940, in Graceville.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Bronson; parents, Connie and Audrey Givens; brother, Kirk Givens; and three sisters, Martha Jean Furney, Mary Ann Pettys and Margie Kemp.

She is survived by her son, James Putnal (Deborah), of Plant City; her daughter, Laura Taylor, of Cape Coral; her stepdaughter, Catherine Windham (Keith), of Lake Wales; her stepson, Fred Q. Sledge, of Middleburg; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sister, Katie Randall; and four brothers, Earl Givens, Howard Givens, Gerald Givens and Huey Givens.

Condolences may be made at McLeanfuneralhome.net.

Yvonne Gay Gibbons

Yvonne Gay Gibbons, 74, of Plant City, died Feb. 21, 2014, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, in Plant City.

Born Nov. 17, 1939, in Inghan County, Mich., she was the daughter of the late Emil and Ruth Tuttle Harlacher. She was the wife for 12 years of Thom Gibbons, who survives.

Mrs. Gibbons was a member of St. Clement Catholic Church, where she was active with the Knights of Columbus, and served as a communion minister. She also volunteered as Mrs. Santa Claus.

Survivors also include sons, Douglas Black, Dennis (fiancee Heather) Black and Douglas Don Borel; and sisters, Sonia Burrell and Cheryl Harlacher.

A Funeral Mass was Feb. 26,

at St. Clement Catholic Church.

Condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.

Virginia Nell Kelly

Virginia Nell Kelly, 90, of Lakeland/Plant City, died Feb. 21, 2014.

She was born April 6, 1923, to the late Dewey and Ambrose Lee Boyd. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Paul Kelly.

Mrs. Kelly worked at Tampa Drug, Kelly Auto Sales and was a member of Unity in The Grove Church, Lakeland.

Survivors include a daughter, Joan (Gary) Fisher; sister, Adell Brown; granddaughter, Michelle (Scott) Pugh; greatgrandson Taylor Pugh; and other family members.

A funeral service was held Feb. 24, at Unity in The Grove.

Condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.

William David “Bill” Morgan

William David “Bill” Morgan, 75, of Plant City, died peacefully Feb. 18, 2014, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, Plant City. He is now joyfully spending eternity with Jesus.

Born May 11, 1938 in Henderson, Texas, he was the son of the late William Morgan and Gladys Reed Morgan. He was the husband of Jayne Foerster Morgan, who survives.

Mr. Morgan was a member at Shiloh Baptist Church, where he taught Bible for many years and had an ongoing small group Bible study.

Survivors also include sons, Jeff (Judy) Morgan and Michael (Camille) Mollohan; daughters, Julie (Wes) Kirkfield, Lisa Mollohan and Suzanne (Pete) Vega; 11 grandchildren; and nine greatgrandchildren.

A celebration of life was held Feb. 21, Shiloh Baptist Church.

Donations may be made to either Samaritan’s Purse or Operation Christmas Child.

Both can be reached at P.O. Box 3000, Boone, N.C., 28607.

Condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.

Pauline Eva (Ham) Rhodes

Pauline Eva (Ham) Rhodes, 83, died Feb. 17, 2014.

She was born in Gulf Hammock to Joseph and Bernice (Delaney) Spivey, deceased.

Survivors include three sons, Richard, Donald and Carl Ham (Marsha); three daughters, Ann Haynes, Diane Strickland and Shirley Smelley; two brothers, Willie L. Spivey and C. Marvin Spivey; 22 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She also was preceded in death by brothers, Herman and James Spivey; sister, Alma Shump; and son, William Ham. A funeral service was held Feb. 20, at Wells Memorial and Event Center.

Condolences may be made at wellsmemorial.com.

Dottie Elizabeth Rogers

Dottie Elizabeth Rogers, 79, died Feb. 20, 2014.

She was born in Tampa. She was a homemaker and member of Sydney Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, Marshal Rogers (Tonya), of Plant City; two daughters, Candy Barr (Jeffrey), of Charleston, S.C., and Annette Talley (Kenny), of Plant City. She was Mema to five grandchildren, Jeremy Barr (Nancy), Erin Rodriguez (Christopher), Lisa DeLong (Earl), Amber Lovelace (Paul) and Troy “T.J.;” and five great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Makayla Watson, Ryan Barr, Emily Rogers and Adalynn Rodriguez.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Reynolds James “R.J.” Rogers; and her sister, Lola Mae Mulder.

A funeral service was held Feb. 25, at Wells Memorial and Event Center, Plant City. Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Shriners International.

Condolences may be made at wellsmemorial.com.

Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Sophomore Ryan Boyd shows big arm on the mound for Raiders. 12 SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

SIDELINES YOUTH SPORTS

+ Plant City Eagles hosting sign-ups With spring coming soon, the Plant City Eagles now are hosting sign-ups for all sports.

The soonest deadline is March 6, which covers teeball, softball and baseball.

Fees range from $40 to $50. Games begin on March 8 and will be played at the rec center’s sports complex.

During the first week of practice, players will get to meet some of the Tampa Bay Rays, as well as former Negro League players.

For more, call Rodney Mackey at (813) 966-6084.

As for football and cheerleading, registration is beginning now and running through June 1. Earlyregistration fee is $85 per child.

All registrations are held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday, at the Bealsville Recreation Center, 5009 Nesmith Road.

Forms can be downloaded at plantcityeagles.com. For more, call (813) 737-1352.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014

youth basketball by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

New team comes to town The Plant City Vipers basketball team, fresh off its first tournament, wants to stand out both on and off the court.

Sometimes, independent travel teams can be tricky for those involved. Organizational lapses can bring the whole operation down in a heartbeat, and the kids lose out.

So, a group of concerned parents has made sure that

Plant City-area kids will have no trouble playing basketball.

The Plant City Vipers, the area’s newest basketball team, is dedicated to giving kids the playing time they expect while building good character at the same time.

“This team of boys, all 13 to 17 years old, all played together on a previous team,” team President Brandon Cruz says. “Some parents decided to start this team and give the boys an opportunity Justin Kline

SEE VIPERS / PAGE 15 Kristian Torres is guarded by Christian Rivers in practice.

sport of kings by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

BACK IN THE

SADDLE Although the morning started off with rain, Mother Nature cleared things up just in time for some fast-paced polo at the third annual Charity Polo Classic Feb. 22, at DI Polo, in Plant City.

BASEBALL

As the rain stopped and the sun began to shine, hundreds of polo fans and philanthropists enjoyed a day of polo action and socializing to raise money for Tampa Bay-area children’s charities.

+ Raiders, Chargers renew rivalry In the first area rivalry game of the season Feb. 25, Strawberry Crest nearly pulled out a win at home, but couldn’t answer Plant City’s offense.

The Raiders left Strawberry Crest with a come-from-behind 3-2 win, pulling ahead in the second inning and staving off the Chargers with their defense.

After the Raiders scored once in the top of the first, the Chargers scored two runs, thanks to a Jake Ralyea RBI and some crafty baserunning by Matthew Collado.

But, one half-inning later, Plant City came back with two runs. Connor Slagill and Zach Mondoux each scored with their only hits of the game, though Slagill had 2 RBI on one hit.

Raiders ace Miguel Martinez went 5.1 innings with four strikeouts to pick up the win.

Meanwhile, Durant blew out East Bay, 10-0, thanks in part to three-RBI performances from senior Luke Heyer and sophomore Jake Sullivan.

Plant City will host Brandon at 7 p.m. Feb. 28, while Durant will host Strawberry Crest.

SOFTBALL

+ Crest shuts down Plant City Unlike the baseball game, softball’s area rivalry tilt ended with a runaway win for the home team.

The Lady Chargers scored in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 3-0 lead on Plant City Feb. 25, and held on in the seventh for the win.

This one turned into a pitchers’ duel early, with both ladies taking command of the hitters. Sammy Tyler, who pitched a complete game for the win, racked up eight strikeouts and allowed just two hits.

Noelle Dietrich also pitched the entire game and only gave up one of Crest’s three runs.

Durant, not long after destroying Brandon in a 17-0 effort, got a bit of a test from East Bay High School at home. The Lady Cougars finished the game with a 4-2 win.

Tailgating is a big part of the polo experience.

Weather was an issue earlier in the day, and many players kept checking the skies.

At the first sign of sunlight, the players suited up for the match.

GOLF by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

P.C. Golfer earns spot in international tournament

Kyle Martin is about to take his golf game out of the country for the first time, with an invitation to compete in Switzerland.

Before this month, Kyle Martin probably thought playing golf for Team USA while in college was a foreign concept.

Now, golf is about to take him to a foreign country.

Martin, 22, has accepted an invitation to represent his country in the 2014 World University Championships in June, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Is there a better

way to leave America for the first time than to compete with the national team?

“I’ve never even been out of the country before, so it’s a pretty neat experience for me,” Martin says.

The invitation, which he accepted on Feb. 12, was just the icing on the cake for the Plant City native’s highly successful senior season. This tournament, which will be

held from June 21 to 28, will be a nice way for Martin to transition into his post-collegiate hopes of going pro.

FROM THE BACK YARD TO BREVARD

Martin was born and raised in Plant City, and it didn’t take very long to pick up the game. At 2

SEE MARTIN / PAGE 14

TOURNAMENT INFO The 15th 2014 World University Golf Championship will be held from June 21-28 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, at the Severiano Ballesteros course. The tournament is governed by the rules of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews and features a men’s and women’s championship.

Countries can enter six men and five women for individual competition, and four men and three women for team competition. The three men and two women with the best results in each day will count for the classification by team per day and, in case of a tie, “sudden death” rules apply.

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

New unis complete Raider makeover Gone are the days of simple, understated uniform changes. Nowadays, we have to make it a showcase on television, social media and everywhere else under the sun.

You can probably (correctly) blame it on the Oregon Ducks, who have gotten so prolific that they recently unveiled two new unis for one bowl game. And, no, they didn’t change from one set to the other at halftime. But their rapid-fire production and promotion of their garb and branding has compelled JUSTIN everyone else KLINE to follow their lead.

That also counts in the style department. Only the most storied college programs and professional teams seem to have a “free pass” not to change everything, something that keeps the peanut gallery from saying things like, “Man, the Green Bay Packers’ look hasn’t aged well at all!” Almost all of the athletes want to see things modernized a bit, and anything can be used as an excuse to do so.

Sometimes, the change is fairly minor, as was the case for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — great uniform set, but that old pirate flag logo didn’t age well at all. And, other times, teams will go all-out — either crashing and burning like the Florida/Miami Marlins, or succeeding spectacularly like the Buffalo Bills (a phrase that hasn’t been uttered since the 1990s, I know).

One of the most common catalysts, at least outside of hockey and basketball, is the coaching change. New coach, new system, new look — it all ties together nicely, and many people won’t bat an eye when

SEE KLINE / PAGE 12

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KLINE / PAGE 11 a coach comes in and management wants to erase the memories of the last regime.

This happened recently right here in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, when the Plant City Raiders and coach Mike Fryrear felt the team needed a new look to help launch a new era.

“When you look good, you feel good,” Fryrear says. “And when you feel good, you play good.”

This rings true in baseball like no other sport in the world. No athletes are more superstitious than baseball players, and a lot of their rituals and habits extend to uniform use. After you finish reading this column, just flip on over to Athlete of the Week for one example.

But, as tightly as baseball players will cling to their uni-related rituals, they can all get behind a new visual branding. As Fryrear says, the kids love to go to a modern look whenever they can.

The coach was the man behind many of the changes and put in quite a bit of work to make them happen in real life. Hillsborough County has fairly strict guidelines for what teams can and cannot do with their unis, so the challenge of having so much creative control is sticking to those boundaries. County rules state baseball uniforms can’t have any piping tacked on, and, to help lesser-funded programs cut costs, everything that goes onto the uniforms must be screen-printed.

But, for Fryrear, the hardest part was working with the school colors. Orange and teal can clash fairly easily, even with some white thrown into the mix, so breaking that up was integral. To do that, the coach followed one of the biggest modern sports trends by adding black into the mix.

After settling on the new “PC” cap logo, based on a font Fryrear adopted from his time at Wiregrass Ranch High School, he fused the sharp new logo with classic baseball style — vests like the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates once wore, multi-colored batting helmets in the style of the Baltimore Orioles and old Montreal Expos, and striped stirrups at pitching coach Gary Cates’ suggestion.

“Everyone does it,” Fryrear says. “We watched the Cardinals in the World Series, and a couple of guys had those socks. You watch Plant and some big-time programs, and they all have them. The kids love it. It’s not a plain look — it’s sort of exciting when you see a guy out there with stirrups. You’ve got Miguel Martinez out there on the mound. He’s got

Justin Kline

Jeff Goodrich rocked Plant City’s new duds on the mound at a recent tournament.

that glove out there facing the hitter and his stirrups on, and he looks mean.”

Southeastern Uniforms & Team Sports produced all of the Raiders’ gear, and Fryrear says there’s still more to come.

“Black, white, orange, and teal — we’re going to have four sets of uniforms,” Fryrear says.

The team already has used the set of orange jerseys, but have lost two games in them.

As such, the Raiders aren’t keen on wearing them much anymore. To compensate, they’re working on that teal set — a look that should evoke memories of the Florida Marlins’ World Series-winning days. Regardless of how they perform in those new duds, the entire team is glad to have had their look freshened up in 2014.

“A guy that’s been doing the same thing over and over and over, you give him a little bit of a makeover, you give him a little bit more confidence, and he’ll go out there and play with a little more enthusiasm,” Fryrear says.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

RYAN BOYD One of the Plant City Raiders’ rising young stars is sophomore pitcher Ryan Boyd, who transferred from Durant this year. In his second-ever high school start on Feb. 21, Boyd was nearly perfect — he led the Raiders to a 10-0 win over Tampa Bay Tech by throwing a no-hitter with five strikeouts.

Friday went really well for you. What were you feeling out there on the mound?

Well, my arm was pretty tight the day before, but I talked Coach (Fryrear) into letting me pitch in that game.

He let me stretch it out, and then I threw that no-hitter.

At what point in the game did you realize, “Oh man, I’ve got something good going on here?”

When the game was over, really. I didn’t know I had a no-hitter going, until the guys told me afterward.

It just felt like a normal day when I went out there.

What’s your favorite combo to get a hitter out?

Fastball-slider. My slider has a 3-to-9 break.

What are your hobbies outside of baseball?

I love to fish. It’s all I do when I’m not playing baseball. I go inshore almost every weekend. Freshwater, saltwater — all of it. My favorite spot is Cockroach Bay.

What do you usually catch?

Snook and reds. The biggest fish I ever caught was a 42-inch snook.

You just transferred to Plant City High School. How do you like it?

I love it here. It’s amazing. Everybody was really welcoming here, especially Coach.

What are your goals for this season?

No losses.

Trying to go to states this season.

Do you have any superstitions?

Clean socks. I have to put on clean socks before every game. I keep them dirty at practice and clean them right before the game.

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MARTIN / PAGE 11

Kyle Martin’s stellar 2013-14 season has helped him snag a Team USA roster spot.

File photo

years old, he was taking swings in the yard and learning about the game from his father. When he was 6 years old, he started competing in tournaments — and even won one. He never looked back, citing both his father and grandfather as huge influences on his love of the game.

He played for the Plant City Raiders throughout his high school career, constantly improving his skills. In 2008, Martin was named Hillsborough County Senior MVP and was also named First-Team All-Conference in 2008 and 2009.

After graduation, he chose

to play for Brevard Community College and was named an NJCAA All-American in 2010 and 2011. Despite his success at Brevard, he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to be there.

“I went to Brevard, and then took a year off to figure out what I really wanted to do,” Martin says. “I did know that I wanted to play golf, and I wanted to finish my last two years while playing.”

So, he sought the guidance of one of his former Brevard teammates, Matthew Jenkinson, who had transferred from Brevard to Southeastern University, in Lakeland for his senior season, encouraged Martin to talk to coach Steve Phelps.

“After I looked into it and talked to coach Phelps, I decided that was what I wanted to do (too),” Martin says. “It’s not a Division I school, but I liked that they play yearround, and the competition is still really good.”

He did not get to play with Jenkinson again, because his old teammate had graduated, but he didn’t take long to realize he had made the right choice.

SUPER SENIOR

Martin’s first season with Southeastern, his junior year, ended on a high note: He finished third overall at The Sun Conference Championship, which helped his team win the overall title and move on to NAIA Nationals.

That gave him some good momentum going into his senior year, and he’s played well. Following a ninth-place finish at the Florida Open in July 2013, Martin was one of 312 amateur golfers chosen to compete in August’s U.S. Championships.

Although he didn’t finish quite as well in that tournament, he made up for it on Feb. 4 at the Titan Winter Invitational at Suntree Country Club. In that event, Martin closed out strong by shooting a personal-best 62 in the final round — not only setting a new school record, but also setting the new course record. That helped SEU finish in fifth-place overall but first among NAIA schools. Eight

days later, he accepted the invitation to play in Switzerland.

“The U.S. Championship in August was pretty big, but this is going to be bigger,” Martin says. “I’ll be playing for the country and playing for the school, too.”

FOLLOWING FOOTSTEPS

Martin isn’t the first Plant City athlete to compete in this overseas tournament. Coincidentally, the last one to do it was one of Martin’s Brevard roommates and teammates — Spencer Baldwin — four years ago.

That year, the tournament was held in Spain. Baldwin doesn’t remember exactly how well he finished but still considered it a good experience.

“That was my first time out of the country,” Baldwin says.

“It was a little shocking, too, coming from Plant City — it was a different world over there. I’ve been telling Kyle to embrace the moment, because you never know when it will happen again.”

Martin, who will be making the trip alone, has been checking out the course — the Severiano Ballesteros course, where the Omega European Masters tournament is held.

“I’ve seen pictures of the course, and it’s really cool,” Martin says. “All around the course, there are these big mountains. I want to see them.”

And that’s about as much sightseeing as Martin has planned. He’s focused on competing with Team USA, which comprises of six golfers — three NAIA, three JuCo — and coaches Greg Hutton and Paul Chavez. He has plenty of support from his friends, family and coaches, too.

“I was very excited when I heard,” Baldwin says. “I know that, when I got invited to it, it made me think about the people that helped me get there, and I know his grandfather had a big influence on him. I know he works really hard on his game, so it’s good to see him get rewarded for working so hard.”

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

THIS WEEK’S CROSSWORD ANSWERS

2013

THIS WEEK’S CRYPTOGRAM ANSWERS 1. A singer, an artist and a counselor got into an argument over what “the blues” meant. It was colorful, moody and very baleful haggling.

2. A woodworker bored a hole in a board. His cute assistant said she was bored with the boards and would like to take a board to the beach.

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VIPERS / PAGE 11 to grow as young men, to teach them some character.”

After incorporating in October and going through a coaching change, the Vipers began competing in last month’s Youth Basketball of America MLK Memorial Superqualifier tournament. They didn’t win, but the fact that the boys got to play in a tournament at all kept them happy — according to Cruz, playing in a tournament used to be just short of a miracle.

CONCERNED PARENTS UNITE

Cruz and his fellow board members said the Vipers launches after the boys experienced some hardships as part of a different travel team.

“The coach was trying to basically run the whole entire organization by himself,” Cruz says. “Administratively, he couldn’t handle the whole scenario, things weren’t going right — there were a lot of unanswered questions, and the parents were a little uneasy about the scenario. So, we decided to pull out from that team, and we started a board and figured, ‘Maybe we should start our own team.’”

Cruz and his wife, Lysandra, who live in Riverview, led the charge. Also getting on board were Reggie Rivers, Peggy Tulloh and Lili Armatrout. They grandfathered in any of the boys from the previous team who still wanted to play, but otherwise started fresh. They interviewed coaches and assistants, held tryouts and more.

“We were all a part of that team, and there were a lot of unanswered questions about finances, where the money was going and whatnot,” Cruz says.

“It was too unorganized. We could deal with that, but the boys weren’t getting the playing time they were promised. They were told we’d go to a tournament, and the tournament would be canceled at the last minute, on the way there, the night before or the day of, and the boys just lost interest. We just had to do something to get their spirits up.”

GOING STRONG

“I just came out here to try out for the team, and I liked it,” says Omar Williams, who played for the previous team. “It drew me to play with the people that played on the last team.

It’s been a lot better.”

The team has a mix of students from Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools, and Tomlin Middle School.

Some of the players are or were also on their school teams, and others just wanted to play for the Vipers be-

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FUNDRAISING

The Plant City Vipers Parents Association is looking to add local business sponsors and also is accepting donations. All proceeds go back to the program, covering equipment and tournament fees and travel expenses. According to Vipers President Brandon Cruz, sponsors will be recognized through banners displayed at the Vipers’ games, fundraisers and tournaments, and also named on the team’s website.

Individual, family, or business donations can be made at gofundme.com/4urbig, and check can me made to Plant City Vipers Inc., and sent to 6201 Gassino Place, Riverview, FL. 33578.

For more information, contact Cruz at (813) 810-3794.

cause their friends are on the team.

Cruz and the board members wanted younger coaches, to better relate to the players, and those roles are being filled by head coach Jerrod Williams and assistant coach Byron Woods.

“There’s a lot of potential here,” Williams says. “Great players, great listeners.”

The soft-spoken head coach doesn’t like to yell at his players, preferring to keep calm and promote a positive learning atmosphere. That, Cruz says, is crucial for the Vipers.

Now with some playing experience to their name, the Vipers will compete in another tournament this weekend, in Orlando. The boys all are focused on basketball, and the board is focused on keeping the team going.

As such, the board is currently looking for additional sponsors.

The entire Vipers organization is run by volunteers, so they rely on donations from fundraising events and their only current sponsor, White Dragon E-Cigs. The goal is to get the kids out to at least one tournament per month and to do something special near the end of the season in August.

“The main goal is to give the boys as much playing time against other teams, as much exposure, as possible,” Cruz says. “We have plans, maybe at the end of the season, for taking a big trip. Maybe out of state.

Somewhere up north, or out west or something to get the boys closer as a team.”

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

A Parkesdale infielder makes a clutch catch, barely preventing a bloop single.

the old ballgame by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

Little League begins 60th season of play Strawberry Queen Jessi Rae Varnum was selected to throw the first pitch this season.

Plant City Little League hosted its 60th Opening Day Feb. 22, complete with a few special appearances and plenty of free hot dogs.

Some men who played in 1954, the league’s inaugural year, were present at Mike Sansone Park for the league’s Opening Day cer-

The first game, Hillsborough Title vs. Parkesdale Farm Market, saw some action almost immediately.

Right: The boys couldn’t wait to get back on the field and start warming up.

emony. “Rolly” Rollyson, father of current board member Rhett Rollyson, spoke about the inaugural season, and 2014 Florida Strawberry Queen Jessi Rae Varnum and her court came out to throw the first pitch.

After that, a full slate of games were played throughout the day.

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PLANT CITY

RAIN

(INCHES)

WEATHER

WED.

Feb. 19

0.00

THURS.

TEMPERATURES

Feb. 20

0.00

FRI.

0.00

SAT.

Feb. 22

0.04

SUN.

0.00

MON.

Feb. 24

0.00

TUES.

Feb. 25

0.00

FEB.

TO DATE

.86 (2013: 1.01)

YEAR

TO DATE 2.06 (2013: 1.35)

HIGH 63 73 79 82 82 80 78

Thurs., Feb. 27 Fri., Feb. 28 Sat., March 1 Sun., March 2 Mon., March 3 Tues., March 4 Wed., March 5

Feb. 21

Feb. 23

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SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES Thurs., Feb. 27 Fri., Feb. 28 Sat., March 1 Sun., March 2 Mon., March 3 Tues., March 4 Wed., March 5

SUNRISE 6:56 a.m.

6:55 a.m.

6:54 a.m.

6:53 a.m.

6:52 a.m.

6:51 a.m.

6:50 a.m.

SUNSET 6:27 p.m.

6:28 p.m.

6:28 p.m.

6:29 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:31 p.m.

LOW 46 48 53 58 59 58 60

MOON PHASES

March 16

March 23

STRAWBERRY PRICES CENTRAL FLORIDA PRODUCT 8 1-pound containers

LOW $5

March 1

HIGH $7.90

Statistics courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture

March 8

, 3&

Kiersten Denny, 17, a senior at Strawberry Crest High School, took the images in this photo illustration in her back yard in Plant City. “I merged two photographs using Photoshop CS5 to make myself a miniature, inspired by my local landscape and a surreal Alice in Wonderland idea,” she says. She calls it, “Wanderlust.”

The Plant City Times & Observer, State Farm Insurance agent Tony Lee and The Corner Store have partnered to host the I Love Plant City Photo Contest.

Winners will have their photo featured and receive a $10 gift certificate to The Corner Store! To enter, email your photo, along with a caption, to Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com; subject line: I Love Plant City.

SHOES FOR RENT

By Mary Jersey | Edited by Timothy E. Parker ACROSS 1 Group of two 5 Hardly stimulating 10 “Big Three” conference site 15 Baby bed 19 Give an extreme makeover to 20 In an unfriendly fashion 21 Letter-shaped skyscraper support 22 “... in ___-horse open sleigh” 23 “Don’t bet ___!”

24 Prom dress material, sometimes 25 Chatter idly 26 Old-time tale 27 First N.L. player to hit 500 home runs 28 Wins the chess match 29 Do some spoiling?

31 Baseball or crossword solving, e.g.

33 “Beg pardon ...”

34 Mechanically raises up 35 Something to buy on “Wheel of Fortune” 36 Charge, as with feeling 38 Check the fit 40 It might end up in the gutter 44 Bold 45 It has an academy in Quantico, Va. 48 “Hard ___!” (captain’s command) 49 Liquid for pickles 50 Old southern estate 52 Mighty small 54 “Anytown, ___” 55 Pull strings?

56 Hotel relatives 57 SWAT team rescuee 59 Welcome prelude 60 Not present 62 Sudden work stoppage

66 70 71 76 77 78 80 81 84 86 87 88 89 91 92 93 94 97 98 102 105 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119

Mounted again, as a picture Monetary value Casino winner Petri dish contents “___ McPhee” (2005 film) Burst open “All kidding ___ ...”

Some public officials Biological subdivision Classic Icelandic poetry Inquire Dawdles Slatted furniture item They’re “two, two, two mints in one” Glazier’s need Farthest or highest (Abbr.)

Connected with the eyes or vision Additionally Eavesdropper Dessert not for the calorie-conscious Room in the game Clue Cheer from the bleachers Architectural annexes Mirror reflection Book-jacket paragraph Blue hue Woman’s undergarment “No way!”

Expenditures The same, in footnotes Enjoys dinner Wide-spouted pitchers Make gender-neutral It’s sometimes struck in photography

DOWN 1 Lose tautness

SUDOKU PACIFIC Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 28 29 30 32 33 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 50 51 53 55 58 59

Gossip Mine openings Ellipsis part Riboflavin, for one Extreme Rock heap Economic and social misfortunes Change the color of “Hooray!”

James Garfield’s middle name Big name in jets London art gallery Purple birthstone ___ point (for example) Lion sounds Gold brick Mardi Gras giveaways Short skirt Bar Mitzvah site Ado Gifted one’s gift Fit for the job Heron cousin “Give that ___ cigar!”

Inquiry for a lost package Offensively strong A dirty person may draw one Nondairy topping “Pee-___ Big Adventure” Unappetizing meal Say suddenly (with “out”) “Can’t complain” West German capital “Meet Me ___ Louis” Deep-piled fabric “My country, ___ of thee ...”

Show one’s boredom ___-training (toddler’s task) Jazz band’s job “The one that got

© 2013 Universal Uclick

60 61 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 72 73 74 75

away” and others Abbr. akin to alias Kind of test Disney seven ___ out (nods off) Enter, as data Pro ___ Hollywood giants Eagle-eyed one Coffee dispenser In the habit of Travel by horse Performs basic arithmetic Reporter’s source, at times

77 78 79 82 83 84 85 89 90 91 92 94 95

Sans mixers Animal’s hide Sale word Immaculate “A Raisin in the Sun” writer Hansberry “Jail” lead-in, in Monopoly Violin part Corrode Tactic Necklace closings Electrician’s gripper Like Santa Claus Jack-in-the-pulpit cousin

96 97 98 99 100 101 103 104 105 106 110 111

Not kindled, as a fire “Rags to riches” penner Sudden flow, as of water Where many Goyas hang House overhangs What cats and rats do Diving duck Cover the road Pivot King ___ tomb Physique, slangily Winter wind quality

C RY P T O G R A M S 1 . K M J S W LV, K S K V C J M C K S F K Z Q G S M L O Q V W Q C J S C Q K S K V W G T L S C Q N LV A D K C “ C D L H O G L M ” T L K S C . J C A K M Z Q O Q V U G O , T Q Q F E K S F N LV E H K O L U G O D K W W O J S W. 2 . U J M M C J M A N Q A O M AQ C U X M Z Q F K U O M U A C . X F W D E I Q U W W F W I U K I W U F C W X Q J U W O M AQ C J F I X I X Q O M U A C W U K C J M E Z C Z F N Q I M I U N Q U O M UAC I M I X Q O Q U D X .

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