YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
A PARTNERSHIP WITH
EXCLUSIVE SPORTS
IN THIS ISSUE
Cats Everywhere moves to new Plant City facility.
Cork Elementary’s Riley Durant pitching Buttorff named state staff adjusts to fair’s youngest volunteer. life after Danish. SEE PAGE 8 PAGE 13
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OUR TOWN + Don’t forget to spring forward Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, March 9, so remember to set your clocks one hour ahead before you go to bed on Saturday night. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March. It lasts until the first Sunday in November.
+ Dignitaries enjoy festival
FREE • THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
head of the class by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Plant City High student earns district’s top GPA Dhara Patel’s grade point average is so high that the computer system couldn’t register it properly. One day, Plant City High School senior Dhara Patel was No. 1 in her class. The next day, she was last. PCHS College and Career Counselor Sherrie Mueller pulled up Patel’s grades in the system two weeks ago to discover Patel had dropped in rank to
No. 409 out of 409 students. It was a shock. And also impossible. But Mueller had an idea about what happened to the academic powerhouse’s grade-point average. Patel’s GPA was sitting at a 10.031. As a two-digit number, it was so high that
the computer system couldn’t recognize it and defaulted to a .031. Mueller had known Patel had a 9.9 before grades rolled in at the closing of last semester in January. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen when Patel’s grades factored in to bump her up the scale. So, Mueller brought it up at a district meeting. “I don’t think anyone believed that I
Amber Jurgensen
Dhara Patel plans to attend the University of Florida in the fall.
had a student with a 10.0,” Mueller said. Sure enough, after the grades rolled in Patel’s GPA had crashed the system.
SEE PATEL / PAGE 4
DEVELOPMENT
A roundtable meeting hosted by U.S. Rep Dennis Ross, Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham and Plant City Mayor Mary Mathis brought international dignitaries to Plant City for the Florida Strawberry Festival Parade Day March 3. Dignitaries from Estonia, Germany, Peru, India and Barbados enjoyed a meet-and-great and luncheon, before viewing the Grand Parade in the afternoon. Attendees include Juan Carlos Schambaher Ibarra, honorary consul of Peru; Norma Brenne Henning, honorary consul of Germany; Dr. Lisa Mets, honorary consul of Estonia; Henderson Griffith, president of the Barbados Association of Tampa Bay; Tyrone Small, second vice president of the Barbados Association of Tampa Bay; and Jürgen Borsch, consul general of Germany.
by Michael Eng | Editor
As always, pig racing was one of the most popular attractions.
The Red Hatters loved Dennis Lee’s performance.
SWEETNESS
Walden Lake leaders prep for golf course discussion WLCA directors called an emergency meeting after Visions Golf filed a rezone request with Plant City.
FOLLOWS
Less than two weeks after Visions Golf LLC filed a rezone request to redevelop Walden Lake Golf & Country Club and its two golf courses, Walden Lake Community Association leaders called an emergency meeting to mobilize for discussion and, possibly, for battle. Before a standing room-only crowd of residents March 3, the WLCA voted unanimously to contact its attorney, Steven Mezer, of Bush Ross, and advise him the board would like to take a position regarding the redevelopment. The
SEE WLCA / PAGE 4
real estate by Michael Eng | Editor
Sale pending on Sweetbay distribution facility in P.C.
+ Eagles enjoy bicycle rodeo Walden Lake Elementary students enjoyed a bike rodeo Feb. 20 and 21. St. Joseph’s Hospital staff came to the school and presented the rodeo. Fourth- and fifth-graders went through a course on bikes and scooters to practice hand signals.
, 3&
This week’s winner is
Linda Wheelock See her photo on PAGE 17.
Krewe of Carnival won second in this year’s Grand Parade. Floating: The Baby Contest featured elaborate costumes.
C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. held a local job fair recently and listed open positions at the Plant City facility on its website.
2014 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL by the Times & Observer Staff Oh yes, it is Florida Strawberry Festival time! Serving up “Florida’s Best Family Recipe,” the festival opened with a plethora of events, concerts and activities Feb. 27. So far, out-of-towners and Plant City natives alike have enjoyed everything from eating contests and headline entertainment to parade floats and, of course, plenty of delicious strawberries. The festivities continue through March 9.
MORE PHOTOS ON PAGES 6 AND 7
Larry Henderson demonstrated wood-whittling at Pioneer Village.
INDEX Calendar.......................2
After 10 months of uncertainty, it appears the Plant City distribution center owned by Sweetbay Supermarkets NOW is close to having a HIRING new owner. To view the C&S Wholesale job listings, Grocers Inc., the visit C&S Keene, N.H.-based Wholesale company that proGrocers’ webvides procurement, site, cswg. warehouse and com, and transportation serselect “Jobs.” vices for Bi-Lo Holdings, currently has 29 jobs listed for the Plant City distribution center on its website. Furthermore, a distribution center employee, who
SEE SWEETBAY / PAGE 4 Vol. 1, No. 32 | One section
Crossword...................17
Obituaries...................10
Sports.........................13
Weather ......................17
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COMMUNITYCALENDAR THURSDAY, MARCH 6 Born to Run — weekly run takes place at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. (813) 752-9100. 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) 737-4444. Open Mike Night — begins at 8 p.m. Thursdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.
FRIDAY, MARCH 7 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. Mama’s Kin — performance takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, March 7, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818. Plant City Eagles Youth Football and Cheerleading Program Rib Dinner Fundraiser — takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, March 7, at Bealsville Recreation Center, 5009 Nesmith Road, Plant City. Dinners are $10, and pro-
ceeds will be used to offset registration fees for 2014 season. Delivery available for orders of five or more. (813) 716-2324. Plant City Social Dance Club — takes place from 8 to 11:15 p.m. Fridays, at Stardust Dance Center, 1405 S. Collins St., Plant City. Cost is $5 for members and associate members; $7 for non-members. Band will be Bill Mann. Ken Miller, (863) 409-7714 or pcsocialdanceclub@yahoo.com. Uncork Your Weekend with Southern Legacy — live music from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 7, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. (813) 7529100.
SATURDAY, MARCH 8 Diabetes Management Series: The Journey for Control — Class begins from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 8, at the South Florida Baptist Hospital Community Conference Room, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. Registration and pre-payment require; $10 for series. (813) 644-6720 or BayCareEvents.org. Glover’s Bazaar — takes place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 8, at Glover School, 5104 Horton Road, Bealsville. Booth spaces are available for a $25 donation. (813) 737-1352 or Glover@tampabay.rr.com. Steve Saffels — performance takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill, 1701
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. month’s book is “Variable Star” by Robert Heinlein (813) 7579215.
S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818. Uncork Your Weekend with Project Voyager — live music from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. (813) 7529100.
Ribbon Cutting: Principal Financial Group — takes place from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St., Plant City. Joel Snively, (813) 368-4016 or Snively.joel@principal.com.
SUNDAY, MARCH 9 St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of Plant City Bible Study — sixweek series begins at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 9, at the church, 302 N. Carey St., Plant City. Class will continue at 4 p.m. Sundays, for six weeks. (813) 752-5061 or stpeterspc.dioswfl. org.
MONDAY, MARCH 10 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. Enrollment Assistance Program (Affordable Care Act) — takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, March 10, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Machelle Tulalian, (813) 4224917 or machelle.eaptampa@ gmail.com. Master Gardening Program “Drought Tolerant Landscaping” — takes place from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 10, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St.,
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12
BEST BET GFWC Plant City Junior Woman’s Club 2014 Florida Strawberry Festival Baby Parade — takes place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Plant City. Master Gardener Virginia Overstreet will be the guest speaker. The program is sponsored by the Master Gardening Division of the Hillsborough County Extension Service. Attendees are encouraged to bring a plant for the plant exchange. (813) 7579215. Weight Loss Surgery Information Sessions — takes place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 10, at the Ed and Myrtle Lou Swindle Medical Arts Center, 1601 W. Timberlane Drive, Plant City. Learn more about the advantages of the adjustable gastric band and sleeve gastrectomy
Wish Farms Soundstage, 303 N. Lemon St., Plant City. Awards will be given for Most Beautiful Girl, Most Handsome Boy, Most Personality, Best Costume and Best Float. For more, visit flstrawberryfestival. com. procedures and see if surgical weight loss is an option for you. (813) 644-6720.
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 Plant City Fire Department’s David Burnett. Nancy Miller, Nanamiller2@aol.com or (813) 754-2544. Morning Book Discussion — meets from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, March 11, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. This
Knit 1, Purl 2 — takes place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Beginners as well as experienced knitters are welcome to attend, and a limited supply of knitting needles and yarn may be used by participants during the class. (813) 757-9215. Windows 7: File Storage and Devices — class takes place from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, March 12, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. (813) 757-9215.
THURSDAY, MARCH 13 Ribbon Cutting: Specialist Doctors’ Group — takes place from 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, at 210 N. Alexander St., Suite B, Plant City. For more, visit specialistdoctorsgroup.com. Ribbon Cutting: Urgent Care USA — takes place from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, at 413 N. Alexander St., Plant City. For more, visit urgentcareusa.com.
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faith by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Pleasant Grove construction now underway With the help of ministry volunteers, the historic Plant City church is finally getting a new place in which to worship.
star treatment by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor The Binghams received an escort from bikers around Florida.
SUPPORT
SYSTEM As Jerry and Karen Bingham emerged from a black SUV Feb. 27, it was hard to keep a dry eye. Even tough, cigar smoking bikers were welling up with support and American pride. The Binghams arrived at Plant City Automotive to be escorted by the throng of bikers to Tampa
International Airport. They were leaving Plant City on a trip to Somerset County, Pa., and the site of the United Airlines Flight 93 crash on 9/11. Their son, Mark, was a passenger on that flight. The couple went to Pennsylvania for the commissioning of the USS Somerset, a U.S. Navy Transport Ship. The ship will honor the 40 passengers and crew of the downed airliner.
Beverly Castricone, John Rinaldi and Becky Faulkner
Scott Rowe, Derrick Gassman, Andrea Kay and Richard Rosembaum
health care by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Hospital breaks ground on addition The addition will add two operating rooms to South Florida Baptist Hospital. South Florida Baptist Hospital started construction this week on an addition to its surgical center. The hospital broke ground March 4 to expand its operating rooms. “With the increasing number of surgeries and the increased case complexity, we needed additional, larger operating rooms,” said South Florida Baptist Hospital President Karen Kerr. “We continue to provide services here, such as robotic, neurospine, general and orthopedic surgery, so that Plant City residents don’t have
Courtesy rendering
The surgery center addition will provide support for orthopedics and robotics. to leave town for these specialties.” The 6,300-square-foot addition will be built on the corner of Alexander and Reynolds streets next to the Heart and
Vascular Center. It will replace an existing parking lot. The addition will consist of two operating rooms, bringing the total number of operating rooms to seven. The addition also will in-
clude an expansion of recovery rooms and waiting rooms and a storage area. The $5.8 million construction project will occur in three phases. It should take about one year to complete. Kerr was announced as president of South Florida Baptist Hospital last month, after serving for five months as interim president. In her new role, she said the surgical center is one of her main focuses. The addition will assist with orthopedics and robotics. Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.
For 10 years, the congregation at Pleasant Grove Assembly of God off Turkey Creek Road has been displaced. Its members have been holding services in a fellowship hall, which seats about 100 people. In that time, they all dreamed of a new place in which to worship. That dream is finally coming true. The foundation for a new sanctuary is being built and the sanctuary should be finished by this time next year. When complete, it will replace a sanctuary that had been on the grounds for more than a century. That facility was razed because of structural concerns. Pleasant Grove owns about 40 acres on both sides of Turkey Creek Road. In the 1800s, a camp ground and pavilion hosted many camps and revivals by the Methodist church. The Assembly of God denomination bought the grounds and over time, the pavilion was transformed into a walled church. “That’s why the whole community is really excited about building the new sanctuary,” the Rev. Joe Zaino said. “It’s been here for over 100 years. It’s part of the fabric of the community.” The new sanctuary will sit about 300 people comfortably. In anticipation of growth, there also will be options to easily build a balcony later, bumping the capacity to about 450 people. The church congregation stands at about 150 now. The cost of the sanctuary is $1.2 million. But the church is getting some amazing help. Part of the Assembly of God, RV Mission America Placement Services has stepped in to assist the church with construction. As part of RV MAPS, a group of retired profession-
IF YOU GO
PLEASANT GROVE ASSEMBLY OF GOD SERVICE TIMES: 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays. A Family Night is held at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. ADDRESS: 7051 S. Turkey Creek Road, Plant City INFORMATION: (813) 737-1012 or pleasantgrovechurch.com als with careers in contracting, construction, engineering, plumbing and more have combined forces to build the church for free. Volunteers have come from all throughout the United States to help with the construction. Many are from up north, including Michigan, Wisconsin and New York. The volunteers work from fall to spring on the church and stay on site in RVs, hence the name. “They really answered the prayers of the congregation,” Zaino said. “It’s an aging congregation, and with the money they have saved, plus these men, they really answered our prayers.” The volunteers arrived last fall and will work until April. In this first phase, they hope to have the foundation completed as well as the frame of the building. The volunteers will return this fall and work until next spring to complete the interior of the sanctuary. In return, the church pays the mission $1 per day. It will save the church, in a conservative estimate, about $300,000. “We’re excited,” Zaino said. “It’s giving us something to rally behind. Everyone’s working together, and it’s been such a positive experience.” Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
Amber Jurgensen
RV Mission America Placement Services is helping to build the new sanctuary of Pleasant Grove Assembly of God.
INVESTIGATION by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Plant City officer’s attorney questions termination documents Mark Mathis was fired during the city’s investigation into former Police Chief Steven Singletary. Mathis’ attorney, Morris Purcell, last week argued the investigation documents were incomplete. Former Plant City Police Department officer Mark Mathis requested a liberty, or name-clearing, hearing with Plant City last week, in an attempt to revise the record about his involvement with former Police Chief Steven Singletary. Mathis was fired Jan. 29, after falsifying a dispatch report to help cover up for Singletary, who was caught meeting his mistress, Melissa Hardwick, after hours at a business off Wood Court, in Plant City. According to investigation reports, Mathis was dispatched to the business and found both Singletary’s and Hardwick’s cars in the parking lot. However, on his dispatched call record, Mathis wrote that “both vehicles were (gone upon arrival).” Mathis was notified of his termination Jan. 28, via a standard letter sent by the city. He also was told of the reasons of the termination by As-
sistant Manager of Public Safety Bill McDaniel. In Mathis’ termination letter from City Manager Greg Horwedel, Mathis was told he had a right to examine his file, an option extended to any employee upon separation of employment. “On examination of your file, if you believe there is any stigmatizing information in your file, you may within 30 days of your termination of employment make a written request to me for a post-termination hearing for the purpose of presenting such evidence as you may elect to clear your name of any such stigmatizing information,” the letter said. Mathis took the opportunity to have a name-clearing hearing, alongside his attorney, Morris Purcell. His parents and wife, Amy, also attended the hearing, while friends waited outside in support. The hearing was conducted by
Sanders Bush, the city’s director of human resources, City Attorney Ken Buchman and attorney Tom Gonzalez. After examining his file, Purcell argued that there were not any specific reasons listed in Mathis’ file for the termination, therefore they could not comment or try and clear his name. In Mathis’ file, a personnel action form said the reasons for the dismissal is “in the best interest in the city.” That wording is standard upon separation of employment; Purcell said it was too vague. Purcell also referenced a screenshot of Mathis’ employment record sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as part of protocol. What was listed was the code Mathis violated, Ch. 943.13(4) which outlines an officer’s minimum qualifications stating an officer can “not
have been convicted of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement” and also a violation of “Moral Character Standards.” The screenshot was only part of further documentation sent to the FDLE. Not in the file was another code the city also sent to FDLE, Ch. 837.06, which relates to false official statements. The city does not have to include every single documentation in the paper file, Buchman said. The screenshot was placed in the file to prove the city forwarded documents to the FDLE, as protocol dictates. Now, the FDLE Professional Compliance Section staff will look at documents from the investigation sent by the city to recommend any of the following for Mathis’ accreditation: no discipline; reprimand or re-training, with certification retained; certification retained on a probationary status; certification suspended; or certification revoked.
Purcell said the code didn’t give them enough to try to clear Mathis’ name during the hearing. There was no elaboration under the comments section. “Officer Mathis can’t respond to that allegation, because the comment section is blank, and I do not believe that is sufficient notice or sufficient process to comply with the statute or even the city’s policy or the certifications or the FDLE’s policy regarding certifications,” Purcell said during the hearing. “So, without any further information, officer Mathis is unable to respond, unable to clear his name, because we don’t know factually, he hasn’t been presented with any facts, specific facts regarding the reason for his termination. I don’t have anything else to say; we don’t have anything else to say.” But during the hearing, it is up to Mathis to comment on anything in the file and not for the city to give a rebuttal or further explanation, Buchman said. Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP WLCA / PAGE 1 board also voted to invite Visions Golf Managing Partner Steve Mercer and its land-use attorney, Ron Weaver, to present the plan. WLCA leaders hope that presentation takes place either at their next regular meeting March 17 or at its annual meeting April 10. At the advisement of WLCA Director Bob Hunter, the WLCA is withholding the nature of its position until Visions Golf has a chance to make a presentation to the board. “It is imperative that we write a letter to the applicant and his attorney and give them a chance to present to this board, before we decide to take a position,” Hunter said. “If we don’t do that, our position will be weakened before the City Commission and any court. If we take a position without hearing from the applicant, I think it is ridiculous.” The board’s actions come eight months after Walden Lake residents opposing the redevelopment began their fight against Visions Golf. Under the advice of Mezer, who did not attend the emergency meeting, the board has remained mostly silent about the issue. It hosted a workshop with city officials and Mercer in November, and, earlier this year, WLCA Director Rich Glorioso began researching the possibility of
purchasing the country club and golf course. The board’s decision to take a position is a welcome one for residents, who have pleaded with the WLCA to lead their efforts. Laurel Lake resident Nick Brown said he believes a well-coordinated plan would be helpful as the residents share their opposition during city hearings. “Everything (needs to be) laid out and orchestrated so that the right people are called to say the right things at the right time,” he said. “That means refuting every argument that Visions Golf advances but focusing on the most important reason: The compelling reason for rejecting the rezoning application is that approval would constitute an unwarranted violation of neighboring citizens’ rights. Period. “We have a vested interest,” Brown said. “When we bought into the community, we bought into a fully developed community, with designated open spaces. For them to change the game at this point in time would constitute a violation of our rights and a betrayal of trust placed in the city.” Hunter, who retired as director of the Hillsborough County Planning Commission, also made a presentation about the documents Visions Golf filed Feb. 19, with the city.
BI-LO HOLDINGS TO CLOSE 13 STORES Bi-Lo Holdings LLC announced Feb. 25, plans to close 13 of its stores, including eight it acquired from Delhaize America last year. The closures do not include Plant City’s remaining Sweetbay location, 205 W. Alexander St. “With the close proximity of some of the Bi-Lo Holdings and Delhaize stores, we ... knew that we would have to close a few stores as part of the acquisition,” said R. Randall Onstead, president and CEO of Bi-Lo Holdings, in a press release. “We appreciate the many contributions our associates in these stores have made, and we will ensure they are treated respectfully and have the opportunity to pursue other open positions in nearby stores.”
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The stores that will close include Sweetbay locations in Naples, Dade City and Zephyrhills; Harveys locations in Green Cove Springs and Tallahassee; Reid’s locations in Walterboro, S.C., Cayce, S.C., and Orangeburg, S.C.; WinnDixie locations in St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Seffner and Moultrie, Ga.; and the BI-LO in Aiken, S.C. Kelly Bell, a spokeswoman for Winn-Dixie, said the company is in the process of converting the remaining Sweetbay locations, including the one in Plant City. “Exact store schedules and timelines for conversions have not been released at this time, but we anticipate conversions will begin as early as March 22 and should be complete by May 31,” she said.
The application shows up to 581 multi-family units, 187 single-family lots and an assisted-living facility on four parcels totaling 133 acres. The documents also show a 156unit apartment complex situated over the existing Laurel Lake and a 425-unit complex on the existing driving range and tennis courts. The submission did not include the required transportation and stormwater studies, but Mercer said his attorney will file those within the next few weeks. The application also did not detail vehicle access points to the new residential developments, but Hunter said likely locations would be on Sydney Road, Griffin Boulevard and West Timberlane Drive. The WLCA also agreed to draft a one-page mailing about what its directors know about the application so far. Visions Golf’s rezone request has not affected the WLCA’s study to determine how and whether it is feasible for the community to purchase the amenities. Vice President Jim Chancey and Director Bruce Rodwell also were appointed to Glorioso’s study committee, and Hunter said he believes Visions Golf is only one part of the process. “There are some grand opportunities for this to really come out in the positive, eventually, for this
SWEETBAY / PAGE 1 spoke under the condition of anonymity, confirmed C&S held a job fair for the facility Feb. 21 and 22, in Lakeland, and also has been in the process of interviewing existing facility employees. Bi-Lo Holdings, the parent company of Winn-Dixie, purchased 72 Sweetbay stores in a $265 million acquisition last year. That purchase did not include the distribution facility. The jobs openings listed on C&S’ website include everything from building maintenance tech and auditor to supervisory and managerial roles. Despite the job postings, Sweetbay spokesperson Nicole LeBeau said the sale of the facility is not yet final. As of press time March 5, the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser listed Food Lion Inc., the American division of the Sweetbay’s parent company Delhaize Group, as the owner of the facility, 1802 Jim Johnson Road. “We are still in negotiations and finalizing details of the contract, but we have not formalized the sale of that location,” LeBeau said. “Much has happened in preparation for the final sale.
THE PETITION Walden Lake residents Shelly Orrico and Sharon Philbin will be gathering signatures for a petition against redevelopment of the country club and golf courses from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, in the community park. The petition language is as follows: Walden Lake residents ask the City of Plant City and Hillsborough County to evaluate the Walden Lake Golf & Country Club’s request for the rezoning and building of homes by Walden Lake Golf & Country Club on golf course property. Walden Lake residents purchased homes at a premium, with the intent of living on a golf course or in a golf course community. The additional building of homes and closing one or both courses would seriously impact the current values of all Walden Lake residents. community, if done right,” he said. “But, we’ve got to play our cards right.” Contact Michael Eng at meng@ plantcityobserver.com.
We don’t have a closing date yet but expect (one) soon.” City Manager Greg Horwedel said he was not aware of any sale. “I don’t have any current information regarding a pending purchase of the Sweetbay facility,” he said. “Of course, we would be delighted if the facility were to be purchased and all the jobs retained at that location. A number of Plant City residents work there, and I am sure they would welcome good news about their jobs.” C&S Wholesale Grocers declined to comment. “C&S has no comment on the topic raised at this time,” said Senior Vice President of Compliance and Administration Bryan Granger. The news of an impending sale comes four months after Sweetbay filed a layoff notice with state officials last November, intending to permanently close both its corporate office on Sugar Palm Drive in Tampa and the distribution center. Under Sweetbay, the distribution facility employed 183 workers in distribution and 75 in trucking. Contact Michael Eng at meng@ plantcityobserver.com.
PATEL / PAGE 1 Again, Mueller went to the district. “I said, ‘I told you it was coming,’” Mueller said. “I just knew she could do it.” And she did. — but not with a lot of hard work. Since she was a freshman, Patel had been taking advanced-placement courses. Throughout her high school career, she enrolled in more than 10. During her junior year, her entire schedule consisted of AP classes. She studied all different subjects, including calculus, statistics, human geography, European history, psychology and more. She was also dual-enrolled at Hillsborough Community College, adding even more weight to her GPA. She took so many classes at HCC that she also will receive her associate’s degree of liberal arts in the spring, as well as her high school diploma. “I was focused more on getting the degree,” Patel said. “I guess that just pushed (the GPA) over the edge.” At HCC, she studied nutrition, astronomy, public speaking, among many others. She mostly took classes online but did attend some classes on campus after a full day at Plant City High School. Some even lasted until 9 p.m. “Family definitely told me that education was important,” Patel said. “But probably at the beginning of my sophomore year, I pushed myself, because I wanted to get into a good school.” With the help of HCC professor and guidance counselor Sharlotte Henderson, Patel was able to orchestrate a schedule that would earn her an associate’s degree. “It was a hard balancing act, but it came together,” Patel said. “And I am just so grateful.” In addition to a full class schedule, Patel is also president of the Science Club, Civinettes and Future Business Leaders of America; treasurer for Best Buddies; on the board of Executive Council; and competes in science and math competitions. “I always try to get to as many meetings and events and make time for my clubs,” Patel said. “I love working with people. I do a lot of community service.” Patel is a Plant City native and the daughter of Bhavania and Ditak Patel. Her brother, Parthik, was salutatorian in 2012. Patel will be attending the University of Florida in the fall to study microbiology. She hopes to one day become a dentist or an orthodontist. “I’m looking forward to maturing a bit more,” Patel said. “And it’s far enough away, where I can be on my own, but I can always come back on the weekends. “I really like it here; everyone’s so nice to each other, and I love that family feel,” Patel said. “I love my family. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.” Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@ plantcityobserver.com.
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purr-fect paradise by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Sandra Bartareau and Karen Boyce share a special love for cats.
Amber Jurgensen
Cat rescue relocates Cats Everywhere moved its feral cats to a compound off Sparkman Road recently.
Karen Boyce and Sandra Bartareau walked around the peaceful green fields of their 3.8-acre compound off Sparkman Road several weeks ago. The two women couldn’t wait to move in their newest tenants, which weren’t a family — or even human. The tenants were dozens and dozens of cats. The duo bought the land, which includes a blue, cinderblock house, for a new cat adoption center. Boyce and Bartareau have been trapping feral strays, nursing them back to health and finding them new homes for more than 25 years combined. Both previously used their houses to foster the cats until they are adopted. Now that they have the land off Sparkman Road, the women have merged their separate operations to become one at the new location. Last month, the cats from their homes were moved onto the land, which was transformed into a “purrfect” cat paradise. “There’s a lot of work that has been put into this,” Bartareau said. For now, the cats are kept inside two large fenced in areas. Bartareau and Boyce spent about $12,000 to build the 6-foot-tall, cat-friendly barrier. Currently, the fields don’t have any trees, but Boyce and Bartareau would like to add some landscaping for the cats to play and explore in. They’re hoping other animal-lovers will donate services or foliage.
For the initial move, Bartareau’s rescue cats were placed in one fenced in area, while Boyce’s were placed in another. The two areas are next to each other and are connected by a doggie door. This allows the new feline friends to get used to each other and, when brave enough, can freely venture between the two domains. One one end of the compound is a specially designed cat box. Some cats prefer to use the box. Boyce also has moved into the house to oversee the temporary pets. Bartareau plans to sell her house and move to the compound this year. The facility can hold up to 200 cats — caring for them is a full-time job. Boyce has loved cats since she was a child. When a family friend brought a cat to her house, she was fascinated. Her father finally caved in and brought home a cat for Boyce, but they discovered she was allergic. That didn’t stop her adoration of the animal. “I just have really good allergy medicine now,” Boyce said. Later, a roommate moved out and left behind her cat, which was pregnant. Boyce cared for the cat and even bottle-fed the kittens. She was hooked and began to foster cats. Bartareau also had cats growing up. Her mother took care of strays and fostered cats, but on a smaller scale than Bartareau does now. When Bartareau noticed how many cats were roaming around her Walden
HOW TO HELP
Cats Everywhere is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that Sandy Bartareau operates to save feral cats. Many feral cats are sick or competing for food in already-taxed colonies. Karen Boyce and Sandra Bartareau have moved their trapped cats to a new compound off Sparkman Road for rehabilitation and adoption. The location will not be a drop-off point for cats. For more information, to donate or volunteer, call (813) 391-1987 or email catseverywhere@gmail.com.
Lake neighborhood, she began trapping them. She started with six traps. “I thought no way would I fill them,” Bartareau said. But, she did. Working with a veterinarian to get them spayed and neutered, Bartareau also found adoptive families with the vet’s help. Bartareau was instrumental in trapping 100 cats by Tomlin Middle School and relocating them to a friend’s property in Lithia. Most of the money to care for their trapped cats comes out of their own pockets. Last year, Bartareau estimates she spent $35,000 on food and liter. For their new location, the duo is seeking donations to help with food, maintenance, vet bills and other costs, as well as volunteers. Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.
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FESTIVAL SCHEDULE There’s still plenty to see and do at the Florida Strawberry Festival.
THURSDAY MARCH 6 10:30 a.m. to noon: Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (Wish Farms Soundstage) 11:45 a.m. Senior Citizens Drawing (Wish Farms Soundstage) 2 p.m. Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest (Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent) 3:30 p.m. The Oak Ridge Boys 40th Anniversary Tour, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage) 7 p.m. Billy and the Soul Circus Cowboys (Paradise Grilling Systems Variety Stage) 7:30 p.m. Third Day, $15 and $20. (Wish Farms Soundstage)
FRIDAY MARCH 7 Noon Strawberry Mashed Potato Pie-Eating Contest (Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent) 3 to 5 p.m. Livestock Contestant Judging (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena) 3:30 p.m. John Anderson, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage) 6 p.m. Showmanship Judging — Beef Breed (Swindle Family Pavilion) 7 p.m. Makenzie Raye (Paradise Grilling Systems Variety Stage) 7:30 p.m. Boyz II Men, $20 and $25 (Wish Farms Soundstage) 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Moonlight Magic
SATURDAY MARCH 8 10:15 a.m. Baby Parade (EYE EXPRESS Grandstand) 1 to 3 p.m.; 4 to 6 p.m. Meet Troy Landry from the History Channel’s “Swamp People” (Carolina Carports Inc. Display) 1 p.m. Caroline Kole (Wish Farms Soundstage) 3:30 p.m. Dustin Lynch, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage 6 p.m. Hola Plant City! Featuring Celebrity Anais (Paradise Grilling Systems Variety Stage) 7 p.m. CF Industries Youth Steer Sale (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena) 7:30 p.m. Gospel Night Featuring Pastor Calvin “Pee Wee” Callins (Showcase Tent) 7:30 p.m. Jerrod Niemann, $20 and $25. (Wish Farms Soundstage)
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam was the speaker at this year’s Strawberry Salute Breakfast.
Children of all ages were eager to score some beads, candy and other giveaways at the 2014 Grand Parade.
SUNDAY MARCH 9 11 a.m. Youth Beef Breed Show (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena) 1 to 3 p.m.; 4 to 6 p.m. Meet Troy Landry from the History Channel’s “Swamp People” (Carolina Carports Inc. Display) 1 p.m. Kitchen Craft Cookware Drawing (Neighborhood Village) 3:30 p.m. Easton Corbin, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage) 5 p.m. Stingray Chevrolet Vehicle Drawing (East Independent) 7 p.m. Heanon Tate (Paradise Grilling Systems Variety Stage) 7:30 p.m. The Band Perry, $40. (Wish Farms Soundstage)
Mickey the baboon gave his handler, Kevin Keith, a big smooch during the “Wild About Monkeys” performance.
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. 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.
Plant City Times & Observer Locally Owned The Plant City Times & Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC, a joint-venture of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.
110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 704-6850 www.PlantCityObserver.com &RS\ULJKW 3ODQW &LW\ 0HGLD //& $OO 5LJKWV 5HVHUYHG
Plant City High’s Austin Bruner was one of the grand marshals of the Youth Parade. Right: These out-of-towners chewed their way to a first-place finish in the fried corn on the cob-eating contest.
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Call Veronica Prostko, (813) 704-6850, or Joanna Verga, (813) 451-6489.
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We want to hear from you. Let us know about your community events, celebrations and family member achievements. To contact us, send your information via: Email: Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563
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.
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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Advantage Academy of Hillsborough featured a patriotic theme on its float in this year’s Youth Parade. Right: Classic rockers STYX opened up the 2014 Florida Strawberry Festival with an energetic show Feb. 27.
Of course, dozens of carnival games line the midway at this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival.
GRAND PARADE
WINNERS ANTIQUE GROUP DIVISION
First Place: Plant City FFA Second Place: Ron Wetherington, First Baptist Church of Dover Third Place: Evangelical University Seminar 2014 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Jessi Rae Varnum
SPECIAL FEATURE UNIT
First Place: Strawberry Crest High School JROTC Second Place: Durant High School Step Team Third Place: Mulberry High School JROTC
CIVIC/CHURCH DIVISION
The Leos Club clowns were ready to put a smile one everyone’s face at the 2014 Grand Parade. Below: Plant City’s own NRG took the stage March 4.
Linda Wetherington enjoys working in the Pioneer Village.
First Place: American Heritage Girl Second Place: First Baptist Church Youth Group Third Place: Shiloh Baptist Church
MARCHING BAND DIVISION
This “Duck Dynasty”-themeed costume was a crowd favorite at the Baby Contest.
First Place: Strawberry Crest High School Marching Band Second Place: Durant High School Marching Band Third: Vanquish Drum Corps
SCHOOL CLUBS/YOUTH SPORTS/MISC GROUPS
First Place: J.S. Robinson PTA Second Place: Plant City Calendar Girls Third Place: Strawberry Crest Calendar Girls
BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL DIVISION First Place: Focus 4 Beauty Second Place: Krewe of Carnival Third Place: Focus Magazine
Baby Parade Queen Maddie Hardwick enjoyed the Grand Parade.
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service with a smile by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Amber Jurgensen
Riley Buttorff was accompanied by her father, Chaun, to receive a plaque as the youngest Florida State Fair volunteer.
Plant City 10-year-old named state fair’s youngest volunteer Cork Elementary’s Riley Buttorff was 10 when she volunteered at the fair this year. Riley Buttorff stood in front of a crowded room, proudly holding her plaque. The Florida State Fair recognized the spunky 10-year-old Feb. 21, for being the youngest person to volunteer with the Florida State Fair. It made sense. The room was filled with retired snowbirds. All have worked more than 40 hours at the fair this year. Some have worked over a whopping 200 hours, such as Jerry Morris. His electric wheelchair doesn’t stop him from coming back time and time again. “You have to remember this can be very addicting,” Morris says, warning Riley when she returned to her table after the presentation. It was Morris who brought Riley to the attention of fair organizers, hoping to merit her a reward. He oversaw the area she worked in and watched out for the fair fledgling. He brought her a corn dog half-
way through the shift and even taught her about the “Peggy Point,” as to not offend different cultures when pointing while giving directions. “She’s done a good job,” Morris says. “She learned (more quickly) than any volunteer I had before. I was surprised how much she learned in just five minutes of looking at the map.” Accompanied by family friend, Mary Pigan, Riley worked for one day near the horticulture building “where the pencil sketches are,” passing out maps and giving directions. The incredibly articulate Cork Elementary student had no trouble talking to fair-goers. “My favorite part was just helping people and hanging out and meeting all the people from different places in Florida,” Riley says. Riley is no stranger to the fair. Pigan also serves as her mentor, showing Riley everything she knows about plants
and chickens. This year, Riley had four chickens at the fair — Goldie, Molly, Champ and The Rooster — and three different plants. In all, she won five ribbons. “I think it teaches responsibility,” says Chaun Buttorff, Riley’s father, of volunteering. “It teaches them to pick up the eggs, take care of something. And I think that’s missing now days.” Riley turned 11 shortly after the fair ended. But, hopefully, her new record won’t be broken anytime soon. Children aren’t allowed to volunteer unless they are accompanied by an adult. And Morris may be right about the volunteer addiction. Riley already has plans to volunteer next year. “Next year, I want to volunteer with the livestock, with the cows and chickens,” Riley says. “And on Saturday, get all my friends together and all volunteer.” Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.
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PAST AND PRESENCE
The history behind the strawberry fest’s star power Plant City can point with pride to its civic clubs and organizations for all the good works done in the name of the community. Stadiums, parks, playgrounds, the library, special events and more all were put together by the civic clubs and organizations in Plant City, many of which had their beginnings in the early 1900s. The Plant City Lions Club, founded in 1929, took on as its first major project the planning of a new festival in honor of King Strawberry, the champion of the area’s agricultural products. Albert Schneider was a charter member of the Plant City Lions Club and its first president. With his leadership the Lions promoted the founding of the first festival, at that time called the Plant City Strawberry Festival. Not only did the Lions Club work to promote the festival, but also it was the directing organization of the queen contest for GIL most of the years of the festival. GOTT Beginning in 1930, the festival ran every year until World War II disrupted the nation. Jane Langford was crowned queen in 1941 and reigned until 1948. The Norman McLeod American Legion Post 27 revived the event in 1947, and the next strawberry festival was held in 1948. This time, the Plant City Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) was in charge of the contest. In the late 1950s, the Jaycees turned the contest over to the Lions Club, and the Lions Club and Lions Auxiliary have continued to direct the contest ever since. The groups made changes, too. Believing the contest could use a little more excitement, in about 1972, J. Myrle Henry and fellow Lions sought to bring in a celebrity to perform the coronation. Henry found the name of Dale Evans, who, with her husband, Roy Rogers, was popular at the time. Henry called her directly and spoke with Rogers at home, and he put Evans on the telephone. Evans wanted a $2,000 fee, airfare, hotel and meals. Henry went to a few other Lions, and they agreed to underwrite the cost, to be reimbursed if enough revenue was collected. On the day she arrived at the Tampa airport, two carloads of Plant City Lions drove to meet Evans. On the return trip, they stopped for dinner at the famed Las Novedades, in Ybor City. The following day Al Berry, of local radio station WPAL, interviewed Evans in a church library, where she also autographed some of her books. In those years the contest took place on two different nights during the festival. The first
Tommie Henry, left, Dale Evans, seated, and J. Myrle Henry, in March 1972
Courtesy of Plant City Photo Archives and History Center
Festival Queen Phyllis Head and Pat Boone, March 1973
night, usually a Monday, the seven finalists were selected. Then on Thursday, the final selection and the coronation took place. On Wednesday night, the Lions Club arranged for Plant City’s first press conference, held in the community room of the Hillsboro Bank, at the corner of Reynolds and Evers streets. The press conference was orchestrated by Henry and Berry, with assistance from Gerald Hooker, city commissioner and Lions Club president, along with current queen Sherrie Chambers (Mueller). After the conference, the Lions took Evans to the Branch Ranch for a meal prepared by Mary Branch herself. Henry said Evans relished the meal and called Roy and told him of the wonderful meal. That later developed into the Roy Rogers restaurant chain. On Thursday, Evans crowned Linda Heath the 1972 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen. This was the beginning of the celebrity and entertainment concept. The following year, with Al Berry’s and Leo Gilman’s contacts, the Lions brought Pat Boone for another outstanding success, and the following year, the star was Anita Bryant, along with Gunsmoke’s Festus. The Florida Strawberry Festival Association took over the entertainment at about that time. It was also about this time that Henry and Hooker, whose family owned and operated Hooker’s Department Store, decided to dress properly for the festival. They looked into the possibilities in Hooker’s Department Store and thought that the red jackets on the racks would be a nice touch — red for the bright succulent strawberries. They wore them every night, and soon, it became the proper attire for the festival. And today, the red coats are worn by the members of the Florida Strawberry Festival Association during the 11 days of the Festival. We hope you enjoy the festival and the smalltown atmosphere of Plant City. Gil Gott is executive director of the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center.
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OBSERVEROBITUARIES Gene O. McClellan
Gene O. McClellan, 75, of Plant City, died Feb. 24, 2014, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, in Plant City. Born Jan. 23, 1939, he was the son of the late Harvey and Pernie Parrish McClellan. Mr. McClellan loved antique cars and had a great sense of humor. Survivors include his loving friend, Betty Spears; sons, William McClellan, David (Stacy) McClellan and Christian Hartline; daughters, Barbara (William) Lewis, Debora (Doug) Peters, Melody Hassick and Tammy Spears; sister Judy; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-greatgrandchild. A funeral service was Feb. 27, at Haught Funeral Home Chapel, Plant City. Online condolences may be made to the family at haughtfuneralhome.com.
Billy M. Pate
Billy M. Pate, 82, of Plant City, died Feb. 25, 2014. A retired teacher, baseball coach, administrator and principal in Hillsborough County Public Schools, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Alabama. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Morris Pate; two sons, Morris Pate (Cathy) and Michael Pate (Jennifer); a daughter, Sarah Dee Harbin (Johnny); and grandchildren, Emily Pate, Abigail Pate, Maggie Pate, Matthew Harbin, Ellen Marie Harbin and John Dairell Harbin. A memorial service was held March 2, at First United Methodist Church of Plant City. Roll Tide.
Claude H. Ratcliff
Claude H. Ratcliff, 83, of Plant City, died Feb. 18, 2014. He was a decorated veteran of the U.S. Air Force and retired after 20 years of service in Korea, Japan, Greenland and
Alaska. He owned an automotive dealership for many years. He was a member of the Plant City Elks Lodge No. 1727 and the First United Methodist Church of Plant City. He enjoyed sports, and was an avid Buccaneer and NASCAR fan. He was preceded in death by his wife, Faye Ratcliff. He is survived by his children, Steve Ratcliff (Gayle), Pam Kennard (John), Mark Ratcliff (Carol) and Mike Ratcliff (Michelle); life-partner Glenna Ratcliff; six grandchildren; and five greatgrandchildren. A Celebration of Life was held Feb. 21, at Hopewell Funeral Home, Plant City. Interment with military honors followed at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org. Online condolences may be made at wecare.io.
William Henry Roetzheim
William Henry Roetzheim, 85, of Plant City, died Feb. 26, 2014. He was born in Chicago, and was a U.S. Army veteran, who served during the Korean War. Mr. Roetzheim was a highly successful gymnast, winning nine National Championships in AAU and NCAA competition. He was a member of two U.S. Olympic gymnastics teams (1948 and 1952). He was the first American to bring home gold in the Pan American Games in 1951. Mr. Roetzheim served as a superior judge at the Olympic Games in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996. In 1951 while a sophomore at Florida State University, Mr. Roetzheim single-handedly outscored all gymnastics teams in the National Collegiate
Gymnastic Championships, winning FSU the first national athletic team championship in any sport. Mr. Roetzheim was inducted into the Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1975, followed by his induction into the inaugural FSU Hall of Fame, Class of 1977. Mr. Roetzheim coached high school gymnastics for 14 years (1955 to 1968), winning three state championships. He served as gymnastics coach and later athletic director from 1968 to 1985, at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Betty Jo; sons, Richard (Kathy) and William Jr. (Marianne); daughter, Marlene Olson (John); sister, Helen Mehler; 10 grandchildren, Elizabeth, William III, Regina, Donnie, Eric, Mark, Kevin, Maggie, Kirsten and Alex; and one great-granddaughter, Reyna. A funeral service was held March 1, at Wells Memorial and Event Center. Burial took place at Oaklawn Cemetery West. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hillsborough County Animal Services or another charity of choice. Online condolences may be made to the family at wellsmemorial.com.
Emily Ann Smith
Emily Ann Smith, 73, of Plant City, died Feb. 21, 2014, at home. Born Dec. 9, 1940, in Minneapolis, Minn., she was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Helen Ahlberg Harlien. She was the wife of the late Donald Smith. Survivors include stepdaughters, Katherin Victorson, Sheila Feceri, Diane Suess and Barbara Smith; sister, Phyllis Nelson, niece, Frances Nelson; 16 grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren. She will be interred with her husband at a later date, at Florida National Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to the family at haughtfuneralhome.com.
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IT’S READ EVERYWHERE!
LAS VEGAS. Trevor and Julie Falls, along with daughter Piper, took their favorite newspaper with them to Las Vegas. This photo was taken at the top of the Stratosphere Tower. BLACK HILLS, S.D. Glenda and Ken Fryer visited the Crazy Horse Memorial. “We look forward to getting the Observer weekly,” they said. “Great to have more information about Plant City.”
DANVILLE, VT. Last fall, Randall and Nancy Miller took the Plant City Times & Observer on a trip to the Great Vermont Corn Maze in Danville, Vt. “We are holding the issue of the Observer that had an article about the Plant City corn maze,” Nancy says.
Snap a photo of you with the paper at your destination of choice and email it to Editor Michael Eng, meng@ plantcityobserver.com. Make sure you include your full name and where the photo was taken.
THIS WEEK’S CROSSWORD ANSWERS
ASHEVILLE, N.C. Mike Sweet, Shirley Spencer, Cindy Gutowski, Dr Greg Gutowski, Natalie Sweet and Steve Spencer (behind the sign) took their favorite newspaper with them on a trip to Asheville, N.C. Missing from photo are Laura and Bruce Curtis.
2013
BERMUDA. Walden Lake residents Andy and Patti Giangreco took the Plant City Times & Observer on a recent trip to Bermuda.
PANAMA. Walden Lake residents Van and Doris Barnes and Ann and Roy Berger took this photo while on a cruise to Panama.
THIS WEEK’S CRYPTOGRAM ANSWERS 1. A brawl was raging on the baseball field. One of the pitchers tried to step in and cool things down. “Hey, you guys! This is a no hitter,” he shouted. 2. A gardener was irritated with his new seedlings. “Why don’t you grow up?” he said. “We will when you stop potting us down,” the plants replied.
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Sports
YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Casey Decatur scores seven in Durant’s first lacrosse home game. 14 SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM
PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM
SIDELINES
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
not just for kicks by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
Dedication fuels Plant City karate master
+ Cougars, Raiders renew rivalry
Chris Welbon has been involved with karate for almost as long as he can remember and is living the dream as Plant City’s premier karate instructor.
On the boys’ side, March 4’s renewal of the Redman Rivalry was fairly close. Durant pulled away in the fourth inning and held on for a 3-0 victory at home, thanks to strong pitching from seniors Ryan Barfield and Jacob Scolaro. Together, they gave up three hits and one walk, and starter Scolaro was awarded the win. Raiders starter Miguel Martinez took the loss, after giving up one run in two innings of work, and PJ Almon was pulled after allowing the final two runs in one inning. Fortunately for Plant City, sophomore Billy McKay pitched the final three innings and gave up just two hits, while striking out three batters. The Lady Cougars, on the other hand, weren’t nearly as steady on the mound. They blew a 4-1 lead midway through the game, and allowed the Lady Raiders to take home a 12-6 win. It was a huge game for Plant City’s Kacie Booth and Avery Brown, who both finished with four RBI. Booth did it with a grand slam, going 1-for-3 on the day, while Brown went 4-for-5 and scored two runs.
It’s hard to compete with the Florida Strawberry Festival for attention, but Chris Welbon and members his karate club were hard to miss last Saturday. They gathered outside of Welbon’s Collins Street storefront early in the afternoon and hosted a “yard sale” to raise money for the club team’s impending travel expenses. With an extra $1,100, Welbon and his team are ready to do what they usually do: Compete to win. “We’ve had a phenomenal group of students that have come through,” Welbon says. “Just about all of my black belts have won first in state
and divisional competitions, went to a national tourney and won top three in the nation, something like that. I’m really blessed.” The club now is preparing for the first of its five or so competitions — an AAU travel competition in Palm Beach. Its constant success throughout its seven years in Plant City is partly the result of the students’ hard work, and partly the result of Welbon doing something he loves every day.
IN THE BEGINNING
Welbon, a Brandon native, was first introduced to karate at 8 years old — but not necessarily because he
found it on its own. “My mom actually got me into it, as an extracurricular activity to teach me some discipline,” he says. It didn’t take long before he fell in love with karate. As his skills developed, so did his karate IQ; and, as his IQ developed, so did his desire to help share the knowledge. At 16, he began teaching part-time with master Mark Pinner, currently based in Tampa, while also staying busy with competitions. When Welbon graduated and went to college, he began to ramp up his
SEE WELBON / PAGE 16
Justin Kline
Chris Welbon says his primary goal is to help his students realize their potential.
WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?
baseball by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
Learning is part of the job
FOOTBALL
+ Chase, Davis invited to Nike camp If you follow the college recruiting scene, you’ve probably heard Tavares Chase’s name quite a bit recently. The Plant City High School sophomore’s exposure tour has kicked into high gear since the Raiders’ season ended and, on the strength of some recent camp performances, has been invited to next week’s Nike Football Training Camp, in Orlando. Joining him will be Kenzie Davis, a newcomer to Durant High School by way of Mulberry. Davis, a lineman, has been compared to Montel McBride. It’s a part of Nike’s SPARQ program, which pairs some of the game’s elite trainers with high school players and uses a four-drill “test” to determine a player’s SPARQ Rating. After that, players split up for position-specific drills and competitions. The camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Austin Tindall Park.
PARKS AND REC
+ Fishing, softball registration still open Young anglers and older ballplayers might want to dust off their gear. The Plant City Recreation and Parks Department has announced registration for both the annual Youth Fishing Derby and adult league softball is open for a few more weeks. The fishing derby, open to children ages 5 to 15, will hold pre-registration until 5 p.m. Thursday, March 20, and will hold on-site registration from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. the day of the event. The derby will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 22, behind Plant City Stadium. As for softball, registration is open until March 28 and can be done online, atteamsideline.com/plantcity. For more, contact Deborah Haldane at dhaldane@ plantcitygov.com.
After losing four seniors to graduation, Durant’s pitching staff is eager to prove itself.
Justin Kline
LIFE AFTER DANISH Durant baseball lost four seniors to graduation — including Tyler Danish. Now, with a new pitching staff and a new district assignment, the Cougars have something to prove.
Sometimes, as the 80s hair rockers Cinderella once sang, “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” That’s not the case with Durant baseball, though. It knew exactly what it had with star pitcher Tyler Danish. But, now that he and two other pitchers have graduated, the Cougars have had to adjust to playing without 2013’s strong senior core. “We knew we were going to have to kind of change formats, but we still have some good pitching,” head coach Butch Valdes says. “They’re just young.” Young — and not too exposed to the varsity level. While four of the Cougars’ listed pitchers played on the varsity squad last season, Danish and Chaz Fowl-
er were on the mound 74 percent of the time. Add in Ryan Sullivan’s 16.1 innings pitched, the third-highest total on the 2013 team, and you’re looking at a figure of 81 percent. So, one could say the pressure is on the young guns, three juniors and two seniors, to get out there and produce. “That’s what we’re looking for,” Valdes says. “It’s their turn to step up and take control, and they’re doing a good job of it.” The Cougars started the season with a four-game win streak, in which they gave up only three runs — all to Riverview in the opener. The only setback the staff has faced so far was in their Feb. 28 matchup with Strawberry Crest, when Durant blew a 3-2 lead in the final inning by
allowing three runs. This also plays into another big change that happened this year: district reshuffling. Durant was previously a Class 8A school, but moved to Class 7A this year, joining the likes of Plant City, Strawberry Crest, Brandon and other unfamiliar foes. That, too, has factored into the Cougars’ approach. “Everybody in this district is scrappy,” Valdes says. “It’s going to be tough — could be a fourway race.” With that in mind, Valdes and his fellow coaches are trying this approach: “Don’t change.” “It’s been the same philosophy that we’ve always been preaching, but they’re just getting better at it,” he says. “We’ve
SEE BASEBALL / PAGE 16
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
“We definitely still hear from Tyler,” Butch Valdes says. “He comes over and sees us in the offseason, comes out and hangs out with us. He comes over and talks to the pitchers sometimes. Not too much — he’s still learning, himself — but any time the kids ask him something, he’s happy to jump in and offer advice. “Carmine Giardina (of the Anaheim Angels) helps out, sometimes,” Valdes says. “Ryan Raburn also comes down and has his offseason workouts with us. We’ve been very fortunate to have those guys around us.”
When I’m not on assignment, I sometimes find myself fielding questions about my job. A lot of the time, the question is something along the lines of, “How do you find your stories?” Other times, it’s something like, “How is such-and-such team doing, and how far can they go this year?” I don’t normally surprise people with my answers. But, there is one question I get every now and then that does surprise some people: “Do you like all sports?” If I said, JUSTIN KLINE “yes,” I’d be lying. Most sportswriters, broadcasters and other personalities you’ll meet will feel the same way. Fortunately for me, I don’t have to cover most of the sports I don’t like and will never have to if I don’t move to Europe. I don’t plan on ever moving to Europe. There are, however, a number of sports I don’t understand thoroughly, and that’s also not uncommon for my profession. You have to have at least a fundamental knowledge of most high school sports, and anyone wishing to cover professional or top-tier college-level sports had better have a deep understanding of what they’re talking about. In other cases, usually with niche sports, I have another job to do. My first real story assignment for a newspaper, not counting high school sports recaps, was to cover a twoday Lakeland waterskiing tournament in the summer of 2012. I had no idea how waterskiing competitions were judged, or how they
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I quickly noticed that lacrosse is much like hockey on feet. It also helped that the Cougars were riding so high, because their energy made for a lot of good photos. The Jefferson boys, on the other hand, weren’t really feeling it that night.
KLINE / PAGE 13 were organized, so the advice I got from my editor was simple: “You’d better start reading about it.” In that case, I had no choice — the writer for whom I was filling in happened to be the only one who knew how the sport worked. So, I did my homework on the sport, formed a fundamental knowledge of it and wrote a couple of articles. It’s kind of fun to learn a new sport one day and watch it in action the next, though I’ve only had to do it three-and-a-half times in my relatively short career. Other than the waterskiing tournament, all of the other instances happened here in Plant City. I say “three-and-a-half,” because I don’t know if I’d consider Flugtag to be a sport. I’d place it with things like NASCAR and figure skating on the “competition” side of the fence dividing competitions and sports, but some of you may not feel the same way. We’ll agree to disagree, in that case. The other two events, though, were definitely sports. You’ll recall that, in our last two issues, I wrote a story and snapped photos for the Charity Polo Classic. That was the first time I had ever done anything with polo that wasn’t buying shirts at Ralph Lauren. Doing the preview story before attending the match was crucial to my understanding of the sport because, as simple to understand as it actually is, I would have been totally lost had I just gone in there flying blind. It’s definitely a
niche sport, because of the amount of money involved, but it’s very cool. I’d absolutely watch it on television at a sports bar and get into it. More recently, you’ll notice this week’s lacrosse coverage — also my first time following the sport. I’ve attended a game before, right before I graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University, but didn’t really pay attention. I had just played basketball for two hours and do not remember why my buddy Smalls wanted to catch the game so badly, so I was unfocused and glued to my phone. We ended up leaving maybe 20 minutes after we got there, because eating Moe’s sounded like a better idea at the time. Despite last Wednesday’s nasty weather, it turned out to be a fun shoot. Many years spent around the game of hockey came in handy, because I quickly noticed that lacrosse is much like hockey on feet. It also helped that the Cougars were riding so high, because their energy made for a lot of good photos. The Jefferson boys, on the other hand, weren’t really feeling it that night. “Whatever,” their goalie chirped. “Hey, y’all won’t beat us in football, though!” I later learned that almost all of the Dragons are football players. So, if you want to get technical about it, Jefferson football got whooped by Durant that night. There are still a few things I’m teaching myself to pick up on but, unlike scoring waterskiing, I’ll enjoy retaining everything I learn for longer than three weeks.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM
CASEY DECATUR There were a few notable performances in both of Durant’s first-ever lacrosse home games, but nobody took over quite like Lady Cougars freshman Casey Decatur. She torched Jefferson’s defense to the tune of seven goals, securing a 12-4 lead and killing the Lady Dragons’ momentum spurts at all the right times. You were on fire Wednesday night. What were you feeling out there? I was feeling good. I was trying to get other girls to cut in through the middle, so I could pass to them, but Coach wanted a bigger margin in the score, so she just told me to go. So, I went. What’s your role on this team? I’m team captain, and I play midfield. I’ve been playing for four years, and (Beth Farrell) has been playing for two years. We’ve both played together, and we’re the only ones that literally know the game. So, we’ve been passing on knowledge. How has that been working out for you? It’s been really good, actually. Everybody’s picking it up quickly and making their passes and catches now. It’s good. What are some of your hobbies outside of lacrosse? I like playing basketball. I’m into running, like, just taking jogs and stuff. I like school. I like getting good grades, if that’s a hobby. I like
being in school and interacting with other people.
Did you play for the high school’s basketball team? Yes, I was a forward and a point guard. At the end of the season, I was pulled up to play two games in their playoffs. What’s your favorite thing about school? Learning new stuff. I’m in AP Human Geography, and you get to learn all of these new things that you don’t normally think about. It’s learning about where people live, why they live there and other aspects of culture. What are your expectations for this season? In the beginning, I thought it was going to be just a progress season for everybody. But, actually, we’re a competitive team now. Everybody’s learning how to catch and throw, and I think we’re going to be tough competition for these clubs.
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home sweet home by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
The boys are more physical on the lacrosse field and often find themselves on the ground.
Durant lacrosse steamrolls Jefferson in first home games The first home games in Durant High School lacrosse history couldn’t have gone much better for the Cougars. Although the Feb. 26 weather caused an issue before the first face-off — rainstorms delayed Jefferson High School’s arrival by more than an hour — that was Durant’s only problem. The boys won their match by a score of 8-1, and the girls turned up the offense even more in a 12-4 win. The boys did most of their work in the first half, scoring six times before the Dragons could get on the board to open the second half. Six players scored for Durant, including strong performances from Connor Ellis (two goals), Jordan Jolly (two goals) and Nick Lampp (goal, two assists). Also of note was Robert Seguin’s first-ever attempt at playing goalie, which came in the second half — the bluechip prospect, normally a midfielder, switched for the
Durant and Jefferson players fight for a ground ball.
Freshman Mitchell Tyler found himself on the score sheet after setting up a Zach Goble goal.
Jefferson defenders got scrappy around the net. second half and played well after allowing the Dragons’ lone goal. Jefferson’s girls found the back of the net a little more often but could not find an answer for the Lady Cougars’ potent offense. Three girls scored at least two goals in the match: Casey Decatur led everybody with seven, while Ally
Louden and Baylee Cawells each finished with two. Beth Farrell scored once for Durant. Both teams will be on the road until March 19, when Freedom High School will come to town. The boys will play at 6:30 p.m., and the girls will follow immediately at 8 p.m.
Cecil Caldwaller showed off his offensive skill.
Durant’s offense was one or two steps ahead of the Lady Dragons all night.
ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP BASEBALL / PAGE 13 been fortunate to have a strong pitching staff throughout the years, and Danish was just a very bright spot in our history.” Of course, it’s tough for any of these pitchers to replicate Danish’s 2013 season — none of them is a big league-caliber player who gets mobbed
by MLB and college scouts on most days. So, obviously, something has to change to take some pressure off of their shoulders, and the Cougars all agree that that’s going to happen at the plate. “We have a lot of potential — really good hitting that people don’t know about,” junior second baseman Cade Kelley
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says. “I mean, everyone knows our pitching isn’t near what we had last year, and that’s what they bank on. They’re like, ‘Oh, we can get them.’ But, we still swing the bats, and we’ve got some of the most high-scoring games so far.” It’s true. Durant put up 40 runs in its first five games, while Strawberry Crest scored
33 through their first five, Plant City scored 22, and Brandon scored 16. Senior Tyler Long has been raking lately, batting .667 with five runs and three RBI, and fellow senior Garrett Wright sits at .500 with eight runs and six RBI. As a whole, the team is batting .328 — the next-closest team is Strawberry Crest, which is batting .288.
All of this certainly helps the pitching staff maintain its 1.81 ERA, which is largely due to the pitching of lefty Bryce Gainer. Valdes has called the junior, who appears to be taking over Danish’s workload, a “bright spot” for this season, and it’s not hard to see why. In 16 innings pitched, he’s fanned 17 batters and allowed just five earned runs. Durant is only one game out of first place in the district, by virtue of having played fewer games than half of the other
WELBON / PAGE 13 teaching efforts — the extra free time he now had made it easier to juggle instructing with his competing and studying. During this time, he was also a member of the U.S. Karate Team and won a silver and a bronze medal at a world championship tournament in Orlando. His turning point came at age 23, when he married his wife and had children. “That was a lot on my plate, so I started competing less,” Welbon says. “I also put a greater focus on teaching, and that’s when I started at the college.”
KINDLING THE FIRE
Welbon’s venture into teaching initially began with a small class at South Florida Baptist Hospital and eventually jumped to Hope Lutheran Church. It was the perfect venue for Welbon’s program, which incorporates Christian faith and teachings. “That was back when (Hope Lutheran) had a school, and the program really took off there,” Welbon says. “The student base was very good, and it was a good fit.” At that point, he decided to stay in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World to continue teaching. But, he won’t say that he chose Plant City. “I’d say Plant City picked me,” he says. He moved his classes to Hillsborough Community College after Hope Lutheran and remained there until 2007. That was when he decided it was finally time to go big and open his own shop. The club on Collins has been going strong ever since. And, it also gave Welbon a more traditional environment to practice his craft. “We’re very much a traditional school, in that we don’t do gymnastics, cartwheels, any extra stuff like that,” he says. “But, we teach in a modern way, with modern training activities — plyometrics, highenergy activities. Our competition team focuses on conditioning and taking our training to the next level.” Indeed. Although the younger kids have fun at times with dodgeball and foam-sword fights, Welbon doesn’t play around with his older students. His goal is to get maximum effort from every student to get the best possible results. “These competitions are qualifiers,” Welbon says. “Not just anybody off the street can
teams, but that loss to the Chargers (currently behind the Cougars in the standings) complicates things somewhat. The Cougars may not be underdogs this season, but they’re suddenly not the unanimous favorite to win anymore. Still, this is just fuel for the fire — something that motivates the pitchers, the batters, everybody. “We’re going to surprise some people this year,” Kelley says. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
ABOUT THE CLUB Normal operations are from 5 to 9 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, but the club does hold private lessons earlier in the day. Homeschool classes and tournament training are held Fridays. The club also knows how to have fun, hosting birthday parties on Saturdays. “The kid gets to be black belt for the day, and they cut the cake with a samurai sword,” Welbon says. Every summer, the club also holds a summer camp for kids to learn more about karate, play outside and have fun. For more information, contact Chris Welbon at (813) 752-9800, or visit chriswelbonkarate.com. show up and do them. You actually have to be pretty good.” His students are definitely “pretty good.” Take Plant City High School senior Nick Gorman, for example. Back in January, Gorman traveled to Munich, Germany, to represent the U.S. in an international competition, where he took second place in kumite and third in sparring. “I’m looking for some more national champs this year,” Welbon says. “Several of my kids are going to compete in the advanced division for the first time this year, so I’m preparing them for team trials.”
FOR THE REST OF US
“I want to see students grow and reach their goals,” Welbon says. “Whether it’s adults who want to lose weight or kids whose parents want them to learn discipline, and anyone who just wants to become a better person overall.” Welbon, his staff of four fulltime instructors and a revolving cast of student volunteers run normal operations from Monday to Thursday and save their most intense competition training day for Friday. On Saturdays, they sometimes host fundraisers. Last year, the club raised almost $10,000 between its sponsors, fundraisers and donations. The club also hosts birthday parties for kids. “We try to make it a family atmosphere, but we also train really hard,” Welbon says. “We don’t want to be just another ‘McDojo.’” Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
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PLANT CITY
RAIN
(INCHES)
WEATHER
WED.
Feb. 26
0.00
THURS.
TEMPERATURES
Feb. 27
0.00
FRI.
0.00
SAT.
March 1
0.00
SUN.
0.00
MON.
March 3
0.00
TUES.
March 4
0.00
MARCH
TO DATE
0.00 (2013: 0.00)
YEAR
TO DATE 2.06 (2013: 1.35)
HIGH 74 71 74 78 79 81 80
Thurs., March 6 Fri., March 7 Sat., March 8 Sun., March 9 Mon., March 10 Tues., March 11 Wed., March 12
Feb. 28
March 2
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SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES Thurs., March 6 Fri., March 7 Sat., March 8 Sun., March 9 Mon., March 10 Tues., March 11 Wed., March 12
SUNRISE 6:48 a.m. 6:47 a.m. 6:46 a.m. 7:45 a.m. 7:44 a.m. 7:43 a.m. 7:42 a.m.
SUNSET 6:31 p.m. 6:32 p.m. 6:33 p.m. 7:33 p.m. 7:34 p.m. 7:34 p.m. 7:34 p.m.
LOW 60 46 49 53 55 60 60
MOON PHASES
March 16
March 23
STRAWBERRY PRICES CENTRAL FLORIDA PRODUCT LOW 8 1-pound containers $6.90
HIGH $8.90
Statistics courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture
March 1
March 8
, 3&
Linda Wheelock submitted this beautiful shot featuring Plant City’s “other” notable claim to fame: its railroad system. 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. Winners can pick up their prize at The Corner Store.
HAVE A BALL!
By Mary Jersey | Edited by Timothy E. Parker ACROSS 1 Get into 7 Move through mud 12 Like a mobbed-up politician 19 Frosty’s pipe type 21 Invisible emanations 22 Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia 23 Fall sport 25 Dresses up 26 H, spelled 27 Professional athletes, essentially 29 Lawn growth 32 Elder Bush’s onetime domain 34 Bit of inheritance 35 Cover with graffiti, e.g. 36 Wives of a sultan, collectively 37 Ages on end 39 Hamlet was one 41 Bitter brews 42 Major Ukraine port 44 “Are we there ___?” 46 Banish 49 ___ Andreas fault 50 Prefix meaning “new” 53 Sofa accessories 59 Commerce imbalance 62 Trampled (on) 63 Coin-___ (vending machines) 64 Sturgeon eggs 65 Heads off at the pass 67 At ___ (disagreeing) 69 Consort of Zeus 70 One way to watch sports 76 Ear projection 77 Impolitely abrupt 78 Annual 79 Sailor’s “yes”
80 83 85 89 92 93 94 95 97 100 103 106 109 110 113 115 116 117 120 122 123 128 129 130 131 132 133
It may cook your goose Colorless Like a ball batted between the lines “Blerg” and “Bazinga!” No longer changeable De-squeak A little more than a quart, to a Brit Water blocker Acquired deservedly Bean choice Gorby’s former domain Sudden desire Blush Addresses the crowd Situated above “Please, make yourself comfortable” Electric dart shooter Able to shrink Orchestra offering Rabbit ears, e.g. Some milk containers Boston ___ (dog) Brainy club Italian province or its capital Classroom needs In a crooked position Usher elsewhere
DOWN 1 Be a stage performer 2 Make like a dove 3 Grand ___ (wine bottle words) 4 Boxes, in a way 5 Faction makers 6 Like down 7 Formed a lap 8 Auto-service job 9 Arboreal ape (Abbr.)
SUDOKU PACIFIC Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 24 28 29 30 31 33 38 40 43 45 47 48 51 52 54 55 56 57 58 60 61 66 68 69 70 71
Added flavor to an ear City not far from Butte Painting unit Group of eight Bind again Picnic spoiler All in your mind Stab Pieces of armor Lawn ball game State with a pennantshape flag Sign up for more issues Author’s “writer” Air-traffic control device Place to play basketball “___ port in a storm” Paving block Canadian National Leaguer no more Cherub Choked Apple seed Golfing champ Ernie English noble Fiber-___ Took a bus In a curious way Cookie for some twisters Like secondhand clothing Neptune’s realm Palm fruit Holiday brink Buddhist shrine Intrudes by oozing “Wassup?” Bean used to make miso Lend criminal support to
© 2013 Universal Uclick
72 73 74 75 76 80 81 82 84 86 87 88 90
Cenozoic and Big Band Area between big hills All riled up Crazy like a fox Fond du ___, Wis. ___ Beta Kappa Make a decision “No ___ Traffic” (street sign) Biblical birthright seller Something extra Feudal superior Church leader Rattling noises
91 96 98 99 100 101 102 104 105 107 108
Past tense of 133-Across Post-wedding title Sports Illustrated piece City pests Find Presser, of sorts Chanted word The scarlet letter, for one Paso ___, Calif. Hobbling gait Fancy little sewing cases
111 Sesame Street denizen 112 More down-to-earth 114 Piece of timber 118 Motor vehicles 119 In ___ (actual) 121 Dallas Cowboys emblem 124 Noticed 125 “... ___ he drove out of sight” 126 Cell “messenger,” briefly 127 Drunkard
C RY P T O G R A M S 1. H GQHVB VHU QHEPRE NR MDZ GHUZGHBB LPZBC. NRZ NL MDZ WPMSDZQU MQPZC MN UMZW PR HRC SNNB MDPREU CNVR. “DZI, INJ E J I U ! M D P U P U H R N D P M M Z Q ,” D Z U D N J M Z C . 2 . X P X K I W J W K R X C N K K N U X U W I R N U V V N C J W R C W W I S N J P C . “ RV F I M J ’ U F M Y P K M R Y D ? ” V W C X N I . “ RW R N S S RV W J F M Y C U M D D M U U N J P Y C I M R J ,” U V W D S X J U C K W D S N W I .
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