05.05.17 PCTO

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

Cheerleaders bring it on. SEE PAGE 13.

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 4, NO. 43

FREE

•

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

Herr to accept job in Winter Haven Pending approval of a contract by the Winter Haven City Commission, Mike Herr is planning to leave Plant City in June.

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

File Photo

Mike Herr has served in Plant City since 2014.

YOUR TOWN

Mike Herr is going home.

In a move that took Plant City by surprise, City Manager Mike Herr decided Tuesday, May 2, to accept

an offer from the Winter Haven City Commission to become Winter Haven’s next City Manager with a scheduled start date of Monday, June 12.

“I have been offered a position with the City of Winter Haven as their next city manager,” Herr said. “The finan-

cial terms were quite attractive.”

Herr was offered a starting salary of $175,000 per year for his first six months of employment in Winter Haven. The salary, he said, would increase to $180,000 per year after six months.

Herr became Plant City’s city manager on Sept. 9, 2014, with a starting salary of $150,000 per year. Since then, his annual salary has increased to about $165,000.

Unbeknownst to Plant City commissioners, Winter Haven first began courting Herr in early April. He was contacted by Colin Baenziger, president of Colin Baenziger and Associates, a Daytona Beach Shores firm contracted by the Winter Haven City Commission to fill the city manager position left vacant when former City Manager Deric Feacher was fired in SEE HERR PAGE 5

THE FORCE AWAKENS

IN PLANT CITY Local man’s droid was a hit at Star Wars Celebration Orlando. SEE PAGE 6.

Courtesy photo

Spencer and Lindsey Sikes married March 10, 2017.

Wedding Bliss Larry and Jamie Farkas, of Plant City, are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter, Lindsey Farkas, to Spencer Sikes, son of Steve and Tina Sikes, of Dover.

Spencer and Lindsey Sikes were married March 10, 2017, in a beautiful ceremony at The Lange Farm, Dade City.

The couple honeymooned in St. Lucia, and will live in Plant City.

Memorial Day ceremony set for May 29 Plant City’s Norman McLeod American Legion Post #26 will host the annual Plant City Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 29, at the American Legion, 2007 W. Baker St. Residents are invited to participate in the ceremony by placing a floral offering at the American Legion’s flag pole when called on behalf of clubs, organizations and businesses.

Those interested in participating are encouraged to contact Julian Womble at (813) 7528608, or Alvin McGary at (813) 681-1675.

A Memorial Day lunch at the American Legion will follow the ceremony.

Photo by Kylie Harris

A young Leia finds the droid she was looking for.

Guacamole Queens take PCE stage The third play in a trilogy featuring the Verdeen cousins, “Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens” will run for two weekends and features familiar faces on the PCE stage.

EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

A blown-up gymnasium, a puppet master and a tap dance on a casket.

Planning a high school reunion is harder than the Verdeen cousins — the all-gal trio of Peaches, Gaynelle and Jimmie Wyvette Verdeen — ever imagined.

On Friday, May 5, the cousins will

return to the Plant City Entertainment stage for the theater’s production of “The Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens.”

Plant City Entertainment fans of “The Red Velvet Cake War” and “Rex’s Exes” will be glad to see the show finally making its way to the stage. The upcoming production is the final play in a trilogy produced by playwrights Jessie Jones, Nick Hope

and Jamie Wooten, better known as Jones Hope Wooten Comedies. The theater produced “The Red Velvet Cake War” in 2012, followed by “Rex’s Exes” in 2016.

But, as director Kay Secord said, theater patrons don’t have to have seen the prior shows to enjoy Last Round-Up laughs: a lovestruck uncle, a manners-minding aunt and a mortuarial cosmetologist who can’t snag a date.

“The play catches you up on what you missed,” Secord said. “But it doesn’t confuse you.”

Emily Topper

SEE PLAY PAGE 5

Mollie Anderson, Judy Barta and Kelley Gustafson share a scene.

2

WHAT’S HAPPENING

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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WEEK OF MAY 5, 2017

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

“I’ve always been the type that says, ‘I’m going to figure out how to do it.”

—Kaitlyn Van Lenten received the 2017 Presidential Spotlight Award from HCC’s Plant City campus. SEE PAGE 3.

Ranked in the state Tomlin Middle School FFA students Addison Raburn, Brooklyn Zajac, Brenna Sturgis, Emma Stephens, Avery Surrency, Aidan Vaughan and Sophia Pal recently competed in the Ornamental Horticulture demonstration and won first place in their respective divisions at the district level.

Five students went on to compete at the state level, and placed in the top five.

Brooklyn Zajac and Addison Rayburn placed second in the landscaping division.

Avery Surrency took first place in the consumer use division, and Sophia Pal and Aidan Vaughan took fourth place in the state for the artistic arrangement division.

PCHS class of 1957 donates to hospital Future surgery patients at South Florida Baptist Hospital will know the generosity of Plant City High School alumni.

Members of the school’s graduating class of 1957 donated $5,000 to the hospital, presenting a check on Wednesday, May 3. For their donation, the hospital is naming patient room 238 in the second floor’s south wing in the class’s honor, with a commemorative plaque to be ordered and installed soon.

A ribbon cutting was held for the Pregnancy Care Center of Plant City’s expansion Saturday, April 29.

Celebrating Growth

T

he Pregnancy Care

The expansion to the fa-

Center of Plant

cility was originally slated

City, in conjunction

for an estimated cost of

with the Greater Plant City

$138,000. With the help of

Chamber of Commerce, cut

labor and material donations

the ribbon on its new, nearly

from the greater Plant City

1,350-square-foot expansion

community, largely thanks to

Saturday, April 29. Following

the efforts of Clayton Jenkins,

the ribbon cutting, the center

the privately-funded, pro-life

commemorated the occasion

organization was able to save

and its 25th anniversary with

about $40,000 on the project.

a celebration.

Photos by Daniel Figueroa IV

—DANIEL FIGUEROA IV

Clayton Jenkins and Darlene Davis spearheaded the expansion.

Countless Kids Benefit from Your Support

South Florida Baptist Hospital’s Wellness on Wheels program provides health services to thousands of your friends, neighbors and coworkers. This invaluable community resource would not be possible without the support of the Children’s Classic and these important donors.

Thank you for your invaluable support of the 2017 Children’s Classic Golf Tournament

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

3

A HEART FOR

HEALING Kaitlyn Van Lenten received the 2017 Presidential Spotlight Award from Hillsborough Community College, but the vet tech student always has a reason to keep pushing forward.

EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

When she was 15 months old, doctors told Kaitlyn Van Lenten’s parents that she had less than a 5% chance of survival.

Diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis, Van Lenten’s blood had stopped flowing to her extremities.

Her parents spotted a rash on her hip.

She had a soaring fever. And then, her hands and fingertips started to turn black.

At the hospital, specialists recommended an amputation of Van Lenten’s arm up to her elbow so that she could use a prosthetic. But a primary care physician stepped in, insisting that only Van Lenten’s hand be amputated.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do anything,” Van Lenten said.

Able to retain abilities in her elbow and lower arm, Van Lenten refused to accept any limitations with her disability and went on to pursue the same activities as many of her peers — without a prosthetic.

“I was a junior lifeguard, I played lacrosse,” she said. “I’ve always been the type that says, ‘I’m going to figure out how to do it.’ My parents never let me use it as an excuse, either.”

In the fall of 2015, Van Lenten enrolled in Hillsborough Community College’s veterinary technology program. In addition to graduating from the program next week, Van Lenten is also the recipient of the 2017 Presidential Spotlight Award for the Plant City campus, awarded to students who excel in the face of adversity.

But Van Lenten, while grateful to receive the award, doesn’t view her disability as something meant to overcome.

“It’s a little weird to me to think that it’s special,” she said. “I’ve done everything my whole life with one hand. Everyone’s got their thing that makes things hard for them.”

During one of her externships, Quail Hollow Animal Hospital offered Van Lenten a weekend job in clinical pathology, a position she’s held since September.

“I love my job that I have right now,” Van Lenten said. “I’m hoping to get a job at an emergency clinic and do both.”

Last week, Van Lenten took part in the school’s pinning ceremony with her fellow vet tech graduates. With family members in town from Massachusetts for the event, Van Lenten got her vet tech insignia. And while audience members may have thought that she’d overcome her greatest battle yet, Van Lenten knew otherwise.

Following the ceremony, Van Lenten got off the stage and broke down.

In the audience, someone was missing — a presence that Van Lenten felt every day.

KEVIN WAS HERE

The number 3 is tattooed on Van Lenten’s arm. Under it is a line from ‘The Sandlot’: Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.

Eighteen months younger than his artsy, animal-loving sister, Kevin “K.V.L.” Van Lenten was happy, extroverted, easily popular. A threesport captain at Masconomet Regional High, Kevin Van Lenten was happiest on the basketball court, the soccer field or holding a lacrosse stick.

But while they were growing up, Kaitlyn Van Lenten thought her younger brother was a pain.

“We were mean to each other,” she said. “During high school, I was jealous because he could make friends with everyone. We shared a car while we were growing up, and he would leave it messy.”

The middle children between their

THE KVL FOUNDATION

Kaitlyn Van Lenten may have received an award for her college success, but her family has been helping other students achieve academic dreams of their own.

After her brother, Kevin Van Lenten, passed away, the Van Lenten family and Kevin’s girlfriend, Bradi True, started The KVL Foundation. To date, the founda-

tion has awarded 21 college scholarships and plans to award six more scholarships this year.

“We sponsored a runner in the Boston Marathon,” Kaitlyn Van Lenten said. “We are also in the process of building basketball courts ... in honor of my brother’s love for playing hoops.”

Facebook: KVL Foundation

“Getting through a day without my brother is way harder than getting through life with one hand ... I don’t want people to forget that my brother existed. It breaks my heart that no one here could have met him.”

— Kaitlyn Van Lenten

brothers, Christopher and Tighe, Kaitlyn and Kevin Van Lenten eventually became closer as they got older. By the time they were in their 20s, the two were best friends.

“We started going on double dates,” she said. “I loved his friends. We would go out for drinks together.”

Kevin Van Lenten suffered a heart arrhythmia in November 2014. He was 24.

And Kaitlyn Van Lenten, who had never met a challenge she couldn’t overcome, who had never taken ‘no’ for an answer, had to find a way to live without her younger brother.

“He was a really special person,” she said. “He was the light of our family.”

Two months before his death, Kevin Van Lenten became an organ donor.

Seven of his organs went to different people.

During the visiting hours at his funeral, a line nearly three hours long formed outside. The mailman from Kevin Van Lenten’s job showed up.

“That speaks to the people that he loved and who loved him,” Kaitlyn Van Lenten said.

At the time, Kaitlyn Van Lenten was teaching preschool but was unhappy with her job. After his death, she had trouble getting off of her couch for two months.

Animals — and helping them — became her solace. Long a fan of hamsters, dogs and all things furry, Kaitlyn Van Lenten enrolled at HCC to pursue the life she knew her brother would have wanted her to have.

“Getting through a day without my brother is way harder than getting through life with one hand,” she said.

“But I don’t want sympathy. I don’t want people to forget that my brother existed. It breaks my heart that no one here could have met him. I just want to talk about him all the time.

It’s sad that no one knows the Katie with three brothers. They know the Katie with two brothers, and one who passed away.”

She cried after her pinning ceremony, knowing her brother would have been cheering loudly in the audience.

“He would have been screaming and yelling,” she said. “He would have been super proud of me.”

Her shirt sleeve shifts and her tattoo pops into view. Even though he’s not physically with her, he’s there, watching, supporting, wanting her to keep going.

And so she does, wiping the tears from her eyes and getting ready for her next endeavor, a life worth living for her – and for Kevin.

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

Emily Topper

Kaitlyn Van Lenten received the 2017 Presidential Spotlight Award from Hillsborough Community College’s Plant City campus this year. She will soon graduate from the school’s vet tech program.

4

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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FROM HERR PAGE 1

IF YOU GO

September 2016.

Baenzinger said he had been talking to Herr for about three weeks. Baenzinger said Herr was initially intrigued by the offer, but indicated he had no intention to leave Plant City. After some consideration and prayer, Herr said, he decided to accept the offer, notifying Baenzinger during the middle of last week. Baenzinger then informed the Winter Haven City Commission he found a name and a special meeting was held on Monday, May 1, to discuss Herr.

Winter Haven commissioners voted 4-0 to make Herr the offer.

“It’s really surprising to me,” Plant City Commissioner Mike Sparkman said. “I didn’t know anything about it.

I found it in the Ledger (of Lakeland).”

The Ledger first reported the Winter Haven offer the morning of Tuesday, May 2. Many commissioners and city officials said they first learned Herr might be leaving through the report. Later in the day, Herr confirmed he’d be accepting it.

“I was completely surprised,” City Attorney Ken Buchman said. “I didn’t know until I saw it in the paper.”

Prior to working in Plant City, Herr served more than two years as the city of Tampa’s public works and utility services administrator. Before that he worked briefly in the private sector, but spent most of his career in Polk County. In Polk, Herr was the town manager of Dundee from 1980 to 1985, Lakeland’s director of public works from 1992 to 1998 and Polk County’s director of transportation from 1998 to 2003 before serving as Polk County Manager from 2003 to 2010.

“I think he’s a wonderful guy and his resume is outstanding,” Winter Haven City Commissioner Brad Dantzler, who has known Herr for about 15 years, said. “I think he’s a good manager. He ran Polk County with a $1.5 billion budget and 2,000 employees, so he knows what he’s doing.”

During his time in Plant City, Herr had a strong focus on economic development. At a recent City Commission meeting, Commissioner Nate Kilton praised Herr’s efforts, saying he’s heard nothing but positive feed-

‘LAST ROUND-UP OF THE GUACAMOLE QUEENS’ When: 8 p.m. Friday, May 5, Saturday, May 6, Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13; 2 p.m. Sunday, May 7 and Sunday, May 14 Where: 101 N. Thomas St. Tickets: Tickets are $16 for adults, and $14 for students and seniors with ID Info: PCEShows.com Emily Topper

CeeCee Windham: Heather Baughman LaMerle Verdeen: Judy Barta Peaches Verdeen Belrose: Mollie Anderson Gaynelle Verdeen Bodeen: Kelley Gustafson Jimmie Wyvette Verdeen: Susan Donnelly Aubrey Verdeen: Ben Rawnsley Dixie Davenport/Tanzie Lockhart: Jeri Scheller Dewey Davenport: Paul Hetrick Raynerd Chisum: John Harrer Ennis Crowder Puckett: Sheilia Stacy-Taylor Della Crowder: Betty Roney Grover Lout: John Parker Jr. Director: Kay Secord Production Manager: Shirley Outen Stage Manager: Linda Rembowski Set Design/Construction: Paul Hetrick Costumes: Carol Finke Technical Manager/ Lights: Tyler Hollis Sound Tech: J.R. Pitts Board Liaison: Victor Hamilton

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.

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after the vote.

Herr would not discuss the contents of the meeting, but those with knowledge of the meeting said Herr was “raked over the coals” by Sparkman.

Sparkman said he was only trying to give Herr more information.

His comments, and the subsequent meeting, he said, were not meant to intimidate.

“I don’t think it was a threat,” Sparkman said. “I think it’s me doing my job.”

Dodson said he was taken aback by Sparkman’s comments at the meeting and described them as “derogatory” and “unnecessary.” Dodson said he was surprised by the timing of Herr’s decision to leave Plant City, but felt it was coming eventually. Dodson said he sensed Herr was “under duress” and “that he had a significant level of discomfort in his working relationship with some.”

Herr did not say whether his interactions with Sparkman had any sway on his decision to leave Plant City.

The money from Winter Haven, he said, was right, and it was an opportunity to return to the county where he spent most of his career. It would also be a return to a city, he said, that has rich tourism, medical and economic development industries.

“The opportunity to go back where I spent most of my career and work with a lot of people really pinged at my heart,” Herr said.

Though surprised, City Commissioners offered supportive words.

“I didn’t blame him for taking it,” Sparkman said. “I always like seeing people improve their place and their stature. He’s bettering himself, and he’s going home.”

Per Herr’s contract, he is required to submit a letter to the City Commission giving 30-days notice of intent to resign. Once Winter Haven approves the contract, he said, he plans on notifying the city his last day will be June 2.

A special meeting regarding the open City Manager position will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 8, at City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds St.

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5

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

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To contact us, send your information via: Email: Emily Topper, etopper@ PlantCityObserver.com.

Mail: The Plant City Times & Observer, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103, Plant City, FL 33563

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And while the gal-pal Verdeen cousins are often misguided — though it’s nothing a comfort can of ReddiWip can’t fix — the audience is bound to root for the town troublemakers anyway.

Kelley Gustafson directed “The Red Velvet Cake War,” the first show in the trilogy. This time, she’s taking the stage as Gaynelle Verdeen, a former Sweetgum, Texas, Guacamole Queen who just attended the funeral of her hated ex-husband.

“She’s a character that I feel like I know,” Gustafson said. “She overcomes a lot of challenges with comedy. I find that endearing because she always comes out on the other side with a smile on her face.”

The show was cast in February, and cast members have rehearsed two or three times per week to nail down the details of the ‘Southern-fried farce.’

Regular theater patrons will likely see familiar faces on the PCE stage.

Multiple actors are reprising their former roles in the trilogy, including Mollie Anderson, Judy Barta and Jeri Scheller.

The show will start at 8 p.m. Friday, May 5, Saturday, May 6, Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13, and at 2 p.m.

Sunday, May 7, and Sunday, May 14.

Tickets are $16 for adults, and $14 for students and seniors with ID. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for $12 per person at Hardee’s Fashions, 1501 N. Wheeler St.

MEET THE CAST AND CREW

238902

Mollie Anderson plays Peaches Verdeen.

back from developers currently working in Plant City.

Herr’s loss, while not insurmountable, Kilton said, would be a big one.

“It’s going to be a challenge to replace him,” Kilton said. “It’s going to be a bump in the road for sure, but we’re going to be charging forward.

We’ve set the stage for a lot of development. I think Plant City is a great place for the next city manager to come in.”

Herr said his inclusionary style of leadership allowed for the creation of a strong team that will be able to continue the work he began. Midtown, he said, can still be a reality in 2017.

“I think we served the city very well, had the opportunity to bring in a new leadership team, made a lot of improvements and got a lot of projects done,” Herr said. “I think we’ve set the table now for future economic development to be a real opportunity.”

Herr’s departure is the latest in a string of city managers who’s time with the city came to early ends.

“In each of those instances, their (former city managers) departure was also at a time when they were dealing with some similar unfortunate relationships during the end of their tenures,” Vice-Mayor Bill Dodson said.

“There’s a history. Not a history of the commission, but a history of membership of the commission.”

At a Monday, March 27, City Commission meeting, Sparkman disagreed with Herr over Herr’s recommendation to purchase two pieces of transportation equipment for about $130,000.

“I didn’t appreciate the city manager not bringing me up and discussing this, because some of the details which he said are not true and are not factual,” Sparkman said at the meeting. “But ... I’ll be right. I’ll be right and I’ll be back.”

The commission voted that night to approve the purchase of the equipment.

“I didn’t appreciate it. I have my opinions and I’m not a rubber stamper,” Sparkman said of the comments.

“But If I get outvoted, which I did, I’m a team player.”

Sparkman then requested a meeting with Herr to further discuss the issue. A meeting was held two days

|

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

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

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

6

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

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John Harris completed his droid just in time for Star Wars Celebration Orlando.

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A few weeks ago, Jedis, Siths, smugglers and princesses alike gathered in Orlando for the biggest convention of Star Wars fandom in the galaxy, Star Wars Celebration Orlando 2017.

And for one Plant City man, the weekend was a long, long time in the making.

John Harris, 47, a resident of the Walden Lake neighborhood, debuted his homemade, life-size astromech droid, the same kind made popular in the Star Wars franchise, during Celebration. He was part of the R2 Builders Club, a group of fans dedicated to making realistic replicas of the galaxy’s most famous droid.

Harris’ droid is modeled after the R2-J8 model seen in the ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ animated television series. Harris said most of the droids he’d seen were R2-D2 replicas and he wanted to try something a little different.

“When I see pictures, it’s usually R2-D2,” Harris said. “I wanted a little more freedom.”

Harris started the build after finding a smaller R2-D2 at a garage sale. It was motorized, but didn’t work. Harris, who spends much of his free time tinkering with electronics and wood working ­— he has built and restored many arcade-style video game cabinets — decided he might tinker with his new toy.

Then, he thought, why not put the time into building a real one?

“I started in November 2013, but it wasn’t steady,” Harris said. “I would work on it in my spare time for a few months and then stop completely for three or four months, then go back to it.”

Harris said his interest in droid building goes back to the formation of the R2 Builders Club in 1999, but

Daniel Figueroa IV

John Harris created a handmade droid.

quality parts weren’t readily available. Now, though, with the availability of 3-D printing and the Builders Club internet forums, it was more feasible.

“It’s a very cooperative build,” Harris said.

Star Wars Celebration often changes locations. Last year, it was held in the United Kingdom and the year before it was held in Anaheim, California. With this year’s convention in Orlando, it was just the motivation he needed to complete his build.

He finished within days of the convention and said it was well worth it.

The droid was a hit, he said. Harris and his daughter, Kylie Harris, couldn’t make it a few feet without being stopped for photos.

“The color scheme on his droid was really unique and he paid a lot of attention to detail, so I think that’s why it got a lot of attention,” Kylie said. “He was able to control it with small hand-held remotes, so people wouldn’t really notice it was his. It just looked like a droid from the movie minding its own business.”

A 100-foot walk could take them an hour, Harris said.

The slow pace was well worth it thanks to the expressions he saw on the faces of children when the droid would light up, spin, beep and whirl.

“To me it was just a bunch of parts,” Harris said. “But to the kids, it’s magic.”

Harris said he plans on taking R2-J8 to another Orlando convention, MegaCon, in May and looks forward to teaming with fellow builders to do charity work, like visiting children hospitals, with the droid.

Contact Daniel Figueroa IV at dfigueroa@ plantcityobserver.com

WOODEN LEGS

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

|

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

7

WE’RE PUTTING SCIENCE TO WORK TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.

Every day, Mosaic puts science to work right here in our community.

By applying innovative techniques, we’re improving processes and limiting our impact on the environment. We’re reducing freshwater consumption through cogeneration and planting hundreds of thousands of trees each year. This assures everyone has clean water to drink and fresh air to breathe. Josh, an environmental services chemist at Mosaic’s South Pierce processing lab, works to ensure that water quality across Mosaic’s operations meets strict

To learn more about Mosaic’s leadership in reclamation ecology, visit MosaicCo.com/Florida.

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environmental standards.

8

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

OWNER’S REPORT

FELIX HAYNES

Words Matter Felix Haynes discusses the importance of conveying meanings and messages through the written word.

Emily Topper

Guests donned their best dresses and accessories for the 2017 ball.

2017 STRAWBERRY BALL

P

lant City residents joined Florida Strawberry Festival Redcoats Saturday, April 29, for the 2017 Strawberry Ball.

As part of the 'Under the Big Top' theme, guests enjoyed dinner, carnival-themed snacks and live music.

Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Drew Knotts and her court kicked off the dance portion of the evening.

Funds from auction items at the event were donated to the United Food Bank of Plant City.

—EMILY TOPPER

Kenneth Peace and City Commissioner Mike Sparkman.

Diane Sparkman and Pec Chambers McGinnes

Many who have worked in our public schools and colleges have expressed concern about the ability of students and graduates to write well using correct grammar, punctuation, spelling and — perhaps most importantly — meaning.

Last month, a new Pinellas County elementary school principal provided yet another example of the importance of good writing. It cost her the principalship to which she had just been promoted.

Principal Christine Hoffman, of Campbell Park Elementary School, wrote a directive to her staff that was so unclear, many teachers and parents concluded that she was giving them guidance on the assignment of students to classes that was illegal and racist. The offending portion said that, “white students should be in the same class.”

Although Hoffman later clarified that she meant she did not want only one white child to be placed in a class, her wording made it very possible to conclude that she was asking her staff to violate federal law by segregating students on the basis of race.

Though I have no doubt that Hoffman meets Florida’s standards for assignment as a public school principal, this incident shows the importance of principals having in their skill sets the additional ability to produce writing that is so legal and clear that a negative interpretation of the document is not possible.

I spent nearly 40 years in public college administration. I have written three historical fiction novels, and sweated over many similar written communications to faculty and staff at several different colleges.

The politics of leadership and the importance of such communications being not only legal, but culturally sensitive, demand that an adminis-

trator focus on every word, sentence and paragraph. The writer must ensure that the actual meaning of every word and sentence reflects the writer’s intent and applicable law.

As an extra check, it is a good practice to show a draft of the document to one or two trusted staff before distributing it to make sure that it will be well-received by its intended audience.

Obeying the law is important.

Being sensitive to the feelings of the intended audience is equally important. Working in the space between legality and sensitivity is fraught with risk, but an important part of the administrator’s job is to establish procedures and to provide guidance for functionality. Sometimes, such as when working in sensitive areas like race, the meaning of words becomes doubly important.

Faculty quite rightly expect their administrators to be good communicators. I remember a meeting with the faculty of a small Midwestern college in which the topic of discussion was a newly proposed procedure. In his explanation of the procedure, the president used the term “past history” several times.

An English teacher argued that the term past history was redundant and that using it weakened the proposal.

Such a criticism may seem minor, but pulling a dangling thread from a piece of cloth could cause the entire cloth to unravel.

I suspect that any public school or college administrator who read the sad story of Christine Hoffman vowed to redouble their efforts to produce clear writing, beginning tomorrow morning. They know their job could depend on it.

Felix Haynes is a co-owner of the Plant City Times & Observer.

PLANT CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY PUBLIC NOTICE April 21, 2017

Your livelihood has been built through hard work and integrity.

Trust your insurance to a company built on these same values.

DATE: JUNE 6, 2017 TIME: 4:00 p.m.

PLACE: Plant City Housing Authority 1306 Larrick Lane Plant City, FL 33563 The Purpose of the hearing is to obtain input from the city residents in reference to the Capital Fund Five-Year Plan submission to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for grant year beginning 2017 and ended 2021.

Total estimated grant funds are based on the last actual capital fund grant awarded for 2016 in the amount of $254,350. All residents are encouraged to attend this hearing. A copy of the Capital Fund Five-Year Action plan will be available for review from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. prior to public hearing at the address below. Persons can also submit written comments prior to public hearing to:

Plant City Housing Authority |1306 Larrick Lane, Plant City, FL 33563

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

APRIL 25

AIRING IT OUT 1000 block of North Nancy Terrace.

Theft: Complainant stated unknown suspect(s) stole a green and gray Polair dual-tank air compressor from a truck bed. The compressor was reported to have been stolen between 2 p.m. Thursday, April 20, and 6 a.m.

Friday, April 21.

NAILED IT 3900 block of West Baker Street.

Theft: Complainant stated unknown suspect(s) stole a Polair air compressor and a Max Pneumatic nail gun from a truck bed between 10:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 20, and 6 a.m. Friday, April 21.

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND Tampa.

Assisting other agency: A Plant City Police officer was flagged down at a parking garage by complainant, who stated an infant had been left in a car near the courthouse. Tampa Police Department and Tampa Fire Rescue were also on the scene to remove the baby and take it to the hospital. The mother was arrested upon arrival.

CATCHING A BREAK 500 block of West Ball Street.

Criminal mischief: Officers met with complainant, who stated an unknown suspect had thrown a rock through an apartment’s rear window around 4:30 a.m., breaking it.

APRIL 22

CALL ME MAYBE 2900 block of James L. Redman Parkway.

Theft: Officers met with complainant, who stated that two Samsung Galaxy S8 and one Samsung J7V cell phones had been stolen from a store display.

The phones were valued together at $1,836.

APRIL 24

HOT OUT HERE 900 block of North Gordon Street.

Grand theft: Officers met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) had stolen two portable air conditioning units from a

LOST IN THE SAUCE 1000 block of North Palm Drive.

Bicycle theft: Officer met with complainant, who stated his bicycle had been stolen between 8:30 p.m.

Monday, April 24, and 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, April 25. The bicycle is green in color, with pegs on the back and “Red Sauce” written on the crossbar, and was valued at $50.

FINDERS KEEPERS 300 block of North Wilder Road.

Residential burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) had found their hidden house key on Tuesday, April 25, and entered the home. Suspect(s) stole two cell phones, valued together at $400, and rummaged through other items without taking anything else.

BACKPACK BANDIT 500 block of East Morrell Drive.

Vehicle burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) had entered his unlocked Honda Civic and stolen a black JanSport backpack. The backpack had been stolen between 4 p.m. Friday, April 21, and 8 a.m. Saturday, April 22. It was valued at $50.

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FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

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Theft of copper: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) had stolen copper wire from under several mobile homes on a lot at an unknown date and time.

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APRIL 26

WHOOPS 1510 block of Plantation Grove Court.

Possible burglary attempt: Officer met with complainant, who stated she found three male subjects in her living room upon investigating a noise. Complainant stated that the men turned around and left the residence at the time, and that nothing had been stolen. It was unclear whether the incident was an attempted burglary or an accidental entry.

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COPS CORNER

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

|

Monday thru Friday 10 - 5:30 • Saturday 10 - 1

CAUGHT IN THE ACT 1700 block of North Park Road.

Vehicle burglary (waiver): Officers met with complainant, who stated she had seen an unknown male subject exit her vehicle and flee the scene. No damage was done to the vehicle and nothing was taken, so a waiver of prosecution was signed.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

FRIDAY, MAY 5

PLANT CITY ENTERTAINMENT INC. PRESENTS ‘LAST ROUND-UP OF THE GUACAMOLE QUEENS’ Begins at 8 p.m. Friday, May 5, Saturday, May 6, Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 and 2 p.m.

Sunday, May 7 and Sunday, May 14, at Plant City Entertainment, 101 N. Thomas St. Enjoy the final play in the Jones Hope Wooten trilogy featuring the comedic Verdeen cousins.

Tickets are $16 for adults, and $14 for seniors and students with ID. Call (813) 752-0728.

SATURDAY, MAY 6

NEW BEGINNINGS COMMUNITY CONNECTION Takes place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 6, at New Beginnings Church of God by Faith, 407 S. Knight St. Enjoy free food and music and get connected to free housing resources. The event is held in conjunction with a partnership with the Weatherization Assistance Program. For more information, visit ANewStart4U.org.

CITY COMMISSION MEETING Begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 8, at City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds St.

BEST BET SATURDAY, MAY 6

TUESDAY, MAY 9

2017 LITTLE MISS PLANT CITY PAGEANT Begins at 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 6, in the Plant City High School auditorium, 1 Raider Place. 2016 Queen Carlie Braglin will crown the 2017 queen and court.

Call (813) 598-9386.

CONVERSATION CORNER Begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Learning English?

Practice the language with other students as part of a class held in conjunction with the Hillsborough Literacy Council. Call (813) 7579215.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10

SEW AND TELL Takes place from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, May 10, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Work on sewing projects alongside others. All crafts from quilting and embroidery to knitting and crocheting are welcome. Basic embroidery kits and instruction will be available for interested beginners. Call (813) 757-9215.

ONGOING

PLANT CITY BIKE FEST Begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Union Station Depot, 102 N. Palmer St. Enjoy food, fun and bikes at the quarterly event. For more information, visit PlantCity.org.

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS CLUB #4051 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Thursdays at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 S. Evers St., Plant City. New members welcome.

MONDAY, MAY 8

ACOUSTIC HAPPY HOUR 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

THE CLASSROOM GALLERY 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. Art is on display by members of the East Hillsborough Art Guild.

BINGO 6:30 p.m. Saturdays, at American Legion Post 26, 2207 W. Baker St. There is a full kitchen.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB 1 p.m. Fridays at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 302 Carey St. For more information, call Walt Arnold at

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MASTER GARDENERS Takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Monday, May 8, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. The open forum program is presented by the Master Gardeners of the Hillsborough County Extension Services. A plant exchange will take place after the program. Call (813) 757-9215.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC 6:33 to 8:33 p.m. Thursdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220.

(813) 752-1602.

KEEL AND CURLEY LIVE MUSIC 6:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100.

KRAZY KUP LIVE MUSIC 8:33 to 10:33 p.m. Saturdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220.

PLANT CITY DAYBREAK ROTARY CLUB 7 a.m. Mondays at South Florida Baptist Hospital’s Community Conference Room, 301 N. Alexander St. PLANT CITY LIONS CLUB Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Buddy Freddy’s, 1101 Goldfinch Drive.

O’BRIEN’S LIVE MUSIC 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

Betty Jane Sternbauer

Betty Jane Sternbauer, 90, of Plant Freddie Wright, 80, of Plant City, died City, died April 27, 2017.

Friday, April 28, 2017.

She was a member of Trinity United A native of Plant City, she was the Methodist Church in Plant City, a daughter of the late A.D. and Nancy member of the Sunflower Girls and Whitehead Jones. loved playing cards.

She was preceded in death by her She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Edward Wright. husband of 56 years, Joseph SternShe is survived by children, Clayton bauer; two daughters, Karen BornWright (Shirley), Sylvester Wright stine and Susan Lynn (David); three (Mary), Vanessa Wright, Doll Kemp grandchildren, Stacy, Jessica and and Sylvia Wright Baker (Cecil); 12 Joseph; and two great-grandchildren, grandchildren; 26 great-grandchilwe’re dedicated to helping families createdren; a our community Sam and Alex. and one great-great-grandchild. unique andwas meaningful ate care sinceA1896. memorial service held memorial that trulyShe was a member of Mount celebrates the life it represents. professionals, April 29, at Trinity United Methodist Moriah and loved to preach and sing.

Church in Plant City.

The family will receive friends from Guarantee > National Plan Transferability In lieu of flowers, memorial contri6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 5, at Haught Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® butions may be made in her honor to Funeral Home, Chapel 708 W. Dr. Marthe Plant City Commons Community tin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Plant City.

Garden.

A funeral service will be held at Online may be made 11 a.m. Saturday, May 6, at Mount upporting the Plantcondolences City Strawberry Festival. at WellsMemorial.com.

Moriah Ministries, 2042 Colson Road, Bealsville.

Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

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stal; brothers Brian Winemiller, Shawn 10/27/15 10:42and AM Winemiller Christopher Winemiller; we’re dedicated to helping families create a W E ’R E P R O UD TO S E RVE our community sisters, Brandy Riehl and Sierra Johnstal; unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care nieces since 1896. and nine and nephews. celebrates it represents.

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SPORTS

“When I came to school today, and everybody found out I had made it to states, it seemed like everybody in the school knew me all over again.”

— Corey King is headed to states in the long jump. SEE PAGE 14

Do you have a good sports scoop for us?

Email Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

Turkey Creek Middle hosts Olympic Day The next Summer Olympic Games won’t happen for a few years, but Turkey Creek Middle doesn’t like to wait that long.

The school hosted its annual Olympic Day games on campus Wednesday, May 3, starting with the opening ceremonies at 9:15 a.m. All students were able to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in events ranging from the long jump to archery and more.

Photos can be viewed online at PlantCityObserver.com.

Baseball scores TUESDAY, MAY 2

8A-DISTRICT 6 SEMIFINALS Bloomingdale 3, Durant 0 Riverview 6, Plant City 1

8A-DISTRICT 4 SEMIFINALS Freedom 2, Strawberry Crest 0

Softball scores TUESDAY, MAY 2

8A-DISTRICT 6 CHAMPIONSHIP Plant City 1, East Bay 0

8A-DISTRICT 4 CHAMPIONSHIP Wharton 9, Strawberry Crest 3

Upcoming games All baseball teams have been eliminated from playoff contention. Wednesday, May 3, results for Plant City’s and Strawberry Crest’s regional quarterfinal games were not available at press time.

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? JUSTIN KLINE

Three steps for coaching success Sports Editor Justin Kline details three traits necessary for good coaching, as seen from area sports programs.

F

rom what I’ve seen in nearly four years on the job, the Plant City area is full of sustainably successful sports programs.

Obviously, player talent gets taken into consideration there. But I’ve seen teams shatter talent-based expectations and go on to do great things. There are teams out here that always seem to bring it, year in and year out, and that’s because of strong coaching.

I’ve had conversations with plenty of those coaches in my time here, on and off the record, that eventually steered to the topic of coaching itself — whether I’m standing on a team’s practice field with such questions in mind or having a chat while out and about. These men and women love talking business, and I hear about different styles and philosophies all the time.

When I’m on those practice fields or at game day, I pay attention to the athletes. You can learn a lot from body language, even if you can’t hear a conversation, and the way kids move, react and interact speaks volumes about a program’s culture.

I think it’s safe to assume that every coach out there wants their athletes to show alertness, focus and positivity — even if those things aren’t spoken out loud.

In my opinion, the best coaches — the ones that constantly get the most out of a roster or an individual — SEE KLINE PAGE 13

THREE-PEAT Justin Kline

Plant City won its third district title under coach Ashley Bullion.

Plant City’s softball team won its third district championship in three years Friday, April 28.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Winning a championship is tough, but defending it is even more challenging.

Then, there are teams such as Plant City High’s softball team that do it more than once.

The Raiders ensured that their 17-2 (8-0 district) record didn’t go to waste in the 8A-District 6 tournament, locking up a playoff spot with a 5-2 win over Durant Wednesday, April 26, and retaining the title in a 1-0 win over East Bay Friday, April 28. The win gave Plant City its third district title in its three seasons under the guidance of head coach Ashley Bullion.

“It’s a great feeling,” Bullion says.

“But, it’s also like the feeling of having a target on our backs. We’re the dog to beat … last year, and right now, we’ve been the top dog. When you’re the top dog, everyone wants to beat you.”

To start its second title defense, Plant City first had to shake off some nerves. It's tough, after all, performing under the pressure of a title defense.

Before the Raiders could calm down, Durant had jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the top of the semifinal game’s second inning. Lauren Estrada and Kelly Swank had driven in runs for the Cougars, with Estrada scoring Mia Giovenco

and Swank scoring Estrada. But Plant City was eventually able to settle down and find its rhythm.

The Raiders scored five unanswered runs in the second, third and fourth innings, and pitcher Ashley Blessin finished with nine strikeouts and no walks. Bullion says that the win gave her players, who started the day anxious, all the confidence they needed to meet East Bay in the title game.

The two teams played each other evenly, limiting errors but failing to score runs. That changed in the bottom of the sixth, when Abbie DeWeese recorded the game’s lone RBI and scored Edmilly Molina. The Indians had no answer, as Blessin — the Plant City Times & Observer’s top athlete of 2016 — continued to shut them down, ending with 10 strikeouts.

The Raiders drew a home matchup Wednesday, May 3, against Steinbrenner to kick off regionals. The last time the two teams met, in Bullion’s first year, Steinbrenner eliminated Plant City from the regional semifinals in April 2015.

Results for Wednesday’s game were not available at press time.

The Raiders wrapped up the regular season on top of the district stat sheet: the team was the only one to post a record over .500 in 8A-6 play, as well as the only one to score more than 30 and allow fewer than 20 runs against district foes. The next-closest total to Plant City’s 40-to-9 differential of runs for to runs against was East Bay, which scored 23 runs in 8A-6 play and gave up 20. No other 8A-6 team scored more runs than it gave up in district play.

Bullion says that the team’s success thus far has been defined by its culture, and by the players’ willingness to buy into her system — which she refers to as looking “neurotic” to them — beginning several years ago. When the team’s desire to win at everything it does, on and off the field, is coupled with confidence, results have tended to follow.

Just ask the rest of the district.

“It’s not just winning the game,” Bullion says. “It’s winning in the classroom. It’s winning, getting enough sleep. It’s winning by eating breakfast. It’s doing all of those things to train yourself to be a champion.”

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

CLASS OF ’17 Seniors Tori Garrison, Edmilly Molina and Erica Sanders have been with the team since Ashley Bullion was named head coach before the 2014-15 season, and will end their high school softball careers with three district titles to their names. The Plant City Times & Observer asked the three seniors what it means to them to have earned that achievement.

Photos courtesy of Ashley Bullion

“It feels great. I feel like being with this girls for three years was like building my own second family. We grow and learn together every day.

It’s been awesome.”

— Tori Garrison

“It means a lot to me … we’ve worked so hard for this moment, and it’s awesome to see all that we’ve accomplished. It definitely feels so good to be three-time district champs.”

— Edmilly Molina

“Honestly, it means the world to me to end the year winning district championship and also to spend these last four years with these seniors, growing up together. It’s been great.” ­— Erica Sanders

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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13

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

PUBLIC NOTICE OF TESTING The City of Plant City will conduct smoke testing on the mainline sewer system beginning May 09, 2017 through May 11, 2017 on the following streets: Royal Hills - Reynolds Creek, Reynolds Ridge Court, Shelby Brooke Drive, Abigail Road, Ethan Way, Tina Lane, Mary Beth Place, Scarlet Maple Court, Country Hills Boulevard, Lindsay Anne Court, Reynolds Knoll Place and Reynolds Oaks Place. Country Hills - N. Country Hills Court, S. Country Hills Court, N. Dawnmeadow Court, Westwind Drive, Silkrun Court, Summerwind Court, Eastwind Drive, W. Eastwind Drive, Lantana Place, Hunts Court, Hunts Avenue, Country Hills Boulevard, Bloom Drive, Breeze Avenue, Crimson Court, Copper Lane and E. Eastwind Drive.

If you have any questions, please call Angel Soto-Diaz at 813-757-9288 ext. 4725.

NOTIFICACION PUBLICA La ciudad de Plant City conducirá una prueba de humo en el sistema de alcantarillado principal en las calles, a partir del 09 de mayo de 2017 hasta mayo 11, de 2017: Royal Hills - Reynolds Creek, Reynolds Ridge Court, Shelby Brooke Drive, Abigail Road, Ethan Way, Tina Lane, Mary Beth Place, Scarlet Maple Court, Country Hills Boulevard, Lindsay Anne Court, Reynolds Knoll Place and Reynolds Oaks Place. Country Hills - N. Country Hills Court, S. Country Hills Court, N. Dawnmeadow Court, Westwind Drive, Silkrun Court, Summerwind Court, Eastwind Drive, W. Eastwind Drive, Lantana Place, Hunts Court, Hunts Avenue, Country Hills Boulevard, Bloom Drive, Breeze Avenue, Crimson Court, Copper Lane and E. Eastwind Drive.

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta, por favor llame a Angel Soto-Diaz at 813-757-9288 ext. 4725.

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Titanium cheer team wraps up successful first season Titanium Gymnastics and Cheerleading’s first-ever Plant City cheer team won two of its three competitions in the 2016-17 season.

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This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Courtesy photo

Titanium’s team nearly won the Tournament of Champions.

But, having no competition didn’t mean the girls weren’t nervous.

“A lot of them were very nervous, but they had the confidence to just go out there and rock it … almost every cheerleader, they’ll get nervous before,” assistant coach Ellie Shouse says. “As soon as they get on stage, those nerves just completely go away.”

It was good preparation for Jamfest, held Saturday, April 1, at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, where Titanium competed against four other teams and won.

“We were pleasantly surprised,” Pribil says. “We had no doubt in our mind that we would be able to beat the other teams. We knew that we had a fighting chance.”

On Sunday, April 9, the team competed closer to home in the Tournament of Champions. Though Titani-

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? FROM KLINE PAGE 12

tend to show three traits that anyone looking to lead a program, whether it’s for their child’s Little League team or for bigger things, must have.

CONSISTENCY

SAVE UP % TO

Longtime readers of this column know that I’m an advocate for program consistency whenever it’s possible and reasonable. But “consistency” in that sense falls more on the people pulling the strings behind the program than the coaches themselves.

This week, I’m talking about the consistency that starts with the person in charge and flows downstream through the rest of a program.

Good coaches are only predictable in that their athletes and assistants know exactly what kind of attitude and effort they’ll bring to the table day in and day out. When a group of athletes trusts that a coach has established and abides by a culture, everything else falls into place.

Eventually, things get to a point where kids can know what they’re in for and what’s expected of them before they set foot in a program — like Alabama football, though probably without the fancy locker room.

um took second place at the USF Sun Dome, the team did receive an award for “Best Choreography” and got a plaque to bring home.

Titanium is hoping to field a bigger team next season, and is set to host tryouts next week. Cheerleaders age 12 and up can try out Tuesday, May 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and those age 5 to 11 can try out Thursday, May 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tryouts for all ages are open Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 402, W. Ball St., Plant City. The cost for tryouts in $45.

For additional information, call (813) 659-2204 or email Titanium.

Gym.Cheer@gmail.com.

Puzzle One Solution: “For marriage to be a success, every woman and every man should have their own bathroom. The end.”

– Catherine Zeta-Jones Puzzle Two Solution: “True love is singing karaoke ‘Under Pressure’ and letting the other person sing the Freddie Mercury part.”

– Mindy Kaling

This week’s Sudoku answers

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

JUSTIN KLINE

ACCOUNTABILITY

No two coaches are the same. But whether a coach is an energetic leader by example or an old school, tough-but-fair delegator, they’re always going to have one thing in common: they build trust and respect through accountability.

Coaches must be able to recognize their own mistakes and accept blame when they deserve it. No one’s going to get anywhere, at least long-term, while being too stubborn to change some things. Athletes want to know that their coaches aren’t above the rules they set, that it’s not all talk and no walk. They want to feel that the person they’re playing for respects them as peers, or something close enough to that label.

You don’t want to end up like Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly, who I believe (as a longtime Irish fan) has never taken the blame for anything in his entire life.

As college football fans saw last season, no one wants to win for a purple rage monster that projects his own mistakes onto everyone around him.

ADAPTABILITY

Obviously, it’s important to go into

everything with a game plan. It’s extremely difficult to win any kind of championship relying on luck over strategy, even if you sometimes do need fate to smile on your team for a moment.

But there are times when a good game plan can be foiled by a better one, and a popular saying begins to apply: “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”

I’ve seen coaches lose their cool and their decision-making skills in the moment suffer for it. I’ve also seen coaches take a deep breath, assess the situation and make the right decisions to get teams back in a game. The backup plan may not always work, but the chance of success goes way up when a coach learns to expect the unexpected. The ability to make the right adjustments and close out games or matches is often what separates the best programs from the rest.

Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Times & Observer.

Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

©2017 NEA, Inc.

This week’s Crossword answers

2017

168342-1

At its Sunday, April 30, end-of-season banquet, Titanium Gymnastics and Cheerleading’s girls had good reason to celebrate.

The All-Star Prep cheerleading team, assembled in August 2016, completed its first season with two competition wins in three tries. The girls won the Spirit Sports Battle by the Bay and the 2017 Jamfest Jam Bash Nationals, and placed second overall at the 2017 American Cheer Power Tournament of Champions.

The team began with three cheerleaders on its roster, and needed five to compete. From September through February — three weeks before Battle by the Bay — five more girls joined up.

Though it was the first time many of the girls had competed on an All-Star Prep team, which uses a spring floor, coaches say they picked up the choreography quickly, starting in early January.

“We did all of our choreography in one day because these kids are really fast learners,” head coach Gina Pribil says. “It’s nothing that we’ve seen before. They were able to do everything in four hours — it was a twominute routine and, in four hours, they were able to do it.”

The first competition was the Battle by the Bay, held Saturday, Feb. 25, through Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. As the only team in its division, Senior level 2, Titanium won.

“We started sooner than most teams did for the senior age division,” Pribil says.

Rhett Rollyson, President Rolly Rollyson, Sr. Advisor

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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FOCUS ON FITNESS

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

Corey King

DR. JENNIFER CLOSSHEY

Exercise and Alzheimer’s Disease Dr. Jennifer Closshey explains how lifestyle changes can improve brain health.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in 10 Americans age 65 and over are living with Alzheimer’s dementia. Another 200,000 have younger-onset Alzheimer’s.

With our aging population, the United States is facing a substantial increase in Alzheimer’s diagnoses.

With 10% of the aging population succumbing to this disease, we could all face a situation where our families are affected by this debilitating brain condition.

The good news is that current research shows positive benefits can come from making good lifestyle choices — if we start early enough.

WHAT IS ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE?

Alzheimer’s Disease, or AD, is a brain disease that gradually robs the patient of memory, especially recent memories. It usually begins with forgetfulness or mild confusion and, as the disease progresses, brain changes occur that result in increased difficulty with remembering, decision making, judgment, thinking and reasoning, as well as planning and performing routine tasks.

Personality changes typically occur including depression, social withdrawal, mood swings, distrust of others, irritability, changes in sleep habits, loss of inhibitions, wandering and delusions, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your loved one may suddenly believe that someone is stealing from them, for example.

WHAT CAUSES AD?

Most scientists believe AD is caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time. Only 5% of the population have known genetic linkage, and not everyone with this genetic makeup develops AD, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Clearly, genetics do not account for the 10% of aged Americans with AD. Lifestyle and environmental

Plant City High senior Corey King is ending his high school athletic career with a bang. With help from his 22-foot, one-inch personal record long jump at regionals, King became the lone Raider to advance to today’s state championship meet. He had qualified for regionals in the long jump, triple jump and 200 meter dash, and was a member of the 4x400 relay team.

Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.

GET STARTED NOW The sooner lifestyle changes are made, the greater the benefits to your brain health will be.

No single lifestyle habit has been linked to AD — rather, a combination of factors together have been identified: n Lack of exercise n Obesity n Smoking or exposure to secondhand

smoke n High blood pressure n High blood cholesterol n Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes n A diet lacking in fruits and vegetables

This seems like a pretty good way to close out your senior year. How do you feel about the season as a whole?

Well, coming into track season, I didn’t have as much confidence as I do now. Coming in, I was just doing long jump and triple jump. As the season progressed, I started doing the triple jump, long jump, 200 and 4x400. I felt myself doing better as a whole, as a person … When I came to school today, and everybody found out I had made it to states, it seemed like everybody in the school knew me all over again. First it was because of football, now everybody knew me from track. It was kind of exciting.

factors play a much bigger part.

EXERCISE AND BRAIN HEALTH

According to AA researchers, exercise helps protect brain function by protecting against both dementia and Alzheimer’s. A recent study published by AA showed that maintaining a daily aerobic exercise program can decrease the risk of brain disease by over 50%, for example.

Combine a diet of increased fruits and veggies with daily physical activity to help both the heart and brain. A side benefit is that a better diet and a regular exercise plan also helps control blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Consider group exercise, as socially stimulating activities have been linked to a reduction in AD. Join a walking group, a local Y with activity-appropriate exercise groups, or start your own specialty exercise group. Just find an activity you like, get started and stick with it. Your brain will thank you in the years to come.

How long have you been doing track and field?

I did it before. I started in 10th grade but, in 10th grade, I didn’t take it so serious. In 11th grade, I started doing the triple jump. My 12th grade year, I really wanted to go out with a bang.

You’ve got college coming up soon, at Ferris State. What are you looking forward to about that?

Honestly, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to go experience the college life. I just want to play football again — it’s been a while since I’ve played football. At the same time, I’m trying to go up there and run track, too.

What do you plan to major in?

Broadcast journalism.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in high school sports who wants to go to states, or win districts, or do things you’ve done over four years?

Just stay positive. Always tell yourself that you can do it. Keep God first.

Keep your head in the classroom, and also in sports. Just live life. You only live once. Play until you can’t play no more.

You beat your previous PR by 11 inches. That’s a pretty big deal.

It was. The day before, at practices, coaches and them didn’t think I was going to be able to do it. I told myself I’ve got to PR, or I’ve got to break the school record. That’s my main goal — I want to beat the school record.

What made you feel more confident out here on the track, and made you want to branch out?

I feel like it was my dad. When I came out for track, I told my dad every day how I was doing, how good I was doing. He just kept pushing me. Like, “Son, I feel like you can go to state and win those events.” I was like, “I hope so.” This Saturday, I made it to state in the long jump. He was happy.

He was there (at regionals), so I felt good.

Jennifer E. Closshey, Ph.D., is a doctor of integrative health and YMCA yoga instructor in Plant City. Contact her at JenniferClosshey@gmail.com.

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I LOVE PLANT CITY

FORECAST

High: 77 Low: 63 Chance of rain: 90%

SATURDAY, MAY 6 High: 79 Low: 59 Chance of rain: 0%

High: 86 Low: 61 Chance of rain: 0%

6:45a

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Saturday, May 6

6:44a

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Sunday, May 7

6:43a

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Monday, May 8

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Tuesday, May 9

6:42a

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Wednesday, May 10

6:41a

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Thursday, May 11

6:41a

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High: 89 Low: 64 Chance of rain: 0%

Shipping point: Orlando $9.95

Every morning, Frank Starmer watches families of herons from a small kayak in Walden Lake.

On Friday, April 28, he spotted a dark blob in a tree. After paddling over, he realized it was an eagle.

Frank wins this week’s I Love Plant City photo contest.

Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture

(p) 813-250-0500 (f) 813-276-1600 criminaldefenseattorneytampa.com

p.o. B ox 408 p lanT c iT y, Fl 33564

ACROSS

IZN.”

– VKUOIAHZI PIUK-XBZIR Puzzle One Clue: G equals Y

“REYI OZLI HB BHTNHTN SVEVZSI ‘YTWIE UEIBBYEI’ VTW OIRRHTN RKI ZRKIE UIEBZT BHTN RKI MEIWWHI XIEAYEF UVER.” – XHTWF SVOHTN Puzzle Two Clue: A equals C ©2017 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2017 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

0.00

Sunday, April 30

0.00

Monday, May 1

0.00

Tuesday, May 2

0.29

Wednesday, May 3

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

MAY TO DATE:

2017 6.80 in.

2017 0.29 in.

2016 10.68 in.

2016

1.21 in.

(813) 763-5684

1 Dog that’s far from a purebred 4 Barbecue site or part of an ocean liner 8 Hollowing out 14 Panama or Erie 19 Dug in for a meal 20 Black, poetically 21 ___ National Park (Maine feature) 22 Like a burning house 23 Appear similar to 25 Turn down, as a manuscript 26 Door securers 27 Groom carefully 28 Reside 30 Not he 31 Black-and-white diving bird of the cold 32 Cavities dentists don’t touch 34 Became fond of 36 Bruce of Hollywood 39 Prefix meaning toward the left 40 ___ spumante (wine choice) 41 Bruce and Brenda 43 Santa ___, Calif.

44 People who are calming influences, essentially 48 “Rome ___ built in a day” 50 Robin Hood’s friar 51 Sidesplitting comedy 52 Agents, for short 54 Sun-blocking cap 55 Kind of bar 56 Outer’s counterpart 58 Antelope with a fat nose 60 Official “Sirs” 62 Dampen one’s spirits 64 Trudges through mud, e.g.

66 Rumps of horses, e.g.

68 Alter ___ (Clark Kent’s Superman, e.g.)

69 Jacks: real and imagined 73 Furry ‘80s TV alien 75 Salad green 77 America’s bird 78 Donner of clothing 80 Below 83 Aristocratic 85 Cliff-base debris 86 Creator of wood shavings 88 Poltergeist relative 90 Attachment to one, him or her 92 Shore indentation 93 Ill-mannered boor 94 In dire want 95 Shouted loudly and without restraint 97 Biggest heart?

98 Murmur, as a cat 99 Actress Patricia of “A Face in the Crowd” 103 Bottle for drugs 104 Larynx site 106 Words before “of emergency” 108 Georgia city 112 Type of sci-fi gun 113 Jacuzzi 114 Nero Wolfe’s creator 116 “See ya later” 117 “Well done, if I do ___ myself” 119 Drug from a poppy plant 121 Settlers 123 To no ___ (in vain)

Paparons1842@yahoo.com

813-388-7575

T onys l awn m ainTenance @ yahoo . com

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

OKFI UOIHA BCZ JKUOABBL. UOI

Saturday, April 29

Boiled Crawfish on the weekends @ Ray’s, Hwy 39 & Holloway

m o w ing -e d g ing -m u l ching -T R imming -s od s p R ink l e R R e pa iR -c l e a n u p s -T R e e w oRk p R e ssu R e w a shing -l a nd s c a p e d e sign

CROSSWORD

IFIAG CBLKZ KZN IFIAG LKZ ROBETN

0.00

Call or Text

CELEBRITY CIPHER

“WBA LKAAHKSI UB JI K REVVIRR,

Friday, April 28

239153

Sammis Law Firm, P.A., 1005 N. Marion Street, Tampa, Florida 33602

0.00

Louisiana Crawfish

“Weekly or Monthly Payments”

o wneR

• VOP • Drug Possession • All Misdemeanor and Felony Cases

May 10 Full

Thursday, April 27

239195

239193

• Seal and Expunge • DUI • DV Injunction

May 30 First

PAPA RON’S

TLM P ROPERT Y C ARE T ony R amos

Criminal Defense Attorneys for Plant City

May 21 Last

RAINFALL

TOMATOES

Free consultation

Sunrise Sunset

Friday, May 5

MONDAY, MAY 8

Attorneys on call 24/7

15

MOON PHASES

SUNDAY, MAY 7

SAMMIS LAW FIRM

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, MAY 5

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

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©2017 Universal Uclick

124 One who’s obviously not out of bounds?

125 Ripped 126 Pool shark’s need 127 Group of brainy people 128 Doctor’s directives 129 Start of many bedtime stories 130 High, low or small suffix

DOWN

1 Raises trivial objections 2 Fetus development sites 3 Pine sap 4 Real Jack 5 Go out, as a tide off a beach 6 Blisters that may accompany fevers 7 Didn’t just guess 8 Santana of music 9 Leopardlike big cat 10 British rule, in India 11 “That is,” to Caesar 12 Real Jack 13 Fence feature 14 French port close to England 15 Run ___ of, as the law 16 Jacks: real and imagined

17 Deluge refuge of the Bible 18 “___ Miserables” 24 Took after 29 Letter of the Greek alphabet 33 “... happily ___ after” 35 Flightless bird of New Zealand 36 Fresh out of the wash 37 1/36 of a yard 38 H.H. Munro’s pseudonym 42 Add value to 44 Awaken and stir 45 Magazine article length 46 Jacks: real and imagined 47 Common contraction?

49 “All you had to do was ___” 50 Ballet wear 53 Round building filled with grain 54 Drifter 55 Ocean stopping points 57 Repair a winter jacket, perhaps 59 No longer here 61 Gained more height 63 Campbell of TV and film 65 ___ lily (Utah’s state flower) 67 Shirt part

70 Hardly adequate, as a supply 71 Linen vestments for clergymen 72 Autograph hound’s prey, for short 74 No longer tied up?

76 Bumper depression 79 High praise or a rave review 81 Real Jack 82 Brick-carrying device 84 What Denver’s mile is 86 Cornrows unit (var.)

87 ___ Ness of Scotland 89 Cause to coordinate 91 Butterfly’s movement 94 Pecan, for one 96 Real Jack 98 Bribery for radio play 100 Celebration of Jesus rising from the dead 101 Some flowers that bloom in the fall 102 Nickname for a lion 105 Caravan pit stop 107 River nymph of Greek myth 109 A family-tree peach 110 Donut-shaped solid object

111 Any item in the black 113 “Star Wars” Han 115 “What have you been ___?”

117 “Casablanca” pianist 118 “Hail, Caesar!”

120 “George of the Jungle” creature 122 “Lord of the Rings” monster

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

“I had no second thoughts, I knew I wanted to use South Florida Baptist Hospital.” ~ Glenda R., a patient of South Florida Baptist Hospital

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

Let South Florida Baptist Hospital be your partner in getting you well and keeping you well. Fill out a health profile online at SouthFloridaBaptistCare.org and you’ll be sent a complimentary travel first aid kit.

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

BC1701958-0317

238892

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