bserver O Happy Mother’s Day
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OUR TOWN
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o t g n i s i Cru mother’s day
GREENER PASTURES
by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
by Michael Eng | Managing Editor
Legislation paves way to un-pave Midtown
l e m u z Co
The new bill also will streamline the permitting process for developers.
+ Durant High grad impresses at recital James Francis Cornelius performed a percussion recital recently, at Florida Southern College. The son of Lee and Ellen Cornelius, of Springhead, James graduated from Durant High School, attended Hillsborough Community College for two years and transferred to the University of South Florida. After two years, he transferred to Florida Southern to earn a degree in music and religious education. He is 23 years old, an Eagle Scout, a member of First United Methodist Church and a member of Phi Mu Alpha musical fraternity. He will be a senior next year.
The family enjoyed a historic tour of Cozumel.
For the past 14 years, sisters Marsha Passmore and Dodie White have taken their mother, Dora Beveard, on a special cruise for Mother’s Day. This year’s destination: Cozumel, Mexico.
+ Garden club presents award The Plant City Garden Club presented its April beautification award to Teresa Lungo. Throughout Lungo’s garden, guests will see her creativity in glass art, colorful flowering plants and integrating vegetables with ornamental plants. Lungo used her creative mind to make her gardens come to life, with an abundance of color and texture. There is no irrigation, so she waters by hand every day.
Like mother like daughter. In the case of Marsha Passmore and Dodie White, the adage could not be more appropriate. For the past 14 years, the sisters taken their mother, Dora Beveard, on a tropical cruise for Mother’s Day. Not only are the sisters spoiling their mother, but also they are following in her footsteps. Beveard always went on summer trips with her sister and friends. The girls-only vacation took the fun-loving travelers from the mountains to the seashore. Finally, when Passmore and White were teenagers, they
were allowed to join their mother on the annual excursions. The first year, they went to the mountains in North Carolina near Chimney Rock. “It was just priceless,” Passmore said. “We just try and carry on that tradition of travel.” With a love of travel instilled in them from their teenage years, the sisters began taking cruise trips in their 20s. In 1999, other family members and friends joined them on their cruise. Their mother was among them. “She just said it was the best vacation she had in her life,” Passmore said. “So we decided to take
DESTINATIONS In the past 14 years, Marsha Passmore, Dodie White and Dora Beveard have traveled to: The Bahamas Belize The Cayman Islands Costa Maya Cozumel Honduras Jamaica Key West New Orleans St. Maarten St. Thomas
SEE MOTHER’S DAY / PAGE 4
INDEX Calendar......12
The concrete slabs that have long been an eyesore in what will someday be called Midtown soon may be gone. Florida legislators approved April 30, a bill that will allow the city to remove the slabs without having to construct stormwater retention ponds. The bill still needs Gov. Rock Scott’s signature, but barring any unexpected complications, it will become law July 1. The legislation, CS/SB 934, introduced by state Rep. Dan Raulerson, is the culmination of years of political work, dating back to former state Rep. Rich Glorioso. Previously, because of a law regulated by the South Florida Water Management District, retention ponds were required in areas where any impervious surfaces are removed. Swiftmud remained steadfast to the law, despite Plant City’s downtown stormwater drainage system, which has been in place since the 1950s. Under the new law, the slabs can be removed and replaced without having to add any additional stormwater systems. “We’re very excited (for the bill’s passing),” Raulerson said. Furthermore, he said the bill
SEE MIDTOWN / PAGE 4
File photo
City leaders approved recently a concept for Midtown’s greenspace.
Vol. 1, No. 45 | One section
Classifieds...18
Crossword....17
Obituaries.... 10
Sports.......... 13
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