05.12.17 PCTO

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

Dragon Boats hit the water. SEE PAGE 12.

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 4, NO. 44

Sewers, roads and pipes a city priority City Commissioners also voted to create a salaried position for a construction inspector.

FREE

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FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017

GOING UNDER TO RISE ABOVE

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

The City Commission continued to make significant investments in infrastructure during its Monday, May 8, meeting, including the creation of a new position to oversee the city’s wave of ongoing construction.

Following recent decisions by the City Commission to invest city funds in repairs to roadways and sewer systems, including a nearly $4 million contract for utility work with Killebrew, Inc., outgoing City Manager Mike Herr asked commissioners to create the “construction inspector” position with a salary between about $43,000 and $56,000. Outsourcing the position on new construction, Herr said, could cost the city as much $149,000 during a five-month period.

“This position will more than pay for itself, I feel confident about that,” SEE COMMISSION PAGE 4

On Saturday, May 20, Duke’s Brewhouse will raise funds for Divers4Heroes, which aims to help injured veterans.

YOUR TOWN

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

G

oing under brought him above and beyond.

the sniper’s bullet pierced his chest,

Classroom Gallery to exhibit veteran’s art Ret. United States Army Master Sgt. Joyce Owens’ art will be on exhibit during a reception for the Classroom Gallery Art Exhibit from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 12, at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. Light refreshments will be served, and the event is open to the public.

The Classroom Gallery opened in the summer of 2016 and is a partnership venture for the East Hillsborough Historical Society and the East Hillsborough Art Guild.

Owens’ paintings have received ribbons at the Florida State Fair, the Florida Strawberry Festival and the Pasco County Fair.

For more information, call the East Hillsborough Historical Society at (813) 757-9226.

Classroom Gallery to host watercolor classes The Classroom Gallery will start hosting watercolor classes with Betty Fairbanks from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday afternoons at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. The cost is $20 per class, and attendees can bring their own supplies.

For more information, call Betty Fairbanks at (813) 9863632.

He was 23 years old when

severing the brachial plexus artery and causing nerve damage. Righthanded, it left his dominant arm inoperative below the elbow.

SEE DIVE PAGE 5

Photo courtesy of Divers4Heroes

Two veterans dive while on a trip with Divers4Heroes.

Improvement League discusses development The League held a community meeting Thursday, May 4, to discuss plans for incorporating economic development into all Plant City communities.

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

As Plant City prepares for growth with proposals for the Midtown redevelopment and a potential sports village coming with redevelopment of the Plant City Stadium and Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex, the Improvement League of Plant City wants no neighborhood left behind.

The Improvement League held a

community meeting Thursday, May 4, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center to discuss strategies for making sure all communities develop.

The meeting was led by consultant Danny McIntyre.

For the meeting, McIntyre used the Lincoln Park neighborhood, which stands between Midtown and the proposed sports complex on Park Road, as an example for steps a community must take to keep the economic development going.

“You don’t want to have a different quality of life in a different part of the city,” McIntyre, who lives in Plant City, said. “You need community leaders to engage the city about how synergy can bind Midtown development to Lincoln Park development.”

Attention, McIntyre said, follows SEE LEAGUE PAGE 4

Daniel Figueroa IV

Danny McIntyre led the meeting, using the Lincoln Park neighborhood as an example.

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017

For the next city manager, keep looking elsewhere Business owner Ed Verner shares his thoughts on finding the next city manager for Plant City.

Plant City is at a crossroads. Many have spoken with heavy hearts to me about our losing, unexpectedly and for the second time in barely three years, an excellent city manager to a competing job within our market area.

I respect the work and past accomplishments of the city commissioners and former managers of Plant City.

All of them have worked with the City’s best interest at heart, and now they deliberate anew over how best to move forward in filling the post of city manager.

Two philosophies emerge to guide us through this crossroad: We must find either A) Someone from “within” who can step in with local knowledge about the key personalities and sensitivity toward our history, or B) Someone from “outside” who has proven skills learned elsewhere who can bring successful and broader past experiences to bear on problems with a fresh perspective.

This quandary is not unique to Plant City. Many small towns have struggled to endure the transition from a tight-knit community often led by a few key people — or, in some cases, a single Tennessee Williamsesque “Big Daddy” character — into a fully functioning mid-sized councilmanager city. I have dealt with each of the past Plant City managers going back to Nettie Draughon, and can see many changes between how our commissioners worked with them in the mid-1980s versus how they will be doing so as we approach the end of the second decade of the new millennium.

Nearly 15 years ago, Plant City generally shifted away from the past precedent of seeking managers groomed from within and instead looked “outside” for skilled management with experience in the councilmanager form of government. This led to David Sollenberger in the post for over seven years, followed by Greg Horwedel for three and one half more. More recently, and with excel-

lent success, Mike Herr now finishes up what has been over 14 and one half years of Plant City enjoying the fruits of “outside” perspective in the office of city manager.

Each of these professionals brought time and a special value in challenging the City with an outside perspective to move forward in ways that, while at times may have been uncomfortable, were necessary.

Not only is there now a debate about where to look for a city manager, but there are also competing philosophies about how the City Commission should properly support that post without interfering at a level that becomes micromanaging.

I think it is fair to say that in many ways, Plant City of old often operated more akin to a strong mayor-council form of government. As such, not all commissioners were treated the same, and some of them felt a need to work hard and get deeply active into some departments. They may have helped paddle the canoe through some troubled times, and were beloved for it.

Yet, despite good intentions, the old lines of communication and habits of ‘how we always used to do it’ become now, at best, less effective, or, at worst, downright harmful to the

chain of command.

These growth pangs and this transitional culture shock is not unique.

Plant City is emerging from being a small town that relied perhaps too much on a strong commissioner or two micromanaging departmental activities, into being a city with professional managers who are hired because they know how to do a job, and not because they need to be told by commissioners the details of how to do it.

The recent 15 years have proven the benefit of “outside” perspective in the post of city manager. With no disrespect to any former or current City of Plant City employees, I believe Plant City should continue to struggle and learn how best to attract, nurture and retain people like Sollenberger, Horwedel and Herr.

Ed Verner, a part-owner of the Plant City Times & Observer, is a business owner in Historic Downtown Plant City and president of the Plant City Photo Archives.

File Photo

Mike Herr, who will be taking over as city manager in Winter Haven, prioritized economic development in Historic Downtown and Midtown while city manager. .

Man dies of wound from stolen knife The Plant City Police Department has released the name of the man who died after impaling himself with a stolen knife from Lowe's Home Improvement Store Friday, May 5.

Jerry Word, 53, of Lakeland, suffered from a self-inflicted knife wound to the upper arm after 6:30 p.m.

Friday evening.

According to the Plant City Police Department, Word entered the store and removed a knife from its packaging and concealed it on his person.

After doing so, he attempted to exit the store, located on James L. Redman Parkway, without paying and was confronted by Lowe’s loss prevention staff.

When confronted, he reportedly brandished the knife in a threatening manner towards the employees.

Word fled the store on foot and ran southwest towards the Park Springs Apartment complex located at 300 Park Springs Circle, and later suffered an upper arm injury from the knife.

After the injury, Word continued to flee for a short distance before collapsing behind a building of the apartment complex.

He was taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital by Plant City Fire Rescue, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

NRG to host ‘Sing Out Loud!’ Talent Show Hopeful vocalists will take the Plant City Entertainment Stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 19, for Next Radical Generation’s (NRG) ‘Sing Out Loud!’

Talent Show.

The annual talent show is held for school-age students and divided into age categories. Participants auditioned for the show by submitting a 45-second video clip.

The winner of the talent show will receive a music video shoot. The winner of each age group category will receive a two-hour recording session.

Existing members of NRG also will perform.

Tickets are $12 for general admisison and $20 for front row seats. The show will be held at Plant City Entertainment, 101 N. Thomas St. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit Plant City Entertainment.

Tickets are available for purchase at NRG.TicketLeap.com.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

NEWS BRIEFS

OPINION

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017

Courtesy photo, Karen Elizabeth

The fire that displaced 30 people began at the complex Saturday, May 6, and took four hours to extinguish.

FIRE DISPLACES 30 PEOPLE A fire started by the careless discard of smoking material Saturday, May 6, displaced 30 people in 10 apartments, according to Plant City Fire Rescue.

EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

Before she saw the flames, before the smoke permeated through the windows and became embedded in her belongings, before her walls were ruined with water damage, Cindy Overstreet heard the voices of the neighborhood children: Fire! Fire! Fire!

The noise interrupted the quiet weekend afternoon Overstreet was having with her family Saturday, May 6. She was at home with her boyfriend, Mike Persails, and her children when she heard the yelling.

She ran outside of her second-floor Madison Park Road apartment. Her next-door neighbor’s balcony had gone up in flames.

“People were trying to put the porch out,” Overstreet said. “But it was huge. We grabbed our dogs and our kids and got out.”

As neighbors and fellow Madison Park residents worked on the flames, Overstreet took her children and ran to the complex’s nearby leasing office. Standing next to the vending machines, the family watched as the fire filtered from their neighbor’s porch and to the attic.

Plant City Fire Rescue received the call at 3:56 p.m., according to Deputy Chief David Burnett. Lakeland Fire Department, Polk County Fire Rescue and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded as mutual aid units.

“We kept thinking, ‘It’s going to go out, they’re going to put it out,” Overstreet said. “But then it got to the roof.”

By the time the fire was extinguished, the majority of one apartment roof had been burned away.

“It took about four hours to fully take care of it,” Burnett said. “The complex has a fire sprinkler system, but the fire started on the porch and spread to the attic. The porch and the attic do not have the system.”

Burnett said that the cause of the fire was due to the “careless discard of smoking material.”

“A cushioned chair on the porch was the ignition source,” Burnett said.

“When the fire spread to the attic, it was out of the occupied space that has fire sprinklers.”

Located on the second floor, the apartment where the fire began collapsed onto the apartment below it.

In Overstreet’s apartment, the ceiling of her son’s bedroom had caved in.

Burned and wet ceiling pieces covered her couch, her daughter’s bedspread, the fruit bowl on the dining room table.

By the end of the day, 10 apartments had either fire or water damage. Representatives at Madison Park Road said that 30 people had been displaced, including 15 children.

While some residents, including Overstreet, are staying with nearby family members, the Red Cross was called to provide hotel lodging for the affected families. Four of the units are uninhabitable and will need to be fully rebuilt, while the other six units need remodeling.

Emily Topper

Cindy Overstreet’s children both had ceiling damage in their rooms from the fire.

FIRE FUNDRAISER CAR WASH FUNDRAISER FOR MADISON PARK ROAD FAMILIES When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 13 Where: The Tire Shop of Plant City, 1604 N. Wheeler St.

The six units that need to be remodeled will be ready for residents within 30 to 60 days, according to the apartment complex.

“We’re working to get them housing here for the time being,” Bethany Glass, a leasing agent for Madison Apartment Group, said. “We should have enough availability. We’re working to make sure those temporary apartments will be move-in ready for those who can’t move back in.”

The complex’s leasing office has become a makeshift donation dropoff for victims of the fire. Apartment neighbors and Plant City residents have dropped off dishes, blankets and clothes. Because the complex cannot accept monetary donations, residents are encouraged to either drop off items, or to provide financial assistance to the victims through a business or fundraising effort.

By Monday, May 8, the apartment where the fire began had been boarded up and locked, preventing entry.

After the fire, Overstreet and Persails walked through their smokedamaged apartment with friends, trying to salvage clothes and belongings.

Tears sprung to her eyes at the sight of her daughter Sophia’s hope chest, which the family was able to save.

“A dear friend of mine has had that since she was 5 years old,” Overstreet said. “She gave it to me when my daughter was born, and we restored it. It means something to me.”

The Plant City community has rallied around fire victims. As word of

DONATION DROP-OFF MADISON PARK ROAD DROP-OFF FOR FAMILIES Where: 2120 Village Park Road Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday Call: (813) 3052910

ITEMS NEEDED n Bottled Water n Dryer Sheets n Laundry

Detergent n Hygiene Products n Mattresses n Clothes/Shoes n Towels Plant City residents dropped off donation items for those displaced at the Madison Park Road leasing office.

the blaze spread through Facebook and other social media platforms, businesses and individuals offered a helping hand.

Sara Johns, a co-owner of The Tire Shop of Plant City on Wheeler Street, has organized a car wash fundraiser for victims of the fire to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13.

“It’s just a sad ordeal,” Johns said.

“Two of the children who lost everything go to school with my kids.”

Overstreet said that she and fellow families have been shown an outpouring of love and kindness from friends and strangers.

“People have helped in all kinds of ways,” she said.

“We kept thinking, ‘It’s going to go out, they’re going to put it out.’ But then it got to the roof.”

— Cindy Overstreet, a Madison Park Road resident who saw damage from the fire

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

The ceiling in Cindy Overstreet’s kitchen had damage.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017

FROM LEAGUE PAGE 1

organization. First, a community must get organized and identify its leaders. Then, those leaders must engage the community to identify what the community’s needs and goals are. It’s only after the community has a plan, McIntyre said, that those leaders and stakeholders are prepared to approach city leadership with a plan that can be implemented.

McIntyre pointed out that it will not be an easy feat, something Henry Janell, an Improvement League member, agreed with. With only a handful of attendees at the meeting, Janell said the Improvement League could take the reins of guiding the community.

“We need to give clear guidance,” Janell said.

McIntyre said guidance involves engaging every community in the city on every level. Children and parents alike must be incorporated into a community’s plan for growth, he said.

“You can’t do it in a bubble,” McIntyre said. “You have to involve other groups ... diversity is about the opportunity for everybody to be successful.”

Through that engagement, McIntyre said, Plant City can become a fully incorporated city, and not disjointed, as Improvement League President William Thomas Jr. said he has seen other cities become.

“You drive out of downtown areas and everything changes,” Thomas said. “It’s like you’re in a completely different city. We don’t want that here. We want no neighborhood left behind.”

Karen Berry

North Vermont Street near Jackson Elementary School will be redeveloped.

FROM COMMISSION PAGE 1

Herr said. “You’ve got a lot of projects that are going to be coming up.”

Included in the upcoming projects is the redevelopment of a portion of North Vermont Street near Jackson Elementary School.

“North Vermont Street that runs along Jackson Elementary School has major drainage issues during the rainy season and extreme deficiencies in the road structure,” Herr said. “This street was selected for redevelopment to include approximately 1,300 linear feet of roadway improvements, underground drainage improvements, installation of sanitary sewersystem and (to) upgrade the water main.”

According to Herr, Boggs Engineering estimated the redevelopment would cost about $735,000. The City

awarded the contract to ALTO Construction Co., Inc. at a cost of just under $700,000.

Vice-Mayor Bill Dodson said he believes the project is a priority because the street’s issues have become “exasperated” and are “putting the safety of children who attend the school at risk.”

The problem, he said, cannot be avoided anymore.

City Commissioners also voted to dovetail off an existing contract with VacVision Environmental LLC, to rehab stormwater drainage pipes where roadway and driveway depressions have been reported at Kipling Avenue, Barret Avenue, Crystal Terrace, East Cherry Street and North Thackery Way, at a cost of over $309,000.

Herr said skipping the bidding process would allow the project to com-

mence immediately, saving 90 days and allowing it to be done before Plant City enters the “rainy season.” City Engineer Mike Schenk said VacVision has good standing with the city and agreed that the timing was imperative.

“They have done a number of jobs here in the city,” Schenk said. “This is the prime time to get the work done so we don’t have the water conditions you usually see during the wet season.”

Commissioners approved the contract awards to ALTO and VacVision, along with the creation of the construction inspector position with votes of 5-0.

Contact Daniel Figueroa IV at dfigueroa@plantcityobserver.com.

Contact Daniel Figueroa IV at dfigueroa@plantcityobserver.com.

Commission sets meeting to discuss City Manager position The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 15, at City Hall.

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

During a special commission meeting ordered by Mayor Rick Lott to discuss the future of the City Manager position, City Commissioners voted to set the date for a special meeting to discuss the future of the City Manager position.

Lott called Monday’s meeting, held a few hours before the commission’s regularly scheduled meeting, after it

was made evident that current City Manager Mike Herr would be accepting a position as city manager of Winter Haven. The Winter Haven City Commission voted to make Herr an offer for the position during a Monday, May 1, meeting. The contract was approved during a special meeting in Winter Haven two days later, and Herr submitted a letter announcing his contractually obligated 30-day notice to the Plant City Commission Thursday, May 4.

Herr’s last day with Plant City will be Friday, June 2. He will begin work in Winter Haven on Monday, June 12.

During the meeting, Herr thanked the City of Plant City for supporting his efforts in completing projects,

many related to economic development, since becoming city manager in September 2014.

“A city manager has to have the freedom to be able to assess his or her leadership team without interference,” Herr said. “You gave me that freedom. You gave me that opportunity.”

Though a number of projects begun during Herr’s reign — such as the long-awaited Midtown redevelopment — are in the mid-completion stages, Herr and City Commissioners said they are confident in their ability to continue moving forward.

“There’s no reason for us to take our foot off the gas,” Lott said.

Herr’s departure leaves Plant City

with the all-too-familiar task of searching for a new city manager.

Before that, however, commissioners must determine how to select an interim city manager.

Commissioner Nate Kilton suggested selecting someone from within the community for the job, while Commissioner Mary Mathis and Vice-Mayor Bill Dodson suggested using the Senior Advisor program, available through the Florida League of Cities, to find a suitable interim city manager. According to Dodson, Plant City has successfully taken advantage of similar programs in the past. Dodson also recommended the use of a consulting agency to conduct a national search for a new city man-

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Leaving no stone unturned, Dodson said, is “important for us as a city of our size.”

Commissioners voted to reconvene at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 15, in City Hall’s Sadye Gibbs Martin Auditorium with a prepared list of local candidates and names from the Florida League of Cities to determine candidates for interim city manager, as well as names of potential consulting agencies.

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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

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FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017

IF YOU GO

Where : Duke’s Brewhouse, 2212 James L. Redman Parkway When: 4 p.m. Saturday, May 20; live music by RimFire begins at 7 p.m.

Includes: Gift card raffles and prizes. All money from the raffle and a portion of Miller Lite sales will go to Divers4Heroes.

Courtesy photo

much of his time volunteering as a coach with Lake Gibson High School’s football team, where he helped coach the team to the runner-up spot in the Class 6A state championship. “(Diving) gave me that sense of acceptance, for one, of my injury and the ability to say it’s not gonna stop me from doing the things I love to do,” Chandler said. “Diving is kind of the same as combat, because it’s you and your combat buddy or your dive buddy, and you rely on each other and yourself to stay alive. That’s what diving kind of brought back to me, which was really a nice feeling to have again.

It was definitely the start of where I am now.”

Divers4Heroes works with 70 to 100 veterans per year.

“Diving is kind of the same as combat, because it’s you and your combat buddy or your dive buddy, and you rely on each other and yourself to stay alive.”

— Ret. Sgt. William Chandler, who learned to dive with Divers4Heroes

Contact Daniel Figueroa IV at dfigueroa@plantcityobserver.com

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A Duke’s Brewhouse regular and veteran, Lance Larson, took notice of the program and brought it to the attention of General Manager Paul Ostendorf. Ostendorf said he knew hosting an event for the organization would be a perfect fit for Duke’s and Plant City. They set the date for Saturday, May 20.

“We definitely like helping out with the community,” Ostendorf said. “It was really important to us to be able to help out the military and the veterans. Everything the military does and the sacrifices they make, the sacrifices their families make every day. It’s important for me, for us, to do something here for the veterans.”

Duke’s will kick off the event at 4 p.m. A portion of the restaurant’s Miller Lite sales will go directly to the charity, Ostendorf said, as well as all the money raised through raffles.

Area businesses like Diamond Hill Golf-Country Club, Fun Bike Center, the Pink Piano, 1916 Irish Pub, Pepin Distributing and more have donated items for the raffle. There will also be raffles for tickets to theme parks and sporting events, and live music from local band Rimfire.

Ostendorf hopes Duke’s and Divers4Heroes will be able to help the thousands of veterans who, according to the United States Census Bureau, call Plant City home, like Chandler has been helped. Chandler said diving offered him a familiar setting and showed he was capable beyond the limitations of an injury, leading him to enter new settings he wouldn’t have tried before.

“It’s amazing to see how far he’s come and how much he’s been able to accomplish,” Rivera said.

After starting to dive, Chandler said he became much more social. Rivera said he is now a presence in the North Lakeland community they both call home. He has friends now and started taking online college courses. He even refueled one of his first passions, football. Chandler now spends

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Ret. United States Army Sgt. William Isaac Chandler, 34, said he loved playing football and riding motorcycles before he left for that tour in Iraq.

But when he came home, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) made him antisocial. His injury meant he couldn’t ride motorcycles or play football anymore. He said he couldn’t perform simple tasks like writing or opening a pickle jar. He was nervous about how he’d change his newborn’s diapers.

For Chandler, friendship was a far thought as he drowned in depression.

Until, that is, he went for a dive.

“Diving was what catapulted my life upward and out of that ditch,” Chandler said. “It was a life-changing experience. It gave me a sense of freedom I hadn’t felt in a long time. ” Chandler got into diving through Divers4Heroes, a Lakeland-based charity organization founder Debbie Rivera said aims to help veterans improves their lives through SCUBA diving.

Rivera said she had the idea for a diving charity focused on veterans just after she learned to dive. She was on Duval Street in Key West and saw a group of veterans struggling to navigate the cobblestone streets.

“SCUBA diving could change the life of somebody who was struggling with gravity or pain,” Rivera said. “In the water you’re weightless, there’s no gravity and you have freedom. You can have freedom from a wheelchair or a crutch. I thought SCUBA diving offers that feeling, that opportunity to overcome the feeling of ‘I can’t do anything.’ It’s ‘I can do,’ not ‘I can’t do.”

After looking into a way she could help injured veterans through diving, Rivera said she couldn’t find any organizations and decided to start one of her own.

Since starting the charity in 2006, Rivera said, the organization has gone from helping seven veterans at its first event to working with about 70 to 100 veterans per year. Divers4Heroes covers the cost of introduction classes, certification courses and courses in advanced diving. The organization also helps with costs for diving trips to places like Nassau and Key West. The trips, Rivera said, are fully immersive wellness programs that serve as a catapult for veterans to overcome perceived limitations.

Federally recognized, Rivera said they’ve worked with veterans from as far away as Oregon.

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017

A Helping Hand

THINKING POSITIVE

SCOTT TOLER

Making proactive changes Scott Toler discusses the necessity to face and make positive changes to overcome issues in life.

Justin Kline

The Plant City Elks Club donated checks Wednesday, May 3.

Fifteen Plant City schools recently had their students’ lunch debts cleared by the Plant City Elks Club.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

No student on the brink of graduating high school wants to find out that they can’t get their diploma because they’re in debt.

Fortunately for Plant City-area students, the local Elks Club was able to help students overcome their financial burdens.

The Plant City Elks Club donated a total of $2,691.26 to area schools this year for the purpose of clearing student lunch debts. The gesture was made during a Wednesday, May 3, dinner ceremony at the Plant City Elks Lodge No. 1727, 1501 N. Alexander St., where representatives from 15 schools received checks ranging from $49.06 to $335.50.

Marty Carroll, the Plant City Elks’ Exalted Ruler, said that the gesture was intended to help fight the “lunch shaming” phenomenon.

“Other kids look at it (a reduced lunch plan), and I think they sort of discriminate a little bit,” Carroll said.

“We wanted to help.”

The idea was born at the Elks’ Wild Game Cookout, held in February. The bar had generated $285 in tips, and Carroll said that Larry and Virginia Therington were the first to propose the idea of paying off school lunch debt.

Many members were shocked. “(It was) very surprising,” Carroll said. “Most of us knew nothing about this lunch program. We didn’t realize that if a kid gets all the way to the end and still has a bill, he doesn’t graduate.”

That $285 went to clear Marshall Middle School’s debts, but the Elks weren’t about to stop there.

“We learned a little bit more about the program,” Carroll said. “We had grants available to us, and this was a good cause, so we applied for our grant in late March. We got the money.”

The Elks were able to come up with $2,266.26 in grant money, which was pushed out to 13 area elementary, middle and high schools. Plant City High School also received a $140 donation, which was made in memory of the late David Miller. His wife, Emma Miller, spoke at the Wednesday, May 3, dinner.

“He loved Plant City, and he believed that young people were the future,” Emma Miller said.

In addition to the Elks and school representatives, the dinner was attended by Area 6 Superintendent Sharon Morris and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Larry Sykes, as well as City Commissioner Mike Sparkman.

“I thought (the gesture) was great,” Sparkman said. “I wasn’t aware of that type of program.”

Going forward, Carroll said that the Elks plan to continue applying for grants and raising money to help area schools clear students’ lunch debt.

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

SCHOOL RECIPIENTS

Sometimes, when we have an issue in life, we become the last ones to recognize and accept it. A reluctance to identify an issue might stem from a conception we established of ourselves that tells us we are not the kind of person who has that problem. This often leads to a state of denial that prevents addressing an area of concern.

Once we accept that we have an issue that calls for positive change, we might need time to console ourselves for needing to let go of an outmoded behavior pattern. This pattern became comfortable to us, even though we find it detrimental now.

Introducing new thoughts or actions to our lives takes weeks or months before we gain a new level of adjustment. At times, fear arises as we confront something that we are not accustomed to doing.

Normalizing that fear as part of accepting and surrendering to to the reality of our issue helps us. One part of us wants to perpetuate the old thinking or pattern of behavior because we obtained some form of reward for it, but another part of us realizes that more personal gain comes from any needed changes. Listing the benefits or drawbacks involved in changing an area of life becomes helpful.

This process leads to a more honest dialogue with ourselves. For instance, we know that exercise contributes to a longer physical life span and that being sedentary all the time results in more health problems. The obvious benefits of getting in better shape outweigh any gains we get from remaining less active.

Marshall Middle School: $285.00 Jackson Elementary School: $304.54 Cork Elementary School: $122.16 Walden Lake Elementary School: $120.00 Robinson Elementary School: $49.06 Lincoln Magnet School: $52.10 Trapnell Elementary School: $146.73 Springhead Elementary School: $291.80 Strawberry Crest High School: $335.50 Burney Elementary School: $128.24 Plant City High School: $140.00 Turkey Creek Middle School: $262.17 Durant High School: $305.00 Bryan Elementary School: $67.50 Knights Elementary School: $81.46 Total: $2,691.26 Elks: $2,266.26 Wild Game Cookout Tips: $285.00 Donation for David Miller: $140.00

A change towards having more energy may involve anything from drinking a glass of water to listening to music we love. Whether it is wanting to feel less tired or amending other behaviors, it helps to have a default action ready to replace inhibiting habits. What will you do when you feel that old pattern slipping up on you?

Accepting that the Articles of Confederation failed to provide a workable form of government for the nation, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and other Founders collaborated on writing the American Constitution. Thus, they embraced the issue at hand and surrendered to the necessity of the compromises and debates that followed.

Surrender in this context means that we do the work involved in confronting and overcoming any issues we face. This concept resists instant solutions, and it encourages our active participation. It helps us to bring what we find uneven in our lives back into balance.

This ‘Golden Mean’ view of life leads to a more realistic perspective, giving us the emotional stability that we need to live well. If we live in unbalanced ways, we are never steady enough to visualize the way we need to go.

Scott Toler is a licensed mental health counselor living in Plant City.

He can be reached at etoler25@tampabay. rr.com.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017

Knights Griffin Road home tops April real estate transactions

APRIL 2017 SNAPSHOT

MINIMUM: $39,000 MAXIMUM: $630,000

T

he home at 4614 W. Knights Griffin Road sold April 11, for $630,000. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,570 square feet of living area on 5.58 acres. The price per square foot is $245.14.

The home at 3429 Silver Meadow Way sold April 4, for $128,625 (auction/REO). Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,622 square feet of living area on 0.22 acres. The price per square foot is $79.30.

The home at 2708 Spring Meadow Drive sold April 7, for $235,000.

Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,009 square feet of living area on 0.55 acres. The price per square foot is $116.97.

The home at 3021 Sutton Woods Drive sold April 7, for $365,000.

Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,336 square feet of living area on 0.53 acres. The price per square foot is $109.41.

EAGLE GREENS CONDO

The home at 2605 Eagle Greens Drive sold April 4, for $125,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1999, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,260 square feet of living area on 0.04 acres. The price per square foot is $99.21.

HIGHLAND PINES ESTATES

The home at 6605 Ike Smith Road sold April 27, for $129,500 (REO/ bank owned). Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,238 square feet of living area on 1.85 acres. The price per square foot is $104.60.

HILLSBOROUGH

The home at 5511 Bruton Road sold April 24, for $342,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,894 square feet of living area on 15.91 acres. The price per square foot is $180.57.

The home at 2806 Lawrence Road sold April 20, for $150,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,800 square feet of living area on 2.33 acres. The price per square foot is $83.33.

The home at 702 N. Woodrow Wilson St. sold April 18, for $39,000.

Built in 1961, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,049 square feet of living area on 0.26 acres. The price per square foot is $37.18.

The home at 6007 Smith Ryals Road sold April 10, for $148,000.

Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,040 square feet of living area on 1.03 acres. The price per square foot is $142.31.

HOPEWELL GARDENS

The home at 3020 S. Northview Road sold April 14, for $155,000.

Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,380 square feet of living area on 0.53 acres. The price per square foot is $112.32.

AVERAGE: $192,012 MEDIAN: $180,500

Emily Topper

The home at 4614 W. Knights Griffin Road has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,570 square feet of living area on 5.58 acres.

ISLAND POND ESTATES

The home at 4407 W. Sam Allen Road sold April 28, for $243,000.

Built in 1979, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,785 square feet of living area on 0.70 acres. The price per square foot is $136.13.

The home at 3605 Tindle Road sold April 24, for $227,000. Built in 1971, it has four bedrooms, two and one half baths and 1,781 square feet of living area on 1.14 acres. The price per square foot is $127.46.

MAGNOLIA GREEN

The home at 3116 Magnolia Meadows Drive sold April 11, for $217,000. Built in 2009, it has four bedrooms, two and one half baths and 2,274 square feet of living area on 0.27 acres. The price per square foot is $95.43.

The home at 3307 San Moise Place sold April 12, for $229,990. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, two and one half baths and 2,807 square feet of living area on 0.15 acres. The price per square foot is $81.93.

The home at 3515 San Moise Place sold April 28, for $230,990. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, two and one half baths and 2,807 square feet of living area on 0.15 acres. The price per square foot is $82.29.

MAYDAY OAKS

The home at 3012 N. Wilder Road sold April 17, for $245,000. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, two

baths and 1,930 square feet of living area on 1.63 acres. The price per square foot is $126.94.

PINKER

The home at 8414 Goddard Road sold April 11, for $50,000 (auction/ REO). Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,337 square feet of living area on 1.82 acres. The price per square foot is $21.39.

The home at 8810 Stanmoore Road sold April 13, for $230,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,052 square feet of living area on 3.08 acres. The price per square foot is $112.09.

SUGAR CREEK

The home at 2917 Clubhouse Drive sold April 21, for $237,500. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,072 square feet of living area on 0.31 acres. The price per square foot is $114.62.

The home at 3006 Forest Hammock Drive sold April 28, for $266,500.

Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,055 square feet of living area on 0.35 acres. The price per square foot is $129.68.

The home at 2907 Hammock Vista Court sold April 14, for $210,000.

Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,067 square feet of living area on 0.25 acres. The price per square foot is $101.60.

The home at 3812 Creek Way Court sold April 28, for $125,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,220 square feet of living area on 0.17 acres. The price per square foot is $56.31.

The home at 3223 Kilmer Drive sold April 14, for $256,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,286 square feet of living area on 0.24 acres. The price per square foot is $111.99.

The home at 3806 Creek Woods Drive sold April 20, for $152,000.

Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,194 square feet of living area on 0.19 acres. The price per square foot is $127.30.

The home at 1903 Paddock Drive sold April 24, for $212,000. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,676 square feet of living area on 0.31 acres. The price per square foot is $126.49.

WALDEN LAKE

The home at 3425 Silver Meadow Way sold April 6, for $168,000.

Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,644 square feet of living area on 0.18 acres. The price per square foot is $102.19.

The home at 1701 Brookstone Way sold April 21, for $200,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,903 square feet of living area on 0.29 acres. The price per square foot is $105.10.

The home at 1506 Teakwood Drive sold April 17, for $219,900. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,101 square feet of living area on 0.21 acres. The price per square foot is $104.66.

The home at 1509 Teakwood Drive sold April 24, for $195,000. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,798 square feet of living area on 0.32 acres. The price per square foot is $108.45.

The home at 1459 Walden Oaks Place sold April 6, for $180,000.

Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,487 square feet of living area on 0.12 acres. The price per square foot is $121.05.

WALDEN WOODS

The home at 1813 Greenwood Valley Drive sold April 28, for $189,990.

Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, two and one half baths and 2,007 square feet of living area on 0.10 acres. The price per square foot is $94.66.

The home at 1939 Greenwood Valley Drive sold April 14, for $139,900.

Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, two and one half baths and 1,649 square feet of living area on 0.02 acres. The price per square foot is $84.84.

ONLINE See more transactions at PlantCityObserver.com

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

— Kandice White, 37

“I think he really loves the country and wants it to do better, but it’s different being a politician than a businessman. I don’t like some of his choices.”

—Brad Meehan, 23

“I don’t know where to start.

I’m not overly impressed.”

—Alisha Ainsworth, 38

“I absolutely love it. He’s been doing everything he promised to do so far.”

—Marie McDonough, 67

“I’m happy for the Supreme Court (of the United States) pick.”

—Tracey Thompson, 48

APRIL 28

OPEN BAR 1510 block of Tangerine Court.

Residential burglary: Officers met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) broke into their home through a rear window and stole liquor, jewelry and electronics.

The total value of the stolen items was about $10,000. The incident occurred between 1 and 3:45 p.m.

Friday, April 28.

APRIL 29

SAFE’S NOT SAFE 110 block of North Pearl Street.

Theft: While investigating a domestic incident at a residence, officers learned from a complainant that a portable safe had been stolen from his room. The safe contained $4,000 in cash.

SCOOTER SWIPER 100 block of West Mahoney Street.

Theft: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) had stolen her electric scooter. Complainant stated she had recently bought the scooter for $20.

HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME 1700 block of North Park Road.

Vehicle burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) smashed the rear passenger window of her Nissan Armada SUV and stole a brown Britney Spears purse, valued at $30.

ID badge. The phone belonged to the City of Tampa.

TWO WALLETS, ONE BURGLARY 600 block of East Alexander Street.

Vehicle burglary: Officers met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked Kia overnight and stole two men’s wallets, valued at $20.

MAY 1

FLANKED 400 block of West Dr. Martin Luther

9

King Jr. Boulevard.

Strong Armed Robbery: Officer met with complainant, who stated an unknown suspect had struck him from behind and stole $50 from his person.

TAILGATE THIEF 3410 block of Trapnell Ridge Drive.

Grand theft: Officers met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) stole the tailgate from a 2016 Ford F-250 truck overnight. The tailgate was valued at $3,000.

APRIL 30 MEAT SWEATS 610 block of North Maryland Avenue.

Grand theft: Officers met with complainant, who stated over $300 worth of meats had been stolen from a grocery store.

AXE AND YE SHALL RECEIVE 300 block of North Alexander Street.

Vehicle burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle parked near a hospital and stole five bungee cords, a pair of sunglasses, a Bluetooth kit and an axe. The value of the items was $90.

APRIL 30

BLOCKING THE ENTRANCE 1900 block of West Reynolds Street.

Business burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) entered a fast food restaurant by shattering an entry door’s glass with a cement block. A total of $2,627.52 was reported stolen from the cash register.

CITY PROPERTY 3840 block of Crystal Dew Street.

Vehicle burglary: Officers met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked Dodge Ram pickup truck and stole an Apple iPhone 6 and an employee

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

BEATING FEET 1600 block of East Alabama Street.

Aggravated assault: Officer responded to a report of two male subjects chasing people while wielding a knife.

The two subjects were identified and arrested.

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017

COPS CORNER

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SATURDAY, MAY 13

CAR WASH FUNDRAISER AT THE TIRE SHOP OF PLANT CITY Takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 13, at The Tire Shop of Plant City, 1604 N. Wheeler St. Funds from the car wash will be donated to the families displaced by the fire at the Madison Park Road apartment complex. Call (813) 7522532.

‘80S NIGHT DANCE PARTY AT UNCLE MIKE’S SMOKEHOUSE GRILL Takes place from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Saturday, May 13, at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 E. State Road 60. Enjoy food and dance the night away to the hits of the ‘80s.

The dance party will be held every Saturday night through the month of May. Call (813) 737-4444.

MONDAY, MAY 15

FAMILY GAME ZONE Begins at 3 p.m. Monday, May 15, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Families are invited to play board games, including Candyland, Connect Four and more.

For children in grades K-5 and their families. Call (813) 757-9215.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17

NIGHT OWLS STORYTIME AT BRUTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY Begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Children are invited to attend and wear pajamas and blankets. The 30-minute program is for children ages 3 to 7, and includes stories, songs and activities. Call (813) 757-9215.

SATURDAY, MAY 20

BRING YOUR OWN ART PARTY AT OFF THE TRACKS GALLERY Takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at Off the Tracks Gallery, 119 E. Reynolds St. Bring art to work on and get feedback from other artists. Call (813) 495-8807.

BEST BET FRIDAY, MAY 12

‘LAST ROUND-UP OF THE GUACAMOLE QUEENS’ AT PLANT CITY ENTERTAINMENT

1982 PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RING CEREMONY Begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Hall, 303 N. Lemon St. The members of the 1982 Plant City High School basketball team will be honored with rings for winning the 1982 state championship. Tickets are available at PCHS1982.com.

The deadline to RSVP is Monday, May 15.

MONDAY, MAY 22

PLANT CITY AREA DEMOCRATS MEETING Begins at 6 p.m. Monday, May 22, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. City Commissioner Mary Mathis will speak about the City of Plant City’s current and future issues.

ONGOING PAINTING WITH BETTY FAIRBANKS AT THE CLASSROOM GALLERY Takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. The cost is $20 per class.

Bring own supplies and references to learn about color theory, design and different techniques. Call (813) 757-3632.

Begins at 8 p.m. Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 and 2 p.m.

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.

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

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

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

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

THE CLASSROOM GALLERY 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB 1 p.m. Fridays at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 302 Carey St. For more information, call Walt Arnold at (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.

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.

OPEN MIC NIGHT 8 p.m. Wednesdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818.

PLANT CITY CONNECTIONS 8 a.m. Tuesdays, at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 State Road 60 E. This networking group hosts speakers each meeting. Facebook. com/groups/pcityconnections.

PLANT CITY DAYBREAK ROTARY CLUB 7 a.m. Mondays at South Florida Baptist Hospital’s Community Conference Room, 301 N. Alexander St.

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Dora D. Beveard

DORA D. BEVEARD, 92, OF PLANT CITY, DIED MAY 3, 2017.

She was born Oct. 15, 1924, in Opp, Alabama.

She was a longtime member of Cork United Methodist Church, where she was the former president of the Methodist Women’s Society, and most recently attended First United Methodist Church Plant City. She was a deli manager for Felton’s Food Mart, and the cook for her sisterin-law’s Good Times Cafe in Plant City’s Historic District. She loved her family and church, and she enjoyed socializing, cooking, fishing, cruises on the high seas, and most recently feeding the ducks and other wildlife at her daughter Dodie’s house.

She is survived by her daughters, Marsha Passmore (Billy) and Dodie White, of Plant City; sisters, Catherine Leddon, of Plant City and Elaine Herring, of Auburndale; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Milan ‘Doc’ Beveard; and siblings, Sara Louise Reddick, A.B. Ham and Frank Ham. A Celebration of Life was held May 6, at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City. Committal followed at Oaklawn West Cemetery, Plant City.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.

HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS

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Kathryn ‘Kay’ Webb McCann KATHRYN ‘KAY’ WEBB MCCANN, 82, OF MILFORD, NEW YORK, DIED APRIL 17, 2017.

Formerly of Plant City, she was born in Walton, New York, the daughter of Charles and Florence (Hall) Webb.

She attended and graduated from the Walton school district where she remained in contact with family and friends throughout her life. She enjoyed volunteering, supporting her church along with being a member

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of the choir 50 years, DiA burial service will be held at Myrtle Vessel and travelane Swindle; Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Plant ‘Granny’ Lynn ing while a brother, Cary City at a later date. resident of Swindle; In lieu of flowers, memorial conMYRTLE VESSEL “GRANNY” LYNN, Florida up to children, tributions may be made to The ALS 77, OF LITHIA, DIED MAY 7, 2017. SHE the passing Heather MeyAssociation, Gift Processing Center, WAS BORN IN DOVER. of her huser (Darrell), P.O. Box 37022 Boone, Iowa 50037band, Jim, in Becky Wyatt 0022.

June 2016.

(Bobby) FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS She made and Ashley www.HopewellFuneraI.com it a point of Swindle Betty Jane HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM everyday living to stay in touch with (April); 11 grandchildren; one greatSternbauer everyone, often through her iPad. grandchild; and many other loving She was a caring and loving wife, family and friends.

BETTY JANE STERNBAUER, 90, OF Diane J. Wiggins we’re dedicated to helping createCITY, a WE ’ R E P RO U D TO SERV E our community mom, stepmom, aunt, grandmother, He was preceded in death by hisfamilies DIANE J. WIGGINS, 64, OF LITHIA, PLANT DIED APRIL 27, 2017, AT unique andJane meaningful memorial thatHOME. truly with personal,In compassionate 1896. Willard great-grandmother. particular, care since parents, and Swindle; DIED MAY 6, 2017. SHE WAS BORN IN HER celebrates the life it represents.

As your Dignity Memorial professionals, she was so very supportive of her brother, Gary Swindle; and sister, PLANT CITY. > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan TransferabilityShe was a member of Trinity United autistic grandson, Douglas Acker, Mary Felder. > The Compassion Helpline® > Bereavement whom she adored and stayed inTravel Assistance A funeral service was held Methodist Church in Plant City, a regular contact with.

May 11, at First Baptist Church of member of The Sunflower Girls and FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS She was also preceded in death Dover. loved playing cards. www.HopewellFuneraI.com by her first husband, John D. Acker; Burial followed at Antioch She was preceded in death by HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival. brother, Richard Webb (Margie Lou), Cemetery, Thonotosassa. her husband of 56 years, Joseph and Sgt. Adam C. Munn, USMC, son Sternbauer. of Art; and niece, Betsy Munn, of She is survived by her daughters, Mary Shirley Walton.

Karen Bornstine and Susan Lynn MARY SHIRLEY, 85, OF LITHIA, DIED She is survived by her sons, John (David); grandchildren, Stacy, JesMAY 3, 2017. SHE WAS BORN IN we’re dedicated to helping families createCITY. a W E’RE P RO U D TO SERV E our community D. Acker (Suzanne), Charles F. Acker sica and Joseph; and great-grandPLANT WELLSMEMORIAL.COM unique meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. Sam (girlfriend Francine Pietrowski) children, andand Alex. celebrates the life it represents.

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Rutherford Jr. PlanT CiTy www.HopewellFuneraI.com Betsy, Ellen and Nancy; and several In lieu of flowers, memorial HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM 813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com grandchildren. contributions may be made to the DONALD VERLE RUTHERFORD JR., A memorial service will be 78, DIED FRIDAY, MAY 5, AT HIS HOME Plant City Commons Community Proudly supportingGarden. the Plant City Strawberry Festival. Marianne Bocknor held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 119, IN BLAIRSVILLE, GEORGIA, FOLLOWM2313_4832_Wells_PNT_Comm_7-25x9-75_C.indd 10/27/15 10:42 AM at Courtney Funeral Home, 25 ING A TERMINAL ILLNESS. Langford Townsend St., Walton, New York, to celebrate the life of both Kath- He was born MARIANNE BOCKNOR LANGFORD, 66, ryn and Jim McCann. A graveside and raised in OF PLANT CITY, DIED APRIL 24, 2017. service with full military salute (Durant) DoSHE IS SURVIVED BY HER FAMILY. WELLSMEMORIAL.COM will follow. ver, the son The family asks that all donations of Donald be made in her name to donate@ Verle RutherEllen Hall Team Wells MeMorial & event Center FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS autismspeaks.org or to Autism ford Sr. and ELLEN HALL TEAM, 70, OF PlanT CiTy www.HopewellFuneraI.com Speaks, 1 E. 33rd St., 4th Floor, New Cleo Valdee MULBERRY, DIED MAY 2, 2017.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM 813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com York, NY 10016.

Rutherford.

Online condolences may be made He was a lifeShe was born in Plant City. She was a at CourtneyFH.com. long resident Joyce Giddens member of Bowling Green Church of M2313_4832_Wells_PNT_Comm_7-25x9-75_C.indd 1 10/27/15Warren 10:42 AM of the Brandon area. He married his God. She loved her family and enjoyed JOYCE WARREN GIDDENS, 88, OF wife, Anne Rutherford, on March 16, baking. She is survived by a loving family. PLANT CITY, DIED MAY 3, 2017.

1963. He was a wonderful son, husband, father and grandfather and Raymond ‘Buddy’ the lasting memories he created Edward Swindle FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS with all that loved him will forever be www.HopewellFuneraI.com www.HopewellFuneraI.com cherished.

RAYMOND “BUDDY” EDWARD HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM He is survived by his beloved wife SWINDLE, 71, OF THONOTOSASSA, of 55 years, Anne Bradford RutherDIED MAY 4, 2017, AT HIS HOME. lorist ford; son, Tim Rutheford; daughters, Lori Duckworth (Clarence), Lynn He was a member of First Baptist Copeland (Warner), Terri Nix (Perry) Church of Dover and the Local 67 and Dawn Warren (Richard); grandHeat/Frost Insulators. He spent children, Brandon, Griffin, Austin, many years supporting the local 116 North Collins Street Bailey, Schuyler, Carter, Cassidy, youth with agricultural projects at Plant City, FL 33563 Owen, Grace, Aiden, Lily, Charlotte, the Florida Strawberry Festival. Alph: (813) 567-5735 though there were many things that Bella and Saylor; and great-grandallabloomtampa.com he could be proud of accomplishing, daughter, Blakely.

A funeral service was held May he was most proud of his children Historic Downtown 11, at Blairsville Church of Christ in and grandchildren.

238910 He is survived by his loving wife of Blairsville, Georgia.

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SPORTS Do you have a good sports scoop for us?

Email Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

Durant football hosting summer events Durant High School’s football program is getting ready for the seventh annual Mike Gottman Youth Football Camp.

The skills and drills camp, held every year at the school’s football practice field, is for kids as young as third graders and as old as incoming high school freshmen. This year’s camp will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, June 5, through Thursday, June 8. Registration costs $125 per camper.

Registration may be done online at DurantFootballCamps.com, checks may be mailed to Durant High School, 4748 Cougar Path, or walk-up registration will be accepted Monday, June 5.

Durant students that wish to play football in the 2017-18 school year can also attend Future Cougar Day, scheduled for 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at the school’s gym. Future Cougar Day is an informational meeting for students and parents.

For more information on the camp, call (813) 323-4347. For more information on the camp or Future Cougar Day, email Michael.Gottman@sdhc.k12.fl.us, visit facebook.com/DurantCougarsFootball or follow @DOORANTFOOTBALL on Twitter.

Plant City YMCA to host Summerpalooza The Plant City YMCA is ready for summer, and wants local youths to have some fun.

The branch is hosting a Summerpalooza party from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 3, which will include pool parties, games, family entertainment and more.

There is no cost to join the party.

The branch is located at 1507 YMCA Place. For more information, call (813) 757-6677.

Welbon Karate Club raising funds for tourney Chris Welbon Karate Clubs of Plant City wants to send its competitive team out of state this summer, and needs some help.

The team has created a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $5,000, which will help send the athletes to the AAU National Karate Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina. The tournament runs from Tuesday, June 27, through Sunday, July 2.

To donate, visit GoFundMe.com/ chris-welbon-karate-club-team.

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? JUSTIN KLINE

Keep the kids (and yourself) busy this summer

Warriors on the Water The Plant City Family YMCA has led many in the community to find a new passion in Dragon Boats.

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

For a few hours on Friday, April 28, a 440-meter stretch of the Hillsborough River in Tampa’s Channelside District was overrun with dragons.

It was the site of the 2017 Pan American Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races, the latest continuation of a more than 2,500-year-old Chinese tradition. That day, Plant City showed it continues to have a growing presence in the sports community, with residents going oar-to-oar with racers from across the state and around the world.

It all started at the Plant City Family YMCA, where Lisa Kolakowski has been training the Plant City community for about 20 years. It was there that she met Joyce Fornero, a Plant City resident who works as a trainer with the Tampa-based Pan Am Dragon Boat group, and was convinced to try Dragon Boat racing four years ago.

“She was training a corporate team and she saw me at the Y,” Kolakowski, 59, says. “She said, ‘You need to be doing Dragon Boat racing.’ And it worked out great, because I’m still here.”

Kolakowski says she soon found herself racing with the corporate teams Fornero had been training. She eventually landed on Jim Ellis’ team, Invictus, founded in the wake of the HSBC corporate team Ellis used to race on. Ellis says being able to keep the spirit of his old team going inspired him to use the name Invictus — Latin for “invincible or unconquerable.”

The team, comprised of men and women ages 25 through 65, practices every Tuesday and Saturday at Rick’s on the River, a bar and restaurant along the Hillsborough River in Tampa.

Back at the Plant City Y, Bonnie Turner, one of Kolakowski’s spin class students, kept hearing her talk about the races.

“I’ve been a member of the Y for over 20 years,” Bonnie Turner, 60, says. “She’s my spin instructor. She talked about how she did that. I like to go kayaking, and I like the water … so I said I was going to come try it.”

Bonnie Turner says she watched Kolakowski in her first race four years ago and that she was participating in the sport by the next year, 2014. Her husband, Bill Turner, joined in 2015.

Dragon Boat racing is quite different than kayaking, Bonnie Turner says.

Photos by Daniel Figueroa IV

Top: Team Invictus races during the PanAm Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races. s Above: Bonnie Turner and Lisa Kolakowski.

"She (Joyce Forneo) said, 'You need to be doing dragon boat racing.' And it worked out great, because I'm still here."

— Lisa Kowlakowski found out about Dragon Boats through the Plant City Y.

The team is comprised of men and women ages 25 through 65.

SEE DRAGON PAGE 13

The summer of 2017 has plenty to offer for Plant City, writes Justin Kline.

Eighty-two seasons of service

S

Jack Holland and Sam Singletary have been refereeing and coaching youth sports since 1977.

ince I’ve been in town, I don’t think there’s been a summer in Plant City with as many kidfriendly options as this one.

With the school-free season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to get your kids ready.

I’ve written in the past about my own summer experiences as a kid, having attended a YMCA summer camp in rural Western New York for several years. I made some fond memories there that I still hang on to to this day, so I’d recommend SEE KLINE PAGE 14

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Though many parts of Plant City’s youth sports scene have changed in the last 40 years, there are two things — more specifically, two people — that are still going strong.

Plant Citians who have played youth sports for the city’s leagues likely know Sam Singletary and Jack Holland, who have served as referees, coaches and more since 1977. Their work for the city may have taken them in different career directions, but Singletary and Holland have always made

time for their shared passion — youth sports.

“You’ve got to figure out what you want to do and stay with it,” Singletary says.

Both men became involved with the city’s Recreation department programs while attending Hillsborough Community College. At first, the refereeing and coaching was simply a part-time gig to do in between classes and their games with the Plant City Rogues soccer team, on which both men played. It wasn’t immediately SEE REFEREES PAGE 13

Justin Kline

Jack Holland and Sam Singletary. `

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

clear to Singletary and Holland that they had found their calling.

“At that time of my life, I was going to college at HCC and had no clue what I was going to do for a living,” Holland says.

Singletary had the idea that he wanted to be involved for as long as he could.

“Growing up, if you weren’t on Pony League baseball or something in high school, you weren’t in sports,” he says. “They didn’t have soccer or any of this good stuff. I decided that, if I got the chance, I would referee and I would coach as long as I was able.”

Singletary worked for Southwest Florida Water Management for 40 years. Even with 10-hour days on the schedule for around 30 of those years, still made time to referee and coach Plant City youth sports. His résumé includes 41 years of soccer, 25 years of flag football and three years of

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Team Invictus also participates in charitable events.

racers chasing glory and medals, their competitive edge was not lost.

“If I’m going to be out here, working this hard,” Kolakowski says, “ I want a medal.”

“We like the bling,” Bonnie Turner

basketball — a new challenge for him.

Holland eventually figured out what he was going to do for a living.

Two years after he started part-time work for the rec leagues, a full-time athletic manager position opened up and he went for it.

Holland worked his way up the ladder over the years, eventually becoming the recreation superintendent when the recreation and parks departments merged in 1997. In 2004, he was named director of the department — a position he holds to this day.

Singletary and Holland have seen the youth sports scene come a long way in 40 years. Things have expanded from a field at Mike Sansone Park — which later became the city’s skate park — maintained by many Optimist Club chicken dinner sales.

Their love for sports remains the same, though. Both men, especially Singletary, have as much fun with the games as the kids and parents do.

Kacey Fultz In her first-ever regional tournament appearance, Strawberry Crest sophomore Kacey Fultz pitched the Chargers to a 9-5 win over Lake Minneola.

She also demonstrated the ability to get out of a jam: after the Hawks scored four runs in two innings, attempting a comeback, Fultz was able to settle down and help ensure that she and her teammates would be the ones advancing to the next round.

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

What was it like, starting a regional playoff game as a sophomore?

It’s certainly been a little challenging. We’ve all been playing as a team lately. We’ve gotten together, and we’re all a family. Even though I’m just a sophomore, I’m out here doing my best for my team.

You got in a little jam midway through the game, but then you got yourself out of it. What did you tell yourself to calm down?

I always just take a deep breath. I’ve been pitching for my entire softball career, basically, so I just had to get the confidence in myself.

13

added.

They laughed and they raced.

Contact Daniel Figueroa IV at dfigueroa@plantcityobserver.com.

“Usually, when I call a kid offsides, the parents say, ‘He wasn’t offsides,’” Singletary says. “I say, ‘I know, but I couldn’t keep up with him, so I have to call him offsides.’ That always gets a laugh. I’ll joke around with the parents a lot. When they’re having fun, and the kids are having fun, then everybody’s having fun.”

They also enjoy sharing their love of the sports with those who might follow in their footsteps. Singletary and Holland won’t be able to referee and coach forever, but they know they can share their knowledge with the people who will one day take over for them — the people in it for the same reasons they’ve had since 1977.

“Most kids aren’t out there for the money,” Singletary says. “I know I’m not. Money’s the last thing. It’s a passion.”

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Dragon Boats are 40 feet long and seat 22 people. Twenty people man the oars, 10 per side, and the remaining two control the other functions.

Up front, a drummer beats a large drum to communicate the pace of the boat as set by the “stroke,” or the two rowers in the first row. In the back, one person mans an oar to help steer the boat.

The boat’s “engine” is in its center, where the larger rowers usually sit. Stamina is a key attribute: while people of any shape, size and strength can help, keeping one’s cardio up is paramount for success.

“If you don’t do your cardio out there, it’s going to be tough for you in here,” Kolakowski says.

It’s also a full-body workout, Bonnie Turner says. A rower’s core is consistently engaged. Legs brace and push during turns while a rower’s arms and back operate the oars.

It’s not all about the racing, either, Ellis says. Invictus participates in charitable events. The team is a member of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, sponsoring clean-up and beautification efforts along two stretches of the Hillsborough River, including one along the race route.

Turner and Kolakowski say they love the workout, teamwork and environmental efforts found in Team Invictus. And, as the sun shone on the bay and the wind blew mighty against

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5/4/17 This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

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Puzzle One Solution: “It’s not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it.”

– Dorothy (Bea Arthur) on “The Golden Girls” Puzzle Two Solution: “When you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know.”

– Mitch Albom

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

This week’s Sudoku answers

good at volleyball.

At what point did you get your confidence back up?

Once I actually settled down and the pitches just kept going. My team had my back. That’s when I felt good.

This is a young team, and you’re one of the younger players. What was it like to play on a team with so many girls around your age, and get this far?

We are a young team, so everyone thinks that they can just run over us, or whatever. But we definitely have a lot of talent on our team. And, like I said, we all play as a team and get things done.

Are you hoping to play in college?

Yes, I would like to go to Southeastern University, in Lakeland. I want to go into the sports medicine, physical therapy field. Something like that.

Who’s your biggest inspiration on the field?

Kevin Kiermaier. I know that a lot of girls give that answer, but you can just tell that when he’s out there, he gives it his all.

©2017 NEA, Inc.

This week’s Crossword answers

What sets this team apart from somebody else, say, one of those teams that thought they’d beat you but isn’t playing ball right now?

I think that we just know how to fight.

We obviously can get down in some games, but we know how to bring it back up.

How long have you been playing softball?

Since I was 5, so 10 years. My parents wanted me to play a sport, and a lot of my friends around me started playing softball, so I just started playing.

Is there any sport you’ve never played, but would try?

I’ve never really played any other sport. But, everyone tells me I’d be

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017

SPRINGFEST File Photo

Chris Welbon's annual summer karate camp is popular in Plant City.

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2017 8:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.

SPRINGHEAD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2301 SPARKMAN ROAD, PLANT CITY, FL

Bring your handmade items to sell or bring your purse to buy. Either way, come and have a great time.

Refreshments, pony rides for the children and young at heart, games and much more!

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FROM KLINE PAGE 12 240015

FAMILY FUN ALL DAY!

SING OUT LOUD! May 19th Vocal Talent Show 7:30pm @ Plant City Entertainment 101 N Thomas St, Plant City, FL 33563

ORM PE R F

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TICKETS AVAILABLE AT www.NRG.Ticketleap.com/NRG A portion of the proceeds benefit Plant City Entertainment

JOIN NRG! AUDITIONS! Thursday, June 1st | Saturday, June 3rd NRG is looking for new performers in Grades K-9th!

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whatever the Y’s offering to anybody — even if there’s nothing quite like camping near the south shore of Lake Ontario around these parts.

Of course, summer camp is far from the only thing around Plant City worth putting your kids into this summer. It’s the first time since I’ve been here that the Plant City Y is fielding a swim team during the season, for example.

There’s no shortage of martial arts programs, from karate to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, around town that cater to the kids and offer pretty much everything a parent could ask for. We now have a boxing gym with a goal of giving kids something positive to do and work for, and a wrestling club operated by coaches from one of the Tampa Bay area’s top prep programs.

Having covered some of their summer camps, I’ve seen for myself how much fun the kids have learning and playing.

It’s worth checking with local high schools to see which coaches are offering summer camps and activities for kids. One of the most popular recurring events is the Mike Gottman Youth Football Camp at Durant High School, which is going into its seventh summer next month. I make the trek out there every year with my camera.

I also can’t forget about the City

of Plant City’s own offerings, as the Recreation and Parks Department has plenty going on these days. Kids can learn cheerleading, basketball and other sports from high school coaches, and get the most out of the season with the MLK and Planteen recreation centers’ annual summer programs.

Don’t just let your kids have all the fun, though. I know the temperature outside is going to be stupidly hot before long, but this summer would be as good a time as any to get out there and try something new in the fitness world.

In fact, I would say the kids aren’t the only ones who should give some of those martial arts programs a whirl. I’ve done some jiu-jitsu and boxing training out here in the summer months, toiling in buildings without air conditioning, and I would recommend that to anyone looking for a serious cardio regimen and a unique experience.

Whatever activity you or your kids choose, just remember to stay hydrated. Mother Nature doesn’t play around, after all.

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

Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF

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K I LT O N Sedita Kilton & Company, Certified Public Accountants, P.L.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

FORECAST FRIDAY, MAY 12 High: 92 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 0%

SATURDAY, MAY 13 High: 89 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 10%

SUNDAY, MAY 14 High: 93 Low: 66 Chance of rain: 10%

MONDAY, MAY 15 High: 93 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 0%

6:40a 8:09p

Saturday, May 13

6:39a

8:10p

Sunday, May 14

6:39a

8:10p

Monday, May 15

6:38a

8:11p

Tuesday, May 16

6:38a

8:12p

Wednesday, May 17

6:37a

8:12p

Thursday, May 18

6:37a

8:13p

MOON PHASES

May 26 New

Courtesy of the United States

Puzzle One Clue: K equals M

“ETPO CYB WYYJ UZ CYBK FYZTPK, CYB UKP WYYJVOL UZ ZTP MBKPGZ WYXP CYB EVWW PXPK JOYE.”

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Puzzle Two Clue: M equals P ©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

Saturday, May 6

0.00

Sunday, May 7

0.00

Monday, May 8

0.00

Tuesday, May 9

0.00

Wednesday, May 10

0.00

2017

1.22 in.

2016 10.68 in.

2016

1.21 in.

1 It gets into hot water 7 Grain to be ground 12 Type of hat or canal 18 Certain hay fever drug brand 20 “I need it yesterday!”

21 Showing great anger 22 Channel of water that turns a wheel 23 Dr. Alan Alda 25 Period’s place in a sentence 26 Super-big, body-wise 27 First name in “The Matrix” 28 Round-mouthed cries 29 Holder of many bills 33 “Blue Bloods” network 34 Cruise liner stops 36 Tommie of baseball or James of writing 37 ___ generis (unique) 38 FDR’s health affliction 40 Be over by 45 “Crazy” bird 46 Dr. Robert Young 49 Move like the Blob 50 Reckless, impetuous, irresponsible people 52 Novelist Anais 53 “Aren’t ___ fine pair of misfits?”

54 Automatons (Abbr.)

55 Give-go link 56 Concerning this, to lawyers 58 Psychic’s claim 59 Plan ___-together (schedule a meeting) 60 Buddhist’s goal 62 Nonclergy 66 Stuff used in making glass 68 Mr. Aykroyd 69 In a rational manner 72 Ending for spin or grid 73 Rocked out 76 Any mom or dad 77 Musket output 81 Big name in gas stations 82 Have a loan out 84 Snacks 86 Out-limb link 87 Art ___ (Miami Beach’s design style) 88 Little Ms. Bobbsey 89 Guevara the revolutionary 91 Screeching night birds 93 “The Dukes of Hazzard” deputy sheriff 94 Dr. Wayne Rogers 97 “Join ___ the grand opening!” (new store’s invitation) 98 Attachment to nay or sooth 100 Devoutly religious 101 Wife of John Lennon 102 Head of France?

103 Genre of illusory, eyeballbending drawings 105 Billiards stick 106 More expensive or beloved 108 Good card to have in a casino 111 “Sesame Street” viewer 112 Map collection between two covers 115 Certain vegetable 116 Dr. Harry Shearer 119 Less acute 124 Big name in low-carb diets 125 Does backbreaking work

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126 Sign of something about to happen 127 Dwell 128 Kind of system, raise or badge 129 Not digital

DOWN

1 Scottish head covering 2 Manning the passer 3 “... and to ___ a good night” 4 “The Fresh Prince of ___-Air” 5 Correspond grammatically 6 Sound from a hog 7 Snatches 8 T. ___ Price (investment firm) 9 Calligraphers’ necessities 10 It may contain a belfry 11 Pixar’s “___ Story” 12 Lab measuring tube (var.)

13 Melodic 14 Word before a maiden name 15 Picked-out hairstyle 16 “___ obliged” 17 Drinks by the yard 19 “Go on ...”

20 Having irrational fears 24 Covers up or dresses up 29 Build a room around

30 Guinea pig relative 31 Dr. DeForest Kelley 32 Horne the entertainment legend 33 It’s certainly not a blessing 35 What it produces is crude 37 Pertaining to religious rites 38 Stat for a tire inflator 39 Have possession of 41 What an 0-2 count on a batter indicates 42 Dr. Neil Patrick Harris 43 Cortes foe and victim 44 Protective outer layer of a seed 46 One’s demeanor 47 What pessimists say life is 48 Does more than chats 51 “Macbeth” title 57 Russian gymnast Korbut 61 “Scram!”

63 “PUSH FOR ___” 64 Certain type of food preserver 65 Saxophone range 67 Nero’s “that is” 70 Kind of concert or market 71 Rum drinker’s sing-song refrain 73 Green gems 74 Indoor sports venue

75 “Cease and desist” 78 Like many signs on the Vegas strip 79 Like any after-midnight TV show 80 Wine sampler 83 Hostile or belligerent mood 85 Glimmered 89 “Thinking” part of a computer 90 Shes’ counterparts 92 Go ___ winner (retire on top) 95 Suitable for drinking 96 Contests between knights on horseback 99 Plump 104 Western band that chased outlaws 105 Editor’s insert mark 106 Actress Winger 107 In one’s stomach 108 Slightly open, as a door 109 Like all babies 110 Moose relatives 113 Skier’s alpine transport 114 Jeans inventor Strauss 115 Soda, in slang 117 Grandfather clock’s three 118 Suffix with colonial or alcohol

120 Trump’s Olympic team 121 “My Gal ___” (1942 film) 122 Inhibitor of teamwork 123 Old gas pump abbreviation

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SUNRISE / SUNSET

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Stephanie Hrenchir captured this photo of the Blue Angels during the Sun n’ Fun Airshow in Lakeland.

“I was able to watch and photograph the Navy’s ‘Blue Angels’ as they flew over Plant City Stadium on Park Road,” Stephanie said.

Stephanie wins a free car wash at Octopus Car Wash, 1503 S. Collins St. 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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16

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

|

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017

PlantCityObserver.com

MEMORIES WILL BE MADE.

IMAGINATIONS WILL BE INSPIRED. The Florida Aquarium is an immersive place for environmental education, conservation and exploration in Tampa Bay. Mosaic has been proud to partner with the Florida Aquarium for more than 20 years to inspire stewardship among local students and visitors. This month, we are honored to signify our ongoing and future support of the Florida Aquarium with the opening of the Mosaic Center, which will provide a gathering place for community events and engaging exhibits. We share the Florida Aquarium’s values of education, conservation and stewardship and congratulate the organization on this incredible milestone.

240526

Š 2017 The Mosaic Company

To learn more about the Mosaic Center at the Florida Aquarium, please visit www.flaquarium.org.