05.23.24 PLCO

FLORIDA SUMMER OF SAVINGS

To kick o the summer with savings for families, Governor Ron DeSantis has waived admission for all visitors to Florida State Parks for Memorial Day weekend. This includes May 24-27, 2024. In addition, Governor DeSantis announced that he would be signing the Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday, in the budget for Fiscal Year 202425. The Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday will take place the entire month of July and will make items such as shing supplies, outdoor recreation equipment, admissions to state parks and, museums sales tax free.

“Florida is stepping up to make summer more a ordable for families,” said Governor DeSantis. “While the federal government is causing high in ation and skyrocketing costs for families, Florida’s smart scal policies allow us to reduce taxes and help reduce the burden on Floridians.”

“Florida’s 175 award-winning state parks are second to none,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton. “I encourage all of Florida’s residents and visitors to take advantage of these extra savings and discover the unique experiences the real Florida has to o er.”

The Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday will remove the sales tax on items families use during the summer, including:

Boating and water activity supplies:

Goggles and snorkels ($25 or less)

Pool toys ($35 or less)

Coolers, Life jackets, Paddles ($75 or less)

In atable water tubes and oats, Wakeboards ($150 or less)

Paddleboards, Surfboards ($300 or less)

Canoes, Kayaks ($500 or less)

Fishing Supplies:

Bait and Tackle ($5 or less for individual items, $10 or less for multiple items sold together)

Tackle boxes ($30 or less)

Reels, Rods ($75 or less)

Camping Supplies:

Flashlights ($30 or less)

Sleeping bags, Camping chairs ($50 or less)

Tents ($200 or less)

Outdoor Supplies:

Sunscreen ($15 or less)

Water bottles ($30 or less)

Bicycle helmets ($50 or less)

Outdoor grills ($250 or less)

Bicycles ($500 or less)

Admissions to events or performances scheduled to be held between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024:

Live music events

Live sporting events

Movies to be shown in a movie theater

Ballets

Plays

Fairs

Festivals

Admissions purchased for any of the following:

Museums, including annual passes

State parks, including annual passes

Season tickets for ballets, plays, music events, and musical theater performances

SUMMER READING PROGRAM

Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative (HCPLC) will hold its summer reading program June 1 – July 31.

Registration for the program opened May 20. Participants can track reading starting June 1. Along the way, children and adults can earn digital badges for reading and for participating in fun summer activities.

Kids ages 1 to 12 – submit each hour read for a total of 24 hours.

Teens (ages 13 – 18) – submit each hour read for a total of 24 hours.

Adults (ages 18+) – Submit each book read for a total of 4 books.

PLANT CITY COMMUNITY CHORALE

The Plant City Community Chorale will present A Nation’s Strength on Saturday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Limona Village

Chapel, 408 Limona Road in Brandon. The Choral will o er patriotic music, songs of hope, and will debut music from local composers. Tickets are $15.

NEW SOUTH FLORIDA BAPTIST HOSPITAL OPENING RESET FOR MID-2024

A NATION’S STRENGTH

Plant City Community Chorale Plant City Community Chorale music from the heart of our nation presents

Saturday June 8, 2024 7:30 PM

BayCare has determined that further work is needed before opening the new facility in Plant City. There are quite complex systems within the state-of-theart facility and once BayCare is ready, they will open the new hospital with all the promise patients expect of South Florida Baptist Hospital and BayCare. At that time, BayCare will make a formal announcement of a de nitive opening date.

408 Limona Road Brandon, FL 33510

Limona Village Chapel

Featuring patriotic tunes, songs of hope, and debuting music from local composers!

NEW CITY PLANNER

PLANT CITY HELPED SHAPE THE LIFE OF LINDA HECKENKAMP

and a teenager,” Linda said. “School was my outlet to make my teachers and community proud.”

In January, Linda Heckenkamp became Senior Planner for the City of Plant City’s Planning and Zoning Division.

Linda’s biological parents grew up in ultra-traditional Chinese families. Her father’s family had been wealthy landowners who moved from Hong Kong after Congress passed the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965.

Linda’s mother gave birth to her in New York City. The family moved to Tampa just before Linda began kindergarten. Her father abused everyone around him, but never su ered any consequences because his family continually bailed him out of situations.

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) took Linda into foster care at nine years old. She never returned to her biological family. Her rst foster placement was in Plant City near Drew Street and Evers Street. The 1300 squarefoot, two bedroom, one bath home housed seven girls between ages 9 and 19, plus the foster parents. “Many girls cycled through that foster home while I tried to stay under the radar and not act out in any way for fear of being moved to another foster home that could have been worse,” Linda said. She lived there until her sophomore year at Plant City High School (PCHS) when the home shut down. Turnover is very high in the foster care system for both foster parents and professional sta During her nine years in foster care, DCF moved Linda to three di erent homes and changed the social workers managing her case 23 times.

“My childhood and young adult life had always been di cult to say the least, but I was able to overcome my personal challenges from growing up in foster care and the lack of stable parental gures because the community of Plant City saw the potential I had and provided me with numerous outlets to just be a normal kid

At Tomlin Middle School, Linda played the viola in the orchestra. And she won a $300 savings bond in a Veterans of Foreign Wars essay contest.

When she was 14, Linda took a job at a shop called Creative Flower Designs by Glenn Mathias. The location on Alsobrook Street was near enough for her to walk to work. “I really enjoyed it because of Glenn and the ladies in the shop, specially two elderly sisters, Eloise Zambito and Lorraine Mathias who were nicknamed Weezey and Tootie. They would always give me food, and Tootie taught me how to cook corn on the cob in the microwave.” When DCF moved Linda to another foster home in Lithia, she had no way to commute to the ower shop and had to stop working there.

Though she lived in Lithia, the School District allowed Linda to remain a student at PCHS through granting her permission to ride a bus that picked up special needs students from all around Hillsborough County and dropped them o at PCHS.

“Even though I had to move foster homes I was able to remain within my same supportive community, classmates, and teachers...,” Linda said. “This was a critical moment that kept my sense of normalcy and permanency intact.” In high school she joined Future Business Leaders of America, and took part in their public speaking competitions. She also involved herself in Student Government and served twice as class president.

While living in Lithia, Linda spent four hours commuting every school day. “When I began riding the Special Education bus, my perspective on my situation really changed,” she said. “I stopped having any notion of ever feeling sorry for myself and became even more involved in school and volunteering. By riding the bus with students that had Down syndrome and seeing how happy and kind they were to me even though they had their own challenges led me to realize you can still be kind and supportive to others regardless of your

own situation.” After this experience, Linda volunteered with Special Olympics, and Best Buddies International, which serves students that have intellectual and physical disabilities by connecting them to oneto-one friendships with other students. For her contribution to these organizations the Florida Holocaust Museum gave Linda the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award, “Although it is my life that was forever changed for the better by those experiences,” she said. In addition, Linda also took a role as a Student Representative Board Member for the United Food Bank & Services of Plant City.

Academically, Linda graduated from PCHS in 2008 then entered Florida International University to earn a Bachelor’s in Public Administration. “Having grown up in Florida’s foster care system, which is privatized by the way, I discovered there is such a thing as good government—the kind that fosters a safe community and opportunities regardless of age, race, gender or creed.”

After graduating from FIU, Linda served two terms with AmeriCorps to provide vulnerable communities with direct national service, such as natural disaster preparedness and critical home repairs. She then completed a Masters in Landscape Architecture with a focus in Urban Design at Washington University in St. Louis in 2017.

“All of my personal and professional accomplishments happened because I was exposed to so many di erent backgrounds, professions, and supportive experiences beginning in Plant City and

then beyond,” Linda said. “I choose to work in public policy and urban planning and design because I feel these are the elds that directly a ect our community and residents on a day-to-day basis. My goal is to create and connect people to livable and resilient communities.” In the future she would like to pursue a PhD in Urban Planning to help teach future urban planners.

“My professional journey started with a walk to Glenn’s ower shop which turned into nding my forever family,” Linda said. Unforseen by anyone, the Zambito family legally adopted her when she was 21. “So, I started my rst job working with my future grandma, great-aunt, and second cousin without even knowing it.”

“My adoptive family were all raised here, and I was raised here,” Linda added. “I could not be the person I am today without the community of Plant City. We are all responsible for keeping the beloved characteristics of our city alive. A community of strangers, who eventually became my forever family, raised me and imprinted their work ethic, dedication, and perseverance on me. Plant City is the rst place ever to show me what it means to be a community and how to contribute and support one another. We can all have bad days, bad attitudes or feel sorry for ourselves. That is easy to do, but having compassion for yourself and others while doing the right thing and supporting our community members, our environment—our home—is the biggest legacy we can leave for our future generations.”

May is Foster Care Awareness Month.

DAVE HOOVER STAFF WRITER

Linda in front of a planning and zoning map.

The Zambito family including Weezey and Tootie

Linda with her adoptive mother, Diane Zambito.

MAY 10

ID Please – Fraud

2300 block of Sunset Oaks Dr

An o cer responded to the above location in regard to a delayed fraud call for service. The o cer met with the complainant who misplaced their checkbook in March of this year. The complainant was contacted by an Amscot employee after someone tried to cash a $450 check in Lakeland. Lakeland PD responded to the call and the case is already assigned to a detective there. The complainant stated the detective advised her to contact PCPD as the suspect was able to cash a check for $300 from an Amscot in Plant City.

Which Way Do I Go? – Burglary

1600 block of Jim Johnson Road

An o cer met with the complainant who advised he arrived at the above location where he keeps his boat and upon inspection he noticed his two Garmin model 243 (Valued at approximately $3300) were missing.

Next Door Feud – Battery 2nd

900 block of Tyner St

An o cer met with the victim who advised that he and his neighbor were involved in a verbal altercation that turned physical when the neighbor struck the victim in the chest with a closed st. The neighbor was transported to Orient Road Jail.

MAY 11

You Can’t Be Here – Trespass After Arrest

600 block of W Terrace Dr

An o cer located a suspect sitting on a couch in the wooded area of the above location. The suspect was shown to have active trespass from the location and was arrested and charged with trespass on property other than

structure or conveyance and transported to Orient Road Jail.

Don’t Have Another – DUI

200 block of E Rayburn St

O cers were contacted in reference to a vehicle observed traveling in the roadway and committing multiple tra c infractions. The vehicle was located and an o cer met with the driver and sole occupant. The occupant was placed under arrest for DUI and he was transferred to Orient Road Jail.

MAY 12

I’ll Take That – Shoplifting/Poss of Meth/ Fentanyl

1700 block of James L Redman Pkwy

An o cer arrived at the above location and was noti ed by the complainant that a theft had just occurred. The o cer con rmed theft charges and noti ed responding units of the suspect description. Upon searching the area, the suspect was located and arrested for petit theft (under $100). While conducting a search incident to arrest, drug paraphernalia and Methamphetamine were located with the suspect so there was an additional charge for possession of meth and fentanyl with intent to sell. The suspect was transported to Orient Road Jail.

MAY 13

Cabinets to Go – Residential Burglary

3600 block of Forest Path Dr

An o cer responded to the above location and met with the complainant who reported sometime between May 10 at 4:30 p.m. and the morning of May 13, an unknown suspect removed kitchen cabinets, valued at $981.47.

Landscape Needed? – Theft

300 block of E Calhoun St

O cers met with the complainant who reported between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. this morning an unknown suspect stole a Stihl red Hedger, orange weed trimmer, and orange edger, valued at $780.00 from the bed of his truck.

Don’t Screw Around – Aggravated Assault/ Battery

Waller St/Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd

An o cer responded to the above-listed intersection in reference to a possible stabbing complaint. Upon arrival, contact was made with the complainant who advised he was approached by a man who started a verbal altercation. He grabbed the complainant’s backpack and forced him to the ground then began to strike him with closed sts throughout his upper body. The complainant defended himself and the man brandished a long screwdriver and attempted to stab the complainant with it but missed. The complainant was then struck in the back of the head with the screwdriver causing a minor injury.

MAY 14

Hitching A Ride – Theft/Criminal Mischief

1200 block of Townsgate Court

An o cer responded to the above location in reference to a delayed theft complaint. Contact was made with the complainant who advised that while he was in the business an unknown suspect removed the hitch from his vehicle.

Lock It Up – Bicycle Theft

2300 block of W Baker St

An o cer responded to the above location in reference to a delayed theft complaint. Contact was made with the complainant who advised she rode her daughter’s bicycle to the business and left the bike unsecured for approximately 45 minutes and when she walked outside the bike was missing.

MAY 15

Lost & Found – Recovered Stolen Gun

1800 block of James L Redman Pkwy

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An o cer responded to the above location in reference to a report of a recovered stolen rearm. The o cer met with the complainant, and it was reported that a gun was brought in for sale that turned out to be stolen out of the Hillsborough County Sheri ’s O ce jurisdiction.

Not Cool – Theft

2400 block of James L Redman Pkwy

An o cer met with the complainant who advised an unknown person stole two coolers from the bed of his pickup truck and a B&W drop hitch with lock (valued at $380) which had been attached to his vehicle.

Nighty-Night – DUI

Park Rd/James L Redman Pkwy

An o cer made contact with a subject during a call for service in reference to the subject being asleep inside the driver compartment of the vehicle, with the vehicle engine on, and blocking both lanes of travel. The subject was arrested for DUI and transported to Orient Road Jail.

@plcobserver

@PlantObserver

THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX

The county used a population-based formula to determine funds allocated to the three cities in Hillsborough County. Plant City has gotten 2.2 percent—$39,470,265 to date, while Tampa receives 21.9 percent, and Temple Terrace, 1.5 percent. The County School Board has gotten 25 percent. The Board of County Commissioners allocated the rest of the money to infrastructure for the rest of the County. In sum, since the tax was activated, it has provided approximately $2.3 billion to completely or partially fund 750 capital improvement projects. Among these are:

„ 17 re stations

„ 27 law enforcement and courts projects

„ 115 road projects

„ 68 intersection projects

„ 32 bridge projects

„ 126 storm water projects

„ 42 public utilities projects

„ 13 sidewalk projects

„ 6 new or expanded libraries

„ 41 government facilities

„ 258 parks and recreation projects

„ 12 arts and culture projects

The CIT also supported the construction of Raymond James Stadium, which is owned by Hillsborough County, not the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as is commonly believed. Nearly $10 million per year is spent to pay o the facility.

After vigorous debate among the Board of Commissioners about extending the CIT, they voted to include the referendum on the November ballot. The referendum proposes continuing the tax for 15 more years. “Both sides were mad at me when I got out of there,” said Vice Chair Michael Owen, whose motion won the day. “I would never vote for a new tax. I am one of those who believe only fools vote to increase taxes on

themselves. This is not a tax increase. This is a renewal of an existing tax—a lot of it paid for by people that come from out of town. It’s not paid for by property tax. It’s important we educate the public on this. So, whether they agree with it or not, they have the information so that when they go into the voting booth, they can make a decision.”

Hillsborough County Schools requested 6.5 percent instead of the 25 percent allocated in the prior CIT.

The Board of Commissioners arrived at earmarking ve percent for schools. No one got everything they wanted, but Hillsborough County Schools “.... got most of what they wanted,” said Owen. He continued with his reasoning, “The CIT is for capital expenditures only, and can never be used for operating expenses. What the schools need is operating expenses.” Operating expenses are allocated to schools through millage for property taxes.

The projection is the schools will get $180 million for capital projects from the CIT.

At the Monday, May 13 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Owen and Greg Horwedel, former City Manager of Plant City, and current Deputy Administrator, gave an educational presentation about the upcoming November referendum on the CIT.

Among the projects underwritten by the $39 million received by Plant City have been the construction of City Hall, and $11 million spent for a complete gutting and renovation of the Plant City Police Department’s three buildings and a purchase of additional land. The bulk of the money to resurface Plant City roads for the last 28 years came from these CIT funds, as well as many smaller projects. These prior uses of CIT allocations helped maintain and increase capital infrastructure of Plant City to correspond with local

growth.

The estimated revenue going to Plant City over the proposed 15 year CIT term is estimated to be $78 million. The CIT does not pay for personnel. It is strictly a capital program.

“As this city continues to grow, the demands on our infrastructure are going to be increasing,” commented City of Plant City Manager Bill McDaniel.

“This is a dedicated source of revenue that allows us to make capital expenditures that are necessary to keep up with demands that are put on the city organization. We are going to need additional recreational amenities, we are going to need additional safety facilities and equipment, and we are going to have to expand building spaces and create buildings that allow us to deliver services.”

“The demands will still be there,” McDaniel continued. “Without the CIT renewal we will be looking toward the General Fund or the Enterprise Fund to nd the resources to be able to meet those new demands. CIT gives Plant City a dedicated revenue stream that allows us to address those needs.”

The downside is this sales tax is, well, it is a tax. The upside it is projected approximately 20 percent would be generated through purchases made by visitors to Hillsborough County.

“One of the positives about the CIT is that it is paid by tourists and visitors to the area when they make purchases because it is a sales tax,” added McDaniel. “It isn’t a property tax. So other people that are visiting the area and using our roads and our services are contributing funding the expansion of those services.”

Additional information about the Community Investment Tax is available at https://hc .gov/government/ budget/budget-information/community-investment-tax.

The money for construction of City Hall came to Plant City from the Community Investment Tax.

An aerial view of a new road constructed using CIT funding.

How would you like to drive over this?

If you drive, you have seen Hillsborough County roads like this.

NEW POLICE VEHICLES

PCPD PURCHASED SIX VEHICLES TO BEGIN CATCHING UP AFTER PANDEMIC

On May 13, the City Commission of Plant City voted 4-0 to authorize the City Manager to purchase six vehicles and the necessary out tting for a total cost of $359,680.

In case it was so long ago you can’t remember the details, the COVID pandemic hit the U.S. in January 2020. As the shutdowns lengthened, this caused supply chain failures that a ected a wide range of industries.

In particular, the unavailability of computer chips greatly slowed production across the auto industry. To make matters worse for law enforcement, their vehicles require specialized microchips to operate unique functions like the computer system

and lights. The shortage of microchips left cities nationwide junkyarding and cannibalizing older police vehicles to try to keep as many as possible on the road.

The downstream e ects of the shutdowns are still felt today by the Plant City Police Department (PCPD).

“We have a eet replacement program where we try to buy between 10 and 15 vehicles per year to keep the eet as fresh as we can,” said Bill McDaniel, City Manager. “Because of the lack of availability of vehicles, we have slowly fallen behind the curve and we are in the position that we need to buy 20 or 25 vehicles right now. Not only are we trying to keep up with current demand, but we are also trying to make up for the void due to the lack of availability. We are still playing catch up.”

To compound the problem, law enforcement is hearing there may be as much as a 40 percent reduction in factory production of police vehicles. “Right now availability is the number one criteria,” McDaniel continued. “Does it meet our speci cations, and can you get it?”

You may have wondered why police vehicles are often left running when ofcers aren’t in them. The reasons are the vehicles are o cers’ o ces. They need to work inside it in addition to working outside it. The computer has to be kept alive so they have the communication link they need. They also use air conditioning, and are often running the overhead lights at the same time.

“You get 100,000 miles on a police vehicle it is time to trade it in,” said McDaniel. “That 100,000 on the odometer is not re ective of all the hours that vehicle sat idling while the police were doing their job with it. So, 100,000 miles is not the same as 100,000 on a passenger vehicle that is normally moving while it is running”

PCPD is not in a position to simply buy a car o a dealership lot like the average person. Vehicles they buy have to have upgraded transmissions, suspensions, and electrical systems. The vehicle has to power a computer, radio, siren box, light bar, spotlights, take down lights, and other equipment. So police vehicles have to have

a robust electrical system, not just the basic passenger vehicle 12-volt electrical system. There may be dealerships that have a vehicle that meets speci cations, but the dealership employees may not have the experience to equip a law enforcement vehicle with all hardware necessary for the eld.

“These purchases that are going on right now represent the rst time that we are going to see marked pickup trucks as Plant City vehicles.” said McDaniel. “We are deploying patrol pickups...you can get them. They o er some advantages and some disadvantages, but in the end, they can be made to work for patrol vehicles.” Among the advantages is a pickup can be used to haul recovered items such as stolen bicycles, shopping carts, or other large items.

“Not everyone will have a pickup, but there will be pickups on the street,” said McDaniel. “Once upon a time you had a standardized eet...all Ford Crown Victorias. Now there are sedans and SUVs—a mixing of vehicles that has been caused by the availability issues we have been facing. Not just us—everybody is dealing with it. We’ve had to become much more adaptable and exible in order to get the vehicles we need in order to provide services to the community.”

DAVE HOOVER STAFF WRITER

STAINED GLASS 11A

LABOR AND DELIVERY

ROOM NAMING 8A

HISTORY OF SOUTH FLORIDA BAPTIST HOSPITAL 10A

FOOD SERVING 12A

HOSPITAL PREVIEW

15A

CHILDREN’S BOARD FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER A SIDE STREET SENSATION IN PLANT CITY

take it home.

State Farm Insurance and Safe Kids

provided by Glazer Children’s Museum and a children’s library.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children between ages one and twelve in the U.S., and the best way to protect them is to ensure they are buckled up in the right seat, every ride, every time.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, one in three children under age 13 who die in a car crash were unrestrained, and it is estimated that more than half of car seats are misused.

To address this tragedy, on May 15, the Children’s Board Family Resource Center held a car seat safety program at its location at 301 N Palmer St. in Plant City.

The free class and a free car seat were o ered to parents who are expecting or already have babies or toddlers. The aim of the class is to teach parents how to properly choose the right car seat and install it. At the end of the class the parents install their free seat under supervision and

Worldwide are sponsoring the car seat program nationally. State Farm is paying for the free car seats. The two and a half to three hour training in both Spanish and English is given by sta from Baycare Kids.

The car seat program is a typical sort of o ering by the Center. These classes are held on a monthly basis.

Also there are monthly free dental services, and once per month a mobile medical clinic turns the location into a doctor’s o ce for uninsured or low-income families. In addition, on various days during a month, hearing, vision, and developmental evaluations are also provided for anyone whether they use Medicaid or private insurance.

On various days of the month, the Center holds classes for children and adults such as baby sitter training, nancial literacy, Spanish, English, math tutoring, and water safety.

The facility holds several areas for children including a pop-up play room

One upcoming event to note is a Safe at Home program through Baycare Kids. This 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. class on May 30 will teach children nine to eleven years old basic rst aid and how to call 911 among other things.

This Family Center partners with several community organizations to hold quality programs. The Centers are managed by Lutheran Services Florida, and funded by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. The Center is open to children of all ages, and adults who live in Hillsborough County.

The Center hours are:

Mondays and Saturdays - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesdays and Fridays – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

More information can be found at www.familysupportthc.org.

DAVE HOOVER STAFF WRITER

A peek into the Glazer Children’s Museum pop up play area.

A car seat safety and distribution class.

Friendly sta at the front desk support families. The strawberry art was created using buttons.

The children’s library and play area.

South Florida Baptist Hospital Unveils Labor and Delivery Department

Who will be the first baby born in the hospital’s new location?

Where a mom chooses to deliver her baby, which is a life-changing event for the mom as well as her family, is a big deal. Generations of Plant Citians have been born at South Florida Baptist Hospital’s (SFBH) dedicated labor and delivery unit since it rst opened its doors in 1953. Before its opening, mothers-to-be would deliver their babies at Dr. Thomas C. Maguire’s o ce located above White’s Drugstore in downtown.

Originally housed on the fourth oor of the hospital, the Labor and Delivery department relocated in 1984 with the construction of the hospital’s South Tower. Although the department has undergone several renovations over the decades, it has utilized the same limited space for the last 40 years because there was no room for expansion.

That’s soon to change with the opening of the new SFBH, located at 3202 N. Park Rd., where the Labor and Delivery department will showcase the expansive new facility. In a climate where many hospitals are making news for shuttering their Labor and Delivery departments, SFBH’s mom and baby footprint has expanded to create a special place designed to make sure patients feel comfortable and cared for while keeping the health and safety of mom and baby as top priorities.

“We currently deliver about 400 to 500 babies a year but we’re anticipating that number could double once the new hospital is open,” said SFBH Labor and Delivery Nurse Manager Mayra Garcia.

The new Labor and Delivery department boasts seven deluxe labor suites, a dedicated operating room for cesarean sections equipped with the newest technology and modernized o ce space for team members. Every room is thoughtfully designed to enhance the comfort and safety of mom, baby and family members during the birth day experience and those precious rst days. Rooms are larger with vast windows overlooking a park-like view, o er additional seating space, and also feature Alexa voice-powered technology to help patients connect with their care team, play music, adjust the blinds and even control the lights.

There is also a dedicated breastfeeding consultation room for mothers who need outpatient breastfeeding help from lactation consultants.

Once housed on one oor, the Labor and Delivery department will occupy two oors of the new hospital, the second and fourth oors. Expectant mothers will deliver their babies in the labor suites on the second oor and then be transferred to the fourth- oor mother and baby unit for recuperation.

Garcia, who takes pride in the care the nurses provide to patients, said the positive reviews the department garners are only one testament to the excellent quality of care. “I delivered all three of my children here,” she said.

Just because they’re moving to a larger, more modern space, doesn’t mean that quality of care will su er. “That small community feeling will still be here, a lot of our team members are Plant City

So, while there may be much ado to recognize the rst baby born in the new Labor and Delivery department, whether the rst

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

natives including myself,” said Garcia. “We pride ourselves on helping our patients and being with them through their entire labor journey.”

mom and baby or one thousandth, the sta at SFBH will treat you like you’re one in a million. Like family.

Community Donors Leave Mark On New Hospital With Room Naming Program

The South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation allows donors to leave a lasting legacy at new hospital with engraved plaque mounting outside various rooms.

The Capital Campaign Recognition Program, introduced by the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation in Jan. 2023, allows donors to leave a lasting legacy with an engraved plaque mounted outside patient and exam rooms, consult rooms, managers’ o ces, nursing stations, operating rooms, conference rooms, hallways and nursing units throughout the hospital.

Among the newly named spaces is the “Don E. & Lois Walden, Jr. Multi-Purpose Room“, a space dedicated to the memory of Selina and Lee-Ann Walden’s parents.

“My parents were born and raised in Plant City, went to school here, and they were always involved in philanthropic things like the Kiwanis,” said daughter Selina Walden. “Daddy had given money to the old hospital and, although he passed away a couple years ago, I know he would be happy about this contribution to the workings of the new hospital.”

A plaque sits outside a second meeting room, in memory of her grandparents, Don Walden Sr. and Lucille Gallagher-Walden. “He had been the mayor, he was a big supporter of the Baptist church here and he

was really involved in a lot of the fundraising to get South Florida Baptist Hospital constructed here. I think he would be happy because he was always concerned about how Plant City citizens were served and he would de nitely consider the new hospital an improvement to Plant City.”

Some donors had speci c rooms they wanted to sponsor. For Eugena Gale and her family, the lobby of the cancer infusion center was a meaningful space.

Gale’s brother-in-law, Buddy Bennett, who succumbed to colon cancer in 2015, was the longtime president of the Plant City Dolphins football team. “He had his chemo and blood transfusions at SFBH and always talked about how great the sta was and how well they treated him,” she said.

A plaque honoring his memory hangs near the registration desk. “We felt that he’d want to donate back to the hospital that took such good care of him,” said Gale.

Carolyn McMullen’s donation was in memory of her parents, supporters of the hospital from its humble beginnings, who she fondly recalls sacri cing generously to make sure the newly constructed hospital was successful. In addition to a plaque near the stained glass artwork in a hallway outside the chapel, a plaque near the chapel doors marks their commitment

and faith. “It was important to have that plaque outside the chapel doors because to God be the glory and it’s through His healing of the mind, body and soul that we nd peace,” she said.

SFBH Foundation Executive Director Jana Butler emphasized the program’s dual bene t of improving hospital facilities while fostering a deep connection between the full-service, not-for-pro t community hospital and its supporters. “Donors may have an a nity with a certain department or service and we try to accommodate their request,” said Butler. “Donor recognition is created to say thank you for their generosity and kindness.”

The program was also created as a means to help the foundation achieve its mission of providing philanthropic support for high quality medical care in Plant City. “To date the program has raised $4.9 million,” she said. “These funds provide SFBH with opportunities for state-of-theart equipment, enhanced services and programs.”

The Foundation was o cially established in 1995 and has raised more than $16 million through leadership gifts, capital campaigns, popular special event fundraisers and planned gifts, but community support for South Florida Baptist Hospital had been tirelessly raising funds

for the hospital since the 1940’s, when Rowena Mays and M.E. Moody donated the land the old hospital sits on.

Naming opportunities begin at $5,000 and can be pledged up to ve years. In addition to the engraved plaque, donors will also be recognized in the main lobby or on its wall of honor with either a customized artistic glass or on its state-of-the-art digital display.

“It’s really the gift that keeps on giving and it’s the joy you get from giving to an institution that makes the next generation of Plant City better,” said McMullen. “It’s about being a part in the sustaining of the hospital.”

The Capital Campaign Recognition Program isn’t the only fundraiser sponsored by the foundation. It also hosts other events throughout the year, including the annual Children’s Classic Golf tournament that supports its Wellness on Wheels Community Health Program, Diamonds & Denim Gala and Lights of Love Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Naming opportunities are still available and are listed on the foundation’s website under “New Hospital” tab. For more information about the Capital Campaign Recognition Program visit www.sfbhfoundation.org or call its o ce at (813) 757-8478.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

In 1900, Thomas Claire (T.C.) Maguire, M.D. opened a 10-bed hospital on the second oor of Herring’s Drug Store in Plant City. Another 13-bed hospital operated over White’s Central Pharmacy. These locations served as Plant City’s only medical facilities for 50 years.

In the 1925 census, Florida’s population stood at 1,263,549 people, 651,347 cattle, and 74,025 horses. In terms of people only, between 1920 and 1925 the population of Hillsborough County increased from 88,257 to 133,384. According to the census, 9,300 people lived in voting districts designated as Plant City.

In light of the size of Plant City, these 23 hospital beds were proving to be inadequate. So, in the late 1920s people in Plant City began advocating for a better facility. The discussion continued through the 1920s and the Great Depression of the 1930s with no tangible progress.

Eventually, M.E. Moody, using his personal funds, set up a bank account for a hospital and purchased ve acres on Alexander Street in 1944. Mrs. R.L. (Rowena) Mays donated another ve acres in 1945 to complete the acreage for the hospital site.

The Florida Baptist Convention gave $10,000 to the hospital e ort. Subsequently, a change in rules barred the Convention from providing any further support. However, the First Baptist Church in Plant City and other congregations from all over Florida gave donations to build a Baptist hospital. Hillsborough County, Plant City, businesses, and civic clubs joined in and by 1950, $30,000 had been raised.

The envisioned four-story facility would contain 109 beds and the equipment to be a fully functioning hospital. In January, 1948, a construction contract was awarded to Paul Smith Construction Company of Tampa. Work began in February 1948, but stopped in December 1948 due to lack of

funds. Construction made no progress until $440,000 in federal aid funds were allocated in 1949 to build the hospital. After the hiatus, construction began again in in May 1952. Florida Governor Fuller Warren joined locals in laying the cornerstone. Listed on the cornerstone of the hospital were its rst Board of Directors: Chairman Dr. T. C. Maguire; Dr. Edgar Austin; A.R. Boring; J.L. Cone; H.C. Durrett; L.H. Duyck; Grover H. Carter; C.R. “Jack” Hooker; L.T. Langford; Willard McGinnes; Henry S. Moody; R. G. Pate; Don Walden, and Dewey Wilbanks. These people, among others, gave blood, sweat, toil, and tears to make real the vision of the South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City.

The hospital opened on December 29, 1953, but without any remaining money for equipment and supplies. Paul Smith, the owner of the construction company and another man, who was not a resident of Plant City, signed personal notes to fund the purchase of these items.

When South Florida Baptist Hospital opened, it rendered the hospital over White’s Pharmacy and Maguire’s hospital obsolete. Maguire’s hospital closed in 1954. Sadly, Dr. Maguire, who was born in 1881, died January 31, 1954 having had only a few weeks to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing the fruit of his labor to build South Florida Baptist Hospital.

In 1969, construction added the threestory south wing of 96 patient beds, a new lobby, o ce space and an employee cafeteria.

In the 1980s and 1990s a $10 million expansion included a new east wing, and major renovations. The South Florida Baptist Hospital building has stood structurally unchanged since then.

DAVE HOOVER STAFF WRITER

A rendering from 1946 envisioning the look of the proposed South Florida Baptist Hospital. Photo courtesy of the Plant City Photo Archives.

South Florida Baptist Hospital in the 1950’s. Photo courtesy of the Plant City Photo Archives.

A close up of the hospital entrance in 1955. Photo courtesy of BayCare.

The South Florida Baptist Hospital on Alexander Street today. Photo courtesy of BayCare.

Historic Stained Glass Artwork Gets New Life in New Hospital

Patients and sta aren’t the only ones relocating to the new hospital….an original work of art donated by a Plant City family also made the move.

of a hospital to be built in Plant City. As a member of the original Board of Directors, Duyck was instrumental in raising capital to support the construction of SFBH, which opened Dec. 29, 1953.

moved to its new location? That question has been answered.

“The stained glass has been an important symbol for many of us over the years,” commented SFBH President Karen Kerr.

Anyone who spent time in South Florida Baptist Hospital’s (SFBH) chapel knows that an original stained-glass art piece depicting Jesus extending a hand toward a man in need while cradling a baby in His other arm was displayed in side-by-side windows, casting a warm glow in a room where visitors sought comfort and respite from the di cult challenges of mortality.

Originally installed in 1988, the artwork was donated to the hospital by twin sisters Carolyn McMullen and Linda McReynolds, who, after their parents passed away in 1980, were looking for a way to honor their memory. Their father, Loyall Hardy L.H. “Coach” Duyck, had been one of the many community leaders who, through sacricial giving and a lot of grit and determination, had championed the construction

It was only tting that the family sought to commemorate that legacy with a gift to SFBH in their parents’ honor.

They commissioned a stained-glass artist in Orlando to create an original work of art to be displayed in the hospital’s chapel.

“Our parents believed in the power of God to heal the whole person,” said McMullen.

“We also wanted the piece to depict the entire circle of life, from birth to death, that the hospital ministers to.”

With neutral tones as well as shades of blue and red, the iconic piece hung in the hospital’s chapel windows, o ering a reminder of love, hope and faith to all those who entered the calming space. After four decades of providing a setting of quiet re ection in a sacred space, what would happen to the artwork when the hospital

“As we transition to the new hospital, we’re committed to honoring the legacy of the old wherever possible. I am so glad we were able to nd a way to display them in our new location.”

Although there is no room for the windows inside the chapel of the new SFBH, the artwork will receive new life near the chapel across from the elevators in the main lobby. Two cutouts were made in the wall that have been backlit to showcase the colors in the glass.

The panels safely made the journey, thanks to SFBH Facilities Manager Jim LeHeup, who was responsible for overseeing the removal, transport and installation of the stained glass.

“It transported perfectly and it’s even more perfect in the new setting, it seems

more brilliant and it’s in a great location,” said McMullen. “People who come o the elevators, who may be stressed or wrought up with anxiety, will remember where their next miracle is going to come from.”

She said her parents would be touched that the artwork has made its way to the new hospital building. “They knew that our community could not grow into the community it is today if it did not have good schools, good churches and good healthcare,” she said. “Daddy knew the importance of healthcare and this honors their memory.”

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

New South Florida Baptist Hospital Serving Up Hospitality, Healthy Cafe Options

The hospital’s new menu options will include artisan pizzas, hamburgers, made-to-order omelets and more.

storage area to streamline processes and improve work ow. The “racetrack” is wide, with plenty of room for sta to navigate.

Executive Chef John Belcher, Food and Nutrition Services (FSN) Manager, couldn’t be happier that he and his team of 35 personnel will soon be moving into the new hospital and with good reason.

The department’s 70-year old footprint was small and ine cient, making preparing healthy and nutritious meals for sta , patients and visitors a challenging task. For example, to get in the walk-in coolers, he and his sta would have to step up into them, grab what they were looking for and carefully step back down because there was no room to turn around. What he affectionately calls “the racetrack,” the walkways around the outside of the kitchen, is so narrow that if two people are walking towards each other, someone has to step aside to make way. If a sta member needs something from the storage room or freezer? They have to walk outside and across the parking lot to retrieve the items.

Belcher, who’s been with the company for 25 years, takes it all in stride. “We learned to adapt,” said Belcher. Adapting will no longer be necessary when he and his sta move from their 3,000-square-foot space into the new hospital’s 6,300-square-foot state-of-theart kitchen. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that the freezer is in the kitchen,” he joked. It’s not just the indoor freezer that is his cause for joy. The new space will be quite a step up for the FNS team, as well as for patients and guests. There will be private service elevators near the kitchen to whisk food up to patient rooms in a timely manner and a convenient loading dock and dry

A new vector oven will cook twice as much food in the same amount of time as traditional ovens and can cook three di erent food items at di erent temperatures simultaneously. Five Combi ovens will allow his sta the option to roast, steam, smoke, cold smoke or air-fry food, all with the touch of a button. Two pizza ovens will allow sta to create artisan pizza from scratch in minutes.

“The sta are in heaven and can’t wait to get started here and do amazing things,” he said.

While his sta is excited to ex their culinary muscles in the new kitchen, there’s plenty of changes that front-of-house guests will celebrate.

Guests will enjoy a dining room with seating for 150, a new made-to-order grill station, as well as a barista station, salad and dessert bars and an area for a new fangled vending machine that serves hot meals, like bbq pork bao or White Castle classic cheese sliders, 24 hours a day. The expanded dining area also features an outdoor courtyard for guests to enjoy.

“We’ll be able to o er menu items we’ve never had before like hamburgers, madeto-order omelets, chicken sandwiches and more, whatever Chef Garrett Heiss comes up with,” said Belcher.

Once operational, it’s anticipated he and his team will serve approximately 1,200 meals a day to patients, guests and sta as opposed to the 750 meals a day they currently serve.

The food is so good that Belcher has built up a following of local residents who dine at the hospital. “Even though we’re a hospital cafeteria, we’re open to the public, diners can stroll in and have break-

fast, lunch or dinner,” he said. “We have a steady after-church crowd that regularly comes in every Sunday just to gather and eat.”

When the new hospital opens its doors, the cafeteria will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will be serving breakfast daily from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., lunch daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner daily from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. In between, the bistro will be serving up co ee, drinks, hot sandwiches, pastries and some grab-andgo healthy drinks.

“We’re going to have a 30-day rotating menu for the bu ets and we’ll have meal options under $5, $6 and $7,” he said.

Belcher, whose background is in hotel restaurant management, said his goal is to change the perception of hospital food as being bland or boring. “We implemented new recipes and new food items and it’s taken o and we’ve never looked back,” he said. “I track the data from customer surveys and we are consistently among the top kitchens at Baycare.”

He credits his sta , many of whom have been with him for more than 10 years, for the success and looks forward to the move, and all the new cooking gadgets, to continue to provide delicious and nutritious meals to all who enter the hospital’s doors.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

South Florida Baptist Hospital Community Preview Event Held April 21

The new SFBH opened its doors for a sneak peek at what’s going on in the new building.

OBSERVER STAFF

The new state-of-the-art South Florida Baptist Hospital located at 3202 N. Park Rd was open for a preview event for the community on April 21.

The new facility, located o Exit 22 on Interstate 4, covers 424,000 square feet, cost $326 million to build, and will replace the current South Florida Baptist Hospital on Alexander Street, which has been in business for more than 70 years.

The new hospital is signi cantly larger than the current 250,000-square-foot building and will feature 146 private patient rooms, include an 85,000-squarefoot medical arts building, and employ more than 800 team members and 250 physicians. Areas of specialization include general surgery, orthopedic surgery, urology, imaging, cardiac catheterization, emergency care, and labor and delivery.

“South Florida Baptist Hospital has a long history of serving the residents of Plant City and our surrounding areas,” said SFBH President Karen Kerr in a press

release. “Building this new hospital means we will have the capacity to continue serving the health care needs of our growing and dynamic community.”

The preview event had community members going on self-guided tours in designated areas like the emergency department, the 26-bed intensive care unit, one of the eight operating rooms in the surgery center, or one of the seven labor and delivery suites. Sta was on hand to point visitors to their next destination.

In addition to getting a glimpse into the new facility, there was a pop-up health vil-

lage in the parking lot. Hospital representatives were on hand to answer questions about hospital services.

If you missed the preview, never fear, the Plant City Observer sta was on hand. Check out these photos and look for the announcement of the grand opening to take place in mid-2024.

SPORTS

Jaxon Buehlman

Jaxon Buehlman plays for Plant City Little League and was recently named an All-Star! He and the rest of his team just became the Minors Baseball Champions of the season on team V&R Insurance. Join us as we interview #44 as this week’s Athlete Of The Week!

How long have you been playing baseball?

I have been playing baseball for 5 years now.

What other sports do you play?

UA Rise ag football and I used to play soccer.

What’s a sport that you haven’t played that you’d like to give a try?

Rugby looks like a lot of fun. I bet I could be good at that if I tried.

Do you have a favorite highlight or career play?

I don’t have just one. My favorite is probably last fall season. I went the whole season with no strikeouts.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to make it to the MLB of course.

Who’s your favorite professional player in any sport?

Elly De La Cruz. He plays for Cincinnati and I am wearing his number this All-Star season.

What advice would you give a kid who’s wanting to play a sport for the rst time on a team?

Don’t worry about losing, listen to your coaches, and go have fun!

What’s your favorite meal or snack to eat after a game?

I can tear up some Chick-Fil-A nuggets.

If you got to make your own team, what would the name be and what color would the jerseys be?

I like the name PC Stingerz. Blue/ black and yellow jerseys.

What are some of your favorite songs to listen to get ready for game day?

PCHS HEADED NORTH TO THE TRACK & FIELD STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Plant City Raiders headed north to Jacksonville last weekend to take part in the 2024 Track & Field State Championships, held at Hodges Stadium hosted by the University of North Florida.

The athletes who competed at Plant City for the Class 4A Region 2 Championships had to qualify by nishing top two in their event for an auto bid to State or qualify with an at-large bid, with only 10 at-large bids throughout all 4 regions for a total of 18 athletes to compete in each event at State, according to Coach Drew Martucci.

The Raider’s had the following competitors:

Girls Javelin:

-SO Olivia Ennis (State runner-up )

-FR Samantha Raines 4th

Boys High Jump:

-JR Gavin Tinsley 3rd

-JR Jamin Andrews 5th

Boys 100m:

-Trae’Veon Smith (pulled up with a hamstring injury he’s been nursing majority of the season) prior 10.53 school record holder. Finished 16th

Boys 4x100m Relay:

SR Amauri Jackson, SO Treon Williams, SR Jason Davis, SR Trae’Veon Smith and alternate JR Tony Marshall who lled in for Trae as our anchor leg to help the team nish 7th to get on the podium. That team also dropped the school record multiple times this season and was ranked #1 in the State most of the season with a 41.37.

“We really had an incredible season with a lot of ups and downs,” said Martucci. “Multiple school records were taken down by this 2024 Plant City squad.”

-Trae Smith 100m (10.53) and 200m (21.59) and 4x100m anchor (41.37) Most decorated sprinter in PC history.

-Nijah Drawdy Discus (46m)

-Gavin Tinsley HJ (2.12m) 7ft. #3 National rank

-Jordan Futch

400mH (57.90)

-Olivia Ennis Javelin (41m)

“We also return 6 State medalists from this season next year with a chance for some State Championships,” said Martucci. “Multiple athletes also have scholarship o ers to go to the next level.”

Congratulations to the Plant City Raider’s Track & Field Team on a great season.

PHOTO BY JAMES BUEHLMAN

Rolex by Ayo & Teo. And Natural by Imagine Dragons.

Photos By Dave Tibbetts and Nancy Scott

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR

It’s high school graduation time! What advice would you give to the 2024 graduates?

Further your education! If you really know what you want to be “when you grow up”….follow your dream! It your aren’t sure….take classes in business! These are not wasted classes… you can use these in all aspects of your life… home to business or most anything you decide in the end to do and be. Just remember….. you can…you have to decide and go forth with meaning and remember you CAN!!

Linda Stanaland Wetherington

Congratulations so many thing s to do in life, nd something why you are young Gereva Gambrell

Look for a job you love to do., and if college or trade school requires it go for it, don’t stop your goals nor listen to people who didn’t do it!! Always enjoy what u do.. and keep striving

Class 2024 many blessings!!

Maria A. Rubio

Don’t let anyone else chase your dreams but you!!!

Jen Driscoll Chandler

Go Back! IYKYK

David Robertson

Believe you can do anything you put your mind to, don’t ever give up! Give yourself hope and faith!

Congratulations 2024 graduates!!!

Caitlin John Alvey

Congratulations !!! Trust God and take as many road trips that you can throughout life.

BrendaDale Jones

When times get hard RESPECT the struggle cause that’s how you come out as a WINNER

Shay Miller

Congratulations, now take time to read the Bible and learn about God.

Ed Verner

Never stop learning. Open your eyes to the world because your current experiences are nothing like the rest of the worlds. Be kind and compassionate

Thomas Hofts

Congratulations!!

Mary York Davis

Don't run through life looking for the next thing, enjoy the great things happening today.

Judy Wise

Learning is life long - there’s always something new to learn so this is really a new beginning a fresh start. Try new hobbies, make new friends, explore things that interest you. Don’t rush - life goes fast enough. A big congratulations to the graduates of 2024!

Cindy Johnson Marsh

Have fun but don't drink and drive

Nancy Hilton

Congratulations! Spend less than you make.

Gary McDaniel

If there’s a body of water, there’s a gator in it

Enrique Rangel

Go to college or do some kind of trade !

U will be so glad u did later on in life !!!

Congrats grads

Deanna Shaw

Not everyone has to go to college. Learn a trade. We are short on skilled trade workers.

Troy Martin

Look into trade schools and apprenticeships. You get paid to learn, a good job while it’s over and no crushing debt. And you don’t have a live with a folks for the next 20 years.

Jerry Jolly

When you’re able to, get a 401!! I might get hate for this but…..If you go to college do not waste your time on anything that has to do with fashion or art.

Mirna Mimi Salazar

James “Tim”

Timothy Harvey

James “Tim” Timothy Harvey, 68, of Lithia, Fla., born in Plant City, Fla., on July 1, 1955, entered into eternal rest on May 16, 2024.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Irene Soler

Irene Soler, 90, of Plant City, Fla., born on Oct. 23, 1933, in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico, entered into eternal rest on May 17, 2024.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Leneva “Lynn” Gill

Levena “Lynn” Gill, 91, of Plant City, Fla., born on Nov. 25, 1932, in Lumber City, GA, entered into eternal rest on May 16, 2024. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Manuel A. Silva Melendez

Manuel A. Silva Melendez, 93, of Lakeland, Fla., born in Morovis, Puerto Rico on Feb. 21, 1931, entered into eternal rest on May 15, 2024. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Jessie Deloris Avery

Jessie Deloris Avery, 86, of Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla., born on May 3, 1938, in Dothan, AL, entered into eternal rest on May 13, 2024.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Je rey “Scott” Sellers

Je rey “Scott” Sellers, 51, of Plant City, Fla., born on Apr. 16, 1973, in Lakeland, Fla., entered into eternal rest on May 18, 2024. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 4 to 9 p.m. at Hillsborough County Cattlemen’s Association, 6404 South County Road 39, Plant City. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral. com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

GRAND OPENING: CATNIP CAFE & ADOPTION LOUNGE AND THE CITRINE

Catnip Cafe and Adoption Lounge opened in November 2023 and local plant pop-up shop The Citrine Ghost has just opened a physical shop inside of Catnip Cafe, so they

Enjoy tea, desserts, cold brew, plant, and home decor shopping, as well as visits in the rst 20 guests will get a swag bag with goodies. There will be a vine cutting (aka ribbon cutting), music, specialty drinks/desserts, beer and wine, shopping, and of course, kitties! We hope to see you there!

Poppies will be distributed to those attending.

TUESDAY, MAY 28

CITY COMMISSION MEETING

7:30 p.m.

City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds Street

Residents are invited and encouraged to participate in public City meetings to ensure that their voice is heard and they are upto-date on the things happening in the community. Residents can make public comments during meetings and attend meetings for the City Commission, Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Historic Resources Board and more.

FRIDAY, MAY 31

SATURDAY, MAY 25

BLUEGRASS NIGHT WITH JUSTIN MASON & BLUE NIGHT

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Krazy Kup, 101 East J Arden Mays Boulevard

A group of musicians who truly love Bluegrass and Entertaining. Traditional Favorites, heartfelt originals...when they take the

A celebration to honor those who have lost their lives in service to our country. All are invited to join the Plant City Area Democratic Club at Veterans Park (Courier Field) to remember those who have made the ultimate sacri ce for our freedom and to protect our democracy. A presentation of the Colors by the Durant Jr ROTC and a laying of a wreath at the Memorial will be featured.

LAST FRIDAY: ANIME

5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

McCall Park

100 North Collins Street

Historic Downtown Plant City, Florida

FREE ADMISSION

Get ready to dive into an epic Anime-themed evening at this month's Last Friday event! Are you brave enough to take on the

extreme gyrosphere ride? Or perhaps you're up for the challenge of our thrilling scavenger hunt? The Main Street Kids zone has something for kids of all ages. Explore the expanded exhibitor market for unique nds and treasures. And of course, let's not overlook the mouthwatering array of delicious food that awaits you throughout the night! Enjoy LIVE music performances in the pavilion in McCall Park from the talented Je Jarrett. And here's the best part – costumes are encouraged! So come dressed as your favorite Anime character.

THURSDAY, JUNE 13

SPIRIT NIGHT

5:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.

Fred’s Market Resaurant 1401 W Dr Martin Luther King Blvd

Come out and help support the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation. Mention you are with the OI Foundation and 15% of sales will be donated to the organization.

I LOVE PLANT CITY

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MONDAY, MAY 27

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Shipping point: Florida

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These beautiful cactus owers are in Todd Flemister’s yard.

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