PLANT CITY TIMES &
Observer
YMCA kids hit the pool.
SEE PAGE 12.
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 4, NO. 50
FREE
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FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017
City Commissioners sworn in to new terms Recently elected commissioners Sparkman and Dodson participated in a Q&A session. SEE PAGE 8
YOUR TOWN
SENIOR OF THE MONTH: FRAN JOHNSON
A veteran volunteer Plant City's Fran Johnson has devoted over 2,700 hours to volunteering at South Florida Baptist Hospital.
File photos
Felix Haynes is a co-owner of the Plant City Times & Observer.
BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Local author writes book Plant City’s Felix Haynes has recently published his third historical fiction novel, “Kilts and Bagpipes Forever.” It is available now as a paperback and an e-book. It is also highlighted in the Bruton Memorial Library’s Florida collection.
File photos
The Coca-Cola plant was demolished June 19.
Plant City building demolished The old Coca-Cola plant on E Baker Street and Pennsylvania Avenue has officially been destroyed. Demolition began on June 19, bringing an end to a building that had been part of Plant City’s history for nearly 80 years. Originally a Coca-Cola business, the beverages were delivered by a wagon drawn by a gray mule driven by its owner, J.W. Henderson, according to the Quintilla Geer Bruton Archives Center of the East Hillsborough Historical Society.
Breanne Williams
Fran Johnson has crocheted thousands of caps for several generations of Plant City newborns.
If you were born at South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City in the last few decades, you’ve more than likely been impacted by Fran Johnson. The 94-year-old volunteer is a legend at the hospital. She has singlehandedly made over 5,000 caps for newborns and in January she reached a milestone few ever achieve: She was awarded a pin for volunteering more than 2,700 hours. And she has no intentions of slowing down. “I plan to continue as long as the good Lord helps me stand on my feet,” Johnson said. The embodiment of dependability, she has dedicated the last 36 years to helping the strangers who walk through South Florida Baptist’s doors. Sitting at home simply wasn’t in the cards for Johnson’s golden years. “I retired from my job at General Motors and I was too young, I was only 57, and I didn’t want to be idle,” Johnson said. When she began, the hospital needed escorts on Wednesday and Thursday. Instead of simply taking one shift, she worked both until another volunteer was found to help carry the load. Since then, Johnson has added working the information desk to her duties, as well as chairing multiple committees and taking on the role of president, vice president and secretary. In her free time she works on crocheting newborn caps, a feat which takes two hours on average for each individual hat. According to Johnson, the hospital keeps approximately 50 to 55 caps on hand each month and she crochets as many as needed to keep the stock full. She has also made baby sets and afghans to be sold in the gift shop when she had extra time. SEE FRAN PAGE 4
New Hope brings new life to Cornerstone building New Hope Worship Center held its ribbon cutting ceremony on June 10 with over 100 in attendance. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Thanks to New Hope Worship Center a nearly 100-year-old Plant City building is no longer sitting vacant. The ribbon cutting ceremony was held June 10 and over 100 people flocked to the steps to welcome the community to the restored building. “It was just really awesome,” Terri Lewis, Pastor John Swiney’s secre-
tary, said. “The turnout was amazing and we’re excited to have been able to restore this building.” The Plant City Cornerstone Center housed its first service for the First Baptist Church of Plant City in 1923. In 1944, First Baptist built a larger facility next door and Cornerstone Center became a glorified box for 22 years as it sat desolate. Then, in May 2016, New Hope voted to purchase the building due to an overwhelming growth in attendance over the past year. It’s old facilities were unable to fully serve the growing congregation and Cornerstone Center appeared to be the answer. When Pastor Swiney took over in March 2015 the church had 33 mem-
bers. A year later approximately 300 people were regularly coming to worship. The move to Cornerstone Center seemed like a logical fit for the congregation and $112,000 was spent on purchasing the new church, while another $450,000 was used for repairs and $100,000 was spent on environmental, engineering, termites and other reports. The funds derived predominately from the $400,000 obtained from the selling of the former facility on Mahoney Street as well as a fundraiser held from March to June and a small mortgage. Courtesy photo
SEE NEW HOPE PAGE 4
Plant City residents showed up to New Hope Worship Center in droves on June 10.