06.30.17 PCTO

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

Plant City Little League All-Stars. SEE PAGE 12.

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 4, NO. 51

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

YOUR TOWN

Spirit of America

File photo

The Preserves at Walden Lake had 100% participation from residents who purchased and hung flags from their homes for the fourth of July.

Neighborhood showcases patriotism

Plant City-area military veterans of three different eras discuss their service.

SEE PAGE 3

Residents at the Preserves at Walden Lake united to show their patriotism for July 4 by unanimously agreeing to participate in flying flags for the holiday. Every resident purchased a flag, pole and mount and a handful of neighbors volunteered to install each unit.

There are 39 flags mounted and flying in the neighborhood, and the plan is for them to continue flying year-round.

Courtesy photo

Plant City author headed to Comic Con

Courtesy photo

Marine John Simpkins is one of four military veterans featured in Spirit of America 2017.

T. Allen Diaz (above), a lifelong resident of Tampa Bay and Plant City resident, is debuting his fourth graphic novel at the Tampa Bay Comic Con on July 28.

The novel, “Lunatic City,” is a detective noir that takes place on the moon. “It has a kind of Blade Runner feel to it,” Diaz said. “Essentially it’s about a detective that’s going through a divorce and is investigating the murder of his partner on his own time and he has to take a side job as a private investigator. He ends up taking a job for a pretty shady guy and as he gets deeper and deeper into this he realizes he’s really into something pretty dark and shady.”

His previous works include the Proceena trilogy. All four will be available at Bard’s Tower, a traveling bookstore that follows the Comic Con circuit, on July 28. He plans to do a handful of signings prior to the convention around Tampa Bay.

Walden Lake golf course gets a trim, new plan for the future Manager Lynn Archibald says owner Visions Golf is out and he will be revitalizing the course.

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

Mowing, among other improvements, has begun around the golf course at Walden Lake.

It’s become part of a routine that could soon end. The grass at Walden Lake Golf and Country Club gets a little too long, the city says something about it, the grass gets cut.

“We go through this every year

about the same time,” Code Enforcement Manager Tray Towles said. “I will give him (course manager Lynn Archibald) credit. He has done a pretty outstanding job of keeping it up.”

The blighted golf course at Walden Lake, once a thriving central Florida destination for pro and amateur golfers alike, has become a nuisance for many in the surrounding Walden Lake neighborhoods. Residents and passers-by in the deed-restricted community have recently flooded the city’s code enforcement department with complaints about the 36-hole course’s current state.

Towles said Lynn Archibald, the course’s manager, is usually responsive and takes care of any code issues

with no fuss. However, the city has laws governing when it can step in. Ten is the magic number. Code enforcement, Towles said, cannot begin to act until the grass grows over 10 inches. As a courtesy, Towles issues a verbal warning to every citizen when his department notices code violations, allowing them time to correct the issue. He pays special attention to the course, he said.

“I watch the course like a hawk, waiting for that moment when it gets where it needs to be and I can act,” he said. “I’m not gonna let it slip.”

As usual, once it hit the 10-inch mark, he acted, issuing Archibald a File Photo

SEE GOLF PAGE 8

Lynn Archibald hopes to rejuvenate the golf experience at Walden Lake.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

WHY WE

SERVED Daniel Figueroa IV

Despite signing up for service only a year apart, Ray Hargroves and Benny Gibson had different experiences and reasons for being in Vietnam.

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

SEE VIETNAM PAGE 4

Courtesy photo

R

You knew you were going to go somewhere.

Why not choose?”

— Benny Gibson

Benny Gibson joined the Navy in 1969.

Daniel Figueroa IV

We wanted to get out of Dodge and see the world.”

— Ray Hargroves

Courtesy photo

ay Hargroves wanted to see the world. He was 18 when he volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps in 1968.

Instead, he saw his world spin after the concussion from a booby-trapped mortar shell he stepped on sent him hurtling through the air outside of his base in An Hoa, Vietnam. He lost most of both legs in the blast. The shrapnel killed five other Marines. He had been a Marine for just over a year.

When he volunteered with his stepbrother, Robert Dale Kitchens, the draft hadn’t reached his small “bubble” of a world. He hadn’t heard of Vietnam and didn’t pay much attention to politics or the world outside his teenage life in Lakeland.

“You’re out there partying as a teenager, you’re not worrying about the outside world,” Hargroves said.

“We were on the edge and I knew our luck was going to run out. We didn’t think about college. We wanted to get out of Dodge and see the world.”

Hargroves and Kitchens hadn’t been in trouble before, he said, not even a speeding ticket. But their world was shrinking and boredom can be dangerous. Both their fathers had served in the U.S. Navy and it was all they heard about growing up. Ready for the next adventure, Hargroves and Kitchens headed to their local Navy recruiter. They wouldn’t be able to leave for six months. They didn’t want to wait.

Hargroves said the recruiter told them the Marines might take them sooner, so they headed to a new recruiter.

Two days later, he said, they were off to serve.

“We thought, then, that we’d actually see the world,” Hargroves said.

“Then we found out about Vietnam.

We knew most of us weren’t coming back.”

By the time Benny Gibson was getting ready to graduate high school in 1969, U.S. troop involvement in Vietnam had swelled and the draft made its way to Lakeland. In February of 1969, he decided to join the Navy. He knew the draft would call him into the Army as soon as he graduated that June and wanted to have some control.

“You knew you were going to go somewhere,” Gibson said. “ Why not choose?”

Gibson’s service, like Hargroves’s, was influenced by his father. Gibson’s father worked in construction, so he wanted to serve as a Seabee in the Navy’s construction battalion.

He wound up working in communications, serving from 1969 until 1975, when he left the service to spend time with his family.

During Vietnam, Gibson spent some time in the Philippines where he intercepted and collected communications, gathering intelligence for forces in Vietnam.

“They kept us safe,” Hargroves said.

While serving, Hargroves was focused on one thing in Vietnam: protecting his fellow Marines. He said he wasn’t concerned with escalating anti-war sentiments back home.

When not in battle, much of his time was spent writing home to his mother or his girlfriend, Debra Jo. After his injury, he spent more than a year in a hospital, by the time he came home, he said, much of the fervor had died down.

After losing his legs, he said, he had one thought, what would Debra Jo think?

“She never changed her opinion of me one bit,” he said. “She’s the reason

Ray Hargroves joined the Marine Corps in 1968.

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To World War II veteran Angel Gonzalez serving was ‘a must and an honor.’

Despite his youth, Gonzalez didn’t hesitate to answer the call to serve.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A

ngel Gonzalez was 18 years old when he was drafted to serve in World War II. The army allowed him to finish his last semester of high school and when graduation day arrived he walked across the stage in his new, albeit loose-fitting, uniform.

“He was so skinny they never could find a uniform to fit him,” Margie Gonzalez, his wife, said. “He just wore baggy c l o t h e s. I have one picture where he looked like a refugee.”

Despite his youth, Angel Gonzalez swallowed his fear, packed his uniform and went to basic training, where, incredulously, he lost even more Courtesy photo weight.

Angel Gonzalez joined Over the the Army in 1945. next year he was sent to three camps where his duties ranged from rifle instructor to mail clerk. He was one of the few on base with a license so he became the new mail truck driver.

“I drove it for a long time and every time I went in I used to write down, ‘check Breanne Williams the clutch Angel Gonzalez is because it’s proud to have served not going in,’ in the Army. and someb o dy sa i d ‘It’s a double clutch,’” Angel Gonzalez said. “And I remember thinking ‘there’s only one clutch in the floor!’ I didn’t know about double clutching. I guess that tells you how young I was, doesn’t it?”

In spite of his fear, Angel Gonzalez never once considering skipping the draft. They told him to go, so he went.

“It was a disgrace if you didn’t go,” Angel Gonzalez said. “And not only that, you had to go. It was a must and an honor … it’s sad when people would move to Canada or different places when they didn’t want to serve because everybody should take their turn. It would be great for all young men to serve some time to know how important it is.”

Angel Gonzalez grew up speaking Spanish as his first language, which caused him to be held back one year in school. His father was from Spain and, though he was born and raised in Tampa, he said he always thought he had to work a little bit harder and learn English a little better than those who just grew up speaking one language.

He had only been in the Army for a little over a month when an American B-29 bomber dropped the atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Immediately, 80,000 people were killed with tens of thousands more following from radiation poisoning. Quickly, the tides of the war began to shift.

“It was hard to visualize that the war was over,” Angel Gonzalez said.

“It happened so fast. And we didn’t know enough about the atomic bomb either. That’s another thing, how much damage it did. It could’ve ruined any nation.”

Prior to the bomb, he said everyone was worried they would have to invade Japan. If that happened, he said the assumption was they would be killed. The U.S. was looking for an island because Japan was too far away. That search was unsuccessful, but then the U.S. dropped the bomb.

“It was probably the worst and best thing that’s ever happened to us,” wife Margie Gonzalez said.

When the war was over the plan was for the U.S. to send troops to South America because it was believed the communists were going to attempt to take over there. Angel Gonzalez was selected to go because of his ability to speak and write Spanish. At the last SEE WWII PAGE 4

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

IRAQ WAR

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks prompted John Simpkins to join the Marine Corps right out of high school.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

J

ohn Simpkins remembers exactly when he knew he wanted to join the military: September 11, 2001.

Simpkins, then a student at Plant City High School, was in class when the news about the terrorist attacks broke.

“I remember the history teacher at Plant City, that same day, had ‘Osama bin Laden’ written on the board,” Simpkins said. “He said, ‘This guy’s gonna be the one that’s responsible.’ I didn’t really pay attention to what was going on anywhere else up until that point, (when) 9/11 happened.”

The attacks sent a shockwave through the classroom — moreover, through the United States — and awakened mixed emotions in Americans. One that stood out among the feelings of fear and paranoia that gripped the nation applied to Simpkins and many young people: patriotism.

“It was crazy at that time because everybody was so patriotic,” he said.

“That’s all you saw was flags on cars, you know. It was a bad time, but at least something good came out of it.”

It was then that Simpkins, like many people his age, knew what he wanted to do after high school. Like his grandfather and uncle before him, he enlisted as soon as he could.

Unlike them, however, he decided on the Marine Corps instead of the Army.

“I just jumped right on it,” he said.

“I was talking to recruiters my whole senior year to figure out which branch I wanted to go to. I was trying to pick the one where I could make the most difference, so I ended up choosing the Marine Corps.”

He graduated from Plant City in 2003 and was in boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, by that July.

Simpkins said he knew from “day one” that he wanted to join the infantry on the front lines, so he went to the School of Infantry after boot camp. He was a machine gunner for his entire term of service, from 2003 to 2007.

Simpkins said that serving with like-minded individuals led to some of his closest friendships.

“The best thing about the Marine Corps is the actual Marines,” Simpkins said. “The camaraderie we have, the brotherhood, it’s not like anything else I’ve experienced. You’ve got guys from every background. You’ve got guys that grew up very, very rough in the inner cities, you have country boys, you have rich kids, poor kids — no matter what, once you’re in that unit, everybody’s best friends.”

Simpkins said he was deployed three times in his four years, including two combat tours in Fallujah, Iraq — experiences he said had to be seen

SEE VIETNAM PAGE 4

I was able to make it.”

Hargroves married Debra Jo when he got home. They were married for 35 years, until her death in 2005. And if you ask him now, he’ll tell you he’s still married. ‘Till death do you part doesn’t count for soulmates, he said.

For Gibson, service was different.

He enlisted in February with a 180day delay. June 4 he graduated from high school, June 7 he got married and June 24 he left for the Navy.

People didn’t understand why the Vietnam war was being fought, he said. That, combined with negative media coverage, led to mass protests and civil unrest throughout the United States. Many young men skipped out on the draft, burning their draft cards or escaping to Canada. Veterans returning from service were spat on in airports. “(Before I left) All I wanted to do was race hot rods and play baseball,” Gibson said. “When I came back, everybody was protesting. It became politically incorrect to serve. If you were in the service you were a baby killer. When I left it was one thing.

When I came home on leave, it was like night and day.”

The friends Gibson lost weren’t just battle field casualties. Of all the hurt he felt from being labeled a baby killer, it was the best man from his wedding who did the most damage. Gibson returned to Florida during the winter between 1970 and 1971 to find his best man got married and left for Canada to avoid the draft. Skipping out on the draft had never been a consideration for Gibson, even if it was frustrating to learn the draft lottery instituted after he joined meant he wouldn’t have had to serve.

Justin Kline

John Simpkins served from 2003 to 2007.

to be fully comprehended.

“Joining the Marine Corps, they tell you what you’re going to do, what you’re going to be going through and you can kind of imagine things you’re going to see,” he said. “But once you’re there, you can’t even comprehend it at first. It’s kind of a big shock.

The first month you’re over there, you’re in disbelief that you’re actually there … it’s just a whole different world. You can imagine, you see it in the movies, but it’s a lot different once you’re there.”

Deployed in one of the most notorious combat zones of the Iraq War, Simpkins said he’d seen plenty of “bad things” happen. He did want to go back to Iraq after his first tour, but said he had “burned out” by the end

Both men agreed the idea of service was different during Vietnam than it had been during World War II and even the post-September 11 era.

There was no defining moment, no battle cry. There wasn’t something people could get behind, Gibson said.

There will always be basic reasons to serve, both men agreed. You want to get out of trouble, you want to get out of town, you want to get away from someone, you want a better life or, as was the case in the draft-era, you have to. With major events like Pearl Harbor and September 11, there can come a surge in patriotism and the idea of fighting for God and country, but that fades.

Going in to serve, they said, there was no idea of God and country first.

That was instilled during training and shipped out with you. That changed, though, once you had to pull a friend’s dead body from a rice paddy. Though God has become a major part of both men’s lives — they worship together at Victory Baptist Church — they served for something more immediate.

“It wasn’t for God and it wasn’t for country,” Hargroves said. “ It was for making sure your friends got out safe.”

Both men have their frustrations with Vietnam. Working in intelligence, Gibson saw information he felt could’ve been used to save more lives. Hargroves thinks a lot of it was for nothing. The war didn’t change anything. Still, though, neither man has a single regret for the risks and sacrifices they made for their country.

“I loved my job,” Gibson said.

“I served and I enjoyed it. I had a good time,” Hargroves said. “Except for that last day.”

of his second tour. He began to plan for life after the Marines, settling on joining a police department when his four-year term ended.

“I never planned to actually become (a police officer) until I was in the Marine Corps,” Simpkins said.

“I knew I wanted to do something in that line of work. Protect and serve the country, the community, either one.“ He joined the Tampa Police Department in 2008. He still wanted to be around the action, just as he did coming out of high school, and eventually became a part of the SWAT team — a position he’s held since 2011.

Though he does admit to missing active life in the Marine Corps, Simpkins said his service taught him

valuable lessons that changed his perspective on life.

“The biggest lesson I learned was to never take anything for granted. And I did,” Simpkins said. “When I was in high school I took a lot of things for granted. Figuring out what was important. In high school it was about what you were doing on Friday nights, who your friends were. You learn real quick that none of that matters at all.

Friends are important and stuff but, at the end of the day, when you come back, it’s all about family. Now that I have kids, I’ve learned that even more.

I just try to make it better for them and I don’t worry about things outside my family as much.”

SEE WWII PAGE 4

minute, the plan was canceled.

So he went back to school, where he met his wife. He said one of the greatest things the Army did was provide for its veterans after the war was over.

He was able to go to college on the GI Bill and received his first loan on the GI Loan program.

After moving to Plant City in 1984, Angel Gonzalez joined the Plant City Elks Lodge. He said the Elks have supported him “over and over” through the years. They sent him to a celebration in New Orleans, as well as to Washington D.C. on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, a moment he said he’ll never forget.

“Honored, they just, they honored us very highly,” Angel Gonzalez said.

However, as the years passed, he said he noticed a shift in the public’s view on the military. In 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, everyone was patriotic for the war and anxious to serve, he said. Now, he says it feels different. But his love for America has yet to wane.

“One thing I want to appreciate is our country,” Angel Gonzalez said.

“We are so lucky in so many ways but the country has been great as far as anticipating everything that we have wrong and they’ve corrected so many things. It’s a great country. As for the younger generations, don’t be afraid to be patriotic. It’s a great feeling.”

Angel Gonzalez celebrated his 90th birthday in October. He is no longer a skinny teenager wearing a uniform he’d never fill. But the memories of his service and the love of his country remain as strong today as they were over 70 years ago.

“When people say I’m a World War

Courtesy photo

II veteran I feel guilty that I never really fought overseas,” Angel Gonzalez said. “I only hope I did my part and it was still an honor to serve.”

Angel Gonzalez was given a “diary” when he enlisted in the Army in 1945.

It’s a great country. As for the younger generations, don’t be afraid to be patriotic. It’s a great feeling.”

— Angel Gonzalez

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

We asked: What’s your favorite way to spend the Fourth of July?

We asked Plant Citians the following trivia questions to test their American history and military knowledge.

WHO DO YOU THINK UNCLE SAM IS? The name is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who supplied barrels of beef to the United States Army during the War of 1812. The barrels were stamped “U.S.” and soldiers began to refer to the food as “Uncle Sam’s.” In the late 1860s and 1870s a political cartoonist began popularizing the image and gave him the stars and stripes outfit. Another artist expanded the image of him and during World War I, this portrait of Sam with the words “I Want You For The U.S. Army” was used as a recruiting poster, according to History.com.

HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT SPENDS ON THE MILITARY? In 2015, the U.S. had a declared military and defense budget of $601 billion, which is more than the next seven highest-spending countries combined, according to Business Insider.

WHO WROTE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE? Thomas Jefferson.

WHICH BRANCH OF THE MILITARY IS THE LARGEST? The Army.

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For more Around Town Fourth of July fun visit PlantCityObserver.com

ART WOOD, 72

EDGAR DEJESUS, 28

JOHN BECKNER, 36

MARIA HENSLEY, 54

“We enjoy cooking out with neighbors, friends and family if they’re available.”

“My favorite way to celebrate the Fourth of July is probably, there’s no better way than with family.”

“Blowing things up with friends.”

“Our family loves to go to the Brandon Parade, the Fourth of July parade.”

UNCLE SAM? I think it stands for the U.S. government.

UNCLE SAM? Uncle Sam was a propaganda tool used to get people to join the military.

HOW MUCH DO WE SPEND? I have no idea.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE? It’s attributed to Thomas Jefferson but a number of people were involved.

LARGEST MILITARY BRANCH? I would think the Army is the largest branch of the military.

HOW MUCH DO WE SPEND? Way too much, trillions of dollars.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE? John Hancock signed it but as far as who wrote it I don’t know, I forget.

UNCLE SAM? I think Uncle Sam is big government.”

UNCLE SAM? I think he was like a promotion they came up with to encourage people to join the military, so they said, ‘Uncle Sam wants you,’ and they made him wear white, red and blue.

HOW MUCH DO WE SPEND? Way too much.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE? Our founding fathers.

LARGEST MILITARY BRANCH? That would be the Army.

LARGEST MILITARY BRANCH? I would assume it’s the Army.

HOW MUCH DO WE SPEND? I’m sure it’s billions. I’m going to say $8 billion.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE? Thomas Jefferson.

LARGEST MILITARY BRANCH? I think it’s the Army.

HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME & MEMORIAL GARDENS HAS PARTNERED TO SPONSOR AROUND TOWN.

HOPEWELL • FUNERAL HOME • • MEMORIAL GARDENS • www.HopewellFuneraI.com FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971 244917

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER Locally owned by Ed Verner, Karen Berry, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Times & Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC, a jointventure of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.

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CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays. It is inserted into the Tampa Bay Times for subscribers. The Plant City Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103.

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

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Suncoast expanding Plant City clinic, adding in Thonotosassa The new health centers are expected to add at least 20 new jobs between August 2017 and summer 2018.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Suncoast Community Health Centers Inc. is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month. By the time it turns 41, it will have two new clinics open in East Hillsborough.

On June 23 at the 508 N. Maryland Ave. location, CEO Brad Herremans told clinic staffers that Suncoast has plans to add two new locations: one in Thonotosassa and a new building in Plant City. The announcement came during the staff’s office celebration of Suncoast’s 40th anniversary.

“Our communities and patients are using us more, so we need to be able to service them efficiently,” public rela-

tions manager Amy Nizamoff said.

“We’ve just got to grow what we’ve got.”

The Thonotosassa clinic, offering family medicine and pediatric services, will be the first of the two to open.

Located in the Winn-Dixie shopping plaza at 9535 E. Fowler Ave., Herremans says it will begin seeing adult and child patients August 1 and will bring aboard an additional five to six new staff members.

“It’s a relatively small clinic, but a very nice clinic,” Herremans said.

“Brand new, so we’re pretty excited about that.”

The other big news of the day was that the two existing Plant City clinics are set to merge with the creation of a two-story, 24,000-square foot building at 801 E. Baker St. Herremans said plans to build and move into this new clinic have been in the works for “the better part of four years,” and that the move would solve several problems currently facing both existing Plant City clinics.

Justin Kline

Brad Herremans tells Suncoast employees in Plant City about the plans.

“At the two clinics, we couldn’t really expand services like we wanted to expand in our current structures,” he said. “The new building’s going to give us the chance to do that. That’s what drove it — the growth in the

area and the continual need for our services.”

The new building will allow Suncoast to expand the pharmacy and begin offering pediatric dentistry and optometry services. Herremans

also said that the new clinic will expand rooms and fix the problems both current locations face with the parking lots.

“Room constraints has been a problem for us for a long time,” he said. “Parking is a considerable issue in our two clinics now. The new site gives us expanded parking.“ Herremans said staff from both clinics will move over to the new building and that 15 to 20 new employees will be added.

Plans and renderings for the new building are expected to be completed soon, and Herremans said the project will then be available for potential contractors to bid on. After the move, Nizamoff said, the buildings at Maryland Avenue and 502 N. Mobley St. will be put up for sale.

The Baker Street clinic is expected to open in May or June 2018 and will be Suncoast’s ninth brick-and-mortar clinic in the East Hillsborough area. Suncoast also has two mobile units that travel the area.

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION! Saturday, July 15th, 2017 | 10am till 8 pm

Light Refreshments | Grand Opening Specials Hourly Drawings for Local Business/Vendor Giveaways (Must be present to win)

Customer Reward Drawing for $50 Gift Certificate (So, Fancy That!)

VENDORS INCLUDE: Lula Roe, LL Studio’s, The Rustic Door Decor & More, Bows & Butterflies, Lola’s Handcrafted, Southern Girls Chic Boutique, just to name a few.

111 S Collins Street, Plant City, Fl. 33563 (813) 704-6288 Please Visit Website for Merchandise Pictures

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WWW.SO-FANCYTHAT.COM

Since we are a pa rt of the Plant City Roc k’s Group, th ey will be hiding a few spec ially made ro cks with our logo on t hem for a 10% disc ount off a n y purchase .

Presented by: City of Plant City Recreation & Parks Department Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday, July 4, 2017 (Rainout date Wednesday, July 5 - 9:00 pm Fireworks only, no games or vendors, gates open 8:00 pm)

FREE IES IVIT T C A

6:00 to 9:30 pm Plant City Stadium

50 RAF /50 FLE

1810 East Park Road, Plant City FL 33563

Y ITAR L I M UTE SAL

FREE ADMISSION—$5 PER CAR PARKING PARKING OPENS AT 5:45 PM GRAND FIREWORKS FINALE AT 9:15 Climbing wall, bungee jumps, airbrushing, balloon art, bounce houses and more!

Scheduled to appear on stage: Daniel Sprouse Band Double Barrel Band

F VEN OOD DO RS

W.K. McClendon Oil Rossiter & Associates, LLC

A FAMILY ORIENTED EVENT Please follow Stadium and parking lot policy: No alcohol on the property (Sec 10-2).

No coolers or outside food or drink are to be brought into the Stadium.

For more information: www.plantcitygov.com (search July 4 Celebration) or call 813-659-4255 weekdays 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

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No pets! No boom boxes or loitering outside the Stadium or in the parking lot.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PUBLIC NOTICE OF TESTING

FELIX HAYNES

Perspectives on Vietnam evolve after end of war Felix Haynes has seen service members treated better since he left Vietnam.

In September 1971, I got on an airplane in Jacksonville and began a journey that would end at Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base, Saigon, South Vietnam. I thus became one of nearly 3 million Americans who served in the Vietnam War. My journey had really started in 1967, when I applied for the Advanced Army ROTC program at the University of Florida. I wanted to serve my country and serve it as an officer. I believed — and still do — that the responsibilities and skills young Americans get while serving in the military are much greater than what they receive in civilian jobs.

However, as my time to be commissioned and enter active duty got closer and closer, my doubts about whether the United States should be involved in Vietnam grew. I never joined the large, vocal antiWar movement, but my concerns increased. After I entered active duty I volunteered for a couple of assignments and locations which I thought would keep me away from Vietnam.

Nevertheless, after two years of active duty, including a worthwhile and enjoyable tour of duty in the Panama Canal Zone, I received orders to Vietnam.

So I packed my doubts and fears

7

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

about going to Vietnam and got on that airplane. By the time I got to Vietnam, the United States had been there for nearly a decade and we had suffered most of the 58,000 combat deaths of that war. After serving in an administrative job and not seeing combat, I discovered opportunities to curtail what would have been a year-long tour and go home. I took advantage of those opportunities in March 1972, went home and left Army active duty.

My happiness at leaving a war that I did not fully support was great, but one of the surprises of my life was to come later. As the years have passed I have become prouder and prouder that I answered my country’s call, that I served in Vietnam despite my doubts.

Those doubts have been replaced by a wish that we had won that war. Over the years, the question of what to tell the parents and spouses of the 58,000 who gave their lives there has loomed larger and larger in my thinking. When the American Congress eliminated the funding for Vietnam and we withdrew, we took away from the families of our dead and wounded any salve for their pain.

All wars are ugly, but victories, like America has won in most of her other wars, provide at least a partial answer to those Americans who have paid the greatest price for those victories. A victory in Vietnam would also have enabled us to close the book on Vietnam in a better way,

without having to deal with the ugly, embarrassing evacuation of our embassy, the crisis of Vietnamese boat people fleeing, the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1978 and the imprisonment and deaths of so many Vietnamese and Cambodians in re-education camps.

But one thing we did learn from the rancor of Vietnam is that the individual servicemembers who fight our wars are not to blame for them. Regardless of whether they fought in Vietnam or the Middle East, they should be honored for their service.

I remember a 10-year reunion of my high school class and reminiscing to a full table about an outstanding and well-liked member of our class who had died in Vietnam.

Suddenly I looked up and found that I was the only one at the table. All the rest had shunned me and walked away!

Now when current servicemembers walk through an airport in uniform, I frequently see other Americans thanking them for their service.

This is as it should be, and it helps to lessen the pain of Vietnam veterans who were jeered and called “babykillers” when we came home.

The City of Plant City will conduct smoke testing on the mainline sewer system beginning July 05, 2017 through July 07, 2017 on the following streets: N. Golfview Drive, Lakeview Way, Country Club Court, Sweet Bay Court, Carriage Court, S. Golfview Drive, Sagebrush Road, Paddock Drive, Bridle Drive, Horseshoe Drive, Hitching Post Place, Stirrup Court, Creek Woods Drive, Hickman Avenue, Creek Woods Court, N. Wilder Road, Majestic Oaks Court, Delaware Avenue, Wilder Trace Court, Wilder Bend Place, Sugar Creek Drive, Belmont Street, Burchwood Avenue, Wilder Park Drive, Sugar Creek Court, Walter Court, Lake Boulevard, Wilder Creek Circle, Eunice Avenue, Drake Street, W. Lake Avenue, Wilder Reserve Drive, Lisa Ann Court, Seminole Lake Boulevard, Geneva Circle, Pevetty Drive, Whitehurst Road, Walden Wood Drive, Bonnie Drive, Leaning Palm Court, Tillman Place, Chipman Street, Euclid Drive, Kingsley Circle, W. Risk Street, State Road 574, Intrepid Way, N. Lake Drive, Gloria Avenue, Holly Bluff Court, W. Oak Avenue, W. Reynolds Street and Bronze Bush Court.

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

NOTIFICACION PUBLICA

La ciudad de Plant City conducirá una prueba de humo en el sistema de alcantarillado principal en las calles, a partir del 5 de julio de 2017 hasta Julio 7, de 2017: N. Golfview Drive, Lakeview Way, Country Club Court, Sweet Bay Court, Carriage Court, S. Golfview Drive, Sagebrush Road, Paddock Drive, Bridle Drive, Horseshoe Drive, Hitching Post Place, Stirrup Court, Creek Woods Drive, Hickman Avenue, Creek Woods Court, N. Wilder Road, Majestic Oaks Court, Delaware Avenue, Wilder Trace Court, Wilder Bend Place, Sugar Creek Drive, Belmont Street, Burchwood Avenue, Wilder Park Drive, Sugar Creek Court, Walter Court, Lake Boulevard, Wilder Creek Circle, Eunice Avenue, Drake Street, W. Lake Avenue, Wilder Reserve Drive, Lisa Ann Court, Seminole Lake Boulevard, Geneva Circle, Pevetty Drive, Whitehurst Road, Walden Wood Drive, Bonnie Drive, Leaning Palm Court, Tillman Place, Chipman Street, Euclid Drive, Kingsley Circle, W. Risk Street, State Road 574, Intrepid Way, N. Lake Drive, Gloria Avenue, Holly Bluff Court, W. Oak Avenue, W. Reynolds Street and Bronze Bush Court.

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Local Animal Rescue Faces Closure Apache Way Farm Rescue Sanctuary, a nonprofit located in Plant City, may soon have to close its doors.

The owner, Lori Matta, is a former NFL cheerleader for the New England Patriots who opened a forever home sanctuary over 29 years ago.

She moved to Plant City for weather

Plant City artist lands exhibit at Museum of Art Deland John Briggs has been a painter for over 50 years. His first big break came with the “Artists in Schools” program that offered him a grant,

which led him to Plant City. He opened a studio out of Cork Elementary School where students were able to come in and see art work from beginning to end and not just a final project. He painted two murals in Plant City and has shown his work across the country, including in New York and Miami.

His current collection, “Casting for the Unknown,” is based off a photo he took at a beach in South Florida of people seine fishing. Briggs said this collection is unlike any of his prior work.

“Primarily I’m a realist, but I’ve started this new group of paintings and they’re a little bit different than my earlier work,” Briggs said. “These new paintings, though, I left more open, I wanted the viewer to come to the meaning themselves. I didn’t want to make them all spelled out, I wanted them open ended.”

The show will feature five large paintings and around 11 or 12 smaller paintings. The museum will have two other exhibits there at the same time, however his is a one man show.

The plan is for Briggs’s exhibit to travel, so anyone who wishes to may purchase a painting but it will have to be kept with the others until the exhibition is through.

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On April 10, a young girl drove off the road, lost control of her vehicle and plunged into a pond where her car flipped and rested on its roof. Frank Font, who was driving by as the accident occurred, immediately responded, diving into the body of water and attempting to open a door. When the driver door refused to budge he swam to the other side and was able to successfully open the door and free Emily McDarby, the driver.

Brian and Kelly Willey heard the accident from their nearby residence and ran to the scene where they were able to provide immediate medical assistance to McDarby. She was cold, wet and injured from the accident and was wrapped in towels and stabilized until the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue arrived and took her to the hospital.

On June 21, all three were honored at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office 2nd Quarter Awards Ceremony where McDarby was also present.

Though only Font was able to attend, all three were given the award.

that was kinder to her animals and opened Dance Carousel and Stallions Cheer, which provided the means to successfully run her nonprofit.

However, she was in a car accident in 2014 and had to give up her dance and cheer studios. Finances have been tight and the recent drought has made feeding the animals difficult. She is asking for help.

“I’m no different than the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals),” Matta said. “I just don’t have the money for a commercial or to buy the Sarah McLachlan music.

But the paperwork we have is the same.”

The nonprofit aims to rescue, rehab and provide a home for animals that were mistreated or unable to be cared for any longer. In her care she has dogs, horses, pigs, donkeys, a llama and a cow. One animal was severely burned multiple times with a cigar by its previous owner, others were at the point of starvation when she took them under her wing.

Since this organization is a 501c3, donations are tax deductible. She has an account at Bliss Feed at 3669 Paul Buchman Hwy in Plant City. You can purchase feed for the animals and she will be contacted. She also has a PayPal account, which can be found on the rescue’s Facebook page.

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

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verbal warning. To stay ahead of the issue, a notice of violation was issued on June 19, city records show, allowing 15 days for compliance. However, during that time, Towles said, frequent rains can cause the grass to grow quickly, far exceeding 10 inches by the time noticeable action is taken. Archibald said mowing should be compliant sometime around July 5, weather permitting.

It’s grow season, Archibald said.

The time of year when rains come and grass grows quickly. Archibald said he had been planning to mow at the time the notice was issued, the same day he spoke to Walden Lake’s community association about his new plan for the course.

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“I promised an 18-hole, premier golf course,” Archibald said “That’s still what I want to do.”

Archibald took over management of the course from Visions Golf in June 2015, though Visions retained ownership of the property. The plan at the time was for Visions to redevelop half the property, while Archibald ran an 18-hole course, the clubhouse and pool. Once the development was complete, Archibald said, Visions was supposed to pass over ownership of Archibald’s managed portions to him, so he could complete his promised refurbishments.

But that’s not what happened.

Visions Golf and its owner, Stephen Mercer, had a history of butting heads with Walden Lake residents and the homeowner’s association. Tensions

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“I promised an 18-hole, premier golf course. That’s still what I want to do.”

— Manager Lynn Archibald

“It has been an ongoing situation for a few years now and it’s in a deterioration mode which concerns most of our residents,” Community Association President Sharon Philbin said.

“The proposal that Lynn presented to the HOA board and our sub-boards is very ambitious and we hope he can pull it off.”

In the years since he’s taken over, Archibald said, Vision Golf’s continued involvement — and contentious history with the community — caused a lack of trust, even with new management.

“There wasn’t support for the course because people thought Mercer was still involved,” Archibald said.

Archibald, who graduated from a golf management program at Keiser University where he studied under PGA professionals, has now promised a three-phase redevelopment of the course, with the first phase expected to be completed by Nov. 1. He closed the course as of June 1 to begin the work, he said.

The first phase of the project will include a complete refurbishment of the “front 9” of the Hills course, new greens and tee boxes for the 18-hole Lakes course, renovations of the banquet room, a new golf pro shop and the opening of the restaurant and bar for business. The course will have 27 playable holes by the end of phase one, Archibald said.

Archibald says he understands the

lack of trust between the course and residents, so he is asking for no monetary contribution until he completes the first phase.

“My attorneys actually don’t like this idea,” he said. “I want to make Walden Lake the best place this could be, but we all need to contribute. It’s not going to happen by ourselves.”

Once the first phase is complete, Archibald will ask for $25 per month for social memberships for anyone who joins by the completion of phase one. A second phase of refurbishments will include completing refurbishments to the Lakes course, resurfacing the tennis court and parking lot, and more. A third phase will include the addition of a “resort-style” pool with a slide and dump buckets, at which point social memberships will increase to $50 per month for those who joined by phase-one completion.

Anyone who joins after phase one, Archibald said, will have higher rates and an initiation fee to join.

The success of the course relies on the community being involved, Archibald said. With steady support from membership, he believes he can operate with a baseline budget that will allow him to refurbish and maintain the course. It’s a gamble, but Philbin said she believes if he builds it, the members will come.

“I think if the plan can be implemented it’ll be a wonderful solution,” she said. “We think he will be able to get the social memberships and golf memberships if it comes together.

It’ll be a win-win for the community as well as the golf course. I think the reassurance will come when we see restoration begin.”

For Archibald, it’s all a matter of trust. He said he wants to assure all of Plant City that he is in charge now and, with the partnership of the community, will restore the course to the prominence it saw in its heyday. And, if there are any questions, he said anyone can email him at lynn.archibald@ professionalgolfglobal.com.

“This is not far from reality,” he said.

“If we put passion into what we think Walden Lake and Plant City should have, we’ll get there. Together.”

JUNE 16

stole $200 worth of cigarettes.

UNCALCULATED RISK 2602 James L. Redman Parkway Retail theft: On June 1, five calculators, valued at $595, were stolen from Walmart and returned at a separate store.

JUNE 16

HOT POCKETS. LITERALLY. 2602 James L. Redman Parkway Retail theft: Police found a 28-yearold male had stolen approximately $10 worth of Hot Pockets from Walmart. The suspect was provided with a court date and released on his own recognizance.

JUNE 16

SMOKE ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM 1802 Jim Johnson Road Petit theft: An employee of C&S Food Services reported someone

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went so far as to include legal action between Walden Lake and Mercer, which is still pending. Additionally, plans for rezoning the to-be-developed property fell through and the development never came. In December 2016, Today’s Bank began foreclosure proceedings against Visions and Mercer, Hillsborough Court records show.

The foreclosure, Archibald said, meant Visions defaulted on the deal it made with him and the mortgage with the bank, allowing Archibald to assume control over the entire property. Archibald said he is in talks with Today’s Bank to take its position with the loan, allowing him to decide how to proceed with a foreclosure against Visions and have more say in the course’s future.

On June 19, Archibald unveiled his three-phase plan for bringing the course back to its former glory to the Walden Lake Community Association.

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Archibald says current social members can use the pool, gym and tennis facilities.

JUNE 16

BULLETS OVER BUD WAY 107 Orange Bud Way Throwing a deadly missile: Officers responded to a residence where a man said an unknown person shot into his white four-door Chevrolet Sedan while it was parked in front of the residence.

JUNE 19

WHERE’S THE FIRE? 2001 Clubhouse Drive Criminal Mischief: Using a pass key, an unknown suspect entered the pool house at Walden Lake Golf and Country Club, sprayed a fire extinguisher and broke an interior window.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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9

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Moody raises more than $100k in ‘hometown rally’

A

shley Moody, the Plant City native running to succeed Pam Bondi as Florida’s attorney general, has had a “whirlwind” first month in the race, she said.

Moody held the first event of her campaign, a “hometown rally,” on Tuesday, at the home of her brother, attorney Jamey Moody.

According to campaign advisor Art Wood, the event raised more than $116,000.

Wood said strategizing for the event began after Moody, a Republican, filed to run for office on June 1, but it wasn’t until the last few weeks that the campaign really started to collect funds. Wood, who helped organize the event, said the initial goal was to match the amount of money State Rep. Jay Fant (R-Jacksonville), the only other Republican to file for attorney general, raised in May, the first month of his campaign.

“In politics,” Wood said, “people judge a campaign by how much you can raise in your first month.”

According to campaign finance records, Fant raised a total of $79,575 in the first month of his campaign.

Moody’s $116,000, Wood said, came solely from Plant City-based support. With another campaign event scheduled Thursday, Moody is expected to far exceed Fant’s first month of fundraising.

“It means the world to me to know, where I grew up, people support me and have my best interest at heart,” Moody said. “I know whatever happens in this campaign, they will still support me and I am honored that they want to be a part of it.”

Jamey Moody, Ashley Kirkham, B.J. Garrison, Ericca Garrison, Ryan Fulcher, Aaron Davis and Steven Solomon. The Plant City home has been in the Moody family since 1925.

Left: Sharon and John Dicks.

John Dicks is a former Plant City commissioner.

Below: Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee, Rhonda Gee, Pec McGinnes and Dub McGinnes. David Gee was born in Plant City.

— DANIEL FIGUEROA IV

Photos by Daniel Figueroa IV

Moody speaks with Plant City Mayor Rick Lott during her first campaign event.

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SATURDAY, JULY 1

FREE WORKOUT AT CROSSFIT PLANT CITY 9 to 10 a.m. at CrossFit Plant City, 1402B Mercantile Ct. Come take part in a free beginner-friendly CrossFit workout. Kids age 10 and up are welcome, so bring the entire family. Children are required to have a parent present and parents may need to modify their workout to aid their children. Workouts are usually for partners and teams so bring a friend. If this is your first class, arrive 10 minutes early to complete the online waiver.

CHILDREN’S BOARD FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS 2 to 4 p.m. at the Children’s Board Family Resource Center - East County. The Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment period for 2017 is technically over, however, if you have had a change in your life (a qualifying event) you may be eligible for special enrollment. The Center will have a Certified Healthcare Navigator to aid in the application process and answer questions. If you are coming to the Center for application assistance, please bring the following information with you: Social Security numbers, document numbers for eligible immigrants, birth dates, paystubs, W-2 forms, or other information about your income, policy/member numbers for any current health coverage and information about any health coverage from a job that’s available to your or your family.

THURSDAY, JULY 6

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

PREHISTORIC PLAYGROUND AT BRUTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY 3 to 4 p.m. For grades K-5 at the

Mary Noel Community Meeting Room at Bruton Memorial Library.

This program allows kids to make their own dinosaur egg and a 3D mask that can see through magnets. There is singing, dancing, a story, jokes and more. Presented by Ashley’s Art Assembly.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, JULY 8 AND 9

MID-FLORIDA SUMMER HOME SHOW 2017 Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 4th annual Mid-Florida Summer Home Show is at the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds. It now offers home decor and a plant expo as well as the 100 plus home venders and Florida Licensed Contractors. There will also be multiple seminars throughout the weekend.

ONGOING STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CAR SHOW The Strawberry Classic Car Show is held at Union Station Depot on the 3rd Saturday of every month and is free to the public. There are a variety of classic cars as well as free bounce houses and kid’s entertainments and a 50/50 raffle. The area shops and restaurants are open as well.

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.

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.

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. Art is on display by members of the East Hillsborough Art Guild.

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.

BEST BET TUESDAY, JULY 4

12TH ANNUAL JULY 4TH CELEBRATION 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Plant City Stadium. There will be fireworks, face painting, bounce houses, a rock wall, bungee jumping, food vendors, a 50-50 drawing, live music and more. This is an alcohol-free event and no outside food or drink can be brought into the stadium. Admission is free and parking is $5. If it is rained out, the alternative date is Wednesday, July 5. There will be no activities or vendors but fireworks would begin at 9 p.m.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

4th annual Ultimate Home and Garden Show returns to Plant City The show has added multiple experiences to its lineup in efforts to make the event more inclusive.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Courtesy photo

The show will have products to sell as well as seminars and experts on site to offer advice for homeowners.

IF YOU GO THE ULTIMATE HOME AND GARDEN SHOW When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m July 8; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

July 9 Where: Strawberry

Festival Grounds Grimes Hall

Tickets: Both entry and parking are free of charge

The 4th annual Ultimate Home and Garden Show is returning to Plant City July 8 and 9 at the Strawberry Festival Grounds Grimes Hall.

The show has officially rebranded in efforts to make the event more inclusive and now offers home decor and a plant expo on top of the 100-plus home vendors and Florida Licensed Contractors. There will also be a Shabby Chic and Home Decor Market available in the expo hall.

“You’re going to get a little bit of everything for your home at this show,” Sonya Bradley, co-owner and Marketing Director of Simply Events, said. “It’s a great place to start to get ideas. These guys know pretty much everything about the home. Yes, they have products to sell you but they also have a whole brain of information if you are looking to update, if you’re thinking of buying a new home, because Tampa Bay is one of the number one real-estate markets, so anyone can come to one of these.”

There are also seminars throughout the weekend ranging from how to ensure your home is energy efficient to DIY things you can do at home without hiring a professional.

Lowe’s Home Improvement specialists will be offering a few seminars, as well and a Shabby Chic artist, Market 516, will be offering two seminars a day on how to recreate or upcycle your current furniture, as well as a seminar on how to create different items for the home.

The show is for more than simply home design, said Bradley. This year the event features four plant venders, including a yard art vendor as well as Lowe’s vendor and a landscaper.

“Come out if you want to learn to do something or if you’re looking to do something and you’re going to find everything in the same location,” Bradley said.

Jennifer Gail Hallman

Jennifer was born on July 4, 1983 in Fort Irwin, CA to Rachel Humphrey Woodward and Russel Lee Workman (Samantha). She was a 2001 graduate of Plant City High School and she attended Keiser University where

she received her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license and was in pursuit of her RN degree.

In addition to her parents, Jennifer is survived by her children, Casey Hallman, Ashtyn Hallman, and Kylee Kincaid; brothers Shannon Woodward (Liza), Adam Woodward, Russ Workman (Brandi), and Jacob Workman; sister Angela Arden (Johnny); maternal grandmother Donna Crofton Humphrey and paternal grandmother, Mary Cutright Workman.

She was predeceased by her maternal grandfather, Robert Lee Humphrey, Sr., her paternal grandfather, Larry Russel Workman, and her stepfather, Timothy Wayne

Estelle Claire Nelson

Dale Griffin

JENNIFER GAIL HALLMAN, 33, OF LAKELAND, FLORIDA, WENT TO BE WITH OUR LORD ON MONDAY, JUNE 19, 2017.

Taking care of each other is what

ESTELLE CLAIRE NELSON, 83, OF PLANT CITY, PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY, JUNE 26, 2017.

DALE GRIFFIN, 31, OF LAKELAND, BORN IN 1985 IN PLANT CITY, DIED ON JUNE 19.

Care provided by www.HopewellFuneral.com.

|

Woodward.

A celebration of life was held at Faith Lighthouse Church, Thursday, June 22, 2017.

Jennifer Hallman

JENNIFER HALLMAN, 33, OF LAKELAND, DIED ON JUNE 19.

She was a 2001 graduate of Plant City High School.

Care provided by www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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Jewell Edgemon Farmer JEWELL EDGEMON FARMER, 91, OF PLANT CITY, BORN IN 1925, ENTERED INTO ETERNAL REST ON JUNE 22.

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2 sons, Kenny Nelson and Kirk an Army veteran.

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Services are pending in California.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Raymond; 2 daughters, Karen Mattio and Kim Maddalena; ALL OBITUARIES ARE PROVIDED grandchildren, Justin Mattio, Jared

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Plant City

10/13/16 11:03 AM

JUNE 30, 2017

SPORTS

Plant City Little League is fielding 10 All-Star teams in 2017.

E

very year, dozens of Plant City Little League baseball and softball players wake up one summer morning to learn they made all-star teams.

The kids get a rush from seeing those signs, planted in their front yards overnight, and knowing that many months of hard work paid off with a little bit of recognition. Of course, that means it also paid off with more baseball in June.

Haines City.

Thanks in part to bad weather, three of the 10 squads did not participate in the league’s team photo days. All three, which have already begun play, will still be honored in this section.

Read on to see who’s representing Plant City this year as its best of the best, and to hear from the coaches in charge. Let’s play ball!

This year’s crop of Plant City Little League All-Stars has been selected and, in many cases, have begun play. The 2017 AllStar team count is up to 10 after 2016 saw the league field nine teams — two of which operated under the Dixie Youth Softball banner due to lower participation numbers. Plant City has already taken one district title home, thanks to the efforts of the 9-10-11 baseball team in

— JUSTIN KLINE

ARTURO SIERRA JR

CASE WATSON

ETHAN PUES

JAXSON PEACOCK

KADEN PALMER

LOGAN FIGGA

RAY COWEN

TAYLOR TEEDEN

TRENTEN HERRING

WYATT FORDHAM

MAJORS SOFTBALL

ANTHONY LUGO

At press time, the Plant City Majors Softball team was waiting to find out which teams qualified for regionals and when they’d be tapped to start playing. But, according to manager Chris Parrish, things have been going well enough in practice that there wasn’t much to worry about.

Seven of the 12 girls were members of the 2016 9-10 Softball All-Stars team, which took the district runner-up spot to Lake Wales. This year, those girls have been working to go further.

“It’s been great,” Parrish said. “They’re excited to learn, they work hard and they go after it. The girls look good.”

AVA ZEFF

AVERY PARRISH

CALLIE OWENSBY

EMILY PEACOCK

HARLEE MILLER

JADAH TERRELL

KADEN HALL

LAUREN MILLER

MALLORY NESS

NATALEE WHITMAN

VICTORIA SIMPSON

NOT PICTURED CARIS SCHNEIDER

— MANAGER: CHRIS PARRISH

LANE JELLISON

COOPER COWEN

LOGAN TEEDEN

DJ HOWARD

REED GOODSON

Fresh off of its top-40 finish in the Cooperstown Dreams Park Tournament, the Plant City 9-10-11 Baseball All-Stars haven’t missed a beat.

“They’ve had a lot of baseball in the past month,” manager Mike Palestrini said.

“They’re ready to go. The other boys are fitting in nicely.”

The team cruised through districts July 17 and 18 with 13-0 and 11-1 wins over Lake Wales, and will play in sectionals at Lakewood Ranch starting July 7.

“Our next step is winning sectionals,” Palestrini said. “We would love to have the opportunity to compete at the state level and, hopefully, represent Florida again (at the Tournament of State Champions) … one step at a time.”

— MANAGER: MIKE PALESTRINI

DREW COTHREN

TYLER TURNER

JOSHUA MACHADO

LANE BAXTER

WAYLON ROGERS

NOT PICTURED PAUL OVERSTREET, JAKE CARBAUGH

After a strong showing in the district tournament, Plant City’s 9-10 A Baseball team is ready to take its talents to Lakewood Ranch for sectionals.

Plant City picked up a 28-4 win over Lake Wales to win the district title. Manager Matt Cothren said the team looks ready to run through sectionals, which begin July 7, and make it to states a week later.

“Right now, we’re very fortunate,” Cothren said. “We’re not really having any weaknesses. We’re strong. Pitching, catching, fielding, hitting — even the subs have come in and delivered. We’re looking forward to taking this bunch of talent down to Sarasota to see how we measure up.”

— MANAGER: MATT COTHREN

9-10 A BASEBALL

BRENHAM HAY

9-10-11 BASEBALL

— MANAGER: ROY PALMER

MAJORS BASEBALL

ALEX MACHADO

The Plant City Majors Baseball squad’s postseason run began Tuesday, July 27, but the boys have had plenty of time to prepare for this.

Eight of the 12 12-year-olds recently competed in the Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament in Cooperstown, New York. After facing some of the toughest competition from around America, this power-hitting team was ready for whatever Lake Wales and Haines City would throw at them.

“We’re a strong team,” manager Roy Palmer said. “Obviously you don’t know what you’re going to face out there ...

Hopefully we can at least make it to states.”

ADAN LONGORIA

ADRIAN AVELAR

ANTHONY PALESTRINI

AUSTIN TRIMBLE

BLAINE ROWLAND

COLBY BREWINGTON

CW WATSON

DEVEN GONZALEZ

JAMES GRAY

LEVI JORDAN

SETH HOGAN

TANNER ROLLYSON

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

JUNIORS BASEBALL

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For the Plant City Juniors Baseball team, it’s all about the word, “team.”

Manager Michael Wilson’s squad, which began district play on Tuesday, prides itself on its chemistry and work ethic.

“We don’t have one really good player,” Wilson said. “We just have a lot of good players that pull from each other’s strengths, so I think that’s what makes the team work.”

Many of the Juniors team players were familiar with each other and Wilson through travel ball. Though the full team has only been together since May, Wilson said the boys have made noticeable progress.

“I really like the improvement,” he said. “I like the camaraderie between the team.”

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JACOB SAYNE

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC AUCTION STORAGE SALE KADEN MIZELL

KYLE BECKER

MAX NESS

MICHAEL GAUDET

In accordance with the provisions of the Florida Self Storage Act (sections 83.801 - 83.809), there being due and unpaid charges for which the undersigned is entitled to satisfy an owner and/or manager’s lien of the goods hereinafter described and stored at the Life Storage location listed below.

— MANAGER MICHAEL WILSON PHILLIP FUTCH

And, due notice having been given, to the owner of said property and

NOT PICTURED ANDREW STOWE

all parties known to claim an interest therein, and the time specified in such notice for payment of such having expired, the goods will be sold at public auction at the below stated location(s) to the highest bidder or otherwise disposed of on Wednesday, 9:00 am, July 12, 2017 at 1005 South Alexander Street, Plant City, FL 33563, 813-759-9526.

JUNIORS SOFTBALL Keith Brewer is once again leading Plant City’s Juniors Softball team, and expectations going into tournament play were as high as could be.

“Most of (the girls) played with us last year,” Brewer said. “We already knew what they were, so we worked beyond fundamentals … a lot of them played for coach (John) Demos during the winter league. He brought them back to me ready.”

Between winter league play and traveling with Brewer’s FCA Fire team, plus last year’s PCLL All-Stars experience at the Majors level, the girls of the 2017 Juniors team went in with more than enough experience to serve them now and in the near future.

“I’m going to lose a lot of (the girls) this year, which I hate,” Brewer said. “But I think we’ve prepared them for high school.”

Brewer said that the team’s strong defense, plus improved hitting, could help reach the ultimate goal.

“We’re fixing to go to the state tournament,” he said.

CUSTOMER NAME

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— MANAGER KEITH BREWER

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NOT PICTURED BROOKE WILSON, ALANA LUCAS, EMILY LITTLE, COURTNEY KILLICK

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MINORS SOFTBALL The girls of the Plant City Minors Softball team were excited for postseason play.

Unfortunately for the team, the playoff run didn’t last long. The Minors were eliminated in district play, but manager Adam Chancey said this won’t be the last teams see of this group of girls.

“They got us this year, but we’ll be back next year,” Chancey said.

Daniel Fisher Kendrick Brown Deanardo Chapman Allen Aldrich Melissa Schuett-Johnson VFO Cork Knights Carolyn Wesner Quantas Broadnax Jim Rogalsky Larry Carter Susan Parr Desiree Richardson Jay Paulk Christopher Rogalsky

MACY NESS

MADISON TINNEY

SHELBY TOMASINA

SKYLAR TRICE

OTHER TEAMS The following teams did not attend Plant City Little League’s photo days

©2017 NEA, Inc.

This week’s Crossword answers 9-10 B BASEBALL Brayden Keys Ben Tinajero Parker Scott Brisen Plunk Tanner Weekes Landon Jackson Brody Bryant Jackson Trapnell Garrett Emmons Tyler Fry Caden Hutchinson Kyle Lewis

BULLDOGS - MACHINE PITCH Jacob Carbaugh Hunter Carbaugh Deacon Hay Trenton English Brendan Smith Ben Duncan Tucker Conrad Caiden Hutcheson Robert Elder III Tanner Gonser Bryson Plunk Braden Tinney

Manager: Shawn Bryant

Manager: Chris Carbaugh

The Warriors machine pitch team did not submit a roster by press time.

2017

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

|

FOCUS ON FITNESS

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

DR. JENNIFER CLOSSHEY

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

Living longer among the benefits of regular exercise Studies confirm that regular exercise can prevent diseases that reduce life expectancies.

T

he life expectancy of Americans continues to rise. A baby born today has a life expectancy of 104 years or longer, according to the National Geographic Society.

Adults should rethink their life expectancy plans, how to spend those years and how to take care of themselves. My goal is to enjoy a high quality of life every year, no matter how long I live. This is also how I guide my clients who are looking to live better and longer lives.

Exercise helps us all live longer, as it helps fend off health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer. Americans who are active seven hours a week have a 40% lower risk of dying prematurely than those who fit in less than 30 minutes a week, according to the Watson Clinic in Lakeland.

BETTER BRAIN HEALTH

Regular exercise may delay brain aging by 10 years, according to the American Academy of Neurology.

Try mind-body exercise such as yoga and tai chi for improved brain health. Games and activities requiring mental agility are especially good, too.

A recent landmark study of Alzheimer’s Disease, led by the University of British Columbia (UBC), confirmed exercise is good for the brain.

“Our panel agrees that physical activity is a practical, economical and accessible intervention for both the prevention and management of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementia,” study author Kathleen Martin Ginis, UBC professor, said.

JUSTIN KLINE

When coaching, parenting cross paths Youth sports are great outlets for parents to show commitment to their children.

BETTER ARTHRITIS CONTROL

As counterproductive as it may seem, moderate intensity, lowimpact aerobic exercise is key to managing arthritis.

Regular exercise lessens the pain of achy joints and body areas.

Weight lifting added to a regular aerobic schedule adds strength, which decreases the risk of sustaining an injury in a fall. A mind-body activity adds another dimension to your arthritis management plan.

Take charge of your life. Get active and feel better.

N

ow that I’m in my midtwenties, I’m seeing some things differently than I would have even a few years ago.

One of the things that means for me is I no longer think my friends who have children are lame for not wanting to hang out. I even catch myself getting excited when the kids get old enough that their parents introduce them to sports. “I can’t hang out because I have to take my son to his tee-ball game” is a good excuse in my book.

It’s kind of like my introduction to that chapter of life where the student becomes the teacher, though with no kids of my own I’m seeing it through my friends’ experiences. It’s cool seeing a kid get his first hit in a Little League game when you remember that, just a year or two ago, you were in the front yard shagging balls while his dad taught him how to swing a bat correctly.

For the record, I don’t come from a family with a history of coaching sports. My dad, probably the best athlete on either side, only coached me briefly when I decided to try wrestling as a kid. None of my siblings have kids that aren’t dogs and none of my biological cousins have coached their own kids. I never caught the bug to try coaching youth sports.

Now that my friends are gravitating toward that to further coach up their own kids, I can see how it would be a lot of fun.

It’s great to see so many Plant City Little League parents getting involved by going beyond the bleachers and joining the coaching ranks. Even when their kids move up and go to other coaches, some stick around because their love for the job grew beyond simply helping their

LOSE WEIGHT, FEEL BETTER

Dieting by the reduction of food intake alone can result in weight loss. But without a change in lifestyle, the weight usually returns.

When the weight returns, it is usually around the abdomen, hips, thighs, and other unwanted places.

A lifestyle decision to start and maintain a regular exercise plan speeds up the weight loss with dieting. Keeping up with an exercise plan is the best way to stop the cycle of losing and gaining weight. According to the National Weight Control Registry, 90% of all people who have lost 30 pounds and kept it off for a year are regular exercisers.

BETTER BALANCE AND STRONGER BONES

Falls are the primary cause of adults’ traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. Stronger muscles improve balance and decrease falling risks.

Weight training helps everyone get and stay stronger. More importantly for longevity, regular exercise keeps telomeres, a biogenetic marker of DNA health, healthier.

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

own kids out. Having someone so passionate in your corner helps fuel your own desire to keep going.

Matt Cothren, manager of the 9-10 A Baseball All-Stars team, told me as he’s coaching his youngest of three sons now, he’s preparing for the end. The sense of satisfaction in his voice, even talking about something so simple as being there for his sons, was clear. I’m sure anyone just getting into Little League or other youth sports will one day want to be able to speak the same way about their own.

I keep thinking of LaVar Ball, whom anyone with an Internet connection and even a passing interest in basketball knows as America’s most outspoken sports parent. His star has risen astronomically since the world found out how good his three sons are at basketball, which he’s channeled into his Big Baller Brand line of clothing and overpriced shoes that look like fake Kobe Bryant Nikes. For the most part, I can’t stand the guy’s antics.

I’ll give him this, though: the man does love his kids. When Lonzo Ball got drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers — just as LaVar Ball had always said would happen — it somehow became a touching moment for father and son. The father finally made it to the NBA living vicariously through his son, who got drafted by his favorite NBA team and an executive, Magic Johnson, whom he’s long tried to emulate on the court. For all LaVar Ball’s faults, none of that happens without his commitment to his kids.

That commitment is what all young sports parents should have.

When I see parents show love and commitment to their kids on the playing field, I know they’re in good hands.

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

Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

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15

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

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SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, JUNE 30

High: 92 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 80%

Friday, June 30

6:35a

8:29p

Saturday, July 1

6:35a

8:29p

Sunday, July 2

6:36a

8:29p

Monday, July 3

6:36a

8:29p

Tuesday, July 4

6:37a

8:28p

Wednesday, July 5

6:37a

8:28p

Thursday, July 6

6:37a

8:28p

SATURDAY, JULY 1 High: 91 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 60%

Sunrise Sunset

MOON PHASES

SUNDAY, JULY 2 High: 89 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 60%

July 23 New

July 18 Last

July 27 First

July 8 Full

MONDAY, JULY 3 High: 92 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 50%

RAINFALL

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Wednesday, June 21

Shipping point: Orlando $11.95

Les Cole saw a nature photo opportunity he couldn’t pass up after a daytime rain shower hit Walden Lake. Cole wins this week’s I Love Plant City photo contest.

Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture

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Friday, June 23

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0.19

Monday, June 26

0.22

Tuesday, June 27

0.31

YEAR TO DATE:

JUNE TO DATE:

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2017 15.42 in.

2017 10.98 in.

Twitter and Plant City Times & Observer on Facebook.

2016 18.21 in.

2016

N

Summer is here!

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• Seal and Expunge • DUI • DV Injunction

ACADEMY

But have you thought about where your child will go to school in August?

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ACROSS

85 Stereotypical attitude of the privileged 87 Like an angel’s head 89 Kind of formality 90 Monetary unit of Bangladesh 91 An Indian language 92 Violin relative 94 Human thing to do 95 Reduce to a pulp, as potatoes 99 Good stuff to find in a mine 100 Like fresh cake 102 Breakfast melon 105 Spanish woman 107 Open an aspirin bottle, e.g.

109 Certain citrus fruit 110 Hearing-based 111 Kept sight of 112 Brownish-gray shade 113 Yemen coastal city 114 Slow, spiral-shelled mollusk 115 Stupid extinct bird?

116 Thing some do nightly or lightly 117 Two for a twenty 118 Transcription pro

CAN DO! by Timothy B. Parker

29 Acts of the Apostles?

31 Female reproductive 1 One of the Allman Brothers cells 6 Keep ___ profile (be easy 32 “So what ___ can I bring to miss) you?”

10 What baking soda fights 33 It’s for the course?

15 Paul Bunyan’s blue ox 34 What some scouts seek 19 Cabaret show with skits 37 U.S. ski mecca 20 Gentleman’s opposite 39 Skating competition 21 “___ Without a Cause” category 22 Top spot 41 Breathing apparatus?

23 “To repeat ...”

42 “For goodness’ sake!”

24 Dominator of world maps 43 Name, as to a position 25 Wood for model airplanes 46 After-shower powders 26 Sandy part of a golf 48 /+Is a sign of something course to come 27 Glowing from intense 49 Put bandages on heat 50 Inspire with affection

52 Dog breed in a Sherlock Holmes title 53 Abbr. on an old TV knob 54 Get carried away in a play 55 Word in MYOB 56 When planes are expected to land, briefly 60 Sounds from a doctor’s depressed patients?

61 Brightest star after Sirius 64 In a stupid, silly manner 66 Prefix with natal or classical 67 ___ dictum (passing remark) 68 Found on this page, legally

Steve Paul, Owner

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DOWN

©2017 Universal Uclick

HOME PROTECTION PEST CONTROL

69 Thing to do before firing a weapon 70 Magnetized kitchen gadget 72 Senilities 73 Simple seat for a toddler 74 Etc.’s relative 75 Commandment total 76 Orderly arrangement 77 List of movie characters and players 78 Simple little tune 80 Somewhat broad 82 Short appearance for a big star 83 ___ Road Studios of Beatles fame 84 Baltimore football pro

1 Words of Thanksgiving thanksgiving 2 A la king?

3 J.J. or Florida, on TV 4 Traveler’s aid that shows the way 5 Legendary dancer Kelly 6 Bill of fare 7 Some printers 8 Supreme Norse deity 9 First name at the OK Corral 10 Poet’s sphere 11 Numbs 12 Like a squash 13 Put a trip meter back to zeros 14 Strip of a picket fence 15 Face a pitcher 16 Befitting 17 Theodore Cleaver’s nickname 18 Spread out or get wider 28 Laundry cycle 30 Composer Franz Joseph 35 Dishes out or distributes 36 “Filthy” money

38 Greta Garbo’s countrymen 40 “___ for airplane” (grade school lesson) 42 Canadian officer on horseback 43 Move forward 44 Prepare an oven for baking 45 Chaplin’s Tramp, for one 46 Alter or falsify (with “with”) 47 French love 48 Limb with a curve 51 Term for adults retaining juvenile characteristics 52 Encouraging shouts of cheer 57 Large egg-shaped structures of the brain 58 Criminals’ other names 59 Sign of an illness 61 Police officer 62 Was a bank robber’s lookout, e.g.

63 Very good test score 64 Hold for questioning 65 Attachments to walk or trade 68 Large throng of people 71 “Good” inner circle member 72 Senseless, shallow talk 76 Prize from a jury 77 Large feline resembling a lion 79 Big construction girder 81 Cheers or gives hope to 82 USSR successor 83 Estranged 84 Time-delaying bureaucratic annoyance 86 Turkish currency 87 Like some jackets or snakes 88 Steep-sided gully 89 Pool hall blunder?

90 Calligraphers’ “ship”?

92 “All sales are ___” 93 Showy success 96 Psychic glows 97 Barcelona’s locale 98 “Haven’t you been listening to me?”

101 27 per team, in baseball 103 Senator’s assistant 104 Girl from Glasgow 106 Word in a Shakespeare play about nothing?

108 Type of pill or rally

CELEBRITY CIPHER

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“V LRBS R LAFS VMNSTSIN VM LUJXSD OSJRAIS V FTSH AG VM JRMRPR, HLSTS VN’I XVMP UW NLS KRH NLRN DUA KUBS LUJXSD.” – ERNNLSH GSTTD “HF HPSTDM’E XLOD-XPPS-SJP, BZI L’GG WD TPZDES JLST FPA -- ETD’E STD PZGF UDMEPZ L’H EKBMDI PX.” – RLDXDM EASTDMGBZI Puzzle Two Clue: W equals B

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The only bug you should have in your home or business is the one in our logo!

• Roach & Ant Control • German Roaches • Bees • Ground Hornets • Fleas & Ticks • Rodent Control • Quarterly & • Spiders Semi-Annual Service • Silverfish

Puzzle One Clue: O equals B

Attorneys on call 24/7

G!

W FAITH O CHRISTIAN

8.74 in.

GOT PESTS?

ENROL LIN

SAMMIS LAW FIRM

241739

Thursday, June 22

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ONLINE

0.11

©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

6-29-17

16

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

~ Ron W., a patient of South Florida Baptist Hospital

The Care You Need, When You Need It. Ron had always been healthy and active. But then he faced a life-threatening blood clot. Ron chose South Florida Baptist Hospital for their advanced technology and the excellent care he knew he’d receive. A member of the community since 1953, South Florida Baptist Hospital was built on quality, compassionate care. You’ll find a highly skilled and experienced team that works to make patients and visitors as comfortable as possible during their hospital experience. When you’re treated at South Florida Baptist Hospital, you’ll feel at home, close to home — all your health care needs are covered, without ever leaving Plant City.

Choose South Florida Baptist Hospital.

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

Our Specialties: n ER: Efficient medical treatment for minor or major emergencies and illnesses n Surgery: Large operating rooms, high-tech equipment and spacious recovery rooms create a pleasant environment for patients n Heart: State-of-the-art heart and vascular center offering cardiac diagnostic services and procedures

241939

BC1606703-0916