Plant City Times &
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FREE • FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015
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Make sure to read our new fitness column.
William Corsi is running the torch for Special Olympics.
Strawberry Fest performer to play local concert.
OUR TOWN tribute by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Family, friends remember teacher Quick-witted educator Leslie Rice will be remembered by her “brats” for changing lives in the classroom.
+ Cork Methodist appoints pastor
Rev. George Hatmaker has been appointed as the new pastor of Cork United Methodist Church off Sam Allen Road in Plant City. He started July 1. Hatmaker is from Polk County. He served in Vietnam during TET offensive, was medically evacuated from Vietnam, and then served as a special agent in the Medical Corps Criminal Investigation Division before retiring from the United States Marine Corps after 21 years. He has been married to his wife, Ana, for 23 years. They accepted God’s call into the ministry in 1992, and their first church appointment was in Miami in 1996, where they served for six years. Hatmaker also served the Virginia Conference of United Methodist Churches for 15 years before moving back to Florida. Ana is from Lima, Peru and is fluent in both English and Spanish. She worked as a medical malpractice paralegal, and then owned her own elderly care business in Virginia. They enjoy spending time with family and friends, fishing, and have five Yorkshire terriers.
No student could attend Plant City High School without hearing about Leslie B. Rice. Mrs. Rice was the advanced placement language arts teacher at Plant City High School, a class she brought to the school and taught with extraordinary results. Mrs. Rice died Saturday, July 4, at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa after battling breast cancer for the second time.
Within a day of her passing, her friends, coworkers and former students took to social media to share their fondest memories of a teacher who changed lives every time she stepped into a classroom. Mrs. Rice’s students, whom she lovingly called her “brats,” remember her as being funny, sarcastic and able to make anyone feel special — even through the occasional throw
of an eraser across the classroom. Throughout her career, Mrs. Rice taught her students not only the importance of the English language, but instilled in them a love of learning and of the written word.
HER SCHOOL
Deanna Hurley was one of Mrs. Rice’s students in 2002. As a high school student, Hurley wanted to be a doctor but
Plant City native Chase Dunn made the spring dean’s list for Florida State University’s College of Business. To be eligible for the dean’s list, a student must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and be registered for at least 12 graded hours of coursework. Dunn is in the honors
OUR TOWN / PAGE 4
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SEE RICE / PAGE 4
Courtesy photo
Leslie Rice was one of the most popular teachers at Plant City High School.
art of attraction
LINEAGE by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Plant City Creatives planning first art fest David Gnage, of Plant City Mercantile, is looking for artists of all mediums for a festival that will bring exposure to the city.
Susan Burt was inducted into the DAR in March. Her sister, Marjorie Ferrer, is also a member.
+ FSU student makes dean’s list
ended up switching her major to language arts while she was in college. After telling her former high school teacher of the change, Mrs. Rice laughed and told Hurley that she had been a language arts person at heart all along. “She spoke to our self-esteem,” Hurley said. “She made us feel good, capable and confident. Her class was like your safe space.” Although Mrs. Rice cared for her students, she made them
Courtesy photo
Descendants of Patriots There’s a new patriot in town. Susan Burt was inducted into Daughters of the American Revolution this year. Burt’s sister, Marjorie Ferrer, did research on their ancestors for many months so both sisters could become members of the organization. “You have to prove your bloodline back to the person who originally got accepted,” Ferrer said. “It’s a wonderful organization.” “She worked very hard getting all of the information together,” Burt said. “It took about three years.” They are following in the footsteps of their mother, Virginia Miller, who was also a member of DAR. Their mother’s records are in the Smithsonian Museum in the nation’s capital. The women are descendants of
Susan Burt, longtime Plant City resident and active volunteer, was inducted into the Daughters of the American Revolution in March.
Captain Samuel Miller. DAR, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, is focused on volunteer work, and any efforts that support historic preservation, patriotism and education, while honoring those who served in the Revolutionary War. Since the organization began in the late 1800s, over 930,000 women have joined, and the organization today has 177,000 members. According to DAR’S website, over
600,000 volunteer hours have already been logged in 2015. The impressive amount of volunteer hours is not a dissuasion for the newest DAR member of her family. Burt is an active volunteer in the Plant City community. After retiring from her second career as a school nurse at 73, Burt continues to volunteer for the Greater Plant
SEE DAR / PAGE 4
It’s awesome to think that I’m a descendant from a patriot … to the cause of American independence. — Susan Burt
In less than a year, Florida residents and visitors will be able to look past the major metropolitan cities for an immersion of arts and culture. David Gnage, who is co-owner at the curated boutique Plant City Mercantile in downtown, is hoping to bring local and national artists to Plant City for a spring 2016 art festival. Gnage is part of Plant City Creatives, a group of affiliated artists and business owners who want to see an art movement in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.
SEE ART / PAGE 4
MODELED AFTER MAINSAIL Mainsail is one of the art festivals Plant City Creatives is looking to model its festival after. Although much larger than what is being planned, Mainsail has some key factors that make it an attractive event: - $64,000 in cash prizes - Mixed media (ceramics, jewelry, metal, oil, photography, digital art, etc.) - Live entertainment - Kids art tent - Culinary arts food court
This week’s winner is
Dodie White
See the photo on PAGE 13.
INDEX Calendar.......................2
Vol.2,No.42 | Onesection Crossword...................13
Obituaries.....................9
Sports.........................10
Weather......................13
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