PLANT CITY TIMES &
Observer
July is National Parks & Rec month. SEE PAGE 12.
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 5, NO. 2
FREE
•
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
RESURFACING BEGINS The City Commission recently awarded a $1.3 million contract to C.W. Roberts Contracting for nearly eight miles of road repairs. SEE PAGE 3
Daniel Figueroa IV
Bill McDaniel said the work being done on Vermont Street (pictured) is a smaller project, but is indicative of the breadth and intricacies of work being implemented elsewhere throughout the City.
HAVING A BALL
YOUR TOWN
Summer Youth Program keeps kids rolling through the heat. SEE PAGE 3
Breanne Williams
Mayor honors pageant winners Mayor Rick Lott officially recognized the members of the Little Miss Plant City Court Monday at a City Commission meeting. Queen J’Zell Gilbertsen, First Maid Annistyn Griffin and court members Addison Griffin, Brooke Browning and Kacie Culbreth received a proclamation and congratulation from the Mayor as they represent Plant City in various parades and events throughout the upcoming year.
File photo
Campers at the Planteen Recreation Center play a game called “Gaga Ball,” a blend of dodgeball and soccer.
Breanne Williams
Search for city manager begins The City Commission voted to hire a recruitment firm to begin the search for City Manager. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
The search for a new city manager has begun. The city commission unanimously voted in favor of hiring Strategic Government Resources, an
executive recruitment firm, to assist in the process. Interim City Manager Kim D. Leinbach was directed on June 26 to research firms to aid the city in its search. Two weeks later, he recommended SGR. The firm is no stranger to Plant City, as it was used in 2016 to find and hire Lynn Spivey, director of utilities. “I know we used this firm for another position, one of our department heads, the utilities director, and I know we were very happy with them there,” Mayor Rick Lott said.
SGR has a 15-week process, which could be as short as 45 days, to find suitable candidates for the city. “They do guarantee their results and will repeat the entire process if we’re not satisfied with the selection and if any candidates who are vetted by SGR, resigns or is terminated in the first 18 months of hire, they will repeat the process with no expense to the city,” Leinbach said. SGR’s services will cost an estimated $23,000 based on its proposal, Courtesy photo
SEE MANAGER PAGE 7
Kim Leinbach.
Reserved parking for 40 years of service Candace Greene, an employee at South Florida Baptist Hospital, received a reserved parking spot on July 6 for dedicating over 40 years of service to the hospital. The hospital has honored others with similar dedications and every year a banquet is held to praise all team members who have reached a service milestone in the past year. The honorees are also given a book from which they choose which gift they would prefer to receive based on their years of service.
PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
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PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
T
he following comments were pulled from reactions to the “Driver shot, killed by Plant City Police during 911 call investigation” and the “Walden Lake golf course gets a trim, new plan for the future” stories on our Facebook page.
YOUR COMMENTS
DRIVER SHOT, KILLED BY PLANT CITY POLICE DURING 911 CALL INVESTIGATION: 197 shares
52 likes
“Why didn't they just disable the guy instead of killing him? I understand he "may" have been reaching for a gun but there was no solid proof of that. I'm all for supporting the police. I understand the threat officers are under these days. I just think better judgment could have been used. The man was obviously on something, hallucinating or very confused. There has to be a better way.”
38 wow
19 sad
“the word of the day is …….. COMPLY” — Elizabeth Kolhoff
"It amazes me how people can question the decisions police officers have to make in a split second! The suspect was given ample opportunities to stop. HE MADE THE DECISION not to stop. Unfortunately, he lost his life because of his decision. Thankful all LEO's are safe.” — Krysta Hinson Figga
— Michele Greco
WALDEN LAKE GOLF COURSE GETS A TRIM, NEW PLAN FOR THE FUTURE: 14 shares
Director: Oliver Sprague Assistant Director: Josie Costa
40 likes
2 wow
2 Love
Musical Director: Michael Mercer Choreographed by: Doug Buffaloe
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
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FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
3
Youth Summer Program offers
something for all kids Nearly 200 kids are participating in the Youth Summer Program at Plant City’s two recreation centers. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
The Plant City Recreation & Parks Department’s annual Youth Summer Program is underway with nearly 200 kids enrolled. The program is comprised of two separate sites, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Recreation Center and the Planteen Recreation Center, and kids take part in arts and crafts, sports, games and a science based activity called discover. “I think it’s important for kids to have the opportunity to be kids,” Maggie Morona, the recreation supervisor for the Planteen Recreation Center, said. “There’s classes and all these goals they have to attain and that’s great. But it’s summertime, we want them to have the chance to play and to develop friendships.” Morona has 137 kids registered with 16 paid staff and 11 volunteers. Morona said the kids enjoy being able to do a variety of activities everyday and that the discover area is a big hit among campers. JaVae Ingraham, the recreation coordinator at the MLK Recreation Center, agrees and says the kids have made bottle rockets, a worm garden and even slime with the help of the City Water Resource Department, which provided the idea and materials to create the gooey substance. “The kids love it,” Ingraham said. “We have cooking classes in the discover class, we made homemade icecream and they also liked the paper mache we did in the arts and crafts classes.” While on site, campers at both locations are taught a variety of sports, games, crafts and they take part in educational experiments like learning about the ecosystem via worm gardens or having a hands-on lesson on compost. “The kids were taught about compost and what can be composted and then one day the bucket wasn’t out and the kids came after me for it,” Morona said. “It was amazing to see 8-year-old kids saying ‘Where’s the compost bin?’ and knowing something they had wasn’t supposed to be thrown away.” Joey Williams, 18, was a volunteer for two summers before being upgraded to paid staff this year for the Planteen program. He said the best part of the summer so far has been being able to teach the kids how
to play chess with the new chess sets, which were purchased by a grant Morona obtained from Pizza Hut earlier in the year. Youth who are too old to be campers can volunteer through the summer program, which Morona said helps develop future leaders. She said the kids who are too old to attend camp but are too young to go out and get a job are given the opportunity to develop marketable skills through leadership roles at the camp. When kids arrive at either site they are sorted into groups and are rotated all day through different activities. MLK Recreation Center, which has 60 children in attendance and 11 volunteers, is especially proud of its discover and sports section, where kids are taught the rules behind a variety of sports like volleyball and soccer. “We have a lot of fun and it's very cost-effective,” Ingraham said. “We’re very friendly over here and teach kids a lot.” The program has both sites taking students on five field trips throughout the summer to Fun Spot, Adventure Island, 2Infinity, Plant City Family Bowl and Legoland. The MLK Recreation Center site is $275 for the nine-week program for kids ages 5 through 13. The Planteen Recreation Center is $375 for kids age 6 through 15 to join its nine-week program, though Morona said she’s willing to prorate it for half price, $187.50, since the summer is halfway over and there are only two field trips left. “Camp is an opportunity for kids that maybe aren’t the smartest kids or the kid that’s not the jock or the kid who doesn’t like to stand up in the front of the room and recite things off to other people, camp is an opportunity for those kids to come out and possibly find something that they excel at,” Morona said. She said the goal of the program was to have the kids try a bunch of different things, many of which they’ve probably never done before, in hopes that by the end of the summer they’ll have come across something they enjoyed and will continue to pursue after they’ve left the camp. “To put that all back here into the city, to have kids that feel really confident in themselves and their abilities, whatever those abilities are, I think camp in general does that,” Morona said. “Don’t leave a kid at home. Send them to camp somewhere.”
Courtesy: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center
Above: Campers learn how to play flag football from a coach at the MLK Recreation Center. Left: Kids enjoy a field trip to 2Infinity. Bottom: The Youth Summer Program is open to kids age 5 to 15, depending on the site.
City street repairs move forward Plant City’s $6.6 million road repair project will get moving with help from C.W. Roberts Contracting, which was awarded a contract in June. DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER
The City Commission in late June awarded a $1.3 million contract to C.W. Roberts Contracting for the resurfacing of 7.8 miles of city-maintained roads by the end of the fiscal year. The work is part of a larger project begun earlier this year when the city chose to invest about $6.6 million in the repair of roads. Plant City maintains about 160 miles of road, City Engineer Mike Schenk said. “It’s a priority for the city and the Commission, without a doubt,” Interim City Manager Kim Leinbach said. “Infrastructure is important to the success of any city.” The plans began a few years ago. Assistant City Manager Bill McDaniel said the city has been working to not only improve roads, but to maximize the life of the repairs. Money was also pooled for a few years to be able to invest more in the roads, he said. The city chose to approach the streets from above and below. Before road work was able to begin, repairs were made to utility and sewer systems. Faulty utilities can often lead to damaged roads. “It’s more than just slapping down new asphalt,” McDaniel said. “(That way) you don’t have to go back a year later and tear up your brand new road.”
Daniel Figueroa IV
C.W. Roberts Contracting is building an asphalt plant at 2102 Jim Johnson Road.
Killebrew Inc., a company specializing in sewage and utility work, has been working to complete the utility repairs, estimated to cost around $4 million. The $1.3 million bid from C.W. Roberts is about half of what the city expected to pay. C.W. Rob-
erts, a Tallahassee-based company, has locations in Hosford, Freeport, Panama City, and Wildwood. It is also building an asphalt plant on Jim Johnson Road in Plant City. The project is the first phase of what Leinbach said will be consistent work
to repair, then maintain the city’s roads. City engineers, McDaniel said, observed city streets to determine the condition of roads and looked at some of the most heavily trafficked roads in the city. Using those two factors, a prioritized list was created to begin
working on the roads in phases. First-phase work is being done on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, from Park Road to CSX Railroad; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, from CSX Railroad to South Alexander Street; West Grant Street, from South Collins Street to South Alexander Street; North Franklin Street, from West McLendon Street to Valencia Road; North Mobley Street, from West Baker Street to Strawberry Drive; South Lake Street, from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to East Alabama Street; North Shannon Avenue from East Calhoun Street to South Frontage Road; Walter Drive, from West Reynolds Street to West Baker Street; South Woodrow Wilson Street, from Airport Road to CSX Railroad; Forest Club Drive, from Pine Club Drive to the end of the road; and Pine Club Drive, from Griffin Boulevard to Forest Club Boulevard. Leinbach said the city will continue to prioritize repairing roads. It can be difficult, he said, when trying to maximize limited fiscal resources, but it’s always something city staff are working on and something that will never be finished. With 160 miles of road, there’s always work to be done. “It will never be ‘finished’, but with a good solid foundation, maintaining will be easier,” Leinbach said. “It’s like my house. There’s always something needs to be done.”
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
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PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
We asked: What is your favorite park in the Plant City area?
“Mike Sansone. I like it there because there’s a playground for the kids, a walking trail, which we also ride our bikes on, basketball, the skate park. It’s a really great park.”
“McCall Park because it’s part of the whole downtown court, I think it’s nice and quiet.”
“I usually just come downtown so probably McCall Park? I just like hanging out downtown there.”
— Bennie Lubrano, 65
— Jamie MacGregor, 23
“Mike Sansone because it has the facilities for baseball for the youth and soccer and it has all the amenities the community needs.”
“The one over by the library, Veteran’s (Monument) Park, I like to sit down and relax in the gazebo and take in the sights.”
— Gail Lyons, 62
— Frank Cummings, 60
“The dog park, we take our dogs there. They love it.” — T. Allen Diaz, 43
— Melanie Bettis, 37
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PLANT CITY TIMES &
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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Observer Publisher / Karen Berry, KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Sarah Holt, SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline, JKline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Daniel Figueroa IV, DFigueroa@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams, BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com Editorial Designer / C.J. Major, cmajor@yourobserver.com Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
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FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
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PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
Breanne Williams
Plant City police stand by at the scene of an officer involved shooting. The driver of the black Nissan Altima attempted to run an officer off the road. Its tires were deflated and the driver lost control.
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Police said they believe Jesus Cervantes made a distress call to 911 before leading police on a chase ending in his death.
NOTICE Plant City Housing Authority is encouraging property owners and or managers to list any available properties under the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Interested persons may pick up a landlord application at 1306 Larrick Lane in Plant City, Florida. Once applications are received, our rental listing will be updated. The rental listing will be given to voucher holders searching for suitable housing.
DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER
Within 30 minutes, an emergency call to the Plant City Police department Thursday morning went from investigation to chase to death by shooting. PCPD said two officers shot and killed the driver of a black Nissan Altima around 5:30 a.m. following a chase that ended in a crash at the BP gas station on Park Road and Alsobrook Street. The man driving, police said, has been identified as 35-yearold Jesus Cervantes, of Plant City. PCPD believe Cervantes placed an earlier call to 911 requesting police assistance. It began around 5 a.m., PCPD Sgt. Al Van Duyne said. According to Van Duyne, a 911 call was initially picked up by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and transferred to PCPD. The caller, police said, told the dispatcher he was being followed for two hours by an unknown vehicle and was in need of police assistance. PCPD said they first responded to the area of Turkey Creek Road and State Road 574 on the westside of Plant City, near the Oakbrook Mobile Home Park. It was the last location given by the HCSO dispatcher. The call was still open and PCPD dispatchers attempted to get more information from the man on the line. “The subject was not answering questions,” Van Duyne said. “He was at various times throughout the call crying, screaming and grunting.” Police then said they were able to get a “couple of pings on the phone.” Those pings, Van Duyne said, are not reported in realtime and by the time officers responded to the areas, there were no signs of distress. Around that time, he said, the call was disconnected and dispatchers unsuccessfully tried to call the man back. Shortly after, an officer saw a black Nissan Altima driven by Cervantes traveling at a high rate of speed and police pursued. “When we don’t have definitive information, because our dispatchers weren’t able to get any, we will attempt to stop the vehicle and ascertain if they were, perhaps, the person in need of services,” Van Duyne said. “At the very minimum we have a subject that was speeding and driving very, very fast, as our officer advised.” CJ Tenorio was in his truck on the way to work when, he said, he saw police chasing the Altima down Medulla Road. He said he was on Wiggins Road headed toward Rice Road and saw multiple vehicles fly through a stop sign at the intersection of Medulla and Wiggins roads. “I saw a car and about four or five police cars coming off County Line (Road) onto Medulla (Road) heading in the direction of where the man was shot,” Tenorio said. Van Duyne said an officer believed the vehicle was involved in the 911 call. Cervantes, he said, attempted to run an officer’s vehicle off the road.
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Stop sticks were then used to disable the vehicle as it traveled along Coronet Road. After the tires were deflated with stop sticks, police said Cervantes continued to drive down Coronet Road towards Park Road, then lost control around the intersection of Park Road and Alsobrook Street, crashing into the BP station’s property. After the crash, police said officers surrounded the vehicle. “As officers surrounded the vehicle, several commands were given for the driver to exit the vehicle and show his hands to police,” Van Duyne said. “These commands were ignored by the driver, as he went into the driver’s side rear door for an unknown object. Fearing for their personal safety and that of the public, two officers discharged their firearms at the subject, striking him several times.” Cervantes died at the scene. Police said no weapons have been recovered at this time. When police again called the number that initiated the 911 call, it rang inside the car. “It came from in that car,” Van Duyne said. “We believe it was that person, the driver, calling, because there was only one person in the vehicle.” According to records from HCSO and PCPD, Cervantes had been arrested twice before by PCPD. Once in July 2010 for domestic battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and again on Jan. 1, 2017 for domestic battery. Neither case was prosecuted. According to HCSO records, Cervantes’ last known address was in the Oakbrook Mobile Home Park, where he was arrested in January. According to the park’s manager, Jessica Santos, Cervantes had family living in the park, including in-laws and four daughters, but did not live there himself. Court records show he was evicted from Oakbrook’s lot 76 in February 2014. Santos said Cervantes owned the home at lot 76, but was evicted for not paying lot rent. Santos said she had known Cervantes for 10 years and was shocked to learn he was killed. Despite a few family issues, she said he always seemed pleasant. Even after the eviction, Santos said she would see Cervantes waiting to pick his daughters up from a bus stop at the mobile home park’s entrance or in nearby stores buying them snacks. He would always say hello and ask how she was doing and his daughters would hug her whenever they saw her, she said. “I never thought he was that kind of person,” Santos said. “I’ve never seen him behave erratic. Even when I had to evict him, he was nice about it. There were no hard feelings. He understood I had to do my job.” No officers were injured during the incident. The two officers involved in the shooting, Gerald Baker and Derek Hartmann, have been placed on paid administrative leave. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s office are investigating. Police said they have no witnesses at this time and are waiting to see if surveillance video from the gas station is available. The investigation is ongoing.
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FROM MANAGER PAGE 1
which will be charged to the General Fund Contingency account. Its two competitors, Slavin and Associates and Colin Baenziger and Associates, were proposing $22,500 and $26,500 as their respective fees. Leinbach said SGR was selected because it offers a local representative that would be available whenever the city needed. He said the firm also has the most diverse outreach with
68,000 email subscribers and a targeted 4,200 city management officials list. It goes beyond simply advertising and will actively recruit for candidates, though it does not recruit employees it has already placed in a position, a stipulation Leinbach said, reflected well on the company. Former city manager Mike Herr announced on May 2 he was leaving to take a job as city manager in Winter Haven. On May 25, Kim Leinbach
officially took the reins as interim city manager. The next step in finding a permanent replacement for Herr now that the firm has been selected, is for SGR to meet with the commission to develop a profile for the candidate the city is looking for and to go over salary ranges for the candidate. “They’ll come in and want to develop a profile, what your interests are in your next city manager, areas of strength that you’re looking for, that
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FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
sort of thing, and develop the criteria jointly with you, they’ll lead you through that process,” Leinbach said. Leinbach said the venture normally concludes with the firm presenting 10 to 15 candidates, which will then be narrowed down to three to five contenders by the city commission. While the official date for the meeting between SGR and the commission has not yet been determined, Lott said he would like for it to take place as soon as possible.
Free diabetes prevention program offered to residents The United Food Bank of Plant City is partnering with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough to offer a free diabetes prevention program.
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bank also recently opened a computer lab to help people with their resumes and job hunting. The diabetes prevention program is just one of the free services it provides to the community. Private programs of the same nature can cost hundreds of dollars and many are not covered fully by insurance. The first 16 classes are held weekly and then the class votes on the schedule for the rest of the year, with classes normally transitioning to bi-weekly and then monthly meetings. Twentyfour total classes will be offered. Champlin said similar classes have had great success in the past with participants losing up to 30 and 40 pounds. “We’re still enrolling,” Champlin said. “This was an introductory class so the program officially starts next week.” To enroll, call (813) 307-8015 ext. 7111.
POPPELL
813.757.6752 Cell: 813.716.0623
244602
“Some of our clients come in and they say they actually need to sort their food because they’re diabetic,” Mary Heysek, the Executive Director of the United Food Bank of Plant City, said. “So that’s what brought this partnership on. When they approached us we were completely open to hosting the program here.” Champlin said the food bank was doing a lot for the Plant City community and thus made for a great partnership. The food bank is offering multiple programs for members of the community outside of food donations. Haircuts, health literacy classes, flu shots, which are done by South Florida Baptist Hospital, Money Smart classes, which are put on by Regions Bank, a tobacco free class and more are all available. It is also an access community liaison where people can sign up for food stamps and SNAP benefits. The food
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
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HOME PROTECTION PEST CONTROL
244644
Breanne Williams
Gregory Champlin, a Nutrition Educator for the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, informs attendees on steps they could take to cut their risk of becoming diabetic in half.
244708
The United Food Bank of Plant City is hosting a diabetes prevention class to help residents reduce their risk of becoming diabetic. It is a year-long program that, if successful, can help attendees reduce their risk by approximately half. “It’s really, really important to try to prevent diabetes from becoming an issue because what happens is, if you do end up developing diabetes there are so many other symptoms that occur,” Gregory Champlin, a nutrition educator for the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, said. “You have the number one rates of amputation, you have peripheral neuropathy, you have gum disease, you have everything. Heart disease is actually the number one killer of diabetic patients.” Prediabetes is when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 86 million American adults, one in three, have prediabetes. Nine out of 10 of those adults are unaware they have it. “I don't think people understand how debilitating diabetes is,” Champlin said. “It takes over their lives.” Champlin said the government is pushing programs such as this in an effort to reduce the amount of diabetic Americans because it is very costly for insurance companies to insure it. Years of bad eating habits, lack of physical activity and family history all play key roles in contributing to diabetes.
244576
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REAL ESTATE
PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
|
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
Lampp Road home tops June real estate transactions
JUNE 2017 SNAPSHOT
MINIMUM: $28,000 MAXIMUM: $595,000
T
he home at 3229 Lampp Road sold June 15, for $595,000. Built in 2001, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 4,691 square feet of living area on 20 acres. The price per square foot is $126.84.
SOPHIE ACRES
The home at 1606 McGee Road sold June 29, for $149,500. Built in 1920, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,562 square feet of living area on 0.58 acres. The price per square foot is $95.71. WALDEN LAKE
The home at 1602 S. Golfview Drive sold June 6, for $160,200. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,062 square feet of living area on 1.69 acres. The price per square foot is $102.68.
ALEXANDER WOODS
The home at 139 Alexander Woods Drive sold June 15, for $141,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two and a half baths and 1,734 square feet of living area on 0.00 acres. The price per square foot is $81.31. The home at 145 Alexander Woods Drive sold June 14, for $136,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two and a half baths and 1,734 square feet of living area on 0.00 acres. The price per square foot is $78.43. BAKER
The home at 5128 Shields Lane sold June 20, for $145,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,296 square feet of living area on 2.54 acres. The price per square foot is $111.88. CLARKS
The home at 201 Granada Court N. sold June 2, for $135,000. Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,542 square feet of living area on 0.31 acres. The price per square foot is $77.69. WASHINGTON PARK
Justin Kline
The home at 3229 Lampp Road was sold on June 15.
EAGLE GREENS
The home at 2633 Eagle Greens Drive sold June 23, for $146,000. Built in 1999, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,260 square feet of living area on 0.04 acres. The price per square foot is $115.87.
The home at 1109 Tyner St. sold June 5, for $35,000. Built in 1940, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 681 square feet of living area on 0.14 acres. The price per square foot is $51.40.
The home at 2647 Eagle Greens Drive sold June 8, for $133,900. Built in 1999, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,364 square feet of living area on 0.05 acres. The price per square foot is $98.17.
COUNTRY HILLS
FOUR OAKS FARM
it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,344 square feet of living area on 1.69 acres. The price per square foot is $102.68. LINCOLN PARK EAST
The home at 1403 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. sold June 1, for $130,000. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 956 square feet of living area on 0.12 acres. The price per square foot is $135.98. MAGNOLIA GREEN
The home at 4726 Justin Lane sold June 23, for $152,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,512 square feet of living area on 1.65 acres. The price per square foot is $100.53.
The home at 3301 Azalea Blossom Drive sold June 29, for $148,689 (Auction/REO). Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,790 square feet of living area on 0.15 acres. The price per square foot is $83.07.
The home at 545 Lindsay Anne Court sold June 28, for $144,000 (Short sale). Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,285 square feet of living area on 0.12 acres. The price per square foot is $112.06.
HILLSBOROUGH
MCDAVID TERRACE
DEVANE
The home at 105 S. Maryland Ave. sold June 2, for $28,000. Built in 1915, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,116 square feet of living area on 0.25 acres. The price per square foot is $25.09.
The home at 4606 Country Hills Court sold June 12, for $160,000. Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,243 square feet of living area on 0.10 acres. The price per square foot is $128.72.
The home at 307 W. Cherry St. sold June 6, for $92,500. Built in 1949, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,260 square feet of living area on 0.11 acres. The price per square foot is $73.41.
AVERAGE: $202,797 MEDIAN: $191,000
The home at 5437 Joe King Road sold June 19, for $145,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,800 square feet of living area on 1.12 acres. The price per square foot is $80.56.
The home at 5120 Shields Lane sold June 19, for $138,000. Built in 1980,
The home at 1103 McDavid St. sold June 2, for $115,000. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 996 square feet of living area on 0.20 acres. The price per square foot is $115.46. MIMOSA PARK
The home at 1303 N. Maryland Ave. sold June 16, for $95,000. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,212 square feet of living area on 0.17 acres. The price per square foot is $78.38.
The home at 904 Knight St. sold June 23, for $94,900. Built in 1947, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 984 square feet of living area on 0.21 acres. The price per square foot is $96.44. The home at 1009 N. Warnell St. sold June 30, for $101,000 (REO/ bank owned). Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,782 square feet of living area on 1.28 acres. The price per square foot is $39.56.
OAKLAND HEIGHTS
The home at 702 Hilmer Ave. sold June 23, for $85,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,204 square feet of living area on 0.20 acres. The price per square foot is $70.60.
WEST TEXAS ACRES
The home at 3206 Gerald Hall Road sold June 20, for $70,500 (REO/ bank owned). Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,782 square feet of living area on 1.28 acres. The price per square foot is $39.56.
OAKVIEW ESTATES
The home at 2913 S. Willow Drive sold June 21, for $123,000. Built in 1980, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,092 square feet of living area on 0.25 acres. The price per square foot is $112.64.
WILDER PARK
The home at 1109 W. Spencer St. sold June 1, for $126,000. Built in 1961, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,025 square feet of living area on 0.20 acres. The price per square foot is $122.93.
The home at 2806 Wilder Park Drive sold June 26, for $128,834 (Auction/REO). Built in 1991, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,422 square feet of living area on 0.16 acres. The price per square foot is $90.60.
PINEY OAKS ESTATES
WOODARDS MANOR
OAK PARK HEIGHTS
The home at 504 Hickory St. sold June 27, for $90,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1950, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,973 square feet of living area on 0.37 acres. The price per square foot is $51.19. SCHNEIDER
The home at 1309 Gordon Road sold June 1, for $39,900. Built in 1952, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 924 square feet of living area on 0.46 acres. The price per square foot is $43.18.
ONLINE
The home at 506 E. Drew St. sold June 30, for $125,000. Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,018 square feet of living area on 0.20 acres. The price per square foot is $122.79.
See more transactions at PlantCityObserver.com
Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results. (813) 967-0168 or or (813)305-1616 (813) 549-9412 (813)967-0168
2803-4 James L. Redman Parkway, Plant City Florida 33566 Office: (813) 305-1616 | Fax: (813) 754-8099 Email: Malissa.Crawford@Gmail.com
244696
CRAWFORD & ASSOCIATES
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION!
2017 High school football preview
Saturday, July 15th, 2017 | 10am till 8 pm
Friday, August 25
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!)
111 S Collins Street, Plant City, Fl. 33563 (813) 704-6288 Please Visit Website for Merchandise Pictures
WWW.SO-FANCYTHAT.COM
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AUGUST 26,
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IGH SCH
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GUIDE
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TO ADVERTISE CALL
(813) 704-6850
BALL
11-16
PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
|
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
9
ColdwellBankerHomes.com Call 866.600.6008 and enter the
code for property details or to speak with the agent.
Plant City/5+ Acres | Lots/Land | $1,400,000 David McCarthy 866.600.6008 504403 1809 James L Redman Pkwy Search T2807711 on CBHomes.com
Bracewell Heights | Lots/Land | $750,000 Mitchell Crawford 866.600.6008 543355 N Frontage Rd Search T2865209 on CBHomes.com
Plant City | Lots/Land | $699,000 Jean Bridgmon 866.600.6008 543762 Miley Rd Search T2866251 on CBHomes.com
Bailey Road | 4/2 | $534,000 Angela Sessa 866.600.6008 549060 Open Sat 10-2 | 5301 Bailey Rd Search T2874590 on CBHomes.com
Ruskin | 3/3.2 | $445,000 Sherry Clements 866.600.6008 535343 104 2nd Ave SW Search T2850823 on CBHomes.com
Collins Street | $355,000 Sherry Clements 866.600.6008 548239 1308 S Collins Street Search T2863484 on CBHomes.com
Hartford Estates Lakeland | 5/3 | $344,500 Lynne Halleran 866.600.6008 559274 6729 Hartsworth Dr Search T2886311 on CBHomes.com
Walden Lake | 3/2.1 | $319,900 Lynne Halleran 866.600.6008 550019 2104 N Golfview Dr Search T2875091 on CBHomes.com
Seffner | Lots/Land | $279,999 Kandice Barber 866.600.6008 522615 1708 E US Highway 92 Search T2830752 on CBHomes.com
Laurel Lake | 3/2 | $195,000 Maddie Alford 866.600.6008 558761 2790 Golf Lake Dr, Unit #43 Search T2886093 on CBHomes.com
Lees Ranch | 4/2.1 | $195,000 Lynne Halleran 866.600.6008 559682 4906 Kyle Lee Ln Search T2884945 on CBHomes.com
Wimauma | Lots/Land | $185,000 Malissa Crawford 866.600.6008 480525 Andrews Search T2838970 on CBHomes.com
Lake Wales | 3/2 | $179,900 Malissa Crawford 866.600.6008 500672 2740 Rosalie Lake Rd Search T2876302 on CBHomes.com
Hunters Crossing Lakeland | 3/2 | $179,900 Ryan Hutcheson 866.600.6008 560856 7144 Heatherbrook Dr Search T2888623 on CBHomes.com
Mulberry | Lots/Land | $179,000 Sherry Clements 866.600.6008 551603 3790 Hwy 60 W Search T2878408 on CBHomes.com
Gandy Gardens Tampa | 3/1 | $169,900 Malissa Crawford 866.600.6008 503172 5704 S Manhattan Ave Search T2883728 on CBHomes.com
Cortez Of Carrollwood | 3/2 | $129,500 Janeel Shulmister 866.600.6008 558884 Open Sun 1-3 | 4036 Cortez Dr, Unit #C Search T2886245 on CBHomes.com
Mystic Oaks | Lots/Land | $125,000 Sherry Clements 866.600.6008 544111 2834 Mystic Oaks Dr Search T2872740 on CBHomes.com
Washington Park | 3/2 | $109,900 Jean Bridgmon 866.600.6008 559105 711 N Warnell St Search T2886466 on CBHomes.com
Old Hickery | 3/2 | $106,900 Antonia Coronel 866.600.6008 550771 519 Frank Griffin Ave Search T2877129 on CBHomes.com
Plant City | Lots/Land | $90,000 Jimmie Robinson 866.600.6008 545075 Lots 1,2,3 LBlk 5 Maki Rd Search T2868746 on CBHomes.com
Thonotosassa | 3/2 | $69,900 Jean Bridgmon 866.600.6008 556096 14115 N 301 Hwy Search T2882649 on CBHomes.com
Lakeland | 4/2 | $69,900 Jean Bridgmon 866.600.6008 561685 516 Lindsey Dr Search T2890614 on CBHomes.com
Berry Road Estates | Lots/Land | $55,000 Jose Perez-Ruiz 866.600.6008 551066 1902 Berry Rd Search T2877625 on CBHomes.com
Plant City | Lots/Land | $30,000 June Guy 866.600.6008 553355 E 60th Hwy Search T2879173 on CBHomes.com
This is where the best seat in the house comes with pet fur and cookie crumbs.
ColdwellBankerHomes.com
Plant City 813.754.3586
244497
Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of the Company. The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Š2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered service mark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. 12731FL_9/16
PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
|
MONDAY, JULY 17
IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE OF PLANT CITY CDC 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. at the Bing House Museum 205 South Allen Street, Plant City. Meetings are held every third Monday of each month. The group will discuss historic preservation, local economic development projects, events, business after hours, christmas for seniors, MLK Festival, partnership roundtable and private and public sector updates. Membership fees are $25 per year.
TUESDAY, JULY 18
PLANT CITY ENTERTAINMENT GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Plant City Entertainment Inc., 101 N Thomas St. If you’re not a member, but would like to be, arrive early to purchase your annual membership. Members will vote that evening on new board members and hear a review of the previous year, and will also get a sneak peek at the next year’s agenda.
THURSDAY, JULY 20
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
TOBACCO FREE QUIT SMOKING CLASS 12 to 2 p.m. The United Food Bank of Plant City, 702 E Alsobrook St # H, is hosting a tobacco free quit smoking class. The single-session program will provide you with the tools needed to help quit tobacco. It will teach you how to prepare a plan that works for you, how to deal with cravings, what symptoms to expect and how to cope with them effectively, and includes a four-week supply of free nicotine replacements while supplies last. Space is limited. Call (813) 974-7889 to enroll.
SATURDAY, JULY 22
BEST BET
CONCEALED CARRY CLASS 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Handgun Basics of Plant City is offering a concealed carry class taught by local, certified instructors. The cost is $120 for over 6 hours of instruction. Includes classroom, range time, use of firearms, ammunition, range fees and course materials. Class size is limited so call (813) 567-3100 to sign up.
SATURDAY, JULY 15 STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CAR SHOW 3 to 8 p.m. The Strawberry Classic Car Show is held at Union Station Depot on the third Saturday of every month and is free to the public. There are a variety of classic cars as well as free bounce houses, kids entertainment and a 50/50 raffle. The area shops and restaurants are open as well.
ONGOING DIABETES PREVENTION CLASS 16-WEEK SERIES 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The United Food Bank of Plant City, 702 E Alsobrook St # H, is hosting a diabetes prevention class, which will be taught by registered dietitians and health educators. The 16-week series begins on July 11 and is free to the public. Registration is required. Contact (813) 307-8015 ext. 7111.
File Photo
PAINTING WITH BETTY FAIRBANKS AT THE CLASSROOM GALLERY 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.
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.
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.
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.
CHRISTIAN MUSIC 6:33 to 8:33 p.m. Thursdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220.
DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB 1 p.m. Fridays at St. Peter’s Episco-
END-OF-SUMMER CELEBRATION
pal Church, 302 Carey St. For more information, call Walt Arnold at (813) 752-1602. KEEL AND CURLEY LIVE MUSIC 6:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100. KRAZY KUP LIVE MUSIC 8:33 to 10:33 p.m. Saturdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220. O’BRIEN’S LIVE MUSIC 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.
OPEN MIC NIGHT 8 p.m. Wednesdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818. PLANT CITY DAYBREAK ROTARY CLUB 7 a.m. Mondays at South Florida Baptist Hospital’s Community Conference Room, 301 N. Alexander St. PLANT CITY LIONS CLUB Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Buddy Freddy’s, 1101 Goldfinch Drive.
SAT., JULY 29, 1-4pm
PLUS
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PEN FREE & O IC! TO PUBL
UM
CA oday! lt Enrol
PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA | 1507 YMCA Pl., Plant City | 813 757 6677 | tampaymca.org
Plant City’s Authentic Italian Restaurant
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fS left o MP FUN.
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Vacation Bible School JULY 24-28 5:15pm Dinner | 6:00pm VBS FUN
Classes for ALL ages–Preschool thru Adult! Hear ye! Hear ye!
Welcome to Mighty Fortress, where kids learn that God is their refuge and strength. Friends may fail them. They may not ace their test or make the team, but God promises to be their rock and their salvation—their fortress and sure defense. So raise your banner! In Jesus, the victory is won!
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KNOTS FREE with purchase of XL pizza
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www.hopeplantcity.com
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HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Excludes specials Catering Services Available
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2001 N. PARK ROAD, PLANT CITY 813-752-4622
Mon-Thurs 11 am - 9 pm Fri 11am - 9:30pm Sat - Sun 11am - 9pm
246289
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
IT’S READ EVERYWHERE Headed on a great trip? Did you take the Observer with you on vacation? Send your pictures to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.
Melissa Mathews Lamb
Aaron Voyles
HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM
Jake Andrew Castillo Jake Andrew Castillo, 17, of Lakeland, Florida died Monday, July 3, 2017. Services were held at 10:00 am at Haught Funeral Home 708 W. Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd. Plant City, Florida 33563. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care
Joseph Paquin Mona E. Wright Mona E. Wright, 80, of Plant City, formerly of Williston, born in 1937 in Immokalee, entered into eternal rest on July 6. Care provided by www.HopewellFuneral.com.
HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS
www.HopewellFuneraI.com HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971
11
Gerald "Bo" Lorenzo Patisaul, 68, of Plant City, Florida died Wednesday, July 5, 2017. Services were held Monday July 10 at Haught Funeral Home Chapel. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care
HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM
Joseph Paquin, 64, of Plant City, born in 1953 in Hampton, Virginia, entered into eternal rest on July 2. Care provided by www.HopewellFuneral.com.
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
Gerald ‘Bo’ Lorenzo Patisaul
Aaron Voyles age 55, of Lakeland Florida passed away Wednesday, July 5, 2017. A native of Dade City, he was the son of Lester Garringer and Nellie Hooks she survives, other survivors include Spouse: Jeff Hunter Siblings: Gilbert, Leslie Garringer, Aunt: Sarah Davidson. Aaron was the owner of Aaron's Paper Hanging in Lakeland. Memorial Services will be held Tuesday, July 18th, 2017 at 6:00 pm at Cleveland Heights Country Club 2900 Buckingham Ave Lakeland, Florida 33803. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haughtfuneralhome.com.
Melissa Mathews Lamb born January 30, 1962 in Logan W.V. Daughter of Herman and Minnie Mathews. Sister to Denise Mathews and David Mathews. Loving mother to Jacob, Joshua and Autumn. Beloved grandmother of Charlotte, Savannah and Aubrey Lamb. Her greatest joy in life was being a mother and grandmother. Her beautiful smile and infectious laugh will forever be remembered and cherished.
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239042
HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM
HOPEWELL
Ruby J. Poore
FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS
www.HopewellFuneraI.com HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM
Jerry Lee Terry
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971
239042
Ruby J. Poore, 53, of Plant City, born in 1963 in Tampa, entered into eternal rest on July 10.
HOPEWELL
Jerry Lee Terry, 64, of Plant City, born in 1952, entered into eternal rest on July 9. He was a well respected farmer. Care provided by www.HopewellFuneral.com.
FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS
www.HopewellFuneraI.com HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971
239042
HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS
www.HopewellFuneraI.com HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971
239042
Florist
O CANADA: When George and Kay Sell took a trip to Alberta, Canada, to see the Canadian Rockies, they brought the Plant City Times & Observer with them. The pair visited the Lake Maligne area in June and snapped a photo with the paper.
116 North Collins Street Plant City, FL 33563 ph: (813) 567-5735 allabloomtampa.com
ALL OBITUARIES ARE PROVIDED BY FUNERAL HOMES AND FAMILIES.
Historic Downtown 244564
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Plant City
10/13/16 11:03 AM
JULY 14, 2017
SPORTS Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.
Parks and Rec in effect Take a closer look at how Plant City’s Recreation and Parks Department works. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Registration under way for youth flag football The Plant City Recreation and Parks Department/Optimist Club Youth Flag Football Program is returning in September and holding sign-ups now. Boys and girls aged 4 to 15 can play in the league’s 51st season, which hosts games on Saturday mornings from September 16 through November 4. Teams are organized into five groups based on age and there are no pads, helmets or practices. Registration runs from August 1-30 and a copy of your child’s birth certificate must be provided. Age is determined as of November 1, 2017. The cost to play is $35 per child, which includes recreation accident insurance. To register, visit the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department office at 1904 S. Park Road between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or mail the check and registration form to that address. Forms may be downloaded online from PlantCityGov.com. Editor’s note: A previous version of this brief stated registration ended August 1. The information has been updated.
P.C. Colts to host food fundraiser The Plant City Colts know a homecooked meal is the way to anyone’s heart. The youth football program is hoping that its Taste of Soul event will help locals find it in their hearts to donate. An all-you-can-eat dinner will be held at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, 108 S. Warnell St., at 6 p.m. July 22. Diners can either eat at the church or take a to-go plate for $15 per person, with proceeds going to help the team purchase equipment and other game-day necessities. According to team president Angelo Murray, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Jeremy McNichols will attend the dinner event. The Colts are hoping to bring more Bucs aboard with him but, as of press time, only McNichols, a 2017 fifth-round draft pick, has been confirmed. For more information, email Murray at PlantCityColtsYouthFB@gmail. com.
Church to host ‘Mega Sports Camp’ Next week, Faith Lighthouse Church will give Plant City kids a “mega” sports experience. The church, located at 3409 Paul Buchman Highway, will host Mega Sports Camp from July 17-21. The camp, which runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each day, allows kids to choose an activity track for the week and participate in drills, scrimmages and other events with a group of coaches. Available sports include soccer, flag football, basketball and cheerleading. Kids will also learn about famous athletes, eat healthy snacks and participate in Bible study activities. The camp is for kids in Kindergarten through sixth grade and costs $10 per camper. Water bottles and Tshirts are included. Family discounts are available for those with three or more campers to enroll. Registration may be done on-site each day at 5:30 p.m. or online at MyVBS.org/flc. For more information, call (813) 752-1885 or email info@ MyLighthouse.Church.
Quality is the name of the game for the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department. The 51-person staff is tasked with overseeing maintenance and operations in Plant City’s 23 parks, eight athletic facilities and more. Though the department doesn’t have anything special planned for July, which is National Parks and Recreation Month, director Jack Holland says he and his staff work hard every month to give Plant City and its visitors resources to take pride in. “We have a good staff that cares about what they do,” Holland says. “They take pride in their work product. The guys want it to look right. They want it to be a notch above for the public to be able to enjoy it.” PARKS DIVISION
Plant City’s Parks division uses the majority of the department’s available capital and personnel resources, accounting for roughly 68% ($2,563,185) of the overall budget ($3,790,178) and 42 of the department’s 50 staff members (minus Holland, who oversees both divisions). The Parks division’s most obvious responsibility is the oversight and maintenance of the city’s parks and related facilities, including the recently-completed 46-acre parcel that is Ellis-Methvin Park. Though the department has not added new equipment or created new jobs to handle Ellis-Methvin and other, smaller additions, thanks in part to effects still felt from the 2008 economic recession, Holland says the crews do what they can to keep everything in good shape. “It’s been difficult but we’re doing it,” Holland says. “We’re getting it done. Some of our areas don’t get maintained like we’d like to on a weekly basis or 10-day cycle, but we keep them all looking definitely appropriate and try to keep them better as much as we can.” Holland also says the department is working on one particular parcel, the McIntosh Tract at 775 E. Knights Griffin Road, with the goal of turning it into a “passive park” with a heavy focus on nature trails within five years. In addition to the four maintenance crews caring for city’s parks and athletic facilities, the division has two that handle other jobs around the city. One crew is responsible for main-
File Photo
Plant City parks are popular sites for large-scale sports tournaments, such as the United States Flag & Touch Football League’s national championship games.
taining landscapes of city properties such as the Bruton Memorial Library, City Hall and the police station. It also trims trees on city properties and ensures roadways and right-of-ways are clear for larger vehicles. The other crew handles the work at the city’s cemeteries. “We are literally ‘cradle to grave,’” Holland says. “We have youth athletics and sports and everything for the little kids, working all the way up to we handle the cemeteries, as well. Maintenance, interments, opening and closing of grave sites.” Though the Recreation division keeps the Parks crews busy, Holland
says, the teams are generally able to get the jobs done and keep the fields maintained. RECREATION
The eight members of the Recreation division oversee, among other things, a schedule with events at Plant City parks most weeks each year. In 41 of the 52 weeks of 2016, for example, Plant City facilities hosted at least one athletic event. Many of those events, plus those of the city’s various youth sports leagues, fall under the umbrella
Chris Welbon Karate team cleans up at 2017 AAU Karate Nationals The Plant City-based team won 21 medals in Raleigh, North Carolina. SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR
SEE KARATE PAGE 13
WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? JUSTIN KLINE
Get the most out of Parks and Rec Month Plant City has plenty of opportunities for residents to get outdoors and have some fun.
JUSTIN KLINE
From June 27 through July 1, Chris Welbon Karate Clubs of Plant City’s competitive team took care of business. Welbon says that, despite the team’s youth, it performed well on the biggest stage. The 15-member team won 21 medals to bring back to Plant City at the 2017 AAU Karate Nationals tournament, held in Raleigh, North Carolina. “I was real pleased with that,” Welbon says. “That means next year and the following year, we’re going to kick butt. I’m looking forward to that.” Of the 11 medalists, two — Jordan Dyer and Devan Jefferson — won gold,
SEE PARKS PAGE 14
D
Courtesy of Chris Welbon
The team poses in front of a dressed-up statue of Sir Walter Raleigh.
id you know that July is National Parks and Recreation Month? Sure, it’s so hot outside that many readers would probably rather celebrate indoors with air conditioning and a constant loop of Parks and Recreation playing on Netflix. That’s not a bad idea at all. But we all benefit from spending some time in the great outdoors, and Plant City is a fine place to do so. SEE KLINE PAGE 13
PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
Devan Jefferson
How long have you been doing karate? Four years. What first got you into it? My mom wanted me to get self-discipline and start paying more attention. They (Chris Welbon Karate Clubs) came to my daycare at Plant City Learning Center, then I started doing karate.
Trying hard, and trying to win a medal.
What’s your favorite sport? Football.
What’s your favorite moment from one of the tournaments you’ve competed in this year? Whenever I kicked the opponent in the head. It was the last two tournaments.
If you could have any superpower, what would you pick? To be invisible.
You got a gold and a silver at AAU Nationals. How happy were you at the end of the tournament? I was really happy and I felt like I tried as hard as I could. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about karate since coming here? To listen, and not to use karate outside of the dojo. Do you play any other sports? I do football and gymnastics.
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Chris Welbon Karate Clubs of Plant City had a successful showing at the 2017 AAU Karate Nationals in Raleigh, North Carolina, from June 27 through July 1. One of the competition team members, Devan Jefferson, took home a gold medal in kata (form) and a silver in sanbon kumite (three-point sparring) in the Male 9-year-old Beginner division. The medals were the cherry on top of Jefferson’s first year of competition. He is also a football player and a gymnast. Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.
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What do you like about your teachers? That they taught me a lot and they taught me how to do karate, and that they’re really helpful.
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Is this your first year competing? This was my first year in competition. How would you say you did? I think I did pretty good, and I trained really hard to achieve my goal. Where have you improved the most? I think I got better at kata. What’s your favorite thing about competing?
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with Dyer winning her sanbon kumite division and Jefferson winning his kata division. The team also won seven silver and 12 bronze medals. Some of the competitors faced unusual challenges this year and, Welbon says, performed admirably. In Sydney Swartman’s case, it was taking a bronze medal in an advanced rotational team kumite division filled with competitors of more experience. Swartman had moved up to the division a year early, after three years of training. “Normally when you go to your very first year in the advanced divisions, you usually don’t do so well,” Welbon says. “What happens is, when you get to advanced it’s four years or more of training. A lot of times, when you get to advanced, you don’t have a lot of people that just did four years — you have people that have been there six, eight, 10 years sometimes.” A kumite team of Dyer, Chloe Dawson and Emma Vick also had to spar against competitors of far more experience. The beginners found themselves in an age division with few enough teams that, per AAU rules, it had to be consolidated. That meant the first-year competitors had to take on black belts. “I wasn’t very nervous,” Dawson says. “I just thought of it as fighting someone else in the school.” Capitalizing on a first-round bye, the team didn’t find success against those black belts but did finish just behind them, taking silver. The expe-
AAU WINNERS Bennett Cruse (Male 14 y.o. Novice) — Bronze, sanbon kumite (three-point sparring)
Get the bug spray, sunscreen and allergy medicine ready to go and give these activities a try in July. (POKÉMON) GO TO THE PARK
It’s been just over a year since Pokémon Go debuted on smartphones nationwide, giving longtime “trainers” and casual fans alike a new way to “catch ‘em all.” I never caught the bug myself but it’s just as good a way to get someone outside in 2017 as it was last year. I know for a fact that you can catch a lot of creatures in Plant City’s parks. One of my best friends regularly goes to Edward Medard Park, off of Turkey Creek Road, to search. He eventually got his girlfriend’s family hooked on the game and, before long, they would take regular Pokémon hunting trips there together. If you can get a good variety at Medard Park, I’m certain there’s good stuff at Otis M. Andrews, EllisMethvin and more. You get the best of both worlds doing so: you can still be glued to
McKenna Mays (Female 15 y.o. Intermediate) — Silver, kobudo (weapons) and kumite; bronze, rotational team kumite
Chloe Dawson (Female 8 y.o. Beginner) — Silver, sanbon kumite and team kumite
Paul Rice (Male 14 y.o. Novice) — Bronze, kata, sanbon kumite and rotational team kumite
Jordan Dyer (Female 9 y.o. Beginner) — Gold, sanbon kumite; silver, team kumite
Cole Starling (Male 16 y.o. Intermediate) — Bronze, kata
Devan Jefferson (Male 9 y.o. Beginner) — Gold, kata (form); silver, sanbon kumite Nick Karlson (Male 13 y.o. Advanced) — Bronze, ippon kumite (one-point sparring) and rotational team kumite
rience, Dawson says, was a valuable learning tool. “I learned that you really have to put your all in it and you really have to do your best,” she says. Welbon says the team’s ability to face tough competition with confidence is a result of rigorous training, faith and teamwork. “We train in the dojo just like if it was a tournament,” he says. “We go through their skills. We do their katas 20, 30 times a night. Our training is usually three to four hours.”
WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? FROM KLINE PAGE 12
Check in often for daily updates
including pictures of items on this week’s auction!
Joey Spitler (Male 14 y.o. Advanced) — Bronze, sanbon kumite and rotational team kumite Sydney Swartman (Female 15 y.o. Advanced) — Bronze, rotational team kumite Emma Vick (Female 8 y.o. Beginner) — Silver, team kumite; bronze, sanbon kumite
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This week’s Sudoku answers
The team comes together for prayer before and after each training session, often reciting 2 Timothy 1:7 afterward. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” “We really come together and build on one another,” Welbon says. “Karate can be an individual sport but, when you train on a high level, having that group of people coming together to support one another makes us so much stronger.”
JUSTIN KLINE
your phone while you explore the outdoors and get in a nice cardio session. EXPERIMENT WITH NEW THINGS
There’s a pretty good chance that something you’ve been wanting to try, to cross off the “bucket list” or whatever, can be done outside in our town’s parks. Did you get a drone for Christmas? You’ve got plenty of airspace in a park. Have you been wanting to try running to stay in shape? You’re probably not going to beat our parks’ scenery anywhere else in town. Are you looking for a place to (legally) skateboard? There’s an area for that at Mike Sansone Park. Would you like to start regularly playing a sport with a group of people? There are resources around town that will cover most popular athletics, many of which are close to Interstate 4 for easy access. PUT IN WORK
I’ve noticed that one of the biggest trends in gyms is presenting an environment without air condi-
tioning. If you’re not trying to lift weights and leave it at that, why not get your A/C-free workouts done where the air is a little fresher? The parks are a fine place for you to do your cardio, yoga and other exercise routines. If you’d rather play sports, I can personally vouch for the quality of resources available to you (if you’re not trying to play any kind of hockey). Having seen playing fields in nearby towns for both my work and my own play, I’d say Plant City puts the most effort into field care from Brandon to Polk County. But that’s just my opinion. Whatever you do this month, I have one simple suggestion. If you can take something outside, and the weather isn’t too bad, you should.
Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Times & Observer. Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
©2017 NEA, Inc.
This week’s Crossword answers
2017
244584
FROM KARATE PAGE 12
PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
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PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
PUBLIC NOTICE The Plant City Housing Authority will be accepting online applications for the Public Housing Program waiting list on Wednesday, July 26th, 2017 at 9 a.m. Interested individuals may apply on our website at plantcity.housingmanager.com. We will be accepting a total of 200 applications under the following categories: • 2 BR-75 applications • 3 BR-75 applications • 4 BR-25 applications • 5 BR-25 applications
The waiting list will be closed once the above sublist have been received File Photo
INCOME LIMIT
Snowden Park’s renovation was completed in 2016. The park offers play areas as well as athletic fields.
Persons in family Income Limit Category Very Low Income
1
$
2
33,500 $38,300
3
43,100
$
4
47,850
$
FROM PARKS PAGE 12
5
51,700
$
6
$
55,550
7
$
59,350
8
63,200
$
Elderly and disabled individuals needing a reasonable accommodation may call (813) 752-0569 on Wednesday, July 26th, 2017 starting at 9:00 a.m.
It is illegal to Discriminate Against Any Person Because of Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Handicap, Familial Status, or National Origin
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of Danny Smith, the Youth Sports Director and a 20-plus year department veteran. Smith, whom Holland considers an “unsung hero” of the department, is the go-to resource for all of the city’s youth athletics programs and often the city’s liaison with large groups such as the United Youth Football League and the United States Flag and Touch Football League. Holland says that, with help from the Parks division’s work, the Recreation side is kept busy with help from the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, which connects tournament hosts with facilities around Hillsborough County. “They push us quite a bit because we’ve got a lot of good facilities,” he says. “Our quality’s there on the playing surfaces. The availability of a lot of fields in one central location … all within just a mile or two of each other is very beneficial.” Large events such as the UYFL and
USFTL tournaments, the National Baseball/Softball Association Spring Training and International Softball Association tournaments bring visitors from around the United States, if not the world. Holland says the economic impact of such events on Plant City businesses, from restaurants to hotels, cannot be understated. The division also works on events beyond sports. One popular feature is the annual Youth Summer Program, which aims to give Plant City kids a fun, educational experience at both the Planteen and Dr. Martin Luther King recreation centers. The division also works with local groups that host events on city property, from the MLK Festival to Christmas in the Park, and hosts its own events. The department sponsors the annual Fourth of July celebrations, held at Plant City Stadium. In 2017, Holland says, a capacity crowd of 6,700 attended the event. “It makes you proud to have an event like that,” Holland says. “You
throw a party and wonder if anybody’s going to show, and they definitely showed up.” Special Recreation events, such as that celebration and the City-Wide Easter Egg Hunt, rely on sponsorships. The majority of the division’s programs cover costs through user fees, relying on zero-based and feebased budgeting. Tournament rental fees take care of staff overtime (a frequent occurrence with the larger events, Holland says), field marking supplies and lighting. Though the Recreation and Parks Department has a lot going on, Holland says the staff is always open to suggestions. “We’re always looking for new ideas,” Holland says. “If people have a new idea of something they want to do, we’d be glad to consider it and see what the cost ratio would be, if we could handle it, what the fees would be. We work new things into the program as much as we can.”
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Do you have a photo that speaks to the heart of Plant City? Send it to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com
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FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
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SUNRISE / SUNSET
FRIDAY, JULY 14
High: 91 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 60%
Friday, July 14
6:41a
8:27p
Saturday, July 15
6:42a
8:26p
Sunday, July 16
6:42a
8:26p
Monday, July 17
6:43a
8:26p
Tuesday, July 18
6:43a
8:25p
Wednesday, July 19
6:44a
8:25p
Thursday, July 20
6:44a
8:24p
SATURDAY, JULY 15 High: 92 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 60%
Sunrise Sunset
MOON PHASES
SUNDAY, JULY 16 High: 91 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 20%
July 23 New
July 18 Last
July 27 First
Aug. 7 Full
MONDAY, JULY 17 High: 91 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 60%
RAINFALL
OKRA Shipping point: Orlando $12.35 to $12.85 Clear skies, a park and a cool breeze all make for perfect kite weather, as Julie Falls saw when she snapped this photo in June. Falls wins this week’s I Love Plant City photo contest.
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0.77
Saturday, July 8
0.91
Sunday, July 9
0.07
Monday, July 10
0.80
Tuesday, July 11
1.05
YEAR TO DATE:
JULY TO DATE:
2017 22.04 in.
2017
2016 20.84 in.
2016 2.63 in.
5.75 in.
Time for New Glasses?
CROSSWORD
UNITED STATES by Timothy B. Parker
101 Large envelope type 102 Sword part 103 Numbers often found in parentheses 108 Take advantage of one part while rejecting the rest 111 More genuine and honest 112 Palindromic address with a letter missing 113 Any group of eight 114 Fails to be 115 Mambo King Puente and a Jackson 116 Escape in the sea? 117 Milk by-products 118 “Is-so” link
29 Blackberry drupe 30 A sex 31 Group not doing clerical work? 32 Cracker toppings for the well-heeled 33 Seance visitor, supposedly 37 Text attachments, sometimes 38 Relatives 39 Small crown 41 Animated wolf movie of 2010 48 “I knew it all ___!” 49 Nimble and quick 51 Oft-climbed thing 52 Leatherworking punching
tools 53 Couple thousand pounds 54 Habitation of some wild animals 55 One swinging for the fences 57 Acquire through hard work 58 Unrelenting, as a lecture 60 “Beloved” writer Morrison 61 Ballet handrail 62 What nosy people are? 69 Left the bed 70 Carmaker no more 71 Nymph of river and lakes, in Greek myth 72 Dryer trap catchings 73 Light-minded pursuit?
76 Skirt covering much 77 Bard’s before 80 ___-to-order 81 Country singer McCoy 82 ___ carotene 83 One of two train berths 85 Like a pleasantly brief speech 89 Removing suds 91 Donkey relative 92 On a naval mission 93 Uses salt in winter 94 Like some liberties or wars 97 Place for a slugger to walk to 99 Long football pass trajectories
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“your request” 50 Air-freshener scent 54 Money of Romania 55 Stocks’ partner 56 “No ifs, ___ or buts” 58 Member of the family 59 Grounded digit? 60 Type of powder 61 Reptile with quite a squeeze 62 Prevents hysteria 63 Bathsheba’s husband 64 Repetitive musical piece 65 Muddies, as the water 66 Apartment, to a landlord 67 Pitching scout’s gun 68 Eastmost figure on a DOWN sundial 1 Sheffield rain slickers 73 How the marble installer 2 Cosmetic emollient liked his bacon served? 3 Render senseless 74 Signature things? 4 ___ d’oeuvres 75 Minuscule amount 5 Like Albany’s position in 76 Prefix with “physical” New York 77 Grand in scope 6 Nero’s zero 78 Descartes or Lalique 7 Novelist Barker or Cussler 79 Work done by forces of 8 It’s not quite a full run dynes 9 Seventh Greek letter 82 Round root vegetable 10 Emulating scarlet? 83 International Paris-based 11 Give entry to org. 12 Like many Irish bogs 84 Trident-shaped letter or 13 Nitro relative inflation letters 14 American of Mexican 86 They give you fits descent 87 Extreme military exercise 15 Send in a payment 88 German industrial city 16 With no escort 90 Necessities for entering 17 Air-filled cavity of the skull some clubs 18 Edamame beans, e.g. 94 It’s in the Bay of Naples 24 Comic’s asset 95 Anyone’s two cents 25 Anti-discrimination org. 96 Certain songbird 26 Speedier or quicker 97 Some Greek cheeses 31 Easter flower 98 Big name in toy manufac33 “Shoo!” turing 34 Equestrian sport 99 Rugged mountain crest 35 Pumped item 100 Easiest way to settle a 36 Howard the “Arrested debt Development” narrator 101 Dillon in “Gunsmoke” 37 Wife VI for Henry VIII 103 Enemy leader? 38 Football injury site, often 104 Final notice? 40 Romanov royals 105 Short run 42 Story topping the others 106 Volcano in Sicily 43 Class for creative high 107 Stone paving block schoolers 109 “Bon” or “mon” trailer 44 Roam, raid and plunder 110 ___ Jones Industrial 45 Pitchers used as trophies Avera e 46 Harsh-lighting result 47 What may come before
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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.
“NU, ZJK EYSKFZNS AOUKD ZJK ANBYK. IHZ DNAK ANBYKD FOV’Z XKZ AOEK MYZJNHZ DNAKNVK CYUK AK YV ZJKA.” – ROFU VYFJNCDNV “G XWJOAI’P MCP NIR FWHT... G AGAI’P UCCO OGLC N ZNI NIRZWEC ... G BNT HJZDGIM GIPW BNOOT NIA TNRGIM, ‘CKXJTC ZC.” – FWC DCTXG
Puzzle Two Clue: Z equals M
• VOP • Drug Possession • All Misdemeanor and Felony Cases
Sammis Law Firm, P.A., 1005 N. Marion Street, Tampa, Florida 33602
Dr. Jeremy H. Gaffney O.D. Dr. Barry M. Gaffney, O.D. PA Dr. Daniel G. Gaffney O.D. The struggle between fashion and function is officially declared a tie! Never before have eyeglass frames been offered in so many stylish choices. Yet, you’ll be amazed at how many options are at your fingertips to help you see well and protect your vision!
m o w ing -e d g ing -m u l ching -T R imming -s od s p R ink l e R R e pa iR -c l e a n u p s -T R e e w oRk p R e ssu R e w a shing -l a nd s c a p e d e sign
Puzzle One Clue: I equals B
244742
Friday, July 7
o wneR
Criminal Defense Attorneys for Plant City
1 Classic Halloween song, “Monster ___” 5 Dad’s brother, to you 10 Hanging on one’s every word 14 Severely needing refinement 19 Common singing range for women 20 Starter TV episode 21 Home of Adam and Eve 22 Prefix meaning “sun” 23 They precede raising a family, often 27 Easily offended or tender 28 Miner’s exit
0.06
T ony R amos
Free consultation
ACROSS
Thursday, July 6
“Weekly or Monthly Payments”
Attorneys on call 24/7
©2017 Universal Uclick
0.14
TLM P ROPERT Y C ARE
SAMMIS LAW FIRM
• Seal and Expunge • DUI • DV Injunction
Wednesday, July 5
©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
7-13-17
PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
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PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 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
BC1606703-0916
244740
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