08.11.17 PCTO by Plant City Observer

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

Home run proposal.

SEE PAGE 16.

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 5, NO. 6

FREE

YOUR TOWN

Breanne Williams

Mary Heysek and Sandee Sytsma

UFB of Plant City receives over $22,000 donation Florida Strawberry Festival presented the United Food Bank with a check of $22,900 from proceeds from its Strawberry Ball. Mary Heysek, executive director of UFB, said the proceeds will be used directly in the Plant City community to expand its services and make sure that the most needy have food. Heysek said the UFB is completely dependent on community support and volunteers as they only have four paid employees.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

PUTTING THE TOP ON Grandstand construction reaches structural milestone at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds. SEE PAGE 3

Turkey Creek Middle School to receive marker A marker detailing the early history of Turkey Creek Middle School, which was formerly a high school, will be installed soon at the school. The plaque will also explain how it became known as a “strawberry school.” A dedication ceremony will be held Aug. 19 at 10 a.m. at Turkey Creek Middle School. The marker was sponsored by the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council and Turkey Creek High School Alumni.

Sam Allen Road widening closer to construction Once widened, the road will be able to accommodate the twenty year projection of twice the traffic volume and encase the ‘heart’ of the city in a four-lane loop.

Daniel Figueroa IV

Denver Lee and Dustin Pannell of Knowles Construction place the final piece of structural steel on the Strawberry Festival’s grandstand.

Local realtor thanks HS teachers Teachers from Durant and Plant City High Schools were treated to barbecue lunches this week, courtesy of Colette McEntire.

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV DANIEL FIGUEROA IV

STAFF WRITER

A decades-old plan to wrap the heart of Plant City in a four-lane loop is getting closer to completion as a project to widen Sam Allen Road gets closer to the construction phase. Sam Allen Road will be transformed from a two-lane rural road to a fourlane divided urban roadway for two miles running from Paul Buchman Highway to east of Park Road. The project is expected to begin construction toward late spring 2018, Kevin Lee, project manager for the Florida Department of Transportation, said. There’s no expected completion date, Lee said, but a project like the Sam Allen widening could take between 700 and 900 days. Once completed, the project will help to complete a loop around the city, something Mayor Rick Lott said has been a consistent goal of the City SEE ROAD PAGE 3

STAFF WRITER

Colette McEntire felt that teachers were underpaid and under appreciated. So, for this week at least, she made sure they were well fed. McEntire, a Plant City-based realtor, spent her Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons feeding about 400 local high school teachers. Tuesday, she provided lunch to about 200 Plant City High School teachers and fed another 200 from Durant High School the following day. McEntire had Plant City’s First Choice Barbecue provide food for the teachers. The event was a first for her. “I was trying to give back to the community,” McEntire said. “Teachers are really not very appreciated. I wanted to do something to kick off the school year and say thanks for everything they do.” McEntire spoke with her friend, Nia Ramo, about what she might be

able to do to help the community. McEntire is also a client of Ramo’s social media and content marketing agency, Graphite Media. After working together for a bit, the two became fast friends, Ramo said. She was eager to help McEntire plan. Ramo said when conversations about giving back to the community began, teachers were at the top of the list. “Events like this need to happen more often,” she said. “They get our children and they shape our future. We need to make sure they feel appreciated. It’s important to me. I’m glad it was equally important to her.” McEntire said she wanted to start with high school teachers because they have to deal with teens who can be “difficult” to deal with. “I mean, I wasn’t,” she said. “But my daughter was.” High school teachers hold a special place for Ramo, a PCHS grad herself. Now a mom of four, two of whom have also passed through the halls of PCHS, she said she wouldn’t be the woman she is today without the help of Ms. Warner, a history teacher she had at PCHS. “She helped shape who I am,” Ramo said. “She taught me I could be misSEE LUNCH PAGE 4

Daniel Figueroa IV

Colette McEntire speaks with teachers from Plant City High School’s world languages department.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

Plant City Little Leaguers play the 'right way' My name is Brian Weingartz and I am the Tournament Director for the Tournament of State Champions in Greenville, North Carolina. Five times over the past seven years we have hosted Little League All Star teams from the Plant City Little League. We have been overwhelmed with the friendliness, class, and dignity that each group has shown whether they win or lose. Team managers Steve Schneider (2011), TJ Messick (2012) and Mike Palestrini (2015, 2016, 2017) have led squads that have played well, played hard, and showed excellent sportsmanship. We have seen Plant City teams win and we have seen Plant City teams suffer tough losses. Parents, coaches, players, and supporters take each result and deal with it in a most exceptional manner. This year’s team featuring Manager Mike Palestrini with coaches DJ Brewington and Andy Rowland gave all of us immense enjoyment as we were able to watch their kids play the game the right way. In the end they fell just short of a championship but their conduct from beginning to end makes them champions in my book. BRIAN WEINGARTZ TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, TOURNAMENT OF STATE CHAMPIONS, GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

NEWS BRIEFS Plant City Woman attends 330 year family reunion Jo Reynolds went to Philadelphia from July 13 through 16 along with nearly 300 family members to attend the Harlan family’s 330th reunion. Reynolds has been tracing her family’s ancestors for years and has brought home the Neighborhood Champion ribbon multiple times at the Florida Strawberry Festival for her elaborate family trees. Reynolds is both a Daughter of the Confederacy and a Daughter of the Revolution. She has travelled all over the country with her family as well as taken a trip to Ireland and England, where their family lived prior to coming to America. She loves tracking down family members and will go so far as to scour phone books in areas she knows her family once settled and calling up last names she recognizes. She has met multiple relations that way and even ran into an extended family member once here in a hotel in Plant City, where she used to work, when she recognized the name when he checked in. “A lot of people will go online and find a lot of things out about their genealogy but I like to find people,”

Reynolds said. During this year’s reunion, Reynolds donated two of her elaborate books detailing the Harlan family history to the Chester County Historical Library. Unlike many genealogy books, Reynolds included pictures, newspaper clippings from activities different family members had done along with the typical obituaries and wedding announcements. She has written four books so far. Reynolds, who has been in Plant City for over 40 years, plans to continue tracing her family line and hopes to write several more books in the future. The family spent several days touring Philadelphia as well as a Quaker establishment due to their family members having once been active Quakers.

District 58 State Representative candidates to speak at republican meeting The Plant City Federated Republican Women’s Meeting will feature guest speakers Yvonne Fry and Lawrence McClure, candidates for State Representative to replace Dan Raulerson, as well as Hillsborough County political consultant Andy Taylor on Aug. 17. Taylor will explain the process local

candidates go through to successfully run for office and will discuss volunteer opportunities at each stage of the campaign. The social time will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the official meeting starting at 7 p.m. It will be held at Plant City Rentals Office, 1701 James L. Redman Parkway. RSVP with Vice President Sherry Scheitler at (241) 529-8372 or SherryScheitler@gmail.com.

Courtesy photo

Jo Reynolds with an awardwinning family tree from the Strawberry Festival.

Encouraging dialogue between PCPD and the community Hillsborough Speaks! is an event that creates safe spaces for a conversation about people’s experiences where they have felt singled out for their differences, including but not limited to race. The goal of the event is to bring voices to the table that don’t often hear one another and to create a safe setting that will encourage a dialogue and not a debate. The event is open to individuals 15 years old and above and attendees must register in advance at bit. ly/2voNgR6 to reserve a spot. Hillsborough Speaks! will be held at the MLK Recreation Center. A light dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the workshop will begin at 6:45 p.m.

IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

The all new grandstand was designed and is being built by GT Grandstands located in Plant City. The inaugural concert in this new stadium will take place on the first day of the 2018 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL GT Grandstands | 2810 Sydney Road | Plant City, FL 33566 | 866.550.5511

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LETTERS

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

FINISHING THE LOOP SAM ALLEN RD.

PARK RD.

ALE

‘topping off’

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

Strawberry Festival grandstand seating

X ANDER S

PlantCityObserver.com

E. BAKER ST.

ALSOBROOK ST. GRANT ST.

KEY n Completed four-lane route n Sam Allen Road project n Portion of Same Allen Road remaining two-lanes

Photos by Daniel Figueroa IV

The final piece of structural steel gives a preview of the new grandstand’s final form.

A ceremony was held Aug. 4 to mark the placing of the grandstand’s last piece of structural steel.

“You always want to build from the heart of the city and go outward. You have growth in the center of the city and you’ll have growth outward.” — Rick Lott, Plant City mayor

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV FROM PAGE 1

STAFF WRITER

Ten years ago, Rick Lott and Greg Buckner stood on some of the same soccer fields watching their sons play for the same team, neither man knowing the other. On Aug. 4, the two stood together as they became a part of Plant City — and Florida Strawberry Festival — history. Lott, Plant City’s mayor and Buckner, general manager of GT Grandstands, were on hand to witness the final piece of structural steel placed on the festival’s new grandstand seating, known as a “topping off” ceremony. It’s a major point in the construction process, Buckner said, the point where the structure beings to take shape and its final form is identifiable. “We celebrate that point for a lot of reasons,” Buckner said. “One, it all fits and it’s all here. It’s a lot of work and there’s a lot left to do. It’ll probably be until the end of September that we’re finally 100% out of your way, but this is a big milestone.” The 2018 Strawberry Festival will mark the first time in more than 40 years of headline concerts that fans are able to sit in seats designed for a concert-going experience, according to Florida Strawberry Festival Board Chairman Sandee Sytsma. “We’ve been having and hosting these great names in the football stadium with concrete bleachers,” Sytsma said. “We’ve always wanted that experience to be a little better for, not only our guests, but for our entertainers. We wanted it more comfortable, sounding better, closer to the stage. We have that now, thanks to a lot of people.” Since Dale Evans first headlined the 11-day festival in 1972, concerts held at what is now known as the Wish Farms Soundstage were on the grounds of the William Schneider Memorial Stadium, once the home of Plant City High School’s football team. Concert goers sat in backless concrete bleachers designed for watching football, not live music. In the years since Evans’ first performance, the Festival has brought in major musicians spanning countless generations. In 2017 alone, wideranging performers like the Blues Brothers, Willie Nelson, Elle King and Patti LaBelle all played on the Wish Farms Soundstage. Beginning in 2018, the festival’s headline concerts will have 2,000 new aluminum seats with backs, designed with the help of a sound engineer for better acoustics. The new grandstand seating wraps around the stage like an amphitheater. The seats are closer, too, ending where the old bleachers began. The new grandstand, Buckner said, marks a historic point in the festivals 83-year history. It’s also a historic point for Plant City-based GT Grandstands, he said. “It’s very rare, to say the least, for somebody in our industry to do something of this significance in their own hometown,” Buckner said.

Road

Greg Buckner of GT Grandstands address the crowd at the grandstand topping off ceremony.

“That means a lot to me. Plant City is my home town. I would be really proud to be a part of this structure if it was in Kansas or Tucson, Ariz. or anywhere else. But it’s not in Tucson. It’s in Plant City, Florida and we did it. It was all manufactured right here in Plant City.” According to Florida Strawberry Festival President Paul Davis, construction of new seating has been in talks for many years. The idea began to take shape, Buckner said, when the festival’s board of directors started talking to GT Grandstands during a fair trade show in Las Vegas. Following much discussion and design and behind-the-scenes work, Buckner said, ground was broken on the new seats in March. “There’s a saying, ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,’” Lott said. “I’m sure glad this time it didn’t. You brought it home to Plant City.” The grandstand’s construction is due to be completed in the early fall, well ahead of March 1, 2018 when, at 3:30 p.m., next year’s first headliner is scheduled to perform. During the festival’s 11-day run, the stage host’s about 24 headline performers. Festival attendance averages well over 500,000 people, with about 541,000 attending in 2017 and about 560,000 attending in 2016. For Sytsma, and the rest of the festival’s board of directors, the topping off marked an exciting new era for the Strawberry Festival, which has grown from an effort by the Lion’s Club to celebrate the strawberry harvest, to being a nationally recognized festival, and one of Florida’s largest. “We started small,” Sytsma said. “But we’ve come a long way, baby.”

C.J. Major

Food for the topping off ceremony was provided by Plant City’s Hardwood BBQ.

Commission. Only the section of Sam Allen Road between Alexander Street and Paul Buchman Highway will be left to widen. “It’s been a long term vision,” Lott said. “It’s been around for about 20 years, even before I came on the commission. It’s nice that we’re going to be completing it.” Sam Allen Road is owned and maintained by Hillsborough County. The nearly $30 million project is managed and funded through FDOT using federal dollars. According to FDOT, the project has been “closely coordinated with Hillsborough County, City of Plant City, CSX and Utility owners along the corridor.” Lott said efforts are underway to secure funding to extend the Sam Allen widening to Alexander Street. “We are working to make that final piece a reality,” he said. FDOT estimates road usage along Sam Allen will be about 14,700 cars by 2020 and about 27,700 cars by 2036, creating the need for more space on the road. City Engineer Mike Schenk said the new road will be essential once projects like the North Park Isles community district, expected to have more than 1,000 units, are completed. Another project in the area, the currently stalled Varrea project, is expected to add more than 2,000 new homes to the area around Sam Allen and Park Roads and is said to include a shopping village. The coming developments in the area fall in line with Plant City’s 2040 projections of a nearly doubled population and most growth in the city’s northeast sector. The loop would would encase Plant City north to south from Sam Allen Road to Alexander Street and east to west from Jim Johnson and Park roads to Alexander Street. “It makes it easier to get around,” Schenk said. “It gives more options for less congested travel throughout the city.” More dispersed traffic, Lott said, also means extending the life of the roads. The loop also creates more options for commercial traffic, rerouting trucks traveling through the city from needing to pass through historic downtown. As Plant City continues to grow, Lott said the loop would encase the heart of Plant City, allowing for centralized growth and staving off urban sprawl on the city’s edges. “You always want to build from the heart of the city and go outward,” he said. “You have growth in the center of the city and you’ll have growth outward.” The project will also feature sidewalks and bike lanes, coordinating it with the city’s evolving Walk/Bike plan to create a system of trails, sidewalks and bike paths connecting all quadrants of the city to a downtown hub.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

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Photos by Daniel Figueroa IV

Teachers from Plant City humanities department eat a barbecue lunch courtesy of Colette McEntire.

Lunch

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FROM PAGE 1

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understood and still go forward in life. Because of her I didn’t think I had to be like anyone else.” Teachers at both schools seemed appreciative of and surprised by the gesture. “We’re so busy here we never get to leave,” Danielle Odden, a language teacher at PCHS, said. “We work hard and appreciate whenever anyone brings us food.” Pam Bowden, Durant’s principal, said her faculty isn’t able to get out to eat much and, when they can, there are few options near the school. Having someone come in is treat, she said, something that shows the teachers they’re appreciated. She said it also helps make a fuller community. “It’s so awesome when community partners do something like this for our faculty,” Bowden said. “It’s a good way to get to know your community partners and create that community feeling.”McEntire said she’d like

to make her back-to-school lunch a tradition and is looking at more ways she can give back to the Plant City community. Ultimately, she said, she wants teachers to feel appreciated. “It’s probably not that big of a deal,” McEntire said. “It’s just my way of saying thanks.”

Colette McEntire (blue dress) serves faculty at Durant High School.

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he Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual New Teacher Coffee Tuesday, where all the new teachers and principals were honored and welcomed to the city. Each school presented a skit demonstrating their school spirit and competed for a variety of trophies. One theme seemed to be nearly universal among the schools as the stage was filled with dozens of teachers donning capes, spandex and shields. Superheroes, or rather “super-teachers,” dazzled the audience with vows of serving, protecting and encouraging the children that would soon fill their rooms. The South Florida Baptist Hospital BayCare Health System provided a catered breakfast and, following their skits, teachers received donations from dozens of local businesses and organizations. Bags full of coffee, apples, office supplies and more were given to each and every new educator. Some also walked out with extra prizes like $50 Walmart gift cards, a new laptop, a wireless printer, teeth whitening treatments and more from donations from many different sponsors. At the end of the event, Pinecrest Elementary and Durant High took home the trophies for most school spirit, and the best overall traveling trophy was won by Jackson Elementary.

Photos by Breanne Williams

Bryan Elementary went with a ‘Harry Potter’-themed skit as the new teachers read a poem about the type of environment they hoped to create for incoming children at their school. Left: Teachers at Robinson Elementary donned their favorite superhero costumes to tell the audience what they believed made up a hero. Below: New teachers for Plant City high sing and dance to a remix of “Despacito” for their school spirit skit.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

We asked: Do you plan on watching the eclipse?

total solar eclipse will be occurring across the country on Aug. 21. Outside the path of totality a partial eclipse will occur. Two to five solar eclipses occur each year but a total solar eclipse only happens once every 18 months.

“I wanna be able to cut out sometime on the 21st to actually see it. I’m going to try to get with family for it.” — Melissa Harnage, 20

“I know one girl who is and they’re actually traveling to go see it. We absolutely are going to try to see it here. I think it would be a lot of fun to stay up late and look for the eclipse.”

“Yeah I will. I don’t know yet if I’m going to watch it here or not.” — Josh Trunzo, 21

“I don’t plan on going anywhere because we’ll see 80% of it here, but I will watch it.” — Jordon Bergman, 18

“I read about it and I definitely plan to check it out. I’d like to get some more information on it because I’ve only seen it on the news once.” — Chris Brown, 61

— Wilson Clark, 28

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

Royal

renovation Daniel Figueroa IV

Construction has been underway at Redman Parkway Burger King for three weeks.

A massive remodel will update the more than 30-year-old building to modern design standards. DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

The king, it seems, is getting a new castle. Renovations are nearing completion on what is a nearly 100% remodel of the Burger King at 2002 James L. Redman Parkway. The remodel began three weeks ago and is expected to be completed by Aug.23, according to the site’s superintendent, Jeff Whitcock of Clearwater-based Southport Construction, the company overseeing the project. The building on Redman is being upgraded to the corporate “Garden Grill” design. The design, first introduced in Singapore in 2011, features softer colors in earthier tones, wood fixtures and accents, hanging lamps and an exposed-wood ceiling trellis with built-in lighting. “Its a backyard grill kind of atmosphere,” Greg Kelly, construction

Courtesy photo

Interior of Burger King’s “Garden Grill” concept similar to the Redman Parkway location’s new design.

manager with Southport, said. “It makes you feel more at home, more comfortable. Like you’re out on your patio on a warm summer day.” Diners will notice a remarkable and immediate difference, Kelly said. The greenhouse was removed and the building’s entire exterior will be new. It’s a complete remodel, Whitcock

“Its a backyard grill kind of atmosphere. It makes you feel more at home, more comfortable. Like you’re out on your patio on a warm summer day.” — Greg Kelly, Contstruction manager with Southport

said. About 80% of the restaurant is being completely remodeled. The dining area, counters and bathrooms are getting a complete overhaul. Only the kitchen, Whitcock said, is not being completely renovated. While safety and sanitation upgrades are being made, along with some new equipment, that area of the restaurant was the most up-to-date, he said. The building’s interior structure is mostly wood, lending itself perfectly to the Garden Grill concept, according to Whitcock. The Burger King on Redman has been open for more than 30 years and for the last 13 years has been owned by The Jan Companies, a Rhode Islandbased firm that owns nearly 100 Burger Kings, as well as other restaurants. Vice-President of Administrative Operations, Janice Mathews, said the company owns 30 Burger Kings in Florida. The Jan Companies only owns Plant City’s Redman Burger King. The locations on Park Road and Thonotosassa Road have different owners. The Redman location employs between 30 and 50 people, Mathews said. Workers displaced during the remodel are offered temporary work at other locations they own, she said, but the priority is bringing them back quickly. “We try to transfer as many people as possible to our other stores,” Mathews said. “But we have people working night and day to get them back in their store.” According to Kelly, complete remodels are common among corporate owned restaurants, but this is the first major overhaul for the Redman Burger King in more than 20 years, he said. “It’s driven mostly by Burger King corporation and their modern standards requirements,” Kelly said. “Any restaurant deemed out of date to the image has to be updated to new brand standards. It also helps keep in line with development in the area.” According to city documents, the renovation is expected to cost about $275,000, on par for a remodel so extensive, according to Whitcock. Restaurants can usually see a quick return on their investment, Kelly said. “Other customers have seen anywhere from a 5 to 25% boost in sales between six months to a year,” he said. “As long as the operator keeps up with the image, the stores tend to do really well once they reimage.”

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

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n our current cultural moment it seems that people enjoy pointing out how they differ from others. Unique aspects of background and environment become signs of distinction that signal membership in a particular identity. These groups then become a kind of societal “selfie.” While many people find meaning in this, it brings to my mind the question of just what we share in common as a society. What do we still call our common knowledge, and how much importance do we give to it? Examples of this include the recognition that our form of government arose in part from that of Athens, in ancient Greece, and the Roman Republic. These classical leadership structures contribute to the way we lead ourselves now. In the area of literature, it helps to know a little about Homer, Virgil, Shakespeare and Milton, because what they wrote led to later writers such as Hawthorne and Faulkner. These serve as cultural touchstones that better inform our understanding of the direction our current society takes. Forgetting our shared past locks a well-stocked vault we may find difficult to open again. Openness to new ideas and creations becomes just as important as preserving conversations with history. This applies to us on a personal level as well. Though America sometimes serves as the land of personal reinvention, every experience in our lives shapes what we think and feel about ourselves. We take pictures of ourselves with cameras in our phones. Sometimes we give the phone to others, asking if they will take our picture. The result provides an image of us at that particular moment without providing personal details from our past. Thus,

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it helps to look at the picture and to remember the history behind it. This comes from an informed perspective freed from guilt and stereotypes, and it helps us to reaffirm our present, personal moment. Even as we remember our public and private histories, it helps to recall actual events as they happened rather that how we wish they took place. Reaching a consensus in this area makes our common points more apparent, thus making wider and broader discussions of issues possible. Building personal mythologies tends to distract us from exploring the reaches of our inner selves where new insights remain undeveloped. Taking refreshed views of ourselves leads to breakthroughs in coping with problems and in growing relationships. Though the importance of acknowledging differences among people remains, a country as large and varied as ours also calls for identified points in common. One commonality we seem to need right now involves being civil with each other when we disagree. This promotes both personal and national well-being. When going to another country, it helps to see similarities in people to build a good rapport. A label tells us what nationality we are, while we recognize traits shared with the people of that nation. We accept the differences and we acknowledge what unites us. The better we know ourselves, our backgrounds and our history, the finer our appreciation of ourselves becomes. In the time we have now, we can help each other to do this.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

The 10/11-Year-Old Southeast United States Runners-Up from Plant City Little League would like to say a sincere THANK YOU for all the local support that enabled us to travel to North Carolina to participate in Tournament of State Champions. B&G Tree Service Ray/Janet Rollyson James Murphy Family Elks Club Dub/Pec McGinnes Jarrett-Scott Ford Patterson Companies Crum Family Brewington’s Towing, Ramm Recycling J&K Egg Corporation Plant City Times & Observer Plant-It-Earth Elite Transport Sunshine Bank Davidson Landscape and Irrigation • Gary/Edna Ford • ArrMaz • Carter Produce

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Loetcher Auto Parts Dennis/Carmen Brownlee Bill/Diane Morrow Mark/Lori Yarbrough Langston Sheds Florida Strawberry Festival Clay/Jackie Wyckoff Huff Muffler PoolMasters Stewart Ross Dean Roberts Plant City Rentals Register Construction Hopewell Funeral Home I Hate My Trainer Mike Gartz WenLake Kenna Holmes Williams Family Keymark Corporation V&R Insurance

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Central Drywall Contractors Diamond R Fertilizer Florida Fiduciary McElveen Construction Gould’s Air Hicks Meats Bourbon and Bowties Merit Property Management AAA Insurance I4 Power Kroslak Bakery Equipment Fleming Crane Services Attorney John Dwyer Cliff Snider Tennis John/Kathy Hasty Alvin Futch Champagne Investments

. . . and many others who gave on the hat drops at Fred’s and Johnson’s BBQ.

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

AUGUST 11, 2017

YOUR NEIGHBORS A DINNER TO DIE FOR The annual Mystery Dinner Theatre Show features some of Plant City’s finest as they join the audience in solving a murder in Hollywood. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A murder will take place among Hollywood dreamers during “Suspect Hollywood,” the 2017 Mystery Dinner Theatre Show. This year, however, the audience will have the chance to be a part of the story. The Friends of the Bruton Memorial Library are renowned for the annual dinner theater show, which raises money for the library. This is the 18th show put on by the group, but Gail Lyons, president of The Friends of the Bruton Memorial Library, said it is unlike anything they’ve done before. “Well this year we have changed the show,” Lyons said. “The audience actually has an opportunity to audition for a part. It’s gonna be interactive with the audience this year and we have never done that.” Lyons said the mystery dinner is always the group’s largest fundraiser. Outside of the city, the Friends of

the Bruton Memorial Library is the largest financial contributor to the library. The group assists with youth programs, brings in authors and helps with different enhancements to the library in general. “It excites me, I have a passion for the library because of all that it can do for toddlers on up to senior citizens,” Lyons said. “It’s for the good of the community. It helps the children and has a safe environment for them to touch a book and to learn. It’s important for education and just the well being of our whole community.” Lyons has been an active member since 2010, when she was first in one of the shows. At that time Dr. Hal Brewer had been the creator of the mystery dinner and he was able to bring in a loyal following of residents in Plant City, a trend Dodie White, vice president of Friends of the Bruton Memorial Library, said they aim to continue. “Gail and I sit down together, we

come with a list already prepared, and we only pick fun people, people that we know can sell tickets for us, people that we enjoy working with and people in the community who others will want to come see be on stage,” White said. “We kind of brainstorm and will say ‘Oh this person would look good in this part.’” Each year prominent members of the community volunteer their time to perform in the highly anticipated event. White said the show is never the same and the group aims to ensure the audience enjoys itself so much it can’t wait to return the following year. This year, to ensure the mystery remains unsolved prior to opening night, the majority of the cast will not know the ending of the show until the night of the event. White said everyone agreed it would be better if they did not know who the murderer was so there would be no temptation to talk prior to the show, guaranteeing it will truly be a surprise for everyone in the audience. “It’s a very inexpensive night out for you,” Lyons said. “Where else can you go for $45 and have a meal and a show? Especially in Plant City.”

IF YOU GO ‘HOLLYWOOD SUSPECTS’ The Friends of the Bruton Memorial Library present the 2017 Mystery Dinner Theatre Show. Attendees will receive dinner, dessert, coffee and have access to an open bar. Prior to the final act spectators can purchase clues to make a guess on the murderer and motive. Where: Trinkle Center at Hillsborough Community College When: Aug. 25. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The show should conclude between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets: $45 and can be purchased at the library, Regions Bank, Holiday Inn Express and the Walden Lake Car Wash.

BILL MCDANIEL

DAN RAULERSON

GEORGE DOMEDION

JODI STEVENS

KENDELLE JIMENEZ

STEPHEN ROSSITER

Role: William Robinson. Age: 54. Experience: None. Occupation: Assistant City Manager. Least Favorite Food: Oysters. I don’t eat those things.

Role: Cameron Age: 60 Occupation: Certified Public Accountant Least favorite food: One does not exist

Role: Detective Bob Age: 58 Experience: Zero Occupation: I sell weather systems Least Favorite Food: Liver. I grew up with 9 brothers and my mom made us eat liver once and we all refused to eat it.

Role: Rachel Witherspoon. Age: 29+. Experience: This is my fourth time being in one. Occupation: Manager of medical staff services at SFBH. Least Favorite Food: I don’t know, I eat everything.

Role: Shannon Walton. Age: 32. Experience: I do not have any. Occupation: Own a travel agency called Cruise Planner. Least Favorite Food: Grilled chicken.

Role: Arnold Bonebreaker. Age: 35. Experience: Nothing. Occupation: Own Medicus Global in downtown Plant City. Least Favorite Food: Probably sardines.

EMILY TOPPER

TOM THOENI

DODIE WHITE

GAIL LYONS

MARY HEYSEK

DAVID DAVENPORT

Role: Reporter. Age: 24. Experience: High School Thespian. Occupation: Reporter Least Favorite Food: Cottage cheese. I hate it.

Role: Huey Trump Age: 55 Occupation: Pastor Least favorite food: Beef liver

Role: Mary Ott. Age: 55. Experience: I’ve done one show before. Occupation: Executive Director of the United Food Bank. Least Favorite Food: Snails. I was forced to try it and act like I liked it.

Role: Kelly Wakefield. Age: 49. Experience: I’ve done plays, some modeling and have been featured in commercials. Occupation: Manager of rehabilitaion at SFBH. Least Favorite Food: Liver.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

Library hosts ‘super’ back-to-school event

STAFF WRITER

Hundreds of children flocked to the Bruton Memorial Library Saturday to get a free back-to-school book bag, meet a superhero and see if they won a Kindle Fire kids tablet. The library provided hundreds of backpacks with school supplies and free books for all who attended. Children did arts and crafts and met PBS Kids Super WHY! The library partnered with MILO to merge two events into a large festivity. “We’re really excited about this event,” John Russell, youth services librarian, said. “The kids have the opportunity to go home with free books and school supplies and also be entered in a drawing for a bunch of prizes.” MILO, the Mobile Interactive Literacy Opportunity, is a psychedelic bus filled with books, movies and computers for community members to receive the assets of a library regardless of their location. The bus is funded by WEDU Public Media, the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and the Junior League of Tampa. MILO travels around Hillsborough County and Melissa Falvey, youth services coordinator for the county and a representative from the Junior League of Tampa, said it has been a big hit for the area. “It travels to a lot of rural areas, places where people wouldn’t have internet or have access to libraries,” Falvey said. “MILO does events once a month... We were in Plant City and we had a huge response there of people saying, ‘Please, please come back to Plant City,’ so I said we’d come back to the library here.” Falvey said MILO aims to get books in the hands of kids in every community. She said depending on how large the events are they can go home with

Photos by Breanne Williams

The MILO bus is a traveling interactive library that has books as well as a computer lab on board.

Park Schiebel and Isabella McIntosh were two of the winners of the kids’ Kindle Fire tablet.

Cole Steinberg shows off his Super WHY mask as he poses with the hero.

Jocelyn, wearing her new bookbag, played with Tanner, the reading therapy dog, during the MILO event.

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between one to three books to keep for their personal library. “There are so many studies that have been done that show that kids who have books at home are more likely to succeed in school,” Falvey said. “As wonderful as the library is the home library is a huge factor in that.” While the main goal of the summer reading program was to help stop the summer slide, the dip in children’s reading and math schools during the summer months, the library focuses year round on creating a love of reading in as many children as it can. “It’s been proven scientifically, many times over, that kids who have access to books and read on a regular basis will have an increased happiness and life success, higher graduation rates and job satisfaction,” Russell said. “On the flip side, when books are not promoted and made available the literacy rates go down and we see earlier drop out rates, which leads to many repercussions like higher prison rates.” Bruton Memorial Library has a summer reading club that began June 3. Children received a prize for every five hours spent reading, which were recorded in a reading log provided by the library. Those children were also entered into grand prize drawing for four kid’s Kindle Fire Tablets, sponsored by Fred’s Market Restaurant. Other prizes included free tickets to Dinosaur World, Family Bowl, free ice cream from Sonic Drive-In and a free frosty from Wendy’s. Last summer there was a collective total of kids reading over 5,000 hours. About 500 kids participated this year and Russell said he believed they would meet a similar total of hours. “The kids that are engaged and read over the summer actually have a huge advantage over those that don’t,” Russell said. “They’re ready to jump back into school, they’re excited about reading and it’s a whole other mindset for them… It’s really fun for them. They want to keep coming back. The incentives are a great bonus but they just want to come in and tell us what they’re reading and get recommendations for new books.”

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The Bruton Memorial Library partnered with MILO to host a back-to-school festivity for hundreds of children in Plant City.

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REAL ESTATE

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

Swilley Loop home tops July real estate transactions

he home at 727 Swilley Loop sold July 14, for $480,000. Built in 1993, it has four bedrooms, three and a half baths and 3,018 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $159.05.

COUNTRY HILLS

The home at 4738 Bloom Drive sold July 4, for $251,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,568 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $97.74. The home at 4627 Copper Lane sold July 13, for $150,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,128 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $132.98. The home at 4328 Country Hills Blvd. sold July 28, for $164,900. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,285 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $128.33. The home at 4500 Country Hills Blvd. sold July 31, for $180,990. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,470 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $123.12. DEVANE & LOWRY

The home at 401 E. Devane St. sold July 7, for $177,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,763 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $100.40. DORENE TERRACE

The home at 2401 Dorene Drive sold July 20, for $192,000. Built in 1974, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,930 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $99.48. HILLSBOROUGH

The home at 602 Brown St. sold July 14, for $145,000. Built in 1997, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,113 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $130.28. The home at 3613 Bruton Road sold July 31, for $216,000. Built in 1979, it has six bedrooms, three and a half

baths and 2,200 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $98.18. The home at 6507 Five Acre Road sold July 20, for $242,000. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,635 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $148.01. The home at 706 W. Herring St. sold July 27, for $169,900. Built in 1961, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,529 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $103.99. The home at 5305 Kestrel View Court sold July 24, for $123,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,456 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $84.48. The home at 3909 Kirkland Road sold July 17, for $419,900. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two and a half baths and 2,697 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $155.69. The home at 1105 N. Maryland Ave. sold July 31, for $155,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,120 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $138.39. The home at 301 Old Hopewell Road sold July 3, for $415,000. Built in 1903, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,456 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $120.08. The home at 8835 Paul Buchman Highway sold July 10, for $75,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1994, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,052 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $36.55. The home at 8501 Pitt Road sold July 28, for $129,150 (Auction/ REO). Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,157 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $59.87. The home at 2708 E. State Road 60 sold July 7, for $45,000 (REO/ bank owned). Built in 1985, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,392 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $32.33.

The home at 115 W. Strickland St. sold July 27, for $166,900. Built in 1922, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,920 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $86.93.

JULY 2017 SNAPSHOT

MINIMUM: $42,000 MAXIMUM: $480,000

PINEVIEW

The home at 1503 N. Bracewell Drive sold July 7, for $169,900. Built in 1958, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,352 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is 125.67.

The home at 1108 Williams Road sold July 28, for $310,000. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,979 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $156.64.

WALDEN LAKE

HILLSBORO PARK

The home at 2914 Aston Ave. sold July 6, for $265,000. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,249 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $117.83.

The home at 1701 N. Lime St. sold July 7, for $159,000. Built in 1991, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,078 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $147.50. MAGNOLIA GREEN

The home at 3202 Magnolia Meadows Drive sold July 27, for $186,000. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,770 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $105.08. The home at 3205 Magnolia Meadows Drive sold July 24, for $239,900. Built in 2009, it has four bedrooms, two and a half baths and 2,852 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $84.12. The home at 3424 San Moise Place sold July 14, for $190,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,698 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $111.90. PALM HEIGHTS

The home at 1107 N. Palm Drive sold July 20, for $90,000 (REO/ bank owned). Built in 1955, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,530 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $58.82. The home at 1113 N. Palm Drive sold July 24, for $85,000 (Short sale). Built in 1956, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,514 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $56.14. PHILLIPS FARMS

The home at 4003 Bruton Road sold July 20, for $125,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,400 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $89.29.

The home at 3233 Alcott Ave. sold July 21, for $220,000. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,882 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $116.90.

The home at 4132 Barret Ave. sold July 20, for $162,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,402 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $115.55. The home at 2409 Clubhouse Drive sold July 31, for $358,000. Built in 1995, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,038 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $117.84. The home at 2109 Elmwood Court sold July 26, for $207,000. Built in 1978, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,620 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $127.78. The home at 2313 S. Fairway Drive sold July 31, for $160,000. Built in 1983, it has three bedrooms, two and a half baths and 1,910 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $83.77. The home at 2927 Forest Hammock Drive sold July 17, for $280,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,092 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $133.84. The home at 2829 Hammock Drive sold July 19, for $270,000. Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,322 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $116.28.

AVERAGE: $197,742 MEDIAN: $178,995

area. The price per square foot is $116.28. The home at 1319 Juniper Circle sold July 28, for $232,000. Built in 1979, it has five bedrooms, two baths and 2,423 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $95.75. The home at 3434 Silverstone Court sold July 28, for $235,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,850 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $127.03. The home at 3444 Silverstone Court sold July 10, for $240,000. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,843 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $130.22. The home at 3221 Stevenson St. sold July 19, for $191,500. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,023 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $94.66. WALDEN WOODS

The home at 1883 Greenwood Valley Drive sold July 31, for $152,000. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,572 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $96.69. The home at 1929 Greenwood Valley Drive sold July 26, for $140,000. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two and a half baths and 1,649 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $84.90. The home at 811 Wiltonway Drive sold July 31, for $204,990. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, two an a half baths and 2,260 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $90.70.

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The home at 2737 Horseshoe Drive sold July 5, for $260,000. Built in 1988, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,236 square feet of living

at PlantCityObserver.com

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

WE’RE PUTTING SCIENCE TO WORK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

To learn more about Mosaic’s support of STEM education, visit Science.MosaicCo.com.

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At Mosaic, we’re putting science to work right here in the community. From serving as docents at the Coastal Education Center to volunteering in robotics labs, our scientists and engineers work closely with Tampa Bay area schools to provide students with innovative learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Mosaic ecologist Michelle helps students explore the plants and wildlife found at the Coastal Education Center, located at the mouth of the Alafia River.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

FRIDAY, AUG. 11

PARENTS NIGHT OUT: JUST KEEP SWIMMING 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Plant City Family YMCA is hosting a night out for parents. Weather permitting, children will be swimming, so bring your own swimsuit and towels. Children will also have the opportunity to play in the Zeno Zone so bring socks. There will be pizza, swiming, games, crafts and Finding Nemo as the feature film. A small fee and preregistration is required so sign up through the Welcome Center.

SATURDAY, AUG. 12

CONCEALED CARRY CLASS 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This course will provide classroom and range time, use of firearms, ammunition, range fees and course materials. Taught by local, certified instructors. The course is over six hours long and costs $120. Class size is limited so call 813-567-3100 or go to www.handgunbasics.com to enroll. WAGGING TAILS AND SOAPY TRAILS 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Animal Wellness Center of Plant City is hosting its annual low cost vaccines events. It will also be offering an Angel Fund event with all proceeds going toward the Turkey Creek Animal Hospital’s Angel Fund, which provides for animals who need immediate care and have no other resources available. With a $20 donation and purchase of heartworm prevention your pet will receive a free heartworm test and bath. With a $10 donation and purchase of heartworm prevention your pet will receive a free heartworm test.

THURSDAY, AUG. 17

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Plant City Chamber of Commerce is creating a new legislative committee to gather information from its members and gather support for its interests from legislatures before, during and after sessions. This organizational meeting will be in the member meeting room to see who is interested in laying the groundwork for the initiate or the coming year. RSVP to Christine Miller at christine@PlantCity. org or by calling 813-754-3707.

BEST BET WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16

‘SNATCHED’ MOVIE PAINTING 6 to 9 p.m. Wine and Canvas Tampa is hosting a girls’ night out at Keel & Curley Winery. Sip on craft wine and beer and showcase your creative talents by recreating tropical landscapes from the home entertainment release of “Snatched.” Food and beverages are available for purchase from the winery. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at wineandcanvas.com. Contact Wine and Canvas Tampa with questions at (813) 510-0014.

FRIDAY, AUG. 18

ADAM BANTNER MEET AND GREET 6 p.m. The Committee of Responsible Persons is hosting a meet and greet with Adam Bantner, a candidate in the Hillsborough County Judge Group 2 race. Bantner is a Channing Park resident and Brandon attorney. The meet and greet will be held at Cool Beans Coffee House, 16132 Churchview Drive, Lithia. Coffee and entertainment will be provided.

SATURDAY, AUG. 19

1916 IRISH PUB’S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY 8 to 10 p.m. 1916 is turning one year old. The pub will be celebrating with free drinks, free hors d’oeuvres and live music by Cliff Brown and Eric Long.

ONGOING DIABETES PREVENTION CLASS 16 WEEK SERIES 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The United Food Bank of Plant City, 702 E. Alsobrook

File photo

St #H, is hosting a diabetes prevention class, which will be taught by registered dietitians and health educators. The series is free to the public. Registration is required. Contact (813) 307-8015 Ext. 7111. 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) 986-3632.

PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA REGISTER FOR UPCOMING…

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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.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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Kimberley A. Barlow

Franklin W. Green

Kimberley A. Barlow, 58, of Plant City, Florida, entered into eternal rest on August 3, 2017. Expressions of condolence at www. HopewellFuneral.com.

Franklin W. Green, 77, of Plant City, FL, passed away July 31, 2017. Born February 16, 1940 in Rockville, MD to David and Lela Green, one of 14 brothers. Frank was a trucker for Shell Oil and owned his own trucking company. He was dedicated to his family and loved going camping every year in the Shenandoah Mountains. He was married to Olinda for 50 wonderful years and had two children, Loretta Kohr, married to Steve, Webster Green, married to Joan. He had four grandchildren, Brooke, Brandi, Landen, and Landey, and one great-grandchild, Braydyn; and many nephews and nieces. Frank was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who will be greatly missed. The Celebration of Life was held August 8, 2017 at Garden of Memories, 4207 E. Lake Ave., Tampa.

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Irene M. Love Irene M. Love, 82, of Plant City, born in 1935 in Hamtramck, MI, entered into eternal rest on July 27. Expressions of condolence www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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Terry Hall Rex Ortmann Rex Ortmann, 97, of Lakeland, formerly of Dover, born in 1919 in South Dakota, entered into eternal rest on August 6. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Terry Hall, age 52, of Lakeland Florida passed away Saturday, August 5, 2017. The family will receive friends Friday, August 11, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Haught Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Mt. Moriah Ministries 2042 Colson Rd Plant City, Florida 33567. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haughtfuneralhome.com

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

Geneva Blevins Bennett

Alvie ‘Smitty’ Clinton Smith

Geneva Blevins Bennett, age 94, of Dover, Florida passed away suddenly at her home Monday, July 31, 2017. Survivors include Children, Carl (Lelia) Blevins, Charles (Darlene) Blevins, Monroe (Mary) Blevins, Maxine (Jerry) Marsee, Evelyn (P.D.) Carlisle; 19 grandchildren, 42 greatgrandchildren and 17 great greatgrandchildren. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haughtfuneralhome.com.

Alvie "Smitty" Clinton Smith, age 90, of Plant City Florida passed away Sunday, August 6, 2017. The family will receive friends Saturday, August 12, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Haught Funeral Home Chapel 708 W. Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd. Plant City, Florida 33563. Where funeral services will follow at 7:00 p.m. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haughtfuneralhome.com.

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Janet Beach

James Burdsall Jr.

Janet Beach, age 56, of Plant City Florida passed away Saturday, July 29, 2017. Survivors include Husband Robert E. Beach; Children: Casey and Candy. She enjoyed crocheting and finding unicorns. The family received friends Friday, August 4, 2017 at Haught Funeral Home Chapel 708 W. Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd. Plant City, Florida 33563. Funeral Services followed. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haughtfuneralhome.com.

James Burdsall Jr., age 50, of Plant City Florida passed away Wednesday, August 2, 2017. A native of Elmira, New York, he was the son of the late James and Doris Strong Burdsall. Survivors include beloved wife: Lisa Burdsall, children: Dylan James and Haley Ann Burdsall. Sisters: Jennie Davis and Billee Padgett. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haughtfuneralhome.com.

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Margie Houston, 47, of Plant City, > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability born in 1970, entered into eternal Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® > rest on August 6. Expressions of condolence at Laura Imogene Rogers www.HopewellFuneral.com. Imogene Rogers, 74 of Plant Proudly supportingLaura the Plant City Strawberry Festival. City, FL passed away on July 31, 2017. Services to be at a later date.

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® isprogram by the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, a socialthat support program helps widowsSponsored and widowers LIFT ® is a socialLIFT support helps widows andthat widowers LIFT is Open to All Widows and Widowers cremation and cemetery providers, the LIFT program adjust to the lossadjust of a spouse providing hope tobyreinforce a sense of to reinforce to thebyloss of a spouse providing hope a senseandofentertaining. There are no fees is both educational by theorDignity network of funeral, cremation and cemetery providers, t wholeness and purpose in those may beinfeeling ormay isolated. dues participate. Dignity Memorial LIFT members wholeness andwho purpose thoselost who beSponsored feeling lost ortoMemorial isolated.

LIFT program is are bothonly educational and entertaining. areornopersonal fees or dues to participat responsible for their ownThere meals Dignity Memorial LIFT members are only responsible for their own meals or personal expen expenses. Participation is not restricted to those who have Participation is not restricted to those who have been served by Dignity Memorial providers been served by Dignity Memorial providers.

We invite youWe to join us at ourtonext Memorial LIFT event. invite you joinDignity us at our next Dignity Memorial LIFT event. Plant City Dignity Memorial LIFT Program Plant City Dignity Memorial LIFT Program The 3rd Monday of Every Month

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AUGUST 11, 2017

SPORTS Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

2017 prep football schedules

Plant City eyed

for Gary Sheffield Sports Village

Can’t wait for high school football season? With week one getting closer, it’s time to plan ahead to attend. Regular-season schedules for Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest are out and each team looks to have several intriguing matchups throughout the season. Note: All games start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. All dates and times according to MaxPreps.com.

Courtesy rendering

Major League Baseball-sized fields could come to Plant City if a deal is struck with GCJ Sports.

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DURANT Home games at 4748 Cougar Path Aug. 25: @ Jesuit, 4701 N. Himes Ave., Tampa Sept. 1: v. Sickles Sept. 8: @ Newsome, 16550 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia Sept. 15: @ East Bay, 7710 Big Bend Road, Gibsonton Sept. 22: v. Strawberry Crest Sept. 29: BYE Oct. 6: @ Lennard, 2002 E. Shell Point Road, Ruskin Oct. 13: @ Plant City, 1 Raider Place Oct. 20: v. Tampa Bay Tech Oct. 27: v. Bloomingdale Nov. 3: v. Armwood

With school back in session, teenage athletes should know a few things heading into their respective sports seasons.

ummer 2017 really cruised by us all, didn’t it? It seems like it was only a couple of weeks ago that I was covering Plant City softball in Vero Beach. Time flies when you’re having fun. So, I don’t know about you younger readers, but I’m glad summer vacation is over and you all got back in the classroom on Thursday. Since the 2017-18 school year is only one day old, I don’t think it’s too late to give you athletes some tips on how to get the most out of your season (and year). SEE KLINE PAGE 17

PLANT CITY ‘FIELD OF DREAMS’ KEY

EAST PARK RD.

n Project areas JIM JOHNSON RD

Advice for high school athletes

SOUTH PARK RD.

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? JUSTIN KLINE

EAST PARK RD.

SOUTH COLLINS ST.

STRAWBERRY CREST Home games at 4691 Gallagher Road, Dover Aug. 25: v. Spoto Sept. 1: @ King, 6815 N. 56th St., Tampa Sept. 8: BYE Sept. 15: v. Tampa Bay Tech Sept. 22: @ Durant, 4748 Cougar Path Sept. 29: @ Plant City, 1 Raider Place Oct. 6: v. Bloomingdale Oct. 13: @ Riverview, 11311 Boyette Road, Riverview (7 p.m.) Oct. 20: @ East Bay, 7710 Big Bend Road, Gibsonton Oct. 27: v. Lennard Nov. 3: v. Chamberlain

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ALSOBROOK ST.

PLANT CITY Home games at 1 Raider Place Aug. 25: v. Jefferson Sept. 1: v. Hillsborough Sept. 8: @ Wharton, 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa Sept. 15: @ Lennard, 2002 E. Shell Point Road, Ruskin Sept. 22: v. East Bay Sept. 29: v. Strawberry Crest Oct. 6: @ Armwood, 12000 E. U.S. Highway 92, Seffner Oct. 13: v. Durant Oct. 20: @ Bloomingdale, 1700 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico Oct. 27: @ Tampa Bay Tech, 6410 Orient Road, Tampa Nov. 3: BYE (Live radio broadcasts for all games available at PCRaidersFootball.com)

The former Major League Baseball all-star wants to make Plant City a “global” sports destination.

n Phase I n Phase II n Phase III

ALEXANDER ST.

WHAT’S ON DECK According to GCJ Sports’s proposal, the Gary Sheffield Sports Village will include the following features: gle-family and rental homes n Spectator areas with quickserve restaurant and retail PHASE I n Micro-hospital n Ten MLB-size fields with n Outdoor player developstate-of-the-art technology, ment center PHASE III bullpens and batting cages n Player Complex with 600seat cafeteria, classrooms, n One MLB-size championship PHASE II weight room and physical stadium n 400-space parking lot rehab center n Concessions, restrooms, n 100 team accommodations viewing platforms n Workforce, senior living, sin-

A group headed by former Major League Baseball all-star Gary Sheffield, GCJ Sports, LLC wants to redevelop Plant City Stadium and the surrounding areas to build the Gary Sheffield Sports Village, a more than $100 million complex bringing stateof-the-art facilities and residential and retail areas. During the July 24 City Commission meeting, Plant City commissioners voted to authorize Interim City Manager Kim Leinbach to negotiate a contract with the group. The LLC, which also includes Chuck White and James Talton of Blue Marble Sports, hopes the complex will bring more business and tourism to the area and make Plant City a “global sports destination,” according to a request for proposal (RFP). The RFP states GCJ Sports was formed June 1 “specifically for the purpose of developing the Stadium Parcel, the Urban Forest, related amenity parcels and operating a sports complex in Plant City.” The sports village was designed by the Evans Group, based out of Orlando. Boggs Engineering, of Plant City, and Rodda Construction, of Lakeland, are also listed as members of the development team. Construction is planned for three phases, starting with the Gary Sheffield Sports Village and ending with the town center. Construction of the complex will require the redevelopment of the Plant City Stadium parcel, the Urban Forest parcel and surrounding areas along East Park Road and Jim Johnson Road, acquiring 129.96 acres of land. The sports village will use all 74.66 acres of the stadium and surrounding land totaling nearly 130 acres. GCJ Sports has also offered to upgrade the FROM COMPLEX PAGE 16

Wrestling champ’s friends create honorary scholarship Plant City residents are donating money to fund an athletic scholarship in memory of Cornelius Wiggins. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

In life, Cornelius Wiggins was known for being a good friend to many. After his untimely death on July 29, those friends are working to make sure his name is always remembered. That comes in the form of a scholarship set up in his name to help future high school wrestlers pay for college or trade school. Megan Bryant Davis, a longtime friend of Wiggins, created a GoFundMe campaign on July 30 seeking $5,000 (now $7,500, after quickly hitting the goal) for the cause and Plant City High School’s wrestling program immediately got on board. “I was all for it,” coach Tim Knighten said. “I thought it was a great idea, and it’s something to have a legacy for him. He was just that type of person

where if he saw you were in need, he would try to help you.” Wiggins himself was an accomplished wrestler at Plant City High School. He won 125 and 130-pound state championships in 2001 and 2002, respectively, and was a state runner-up in 2000. He finished his high school career with a 126-16 record as a four-year starter. He went on to wrestle at Cumberland College in Kentucky and eventually returned to live and work in Plant City. Davis knew Wiggins for much of her life. He lived with his foster parents just a few houses down from the Bryants and befriended the family at an early age, taking elementary school classes with Davis. After his foster mother, Lorine Coleman, died, the Courtesy of Tim Knighten

SEE WIGGINS PAGE 17

Cornelius Wiggins was close with his wrestling coach, Tim Knighten.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

In the Tournament of State Champions, each of Plant City’s 9-10-11 Baseball All-Stars worked hard as the team took second place. One of its unsung heroes was outfielder Levi Jordan, who batted .400 and came through at the plate in crunch time when needed. Manager Mike Palestrini says Jordan was “critical to our success” and calls him a “great team player.” Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue. Your coach said you played well in the Tournament of State Champions. What was the experience like? It was really cool to be able to play all good teams from the southeast region and be the second-best. I know it wasn’t your first time playing in the tournament. What’s your favorite thing about it? Probably how nice the fields are. They’re really nice. It’s not something you see every day. What’s your favorite moment from one of these tournaments? Probably my first year, I laid down a perfect bunt right down the line and it kind of rallied them. It helped us win the game. And you guys finally beat Virginia this year. It didn’t work out the first two times but, this time, you guys were finally able to win. How did everybody feel when you won? Everybody was pretty excited that we finally beat our enemies in this

tournament. You’ve been playing with these kids for a few years now, so you know them pretty well. What’s the most fun thing about playing on this team? Just to be able to play with such a good ball team. I have lots of friends on that team. We all know each other and we like to have fun wherever we are.

What advice would you give to somebody picking up the game for the first time, just like you did a few years ago? Probably to just not really care about what you’re doing in the field — just enjoy it while you can because you just don’t want to be beating yourself up the whole time you’re playing. You want to have fun. What’s your favorite baseball team? The Tampa Bay Rays.

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What made you want to stick with the game this whole time? I just like the point of the game. It’s fun to just get the hit and make amazing plays and stuff in the field. And it’s just really fun to be able to play with a bunch of friends and stuff.

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FROM WIGGINS PAGE 16

Bryants took Wiggins in like one of their own children and housed him during his senior year of high school. “When he first moved in with us he was very shy,” Davis says. “Once he developed trust with everybody he opened up. He would always make you laugh when you were frustrated. He was a very welcoming guy to everyone.” Knighten calls Wiggins one of the best athletes he has ever coached and says young wrestlers could learn plenty from the two-time champion’s attitude, dedication and refusal

operating deficit subsidy would also be eliminated by GCJ Sports, per the RFP. The construction of the sports village is expected to create more than 700 jobs in Plant City. Research conducted by Blue Marble Sports projects the sports village could have an annual economic impact of $150 million in Plant City. That includes “140,000 incremental room nights, over 1,200 full and part-time permanent jobs," and more than $4 million in incremental tax revenues for Hillsborough County. Plant City’s location played a big part in its selection for the project. According to the RFP, west central Florida “has the highest concentra-

tion of year-round competitive amateur baseball with local and travel teams.” Developers hope the sports village will become a popular amateur tournament site and also offer services to allow baseball and softball players to develop their skills. The city is currently in the negotiation process with GCJ Sports, though there is optimism in City Hall that a deal will be reached. Sheffield was not available to comment but, in July, Mayor Rick Lott told the Plant City Times & Observer that such an addition to Plant City could be a gamechanger. “This is our Legoland,” Lott said. “It’s our Busch Gardens. It’s that big of a deal for us.”

to make excuses. He says a scholarship in Wiggins’ name was a great idea because Wiggins, who himself needed scholarship money to go to college, did not hesitate to help others. Besides need, there are other factors Knighten and the Bryants will use to determine who gets the scholarship each year. “Some of the things we’re looking at is GPA, what kind of community service they do and, of course, we’re looking for them to be wrestlers,” Knighten says. “That’s in honor of Cornelius.” Davis says the $7,500 raised by the GoFundMe will go to a savings

account overseen by members of the Bryant family and that $1,000 will be awarded to one athlete each year. The gesture, according to the GoFundMe campaign, is meant to “continue Corn’s legacy of bringing joy to those around him by helping youth in the area pursue their dreams.” “He was just super friendly,” Davis says. “He had a great sense of humor. He always talked about giving back to kids in need.” Donations can be made at GoFundMe.com/Cornelius-Wiggins.

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? FROM KLINE PAGE 16

HIT THE BOOKS HARD

Trust me, no one is kidding when they say your grades are just as important to your athletic career as your ability to perform on the playing field. If anyone tells you otherwise, they’re not being honest. Getting good grades will keep you eligible to stay on the team. It’ll put you in the running for college scholarships, as virtually every program ever will take the athlete with the higher GPA when choosing between two of the same athletic skill level. You may not be crazy about math class, world history or English, but you’ve got to power through if you want to give yourself more freedom post-graduation. It doesn’t matter what you do after you leave high school — every recruiter, admissions staffer and employer out there wants to find someone with a healthy work ethic. And if you’re struggling, it never hurts to ask for help. A good place to start is in the locker room — I’ve heard of plenty of athletes who have gone and do go out of their way to help tutor their teammates. If your goal is to play college sports, it’s not always enough to simply play well and hope you get noticed.

Visit us on

COCAINE ADDICTION RESEARCH STUDY

What’s your favorite position to play? Center field. You’re kind of like the king of the outfield and it makes you feel like a boss.

stretch of road connecting East Park to Jim Johnson. The existing property is planned to be converted into residential and retail areas, featuring a hotel, housing facilities, shopping areas and a micro hospital. The RFP calls for a minimum 200,000 square feet of “diverse retail and entertainment.” The Urban Forest Parcel (an urban forest on the site), in particular, has been identified as a spot for a town center with more than 650 residences. Development costs are estimated to exceed $117 million, which includes paying off an existing bond of $1 million. The city’s annual $500,000

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

PLANT CITY’S BEST LOCAL AUCTION HOUSE!

How long have you been playing baseball? Since I was 5, so about seven years.

FROM COMPLEX PAGE 16

Eligible participants will receive study-related care, monitoring and medication. Compensation for time and travel may be available. This study is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Call confidentially today!

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This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “If ... Tarantino is your writer-director then you’re going to learn the words ... why they’re the best words to say.” – Kurt Russell Puzzle Two Solution: “I think ... ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and ‘Pulp Fiction’ were kind of bookends for – or the pillars of – my career.” – John Travolta

This week’s Sudoku answers

JUSTIN KLINE

You may get some attention that way, but it’s almost always possible to get more — which can sometimes lead to getting better scholarship offers. Your coaches will help you with game film, Hudl and whatever else you may need, as well as putting the word out about you themselves, but you can also engage in some selfpromotion to get eyes on you. I know of several athletes who got good scholarships from the schools they wanted to attend by simply getting in touch with the coaches. They’re not always going to be able to go to your school and find you, even if you’re just what they’re looking for in an athlete, so it doesn’t hurt to reach out via email. And it’s always good to remember that, even if a coach visibly likes you, you’re still competing with other high school athletes for a scholarship and roster spot and you’re only going to win if you maintain a good relationship with the coach(es). DON’T BE DUMB ABOUT THE INTERNET

Somehow, not enough kids (and parents, and coaches) know how to use social media in such a way that doesn’t get them in trouble with their schools and/or potential college programs. We just saw this over the weekend with the Little League softball team booted from a cham-

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

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Levi Jordan

given you for playing the game? To not drop my shoulder when I’m hitting, because I have a tendency to do that.

pionship game because the coaches took a photo of the team flipping the bird at the camera and wrote a caption referencing the opponent it had just beaten. The worst part is that it’s so easy to not put yourself in those situations. It doesn’t matter what you do to protect your account, even if you post under a pseudonym, make your profiles private or whatever: someone you know will see what you post and, if you’re not careful, they will make sure something questionable comes back to haunt you. The last thing you need to do is prove to the world how cool you think you are. If you’re thinking about making a post containing something you could get in trouble for, don’t do it. That includes but is not limited to making obscene gestures, throwing up gang signs, drinking booze and/or doing drugs, cussing someone out, bullying, bragging about breaking the law and promoting violence. Tempting as it may be, it’s not going to help you do anything positive.

Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Times & Observer. Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

This week’s Crossword answers

2017

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

FOCUS ON FITNESS

JENNIFER E. CLOSSHEY, PH.D.

The ‘Big Four’ wellness concerns and what you can do about them

P L A N T CI T Y

Little League

Genetics establish about 25% of our health factors. Lifestyle choices determine the rest.

Important Dates

Registration Fees

August 19, 2017 Last Day to Register

4 Year-Old T-Ball ........... $60

ellness, longevity and quality of life are our top health concerns in life. In particular, there are four major disease issues that it is never too late to start working against. Train young family members now about smart lifestyle choices to stay healthy for life.

5/6 Year-Old T-Ball ........ $75

HEART HEALTH MATTERS

August 21 and 22 Tryouts at 6:30 pm Tryouts are at Mike Sansone Park September 11 Games Begin

Machine Pitch .............. $100

Cardiovascular disease is America’s top killer, accounting for one of every four deaths. The American Heart Association affirms lifestyle choices make all the difference. Get moving. Exercise is the secret to good heart health. Regular physical activity plays an even bigger role than diet for cardiovascular disease. Aim for 30 minutes five times a week as a minimum. Find activities you enjoy, whether it be tennis, walking, swimming or hiking outdoors with the family. Start now and stick with it.

Minors .............................. $125 Majors .............................. $125 Junior/Senior ............... $125 Softball Minors .............. $80 Softball Majors .............. $80

STICK IT TO CANCER

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August 12 and 19 from 8am-12pm at Mike Sansone Park 1702 North Park Road | Plant City

The American Cancer Society lists over 200 types of cancers, so it’s important to make lifestyle choices that can make a difference early. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits. Consume five to seven servings of veggies a day and two to three servings of fruit. Select foods with bright colors. Fruits and veggies with deep green, purple, red, orange and yellow colors are full of natural phytonutrients. Eat your veggies first, for your health’s sake. Don’t use tobacco. The toxins in tobacco can trigger the overgrowth of cells into cancer. It is never too late to stop smoking. The South Florida Baptist Hospital offers a free smoking cessation class. Medicare will pay for some of these sessions as will some insurance policies and employers. Sign up today.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR LUNGS

The third leading cause of death in America is chronic lung disease. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are made worse by smoking. Keep the air moist inside your home. Use a humidifier if necessary to keep the humidity levels between 40 and 50%. Try breathing exercises. Alternate nostril breathing at a slow, steady rate clears the mind and opens air passages. The ideal pace for deep breathing is between four and six breaths per minute. Ask your local yoga instructor for more breathing exercises suitable for you. REDUCE STROKES BY CONTROLLING HAY FEVER

High blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking are some leading causes of stroke. Furthermore, a new study from Taipei Medical University says the inflammation that causes the pain and pressure of a sinus infection also increases the odds of suffering a stroke. People with chronic sinusitis are increased by 34%. Those with occasional acute infections have increased strokes by 39%. A recent study by the University of South Carolina of about 10,000 participants backs up a link between hay fever and increased strokes. Tame inflammation in the sinus areas with over-the-counter saline or saltwater sprays. Reduce exposure to allergens including pollen, mold, animal dander and dust. Sinus health matters. Located CFC037149 close to the brain, sinus infections and inflammation can be a gateway to compromised health. Work with your primary care physician, otolaryngologist or allergist to find the best solutions for you.

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Jennifer E. Closshey, Ph.D., is a doctor of integrative health based out of Plant City. Contact her at JenniferClosshey@gmail.com.

The college offers Plant City residents the opportunity to enjoy biblical, life related studies in a classroom atmosphere for personal enrichment and for professional advancement.

Interested? Those interested in classes are invited

• Bonded • Insured LicensedLicensed • Bonded • Insured

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to attend the first session before deciding whether to enroll in the class. First time students attend a class without tuition charges.

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Licensed Insured 813-643-7173 813-643-7173 ･Plumbing ･Leak•repair Repairs • Bonded Come ･Plumbing ･Leak Repairs repair Learn! Licensed • Bonded • Bonded • Insured • Insured ･Re-pipesLicensed ･Water Softener Installation Installati ･Re-pipes ･Water Softener 813-643-7173 ･Drain stoppages ･Water ･Drain stoppages ･Water• Insured HeaterHeater Installation Installation CLASS DESCRIPTIONS Licensed • Bonded Classes meet at Liberty Baptist Church ･New Construction 2505 Granfield Ave., Plant City, FL･Home Additions ･Home ･New Construction Additions (Residential) (Resid ･Plumbing ･Leak Repairs repair ･Plumbing ･Plumbing ･Leak ･Leak Repairs Repairs repair repair (813) 643-7173 BIBLICAL DOCTRINES ･Remodels ･New Construction ･Re-pipes ･Water Softener Installation(Comm ･Remodels 813-643-7173 ･New Construction (Commercial) ･Re-pipes ･Re-pipes ･Water ･Water • Mondays, 6:30pm • Begins August 14th Softener Softener Installation Installation In an age of religious confusion, it is vital to know the absolute ･Plumbing ･Leak Repairs repair ･Drain ･Water stoppages Heater Installation ･Drain ･Water ･Water stoppages stoppages Heater Installation Installation Licensed • Bonded • Heater Insured ･Fixtures &･Drain Accessories teaching of the Bible in the issues that are foundational to our life. ･Fixtures & Accessories ･Re-pipes ･Water Softener Installation ･Home ･Home ･New ･New Additions Additions Construction Construction (Residential) (Residential) ･Home ･New Additions Construction (Residential) Evangelicals president, Dr. Gary Williams, guides us through the • Meet weekly for 14 weeks • Intensive study – to gain firm knowledge of biblical training • Led by professionally qualified Christian teachers with years of ministry experience

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fascinating teaching of Scripture. • What do we really know about God? • What is the truth about spirit beings (including Satan)? • Where did the human race come from? • What is sin? • What is the full significance of salvation? • Do we really know the working of God for the future?

(813) 643-7173

･Drain stoppages ･Water Heater Installation ･Remodels ･Remodels ･New ･New Construction Construction (Commercial) (Commercial) ･Remodels ･New Construction (Commercial) ･Home Additions ･New Construction (Residential) ･Fixtures ･Fixtures & Accessories & Accessories ･New Construction (Commercial) ･Fixtures･Remodels & Accessories ･Fixtures &Repairs Accessories ･Plumbing ･Leak repair ･Re-pipes ･Water Softener Installation Find Find outout more more at･Water our at our website: website: ･Drain stoppages Heater Installation Find out more at our website: ･Home Additions Construction Find out more･New at our website:(Residential) ･Remodels ･New Construction (Commercial) ･Fixtures & Accessories Proudly Proudly serving serving thethe Tampa Tampa BayBay area area forfor over over 30 30 years. years. Proudly serving the Tampa Bay area for over 30 years.

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CULTIVATING A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW • Tuesdays, 6:30pm • Begins August 15th

Develop a lifestyle of approaching every issue from a biblical perspective. This course, taught by Professor Robert Westlake, will focus on the foundational elements in developing a biblical mindset and applying them to several important contemporary issues faced by Christians such as science, government, economics and history. Learn to “Think Biblically”!

ProudlyProudly serving thethe Tampa Bayarea area for30over serving Tampa Bay for over years.30 yea Proudly serving the Tampa Bay area for over 30 years. Find out more at ourService website: 24 24 Hour Emergency Emergency Service 24Hour Hour Emergency Service

INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN COUNSELING • Tuesdays, 6:30pm • Begins August 15th

WWW.COGGINSPLUMBING.COM 24 Hour Emergency Service

It is the responsibility of every Christian to support and help others when they need comfort or direction. This course sets the foundation for our next course in counseling in the spring. Dr. Betty Tower shares her insights on counseling from the enduring principles established in the Bible.

24 Hour$50 Emergency Service $200 OFF $50OFF OFF 10% OFF $200 $200 OFF OFF $50 OFF 10% 10% OFF OFF NEW Service 24 Hour Emergency Proudly serving the Tampa Bay area for over 30 years.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

FORECAST

Do you have a photo that speaks to the heart of Plant City? Send it to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, AUG. 11

High: 91 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 50%

Friday, Aug. 11

6:56a

8:10p

Saturday, Aug. 12

6:57a

8:09p

Sunday, Aug. 13

6:57a

8:08p

Monday, Aug. 14

6:58a

8:07p

Tuesday, Aug. 15

6:58a

8:06p

Wednesday, Aug. 16

6:59a

8:05p

Thursday, Aug. 17

6:59a

8:04p

SATURDAY, AUG. 12 High: 92 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 50%

Sunrise Sunset

MOON PHASES

SUNDAY, AUG. 13 High: 92 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 50%

Aug. 21 New

Aug. 17 Last

Aug. 26 First

Sept. 5 Full

MONDAY, AUG. 14 High: 91 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 60%

RAINFALL

OKRA Shipping point: Orlando $12.35 to $12.85 Kathy Flemister’s bromeliads are blooming in her yard, and she made sure to snap a photo. Flemister wins this week’s I Love Plant City photo contest.

ONLINE

Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture

Follow us on social media: @PCTObserver on Instgram, @PlantObserver on Twitter and Plant City Times & Observer on Facebook.

Mon-Sat 7am - 9pm | Sundays 7am - 8pm At Felton’s we offer a complete line of fresh meat and produce. You’ll ﬁnd only the best quality meats at bargain prices. Whether it be that special occasion dinner, or you are planning a large party, call or stop by today. No matter what your needs, Felton’s is sure to have the ﬁnest, most tender meat and tasty produce anywhere.

Saturday, Aug. 5

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Sunday, Aug. 6

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Monday, Aug. 7

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Tuesday, Aug. 8

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YEAR TO DATE:

AUG. TO DATE:

2017 29.75 in.

2017 0.22 in.

2016 24.76 in.

2016 2.88 in.

Visit FeltonsMarket.com

Baker St. olds

Reyn

St.

GARAGE DOOR REPAIR & As SERVICE a1bo0kuut sa

County Line Rd.

Park Rd.

Maryland Ave.

PLANT CITY

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 i R -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

Discoun t

Lakeland

Felton’s Market

813-388-7575

WALKER PLAZA 617 N. Maryland Ave., Plant City (813) 752-1548 www.feltonsmarket.com

HAVING A BALL by Timothy B. Parker

96 Permit 98 Indoor sports venue 101 Yawning gap 104 Works at busily 107 Tennis legend Steffi 109 Italian coin of old 111 Piece of downloadable software 113 Have a ball five times 119 Groups of nine 120 Flaring skirt style 121 Designating or scheduling 122 Rough, propped-up shelter 123 Passover feast 124 Amorous get-togethers complaints

55 Twisted to one side 56 Thing transferred from parent to child 57 Stuffs to satisfaction 59 Some complex poems 63 Tax-deferring option, briefly 64 Not at all easy to solve 65 First word of Poe’s “The Raven” 66 Forward surge 68 Have a ball four times 73 Heavenly organic compounds? 74 Good friends 75 Shopper’s “mini” destination

76 Hula Bowl necklace 77 Hold, as an opinion 78 An emerald, essentially 80 ___ over the coals 81 Make, as a putt 82 In a quite macabre manner 85 Wine by another name 86 Dutch painter Hieronymous 87 Soldier on guard duty 89 Surrenders 91 Thermometer type 92 Miley of TV and music 94 Rush-order letters 95 Sound uttered to a dentist

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CHOICE MEATS • PRODUCE • GROCERIES

Chris 813.417.6849

sometimes 48 Bamboo eater 49 Feeling of anger 51 Vaughn and Rocca 56 Fishes with long snouts 57 Fishhook line 58 Play divisions 60 Believer that the world is a battle of good vs. evil 61 Heart and soul 62 Leaders of Arab villages or families (var.) 64 Self starter? 65 “All right” 66 What Shrek is 67 Important item on a Wimbledon court DOWN 69 Dental compound 1 Type of singing voice 70 Nimbly 2 Reacts to shocking news 71 Rial spender 3 Fighter Rousey 72 North or South state 4 Rural, quaint hotel 5 Seven in Roman numerals 78 Recycling container 79 Spider-Man villain 6 Nineteen’s three? 80 Letters on many grave7 Pass out from weakness stones 8 Skin designer? 9 Adam’s donation to wom- 81 All lathered up 83 Timetable abbr. for pilots anhood 84 Small brook 10 Shorebird with a curved 85 Petroleum jelly brand beak 86 Tell all 11 ___-eyed (naive) 12 Went up against Usain Bolt 87 Route on the waves 88 Mammal that lays 9713 Measures of work, in Down physics 89 Inferior dog 14 Byproduct of too much 90 Monogram of a very large exercise 15 Nuclear energy producer country 91 Rope down a mountain 16 Vase holders over 93 Fundraising lottery fireplaces 97 Early birds? 17 Washes with detergent 99 More pleasant to be 19 Amphibian young ‘un around 21 Thing to excavate 100 Noah’s vessel 23 Alternative to assn. 102 Monkeys with bushy, 24 Military “facility” nonprehensile tails 30 Eccentric or a bit nutty 103 Exhausted 31 Tolkien humanoid 105 First garden creatures 106 Wood strip under a 32 “The Blacklist” network mattress 34 Type of dirty pie? 108 Expression of sorrow 36 Battery filler 39 Excellent or outstanding 110 They’re cool machines, really 41 Thrilled to pieces 112 Guitar parts 43 Brunched 114 Old name for Tokyo 44 Soak up again 115 Baby goat 45 Extolled or lauded 46 Did more than merely edit 116 Most superior (Abbr.) 117 Anvil and stirrup site 47 Swimmer’s ailment, 118 Place with lots of pork

1 Make it to an event 7 Violin that’s nearly priceless, for short 12 Prepares for another offensive 18 Like the kings of the jungle 20 Relinquish, as one’s rights 21 Legendary mime Marcel 22 Have a ball four times 25 Ancient 26 Track pace, sometimes 27 Greenish-blue 28 Branches of a religious tree

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Tony 813.404.7819

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Sam Allen Rd.

29 Where hairstylists are employed 33 Lawn ornament figure 35 Crumpets’ partner 37 Place for a high ball? 38 The sun, moon and planets, poetically 40 “The ___ Limits” of old TV 42 Christmas songs 45 Deeply absorbed in thought 50 Creators of boundaries 52 Is rewarded as a farmer 53 Henry VIII’s Catherine or late-night TV’s Jack 54 Positively charged battery terminals

Friday, Aug. 4

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.

“WS ... JBCBFJWFI WP OINC ZCWJTCYWCTLJIC JUTF OIN’CT KIWFK JI MTBCF JUT ZICYP ... ZUO JUTO’CT JUT DTPJ ZICYP JI PBO.” – XNCJ CNPPTMM “V YDVPW ... ‘GMYLUOMB PVADY SNRNU’ MPO ‘HLKH SVJYVZP’ ENUN WVPO ZS FZZWNPOG SZU – ZU YDN HVKKMUG ZS – IB JMUNNU.” – CZDP YUMRZKYM

Puzzle Two Clue: I equals M

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Puzzle One Clue: L equals C

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CROSSWORD

Thursday, Aug. 3

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR THIS WEEK’S SAVINGS

“Weekly or Monthly Payments”

T onys l awn m ainTenance @ yahoo . com

0.02

FRESHEST MEAT & LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN!

TLM P ROPERT Y C ARE

p.o. B ox 408 p lanT c iT y, Fl 33564

Wednesday, Aug. 2

SUDOKU

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

8-10-17

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

“I had no second thoughts, I knew I wanted to use South Florida Baptist Hospital.” ~ Glenda R., a patient of South Florida Baptist Hospital

Emergency Care When You Need It When it comes to all the health care needs of Glenda and her family, South Florida Baptist Hospital has always been her first choice. From her emergency visits to endoscopies and a robotic surgery, Glenda has received a lifetime of care here. 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. Let South Florida Baptist Hospital be your partner in 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.

Emergency Care Our modern Emergency Center treats a wide variety of medical and surgical conditions and is one of the largest and most technologically advanced emergency centers in eastern Hillsborough County. We treat adult and pediatric patients, and our fast and friendly service is provided by clinicians focused on delivering the best care to you.

BC1701958-0317

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