08.15.13 Plant City Times & Observer

Plant City Times &

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

A PARTNERSHIP WITH

SPOTLIGHT

ATTENTION!

PlantCity’s marching bands prep for new year.

Raiders welcome five new assistants to football team.

PAGE 9

PAGE 7

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Chamber salutes leaders in Plant City agriculture.

OUR TOWN + State Farm seeks supplies

State Farm agents are gearing up for the first day of school by collecting school supplies at their offices throughout August to help hundreds of families and children around Hillsborough County.

Locally, supplies will be donated to the United Food Bank of Plant City.

The following school supplies are needed: • Backpacks • Notebooks, folders and binders • Pens, pencils, colored pencils, markers and crayons • Erasers, rulers, protractors and scissors • USB drives and calculators • Paper clips, board eraser solutions and glue sticks • Chart paper, index cards, printing paper and lined paper In addition to the United Food Bank, school supplies will be donated to various elementary, middle and high schools, churches, ECHO of Brandon and the Hillsborough Education Foundation.

To make a donation in Plant City, visit State Farm agent Courtney Paat, Courtney Paat, 1805 James L Redman Parkway.

FREE • THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013

SPORTS

health care

education by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

IT’SBA-ACK!

Hospital president leaves P.C. post

As Hillsborough County Public Schools begins its 2013-14 school year next week, Plant City rolls out the red carpet with several community programs.

Although the sweltering Florida sun is still shining, the days of summer will slip away Tuesday, Aug. 20 — the first day of school in Hillsborough County.

Children throughout Plant City will say goodbye to Slip N’ Slides and late-night stargazing and trade the beach for the organized classroom.

And it’s not only students that

are preparing for the 2013-14 school year.

Teachers at Plant City’s schools have been busy shopping for school supplies and classroom decorations, devising lesson plans and dusting off computer screens and keyboards.

In addition to the typical preparations, the beginning of the school year also holds some pretty

While BayCare Health System searches for a replacement, Steve Nierman will serve at both South Florida Baptist and Winter Haven hospitals.

unique traditions — and some new additions.

From Parent University and the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s annual New Teacher Coffee to the Kiwanis Club’s Stuff the Bus campaign and Durant High’s freshman orientation, the community is alive with school spirit for the upcoming year.

Steve Nierman, who has served as president of South Florida Baptist Hospital for the last six years, is leaving Plant City to become the president at Winter Haven Hospital.

Nierman’s first day at Winter Haven will be Aug. 30.

The transfer comes after Winter Haven Hospital and Tampa Bay area-based BayCare Health System completed a planned consolidation.

“He’s done a great job,” BayCare COO and CFO Tommy Inzina said. “If he Steve Nierman hadn’t done such a great job, he wouldn’t have had this opportunity. It’s a great indication of his work.”

BayCare submitted two candidates for the Winter Haven Hospital Board to review. Nierman was one of the two final candidates for the position.

“Overwhelmingly, he was the superior candidate,” Lance Anastasio, president of Winter Haven Hospital, said.

Anastasio announced his retirement last year but committed to the board to remain until a consolidation was finalized.

“I’m looking forward to the challenges,” Nierman said of his new post. “Professionally, I’ll help my organization consolidate with another. There are also more health care service lines at Winter Haven.

SEE BACK TO SCHOOL ON PAGE 4

+ Disney magic comes to town

Sunshine Theater Company, in conjunction with Plant City Entertainment Inc., will present “An Evening of Disney MAGIC!” at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16; and 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 17, at Plant City Entertainment Theater, 101 N. Thomas St., Plant City The show will feature a variety of Disney tunes.

Sunshine Theater Company is a newly established theater company that offers performing opportunities for children ages 5 to 18.

Tickets are $10 for adults; $9 for PCE members; and $8 for children 12 and under. A portion of each ticket sold will be given to Ronald McDonald House Charities.

For more visit, plantcity entertainment.com.

, 3&

This week’s winner is

Mandy Janes

See her photo on PAGE 14.

SEE NIERMAN / PAGE 4

banding together by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Keel and Curley to host fundraiser for local musician Plant City musician Andy Snow’s house burned down July 20. The community has banded together to raise money.

By the time Plant City musician Andy Snow realized his house was on fire July 20, all he could do was watch. After five hours of fighting the flames, Snow had lost everything and suffered a heart attack in the process.

It was one of the darkest days of his life, but the proverbial silver lining will come this weekend. Keel and Curley Winery and Andy’s friends Jimmy and Etta Lindsey have partnered to create the Band Together Ben-

efit for Andy Snow fundraiser, which will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 18, at the Plant City winery.

For $10, supporters can enjoy a Southern meal of chicken, cole slaw, salad, baked beans and sweet tea. Patrons also will enjoy live entertainment by DC Country and the Music Ranch Band. Raffle tickets also will be available for 25 items. Among these items is a $400 guitar, donated by Guitar Center, in Lakeland.

“We were heart-broken when we heard,” Keel and Curley Winery Assistant Manager Megan Maguire said. “He lost everything. He’s lived there 34 years.”

“He’s such an outgoing, good-hearted person, who has helped a lot of people,” Etta Lindsey said. “Now, it’s time to give back to him.”

The Lindseys have known Snow for 43 years. Jimmy and Snow were in a band together in the 1970s. After Snow took

a 30-year break from music, it was Jimmy Lindsey who eventually enticed him to take the stage once again.

“They told me what was going on with the benefit, and it just kept growing and growing,” Snow said. “It amazed me how many people are supporting it. Plant City is just a great town with great people.”

THE FIRE

Snow never will forget July 20 — the day a TECO power pole fell and blew a transformer.

Three trucks responded to fix

INDEX Faith...........................10

Courtesy photo

Andy Snow said he is amazed SEE SNOW / PAGE 4 by the support he’s received.

Vol.1,No.3 | Onesection Calendar.......................2

Crossword...................14

Obituaries.....................9

Sports.........................11

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COMMUNITYCALENDAR THURSDAY, AUG. 15

Family Movie — takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. (813) 757-9215.

Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce New Teacher Coffee — takes place from 7 to 9 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 15, at Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Hall, 303 Lemon St., Plant City. For more, visit plantcity.org.

Plant City Commons Community Garden — meets at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 15, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Karen Bornstine, (813) 435-8111 or Karen888@yahoo.com.

FRIDAY, AUG. 16 Charlie O. — performance will be from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City.

(813) 752-9100.

Polaris 101 — takes place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. (813) 757-9215.

Résumé Writing Seminar — takes place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. Participants are encouraged to bring a flash drive with them to save their work. (813) 757-9215.

SATURDAY, AUG. 17 Music Ranch Band — performance will be from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City.

(813) 752-9100.

Strawberry Classic Car Show — takes place from 4 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 17, at 102 N. Palmer St., Plant City. For more, visit plantcity.org.

Taste of Springhead Fish Fry — takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at

Springhead Park, 3410 Nesmith Road. Menu includes fried fish, grits, hush puppies, baked beans, slaw, dessert and beverage; hot dogs are available for children. Cost is $9, which benefits the Springhead Civic Club.

SUNDAY, AUG. 18 Benefit for Andy Snow — takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. Snow lost his home of 34 years July 20, in a fire. He is a longtime resident of Plant City and regularly performs with his band at Keel and Curley Winery.

Donation is $10. (813) 7529100.

MONDAY, AUG. 19 Back to School Craft — takes place from 3 to 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. (813) 757-9215.

Diabetes Management Series: The Journey for Control — takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 19 and 26, in the Community Conference Room at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. The Journey for Control is a diabetes class that uses Conversation Maps, a series of images and metaphors, to engage groups of patients in conversations about a health topic, such as diabetes.

Registration and pre-payment required; $10 for series. (813) 644-6720.

Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. The book will be “Night Strangers” by Chris Bohjalian. (813) 757-9215.

Ribbon Cutting: Oh My! Consignment — takes place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 111 S. Collins St. For more, visit plantcity.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 21 Literacy Tutoring with Lark — takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

(813) 757-9215.

Medicare Part B Seminar — takes place from 2 to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 21, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. This workshop is geared toward seniors and those on Medicare. (813) 7579215.

THURSDAY, AUG. 22 Business After Hours — The Plant City Times & Observer will host the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours from 5:15 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, at 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A. (813) 754-3707.

Country Hills HOA Meeting — takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 22, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. Dianne Bargren, (727) 359-5289 or Dianne@ qualifiedpropertymanagement. com.

TUESDAY, AUG. 20

Memoir Writing Workshop — takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 22 and 29, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. Lark Underwood will conduct a two-part workshop. Attendees are asked to bring a notebook, pencil or pen and 3-by-5 cards.

Attendees must register at the Information Desk, (813) 7579215.

Evening Book Discussion — takes place from 7 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 20, at Bruton

Royal Hills HOA: Enforcement Committee — takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26,

Extreme Couponing Seminar — takes place from 7 to 8 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 19, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. Patrons are invited to bring unused, unexpired coupons with them to swap after the program is over. (813) 7579215.

To publicize your event in our Community Calendar, please send by mail: 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563; or by email: meng@plantcityobserver.com. Photos are welcome. Deadline is noon Thursday.

BEST BET

Back to School 2013 — Students enrolled in Hillsborough County Public Schools return to school Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Elementary school days are from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.; middle school from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.; and high school from 7:33 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more, visit sdhc.k12.fl.us. at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Nicole Halle, nhalle@ elite-management.net or (813) 854-2414.

TUESDAY, AUG. 27 YMCA Strong Leader Award Dinner Honoring Coach Dave Robbins — takes place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, at HCC Plant City’s John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road, Plant City. Cost is $75 per person or $1,000 table sponsor of eight. All proceeds give children and families a chance to benefit for the Y’s life-enhancing programs and services in Plant City.

THURSDAY, AUG. 29 Memoir Writing Workshop — takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 29, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. Lark Underwood will conduct a two-part workshop. Attendees are asked to bring a notebook, pencil or pen and 3-by-5 cards. Attendees must register at the Information Desk, (813) 757-9215.

SATURDAY, AUG. 31 Childbirth Class — takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 31, in the Community Conference Room at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. This class helps expectant mothers become informed, active participants in the childbirth process. Participants should plan to attend no later than early in their seventh month of pregnancy. An “I Expect” Delivery Planning Guide is included with the class.

Registration required; $20.

644-6720.

ONGOING Babytime — takes place from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

757-9215.

Bereaved Parents Group — meets at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. For more, call Tom Sluder, (813) 659-2555.

Cholesterol Screenings — avail-

able from 2 to 3 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. Cost is $30. No appointments necessary.

Computer Classes — take place from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. (813) 757-9215.

Crafternoons — takes place from 3 to 4 p.m. Mondays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

757-9215.

Duplicate Bridge — meets at 1 p.m. Fridays, at St. Peters Episcopal Church, 302 Carey St., Plant City. Players must have partners. Walt Arnold, 7521602.

Family Motion Commotion — takes place from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. 7579215.

Heart Health Screenings — available from 1 to 2 p.m.

Tuesdays, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. High blood pressure increases the heart’s workload, causing the heart to enlarge and weaken over time, and the risk of coronary heart disease rises as blood cholesterol levels increase. Free.

Hope Al-Anon Group — meets at 7:30 p.m. Mondays, at Hull House at First Presbyterian Church, 203 Thomas St. For more information, call 7633698 or 720-6931.

Ladies Bible Study — meets at 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, at Planteen Recreation Center, 401 Dort St., Plant City. For more information, call Martha Sue Skinner, (813) 752-7630 or email to mss142@tampabay. rr.com.

Pinecrest High School Class of 1956 — meets 10 a.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month, at Fred’s Market, 1401 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Carol Conrad, (813) 7371587.

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COMMUNITY by Michael Eng | Editor

WLCA leaders consider change in management companies

The current management company, Rampart Properties, has managed the Walden Lake community since 2002.

Photos courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times

The Red Rose Inn once was one of Plant City’s most famous establishments.

business by Eric Sullivan | Tampa Bay Times

Madonia auctions begin this week

Plant City’s iconic Red Rose Inn & Suites will be auctioned off at 3 p.m. Aug. 16, at the Lakeland Center, in Lakeland.

Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the Aug. 11 edition of the Tampa Bay Times.

How did it come to this?

Evelyn and Batista Madonia worked for more than a half-century building their fortune. They are known for the Red Rose Inn & Suites, a Plant City landmark, but the real money, millions upon millions, was made in tomato farming.

They had 10,000 acres in Florida and Virginia and employed 1,000 workers. Their assets are vast: housing camps and luxury homes here and up north for the workers and executives, packing and storage facilities, millions of tomato stakes. And the equipment, anything imaginable to run a huge operation: $200,000 tractors, sprayers, forklifts, pickups, semis, golf carts.

Now, everything they have worked for is going.

They are in bankruptcy. They have hundreds of creditors. They owe at least $100 million.

Several million are due to the IRS. The exact figure isn’t known.

The remains of their empire go on the auction block this week. If that doesn’t make enough money to cover their debts, the Madonias’ personal property could be next.

“It does not look good,” said Jerry McHale, the bankruptcy court-appointed trustee overseeing the sales.

••• People called her Mrs. Evelyn, and she was the queen of the Red Rose, seen in commercials 100 times a week, dripping jewels, all corseted gowns and elbow-length gloves, false eyelashes and flaming red hair, a grandmother in her 60s and then 70s, fighting age with the same determination she used to build her wealth.

And the inn was like no other. It was a Ramada motel by the interstate with a $4 million renovation, a mix of dinner lounge doo-wop and “Gone With the Wind,” emerald velvet curtains and leather booths, stars glittering on the dance floor ceiling and chandeliers above the toilets, everything toile and gilt-framed. The inn’s passing more than a year ago was mourned so dearly that “After the Rose” dances were held in town, trying to recapture that strange magic.

The inn was Evelyn’s gift after a lifetime of raising four children and working by her husband’s side.

First, as newlyweds in Pennsylvania, they sold tomatoes out of the back of a truck and grew East Coast Brokers & Packers into one of the big-

gest operations in the country.

Regular people usually never meet someone with that type of money, but most in Plant City knew the Madonias, touchable, huggable royalty, holding court at the inn.

Their names are on the Florida Strawberry Festival’s agricultural center and at South Floria Baptist Hospital’s cardiovascular wing.

They are rarely seen in public these days.

The Madonias, in their 70s, could not be reached for this story and did not respond to messages passed to their attorney and friends.

Their son, Stephen, said their farms suffered freezes, a hurricane and cheap Mexican imports. He spoke at a hearing in federal bankruptcy court in June, making a last-ditch effort for the family to keep control of asset sales and debt payoffs, even though the auction plans were already under way.

But U.S. Bankruptcy Judge K. Rodney May said no. The family filed for bankruptcy in March but had creditors pursuing them for at least a year prior.

May said they had been given enough time to sell assets and hadn’t made any progress.

The farmland sat there, the assets losing money each day. Creditors told the court that equipment had been vandalized. Squatters had taken up residence in a Virginia motel used for laborers.

“There’s been gross mismanagement,” May said.

It was in the best interest of the case for a trustee to be appointed, he said, and for a public auction to be held quickly.

McHale, the trustee, said he thinks the company’s financial issues were tipped over the edge when the Madonias’ daughter Laurie was diagnosed with cancer and died in April 2012.

“It appears that the world stopped,” McHale said. It’s almost as if everybody just walked away and said, ‘We have to take care of Laurie,’ and they never came back.”

••• Last week, the calendars in the Madonias’ offices at their farm in Mulberry remained opened to early 2011.

In son Batista Jr.’s office, a moldy glass bottle of Diet Coke sat on the desk, his “Play like a champion today” mug by his gold nameplate, sandals on the floor, minifridge humming. In what was likely Evelyn’s office were two gold-

EVERYTHING MUST GO

Here are the auctions scheduled for Florida: • 10 a.m. Aug. 15, at the Lakeland Center, in Lakeland — More than 7,000 acres of farm and development land in Martin, Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties; packing houses in Plant City and Ruskin and several housing camps for farm workers, including a former Bible college in Mulberry.

• 3 p.m. Aug. 16, at the Lakeland Center, in Lakeland — the Red Rose Inn; homes in Plant City and Lakeland; lots on Walden Lake in Plant City; a convenience store building in Mulberry; a warehouse in Plant City and a condo in Naples, with views of the Gulf of Mexico.

• 9 a.m. Aug. 28, at 5050 S.R. 60, in Mulberry — Farming equipment For Virginia dates and other details, contact Murray Wise Associates at murraywiseassociates.com or call toll-free at 1-800-607-6888. framed copies of some of Audrey Hepburn’s favorite beauty tips.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry . . .

People streamed in and out, hauling boxes, emptying file cabinets, clearing the building for sale, bringing equipment from the Florida farms for buyers to inspect. The same is happening in Virginia.

A bankruptcy sale “on this scale is not typical,” said Bill Catsulis, sales manager withWeeks Auction Co., out of Ocala. He expects much of the farming equipment to be sold globally, everywhere from Nigeria to Ecuador to England.

The contents of most buildings likely will be sold in bulk, McHale said. When dealing with millions of dollars, there is too much at stake to mess with lamps, desks or leather sofas and chairs. The Red Rose Inn will be sold as is. Many walls are blanketed with photos of the Madonias. McHale said he has encouraged the family to get them.

“I have no desire whatsoever to hurt them,” he said. “They are nice people. It’s sad. It really, really is.”

Times researcher John Martin contributed to this story.

Contact Times reporter Erin Sullivan at esullivan@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3405.

A push to change the company that manages Walden Lake has splintered the board that governs the community.

Several members of the Walden Lake Community Association left the board’s Aug. 1 meeting abruptly, after nearly an hour of heated discussion regarding the possible change.

Proponents of the change say Walden Lake’s current property manager, St. Petersburg-based Rampart Properties, has grown more distant since it was purchased by Texas-based Associa.

“They are just not there,” said WLCA President Jan Griffin, a longtime member of the board.

Furthermore, there have been some concerns regarding Rampart’s software and the letters it sends to residents regarding delinquencies and violations.

Griffin said a seven-member committee formed to examine potential changes. The committee received proposals from three other companies — New Port Richey-based Qualified Property Management; Resource Property Management, which has offices in Seminole, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Lakewood Ranch; and Ruskin-based L.E. Wilson & Associates Inc. Rampart President and CEO Patti DuBuque said none of the concerns raised by the WLCA was brought to her attention prior to the board beginning its replacement process.

“I was a little surprised to hear there were some issues that hadn’t been escalated to me,” she said.

Board members Bob Hunter and Ray Page echoed DuBuque’s sentiment and questioned motivation and timing of changing management companies. Specifically, they said they worry about how a change would affect the four employees currently working in Walden Lake.

Currently, those employees are considered Rampart employees, DuBuque said, and Hunter and Page say a change could result in those employees becoming the responsibility of the WLCA. “I don’t think the people of Walden Lake want to be responsible for hiring people,” Page said.

“I just don’t think we’ve done our due diligence.

We should be representing the people of Walden Lake, not our own interests.”

L.E. Wilson and Associates founder Lou Ellen Wilson said her company would utilize a thirdparty payroll service to manage the employees.

Hunter said the costs associated with that service weren’t included in Wilson’s proposal, and he fears those lingering questions could result in higher dues from residents.

“Those costs have not been explored,” he said.

“That is a major concern.”

Furthermore, Hunter said he believes Rampart deserves an opportunity to respond to some of the WLCA’s concerns regarding its service.

“I think we owe it to them,” he said. “I just don’t think it’s good business to do this.”

DuBuque said she plans to attend the WLCA’s next board meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at the WLCA building, 3035 Griffin Blvd. Furthermore, she said Associa’s purchase of Rampart took place three years ago and has since given her company the ability to provide better service. She also said Walden Lake’s OnSite Manager Tom Daramus serves as her company’s liaison at every board meeting.

“We come with a great deal of industry knowledge, and we’re an accredited management company — one of only a handful in Florida,” DuBuque said.

DuBuque said with the help of Associa, her company will roll out a new software package in October that will enhance communication between Rampart, the WLCA and the residents of Walden Lake.

Rampart’s current contract with Walden Lake will expire in December 2013. Wilson said her firm could be ready to take over the property management duties within 60 days of a contract.

Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.

governance by Michael Eng | Editor

Plant City Commission terminates bus bench contract

The city’s contract with Metropolitan Systems has been in place since 1978.

Despite pleas from Plant City Lions Club members and Plant City Commissioner Bill Dodson, the City Commission voted Aug. 12, to terminate its longtime contract for bus benches throughout the city.

The termination comes after Commissioner Billy Keel advocated for the removal of the benches at the commission’s July 22 meeting. At that time, Keel said he did not see the benefit of the benches and questioned the safety of their placement.

The city’s 43 benches are maintained by Metropolitan Systems Inc., which sells advertising as a revenue source. The company then donated a portion of the profits to the Plant City Lions Club. The donation amount has varied since 2001. Most recently, the club received $250 per month from Metropolitan Systems.

The termination was placed on the City Commission’s consent agenda

— a list of items that typically aren’t discussed. Dodson and Lions Club members attempted to have the item pulled for further discussion, but no other commissioner seconded the motion.

After Mayor Mary Thomas Mathis, Vice Mayor Rick Lott and commissioners Mike Sparkman and Keel all confirmed they supported the removal of the benches, the commission voted to terminate the contract. Dodson dissented.

Lott said if this type of partnership were considered today, he could not support it.

“The only reason I could vote for it is the donation to the Lions Club, and that’s just not enough reason for me to vote for it tonight,” Lott said.

Keel agreed.

“I am fully aware of the great things the Lions Club does,” he said. “There are many here who believe the bench-

es are what’s in the best interest of the Lions Club, but I have to consider what is in the best interest of Plant City. And I believe these are not in the best interest to the City of Plant City.”

Lions Club member Myrle Henry said he wasn’t aware of any problems with the benches and did not know commissioners were considering removing them until he read an article following the July 22 meeting.

“I just think you ought to have some discussion before things are voted on,” Henry said.

Commissioners said because no bus system runs in Plant City, the benches were unnecessary. However, Henry said when the bench contract originally was signed in 1978, no bus system existed.

“You can trace the first benches back to 1952,” Henry said. “So, the fact that there are no buses did not enter into this thing. That was an excuse.”

IN OTHER NEWS • Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director Ray Chiaramonte and Assistant Executive Director Beth Alden introduced Imagine 2040, an outreach campaign of the MPO and the Hillsborough County Planning Commission. The campaign seeks public input regarding how transportation will grow in Hillsborough County in the next 25 years.

• The city honored youth singing group NRG for its recent performances in New York City. The group entertained the City Commission by singing the chorus of one of its original tunes.

Metropolitan Systems representative Andrew Moos said he doesn’t know when his company will remove the benches. He said many of the advertising contracts run through the end of the year, and he is hopeful the city will allow his company to satisfy

• The city will host a special workshop to discuss Historic District Design Standards and the Midtown District at 4 p.m Sept. 9, at City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds St. • City Manager Greg Horwedel announced the Mendonsa Road project was completed Aug. 12. He also indicated Plant City Police Department officers would monitor the new, smooth roadway for speeding. The speed limit is 30 mph, he said.

• Crews from the city’s General Services department worked to eradicate a bat infestation at the Burchwood Park pavilion. those contracts. Moos had not heard of any problems regarding the benches until recently.

“This blew us away,” he said of the contract termination.

Contact Michael Eng at meng@ plantcityobserver.com.

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BACK TO SCHOOL FROM PAGE 1

SNOW / PAGE 1 the problem. Snow’s home on Wilder Road was one of the homes affected by the outage.

When Snow got the OK to turn the electronics on inside, he turned on a couple of lamps.

But, the lamps didn’t light up. Back outside, Snow flagged down the only truck that hadn’t left yet. They told him to check his breakers and take note of any damage done to any electronics, so he could file a claim with TECO. When Snow went back inside, his lights were on.

Snow was standing outside, when he heard the loud pop of 17,000 volts coursing through his 2,600-square-foot home. Within seconds, a dark cloud of billowing smoke was rising from the south end. Snow ran inside to save his Shih Tzu and grab his keys and cell phone.

When he realized his car was still in the carport, he ran to remove it; his little dog trailed behind.

Once the truck was a safe distance away with his dog tucked inside, Snow tried to go back in the house to save three vintage guitars and some of his other music equipment. But, the flames were moving too fast, and the smoke was too thick.

Forced to stand outside and watch his home burn, Snow suffered a heart attack. Snow was taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital and then flown to St. Joseph’s Hospital.

It took five hours for the fire department to extinguish the flames.

Snow returned to half of a home, with se-

NIERMAN / PAGE 1 “It’s also exciting to join an organization with such quality,” Nierman said. “I hope to be able to continue that and further it.”

As president of South Florida Baptist Hospital, Nierman led numerous expansion and renovation efforts. He brought many services that previously were only available in bigger cities.

Nierman led the construction of the Evelyn & Batista Madonia Sr. Heart and Vascular Center and the development of an interventional cardiology and peripheral endovascular program.

He developed the Orthopedic Joint Replacement and Neuro-Spine Surgery program and successfully recruited the necessary surgeons.

He also started a minimally invasive, robotic surgery program with colorectal, urologic and gynecologic surgeons. “(I’ve enjoyed) the people I worked with and the doctors,” Nierman said. “From the day I came six years ago, I knew it was a hospital with fantastic community support.”

Nierman will move with his wife, Angie, and son, Blake, to Winter Haven. He will continue to serve at South Florida Baptist until a replacement is found. He will have to commute 30 minutes between the hospitals.

Nierman was born in Grand Junction, Colo., but grew up primarily in Indiana. He attended college at the U.S. Air Force Academy and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering math/science. He also holds a master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle University, in Daytona Beach, and a master’s of business administration from Xavier University, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Nierman has worked in other large health care systems. He served as COO at Memorial Hospital of Tampa and Spring Hill Regional Hospital. Prior to that, he worked with a national health insurance company, after serving in the active duty military for several years.

BayCare is conducting a national search for Nierman’s successor. There is no date set as to when a possible candidate may be selected.

“We’d rather have the right candidate than have one fast,” Inzina said.

PARENT UNIVERSITY

BAND TOGETHER BENEFIT FOR ANDY SNOW

WHEN: Noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 18 WHERE: Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City COST: $10 DETAILS: Enjoy a chicken dinner and live entertainment by DC Country and the Music Ranch Band. Items will be raffled off, and proceeds will benefit Andy Snow.

INFORMATION: (813) 752-9100 vere smoke and water damage. He lived at his daughter’s home before setting up an RV on his property. He still doesn’t have electricity.

Snow’s ballpark estimate of the lost inventory inside the house totals $50,000, including $14,000 worth of musical equipment.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@ plantcityobserver.com.

ABOUT THE CONSOLIDATION

Winter Haven Hospital and BayCare Health System consolidation goes into effect Aug. 30.

Both organizations believe their shared vision and common culture will be an asset in the preparations necessary for a changing health care environment, in which providers will increasingly coordinate care across broad geographical areas and diverse services.

Winter Haven’s Board of Trustees studied several potential partners before selecting BayCare for formal discussions.

“We think BayCare’s backing and support will allow us to take our tradition of clinical excellence to the next level,” Winter Haven Hospital President Lance Anastasio said.

“Part of that is a broader focus on community health— not just caring for patients who come through our doors.”

Anastasio cited the need for more primary care in Polk County and pointed to BayCare’s ability to recruit physicians and work with them in different ways to improve care.

The founding hospitals of BayCare came together in 1997.

“Scale is important and will become more so in the future,” BayCare President and CEO Steve Mason said. “But, it’s not our only goal. When hospitals and physicians share their experience to develop bestpractices, they improve both the quality and access to care.”

Nierman, who recently was elected president of the Plant City Lions Club, said he will miss the community here.

“It’s not the building, not the new services, it’s the relationship I have with the doctors and community that I will miss,” Nierman said.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@ plantcityobserver.com.

Parents are going back to school this year. But they won’t be re-learning algebra equations or mixing chemicals during lab time.

Instead, Hillsborough County Public Schools has adopted a new program called Parent University. Parents are encouraged to sign up for classes that cover popular topics, such as online bullying, STEM program overviews and planning for college.

Parent University will come to Plant City from 7:45 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 24, at Plant City High School.

“The goal is to have them at different parts of the county,” said Tracye Brown, general director of Federal Programs for

STUFF THE BUS Although the Kiwanis Club calls its back-to-school campaign Stuff the Bus, the Plant City club won’t be filling up a yellow monster with children.

Instead, club members will be logging backpacks full of school supplies in whatever trucks and cars they can commandeer.

The vehicles will be lined up Aug. 19, at Stingray Chevrolet, making the operation look more like a car-rider ramp than a well-oiled fundraiser.

Hillsborough County Public Schools.

So far, the program has been popular. The first one, held March 2, at Chamberlain High School, attracted about 250 parents. The second, held April 27, at Riverview High, attracted more than 300.

Parents can choose two classes from a list of 12. After a general introductory session, parents spend time in their individual hourlong sessions.

Many of the sessions also will be conducted in Spanish.

They include, the Future of Reading — Elementary; STEM in Elementary Schools; STEM in Middle and High Schools; College Search and Applications (sixth to 10th grades); and College Search and Applications (11th to 12th grades).

“We’ve got a pretty diverse set of topics on what parents are interested based off of previous participation,” Brown said.

Child-care services also are provided at no cost and managed by HOST faculty. Most of the children accepted are elementary ages, but the faculty will take middle-schoolers and some younger children, as well.

The school supplies will be given to children in need at 23 Plant City-area schools. This year, Kiwanis was able to buy 712 backpacks. The charity has grown in the past six years. For 2008, the first year of the charity, Kiwanis purchased 100 backpacks.

Unity in the Community has donated $7,000 this year to the cause. Kiwanis also held its first Business Spelling Bee to raise money for Stuff the Bus and another program, Read Around the World. From ticket sales, Kiwanis earned $1,300.

“We have a lot of fun with it,” organizer Anna Reitz said. “It’s a lot of fun to help. That’s what Kiwanis is about — the children.”

Kiwanis isn’t alone in its quest to help children. Employees at South Florida Baptist Hospital and Plant City Hall, as well as Key Club members, donate their time to help packages the school supplies Aug. 15.

The community donated mounds of school supplies at two drop-off points — Stingray Chevrolet and Southside Farm and Pet Supply.

PARENT UNIVERSITY WHEN: 7:45 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 24 WHERE: Plant City High School, One Raider Place REGISTRATION: (813) 272-4499 or visit hillsboroughparentu.org

NEW TEACHER COFFEE This coffee meet-up is more than just a couple of new employees sharing a quiet cup of joe. The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s annual New Teacher Coffee took place Aug. 15, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Hall.

The coffee introduced more than 120 teachers new to Plant City Schools. Teachers from each school put on short skit, dressed in funky costumes and were even accompanied by school mascots, such as Durant High School’s Cougar or Tomlin Middle School’s Tiger.

“We want to salute our new teachers and welcome them to Plant City, so they know that the chamber and the community is committed to higher education and that we value them,” Marion Smith, chamber president, said.

Earlier this week, four new teachers at Plant City High School gathered for lunch in the cafeteria. Brittany Logan, Maggie Feix, Drew Martucci and Jon Thompson all were looking forward to the coffee.

Martucci, Thompson and

ORIENTATION There are a lot of nervewracking situations in life.

One of the most anxious times nearly every American student goes through is the transition between middle school and high school.

Every year, Durant High School looks to lower the stress levels of its incoming freshmen students by offering a freshmen orientation, called GAP. This year, the orientation took place the first week of August.

GAP is run by upperclassmen such as Maddie Clifford, an upcoming senior. Clifford herself attended GAP with her younger

Brittany Logan, Jon Thompson, Maggie Feix and Drew Martucci Feix all will be coaches at the high school.

It is Martucci and Thompson’s first year teaching. They both have previous experience at other schools coaching.

“I’m teaching, because I love to coach, but now, I’m finding the kids in the classroom are just as important,” Martucci said.

Thompson will be an assistant football coach. He coached three years at Lincoln High School, in Tallahassee.

“I’ve always wanted to coach

football,” Thompson said.

“Through that, I have grown to have a love for teaching.”

Logan taught for six years in Pasco County before moving to Plant City.

“I talked with the faculty and administration, and they just all seemed great,” Logan said.

Feix, who taught for one year in Arizona, agrees.

“That’s pretty common (among) the new teachers,” Feix said. “What drew us in were the teachers and the administration.”

sibling, when she was a sophomore. She had just moved to the area from Kentucky.

“I had no idea what Durant was about,” Clifford said. “I didn’t know about the clubs or events. I really made some lifelong friends.”

Clifford is part of the yearbook, Leo Club, student government, the swim team and National Honors Society among other activities. It was GAP that opened the door for her. She’s been sharing her knowledge with incoming students for two years.

College and Career Counselor Courtney Singletary believes the program works because it

is run by students, unlike other area orientations, which are run primarily by teachers and faculty.

“They don’t really want to talk to me,” Singletary said.

“They want to talk to someone who has been through it.”

Students participate in teambuilding games, which provide a way for new students to meet friends.

“The most valuable thing as a teacher and as a parent is to see them making friends,” Singletary said. “They’ve already made 100 friends before the first day of school.”

This year, 118 freshmen attended the orientation.

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COPS

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PLANT CITY

The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Plant City Police Department.

JULY 29

THAT’S A DRAG

1300 block of West Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Stolen Trailer. A 2005 FRRV 6-foot-by-12-foot enclosed trailer was stolen.

It is white and has a blue Yamaha decal on the front neat the hitch.

JUST LOOKING

1300 block of East Calhoun Street. Residential Burglary. A small apartment at the rear of this residence had been vandalized. The door had been kicked in and sustained about $300 in damage. Two dressers had been rummaged through, but the victim reported that nothing was missing at this time.

CAFFEINE FIEND

1200 block of West Grant Street. Criminal Mischief. Unknown person(s) attempted to pry open the Pepsi machine, causing about $1,500 in damage. No product or currency was stolen.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

1600 block of East Alabama Street.

Drug Investigation. Officers responded to a call of several subjects possibly selling drugs at this location.

Upon arrival, contact was made with a 17-year-old black male. As an officer was completing a trespass warning on the juvenile, a pill bottle dropped to the ground, and the juvenile took off. He was detained after a brief foot chase and arrested for possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell and resisting arrest without violence.

GAMER GRIEF

2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway.

Retail Theft. The suspect took two PS3 games, valued at $40, and attempted to leave without paying. Walmart declined prosecution against him.

COIN CRIMINAL

1300 block of West Spencer Street. Business Burglary. Unknown person(s) pried a vending machine open. The coin box was completely removed. It was unknown if any products were stolen from the machine.

ACTING LIKE A BABY

2100 block James L. Redman Parkway. Shoplifting/Petit Theft. Officers responded to the store in reference to a group of females shoplifting. Upon arrival, two females already had exited the business and were running away.

An officer made contact with the third female.

The trio used an empty baby carrier to conceal $604 worth of baby clothes. The females then began to exit the store without paying.

JULY 30

NOTHING OF INTEREST

600 block of South Frontage Road. Criminal Mischief. Unknown suspect(s) broke a passenger-side window and opened an exterior tool box of one of the company’s work trucks. A business representative said he did not think anything was missing.

SCARY SITUATION

510 block of South Knight Street. Home Invasion Robbery. The victim stated that two unknown black males, wearing all black and masks, kicked in the door to the residence while the victim was asleep in his bedroom.

When the victim came out to investigate the noise, he was attacked by the suspects. While fighting with one of the males, the other struck him on the right side of his head with a gun. The males then fled the scene and did not take any property from the residence. This is an ongoing investigation.

NO GOOD DEED ...

1210 block of Goldfinch Drive. Theft of Jewelry.

The victim reported that at least $500 worth of jewelry is missing from her residence. The theft occurred sometime over the past month. She believes the jewelry was taken by a known person who has been staying with her off and on. She found the items at a pawn shop.

CORNER AUG. 1

SHORT-SIGHTED

100 block of North Pearl Street. Robbery.

The victim advised he was sitting on the front porch, when he was approached by two thin black males, who demanded his wallet. When he was too slow to give them his wallet, both of the suspects began to struggle with the victim, eventually hitting him and knocking him to the ground. The suspects took his shorts, which contained his wallet, and fled the scene. One of the suspects fled the area in a white, four-door sedan, and the other fled on foot running south on Pearl Street. While officers were investigating the scene, the victim’s wallet was found lying on the ground, where it apparently fell out during the struggle.

The only property taken from the victim appears to be a $20 pair of Ocean Pacific shorts.

STREET CRIME

Intersection of North Park Road and East Spencer Street. Robbery. Two victims advised three Hispanic males, about 17 to 20 years old and driving a tan pickup with a tonneau cover and spoiler, robbed them at gunpoint. A Samsung Galaxy tablet, a dollar bill and a pack of cigarettes were stolen from the victims.

PILL PUSHER

Intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Waller Street. Drug Investigation. An officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle, because the driver was not wearing a seat belt.

The registered owner of the vehicle gave consent to search. Two Oxycodone pills were located. The driver was arrested and transported to Orient Road Jail.

CRIME OF OPPORTUNITY

2510 block of Thonotosassa Road. Vehicle Burglary. The victim reported someone had entered her red Ford van through open windows that do not roll up. A black purse, pink zebra print wallet, miscellaneous cards, a Pioneer faceplate and several medications were stolen from the vehicle.

DRINKING PROBLEM

700 block of North Pennsylvania Avenue.

Simple Battery. The victim was sitting at a picnic table and grabbed a Gatorade, which he thought had been left behind by someone. The victim said he was going to drink the Gatorade.

When he picked up the Gatorade, an unknown Hispanic male started yelling at him from across the park. The male approached him and began to punch him repeatedly, which caused the victim to fall and twist his ankle. At that point, the suspect got into a red, four-door Chevy and left the area.

NOTHING TO STEAL HERE

4100 block of West State Road 574. Criminal Mischief. The business owner said he was monitoring the business from a security camera at home. He was able to see two black males exit a black, four-door vehicle. The males approached the metal security gate and pried it open. Once the gate was pried open, the males looked around, got back into their car and left.

The locking mechanism to the gate is valued at about $40. No entry was made into the business.

JULY 31

IS THAT HOW YOU TREAT A LADY?

Intersection of East Gilchrist Street and North Knight Street. Battery. The victim advised she was walking down the road and was pushed to the ground and hit in the face by a known black male juvenile.

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PET POWER by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Man’s Best Friend ABOUT BONNIE’S CERTIFICATION

Therapy Dogs Inc. was started in 1990, by Jack and Ann Butrick. From a small operation in Wyoming, it has grown to an organization of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. TDInc. provides registration, support and insurance for members.

Therapy dogs are not the same as assistance dogs.

Therapy dogs registered with TDInc. are not eligible for public-access rights.

Instead, they provide therapeutic benefit to the general public. Assistance dogs help those with hearing or seeing disabilities and other disabilities.

Bonnie had to go through a rigorous bought of training to become certified. In addition to basic obedience, Bonnie is subject to other rules. She must be the last one through a door. She must walk next to Banning and never in front. She can’t bark.

George and Cassandra Banning’s dog, Bonnie, recently has become a certified therapy dog.

When Cassandra Banning and her mellow Shih Tzu, Bonnie, entered a nursing home in Dade City, they immediately noticed a man slumped over in his chair. His head was down, and his eyes focused on the floor.

His disposition was the exact reason the pair had come to the home. Bonnie was training to become a therapy dog.

Banning approached the man with Bonnie in her arms.

“Would you like to pet her?”

Banning asked.

He looked unsure at first but began to stroke the well groomed dog. The chilly look on his face began to melt.Within a minute, his smile stretched to both ears.

Banning has many similar stories about the joy 2-year-old Bonnie has brought to those in nursing homes.

One woman followed the team around her nursing home in a wheelchair, wanting to pet Bonnie one more time. Another resident, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, couldn’t remember Banning’s name, but

he could remember Bonnie’s.

Bonnie earned her Canine Good Dog certification through The American Kennel Club, June 27, after receiving her Canine Good Citizen designation.

The Plant City dog is perfect for therapy work. Walking up to the Banning’s home in Walden Lake, not a bark comes from the house to alert of a visitor.

“Her personality really fit,” Banning said.

“She really likes attention, I’ll tell you that,” Banning’s husband, George, said. “Not in an obnoxious way, though. She just likes attention.”

The Bannings noticed Bonnie’s healing ways when an ill friend came to visit. She didn’t leave his side the entire time.

She continued the behavior, cuddling up to family members every time they were sick. Cassandra asked her veterinarian about Bonnie’s character; the doctor agreed Bonnie would make a perfect therapy dog.

Cassandra downloaded a test and began to teach Bonnie herself. When they graduated to the more advanced material,

Amber Jurgensen

George and Cassandra Banning say Bonnie is a perfect lap dog.

Cassandra decided to take Bonnie to a trainer at PetSmart for an evaluation.

Bonnie was so disciplined that she was able to skip the beginner and intermediate courses.

“It was challenging, but it was fun at the same time,” Cassandra said about training Bonnie.

“You learn so much about handling your dog.”

Because Bonnie was capable and earned her Canine Good Citizen designation, she skipped the training with Therapy Dogs Inc. and went straight into her three observations,

which took place at two nursing homes and one library.

Snuggled up next to Cassandra’s feet on the kitchen floor, Bonnie shows the relaxed poise that allowed her to become certified. The pet is a princess, with pillows and beds in every room of the Banning home. She even rides to therapy observations in her own stroller.

But, she wasn’t always so spoiled.

The Bannings adopted the Shih Tzu about a year ago from the Hillsborough County Animal Shelter. She was found abandoned in a field.

At the time, the Bannings also owned a 17-year-old Shih Tzu, Britney, whom they got from a breeder.

“I never thought about adopting from a shelter, because you’re going to get all kinds of mixes,” George said. “But, they are fabulous. We would do it again in a heartbeat.”

In addition to her work as a therapy dog, Bonnie enjoys weekly play dates with her “friends” at Timberlane Pet Hospital and Suites. There, she has befriended another dog, who was also in the shelter with her.

“They remember each other from their time in jail,” Cassandra said, jokingly.

Now that Cassandra and Bonnie are certified as a team, they are eager to start bringing smiles to people. South Florida Baptist Hospital is interested in having the duo come for visits.

Cassandra also wants to take Bonnie to Bruton Memorial Library to help with the Paws for Reading Program, where children are introduced to literacy by reading to dogs. During one of Bonnie’s observations, she listened as a 7-year-old boy read to her, at the Dade City Library.

“One of the greatest therapies is just talking to her,” George said.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

flew the coop

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Swan takes flight

Rumors have swirled over the disappearance of the swan that had taken up residence in Walden Lake.

The pond at Walden Lake transformed into swan lake after an elusive white bird made its home there for more than a year.

But, it mysteriously vanished several months ago.

Residents are left wondering where the majestic swan has gone. Some heard rumors that it was hit on Interstate 4. Others heard it was shot and found in a median in Walden Lake.

“It had been there ever since I moved in 18 months ago,” April Robbins-Beppler said.

“It’s really sad.”

Robbins-Beppler lives in Fairway Village, and her yard backs toward the pond. She said it looked like a trumpeter swan, one of the largest breeds.

In fact, she even named nicknamed it “Swanzilla.”

Swanzilla used to eat her neighbor’s flowers, but Robbins-Beppler and her neighbors enjoyed his company regardless, feeding him bread on the banks.

When Swanzilla first came to the pond, residents were

FAST FACTS

• Trumpeter swans have been known to live 29 years in the wild.

• Trumpeter swans feed on submerged aquatic vegetation and on occasion aquatic invertebrates.

• Every year. adult swans go through a flightless period in which they molt all their feathers at once, thus making them flightless for a one- to two-month period.

This typically occurs during the warmest months, July and August.

• Trumpeter swans can fly between 40 to 80 mph.

• Adult male swans can vary from 21 to 32 pounds but typically weigh 26 to 30 pounds.

Source: National Park Service

Courtesy photo

Swanzilla was a welcome resident in Walden Lake.

thrilled. The Walden Lake Community Association even printed something about the “new resident” in its newsletter. The WLCA joked it didn’t know whether to make the due letter out to Mr. or Mrs. Swan.

Later, another resident suggested the WLCA get a companion for the new neighbor.

But upon further investigation, it opted not to pursue a mate.

Swans mate with the same partner for years and often for life. Occasionally, if his mate dies, a male Trumpeter swan may not pair again for the rest of his life. The Walden Lake swan was thought to be a male.

After a mate dies, the male often does not stay in the same location the monogamous pair had lived.

But, Swanzilla ended up flying away, regardless.

“We started to get phone calls about the missing swan,” Bette Guarino, of the WLCA said. “We heard rumors. None are confirmed.

“The swan is gone,” she said.

Trumpeter swans are a migratory breed. They like calm waters without much human interference. Although Swanzilla’s absence is as mysterious as his arrival, it’s quite possible he flew away for a quieter pond with a potential mate.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

Plant City Times & Observer Locally Owned

The Plant City Times & Observer is published

by Plant City Media LLC, a joint-venture of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.

110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 704-6850 www.PlantCityObserver.com &RS\ULJKW 3ODQW &LW\ 0HGLD //& $OO 5LJKWV 5HVHUYHG

POOL PARTY by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor Emma, Hunter and Jake Carbaugh and Drew Cothren

Walden Lake ends summer with a splash Students splashed around one last time before the summer comes to an end during Walden Lake Golf & Country Club’s Back-toSchool Bash Aug. 8, at the country club.

This year, kid karate masters from Chris Welbon Karate Clubs demonstrated their moves to fast-paced techno jams. There also were vendors on-site, including the Girls Scouts of America.

Party-goers also snacked on pizza and ice cream.

Walden Lake kids enjoyed one last splash before the start of school.

Chloe Collins Left: Students from Chris Welbon Karate Clubs performed at the bash.

The girls were “photo bombed” by their friend.

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We want to hear from you. Let us know about your community events, celebrations and family member achievements.

To contact us, send your information via: Email: Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com.

Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563

Courtney and Emmerson Swantek

CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. It provides free home delivery to several neighborhoods in Plant City.

The Plant City Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

Members of the Florida Strawberry Festival Queens Court showed up for the fun.

Plant City Times &

Observer General Manager/Editorial / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com

General Manager/Advertising / Tony Del Castillo, tdelcastillo@tampabay.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editors / (Community) Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com; (Sports) Matt Mauney, mmauney@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Executives / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@tampabay.com; Joanna Verga, jverga@tampabay.com Circulation/Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

Neighborhood R E A L E S TAT E | P L A N T C I T Y L I F E | O B I T U A R I E S | G A M E S | FA I T H | S P O RT S

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

CLUB HUBBUB

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013

SPOTLIGHT by Michael Eng and Amber Jurgensen

If your club would like to post announcements, email them to Associate Editor Amber Jurgensen, ajur gensen@plantcityobserver. com.

+ Plant City Noon Rotary Club

The Plant City Noon Rotary Club sponsored Florida Strawberry Festival Queens Court member Maddy Keene to attend the S4TL leadership training program.

This award-winning program is organized annually by Rotarian senior staff from Districts 6890, 6950 and 6960 in Central Florida. Each Rotary club in the three districts may sponsor a delegate to the sessions. A total of 160 delegates were registered to attend this year.

One unique feature is the “rap session,” during which leaders of tomorrow are divided into groups of 16 to 18 delegates. They meet with Rotarians to discuss topics of interest to them.

The Noon Rotary also sponsored high school student Kellyanne Hurst to attend the annual World Affairs Youth Seminar in July, at Auburn University.

Hurst acted as the delegate for Pakistan in a weeklong Model United Nations summit. The issues addressed encompassed the Syrian conflict and water crisis throughout the world.

She was awarded the “Best Representative of a Difficult Country.”

Hurst also met 29 students from throughout the United States, France and Japan.

The seminar is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors in high school.

+ Plant City Lions Club

Catherine Lau, the Leo Cabinet adviser for District 35, was the featured speaker at the Plant City Lions Club’s Aug. 12 meeting.

Lau spoke about how the Lions Club and Leos Clubs at Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools can work together to increase their level of service in the community.

Ambrea Monroe is a member of the Plant City Raiderettes weapon line.

Durant’s percussion section performed for parents to culminate band camp.

MARCHING

MACHINES The marching bands at Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools all have been busy preparing for a new season of football games and weekend competitions at their respective band camps. The high school musicians all took to the practice fields and black tops to learn new music and drill for the upcoming shows. All three bands will unveil their new shows when football season begins in September.

Strawberry Crest’s Matthew Barroner will be entering his sophomore year.

The Strawberry Crest High School drumline worked on playing and marching at the same time.

+ E. Hillsborough Art Guild

The Eastern Hillsborough Art Guild will host its first meeting of the 2013-14 season at 7 p.m. Aug. 26, at GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City, 1110 N. Wheeler St. The meeting will be a show-and-tell of work the members have been creating over the summer.

President Joe Simpson has his art work featured this month in the Walden Lake Community Center, 3035 Griffin Blvd.

The Plant City marching band spent many hours learning its new show.

Right: Durant’s drumline is ready for another season.

ONLINE: To view more high school marching band photos, visit PlantCityObserver.com

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PUTONA HAPPY FACE CHARACTER-DRIVEN by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

David and Shirley Vick — better known as Elmo Twist and Peaches — now are sharing their love of clowning through the Plant City Lions Club and the Leos Clubs at Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools.

David and Shirley Vick sure know how to have fun with life. They have been clowning around for the majority of their marriage — literally.

TheVicks were professional clowns.

But, they didn’t start out with aspirations to face paint and twist balloons. In fact, it all started out with an interest in puppets.

A Durant native, Shirley wanted to start a children’s ministry in 1979, at her Pawnee, Ill., church. She crafted the puppets herself, listening to audio programs to capture the characters’ personalities.

“It all started and was built around her talents and puppetry,” David says.

“But, it wouldn’t have been anything without your clowning,” Shirley says.

True, Shirley’s puppetry did kickstart their clowning careers, but David was the first to pull on the oversized shoes.

The ministry was popular, but the couple needed a real-life character, not a puppet, that could relay the Christian message to children and accompany the show.

The couple tried several different characters, including a cowboy.

But,it just didn’t fit with David’s personality.

That’s when David went to the local Salvation Army and bought the most colorful, wacky clothes he could find.

He painted his face and called himself “Zacchaeus.”

“I didn’t know a thing about makeup, costumes, stage presence,” David says.

But the kids loved his outrageous antics.

It wasn’t long before David enticed Shirley to put on some makeup and join him on stage.

In 1982, the Vicks learned to tie their first balloon dogs during classes at a Christian college. They then became serious about clowning, signing up for clown college in 1987, in Wisconsin. They studied under Frosty Little, a circus clown who served for more than 20 years with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. He was one of only four clowns to earn the title of “Master Clown” from the Ringling organization.

Together, the couple became the act, “Elmo Twist and Peaches.”

David’s character was inspired by his own family. At a family get-togeth-

Courtesy photo

Clowning is serious business, and David and Shirley Vick took advantage of many opportunities to learn the art from some of the country’s greatest clowns. er, he told his brother to dress up in a crazy outfit and tell distant relatives he was Uncle Elmo. For years, the family laughed at the persona that had them fooled. So, David adopted the name, “Elmo,” and added “Twist” for his ballooning skills.

Shirley ended up as “Peaches,” simply because it fit well with Elmo Twist.

The couple kept up their clowning and puppetry ministry, traveling throughout the United States and even to South America and Mexico.

They also performed at other events, such as festivals and birthdays — all while keeping their day jobs in professional careers.

Now, that the couple is back in Plant City, they have since retired from clowning. But, they haven’t given up the trade completely. David serves as the Plant City Lions Club’s Tail Twister — the person responsible for bringing the fun at the club’s weekly meetings. The couple also leads the Leos Club clowning troupes at Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools.

Lions Club member Al Berry was the first to propose the idea. His sister was a clown, and when he found out the Vicks also had practiced the art, he knew they’d be perfect clowns for the job.

The Vicks have been training about 200 student clowns for three years.

This season, they will recruit local clown Mr. BG and face-painter extraordinaire Dianne Birkhead to help with the task.

“Once the training starts, the house is maxed out with students wall to wall,” Shirley says.

David says he enjoys sharing his passion and doing his part to keep the art of clowning alive.

“I’ve always been a clown at heart,” he says. “You’ve got to be a clown within.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

STORE AROUND THE CORNER by Amber Jurgensen

Tyler Lopes, 13, wore his faith proudly all over his face.

Gerrick Peterson, 8, made it through the obstacle course in record time.

Riley Thomas, 9, took out many challengers in the jousting ring.

Lone Oak reaches new heights with 2013 Vacation Bible School

Amber Jurgensen

CHURROMANIA employees were excited to serve their new Plant City customers.

CHURROMANIA The new snack storefront is located inside Walmart Supercenter, 2602 James L. Redman Parkway.

CHURROMANIA still had one hour until its grand opening, but already, Plant City customers had gathered around waiting for a chance to sample some of the restaurant’s sweet treats.

The Venezuela-based chain opened its first Plant City location last month, inside Walmart Supercenter, 2602 James L. Redman Parkway. The new location is the third to open in a Florida Walmart.

Along with churros, the business offers sodas, Icees, coffee and even churro dogs.

CHURROMANIA owners Ariel Acosta-Rubio and his brother, Ivan AcostaRubio, say Plant City is the perfect town for one of their stores. Originally from Venezuela, the brothers are familiar with Tampa Bay. They attended Tampa University and also lived in Odessa.

More recently, they spent time in Lakeland studying for their pilot licenses.

Traveling back and forth allowed them to explore Plant City.

“You really have to spend time here to know Plant City,” Ivan says. “The people are really nice and sweet. And that is our business — sweets.

“We love our business,” he says. “We love this area, and the people are so nice.”

The Plant City store has employed six local employees so far. An area manager from Venezuela will manage the Plant City store, along with planned Brandon and Tampa locations, which are scheduled to open this month.

In 1997, Ariel Acosta-Rubio, Maria Alejandra Bravo and Miguel Bravo decided to open a churro and coffee store in a high traffic mall retail space in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. Initially, other concepts for this space including a beauty parlor, a travel agency and a hamburger restaurant. But, churros seemed the best option as it was easier to manage and operate than any of the other ideas considered.

On year later, the company began offering franchise opportunities. CHURROMANIA opened its first U.S. location in 2001, at the Dolphin Mall, in Miami.

Currently, the company operates 125 stores in the United States, Venezuela,

CHURROMANIA

ADDRESS: 2602 James L. Redman Parkway, Plant City.

PHONE: (813) 752-1188 WEBSITE: churromania.com

HISTORY OF THE CHURRO The history of the churro is unclear.

One hypothesis is that churros were developed by Spanish shepherds. Nomads from the mountains of Spain invented the simple cake-like food staple because it could be easily cooked in a pan over an open fire.

“It tastes better than a donut and doesn’t have a hole in the middle,” says CHURROMANIA co-owner Ivan Acosta-Rubio.

Churros originally were about the size of a breadstick and were served plain or rolled in cinnamon sugar. Eventually, the churro made its way to Central and South America. They continued to be altered by different cultures. Some eat churros rolled in sugar. Others have stuffed the churro with fillings, such as chocolate or fruit.

Another theory is that the churro was brought to Europe by the Portuguese. Through trade with China, they learned the culinary technique of modifying dough for Youtiao, deep-fried breadstick popular in Asian countries.

Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico and Peru. Twenty-three are in Florida.

Last year, the company entered into an agreement with Walmart to allow 50 new storefronts inside the retailer.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

WALKING ON AIR by Michael Eng | Editor Jill Denning, 5, caught big air during her time on this inflatable obstacle course.

Lone Oak Baptist Church celebrated the end of its 2013 Vacation Bible School with a Family Fun Night.

Families and students enjoyed a plethora of bounce houses and obstacles.

The church also served up hot dogs and other treats.

Antonio Hernandez, 11, was a beast at the jousting challenge.

Children of all ages loved bouncing on all the slides and obstacle courses.

Left: Tangoh Njoh, 7, was all smiles during the Family Fun Night.

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OBSERVER Chamber salutes Plant City ag leaders OBITUARIES

BREAKING BREAD by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

More than 250 chamber members and agriculture supporters attended the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s Salute to Agriculture Contact Breakfast Aug. 14, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Hall.

The event honored local agriculture professionals and educators. Emily Petrilli was named the Agriculture Educator of the Year, while John Poppell, of Poppell Insurance, was named the 2013 Supporter of Youth Agriculture. Wish Farms was awarded as the Agriculture Business of the Year, and Steve Mathis was named the Plant City Chamber of Commerce Agriculturist of the Year. Sam Astin III, of Astin Farms, was honored with the chamber’s Good Egg Award.

Jeffrey Lynn Branly

Jeffrey Lynn Branly, 57, of Plant City, died Aug. 9, 2013.

She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Chuck; two, sons Jason (Karen) and Christopher (Jeanette); eight grandchildren; sister Dana(Russell); and stepfather Poppa Joe. She worked for 15 years as a deli manager for Sweetbay Supermarkets, in Plant City.

She was a loving, dedicated wife, mother and grandma. She loved her family events, cooking and crossword puzzles. She was also a generous person.

She was preceded in death by her parents Johnny and Rosemary Jordan; and three siblings, Buster, Jennifer and Donna.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 16, at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 C.R. 39 S., Plant City. Family will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m. Private interment in Hopewell Memorial Gardens, Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at hopewellfuneral.com.

Terry Dykes

Cindy Griffin, Ellany Johnson, Dennis Lee, Linda Dyer, Glenn Sievert and Lauren Der

Terry Dykes, 89, died Aug. 8, 2013.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Graveside services were held Aug. 13, Memorial Park Cemetery, Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at wellsmemorial.com.

Opal A. Gentry

Opal A. Gentry, 94, died Aug. 1, 2013, in Plant City.

Funeral services were held Aug. 6, at Wells Memorial and Event Center.

Online condolences may be made at wells memorial.com.

Sam Astin of Astin Farms was awarded the Good Egg award by Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce chairman Jim Scott.

Anna Conrad and Arie Fry both were taught by Emily Petrilli, the 2013 Agriculture Educator of the Year.

Betty Jo Hooker

Dan Walden presented Emily Petrilli with the Agriculture Educator of the Year award.

John Poppell was named the 2013 Supporter of Youth Agriculture.

Jim Jeffries presented the Agriculturist of the Year Award to Steve Mathis.

Gary Wishnatzki accepted the Agriculture Business of the Year Award on behalf of Wish Farms.

Betty Jo Hooker, 83, of Plant City, died Aug. 9, 2013.

She was the daughter of the late Charles and Evelyn Crawford Anderson.

Mrs. Hooker always had been a hard worker. Her family had grown scallions for Parkesdale Farms, and after working for a while at a chicken farm, she lost her taste for chicken, as well as eggs. She enjoyed vegetable gardening.

She is survived by a brother-in-law, Curtis Anderson; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Hooker was preceded in death by her husband, Julian, and her son, Larry Dale. She was also preceded in death by siblings, Sarah Floyd, Evelyn McMath, Lillian Cannon, Garfield and Buck Anderson.

Memorial services for Betty will be at a later date.

Online condolences may be made at haught funeralhome.com.

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FAITH MATTERS

Guilty until proven innocent I was standing in the courtroom, when I How could he say or even think that everyheard the judge’s gavel resound on the sound- thing was going to be OK? He leaned in and board beneath it. The courtroom was empty, said with a very calm voice: I didn’t tell you because this was not a jury trial. I had entered earlier, but I am related to the judge. He is my the plea of not guilty and waived my right to father. a jury, hoping that this judge would be fair He asked the judge for permission to apwhen he had heard all the evidence surround- proach the bench. I watched in stunned ing my case. amazement, as the public defender made his The public defender did the best job posway back to my table. And then he addressed sible, with all the information I had provided, the court. along with the court documents. The judge Judge, he said, then added: Father, I will take did not look happy, and when I heard his sentence upon myself. I will take his the words, “The defendant is found place. guilty as charged,” I understood the I found myself standing, but the judge’s grimacing face. This courtroom public defender was blocking my view drama was so surreal that I had to of the judge on the bench. This public remind myself to breathe as I got lightdefender, this advocate on my behalf, headed and felt my knees buckle. was willing to take my sentence and Guilty as charged. Those three words my place. seemed to echo and bounce around in In an instant, the judge agreed and my head for what seemed like minutes dismissed me as I watched his son, but was only seconds in real time.

THE REV. my advocate, being led away to take The gravity of the moment was like DR. MITCH my punishment. My feet betrayed me, a wave that had just knocked me over WEISSMAN and I couldn’t move; I was glued to that and taken away my breath. I felt as if spot.

I was being held under the water and This dream state I was in, this courtwas beginning to drown. room setting, translates into a parable for Steadying myself by placing my palms on today. It is the true story of what Jesus Christ the table seemed to help keep me from actuhas done for me and anyone who stands guilty ally fainting. Then, I heard the faint sound of in the courtroom of heaven. God is the judge the public defender’s voice asking me if I were who has pronounced that we have all sinned OK. and fallen short of the glory of God; we are all All the color had left my face, leaving me guilty. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of pale, sweaty and almost lifeless. As my eyes God is eternal life in Jesus Christ. God so loved revealed utter hopelessness, my heart was the world that He gave His only begotten Son pounding to my brain. The gavel’s sound that whosoever believes in Him should not perbrought me back as my mind began ticking ish but have everlasting life. again, and I felt blood pulsating through the He took our place and the death sentence vein in my neck. The judge was about to prowillingly because of his love. Jesus, the innounce my sentence as I tried to recover from nocent Lamb of God, was the only one who those three words that he shared earlier. could have redeemed us from the penalty of My eyes began to focus again as I saw the death. His blood; His life; His love. judge’s lips move: Because you have been The advocate of our souls took our place found guilty, I am now pronouncing your senon the cross, because of love. We are forgiven tence: death. by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. He “Death” was all I heard, as I fell to the loves you so much that if you were the only ground and recoiled into the fetal position. person in the world, Jesus would have come The public defender was standing over me, and died just for you. pulling me back to my feet as he said, EveryThe Rev. Dr. Mitch Weissman is senior pastor thing is going to be OK. of First Baptist Church, Midway. He is a comI couldn’t speak at that moment, but I was pleted Jewish believer who has been faithfully thinking, Are you insane? preaching the gospel for more than 30 years.

EPC’S BIG FAT GREEK VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Isabella, Elizabeth, Dominic and Jessica Caporale had a blast at this year’s VBS. Evangelical Presbyterian Church hosted a group of eager Vacation Bible School students Aug. 5 to 9. The students participated in

crafts, games and Christian teachings and lessons.

The theme was Greece.

The fellowship hall was decorated like a Mediterranean

bazaar, complete with tents and palm leaves. Some of the volunteers even dressed in togas.

— Amber Jurgensen

Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | SENIORS | COMMUNITY | TENNIS

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Eight-year-old Judson Smith aiming for golfing greatness. 12 THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

SIDELINES + Flag Football

Registration is under way for the 47th season of the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department/Optimist youth flag football program.

The league is for all area boys and girls ages 4-15 (as of Nov. 1, 2013) — birth certificate required. The program is for youths who want to play in an atmosphere of fair play and good sportsmanship.

Last year, about 300 children played in five age groups. Games are on Saturday mornings, at the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex, 2402 E. Cherry St. No hard pads or helmets are allowed. There are no practices or coaches.

Teams meet each week, and “instructing officials” are assigned to ensure each player carries or catches the ball. Subs are rotated evenly and assist in play-calling, if needed.

The program provides basic training in football skills and rules along with positive leadership to build the character and overall citizenship of the players.

Registration must be made

by Sept. 4, to be guaranteed a place on a team. The season runs from Sept. 21 to Nov. 2, and the cost is $35 per player for the seven game-season, including jersey and accident insurance.

Registration can be completed at the Recreation and Parks administrative building, 1904 S. Park Road.

For more information, visit the PCRPD web site, plantcitygov.com, keyword search “flag football,” or contact Recreation Youth Athletics Coordinator Danny Smith at dsmith@plantcitygov.com or (813) 659-4200, Ext 4313.

leadership by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Coaches hope to mold talent into more wins The Plant City High School football team welcomes this year five new assistants, as well as a brand new offense.

With 15 seniors, there won’t be many unfamiliar faces on the field for Plant City on Friday nights this fall.

However, the sideline will be a different story entirely.

This fall, the Raiders welcome five new assistant coaches under Wayne Ward,

who enters his fourth year as head coach.

The biggest changes are with the two coordinator positions. Charles Lindsey has taken over as offensive coordinator, and Greg Meyer has made the switch from defensive line to defensive coordinator while

reprising his roles as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator for the team.

“The new coaches we brought in, first and foremost, are teachers,” Ward said. “They know how to teach their spe-

SEE COACHES / PAGE 13

SHOW ME THE MAUNEY

Pro stars setting terrible example for prep athletes

+ VSI Soccer

VSI Tampa Bay FC will play its last game in Plant City this Friday, Aug. 16, when it hosts the Charlotte Eagles, at Plant City Stadium.

VSI still is looking for its first win this month, after dropping two road games last weekend to Harrisburg City and Pittsburgh. The loss to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Aug. 11 was VSI’s fifth-consecutive loss.

VSI’s last victory came July 26, in a 2-1 win at Wilmington. The team hasn’t won at Plant City Stadium since July 13, when it defeated the Charleston Battery 4-2.

With the recent slump, VSI finds itself in ninth place in the USL PRO standings, one spot out of the top-eight playoff field.

VSI has 31 points, while eighth place Dayton has 34.

VSI will host Charlotte for the regular season finale at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets can be purchased by visiting vsi-fc.com or at the Plant City Stadium ticket office the night of the game. Adult admission is $10, while children 12 and under are $5. Parking at Plant City Stadium, 1810 E. Park Road, is $5 per vehicle.

Matt Mauney

John Thompson is one of five new assistants for the Raiders.

He will be coaching the offensive line.

Matt Mauney

Robert Seguin is quickly making a name for himself in the lacrosse recruiting circuit. He will be a junior at Durant this fall.

A Different PATH lacrosse by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Robert Seguin found a sport he loves. After hard work and playing against the odds, that sport could land him a spot at a prestigious college.

Like many kids growing up in Florida, Robert Seguin played baseball at an early age.

The then-catcher continued playing travel ball through seventh grade, when he discovered a new sport through a family friend.

“My sister’s best friend’s little brother had been playing lacrosse, and he got me interested in the game and I started watching it more,” Seguin said.

The first lacrosse match he ever watched was a televised national championship in 2010, between Duke and Notre Dame.

“Once I started learning more about the game, I realized how much I liked it,” he said. “I just thought it was awesome.”

For the next week, Seguin begged his mom to buy him a stick. After she gave in, Seguin began taking lessons a month later.

Once he got used to the basics, he discovered the game was much more difficult than the top players at big-time college programs like Notre Dame and Duke make it seem.

“I just liked the physicality of it,” he said.

Seguin started off playing short stick midfield, but after one season playing youth lacrosse, he made the decision to switch to a long stick, once he joined the club team at Durant High School as a freshman.

“Everyone at the time was against it, because I was (midfielder) of the year on my last team,” he said.

Long sticks are typically harder to con-

trol than shorter sticks, which more offensive players use. With the switch, Seguin focused on defense.

“I had always been better at defense than offense as a short stick,” he said.

“I can’t shoot very well, and I always felt awkward with a short stick in my hand.”

It was the right move. Seguin is now one of the top players in the state and was invited to Blue Chip 225, one of the top recruiting camps in the country for the top rising junior and senior high school players in the nation. Seguin was just one of six players from Florida to earn a spot at the camp, held July 8 to 11, at Bryant University, in Rhode Island.

When he is not playing for the Cougars in the spring, Seguin plays with his West Florida travel team, based in Lithia, and Tampa Elite, in FishHawk. He hopes to play in college, but the rising junior would like to see the sport he loves become an FHSAArecognized sport at Durant, before his high school career comes to a close.

“When Robert came in as a freshmen, he had experience beyond his years,” Durant club team’s head coach Andrew Madden said. “That’s the kind of kid you want on your team — someone who can lead by example.”

COLLEGE OPTIONS

Eric Blackburn, Seguin’s Tampa Elite travel team coach and the head coach at Newsome High School, recommended Seguin for the Blue Chip 225 camp.

SEE SEGUIN / PAGE 12

FIVE FACTS ABOUT LACROSSE 1. It is known as the “fastest sport on two feet” and is considered one of the fastest growing sports in the country.

2. Unlike basket-

ball and soccer, there are significant differences between men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse. The men’s game is a fullcontact sport and the protective equipment is different between the two.

3. The National Lacrosse League is the highest level of the lacrosse in the United States, but the game is played indoors on a hockey rink that has been converted to artificial turf and consists of teams of six, compared to teams of 10 for the outdoor game.

4. In 2012, there were 61 men’s Division I programs and 92 women’s programs.

The NCAA allows a maximum of 12.6 scholarships over four years, while women are allowed 12. These scholarships are mostly divided among players, making “full rides” rare in the sport.

5. The sport is of Native American

origin and is believed to be developed as early as A.D. 1100.

With the recent scandals surrounding MLB stars Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun and Heisman winner Johnny Manziel, you can’t blame those who have lost faith in sports.

These days, it seems if you have an athlete as a role model, chances are, that role model will end up disappointing you with their actions — whether it be a performance enhancing drug scandal or some other off-the-field MATT screw up.

MAUNEY Sadly, this has been going on for many years. I grew up a baseball fan, and in 1998, I became entranced — along with thousands of other kids — with the home run battle between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire. What I didn’t know was that the battle would become a dark, defining moment in the world of baseball.

It marked the beginning of what would be known as the “steroid era,” a part of time that has only gotten worse since Slammin’ Sammy and Big Mac graced the headlines of the game.

Many — including myself — now have doubts every time a player has an outstanding season or a breakout year. Was that performance fueled by illegal substances? Sadly, more often than not, that seems to be the case.

That faith and inspiration I once had for the top athletes in this world has faded. I’m now over the age of impressionability and far removed from my days as an athlete, but I sympathize with the younger athletes of this world competing at the youth and high school levels. The pressures of performing well and winning seem to be at an all-time high. Many are giving in to this pressure by turning to performance-enhancing drugs.

Here in Florida, high school student-athletes have been involved with the use of PEDs, including links to the recent Biogenesis scandal in south Florida.

Last week, the Florida High School Athletic Association

SEE MAUNEY / PAGE 12

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SEGUIN / PAGE 11 “Robert is a really good player and a great kid,” Blackburn said. “The Blue Chip camp is for advanced players, and I identified Robert as one.

I wanted to see how he would stack up against the other talent up there, and he held his own.”

The NCAA allows colleges to begin contacting lacrosse players who are rising juniors Sept. 1. Seguin has already garnered interest and an invite to visit from George Washington University, which has a men’s club team and a Division I women’s team.

“We have heard rumors about schools that are interested, but since they can’t contact us until Sept. 1, we don’t know who that is yet,” Robert’s dad, Daniel said.

Robert said he would love play at a major lacrosse powerhouse such as Duke University, but education comes first.

“I want to find the school that is the best fit academically,” he said. “If they have a lacrosse program and I get to play, that’s great. But, education is my first priority.”

Robert said he would like to study law, something he has had a passion for since he was young. He aspires to work as a sports agent or a general manager in the front office of a professional team.

Because lacrosse is still a growing sport in Florida, athletes typically see their potential late in their high school careers.

“A lot of kids in Florida have time to improve, because most don’t pick it up until they get to high school, when kids from Maryland have played their whole life and have peaked,” Robert said.

RECOGNITION

This school year, Hillsborough County will adopt lacrosse as recognized varsity sport at several high schools.

Durant has been fighting to throw its name in the hat to be one of those teams but has had a setback because Durant doesn’t have a girls club team or enough interest to form a varsity girls team.

Durant currently is listed in an eight-team District 16 on the FHSAA website for both boys and girls lacrosse for the 2013-14 school year. If the school can pull enough kids, it will be a part of the Hillsborough Area Lacrosse Association, or HALAX, a partnership organization with the FHSAA for lacrosse in Hillsborough County. HALAX will let county teams participate as an FHSAA sport, but it will be “pay for play” — players must pay dues to participate, making the sport self-sufficient from the county school system.

The Cougars Lacrosse Club formed after parents saw a need to have a club team. Although the team was made up of players from various high schools in the area, they carried the name Cougars, because the majority of the players attended Durant. To date, the team has played in the Florida Gulf Coast League, which has about 30 members.

“Some of the parents are from up north and played and watched growing up, so they wanted to pass it down to their kids,” Daniel said.

“I grew up up north, and we played it in P.E., but I never really had any real experience with it.”

Although the sport has a strong following up north, it is growing in the Southeast, especially in the Sunshine State.

“It’s growing tremendously — especially here in West Florida,” Daniel said. “It’s big down in the Miami area, as well, at several private schools down there, but (schools) here, (such as) Newsome and Durant, have programs that are growing significantly.”

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver. com.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

JUDSON SMITH It didn’t take long for Judson Smith to find his passion. The 8-year-old Walden Lake Elementary student has been hitting golf balls since he was 3, but last fall, he decided to take up playing golf full-time, focusing on playing tournaments. He placed first in the 8-and-under division at Champions Gate earlier this summer and regularly places in the top five at tournaments. He will compete in the Orange County National this weekend.

What made you want to focus on golf?

I like golf, because I’m a big fan of Tiger Woods, and I have the bracelet he wears on Sundays. I want to be like him and be a professional golfer when I grow up.

What do you like about golf?

I like all parts of it. The main part that I like is traveling and seeing new golf courses and getting to play them.

tournaments with my dad.

What’s one of your favorite moments from watching golf?

I got to go see Tiger live in Orlando (Arnold Palmer Invitational).

Do you have any other pro golfer that you like watching?

The Golf Boys. I like watching their videos online. Also, I got Ricky Fowler’s autograph on my hat.

When did you get that?

At the tournament we went to.

After his tee shot, there was thunder and lightning close, so they stopped playing. That’s when I got his autograph.

What part of the game do you like the most?

I like driving, because I’m really good with a driver.

What was it like to win at Champions Gate?

It was pretty fun getting first place and winning my very first tournament.

Did you play other sports before golf?

I played baseball and football for the Plant City Dolphins.

What positions did you play in baseball?

Third, right field and second. One time, I played pitcher.

Did you know that you had won toward the end of the tournament or did you not know until after?

I didn’t know until after, because I didn’t know the other kids’ scores and didn’t know my total score. I was kind of surprised I was first.

What about football?

I played two guys away from the hiker (offensive line).

Your little brother, Bronson, 3, likes golf, as well.

What are some tips you’ve shared with him?

I’ve been showing him how to hit the ball farther and how to make some long putts.

Do you remember what you shot?

A 59 and a 51 Do you watch a lot of pro golf?

I watch some of the

back to basics by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Plant City FC helps future soccer stars sharpen skills The Plant City FC Lancers soccer program is holding its final camp of the summer this week, at the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex.

The TechniqueSkills Camp is for players ages 4 to 18 of all experience levels.

The camp, which began Aug. 12 and ends Aug. 17, is led by Plant City FC Technical Di-

rector Greg Petersen, as well as several members of the Lancers 18U team.

The skills camp is the last camp the Lancers offered this summer. Others included a goalkeepers camp, a striker camp and a possession camp.

For more information, visit plantcityfc. com.

Dylan Brown headed up-field on this play, shadowed closely by Pifa Castro.

Several of the Plant City FC Lancers 18U players helped with the camp.

Bailey Brock, 8, was one of two girls who participated in the camp.

Nicolas Kirchner and Duane Audette battled for possession of this ball.

MAUNEY / PAGE 11 announced plans to address this issue. Executive Director Dr. Roger Dearing asked the association’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee to conduct a thorough review of existing standards to determine how they can be strengthened and stop the trend of PED use among college and pro athletes from spreading throughout the prep level.

The FHSAA currently suspends players who use PEDs, but Dearing said those prohibitions may be insufficient. The prohibition exists now only as an extension to a policy on sportsmanship.

“We must draw a line in the sand against performing-enhancing drugs,” Dearing said in a release. “School districts simply cannot tolerate coaches who encourage or look the other way when athletes use PEDs. Therefore, these coaches cannot be allowed to keep their jobs or have anything to do with young athletes. This is about more than safeguarding fair play — it’s about saving lives.”

The health risks PEDs pose are well documented and reported, but those effects could be even greater on high school athletes, whose bodies still are developing. Some athletes have loads of pressure placed on them to perform well for their team or get a college scholarship. Coaches, family and friends can have a large influence on these athletes. Injuries and tougher competition sometimes can sway athletes to turn to PEDs to bounce back or to live up to their hype.

The 15-member Sports Medicine Advisory Committee includes a cross-section of experts from across Florida, including 11 physicians and athletic trainers, along with former coaches and educators. The committee previously has worked on other factors and concerns in high school sports, including concussions and heat/hydration issues.

Dr. Jennifer Roth Maynard, an assistant professor of family and sports medicine with the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and a member of the FHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, noted most young athletes “have no idea the harm that can be caused by performance-enhancing drugs.”

“PEDs have no place in their lives,” she said. “Whatever the FHSAA can do to stop PEDs from being used by high school student-athletes is a step in the right direction.”

High school athletes need to know the dangers that come with PEDs. As alluring as winning a state championship or getting that big college offer may be, nothing is worth hurting your body and risking your life. The issue of PEDs started at the highest level and now is trickling down to younger and younger athletes.

Athletes such as Braun and Lance Armstrong should be ashamed for the negative example they have set for young athletes that grew up idolizing them. Unfortunately, the damage already has been done and has led to a culture in sports in which athletes often will take the risks of health or getting caught to get a “competitive edge.” Others, such as Manziel, set negative examples in other ways. These things do have an effect on young athletes, but all hope isn’t lost.

The advisory committee will be in charge of perfecting the current policies of PED use among prep athletes. This will bring its own challenges.

Running tests on all studentathletes in Florida (about 283,000) simply isn’t possible.

Each drug test costs $150, which would total $42 million per year.

The committee does feel that school districts need to test any student-athlete suspected of using steroids, as well as punishing adults that allow it to happen.

The FHSAA hopes local businesses will help with the efforts.

Realistically, the use of PEDs in sports — from the pros to even the youth level — doesn’t seem like it will ever cease to be a major issue, but it is refreshing to see the FHSAA being proactive and doing their part to cut down on the use of PEDs by Florida athletes and educating its members on the dangers steroid use can bring.

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school spirit by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Cheer camp instills Raider pride

After spending the past several years coaching at the college level, Charles Lindsey takes over as the offensive coordinator at Plant City High School.

Plant City High School and head cheerleading coach Karen Snapp held the 2013 Girls Cheer Clinic July 30 and 31, in the school gym.

The camp was for girls in three age groups: 4 to 6, 7 to 10 and 11 to 13. Campers learned cheerleading basics, as well as specific cheers and routines. On the final day, July 31, parents were invited to watch a special end-ofcamp performance.

COACHES / PAGE 11 cific position. That makes my job a whole lot easier. I know that I don’t have to always be around, and when I walk away, I know the job is going to get done.”

Ward also credited the new staffs strong work ethic.

“They’re willing to put in those extra hours to be successful and win,” he said. “They’ll do whatever it takes to help us win games, district titles and, hopefully, at some point, state championships.”

Plant City High School’s varsity cheerleaders taught the campers several routines.

NEW OFFENSE

Lindsey brings a fast-paced system to Plant City, after coaching in the college ranks for the past five years.

Before coming to Plant City in February, Lindsey was an assistant at Becker College, a Division III school in Massachusetts.

There, he learned an up-tempo system from head coach Mike Lichten, who served on Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly’s staff, when he was at the University of New Hampshire.

“The offense we’ll run is very Oregon-esque,” Lindsey said.

“We’ll have multiple personnel packages that will spread the ball around.”

Coaching is in Lindsey’s bloodline. His uncle is Rick Kravitz, the head coach at Gibbs High School, in Pinellas County, and former defensive coordinator at the University of South Florida and Youngstown State.

“That’s why I got into coaching,” Lindsey said.

Lindsey is a native of Tampa Bay and played at East Lake High School, before suffering a career-ending ankle injury.

He attended South Florida, where he went from an equipment manager for the football team to an undergraduate assistant. He worked in the high school ranks at Middleton and Jesuit, before coaching at a Division II program in North Carolina and then at Becker College.

While he was at Becker, Lindsey recruited Florida, and specifically the Tampa Bay area.

“We got 24 kids out of here my last year I was coaching,” he said.

After deciding to move back to the area, Lindsey began to explore his options and find the right fit.

“Wayne was the guy I trusted the most,” he said of Ward. “I knew I had an opportunity to come here with special athletes and make something happen.”

Ward feels the new offensive system will be beneficial to his personnel, with the ability to put the ball in the hands of playmakers.

“With so many athletes, sometimes, you don’t have enough football to go around, but if you get enough snaps and opportunities, you can pass the ball around a little bit,” Ward said of the new system. “I’m excited about the offense. It’s one thing to go against yourself every day, but I’m ready to see how we stack up against other teams in Hillsborough County.”

Plant City should be strong up front with a big offensive line that will be coached by John Thompson, one of the new assistants.

Ward pointed out that no matter how fast-paced the new offense is, fundamentals still will be key, including taking care of the football and limiting penalties.

“We turned the ball over too many times last year,” Ward said.

“We didn’t deserve some of those close games by turning the ball over multiple times.”

NEW INTENSITY

Meyer takes over the defense after serving as the defensive line coach in 2012, his first season with the Raiders.

He will have three of the new assistants on his defensive staff, including defensive backs coach Byron Jones, linebackers coach Patrick Browning and defensive line coach Patrick Horn.

“All these guys that we have are high-energy guys and proven teachers,” Meyer said. “They’re all positive role models for our kids and we really feel like we hit the jackpot when it comes to this defensive staff.”

Jones is entering his first season as a coach but brings an impressive résumé from his playing days, where he was a standout at Texas A&M before stints in the NFL and the Arena Football League.

Browning was Meyer’s best friend growing up and won a national championship with the University of Florida in 1996. He comes to PCHS after coaching at Fargo North High School, in Fargo, N.D. “He brings a high level of playing experience and high standards,” Meyer said of Browning. “We were fortunate enough to get him home and on the faculty here.”

Horn will take over Meyer’s previous role as defensive line coach after coming to PCHS from Freedom High School.

“He does a great job running drills and getting the guys psyched up,” Meyer said. “With those three guys, it allows me to truly coordinate and also help coach Ward with the day-to-day.”

The Raiders will run the same 4-2-5 base scheme they did last year, but Meyer said they will play more zone packages while still blitzing often.

“The biggest improvement is that we have simplified things to allow our kids to play fast,” he said. “Sometimes, you can overcoach and slow your kids down by asking them to do too much.”

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.

Greg Meyer will enter his second season with the Raiders this fall. He has taken over as the defensive coordinator, after coaching the defensive line last season.

Plant City High varsity cheerleader Cassidy English helped Layla Rothman with her cheer.

Mikenzie Shiflett, 11, enjoyed learning the routines from the Plant City High School varsity cheerleaders.

Aubrey Tallent, 9, shouted her name loudly and proudly through the megaphone.

Peyton Eatman, 7, showed good form on her cheers.

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PLANT CITY

RAIN

(INCHES)

WEATHER

WED.

Aug. 7

0.18

THURS.

TEMPERATURES

Aug. 8

0.01

FRI.

Thurs., Aug. 15 Fri., Aug. 16 Sat., Aug. 17 Sun., Aug. 18 Mon., Aug. 19 Tues., Aug. 20 Wed., Aug. 21

Aug. 9

0.15

SAT.

Aug. 10

0.01

SUN.

Aug. 11

SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

0.00

MON.

Aug. 12

0.00

TUES.

Aug. 13

0.00

AUGUST TO DATE

2.35 (2012: 4.64)

YEAR

HIGH 93 90 88 91 93 93 91

TO DATE 26.82 (2012: 27.25)

Thurs., Aug. 15 Fri., Aug. 16 Sat., Aug. 17 Sun., Aug. 18 Mon., Aug. 19 Mon., Aug. 20 Mon., Aug. 21

SUNRISE 6:59 a.m.

6:59 a.m.

7 a.m.

7 a.m.

7:01 a.m.

7:01 a.m.

7:02 a.m.

SUNSET 8:08 p.m.

8:07 p.m.

8:06 p.m.

8:05 p.m.

8:04 p.m.

8:03 p.m.

8:02 p.m.

OKRA PRICES (SOUTH FLORIDA)

LOW 77 77 77 77 75 77 77

MOON PHASES

Aug. 14

Aug. 21

SHIPPING POINT: ORLANDO

PRODUCT 1/2 bushel cartons

LOW HIGH $19 $10.85

Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture

Aug. 28

Aug. 6

, 3&

Mandy Janes calls this photo “Beautiful Blossom.” “I took this photo of an amarillo lilly in my Plant City neighborhood,” she says.

The Plant City Times & Observer, State Farm Insurance agent Tony Lee and The Corner Store have partnered to host the I Love Plant City Photo Contest. Winners will have their photo featured and receive a $10 gift certificate to The Corner Store! To enter, email your photo, along with a caption, to Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com; subject line: I Love Plant City.

FEELING OKAY?

By Roger D. Ellis | Edited by Timothy E. Parker ACROSS 1 Central city of Islam 6 Pesticide banned by the EPA 9 Back talk 13 Navy’s goat, e.g.

19 “... ___ of many colors” 20 Written acknowledgment of a debt 21 Architectural pier 22 Prepare to shower (var.)

23 Time for rueful reflection 26 High-stepping aids 27 Ingratiate 28 Lobster features 30 ___ segno (from the repeat sign, in music) 31 African flying pests 34 Month after Nisan 35 Org. with moles 36 Favre of football fame 39 “And ___ thou slain the Jabberwock?”

40 Baby delivery method 43 Carnival attraction 44 Cyst 45 Flightless flock 48 Plays for time 49 Aged 50 Cavalry’s place 51 Grave message?

52 Oiler or liner 53 Shrewdly tricky 54 Bakery output 56 Natives of Manitoba 58 Fat-nosed antelope 61 Romney of politics 62 Commotion 64 Where a boxer may be trained 65 New Zealand fruit 68 Frosted Lenten pastry 71 Arch type 72 African antelopes 74 Baby’s output?

75 Ending with “play” or “party” 77 Civil War side 78 Haile Selassie follower, familiarly 79 Slow times 81 Common Market inits., once 84 Constriction of the pupil 86 Egg cells 88 Fish organ 89 Dumfries denial 90 Dropped clues 91 Small amount of residue 92 Moonves of CBS 93 Model T manufacturer 94 Go around completely 96 Auspices (var.)

98 Bridal path 99 Lose firmness 100 Backup for a prez 101 Money in reserve 103 Matterhorn, e.g.

104 Lots and lots of groceries 107 Urgent prompting

111 Justification 113 Ache treatment 116 Margaux Hemingway’s grandfather 117 Botanical cover 118 “Able was I ___ ˙” 119 Red Square figure 120 Blue book writings 121 Amount to make do with 122 Not a happy camper 123 Small amounts DOWN 1 Pepper spray alternative 2 Subj. for an MBA 3 Fresh from the fridge 4 Brownie, a few years later 5 “Finally!”

6 Sarcastic comment 7 “Stupid me!”

8 Some learners 9 Call at first 10 “No ifs, ___ or buts” 11 Branch of physics concerned with equilibrium 12 Vote for verbally 13 Marsh rodents 14 Aardvark fare 15 ___ Lanka 16 Attempting to make sales 17 Acquires 18 Unit equal to 10,000 gauss 24 Anger 25 Pearl harborer 29 Lads’ dates 32 Adverb in contracts 33 Cupid’s boss 36 JFK and RFK, e.g.

37 Brook 38 Christian Science founder 41 Chinese civet 42 First Lady Roosevelt 44 Values 81 “The Dukes of Hazzard” spi- 99 Hindu’s wrapping outer gar46 Handy oven noff ment (var.)

47 Revolted 82 Countess’s husband, in Britain 102 Emulate a tide 50 “Donnie Brasco” grp.

83 Formally surrender 104 Brit’s teapot covering 52 Grammar class subject 85 Mansion staff 105 “Miss ___ Regrets” 55 Former Italian leaders 87 “To do” list 106 Cobblers’ tools 57 Artist’s stand 90 Some use faith 108 Volcano in Sicily 59 Comment from the Beaver 91 Disapprove of 109 Not in need of a diet 60 A pint, maybe 93 One in a ring 110 Addition column 61 Making, as money 95 Kind of injection or weapon 112 Caribbean, e.g.

63 Ancient Roman magistrate 97 Beaux ___ (gracious acts) 114 Victorian, for one (var.)

115 Word with “flag” or “alert” 64 Rolling features of some golf 98 Ancient courses 65 Novelist Kesey 66 1969 Nobel Peace Prize CRYPTOGRAMS grp.

1 . C D D C P U I A J N , A R U L Z H H U WA K C G W U Q B 67 Coal-under-the-bed containRUCEN AGPLGJUIKU QI CI CZPDJCIU ZW ers 69 “Jabberwocky” opener APNZIH AQ WUPEU KQBBUU. 70 Hardest on the eyes 73 Hindu loincloth 2 . P AY R PAYA X Z N G P X R E AY B X P N X N W L X Y C 76 Class for U.S. immigrants N Y Y P B O X E Y F P O WA R W V I W P O B L Z C W (Abbr.)

B Y G I C W R X P R Y R W H H YA A C P H H Y V, 78 Knight’s publishing partner 80 Jamaican tangelos L P H H Y V W B A F P H H Y V.

© 2013 Universal Uclick

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