08.22.14 Plant City Times & Observer

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Plant City Times &

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

A PARTNERSHIP WITH

IN THIS ISSUE SPORTS

INSIDE

We conclude our 2014 Primary Primer.

Summer children’s David Ruiz reps program celebrates Plant City at camp faith in song, dance. in Argentina. PAGE 12

PAGE 10

OUR TOWN

+ Hope VBS lends a helping paw Hope Lutheran Church’s vacation Bible school adopted a project to raise money for the K-9 Comfort Dog program of Lutheran Church Charities. Throughout the week of VBS, the children brought their offerings and placed them in the special “comfort dog bank,” designed by Hope member Libby Voigtmann. By the end of VBS, participants had collected $500 for the K-9 comfort dog program of Lutheran Church Charities. Hope also welcomed local therapy dog Bonnie and her owners, George and Cassandra Banning. The Bannings shared with participants Bonnie’s duties at South Florida Baptist Hospital, area schools, nursing homes and the library. The comfort dogs of Lutheran Church Charities are used in times of national crisis and have seen service in event of tornadoes and other natural disasters, as well as times of tragedy such as mass shootings. Individual Lutheran congregations also employ comfort dogs to help bring comfort to hurting members at home, hospital or nursing homes.

FREE • FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2014

PAGES 8-9

leadership by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Plant City commissioners select Michael Herr as new city manager The city will host a meeting Sept. 2, to approve the employee agreement. Herr’s first day will be Sept. 22. Five candidates and five hours later, Plant City commissioners agreed Aug. 19, to enter contract negotiations with the man they would like to see at the city’s helm. The commission selected Michael Herr, of Lakeland, as its top choice. Herr currently serves as public works and utility services administrator for the City of Tampa. The day after the commis-

sion’s selection, Interim City Manager David Sollenberger sent an email to city employees confirming the selection. The commission will hold a special meeting Sept. 2, to approve the employee agreement with Herr. His first day in Plant City is scheduled for Sept. 22. “I believe Mr. Herr will provide excellent administrative leadership (that) Plant City

Michael Herr said he is excited about several Plant City projects, including Midtown. “Plant City is open for business,” he said. “I can help with that.”

will need as it moves into the future,” Sollenberger wrote. Herr’s selection comes after commissioners hosted two days of public interviews with its five finalists. Before the motion to select Herr, commissioners also discussed Wayne Saunders as a finalist. Vice Mayor Bill Dodson also mentioned Gary Shi-

Amber Jurgensen

SEE CITY MANAGER / PAGE 4

WHO GOES THERE?

CLASS ACT

by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

Walden Lake considers 24-hour gate monitoring The community association is working with the city on options to increase security. For months, members of the Walden Lake Community Association have discussed a plethora of issues regarding safety, security and unwanted guests in the country club community. Now, Walden Lake leaders have arrived at a potential solution that would affect every resident in the community: 24hour monitoring at all gates. WLCA President Jim Chancey currently is discussing with city officials the possibility of fully gating Walden Lake. Because the community’s roads are maintained by the municipality, closing the gates requires city approval. Currently, the community’s

Photo by Amber Jurgensen

+ Lions Club pays hospital bill The Plant City Lions Club was able to pay off the last of Gabriel Brannan-Buehl’s medical bills. Gabriel, 3, had lost one of his eyes to an eye cancer. The Lions Club raised $2,800 to cover the cost of his treatment at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, in Miami. “I know lions are courageous, but they also have a really big heart,” said Jen Brannan, Gabriel’s mother.

, 3&

This week’s winner is

Linda Wheelock See her photo on PAGE 15.

Students from throughout Plant City zipped up their backpacks, boarded school buses and reunited with friends and teachers on Tuesday, Aug. 19, for the start of the 2014-15 school year. See page 6 or visit PlantCityObserver.com for more back to school coverage and exclusive photos.

toast of the town

SEE WLCA / PAGE 4 by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

IN OTHER NEWS

YMCA to honor George Banning at 12th Strong Leader Award Dinner Banning is a longtime member of the Plant City Family YMCA and a former board president. For five days a week, George Banning is up with the rising sun, making it to the Plant City Family YMCA just in time for spin class. He even goes on Monday mornings, the same day he has Rotary Club meetings at 7 a.m. That means Banning is on the bike by 5:30 a.m. Banning’s dedication to his health, the fellowship and the facility has attracted the attention of many members at the YMCA. They all have coffee in the mornings in between biking and private personal training drills. His dedication also attracted the attention of the YMCA staff.

This year, Banning has been selected as the 2014 YMCA Strong Leader. He will be honored at an Aug. 26 banquet. “I was very overwhelmed,” Banning said. “I was very appreciative of the offer. There were a couple other candidates I thought should receive it.” Banning was surprised when he learned of his selection. He didn’t realize that, when he was called into a meeting to explain the sport of pickleball, the YMCA staffers were setting him up to announce his award. Since November, Banning had been trying to convince the YMCA to bring pickle-

George Banning ball to the facility. The sport, which originated in California, is played using a tennis net, ping-pong paddle and a Wiffle ball. It’s a less strenuous

replacement for racquet ball. In June, they decided to bring pickleball in, but not before Executive Director Rick Gould approved it. Gould already had approved it but played along with the charade. When Banning entered the meeting, they told him he had been selected at the Strong Leader. Banning served on the YMCA Board from 2001 to 2010 and was president. He’s been major donor chairman and even chairman of the Strong Leader banquet.

SEE BANNING / PAGE 4

INDEX Calendar.......................2

• The board received two quotes for guard shack painting: Jeff Walden Painting ($1,200) and McAdoo painting ($2,400, with the inclusion of special roof coating). Island Painting and TRW Enterprises will soon submit quotes, as well. • Repairs to the three bridges along the trail are underway, and the board expects them to be completed by the end of August. • A resident of Walden Reserve has cut an Emerald Forest fence that borders the property. This is a civil matter between the two subdivisions. The board will discuss the installment of a section of fencing within Emerald Forest that would block the view from the yard of the resident who cut down the original fence.

Vol. 2, No. 4 | One section Crossword...................15

Obituaries...................11

Sports.........................12

Weather ......................15

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COMMUNITYCALENDAR FRIDAY, AUG. 22 Gravity Down — performance takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Story Time — takes place from 11 a.m. to noon, Friday, Aug. 22, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City. (813) 752-8700. Uncork Your Weekend with Savanah Palen — live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. (813) 752-9100.

SATURDAY, AUG. 23 Aerospace Discovery Museum Grand Opening — takes place from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Florida Air Museum, 4175 Medulla Road, Lakeland. Event includes a morning brunch, speaker U.S. Navy Capt. Kevin Miller and more. Cost is $25 per person. For more, visit bit.ly/newfam14. Faces South — performance takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Plant City’s First Baptist Church First Men Fish Fry — takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Charlie Grimes Family Agricultural Center, 2508 Oak Ave., Plant City. Tickets are $10; tables are $80. (813) 7524104. Uncork Your Weekend with Nathan Drowdy — live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. For more information, call (813) 7529100.

Plant City. Beginning and intermediate crochet enthusiasts are welcome to attend, but all students must have a crochet hook; the library has a small supply of yarn that may be utilized during the class. (813) 757-9215.

TUESDAY, AUG. 26 2014 Plant City YMCA Strong Leader Dinner — takes place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road, Plant City. This year’s recipient is George Banning. (813) 757-6677. Ribbon Cutting: Isabel “Cissy” Boza Sevelin, Esquire — takes place from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St., Plant City. For more, visit plantcity.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27 Family Counseling — takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City. (813) 752-8700. Ladies Night Out: Asthma and Allergy Solutions — takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the South Florida Baptist Hospital Administrative Conference Room, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. This seminar will include physicians’ tips for combating issues related to asthma and allergies, along with basic lifestyle management solutions for this common ailment. Seminar is free. A light dinner is included. Registration required; (813) 644-6720 or BayCareEvents.org.

MONDAY, AUG. 25

Open Mic Night — begins at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

Crochet Class — takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St.,

Plant City Fit Club — meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, at 301 N. Dort St., Plant City. Melissa, (813) 395-3953.

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.

THURSDAY, AUG. 28

H.B. Plant Railroad Historical Society — meets from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Larry Whittaker, lwhittaker2@tampabay.rr.com.

Arts and Crafts — takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City. (813) 752-8700.

Line Dancing Lessons — takes place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 E. S.R. 60, Plant City. (813) 7374444.

Family Counseling — takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City. (813) 752-8700. Royal Hills HOA — meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Kristine Wynne, (813) 610-7336.

FRIDAY, AUG. 29 Story Time — takes place from 11 a.m. to noon, Friday Aug. 29, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City. (813) 752-8700.

SATURDAY, AUG. 30 Breastfeeding Class — takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at the South Florida Baptist Hospital Community Conference Room, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. This class will provide the expectant mom and her support person current, evidencebased recommendations for nursing newborns. The class will address latching and positioning, benefits of immediate skin-to-skin contact, newborn hunger signs, tips for returning to work, breastfeeding lifestyles and when to call a health care provider or lactation consultant for help. Registration required; $20. (813) 644-6720 or BayCareEvents.org. St. Mary’s Community Church Yard Sale — takes place beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at Plant City Seafood, 807 S. Maryland Ave. Sale will feature clothing, household items

Open Mike Night — begins at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

BEST BET Plant City Commons Community Garden Fall Gardening Workshop — takes place from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the garden, 309 N. Carey St., Plant City. Learn how to successfully start your own seedlings for fall planting. Open to all adults and children, regardless of experience. An $18 fee includes a seed tray, soil and a selection of flower and vegetable seeds; discussion of sheet mulch garden bed preparation; two hours of hands-on instruction; and an instructional packet. Rosalind Baker, (352) 804-9246 or thefoodforest@gmail.com. and more. Lunch will include fish sandwiches. Proceeds will benefit the church’s food ministry. Betty Goodwine, (813) 717-9226.

ONGOING 1961 PCHS Planter Classmates Monthly Dutch-treat Lunch — takes place at 1 p.m. the last Thursday of each month, at Outback Steakhouse, 1203 Townsgate Court, Plant City. Babytime — takes place from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. (813) 757-9215. Black-and-White Nite — takes place from 6:33 to 8:13 p.m. Thursdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Vintage sitcoms and sci-fi from the 50s and 60s are played on a large drop-down screen. (813) 7521220. Beginner Square Dance Lessons — classes take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays, at Strawberry Square, 4401 Promenade Blvd., Plant City.

First class is free. Plus Square Dance Lessons begin from 8 to 9:30 p.m. (813) 752 0491. Berry Patch Quilt Guild — meets from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, at First Presbyterian Church of Plant City, 404 W. Reynolds St. Use the entrance on Thomas Street. All are welcome. Elaine Green, (813) 763-7353. Christian Ladies Zumba — meets at 11 a.m. Mondays, 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays, at HopeWeaver Church, 2203 W. Baker St., Plant City; and 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, at Shiloh Baptist Church, 905 W. Terrace Drive. Donation only. Gina, (813) 9289998. Duplicate Bridge — meets at 1 p.m. Fridays, at St. Peters Episcopal Church, 302 Carey St., Plant City. Walt Arnold, (813) 752-1602. GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City — meets at 11 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month, at the clubhouse, 1110 N. Wheeler St.

Plant City Civitan Club — meets at 7 a.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month, at Buddy Freddy’s Restaurant, 1101 Goldfinch Drive, Plant City. For more information, call (813) 754-4680. Plant City Federated Republican Women’s Club — meets the third Thursday of each month. The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22, at the home of Judy Wise, 2706 Pine Club Drive, Plant City. Guests are welcome. (863) 370-8389. Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club — meets at 7 a.m. Mondays, at the Community Conference Center at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St. For more, visit plantcitydaybreakrotary.com. Plant City Lions Club — meets at 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, at Buddy Freddy’s, 1101 Goldfinch Drive. For more information, visit plantcitylions.org. Plant City Noon Rotary Club — meets at 12:15 p.m. Mondays, at HCC Plant City’s John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road, Plant City. Plant City Sunday Scrappers — meet from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Bring your own project, plus make quilts for donations. (813) 856-6120. Republican Club of Plant City — meets at 7:15 a.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month, at Buddy Freddy’s Restaurant, 1101 Goldfinch Drive, Plant City.


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travel bug by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Crest students return from European vacation A group of students traveled from Germany to Italy with Strawberry Crest teacher David Katzmayr. Twenty-three high school students and seven chaperones piled into cable cars to get to the top of the Alps. The view of natural Switzerland was amazing. But, the students were focused on something much more magnificent — a pile of snow. Many of the Floridians had never seen snow before. And those who had, never had seen it in June, of all months. It was time for a once-in-a-lifetime snowball fight. “When I came over there, and they saw me, I thought, ‘Uh oh, better get out of here,’” Strawberry Crest teacher David Katzmayr said. Clad in shorts, the students made their way back down the mountain and onto the bus after the fight. Their hands were burning. “They couldn’t believe their hands were cold,” Katzmayr said. “I said, ‘Well, yeah, you’ve been digging around in ice.’” The stop at the Alps was just one of the locations the students visited for a summer trip headed by Katzmayr. Twenty-one of the students were

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One of the sites to see was Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Germany. from Strawberry Crest High School. One was from Plant City High School and another was a recent grad from Durant High School. For 10 days, they toured Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. “Each kid loved different things,” Katzmayr said. They visited Nazi concentration camps. They saw the castle Disney modeled its theme park attraction after. And, they ate all the local food they could

fit into their stomachs. The trip was scheduled through Education First Tours. Katzmayr has worked with the company before. This is his second time taking students on a trip to Europe. “I’ve been fortunate that I’ve traveled all over the world,” Katzmayr said. “I became a teacher to make a difference. Sharing my love of travel is a way to make a difference with the students.”

Trips cost the students about $3,000 each. Katzmayr tries to solicit donations from local companies. If your business would like to help students have a trip to remember, contact Katzmayr at David.Katzmayr@sdhc.k12.fl.us.

Courtesy photo

THE ITINERARY Frankfurt, Germany Rothenburg, Germany Heidelberg, Germany Munich, Germany Hainburg, Austria Venice, Italy Verona, Italy Lucerne, Switzerland Katzmayr held a 25-year career as a vice president of marketing for an insurance company. He’s been to 25 countries and all but three states — North Dakota, West Virginia and New Mexico.

When he retired, he found another calling — teaching. He taught for three years at Plant City High School and then moved to Strawberry Crest, where’s he’s been for five years. In that time, he started a ski club after hearing that many of his students hadn’t seen snow. They took the 12-hour drive to Sugar Mountain in North Carolina every year. “We had a blast,” Katzmayr said. “There was everything in town from restaurants to nice hotels, skiing and tubing down the mountain. I chose that town because there was a lot of activities for high-schoolers.” Last year, Katzmayr took students on a European trip during Spring Break. Summertime worked out better, though. He’s already planning another trip for next year. This one will take students along the Mediterranean coast through Italy, the French Riveria, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Katzmayr himself hasn’t been to Barcelona or Nice, France. He’s already had a dozen kids sign up. “I get to experience it with the kids, their reactions to things, how they interpret things,” Katzmayr said. Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

PICTURE PERFECT

David Katzmayr always notices his students take hundreds of pictures a day on their cellphones during their trip, but they never take them to get them developed. “Then they lose their phones or break them, and the photos are gone,” Katzmayr said. So, he required all his students to make customized photo albums of their trip. A lot of the photos are the same group shots. But, he also adds studentspecific pictures. There are usually about 70 pictures in each album. “Some of them tear up when I give them their album,” Katzmayr said. “I love these kids.”

NEWSBRIEFS

SWEET SALUTE

by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

+ Rollover crash shuts down I-4

Rhonda Burnette, center, was chosen as the 2014 Agriculture Educator of the Year. Although an injury has Burnette temporarily wheelchair-bound, she was present to receive her award.

Dale McClellan received the 2014 award for Agriculturist of the Year. Left: Steve Maxwell, CEO of Highland Packaging Systems, accepted the award for Agribusiness of the Year on his company’s behalf.

fresh PERSPECTIVE The Plant City Chamber of Commerce and Farm Credit of Central Florida hosted its annual Salute to Agriculture Contact Breakfast Aug. 13, at the Strawberry Festival Grounds. This year’s winners included Dale McClellan (Agriculturist of the Year); Marc Sewell and Marshal Sewell (Young Agriculturist of the Year); Rhonda Burnette (Ag Educator of the Year); Highland Packaging Solutions (AgriBusiness of the Year); and the Grimes Family (Supporter of Youth in Agriculture).

The Grimes family won the Supporter of Youth in Agriculture Award. The family donates to universities that offer agriculture programs and employ and train young people on their farms.

Eastbound Interstate 4 was shut down Monday, Aug. 18, while tow trucks removed vehicles involved in a crash. According to Florida Highway Patrol reports, at about 10:30 a.m., a 2001 Ford van, driven by Ricardo Silva, 30, of Tampa, was traveling eastbound on I-4 in the outside lane east of State Road 39, in Plant City. A 2011 Toyota Corolla, driven by Maria Reyes, 57, of Riverview, also was traveling eastbound in the outside lane, when Silva’s driver’s side rear tire blew out. His van began to travel in a northeasterly direction. Silva attempted to regain control, but the van collided with the concrete barrier wall on the paved outside shoulder. The van then overturned and rotated in a clockwise direction until coming to final rest on its roof, facing north blocking the eastbound outside lane and paved shoulder. Reyes’ vehicle ran over a bucket of pink paint that was ejected from the van. The bucket damaged the passenger’s side and undercarriage of the vehicle. A passenger in Silva’s van, Antonio Braga, 35, of Tampa, was taken to Tampa General Hospital.

3:01 a.m. Witnesses identified Glidden as the man ejected from the club. Video surveillance shows Glidden leaving and smashing the passenger side window of a white truck, using his forearms and fists. He suffered severe cuts and lacerations and began bleeding profusely. A blood trail led to a rear parking lot where a .380 casing and projectile were located. Video surveillance then shows a white Jeep Cherokee SUV four-door leaving the scene, heading northbound on U.S. 301 and passing in front of the nightclub. The suspect fired five to six shots in the direction of the club. According to the HCSO, Glidden entered South Florida Baptist Hospital with severe lacerations and bruising to his arms and fists. He made statements indicating he was the subject that had been peppersprayed and had broken the window. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the Glidden’s home and located a Taurus .380 in his bedroom, as well as bloody clothing worn at the club. The white Jeep Cherokee was located at a friend’s house and impounded. Glidden was arrested and transported to Orient Road Jail. He currently faces one count of second-degree murder, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

+ Dover man arrested at fatal club shooting + HCFR extinguishes After being pepper-sprayed fire at Cork church and kicked out of a Tampa Club on Sunday, Aug. 16, a Dover man was arrested on charges connected to a fatal shooting that followed. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Dougie Glidden, 18, was at Club 301, 8222 U.S. 301, in Tampa, when he shot Maribel Sanchez-Garza, 49, of Plant City, at about

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue units responded to a fire at Cork United Methodist Church, Aug. 15. The church off Sam Allen Road had smoke coming from the rear of the building. Fire units were able to extinguish the fire from inside, preventing any further damage. Investigation is ongoing.

CHANGE OF SCENERY by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

Karen G’s Creatives sparkles at new location The bead and jewelry shop moved just a block from its original location, but owner Karen Gillespie said the new location has many advantages. If any Plant City jewelry enthusiasts have wondered what happened to Karen G’s Creatives, they will be glad to know the store did not disappear. It simply moved to a new, bigger location. Karen Gillespie opened Karen G’s Creatives in January on West Reynolds Street, but she moved down the block Aug. 9. The store’s new address is 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 300.

Gillespie said the new location is more spacious, which allows her to offer jewelrymaking classes and provide a larger stock. She also hopes to sell items made by artists other than herself. As a plus, parking at the new store is easier than before. Karen G’s Creatives classes will cover a range of skills within the art of jewelry-making.

KAREN G’S CREATIVES ADDRESS: 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 300 HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays PHONE: (813) 704-5982 “They can encompass from stringing bracelets, to resins, to peyote stitch. There’s a big realm,” Gillespie said. Classes will be targeted for specific age groups, and some will be offered for children.

Gillespie first started making jewelry three years ago as a stress-relieving method. “I was working in the corporate world, but when I retired from my other job, I did (jewelry making) three months out of the house before I decided to open a store,” she said. Gillespie sells her handmade products online, even internationally. She is the sole owner of the business, but her mother, Mary Lott, helps her in the store. The best way to contact Gillespie about products and

Catherine Sinclair

Karen Gillespie has been busy setting up shop since her store opened at its new location two weeks ago. classes is through her Facebook page: Karen G’s Creatives by Karen Gillespie.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.


ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP 12TH ANNUAL STRONG LEADER AWARD DINNER WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26 WHERE: HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road CONTACT: Reagan Thomas at Reagan. Thomas@tampaymca.org or (813) 757-6677

BANNING / PAGE 1 In fact, he’s been active with the YMCA since he finished his five-year stint with the U.S. Air Force. “In the service, I had a lot of opportunity to exercise,” Banning said. “I got to know the YMCA director in the community I was living in. Since then, I’ve always looked to the Y. I believe in the program.” That community was Columbus, Ohio. From there, he served on the Metropolitan Board that oversees all

YMCAs in Franklin County, Ohio. When he moved to Orlando to manage Wendy’s restaurants in 13 counties, he joined the local YMCA. After he and his wife, Cassandra, moved in 1994, to Plant City, he got involved with the YMCA yet again. His other accomplishments include an extensive résumé of Rotary service. Banning has been in Rotary since 1976 and has been president of the local club, district governor, received the Service Above Self, Meritorious and Club Building awards, and hosted other club members from all over the world, such as Russia, Taiwan and India. Banning also serves on the United Food Bank of Plant City and the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center boards. “I’ve enjoyed working with people,” Banning said. “I love Plant City. I’ve never met more friendly people.” Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

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HOW THEY COMPARE MICHAEL HERR

FROM: Lakeland CURRENT POSITION: Public works and utility services administrator, Tampa EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Indiana State University Michael Herr has held a variety of positions with the City of Tampa and Polk County. City commissioners Mike Sparkman and Billy Keel were concerned Herr was overqualified for the position in Plant City. But, Herr reassured them he was a good fit. “I’m at my best when I have the opportunity to work with a City Commission … to develop a community,” Herr said. “I have not just driven through your city.” Herr spent last Saturday at Bruton Memorial Library, remarking that it had about 70 people at it and calling the facility an asset. If selected, he planned to get involved in civic organizations, as well. Herr’s plans for economic development for Plant City include Midtown. “I think marketing is key,” Herr said. “Plant City is open for business. … I can help with that.” Herr also wants to make sure the city is focusing on succession. When employees retire, the city should grow and recruit from within, he said.

CITY MANAGER / PAGE 1 mun as his third pick. “We’re very, very fortunate to have two gentlemen who could lead our team,” Mayor Rick Lott said of Herr and Saunders. “The energy, the effort, the relationship would be the same.” But Lott said Herr’s extensive experience uniting 17 cities in Polk County as county manager would benefit Plant City. “It took a lot of effort for him to unite it like that,” Lott said. “He’s created the plan, and he’s implemented it.” The rest of the city commissioners agreed Herr was a strong candidate. Commissioners Mike Sparkman and Mary Mathis had picked Saunders as a first choice, with Herr as a second choice. “It just seemed like (Saunders) had that home-type personality to me,” Mathis said. Commissioner Billy Keel made the motion to instruct Mercer Group Senior Vice President W.D. Higginbotham Jr., who was in charge

THIS WEEK’S CROSSWORD ANSWERS

THIS WEEK’S CRYPTOGRAM ANSWERS 1. A skeleton was confused by a ghost asking him to go trick-ortreating. He calmly refused, as he had no body to go with. 2. One magnet was chatting with another. They were getting to be fast friends. The first commented: “I find you very attractive, but I want to be sure our fields are mutual.”

WAYNE SAUNDERS

FROM: Clermont CURRENT POSITION: Finance director, Port Orange EDUCATION: MPA and bachelor’s degree in business administration, Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, N.C.) Wayne Saunders has been working for the past 18 months as the finance director in Port Orange. But, city management is where he wants to be. “It didn’t take long to realize that city management is my profession,” he said. “The more homework I did on what the (Plant City) does, what the city stands for, I realize this is what I want to do.” Saunders described himself as a participatory manager, with emphasis on prioritizing and timely correspondence. “If you want to get the job done, you have to delegate,” Saunders said. When it comes to economic development, Saunders described his plans with Clermont when freezes came through and froze the town’s lucrative citrus industry. He took 2,000 acres with no infrastructure or zoning and created an operational center that includes two hotels, several restaurants, a hospital and a community college. Several of Plant City’s development plans interest him. “Things like when you get into Midtown plan and the Northeast plan — that’s fun,” Saunders said.

of the search, to enter negotiations with Herr under the current parameters, which include a salary range of $120,000 to $135,000. Herr would be taking a pay cut by accepting the position under the salary specifications. Herr’s background also includes experience as transportation director and public works director for Polk County; director of public works for Lakeland; town manager of Dundee; and deputy county administrator of Hernando County. During the interviews, there was no one present, except the commissioners, Sollenberger, City Attorney Ken Buchman, Higginbotham and the candidates. Each commissioner was given a chance to ask multiple questions on rotating basis during the interview process. Last month, commissioners received a 450-page binder with portfolios from 76 candidates from throughout the country. The commission narrowed the field to seven and then five. Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

COPS CORNER PLANT CITY

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

AUG. 1

MARY JANE’S LAST DANCE

Intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and West Baker Street. Possession of Drugs. The officer completed a traffic stop. Upon approach of the vehicle, he could smell marijuana. A search of the vehicle yielded marijuana. The driver was arrested and later released on his own recognizance.

SCARY SITUATION

4200 block of West State Road 574. Armed Robbery. An officer responded to South Florida Baptist Hospital, in reference to a Hispanic male with wounds to his face. The victim stated he was walking home, when two suspects demanded his money.

AUG. 2

SQUARE SMASHED

3010 block of West Reynolds Street. Criminal Mischief. Unknown suspect(s) broke the window of a 2014 Nissan Cube, while it was parked in the parking lot.

HONDA HAMMERED

3100 block of Sammonds Road. Criminal Mischief. Unknown suspect(s) broke the windshield on a 2004 Honda, while it was parked in the parking lot.

SHOPPING SPREE

1420 block of South Collins Street. Theft. The victim reported that her wallet was taken from her purse, while she was shopping in the store. Her driver’s license, Wells Fargo bank card and $10 in cash were in the wallet. The bank card was later used for a purchase at a Best Buy. The credit card has since been cancelled.

NICE TRY

1600 block of East Alabama Street. Attempted Auto Theft. Overnight, unknown suspect(s) attempted to steal a 2006 Dodge van from the parking lot.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Retail Theft. The officer arrested a suspect who

WLCA / PAGE 1 gates are open to the public between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., cars must enter through the main entrance gates off either Alexander Street or Trapnell Road; the community’s other gates are padlocked. If the WLCA decided to convert to a fully gated community, residents would be able to enter through any gate, possibly via a clicker or fob device, said WLCA Vice President Rich Glorioso. Guests would have to enter the community through either the Alexander Street or Trapnell Road entrances, which would be monitored at all times — either by a live security guard or via digital monitoring. Although the community would be fully gated, Glorioso said the guards could not deny access to anyone wishing to enter. However, there would be an accurate log of every person and car entering the community, he said. The idea of fully gating the community came several months after the WLCA began researching upgrading the security cameras throughout the community. At their Aug. 18 meeting, WLCA members directed property management firm Associa to obtain price quotes and options for 24hour gate monitoring. The board’s decision to increase the community’s security is a response to the recurring problem of non-residents using Walden Lake amenities, such as its playground, walking trails and water access. For example, although signs indicate that unauthorized vehicles at Walden Lake Park will be towed, cars without residential stickers are of-

AUG. 7

MEAT MAN

2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Theft. The suspect was arrested for stealing $53 worth of steaks. The suspect had a warrant for failing to appear. He was transported to Orient Road Jail upon warrant confirmation.

stole from the store, resisted the merchant, then fled from police on foot.

AUG. 4

BIG PAYDAY

2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Retail Theft. Officers responded to the store and arrested the suspect, after he was detained by loss-prevention officials for stealing $1.58 worth of merchandise.

THE OL’ SWITCHEROO

Unknown location. Grand Theft. Over the past few days, the past tenants of one of the units in the apartment complex swapped out the refrigerator belonging to this apartment complex. According to complex management, the past tenants took a good refrigerator and left an old, less-valuable refrigerator without consent.

FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNT

2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Shoplifting. The officer arrested the female adult for the theft of $55 worth of merchandise.

TAG TROUBLE

1210 block of Goldfinch Drive. Stolen License Plate. Unknown suspect(s) stole Florida license plate 3296JU.

AUG. 5

DISAPPEARING ACT

Unknown block of Roberts Ranch Road. Stolen Truck. Overnight, an unknown suspect(s) stole a black, fourdoor Dodge Ram truck with the Florida license plate number 7734IU. The truck was entered into FCIC/NCIC as stolen.

HOT WHEELS

Unknown block of Granfield Avenue. Burglary/Grand Theft. Overnight, unknown suspect(s) entered a citizen’s garage and stole two 125-cc gas-powered dirt bikes.

ten found there, especially at the park, which has a limited number of parking spaces available. “Our residents can’t even get to our park, because people outside are using it,” WLCA Director Bob Hunter said. The board hopes to come closer to decisions on what to do about these issues at its September meeting.

MOTORIZED VEHICLES BANNED

The board approved a revised policy regarding motorized vehicles in Walden Lake. “We have some kids that are running four-wheelers through the property,” Glorioso said. The policy prohibits drivers from using motorized vehicles (golf carts, ATVs, mo-peds, motor cycles and any other vehicle above five-brake horsepower) anywhere around the lake, park or other common areas. There are special guidelines for golf carts. Golf carts are the only motorized vehicle approved for use on the golf course. They may also be used on WLCA paths solely for the purpose of going to and from Walden Lake Golf and Country Club (during open hours), or Walden Lake Elementary School (from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. on school days, or for special events). Anyone operating a golf cart without a valid driver’s license or current liability insurance, or operating any motorized vehicle in violation of the updated policy, is guilty of trespassing and will be charged accordingly. Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.


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A WOMAN’S TOUCH by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Plant City club searches for a few good women The Woman’s Club of Plant City is organizing an event to honor local women veterans. The club is searching for service members to be part of the inaugural celebration. The Woman’s Club of Plant City already has a date, place and plan for its first event at Veterans Memorial Monument Park honoring women veterans. Now, all it needs are the veterans themselves. The club will be putting on a touching ceremony, Nov. 8. It will be free and open to the public, and the club hopes to have a proclamation presented by the city. Refreshments will be available, and dignitaries will attend. But, the true stars are the women service members the club wants to honor. “What we hear and see is our men going into combat and war,� said organizer S a r a h Governor. “But, we need to recognize that women are there, too. Veterans Day honors veterans, but they’re not just women veterans. They are mothers, daughters — more nurturing than men are.� The idea is the brainchild of

WANT TO PARTICIPATE?

The Woman’s Club of Plant City is looking for women veterans to participate in its first Veterans Day event in Plant City. The event will take place Nov. 8, at Veterans Memorial Monument Park, located behind the Bruton Memorial Library off North Wheeler Street. A time still has not been set. If you are a woman veteran or know one, contact the Woman’s Club of Plant City at (813) 7524871 or send an email to womansclub. plantcity@ gmail.com.

new president Nancy Miller. She asked each of her six committees to complete two projects a year — one in the fall and one in the spring. Governor is the chairwoman for the pub-

lic issues committee. As a new member, she is excited to get going on putting together the event and to honor the veterans. “Many might say that it was just their job,� Governor said. “That’s enough for them, but that’s not enough for me. We want to thank them.� The plan is to pick one veteran from each branch of the military to share their experiences with the audience. “Each one would have their own different experience,� Governor said. “It’s important to share with younger generations.� Governor already has heard of one veteran in her 90s from another club member. But, she needs help tracking her down and any other women veterans. “It sounds like she would have a lot to say,� Governor said. If you are a woman veteran or know one, contact the Woman’s Club of Plant City at (813) 752-4871 or send an email to womansclub.plant city@gmail. com. Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE!

SCOTLAND.

Matt and Joyce Nestor took their favorite newspaper to the Queen’s View, high in the Perthshire Highlands of Scotland. The Nestors spent two weeks in Europe, touring the World War I battlefields and memorials around Ieper, Belgium, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI, and the villages and fields around Ste. Mere Eglise, site of the first paratrooper landings of the 82nd and 101st Airborne 70 years ago on D-Day, and the D-Day beaches. They finished the trip with a visit to Edinburg and the Highlands of Scotland. The Plant City Times & Observer and Cruise Planners have partnered to present our monthly It’s Read Everywhere Photo Contest. Each month, we will select one winner, whose photo will be featured in the newspaper. Entering is easy! Just snap a photo of you with the paper at your destination of choice and email it to Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com. Make sure you include your full name and where the photo was taken.

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CITY CELEBRATES END OF SUMMER

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saved by the bell by the Times & Observer staff

BAILEY HOSTS SUPERINTENDENT’S 2014 CONFERENCE

JAVA JUMPSTART

Courtesy photo

Alexis Garza started kinPlant City High School students Shelbi Raney, Emily Cook and Merritt dergarten at Independence Academy. Smith were happy to see each other.

The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce welcomed the city’s newest teachers with its annual New Teacher Coffee Aug. 14, at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

SPLASH ZONE Pam Kanyuh welcomed parents and students to her second-grade classroom at Wilson Elementary. Kanyuh previously taught first grade in North Dakota, but said she was excited about the new grade and location.

Plant City students dig in for 2014-15 school year It was organized chaos at Marshall Middle School when students piled off buses for their first day of school, Aug. 19. Principal Daphne Blanton gave a pep talk to one bus before exiting and patrolling the ramp. “Another year, another fresh beginning,” Blanton said. “They

The Walden Lake Community Association held its annual back-to-school party for the neighborhood kids and families at the Plant City YMCA. Party-goers received school supplies and devoured pizza and ice cream, but the highlight was swimming in the pool.

Courtesy photo

s excited Emma Jane Brown wa ool. for the beginning of sch

just don’t know what lies ahead. There’s so many surprises in middle school.” Once the students were inside the school, they gathered for supervised socialization on the patio and enjoyed a free breakfast. Middle schools were the last to start the school day at 9 a.m. High school and elementary students didn’t get to sleep in quite as late. Whether it was a freshman’s new beginning or the start of a senior’s farewell tour, Plant City High School students were happy to be back — even in the wee hours of the morning. Students greeted each other with hugs and high-fives and showed off their best back-to-school fashions before the 7:25 a.m. bell rang. Students and families filled Wilson Elementary School shortly after. Breakfast was served in the cafeteria for students who arrived early, and many parents stayed to eat with their children.

Courtesy photo

Brothers Colton and Noah Kirby were all smiles on the first day of school. The hallways were filled with smiling teachers holding their doors open wide as students raced to find their classrooms before the bell.

Hillsborough County Public Schools will undergo many changes this year, and some of the most significant improvements will enhance students’ safety and security. Superintendent MaryEllen Elia announced these plans and other updates at a conference Aug. 15, at Bailey Elementary School. The district has spent $1.6 million to increase school security, which was partially a response to recent tragedies, such as school shootings nationwide. These funds aided the addition of 20 community school officers. All of the CSOs have extensive experience in law enforcement, security or the military. They will be devoted to securing Hillsborough schools all day, every day. Each CSO will cover about six schools, but potentially more or less, depending on locations and populations. “These guys are assigned to a zone of schools,” said Bill Belcher, senior ranking lieutenant of security for Hillsborough County Public Schools. “Each day, they’re the first responder to those six or seven schools in their zone.” He said the goal was to organize the zones so that the response time for any school would be 10 minutes or less. The officers will help direct traffic in the mornings and afternoons, make sure doors and gates are locked and interact with students between classes. “I’m not just a person with a gun, but I’m an advocate for the children,” said Quentinlee Morgan, who will be a CSO for schools in south Tampa. “I’m here to help.” Transportation was another major theme. Last year, district leaders had developed a transportation improvement plan to solve certain problems, such as buses breaking down or arriving late to school. The school board has approved the purchase of 100 new buses, which will be phased into circulation this school year. In addition, there are 200 spare buses that are immediately available to replace malfunctioning buses in emergency situations. “It holds the opportunity for there to be as little disruption as possible in our transportation system,” Elia said. — Catherine Sinclair

HCPS 2014

BY THE NUMBERS

MUSIC IN ME by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

203,506: The number of students (Pre-K to 12) 15,880: The number of teachers 279: The number of schools in the district 20: The number of community school officers $37,569.47: The beginning teacher salary

Durant High School scores new music director Bruce Herrmann is coming to the school after completing his master’s in instrumental conducting. Bruce Herrmann winds his way through the Durant High School band room full of exhausted students. He steps over instrument cases as he makes his way to the back office. It was July. School hadn’t even started, but the marching band was already practicing for first semester football games under its new music director. “Our first performances are the second and third week, so we have to get a jumpstart,” Herrmann said.

Herrman previously served as the music director at Eastbay High School, a position he obtained after graduating from the University of South Florida in 2003. After East Bay, he moved on to Chamberlain High School. He was there for eight years before taking a break to earn his master’s degree. When he was finished with school, he saw the opening at Durant. “It was time for a change, time for something different,” Herrmann said. “I had always

Plant City Times & Observer Locally Owned by Ed Verner, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes 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

seen the Durant band. The parents were involved with the booster club, the kids are really hard-working.” Not only is Herrmann at the helm of Durant’s music program, but also he plays in a professional band, the Florida Wind Band. The New Port Richey native started playing music when he was in the fourth grade on alto saxophone. It was the cheapest to rent. In seventh grade, he switched to euphonium and never went back. “The sound — it has a really unique sound and quality,” Herrmann said.

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SEND US YOUR NEWS

We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via: Email: Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@ PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563

When he enrolled at USF, he became one of the first members of the Herd of Thunder. The band started two years after the football program began. Playing in the Florida Wind Band fills the void teaching takes away. But, he couldn’t imagine doing anything else. “My goal is to give every student that comes to the program … an opportunity to develop themselves musically and teach them leadership,” Herrmann said. “For me, it’s not just about offering the musical experience. I want them leaving with a little bit

CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays. 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.

Courtesy photo

Bruce Herrmann’s instrument of choice is the euphonium.

more than how to play music.” Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

School Board meetings are held in the Raymond O. Shelton School Administrative Center auditorium, 901 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. A schedule is available at sdhc.k12.fl.us. Video recordings of school board meetings are available on-demand at sdhcwebcasts.com.

Plant City Times &

Observer

General Manager/Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com General Manager/Advertising / Stacey Hudson, shudson@tampabay.com Managing Editor / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writers / Justin Kline, jkline@PlantCityObserver.com; Catherine Sinclair, csinclair@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Executives / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@PlantCityObserver.com; Joanna Verga, jverga@tampabay.com Circulation/Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

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


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2014 PRIMARY PRIMER

CANDIDATE Q&As Editor’s Note: As the Aug. 26 primary election draws closer, the Plant City Times & Observer will be publishing profiles and Q&As from each of the candidates who will represent Plant City and its constituents. In this final edition before the primary, we introduce the candidates for the hotly contested Hillsborough County School Board District 6: incumbent April Griffin and her challengers, Asher Edelson, Alison McGillivray Fernandez, Dr. Stacy Hahn, Paula Meckley, Dipa Shah, Lee Sierra and Randy Toler. We also present School Board District 2 candidate Michelle Popp Shimberg. That race also includes candidates Sally Harris and Michael Weston, but neither returned repeated inquiries by phone and email seeking comment. Responses have been edited according to space, not content.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 6

FOR FULL CANDIDATE ANSWERS, VISIT PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

ASHER EDELSON What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions? The School Board lacks critical perspective. Education is an institution that serves parents, teachers and students. Therefore, all three of those groups should be represented on local boards, so important issues are not overlooked. Student nutrition and parental involvement need a louder voice, and I intend to be that voice. I understand that dialogue and consensus are imperative and plan to work with fellow board members to impact our schools.

Teachers and schools deserve the right to modify standards in the classroom. I fervently oppose state standardized testing (such as FCAT) and would vote to opt Hillsborough County out of all state tests.

What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum? I do not support Common Core.

What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions? In schools across Hillsborough

What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board? I am a people person — I can be a team player and remain dedicated to my goals. I stand for real issues that demand attention, such as student nutrition and transparency. There should be at least one student on the School Board to provide the student perspective on key issues.

County, parent-teacher conferences begin at 4:30 p.m. and end at 6:30 p.m. A more sensible time for these conferences to be held would be from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It is crucial that parents maintain a vested interest in their child’s success, and they should be encouraged to participate in their child’s education. I want to pass a countywide policy that would require all schools to hold their quarterly parent-teacher conferences at a later time that appropriately accommodates parent work schedules. Another problem is the processed school food, which should be replaced with locally sourced, organic food. The School Board has to instruct the office of Student Nutrition Services to purchase healthier food, so our students aren’t being fed poison. The School Board has to stand for the kids who cannot afford a brown-bag lunch.

BIO

former financial auditor, and, through my experiences as a PTSA officer, I have the qualifications to analyze complicated financial information. I have negotiated collective-bargaining agreements. I have the experience of having four children in traditional public schools and working with the school district to implement rigorous academic programs such as STEM and Bank Street.

BIO

AGE: 20 FAMILY: Father, mother, sister HOMETOWN: Atlanta EDUCATION: H.B. Plant High School;

currently studying political science at Hillsborough Community College EXPERIENCE: Volunteer at Community Tampa Bay, Student Advisory Committee board member, Florida House of Representatives messenger FAVORITE AUTHOR AND BOOK: J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Hobbit” IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE?

Mohandas K. Gandhi WEBSITE: voteasher.com

ALISON FERNANDEZ What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions? The achievement gap continues to grow, and the district is struggling with student and teacher motivation. Programs such as STEM and other hands-on teaching activities engage all types of students and have proven successful with lowachieving students. The low-income students involved in programs such as that are improving their academics. There need to be more programs that engage students in that style, and some of the styles at magnet schools need to be brought into traditional schools, as well. Students need more opportunity to assess their skills and strengths. This will help students explore careers and make a stronger

connection between what they are learning in school and how it will benefit them in their future. The district also needs to bring more vocational education into the system and expose students to these areas at younger ages, so they have a chance to learn about all types of education, not just college. What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum? I am opposed to the Common Core initiative being implemented by Florida, and I have met with state legislators to tell them my thoughts on the subject. What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board? I am a currently elected official and

What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions? The issues Plant City schools are facing are similar to what is happening at other district schools. The student achievement gap is growing, and parents are becoming more concerned about student behavior and providing an appropriate educational environment for their students.

AGE: 46 FAMILY: Married 21 years to Jose

Fernandez; four sons HOMETOWN: Temple Terrace EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Florida State University EXPERIENCE: Temple Terrace City Council; School Support Task Force Council liaison; Temple Terrace Audit Committee; Regional Planning Council; PTSA FAVORITE AUTHOR AND BOOK:

Douglas Adams, “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy;” Tim Dorsey — any; James Mitchner, “The Source” IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE?

Benjamin Franklin WEBSITE: VoteAlison.com

APRIL GRIFFIN What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions? One area that is going to require a great deal of attention is the escalating administrative costs. Our district overcame the financial crisis our nation faced without furloughs or layoffs. We cut more than $300 million out of our budget during the past seven years. As we are starting to see the light of day with our budget, I am concerned the district is putting too much emphasis on rebuilding administration to the pre-recession level or more. What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum? After much research and delibera-

tion, I do not support Common Core, aka the Florida Standards. That being said, there are parts of the Florida Standards that are good and, if taken and applied individually, could help students be successful. Unfortunately, we have had so many funded and unfunded mandates forced on us over the past decade that are still not fully implemented. I don’t think we need to take on another major initiative, especially one that will have far too many unintended consequences, until we have successfully and fully implemented all of the other initiatives. What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board? My experience as a School Board member for the past seven years makes me the most qualified can-

didate. I have kept every campaign promise I made when I ran for office in 2006 and when I ran for reelection in 2010. I have raised questions that other board members were unwilling to raise, and, as a result, there have been major changes in our district. What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions? Students are being pushed into advance placement courses and not given enough opportunity to take elective courses. Career and technical courses are a vital part of a student’s educational career. Not all students are going to go to college, whether by choice, circumstance or ability. If we don’t offer our students options other than College Board courses, we are not only doing them a disservice, we are hurting the community as a

BIO AGE: 45 FAMILY: Husband, Brian, married 25

years; two sons HOMETOWN: Born and raised in Hillsborough County EDUCATION: Currently enrolled at Eckerd College with one term left to complete bachelor’s degree in organizational studies EXPERIENCE: Current School Board member; owner of software development company FAVORITE AUTHOR AND BOOK: “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Daniel Covey IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE? Thomas

Jefferson

WEBSITE: VoteApril.com

DR. STACY HAHN What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions? The state/school district budget is going to be a challenge over the next five years. The $18.8 billion in funding for K-12 education funding for this year includes $10.6 billion in state funds and is a significant improvement over years past. However, given inflation and the growth of our population, the increase in our education budget is still less than it was before the recession.

mentation of the standards across the district. We need to engage stakeholders in the process and allow them to provide their expertise and advice, rewrite some of the standards to reflect developmentally appropriate learning, revise the related tests, and provide teachers with training on how to align the standards with student needs/goals, so they are operationalized in a way that supports student learning. Additionally, there needs to be a moratorium on the testing tied to the new standards while implementation is being revamped.

What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum? I support rigorous standards in concept but have concerns regarding the Florida Standards and the imple-

What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board? I have experience in all phases of the educational process. It is essential, given the current state of the Hillsbor-

ough County School Board, that our board members have experience that includes classroom teaching, higher education, research, policy and educational leadership. What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions? One of the biggest issues facing schools in Plant City is the mobile migrant student population. The district should establish collaborative partnerships between migrant families and their children’s teachers, counselors, administrators and staff to ensure students attend school regularly and have access to programs and resources. Also, continued professional development at the district and school level in cultural competence will help establish the respect of the cultures represented in our ELL populations.

BIO AGE: 47 FAMILY: Husband, Jeff; children,

Ethan and Jackson, 8-year-old-twins, and Aidan, 5 HOMETOWN: Hollywood EDUCATION: Doctoral degree in special education, University of Florida EXPERIENCE: Visiting assistant professor and coordinator of the Undergraduate Special Education Program at the University of South Florida in the College of Education in the Department of Special Education FAVORITE AUTHOR AND BOOK: “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE? Jesus WEBSITE: votehahn.com


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PAULA MECKLEY

DISTRICT 2

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 6

What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions? Ensuring every student is prepared for life after high school. The solution requires a multi-faceted, early-in-life approach that should include robust preschool programs with high-quality teaching professionals. In middle and high school, expose students to college and careers options and ensure the opportunity for students to pursue relevant high quality technical and vocational careers. The community has a vested interest in the success of these children, so recruiting mentors can help to close the experience gap. Research shows that poverty has psychological effects on children, we must approach

our efforts with humanity and understanding. Prevention is more costeffective than remediation. What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum? I am against government intervention in local education decisions. I was part of a team of moms that was successful in the removal of a math curriculum from Hillsborough elementary schools. Higher standards are imperative for student growth. Students can achieve more and will stretch to higher goals when exposed to an environment of high expectations. Common standards (not curriculum) can be a useful tool for teachers, parents and students. However, we must remember it is just one tool and not a final solution.

What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board? I am uniquely qualified because of my exposure to how the district works through the many projects I have accomplished in our public schools. Two of my children have graduated from our public schools, and I still have a child in our public schools. What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions? Plant City High School is experiencing for the first time a higher number of students who qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch. This change in the makeup of the school’s population requires the district to pay special attention and provide the needed resources to meet these new challenges.

BIO AGE: 53 FAMILY: Husband Scott Meckley; chil-

dren Alex, 22, Abby, 20, and Quay, 17 HOMETOWN: Lake Placid EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in retail merchandising, minor in early childhood development, FSU EXPERIENCE: Seventeen years of volunteerism in public schools; PTSA president and treasurer of multiple schools; Citizens Advisory Council to the School Board FAVORITE AUTHOR AND BOOK: “A Land Remembered” by Patrick D. Smith IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE? Clara

Barton

WEBSITE: votePaulaMeckley.com

DIPA SHAH What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions? The board has become fractured, and it is time for fresh perspectives. There will not be any progress until these issues are resolved. Second, the district is the eighth-largest in the country and serves a diverse community. There has to be better communication and engagement with the families and community members. What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum? I do not support the Common Core/ Florida Standards. The CCSS/FS have been touted as being designed to raise the bar in education. However, there

has not been any vetting or long-term evaluation of the standards or whether the new teaching styles are truly effective. What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board? The School Board position is an advisory and administrative position. It is about how to manage the district more effectively and efficiently. I have the experiences as a volunteer to give me insights to the issues inside the classroom and inside of our schools. As an attorney, I have been trained to identify problems and to find solutions through an analytical process. For all of my professional career, I have worked with organizations to identify problems in the organizations and implement plans to make the organization more effective and efficient.

What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions? Some of the issues facing schools in Plant City stem from the diverse and growing population. As a School Board member, I intend to work with the families and community members of Plant City to identify the issues and to develop plans and policies to solve the problems. The best way to find a solution is to experience the situation. I have made many friends in Plant City and have engaged in activities in Plant City, from visiting with friends, going to soccer games at the Plant City fields on Park Road, to being a regular customer at businesses in Plant City and, of course, the Florida Strawberry Festival. My experiences and connections to Plant City will help me be a voice for my neighbors in Plant City.

BIO AGE: 43 FAMILY: Husband, Dr. Suketu Shah;

children Devan and Jaysan HOMETOWN: Valrico EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in business administration and Juris doctorate EXPERIENCE: Licensed to practice law for 19-plus years; 12-plus years of volunteer service in schools FAVORITE AUTHOR AND BOOK: I enjoy reading inspirational books, philosophy, economics, fantasy, thrillers, religion and spirituality — anything that helps me become a better person or, occasionally, is just entertaining. IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE?

Abraham Lincoln WEBSITE: VoteDipa.com

LEE SIERRA What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions? We must streamline the teacher and administration evaluations. I’ve spoken to a number of teachers, and they are concerned with how the evaluations are done. It is vital that the peer evaluations are conducted by evaluators that have experience with the grade level and the curriculum of the teacher they are evaluating. In the long term, I would like to focus on allocating as much money as possible for the classrooms. It is vital that teachers have all of the necessary resources possible to be successful in the classroom, ultimately giving the students the opportunity to succeed. What is your position on Common

Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum? While decisions regarding our children’s education are best decided locally, I unfortunately foresee Common Core as an inevitable part of our children’s future. However, I promise to work with all stakeholders — students, teachers, administrators, parents and lawmakers — to solidify the best possible outcome for our children. What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board? I was born and raised in Hillsborough County and have a vested interest in the district. What sets me apart from the other candidates is that I’ve seen Hillsborough schools from nearly every angle possible. I’ve been a student, worked alongside teachers, administrators and faculty members at all levels,

and partnered with private-sector companies to handle county contracts. I have heard the frustrations, insights and opinions from all sides and understand what it would take to make Hillsborough County schools the best in the country. I believe their voices deserve to be honestly represented on the School Board. What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions? One of the greatest issues that can be solved in the short term is the communication at every level within the district. Students, parents, teachers, faculty members and the community as a whole deserve to be informed about what is happening in the district. I will strive to make sure information is available and public. It is important to keep everyone informed.

BIO AGE: 32 FAMILY: Single HOMETOWN: Tampa EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in

business administration, University of Central Florida; master’s degree in business management, University of Tampa EXPERIENCE: Substitute teacher; volunteer basketball coach; director of business development with a local distribution company; associate for global commercial real estate firm FAVORITE AUTHOR AND BOOK: Michael Lewis, “Moneyball” IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE?

Abraham Lincoln WEBSITE: LeeSierraFL.com

RANDY TOLER What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions? The biggest challenge is a gridlocked School Board. I offer fresh, pragmatic leadership focused on common ground to move the district forward with careful analysis of waste in the budget, new policy initiatives such as creation of an ombudsman office for special-needs students and parents, and revamping of superintendent evaluation process.

taxpayer money and reduces the focus on learning.

What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum? I do not support Common Core. In fact, I believe it is an industrial testing complex out of control that wastes

What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions? Increased pace of digitization of classrooms, after-school youth activities, increased security leveraging

What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board? My 6-year-old son is profoundly autistic, and I have seen the challenges up close for special-needs parents. The district’s ESE program is in need of revamping, and I propose an ombudsman office. The 26,000 students and parents are treated like secondclass citizens, and I am determined to change this. My IT experience will help a tech-challenged school board.

federal grants and Common Core are all important issues facing Plant City schools.

BIO

Any other thoughts/comments? I want to be a vote for change. District 6 is countywide, and it is time for a change. I want to plow through the bureaucratic roadblocks holding hostage the efficient, effective education of our students and end the rudderless drift of the current School Board. Outlying areas of the county such as Plant City need better representation by the School Board. And, finally, I have an extensive political track record spanning three decades, including extensive national massmedia coverage, and I want to bring that experience of bringing together diverse coalitions on the national level to the School Board and excellence to the education process.

Kellie, 13, Kyle, 7, and Rainer, 6 HOMETOWN: Seffner EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in public administration, University of Missouri — Columbia EXPERIENCE: Associate partner account manager, CA Technologies WEBSITE: democracy.com/randytoler and randytoler.com

AGE: 58 FAMILY: Wife, Alicia; three children:

MICHELLE POPP SHIMBERG What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions? The challenge of helping every student to succeed in reaching his or her highest academic potential — every day — is the most serious problem facing our county’s schools. Until we have all of our students graduating from high school prepared to succeed at the next level, whether that is vocational training, college or career, we must remain focused on this goal. We must continue to support our underperforming populations and provide additional help for these students. The district should expand partnerships with community groups that can provide assistance through tutoring, mentoring and extended learning support.

What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum? Florida Standards were established by the state Board of Education. Local School Board members are responsible for the approval of curriculum and instruction within Hillsborough County schools. I am in favor of more local control of education decisions. I support high standards for students in order to better prepare them to be successful, and I support the use of an assessment in order to determine each student’s progress toward meeting his or her educational goals. What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board? I have been a classroom tutor, a mentor for at-risk high school teens, a college and career counseling volun-

teer, and have served as president of five different school-based organizations. I served for 19 years on the School Board Citizen Advisory Committee, including multiple terms as chair, vice-chair and scholarship chair. I have also served on several local and national boards, developing skills needed to be an effective School Board member, such as managing multimillion-dollar budgets and evaluating professional executives. What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions? Improving student achievement, ensuring student safety and engaging parents and community constituents. Specifically for Plant City, it is important that all students and all schools have the resources they need to succeed.

BIO AGE: 52 FAMILY: Husband Robert; children

Taylor, 24, Connor, 22, and Jilan, 20 HOMETOWN: Born in Melbourne, raised in Tampa EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, University of Florida EXPERIENCE: Leadership consultant, conducting training for college women; management associate and personnel training manager at NCNB and Nationsbank; PTAs; Citizen Advisory Committee to the School Board FAVORITE AUTHOR AND BOOK: “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE? Thomas

Jefferson

WEBSITE: votemichelleshimberg.com


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SHOWCASE by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer Left: Roderick Jackson and the other 5- to 7-year-olds opened the concert with a puppet performance to thank God for his gifts. Below: Some children held umbrellas, signs and puppets, and others, such as Zoey Santiago, held ducks and frogs.

Alexia Harris performed with other students and volunteers from the Helms Stick Ministry. They used American Sign Language and choreography with a contemporary arrangement of “Amazing Grace.”

Children’s program celebrates in song Lots of Hugs Summer Reading Program shared their love with the community during a concert Aug. 7, at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church. Lots of Hugs, funded by local businesses and Unity

in the Community, allowed at-risk children to continue learning during the summer. At the concert, the children sang, danced and performed with puppets to share Biblecentered messages.

Left; The 8- and 9-year-olds danced with sticks to “Arise My Love.” The song began with solo choreography by Elektra Ribot.

After Jezelyn Perez and the other older girls performed “Amazing Grace,” all the children in the program sang a closing song together about how God loves people more than anything else.


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OBSERVEROBITUARIES Shirley Anderson

Shirley Anderson, 64, of Lithia, died Aug. 13, 2014. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Anderson. She is survived by her children, Billy Jo Garrity (Todd), of Valrico, and John Roberts (Tracy), of Ft. Lonesome; mother, Esther Holman, of Lakeland; brother, Russell Ball (Mary), of Lakeland; and grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Brittney, Ely, Hunter and Lane. A graveside service was held Aug. 16, at Bethlehem Cemetery, Ft. Lonesome. Online condolences may be made to the family at WeCare. io.

Ardelle S. Brock

Ardelle S. Brock, 88, died Aug. 14, 2014, at home. She was born in Wintersburg, Calif., to Charley Lee and Irma L. (Silas) Sutherland. She married Delbert Brock, who is deceased. She is survived by two sons, Kevin Brock and Brian Brock (Sheila); a daughter, Candace Henderson (Johnnie); and one brother, Cody Sutherland. A funeral service was held Aug. 17, at Wells Memorial and Event Center; burial at Florida National Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to the family at wellsmemorial.com.

William “Tiny” H. Brown Jr.

William “Tiny” H. Brown Jr., 76, died Aug. 17, 2014, surrounded by family. Mr. Brown is predeceased by his mother, Jewel G. Spoto; father, William H. Brown Sr.; stepfather, Steve C. Spoto; grandmother, Nona B. Jones; and brother, Ray Brown. Mr. Brown is survived by his wife of 50 years, Glenda; sons, William Keith (Patti) and John Kevin (Tiffany); grandchildren, Stephen, Tyler, Sarah and Rachel; sister, Beverly Blanton (Sam); stepsister, Cheryl Lemus (Peter Leon); brother-in-law, Jim Haddock (Gloria); sistersin-law, Patricia Collins and Martha Richards (Dave); nieces and nephews, Paula Jackson, Julie Lowrie, Lisa Buss, Debra Rush, Michele Wawoe, Ed Haddock, Steven Collins and Mac Plymale. Mr. Brown worked for Life Insurance Company of Georgia as a sales agent, and as staff manager and district manager in Tampa and St. Petersburg. He retired after 30 years. Mr. Brown was a Christian and a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, Plant City. Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at Wells Memorial and Event Center, 1903 W. Reynolds St., Plant City. Burial will be at Memorial Park, Plant City.

Online condolences may be made to the family at wellsmemorial.com.

JoAnne Crocker

JoAnne Crocker, 85, of Plant City, died Aug. 15, 2014. She was born in Evergreen, Ala. She was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of Plant City. She was preceded in death by her husband Harrell Crocker; and daughter, Marche Farnsworth. She is survived by her sonin-law, James L. Farnsworth, of Lakeland; granddaughters, Aleasha Burnell (Michael), of St. Johns, and McKenzie Kaplan (Marc), of Oviedo; siblings, William Mudge Lee (Carole) of Dothan, Ala., and June Rayburn (Donald), of Plant City; and great-grandchildren, Alexander, Macie and Maxwell. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Building Fund. Online condolences may be made to the family at WeCare. io.

Calvin Ray Dent

Calvin Ray Dent, 86, of Plant City and formerly of Winfield, W. Va., died Aug. 19, 2014, at Health Center of Plant City. Born Feb. 9, 1928, in St. Albans, W. Va., he was the son of the late W.H. and Mabel McCo-

mas Dent. He was the husband of the late Betty Graves Dent. Mr. Dent was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, European Theatre. He attended Morris Harvey College. He retired after 25 years from Union Carbide, was a member of Plant City’s First Baptist Church and also a member of Charleston, W. Va. Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Beni Kadem Shriners and Beni Kadem Patrol. He made several trips to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children. Survivors include daughters, Lea Ann Goff (Dale), Vicki Lambert (Mac) and Deborah Taylor (David); son Wesley Claar (Doris); eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and his beloved companion, Misty. He was predeceased by sisters, Glenith Dillmore, Jackie Nida and Donna Treadwell. The family wishes to express its sincere thanks to the Health Center of Plant City for their service to their loved one. A funeral service will be 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 22, at Haught Funeral Home Chapel, 708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Plant City. Final interment will be in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell. Online condolences may be made to the family at haughtfuneralhome.com.

James “Jimmy” F. Murray Jr.

James “Jimmy” F. Murray Jr., 70, died Aug. 12, 2014. Born in Alamance, N.C., Mr. Murray moved in 2009, to Mulberry, from Raleigh, N.C., after retiring from more than 30 years of service with the Public Service Gas Company. He was a member of Southside Baptist Church, in Mulberry. He is survived by his wife of five years, Bobbie, who was also his high school sweetheart and first girlfriend; three daughters, Lisa Dixon (Jack), April Holly (Kenny) and Beth Pendergraft (Kevin); one stepson, William C. Thompson (Missy); one sister, Donna Gregory (Buddy); nine grandchildren, Chapel, Cole, Anderson, Blake, Avery, Britt, Clare, Kyle and Megan; one niece, Hope; and one nephew, Alex. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Online condolences may be made to the family at wellsmemorial.com.

Maribel Sanchez-Garza

Maribel Sanchez-Garza, 49, of Plant City, died Aug. 17, 2014. Born May 10, 1965, in Matamors, Mexico, she was the daughter of Pedro Sanchez Castillo and Elida SanchezGarza. Survivors also include brothers, Gilbert Sanchez, Peter Sanchez, Rolando Sanchez and Javier Sanchez; and sisters, Viridiana Lintz, Melva Sanchez, Elida Ruiz, Leticia Sanchez,

Alma Sanchez and Esmeralda Morgan. A memorial service was held Aug. 21, at Haught Funeral Home Chapel, Plant City. Online condolences may be made to the family at haughtfuneralhome.com.

Lourdes Vollmer

Lourdes Vollmer, 84, of Plant City, died Aug. 10, 2014, at her home. Born Aug. 30, 1929, in Bristol, R.I., she was the daughter of the late Placido and Maria Oliveira Correia. She was the wife of the late Harold Vollmer. Mrs. Vollmer loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and enjoyed crossword puzzles. Survivors include sons, Richard Vollmer, Michael Vollmer and David Vollmer; daughter, Debbie Stewart (James); daughter-in-law, Sandi Vollmer; brother, Edward Correia (Jane); sisters, Hilda Santos (Joe), Linda Marshall and Lorraine Capizano; 12 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, James Vollmer; and sister, Irene Bannister. A graveside service was held Aug. 25, at St. Mary’s Cemetery, in Bristol, R.I., which will be her final resting place. Online condolences may be made to the family at haughtfuneralhome.com.


Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Ben Gude anchors O-line for Plant City JV Dolphins. 14 SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

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

HIGH SCHOOLS

+ Teams ready for fall season With school back in session, high school sports are about to get rolling. Here’s what you need to know for each Plant City school’s season and home openers: PLANT CITY Cross Country: Lecanto Invite, 8 a.m., Sept. 6, (Lecanto) Football: Jefferson (preseason), 7:30 p.m., Aug. 22; Steinbrenner (home/ season opener), 7:30 p.m., Aug. 29 Golf: Steinbrenner (home/ season opener), 3 p.m., Aug. 26, (Walden Lake) Swimming: Brandon (home/ season opener), 5 p.m., Aug. 28 (Walden Lake) Volleyball: at Armwood (season opener), 7 p.m., Aug. 27; Strawberry Crest (home opener), 7:30 p.m., Sept. 8

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2014

martial arts by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

Cross Guard Fitness, the city’s only Brazilian jiu-jitsu center, opened in March, and its popularity has been on the rise ever since.

Take the challenge — and do it right

Cross Guard alive and kicking The only Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in Plant City can be found in the unlikeliest of places: the front of the Huff Muffler and Automotive Repair building. But, Sam Kimmel isn’t working on the cars. He founded his Brazilian jiu-jitsu school, Cross Guard Fitness, in a rented space in the front of the building, clearly visible when driving along Collins Street. He knows it’s an unusual location for a martial arts school. But, it’s what’s inside that really counts. Kimmel’s BJJ school, which opened in March, has more than doubled its enrollment since its inception. With 10 kids and 20 adults in the program, the training area can

become quite crowded on a good day. And, he’s handling all of this mostly by himself. “I teach all of the classes,” Kimmel says. “We do classes from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and then 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Some of the other students help me out, but I teach all of the classes myself.” It’s a labor of love for Kimmel, who has been involved with the martial art for a decade. Kimmel, a Plant City native, began training in jiu-jitsu in 2004, in Lakeland. “I started in 2004, for weight loss,” he says. “I was, like, 315 pounds. I lost over 100 pounds, just trained it off. I love it now.” It wasn’t long before he was

four players selected to go to Argentina. “I was shocked,” says Dina Ruiz, his mother. “I kept thinking, ‘Is this real?’” Indeed, it was. Just a few months later, at the end of July, she found herself saying good-bye to her son before he left for South America. “It was hard,” she says. “There were a lot of emotions. We’re always together.” Ruiz did miss seeing his family but was excited for what was to come. He even made a friend at the airport: a boy named Francesco who was also going to attend the camp. When they arrived in Argentina, the fact that Ruiz was so far from home really sank in. “It was weird, at first,” Ruiz says. “The first day took a long time.” The players were housed in Leo Messi Foundationowned dorms — which were just “OK,” according to Ruiz — near where the camp activities were held. Typically, the players trained from 3 to 5:30 p.m. every day, working on passing, dribbling and other skills.

If you have a pulse, then you probably know about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by now. It functions not only as a brief amyotrophic lateral sclerosis simulator, but also as America’s hottest social media craze. What celebrity or other famous person hasn’t done it yet? In case you haven’t heard of the challenge, it involves pouring a bucket of ice water over your head within 24 hours of being challenged or donating $100 JUSTIN to the ALS AsKLINE sociation. The ALS Association has had a great few weeks because of this, too. Donation totals have topped $32 million, thanks to a number of generous celebrities, people who declined the bucket to donate $100 and those who actually did the bucket and also donated $10. It’s that last option that’s become a polarizing topic, however. I can’t fathom how this even happened, but it did. Like a game of telephone, the message has gotten mixed up for a lot of people after making its rounds all over the world. That’s meant that a lot of people have conveniently forgotten the $10 donation that comes with accepting the bucket challenge. Instead, they simply post their videos to rack up those precious social media “Likes.” I know a few handfuls of people that have done this, and I’m sure that any of you computerconscious folks knows at least a few, yourself. “But, it’s raised millions of dollars already,” I’ve heard. “It’s not a big deal. The important thing is raising awareness!” Yeah, because dumping a bucket of freezing water and ice cubes on your head is going to help find a cure by itself. Sure, whatever. I’m not skimping around on this one. ALS, which essentially destroys the nerves that control your motor skills, is a terrible disease that can affect anyone. Google a list of famous people who have had it, and you’ll find that a number of them were athletes. The most famous example is baseball legend Lou Gehrig, for whom the disease has been named. But there’s also ex-New York Yankee Catfish Hunter, who could only watch as the sudden weakness in his vaunted throwing arm spread to the other, rendering his arms immobile shortly before his death in 1999. And Steve Gleason, the former New Orleans Saint that’s best-known for blocking a punt in the Saints’ first home game since Hurricane Katrina had hit the city. They’ve got a statue of that moment standing outside of the stadium

SEE RUIZ / PAGE 13

SEE KLINE / PAGE 14

Justin Kline

Sam Kimmel is the sole owner and instructor at Cross Guard Fitness. introduced to the Brazilians’ markedly different style of the art. “Brazilian is like submission wrestling, grappling, a lot of chokes and arm locks,”

he says. “It’s a ‘weak man defeats the strong man’ kind of thing — it takes a minimal amount of force to apply the

SEE JIU-JITSU / PAGE 13

WORLD DOMINATION by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

DURANT Cross Country: East Hillsborough Invite, 6 p.m., Sept. 10 (Durant) Football: at Oak Ridge (preseason), 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22; at Armwood (season opener), 7:30 p.m., Aug. 29; Sickles (home opener), 7:30 p.m., Sept. 5 Golf: at Strawberry Crest (season opener), 3 p.m., Aug. 25; Riverview (home opener), 3 p.m., Aug. 28 (Riverhills) Swimming: at Tampa Bay Tech, 7 p.m., Sept. 4; Riverview and Spoto (home opener), 5 p.m., Sept. 11 Volleyball: Brandon (home/ season opener), 7:30 p.m., Aug. 28 STRAWBERRY CREST Cross Country: Lennard Invite, 5 p.m., Sept. 2 (Lennard). Football: Middleton (preseason), 7 p.m., Aug. 22; Bloomingdale (home/season opener), 7:30 p.m., Aug. 29 Golf: Durant (home/season opener), 3 p.m., Aug. 25 (Diamond Hill) Swimming: at Plant City (season opener), 5 p.m., Sept. 2; Riverview, 7 p.m., Sept. 4 (Plant City YMCA). Volleyball: at Hillsborough (season opener), 7 p.m., Aug. 27; Durant (home opener), 7:30 p.m., Sept. 10 Information from MaxPreps.com and c2cschools.com was used for Durant and Strawberry Crest high schools.

LITTLE LEAGUE

+ Registration open for Boys Juniors Although most of Plant City Little League’s Fall registration deadlines have passed, there’s still time to register for the Boys Juniors division. Parents now have until midnight Sunday, Aug. 24, to register their sons. The cost is $85, plus an additional $30 city fee, but parents also get a $30 discount on each additional child after that first one. The fall season will begin Monday, Sept. 8. To register, visit eteamz. com/PlantCityLL/ and click the green button on the font page.

Plant City’s David Ruiz scored a trip to Argentina to work on his game.

Soccer DOWN

South

Like many Plant City children, David Ruiz recently attended soccer camp. The kicker? He was invited to a Leo Messi-sponsored camp in Argentina.

It’s safe to say that most young soccer fans dream of one day meeting Lionel Messi, a worldwide soccer legend. One of those boys, Plant City’s own David Ruiz, recently got to do the nextbest thing. Ruiz, 11, got the opportunity to attend a twoweek soccer skills camp, sponsored by the Leo Messi Foundation, in Messi’s hometown, Rosario, Argentina. “I was really excited, and shocked, at the same time,” he says.

The oldest child in his family of six, Ruiz is the only one of his siblings that plays for a local club team. He’s been with the Plant City Lancers for three of the five years he’s been playing soccer and normally switches between center midfield and left wing. “I like (center midfield) better, because I get the ball more,” Ruiz says. To get to the Leo Messi Foundation’s camp, players have to attend a tryout in April and make the cut. Ruiz was invited to take

LEO MESSI FOUNDATION

The primary goal of Lionel Messi’s namesake foundation is to help children around the world — whether it’s by donating money to help sick kids recover from their illnesses or relieving tension by hosting a soccer camp, “Peace Tour,” in the Middle East. It also sponsors a soccer camp, for kids such as David Ruiz, every year. The foundation works with the Davie-based European Soccer Club, which hosts the camps tryouts, to send a few players its way. For more information, visit europeansoccerclub.net. part in the two-day tryout, which was held in Davie, and competed against a field of 30 to 40 others in his age group. This consisted of typical skill drills and pitting Ruiz’s age group against the older age group for a few games. At the end of the second day, Ruiz was just one of

Justin Kline


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RUIZ / PAGE 12 Although Messi himself did not attend the camp, Ruiz says it was run by coaches who have worked with him for a while. Some have worked with him since Messi was growing up in Argentina and learning the game himself. With 40 kids attending the camp, the coaches formed two teams of 20 and played two games. Every player got to play for one half, and Ruiz got to play both of his positions. “The competition was really good,” he says. “The kids there are faster with the ball when they’re attacking.” When he wasn’t playing soccer, Ruiz and his fellow campers got to see the sights and sounds of Rosario. “There were a lot of people having picnics,” Ruiz says. “And, lots of people walking in the streets, on the sidewalks.” The most impressive thing they saw, according to Ruiz,

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP was one of Argentina’s most famous buildings: Monumento a la Bandera, or the National Flag Memorial. The monument was built to honor General Manuel Belgrano, the man who designed Argentina’s flag. And, on top of all that, the players got to eat like kings. “We ate lots of steak and fish,” Ruiz says, smiling. Ruiz made many new friends, although only four of the campers were from the U.S. Two of them stayed in a hotel with their families over those two weeks, leaving Ruiz and Francesco as the only Americans in the dorms. The rest hailed from Argentina and Bolivia. Still, the boys had a good time. “I made new friends, and I liked the practices,” he says. At the end of those two weeks, Ruiz was more than ready to come back to Plant City. He arrived the morning of Aug. 10, to a big, happy family.

“We were very happy to see him again,” Dina Ruiz says. “We went out for a family breakfast.” Ruiz still keeps in touch with Francesco, using a textmessaging app, and his Lancers teammates were excited to hear all about his trip. He also says attending the camp definitely helped him grow as a player. “I learned how to move the ball and think faster,” he says. “I learned how to move better during the game. It was productive.” He still has some time before he can put any of his newfound skills to the test — the Lancers don’t begin their season until October. But, one thing’s for certain right now: If his teachers at Tomlin Middle School ask for a backto-school-essay assignment, Ruiz likely will have one of the coolest ones. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

JIU-JITSU / PAGE 12

SEE FOR YOURSELF

biggest amount of pressure.” Kimmel trained while working in the contracting business with his brother, but left after the housing market slumped in 2008. It was then that he decided to pursue a career teaching martial arts and began teaching in Lakeland. Three-and-one-half years after his instructors certified him to teach as a brown belt, Kimmel finally earned that elusive black belt. “It’s really a big honor, that someone would give you a black belt,” he says. “It takes eight to 10 years to get a black belt in jiu-jitsu. It’s really a hard thing to get.” He began to look for a space in Plant City where he could set up shop. At first, he ended up subleasing space in the Krav Maga school near Park Road and James L. Redman Parkway. That allowed him to build a client base, which transferred over to his current location on Collins Street. “I’ve known Cameron, the owner of Huff Muffler, for quite some time, and he leased

Cross Guard Fitness, 402 S. Collins St., is enrolling kids and adults in its Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, cardio training and yoga classes. Kids ages 4 to 13 can take classes for $85 per month per child, and adults age 14 and up have two options: $85 per month for two classes each week, or $100 per month for unlimited access. Cross Guard is currently offering a free week of training as a part of this promotion. For more information, call (813) 704-1090 or visit PlantCityBJJ.com. this place to us,” Kimmel says. “This is how it started.” Jiu-jitsu is probably the most popular discipline in the MMA scene. Despite his tough-guy attitude, Kimmel says the art is so much more than that. “BJJ is really for everybody,” he says. “The person who wants to learn self-defense, the person who wants to lose weight, the person who wants to get a little bit more limber, who’s looking for more flexibility, and the people who are looking to better their lives.” Richard Cole, who has been training with Kimmel since the Lakeland days, agrees. Having been with Cross Guard since

March, he and his daughter are true believers of Kimmel’s style. “Sam is a very detail-oriented instructor,” Cole says. “Lot of knowledge. All-around great instructor. He’s real keen on all the small details, on everything.” Five months into its existence, Kimmel is looking forward to taking Cross Guard to new heights by next March. And, getting ready to send out his first-ever advertisements, he wants to show people that BJJ can do for them what it did for him. “Jiu-jitsu has changed my whole life,” he says. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

PINT-SIZED POWER by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

Turkey Creek’s defense held the Cowboys to just one first-half score.

Tri-county youth league kicks off new fall season

The hot weather led to a lot of substitutions.

The Tri-County Youth Football and Cheerleading Conference kicked things off Aug. 9, with a series of exhibition games, pitting the Plant City Dolphins against the Brandon Cowboys, the Dover Patriots against the Brandon Lions and the Turkey Creek Trojans against the Wesley Chapel Cowboys. The Trojans played a home game at the Antioch Redskins’ field, generating money to help the Antioch program — which was unable to field a team this season — stay afloat.

Down 6-0, the Trojans needed to make something happen on the ground.


ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP KLINE / FROM 12 now, which is simply called “Rebirth.” He’s still alive, but needs a motorized wheelchair to get around and a specialized computer to talk. This can affect anybody at any time — even an athlete in his or her 20s. According to the ALS Association, 90% of adults who contract the disease do so without any traces of the disease present in their family tree. So, whether you’re athletic or not, there’s still a chance that you could contract it. That’s not fun to think about, especially for someone who likes to stay physically active. In college, I was a member of a fraternity that had

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a direct partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. We might not have started any nationwide trends, like the Ice Bucket Challenge, but I can proudly say we raised thousands of dollars for MDA’s Fort Myers location while I was around. MD and ALS are not the same disease, but they’re similar in theory, and that’s enough to get me involved with something like this. Thankfully, the people who challenged me — two good friends of mine from FGCU — didn’t lose sight of the original message and made the donations after the dumps. When I got home from a family cookout on Sunday night, I immediately set up a makeshift

camera stand with some cigar boxes and dumped freezing water and ice all over myself. While the video was being formatted, I went ahead and made the donation online. I encourage all of you to just go ahead and get it over with if you’re challenged, even if you’re scared of a little ice water. If you’re worried about parting with $10, just remember that you can write it off when you’re doing your taxes next year. If money’s not a problem, great! Just remember that you won’t really make a difference if you’re not making the donation with it. So, yeah — I’m nominating you, reader, for the Ice Bucket Challenge.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

BEN GUDE What’s the most important position in football, outside of the quarterback? That falls on the offensive line — the guys responsible for keeping the quarterback on his feet. And no one on a line has a deeper role to play than the center. Ben Gude, described by his coaches as the “heart and soul” of the Plant City JV Dolphins’ O-line, helped his team to a 39-0 victory Aug. 16, over the Wesley Chapel Cowboys. How long have you been playing football? I started when I was 6 or 7. So, about six years. Have you always played on the O-line, or have you bounced around? I’ve always played O-line, pretty much. Guard, tackle, center. And center is your favorite? Yes, sir. Because, you know, the offense can’t really work without a center. You’re, like, the main guy. You guys just got off to a good start in the regular season. What was the key to your win? The O-line did great, We had a great offensive flow, and our defense shut (Wesley Chapel) out. What are you hoping to do over the rest of the season? The same thing we did Saturday. Have a great O-line and a good offense. Do you play any other sports? I play basketball. What else do you like to do for fun? Fishing. I like freshwater fishing. I usually catch bass. My biggest catch ever was probably a six-pounder. I caught it at Crooked Lake. What’s your favorite food? Steak. Any steak that’s put in front of me. Is that your pre-game meal, or do you eat something different? I normally eat something different.

What do you like to do to get ready for your games? I like to listen to my music to get pumped up. Mostly country. I don’t have a favorite artist — any kind is good. What are your favorite movies? I don’t watch a whole lot of movies or TV. I watch game film. What is your favorite football memory? Probably the year I won the Superbowl, which was 2011 or 2010. I was probably with the Pee Wees. We had only beat the team we were playing, 6-0, in the regular season, and then we beat them, like, 28-7, in the Superbowl. If you could have any superpower for the day, what would it be? Super strength. If you could be either rich or famous, what would you pick? Rich, so I could buy a big house in Tennessee. What are your favorite teams? The Tampa Bay Bucs and the Florida Gators. Who’s your favorite athlete of all-time? Ray Lewis. I used to play linebacker, and I was really, really small. Is there any lineman you model your game after? Probably Mike Pouncey, the center for Miami. He always has good snaps, he never messes up, and he never lets anybody through the line. If you could play for any team, pro or college, what would it be? Probably the University of Florida.


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PLANT CITY

RAIN

(INCHES) Aug. 14

0.23

FRI.

TEMPERATURES

Aug. 15

0.10

SAT.

Fri., Aug. 22 Sat., Aug. 23 Sun., Aug. 24 Mon., Aug. 25 Tues., Aug. 26 Wed., Aug. 27 Thurs., Aug. 28

Aug. 16

1.23

SUN.

Aug. 17

0.10

MON. 0.00

TUES.

Aug. 19

0.03

WED.

Aug. 20

0.01

AUGUST TO DATE

2.70 (2013: 5.25)

YEAR

TO DATE 22.14 (2013: 31.74)

, 3&

WEATHER

THURS.

Aug. 18

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

HIGH 95 96 96 88 91 91 91

LOW 76 77 75 73 72 72 74

SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES Fri., Aug. 22 Sat., Aug. 23 Sun., Aug. 24 Mon., Aug. 25 Tues., Aug. 26 Wed., Aug. 27 Thurs., Aug. 28

SUNRISE 7:02 a.m. 7:02 a.m. 7:03 a.m. 7:03 a.m. 7:04 a.m. 7:04 a.m. 7:05 a.m.

Linda Wheelock and her boyfriend, Ralph Cosier, submitted this photo of the whimsical sculpture outside Bruton Memorial Library. The Plant City Times & Observer and Grimes Hardware have partnered to host the I Love Plant City Photo Contest. Winners will have their photo featured and receive a $15 gift certificate to Grimes Hardware’s Strawberry Town Cafe! To enter, email your photo, along with a caption, to Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com; subject line: I Love Plant City. Winners can pick up their prize at Grimes Hardware.

MOON PHASES

SUNSET 8:01 p.m. 8 p.m. 7:59 p.m. 7:58 p.m. 7:57 p.m. 7:56 p.m. 7:55 p.m.

Aug. 10

Aug. 17

OKRA SHIPPING POINT: ORLANDO SIZE 1/2 bushel ctns

LOW $9.35

HIGH $10.35

Aug. 25

Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture Aug. 3

SEMI-CIRCLES

By Clyde Doby | Edited by Timothy E. Parker ACROSS 1 ___ Rica 6 Pure 12 1980 Olympic hockey champion 15 Verdi masterpiece 19 Obvious onlooker 20 Piece of lottery equipment 21 Esteemed 23 Bucker under a buckaroo 24 Postwar British prime minister 25 Airtight, as an alibi 26 Asian palm or nut 27 Statement of belief 28 Pollen bearers 29 Small-time gambler 31 Egyptian-headdress snake 34 Part of a nest egg 35 Emulate a kangaroo 38 Prompt 39 “The Divine Comedy” poet 41 Bottom of a ring 45 Pleistocene and Miocene 47 Tasty tidbit 48 Hollywood’s Lollobrigida 49 Colorless petroleum distillate 51 Fuse metal to metal, in a way 53 Bug trapper 54 Sheds tears 55 Prefix with “air” or “field” 57 Fencing blade 58 A-list group 59 Volcano in Sicily 60 After dark, poetically 61 British reform schools of old 64 Do some roadwork 65 ___ cotta 67 Stun 68 Furious

70 73 75 76 80 82 83 84 85 86 89 91 92 93 94 97 98 100 101 102 103 106 110 111 115 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125

N.J. clock setting Put on an unhappy face Beak Abnormal respiratory sound Wedge placed under a wheel Wine bottle feature Get on in years Those opposed Is really up there Ancient Pixies “Munich” star Bana “My kingdom for ___!” The big chill? Gentleman of Portugal Is abundant Write on glass Tyrannosaurus ___ Suffix with “meteor” Media revenue sources Remove shackles Was in no way happy Pool material Cotton capsules Surpassed Vamps Unlike a watched pot Violation of the Geneva Convention Grow into Animal of the Andes Indecent literature 2,000 pounds Sports venues McLain, baseball’s last 30-game winner

DOWN 1 Ty or Lee J. 2 Fairy tale meanie 3 Piggy-bank part 4 Palindromist’s dogma

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

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 22 30 31 32 33 35 36 37 40 42 43 44 46 47 50 52 53 56 60 61 62 63

High-intensity lamps Hip-shaking dance Drag strip vehicle Comparatively quick Display of grandeur ___ off (started a hole) Two-way preposition William Tell’s canton End of Doris Day’s theme song Not forming an angle Michael or Gabriel Groundless, as speculation Alternative to honey or sugar? Uses a calculator Cavities in bones Slangy snack Replied Prepares in a teapot Forming into small, round masses “It follows that ...” Illusions at the gallery Drop by spontaneously One of several in this puzzle Go see Follower of Santa Showing more normal judgment Look at the answers beforehand Not showing normal judgment Statute of Liberty’s home Sweethearts Pause in music Serious girlfriend Drop an easy one Excavating machines Be out-of-pocket Test site

© 2013 Universal Uclick

66 69 70 71 72 74 77 78 79 81 83

Rhode Island Red yield Banks the baseball legend Sinuous letters Mushroom-to-be Something to catch Like an angry cat’s back Rose extract Faithful follower Elizabeth I’s favorite One with big plans Serve perfectly

84 87 88 90 95 96 98 99

Cary Grant’s real first name Slot-machine lever Distribution Type of type “In ___ words ...” Cut and splice again Itchy skin inflammation Projects for degree candidates 104 Ford’s predecessor 105 Peer of the realm

106 107 108 109 110 112 113 114 116 117

Manipulates a needle One may be final Shade of many shades Sample tape Coffin support Payback item Outline in clear detail Dispatch a dragon Cub Scouts division CEO’s degree

C RY P T O G R A M S 1. W IJDZDQFR NWI VFRAPIDC GT W SYFIQ WIJBRS YBE QF SF QLBVJ-FLQ L D W Q B R S . Y D V W Z E Z T L D A P I D C , W I Y D Y W C R F G F C T Q F S F N B Q Y. 2. PZF CMTZFN OMG HEMNNUZT OUNE MZPNEFI. NEFQ OFIF TFNNUZT NP D F K M G N K I U F Z V G . N E F K U I G N H P C C F Z N F V: “ U K U Z V Q P L J F I Q M N N I M H N U J F, D L N U O M Z N N P D F G L I F P L I K U F X V G M I F C L N L M X .”


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