Plant City Times &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
A PARTNERSHIP WITH
EXCLUSIVE
SPECIAL SECTION
Plant City YMCA honors coach Dave Robbins.
BIG-TIME TALENT IN LITTLE PLANT CITY 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW GUIDE INSIDE
PAGE 7
OUR TOWN
+ We hear wedding bells! Jan and William Boarman, of Plant City, are pleased to announced the engagement of their youngest daughter, Rachael Boarman to Michael Niedermeyer. Niedermeyer is the son of D.J. Gardner, of Fort Pierce, and Bob Niedermeyer, of Brunswick, Ohio. The couple met while attending University of Central Florida, where they both graduated in 2007. They plan to marry in March 2014, in Orlando, where they currently reside.
FREE • THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013
now what? by Michael Eng and Matt Mauney
Negotiations stall between city, Big League Dreams The California company was the only organization to submit a long-term proposal for Plant City Stadium. There won’t be a miniature Fenway Park in Plant City. Or Yankee Stadium. Or any replica stadium, for that matter. Plant City commissioners directed City Manager Greg Horwedel Aug. 26, to terminate negotiations with Big League Dreams Inc., the California-based company that builds replicas of major league stadiums. The company was the only organization to submit a proposal for a
long-term use of Plant City Stadium. “We were just too far apart,” Horwedel said about the negotiations between the city and Big League Dreams. “It doesn’t make sense for them, and it doesn’t make sense for us.” Big League Dreams’ proposal had asked that the city contribute $1.5 million toward construction costs. The proposal also estimated $3,082,958 in an-
nual gross revenue. Of that total, the city would receive 2.4%, or $73,911. During the negotiation process, Horwedel expressed concern about the community and surrounding areas financially supporting the Big League Dreams concept in Plant City. The company makes its profits by renting the stadiums to teams and tournaments that want to use the replica stadiums and fields. It pulls in additional revenue by charging admission for tournaments,
SEE COMMISSION / PAGE 4
, 3&
This week’s winners is
Jesse Carr
See the photo on PAGE 14.
Michael Eng
Dan Azzariti took the oath of office with his wife, Nancy, by his side.
Plant City selects new fire chief Daniel Azzariti brings more than three decades of experience to Plant City Fire Rescue.
+ Happy anniversary! Rubye and David Abbott, of Plant City, celebrated this week their 72nd wedding anniversary. The Abbotts were married Aug. 27, 1941. As a child, Rubye’s third-grade teacher read the class a book about the young boy who worked with his father. When he was asked his name, he would answer, “Just David.” Rubye loved the story and the character so much, she wanted to find her David. After she met David, she asked him his middle name, he answered, “Just David.” She knew she had met her hero. They became friends at Plant City’s Four Square Gospel church youth meeting and began dating. David served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific in World War II and came home with an honorable discharge. Rubye and her sisters sang and played music for their father, a preacher who often held street meetings. They still live on Whitehall Street, in Plant City, where they have lived for 52 years.
NEW TRAIL-BLAZER
by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
The Pettises have 48 alpacas on their Plant City-based Sweet Blossom Alpaca Farm. The family will invite the public to the farm next month, for tours and a cookout.
Alpaca-Lypse Now honk if you pronk
by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Debbie and Narvel Pettis run Sweet Blossom Alpaca Farm, in Plant City. A light rain begins to drizzle over the green grass of Debbie and Narvel Pettis’ 9-acre Plant City farm. “They’ll be coming in now,” Debbie says of her livestock. “They don’t like the rain.” The couple sits in their stable, waiting for the clean stalls to fill up. But the stalls aren’t the shelter of cows or horses. The Pettises own Sweet Blossom Alpaca Farm. Sure enough, the long-necked animals hoof their way through the gate, led by a guard llama named Winona. Winona hightails it into the first stall. She knows there’s a stranger in the stable and wants to make sure everyone is safe. Her youngster suckles at her teat as she stands tall. But it’s Debbie’s favorite alpaca, Lily, that gets a closer look. She is allowed out of her stall to
roam the stable freely. Her dark fawn coat is barely damp from the sprinkle. She approaches a table set out with bags of alpaca fleece, first-place show ribbons and alpaca clothing products. When Narvel grabs an alpaca stuffed animal off the table, Lily skits away cautiously. Debbie bottle-fed Lily herself after Lily’s mother died four years ago. Lily was their first alpaca. “There’s some that I will never sell,” Debbie says. “It’s just fascinating to raise these guys.”
THE BEGINNING
Debbie’s love of alpacas grew from a newspaper article she read about the animals. When she showed Narvel a picture of one with just the neck and head in the frame, Narvel couldn’t believe his
SEE ALPACAS / PAGE 4
Photos by Amber Jurgensen
Lily is Debbie Pettis’ favorite alpaca. She bottle-fed Lily after her mother died.
INDEX Calendar.......................2
Daniel Azzariti always thought being a firefighter sounded interesting. He got his first dose of dousing flames early. When a large brush fire set areas near Crystal River ablaze, Azzariti joined the volunteer effort. “I didn’t know what to do,” Azzariti said. “I just knew I wanted to help. Most of the neighborhood was a member of the fire department.” From his humble beginnings in civil service, Azzariti’s career would span decades — from serving as fire chief in New Port Richey, deputy fire chief in Marion County and even as a consultant for improving fire and EMS efficiencies. And now, he will add fire chief of Plant City Fire Rescue to his long, impressive résumé. Plant City selected Azzariti as its new chief. He took over for Interim Fire Chief David Burnett, who chose not to pursue permanent appointment to the position. Azzariti’s first day was Aug. 26. Assistant City Manager of Public Safety Bill McDaniel selected Azzariti from a field of more than 25 applicants from throughout the country. “Chief Azzariti brings with him more than 30 years of front-line, administrative and leadership experience in the professional fire and emergency medical services,” McDaniel said. “I am excited about the experience, vision and leadership that Chief Azzariti will be able to apply in moving our already-outstanding fire department to the next level.” Azzariti said he is excited to begin a new chapter of his career in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. “The first thing I want to do is get in and meet everyone,” Azzariti said. “Everything I know about the department, everything I’ve heard, is good. I think it’ll be a good experience, and everyone is just so nice.” Azzariti said he already has seen the pride with which Plant City Fire Rescue employees conduct their work. “A department is the best it can be if firefighters feel proud of their department,” Azzariti said. “I want to be there to help
SEE AZZARITI / PAGE 4 Vol. 1, No. 5 | One section
Crossword...................14
Obituaries.....................9
Opinion ........................6
Sports.........................11
3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP