PLANT CITY TIMES &
Observer
Alyssa Cerrito will help to lead economic development. PAGE 3
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 4, NO. 8
FREE
•
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016
YOUR TOWN
Doing their part The Plant City Lions Club, the Alpha Leos of the Plant City High School Leo Club, the Alpha Leos of the Strawberry Crest Leo Club and the Omega Leos of Leoni Elite completed a beautification project of the North Evers Street planters in recognition of Lions International Worldwide Week of Service for Youth Monday, Aug. 8, to Sunday, Aug. 14. Downtown merchant volunteers Darcy Stottlemeyer, with All-A-Bloom Florist, and Mark Poppell, with Poppell Insurance, also contributed. The work was completed on Saturday, Aug. 13.
150
number of Florida native plants installed
Courtesy photo.
Charles Justo, a 1999 graduate of Plant City High School, relocated to New York in 2013. He appears in Tyler Perry’s latest series, “Too Close to Home,” on TLC.
19
number of volunteers
9
Actor Charles Justo, a Plant City High School alum, has been in “Modern Family” and is a regular cast member of Tyler Perry’s “Too Close to Home.”
number of planters
600
amount of money spent on supplies and plants
EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER
New officers
P
lant City residents will likely recognize a familiar face in Tyler Perry’s latest directing endeavor, “Too Close to Home.” Charles Justo, a 1999 graduate of Plant City High School, has been cast as a recurring character in the television show. The show debuted Monday, Aug. 22, and is the first drama series to air on TLC. The first season has eight episodes. SEE JUSTO PAGE 7
Leading the Command Jackson Elementary’s new principal, Michelle McClelland, has taken charge of the Generals. EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER
Emily Topper
Michelle McClellan is in her first principal role at Jackson Elementary after previously serving as the assistant principal at Robinson Elementary.
Michelle McClellan took over as the new commander-in-chief of the Jackson Generals at Jackson Elementary in July, but she’s always known she was meant to be leading students. “I was that kid that played school from the time I was in school,” McClellan said. “I felt called to be a teacher.” The New York native has been on the front lines of the education field for the last 22 years. Now in her first principal role, she hopes to help Jackson students take ownership of their learning while uniting staff, parents and the Plant City community by inspiring and preparing students for the future.
Plant City Entertainment's Board of Managers met in August to install new members and elect its officers for the 2016-17 season. New members joining this year are April Golombek, Tom Mitchell and Darryl Parish. Returning board members are Dodie White, president; Kay Secord, first vice president; Maurice Cecchini, second vice president; Kelley Gustafson, recording secretary; Judy Barta, treasurer; Victor Hamilton, John Harrer, Paul Hetrick, Shirley Outen, Kristen Permenter and Stan Reynolds. Lynn Brewer has been named board member emeritus.
CALLED TO THE CLASSROOM
McClellan and her family relocated to Tampa from New York when she was 10 years old. After graduating from Leto High School, McClellan moved to Tennessee. She attended Trevecca Nazarene University, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. McClellan stayed in the Volunteer State to accept her first teaching job. “I’ve taught third through eighth grades, with a majority in fifth grade,” McClellan said. “I was usually departmentalized, so most of my years were spent teaching math.” McClellan returned to Florida in 1997 and entered the Hillsborough County School District in 2004. It SEE JACKSON PAGE 6
REMEMBERED
Former teammates and coaches say goodbye to Russell Kemp. PAGE 12