PLANT CITY TIMES &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 4, NO. 11
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Plant City to take on East Bay. PAGE 11 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
The food trucks are back After a two-year hiatus, the City of Plant City and Plant City Main Street worked to bring back the popular rally event. Find out what’s on the menu for Friday, Sept. 30. SEE PAGE 3
YOUR TOWN
“The kids start creating their own photos, selecting their own backdrop, interacting with it in front of the screen. They can [make themselves] be really small or really big.” — John Russell, youth services librarian at Bruton Memorial Library
Courtsey photo
Jon Poppell elected to festival board The Florida Strawberry Festival elected its newest member to the board of directors Tuesday, Sept. 13. Jon Poppell, the vice president of personal lines at Poppell Insurance, was elected to the board of directors after serving as an associate director for 15 years. He was elected from a field of 13 fellow associate directors. “It’s quite an honor to be selected to join such an esteemed group,” Poppell said. “I have always enjoyed the festival and the work here, and I hope to contribute to the betterment of the association.” Poppell additionally serves as chairman of the festival’s steer committee. He has previously served as chairman of the swine committee. Before becoming associate director, he worked as a festival volunteer for many years. A position on the board of directors became vacant in June with the death of longtime director Terry Ballard. “It’s very bittersweet knowing that I’m filling his shoes,” Poppell said. “If I can do half as well as he did, I’ll be doing well.” With Poppell’s election comes a vacancy in the group of associate directors. The board of directors plans to elect a new associate director before the end of the year, according to festival President Dan Walden.
The Bruton Memorial Library will host a green screen workshop, where attendees can take photos in front of different backdrops they design. THAIS LEON-MILLER STAFF INTERN
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he Bruton Memorial Library, in conjunction with the John F. Germany Public Library is holding its second green screen event of the year — this time for kids of all ages. The first workshop, aimed at teens, took place in July. Eighteen teens signed up and the response encouraged the Bruton Memorial Library to open the program to all ages. SEE GREEN PAGE 4
Times & Observer wins big The Plant City Times & Observer won nine awards — including five first-place awards — at the Florida Press Association’s Better Weekly Newspaper Contest Friday, Sept. 16. Awards include: FIRST Outdoor and Recreation “The Thrill of the Hunt” by staff Profile Feature Story “Finding a Direction” by Amber Jurgensen Sports Feature Story “New Life, New Brotherhood” by Justin Kline Sports Spot News Story “Superbowl Saturday” by Justin Kline Sports Page or Section SECOND Feature Photo by Amber Jurgensen THIRD Spot News Photo by Amber Jurgensen Overall Graphic Design by Jessica Eng Non-profile Feature Story “MIA WWII Pilot Identified” by Amber Jurgensen
Get a chance to solve a crime The 17th annual Mystery Dinner Theatre will be Saturday, Oct. 1. It benefits the Friends of the Bruton Memorial Library. AMBER JURGENSEN MANAGING EDITOR
Are you addicted to watching Forensic Files or CSI? Then the 17th annual Mystery Dinner Theatre may be for you. The play, “A Menacing Night at the Modern Museum,” will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct 1, at the John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road. It follows a slew of characters, including snobby art dealers and collectors, two burglars, a tacky couple who recently came into money, an art forger, a disgruntled security guard and more, as their lives intersect at the exclusive art opening of an eccentric painter. The play was a new offering from Wesleyan Thespians, the company dinner theatre organizers get their kits from. The event proceeds go to the Friends of the Bruton Memorial Library. Library Director Tonda Morris gives the friends board a list of library needs. “Every penny of money raised from this event directly benefits the Bruton Memorial Library through fund-
ing summer programs for children, assisting in new technology for the library, giving scholarships — the list goes on and on,” Director Dodie White said. The goal this year is to raise $20,000. After expenses, the Friends of the Bruton Memorial Library would have between $10,000 and $15,000 left for the library. Last year, $18,000 were raised. Actors always include members from the Plant City community, and this year is no exception. “Cast members are chosen from business leaders, bankers, city officials, etc. from all over the Plant City area,” White said. “We like to cast people who will make the audience laugh (yes laugh — even though it's murder mystery) and who will have as much fun as the audience does. I make it a rule to tell the cast members that the more fun they have on stage, the more fun the audience will have watching them.” White doesn’t have a favorite character, but she sees bits of the actors’ SEE CRIME PAGE 4
File Photo
Last year’s Mystery Dinner Theatre was country themed. This year, it’s high society at an art gala.