1.23.20 PLCO

Plant City Observer

y Observer

YO UR HOMETOW N. YO UR NEWSPAP ER .

VOLUME 6, NO. 81

YOUR HOMETOWN. YOUR NEWSPAPER FREE

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

. YO UR NEWS PAP ER COMMISH ROUNDUP: CITY. IMPROVEMENTS AHEAD A variety of agreements sent into action last week from city commissioners have set the city up for some big wins for the upcoming year.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Queen It was a night of wins last week as city commissioners approved and opened the door to a variety of much needed improvements around the city.

Thanks to some shopping from city personnel, the City of Plant City was able to score a major deal pur-

chasing trucks from various car dealerships. Nine trucks were purchased for five city departments and divisions: Utilities Maintenance, Utilities Operations, Engineering, General Services and Building.

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Meet Meghan White,

YOUR 2020 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL®

When Plant City native Meghan White walked out onto the stage for the first time Saturday night, her confident nature and kind spirit were evident to everyone in the audience. At the end of the night, she walked away with both the Miss Congeniality award and the crown.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Generations of Plant Citians have grown up watching one lucky girl don the coveted crown each January and become the next Florida Strawberry Festival Queen.

The role is designated for someone who embodies everything Plant City and the highly lauded Florida Strawberry Festival is all

about. The judges seek a candidate who has a deep passion for Plant City, is poised and able to flawlessly care herself through any conversation or task.

This year, they struck gold in Meghan White, a senior at Durant High School who has shared Plant City’s community-centered mindset her entire life.

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NEWS BRIEFS

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Courtesy photo

PC Juniors installs new board The GFWC Plant City Junior Woman’s Club welcomed its new board for 2020 in a Jan. 9 ceremony.

The new board is led by president Mackensi Beers and also includes Jessica Worthen, Betty Medina, Megan Donini, Kayla Morris, Ilene Chavez, Jenan Eses, Jillian Wilder and Rachel Ingle.

“These women are excited for a vibrant year of community involvement and hosting their annual events including Baby Parade, Little Miss Plant City, Reindeer Run 5K and, most importantly, the Shoe Project,” Ingle said.

Fourteen provisional members received full-member status at the ceremony and Donini was awarded Provisional of the Year.

Worthen was named Junior of the Year and Brittney Maddelena won the President’s Award.

Affidavit from Jan. 15 incident released On Jan. 17, Polk County Sheriff’s Office released April Thompson’s affidavit from the Jan. 15 incident in which a Plant City Police Department detective was struck by a truck and hospitalized during an attempted traffic stop.

Per the affidavit, Thompson and Phillips were in the silver Toyota in Plant City

when PCPD detectives attempted a traffic stop at the United Food Store at 1506 Sammonds Road. Thompson was driving the truck and noticed “guys with guns,” at which point Phillips told her to “go, go, go.” Thompson backed up into one of the PCPD vehicles and, additionally, ran over a law enforcement officer who was on scene. The suspects ditched the truck and hid in a wooded area. Phillips went to find another vehicle while Thompson, who had been shot, stayed behind. They ended up stealing a blue Toyota Tacoma near the 4000 block of Cooper Road.

When the pair got to Mulberry, they tried to enter a residence but were asked to leave by its owner. Two subjects driving a black Volkswagen arrived to the residence as Thompson and Phillips were leaving.

Phillips asked them for a ride because Thompson had been shot and they needed to leave. When the request was denied, Phillips placed Thompson in the back of the vehicle and then, according to the owner of the vehicle, pointed a handgun at her following a verbal altercation.

Deputy Andre Jackson, who was nearby looking for Thompson, heard the verbal altercation, approached and recognized her in the back seat. Jackson attempted to take Thompson into custody as Phillips walked away from the vehicle, ignoring Jackson’s commands. Witnesses said Phillips tried to conceal the handgun from Jackson, snatched the keys from the other subject who arrived in the Volkswagen and started the car. Jackson and Phillips struggled through the driver’s door

window as the vehicle rolled backward.

Thompson had reentered the car and was in the passenger seat. Phillips ignored Jackson’s commands to stop and reached for the floorboard. That move, plus a witness announcing Phillips was armed, led Jackson to believe his life was in danger.

Jackson shot Phillips, the Volkswagen rolled into Jackson’s vehicle and Thompson attempted to flee the scene on foot.

Jackson caught Thompson and took her into custody. Phillips died at the scene.

Thompson is being charged with one count of second degree felony murder, one count of armed burglary of a conveyance and two counts of robbery with a firearm.

Plant City art show moves to Tampa Back in January 2019, the Bing Rooming House hosted the “Periphery: An Exhibition” art show that used striking visuals to tell the stories of marginalized communities.

Exhibition organizers Clay Hollenkamp and Shelby Baerwalde are now getting ready to host the sequel in Tampa.

Titled “Shelter: Concepts of Home,” this exhibit is a partnership with the USF Humanities Institute and will come to the Portico Community Hall in downtown Tampa from this Friday through March 31.

“The name and theme came about as the event is the last in a series of community events that began with a speaking en-

gagement on Sept. 19, 2019 with Matthew Desmond, author of the Pulitzer-winning book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” Hollenkamp said. “In connection with Mr. Desmond’s speech, the Humanities Institute wanted to include a number of community events on a similar theme.”

The exhibit will feature 2D and 3D art and cash prizes will be offered for winners of the show’s Best in Show award and two honorable mentions. The opening reception takes place from 6-9 p.m. Friday.

National School Choice Week The upcoming week of Jan. 26-Feb. 1 is National School Choice Week, and its namesake organization is spreading the word about parents’ options for K-12 education.

The week is designed to inform parents of all available options so they can decide which type of schooling will be best for their children and their financial situations.

“In Florida, there is a variety of educational options available to attend including traditional public schools, charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online schools and homeschooling,” communications director Shelby Doyle said in a press release. “Florida’s state-run scholarship programs extend to students in families with modest incomes, with an individualized education plan or victims of violence in public schools, in addition to a few other student groups.”

National School Choice Week promotes itself as a “nonpartisan, nonpolitical” group that does not take any policy positions or favor one type of schooling over others.

Visit schoolchoiceweek.com for more information.

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MEET THE NEW

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BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

“I hope when this year is over that people remember me as a kind person,” White said.

“There’s always going to be mean people in the world...This world could use some kindness and I think it would be really cool to be remembered by that.”

Her roots with the festival go back practically to birth. She was a contestant in the Baby Parade, and as she grew older she got involved showing swine in the livestock shows. However, it wasn’t until her freshman and sophomore year of high school that she began thinking about entering the Strawberry Queen pageant.

“I had an ag teacher who really planted that seed and told me that I really needed to think about going out for the pageant,” White said. “I remember as a little girl looking up to the Strawberry Queen and thinking, ‘Oh that will never be me,’ but then I started thinking about it and I began to think maybe I could do this. I was inspired by his words.

Then last year I went out for it and fell in love with the process and the program and seeing all that Kendall (Gaudens) accomplished, it inspired me further to go out for it this year.”

And when she returned, it was with the confidence and grace that launched her to the top of the group.

Many of the contestants seek coaching prior to the pageant from community members who are either former queen and court members or have a great depth of pageant knowledge.

Both years, she decided to give it her all and sought out the guidance of a coach throughout the process.

White said she wasn’t one of those girls who grew up doing pageants, so there was a learning curve her first year as she immersed herself in the ins and outs of the competition. She quickly learned she was an overthinker and said she took every critique to heart, then worked tirelessly to correct them.

This year, she took a more laid-back approach to the journey and while she said she learned a lot, her nerves were not at the forefront and she felt much more relaxed this time around.

Her selfless and warmhearted nature caused the other contestants to vote her as Miss Congeniality, an honor she said “meant the world” to her.

Though she and her court have only been together for a handful of days, they’re already well on their way to developing a deep and supportive bond.

White said her main goal as Queen is to make sure that everyone she comes across walks away a little happier than they were before their paths crossed.

“I want to make sure that people feel empowered and loved,” White said. “I’m not sure that it’s necessarily about what you do, but rather how you feel and make others feel. I think Plant City has such a community oriented and family oriented environment. I am lucky to say that I have a loving family and a loving home and it’s pushed me to be the very best person I can be. I’m very good at finding the positive in situations and have learned to stay true to myself and my faith.

And to just love every single person unconditionally no matter what.”

Her sentiment was echoed by every single member of her court and all took long moments to discuss the hope and love they aim to instill in every one of their interactions with the public.

And the girls know their stuff.

They all have memories of growing up in Plant City and each have their own favorite places to show off to their friends.

White is the daughter of Stacy and Barbie White and had a plethora of local memories to choose from when she began discussing her favorite part of Plant City.

She shared her personal attachment to the Veterans Memorial Monument Park, her memories sitting on the strawberry throne at Parkesdale and the thrill of shopping for unique finds at the Mercantile. Through it all, however, she kept coming back to the intricate community she had the privilege of being raised in.

Though the festival is always the major event the new Queen and Court attend, there are festivities year round the group will throw their support behind.

White said she’s most looking forward to helping out with Night to Shine, the ministry event that offers a “prom night experience for people with special needs.”

“I’m just so excited about what’s ahead,” White said. “I know there’s going to be so many wonderful experiences and I’m really hoping we are able to serve and help our community in our own unique way.

Not a lot of things make me sad, but one thing that always makes me upset is seeing someone else sad. Naturally, I want to put a smile on everyone’ face. I want to make sure that girls and young men feel really empowered, feel really loved and feel that they can go and rule the world if they wanted to.”

Meghan White, a senior at Durant High School, hopes to spread unconditional love and kindness during her reign. The Plant City native won the hearts of both the judges and her fellow contestants and is ready to open her arms to the community.

Get to know Meghan What made you want to go out for the pageant?

M- I have always, since high school, been encouraged to do it by teachers, peers, families, friends and the community. Emma (Miller) and I had the honor of going out last year and we just loved the environment so much. We felt like we grew so much as people and as girls, as representatives for the community, so we really wanted to go out again this year to further that.

What was your first thought when your name was called?

M- I was honestly just so shocked.

I was very honored because you know, in reality, any of the 23 girls could have gotten it. They were all amazing, and it was just so humbling to hear my name called. It was a very surreal moment for me.

What was your family’s reaction?

M- My dad told me the whole pageant that he was more nervous than I was, and I’m sure that held true right up to when they called my name. I’m sure he was so overjoyed and excited. We all knew that this would be such an awesome experience for not only me, but the other girls and the community.

I think they were just proud to that I get to be a part of this and give back.

Do you have a piece of advice for someone going out next year?

M- Be yourself, fully yourself. It’s all subjective, they tell us that from the beginning. It could have been a different panel of judges and a different set of girls. As long as you stay true to who you are, your morals and who you really are and just be super confident and embrace who you are not only in the interview, but on stage and everywhere you go, then you’ll be doing all that you can.

If you could pick one word to sum up your personality, what would it be?

M- “Random.” I’m just a very random — well people call me bubbly — person. It’s hard for me to talk about myself, but people have always told me that I’m kind of bubbly and really crazy sometimes. I love dancing, I’ll just start dancing in school in front of everyone. The cafeteria, class, at my table, I’ll just dance. I think all of my gestures and sometimes the words that come out of my mouth can be kind of random, but it’s fun.

What is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Plant City?

M- I personally like the Veterans Memorial Monument Park. I was actually there when it opened up

when I was really little. My grandfather was buried in Arlington and it’s really cool to see that the military community has an impact in Plant City, too. It’s relaxing there, a great place to walk around and sit and relax in the evening. It kind of connects me to D.C. even though I can’t be there a lot.

Do you have a secret talent?

M- Denim and I both play instruments. I play the trumpet.

What are you most excited for at the festival?

M- Just to meet everyone. I think it will be really cool to meet everyone and serve everyone and be able to not only smile, but to spread laughter and joy.

What band are you most looking forward to?

M- Tommy James and the Shondells. It’s my grandma’s favorite band and her favorite song is ‘Crimson and Clover.’ I remember whenever I was little, we would always jam out to that song in her car. She would play it on repeat. I ended up really loving that song and we still sing it together to this day.

What festival food are you most excited to eat?

M- Strawberry shortcake, hands down.

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Q&A

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

2020 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL®

First Maid

KENNEDY SAPP

STAFF WRITER

What made you want to go out for the pageant?

K- Growing up, I was always involved in pageants around Plant City and as I got older, I always looked up to Strawberry Queen and the Court and I always wanted to be a part of that.

Plant City is a big family-oriented community and it’s a great program to be a part of.

What was your first thought when your name was called?

K- I was in pure shock. Growing up I always wanted to do this pageant, and in the past 17 years I’ve put a lot of hard work in leading up to the pageant. So once my name was called it was like a moment of relief because it was as if all of this hard work had paid off.

What was your family’s reaction?

K- The first thing I saw whenever my name was called was my whole family jumping out of their seats. They were the first people I saw and I know they were so excited for me. They’ve been

so supportive through this entire process, and like Meghan said, my dad and mom from the get-go were more nervous than I was, so they were freaking out. They were very happy for me and excited.

Do you have a piece of advice for someone going out next year?

K- Just have fun with it. This pageant is such a good experience for young girls and it gets them involved in the community. It shows them a new experience and it gives you so many new friends and I think you really just need to have fun with it and try not take it too seriously. It will make it more enjoyable.

If you could pick one word to sum up your personality, what would it be?

K- I would definitely say “laid-back.”

I’m a very easygoing person. I try not to let things get to me, I try to let things roll off my shoulders. I definitely get that from my dad. He’s a really laidback person.

What is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Plant City?

K- I would say Beef ‘O’ Brady’s. I love Beef’s and all of my friends love

Beef’s and we go there after every sporting event. It’s our go-to place and I love chicken wings.

Do you have a secret talent?

K- I’m double-jointed.

What are you most excited for at the festival?

K- I’m also excited to meet everyone in Plant City. This is the event everyone in Plant City comes to every year. They plan their entire calendars around this, so I’m just excited to see different faces and meet new people around the community.

What band are you most looking forward to?

K- Mine is Reba. Whenever I was in eighth grade I had back surgery and I was literally stuck in my house. Her TV show was on every day during the day and I would watch it over and over again and I fell in love with her.

What festival food are you most excited to eat?

K- Corn dogs. I could eat corn dogs all day, every day.

Please RSVP before February 1st $30 Per Person Sharon Moody 813-453-7134 287682-1

BREANNE WILLIAMS

Please make checks out to: Kiwanis Club of Plant City 1902 Bond Street | Plant City FL 33563

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Q&A

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2020 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL®

Court Member DENIM HUGHES

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

What was your first thought when your name was called?

D- I’m not going to lie, I don’t think I have processed it yet. It feels like I’m still going through the motions and it hasn’t hit us yet. Sometimes I’ll be in the car driving on my way home, and all of the sudden it just all hits me at once and I get this overwhelming feeling of joy. Not happiness, but pure joy. It’s like a permanent

every single snowflake is unique.

There’s not one that is similar to the other, none are exactly the same and there’s beauty and something special to be found in all of them.

What was your family’s reaction?

D- The only way I knew my parents’ true reaction was because Mr. Paul Davis and Mr. Tim (Lovett) came up to me and were talking about how they saw my dad bawling his eyes out.

I’m so sorry I’m saying this in an interview — so sorry, Dad — but apparently he had to go to the bathroom and they were all making fun of him. They were so happy. My dad is so proud of me, constantly telling me every day how proud he is.

If you could pick one word to sum up your personality, what would it be?

D- I would have to say “personable.” I take pride in being able to empathize and be compassionate toward others and find that compassion in other people.

I have a passion for and I truly love people, and I find it very important to be able to relate to everybody on some type of level, even if you come from different backgrounds and walks of life.

Find that one connection you can share. I want people, even those who haven’t known me for very long, to feel comfortable around me and know they can open up if they want to.

Do you have a piece of advice for someone going out next year?

D- I want to back up what Meghan said and also use the word “authentic.” I was just talking about this earlier, but when you’re authentic and being your true self, when you’re not trying to give the fluff answers that everyone else wants to hear, that’s what makes you a snowflake. And what I mean by that is

What is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Plant City?

D- I’m a geek, such a geek. I love learning. So it has to be the

Railroad Museum. I moved here about 10 years ago, so when I went there — first of all, the committee that takes care of the Railroad Museum does an amazing job of keeping it clean and having something for everyone to do and enjoy — but when I was there, I learned so much about Plant City.

I think it helped ground me and welcomed me to the town. I really love learning, so it’s my favorite place. Oh and 32 Below Thai Ice Cream. I go there all the time.

Like almost every day.

Do you have a secret talent?

D- I play the alto saxophone.

What are you most excited for at the festival?

D- I feel like most of us are on the same page. Meghan being our Queen and us being on her court, we are so excited to meet people. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and when we were little girls we remember what it was like to meet the Queen. We remember what it was like to see her court members. I remember Baylee Astin on the court and when I think about the fact that

that’s going to be us and we will have the opportunity to show that we are here to love and serve our community, that’s what I’m most looking forward to.

What band are you most looking forward to?

D- Mine definitely has to be Rascal Flatts and I’ve called them every single time that question is asked. Growing up listening to songs like “Bless the Broken Road” and “What Hurts the Most,”it gave me faith through difficult times. I was also lucky enough to see them at the Strawberry Festival when I was younger. I’m so excited on his last tour that I have the honor of not only watching them in concert, but also getting to meet people who helped me persevere through such rough times.

What festival food are you most excited to eat?

D- I actually buy the container with like 12 strawberries and the little bucket of chocolate beside it.

Q&A

What made you want to go out for the pageant?

D- When you grow up in Plant City, you learn that Strawberry Queen is more than just a title.

Being Strawberry Queen and part of the Court means you represent the festival, and the purpose of the festival is to unite the community and create unity and build the family of Plant City beyond just its boundaries. Becoming a part of something so special, something that constantly accepts new people and is so family-oriented, became such a priority to me. It became a dream of mine to be a part of.

state. It’s still hitting me right now.

2020 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL®

Court Member

EMMA MILLER

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

What made you want to go out for the pageant?

E- I know for me, not only was it a dream come true, but I did it because I want to give back to the community that has given me so much. I know that Meghan and I competed last year and I had grown so much as a person. So doing it this year, it wasn’t even for the opportunity I could potentially have, it was for the chance to grow even more as a person through this process.

What was your first thought when your name was called?

E - I was the fourth one called and not only was I overjoyed

because I was going to be a part of something so amazing, but the three girls who were called before me, I was so excited to serve on the court with. That made it even better because I love these girls and I was so thrilled I get to be a part of this. That was the best part.

What was your family’s reaction?

E- My family is really the backbone of who I am and everything I do they are so supportive. I have a five-year-old sister and the best part is when they were finally allowed up on the stage after, she came up and gave me the biggest hug and said, “Sissy, Sissy, you won because I prayed to God.” She said that she was praying the

whole time for me and that just put it into perspective that I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing it for everyone else, too. That moment was just my family summed up.

Do you have a piece of advice for someone going out next year?

E- I would definitely say my best piece of advice is not only to be who you are, like the other girls said, but to know your values and do it for the right reason. You’re not doing it to be in a pageant, you’re doing it to represent your community and be an ambassador for your town. Study your facts, know why you’re doing this and remember that this isn’t for us, this is for the Man upstairs.

If you could pick one word to sum up your personality, what would it be?

E- I would say I’m a positive realist. I always want to see the posi-

tive in everything, but I also know what’s probably going to happen and I’m very real about things.

What is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Plant City?

E- I would have to say the bowling alley. It is the most “home” place in town I can think of. I’ve had so many birthday parties there growing up and it’s just a fun place in town to go.

Do you have a secret talent?

E- I am an equestrian. I have ridden horses my whole life.

What are you most excited for at the festival?

E- I would say I’m most excited for using my platform for good.

Every time I have the opportunity I want to be able to share who I’m doing this for, which is God, and being able to meet little girls and share my story. I know when I was little, I looked up to the Queen

and thought of her as someone who was higher than me, a real inspiration. I want to meet others and just love on them and hopefully be a good role model, but also be someone they consider as a friend, someone that’s equal.

What band are you most looking forward to?

E- I’m super excited for Sara Evans. Not only do I love her music, but she’s an artist that my mom would play when we were little. I get to meet her and my mom is super jealous, but she’s an artist I grew up listening too so I’m really looking forward to it.

What festival food are you most excited to eat?

E- I’m excited for Spivey’s because I actually used to work there during the festival when I was younger.

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Q&A

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

2020 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL®

Court Member LACIE COLLINS

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

What was your first thought when your name was called?

L- You don’t really realize that you’re a part of this and you’re actually chosen to represent the festival. It really is crazy, but when my name was called I kind of stood there for a moment and thought that I didn’t hear it correctly. I was in so much shock

and so honored and humbled that I got to be a part of this opportunity.

What was your family’s reaction?

L- It was a whole year of planning kind of leading up to this one moment, so my whole family was involved in the process with me.

I was the first one called out and you just saw a whole crowd of my family jump up into the air being crazy really. My older brother came down from college and he’s not really a pageant person, but that night he was texting all of my family and getting into it. They were so excited for me and proud.

Do you have a piece of advice for someone going out next year?

L- There was a piece of advice that I got from my grandmother, who is very close to me. She said, “You’re not the only one going through this. This year there’s 22

other girls in the same position you are, so go out there and be who you are and represent who you are as a person and stay true to your morals. When you’re back there in that interview, don’t be anyone else or try to be anyone else. They don’t want that, they want who you are as a person.

So go out there and be confident and especially during that dance, let loose and be who you are.“ If you could pick one word to sum up your personality, what would it be?

L- I’d have to say “edgy” a little bit because I have so many different personalities. I love to go hunting, I’m very much a country girl, but I’m also a girly-girl at times. I can be a tomboy sometimes, so it’s all these different things in one.

What is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Plant City?

L- Definitely Parkesdale is my

favorite place to go. My friends and I always drive by there if we can just to pick up a milkshake on our way to somewhere else.

Growing up, my mom and I would always go there and you would sit in that strawberry throne and it was kind of like a full-circle moment leading up to this. I just love going there.

Do you have a secret talent?

L- I’ve cheered my whole life, so

tumbling is something I’m really good at. I can do a standing tuck, too.

What are you most excited for at the festival?

L- The festival hosts more than 500,000 people a year and we have the opportunity to meet all of those people. And I’m most excited to be able to do it with these four girls here. I will say I’ve connected with these girls so fast

over the past two days. It’s just been so much fun and to have that connection with girls you’ve just met and knowing all of the experiences you’re going to be able to go through together, it’s going to be so much fun.

What band are you most looking forward to?

L- Definitely Mercy Me, hands down. It’s one of the only concerts my whole family is going to be able to go to this year, so having my entire family there is going to be a lot of fun. But when they did come out with the movie “I Can Only Imagine,” I felt such a personal connection with their story and their songs, and I’m so excited to be able to meet them.

What festival food are you most excited to eat?

L- Cheese on a stick. I love me a cheese on a stick. It’s probably the one thing I’ll ask for all the time.

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What made you want to go out for the pageant?

L- Growing up in this town — this is all I’ve ever known, I’ve grown up here — you hear about the experience of what the Strawberry Queen and Court does and being a part of the pageant was such an amazing experience. You always hear about it, so to be a part of it and go out and do it is something I’ve always wanted to do. You realize it’s more than just a sash and a crown. It’s an experience and it’s about the people you get to meet and that really made me want to do it.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

PLANT CITY HONORS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. Throughout the city, the community came together over the course of the past week to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. BREANNE WILLIAMS AND JUSTIN KLINE

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent his life in the pursuit of equality and inclusion.

The man crafted a legacy that still ripples throughout the country today.

Throughout Plant City, organizations paused last week to pay tribute to the civil rights activist. The Improvement League of Plant City held a multi-day celebration that featured a variety of events including the MLK Parade, the Battle of the Bands, MLK Leadership Breakfast, Day of Community Service and a Board Walk to a Better Health Fair.

This was the 34th year the Plant City Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Arts Festival was held in town and its reach throughout the city is only continuing to grow. This year the event featured the “A Salute to Those Who Have Served” theme and American flags were everywhere you turned throughout the week of festivities.

On Jan. 18, downtown Plant City was flooded with onlookers for both the monthly Car Show and the MLK Parade, which ran along Dr. MLK Blvd. down to the recreation complex. Beads were thrown, bands

performed impressive melodies and an impressive lineup of cars showed off their unique looks.

The next day Dr. Bernard Robinson shared his story and message of breaking barriers at the annual MLK Leadership Breakfast held at the HCC Trinkle Center. Robinson is a legend in Plant City due to his impressive U.S. Army career, his life-saving advances in neurosurgery and his mastery of imagery displayed in his latest novel, “Two Ropes.”

Early Monday morning, groups kicked off the Day of Service by gathering at the Bing Rooming House Museum, where the volunteers split up to do some cleanup both at the museum and at the Glover School in Bealsville. More volunteers headed to the Plant City Commons Community Garden throughout the day to do some work at the one-of-a-kind site.

The GFWC Woman’s Club hosted its annual celebration of Dr. King’s birthday on Monday morning, in which local students from Jackson Elementary, Lincoln Magnet School, Independence Academy and Kingsford Elementary read essays they wrote about Dr. King and the impact his work has had on both society and their own young lives.

MLK DAY OF SERVICE Above: Members of the Improvement League tidied up the Bing Rooming House.

Left: Girl Scouts Cadet Troop #30889 helped tackle projects at the Plant City Commons Community Garden.

Bottom Left: Aaron Sykes lends a helping hand with the landscaping at the Glover School.

Below: The MLK Parade cruised through downtown.

Right: This cupcake arrangement greeted attendees at the Woman’s Club’s celebration of MLK Day. Below: Marshall Middle School Gentlemen’s Quest made a presentation at the Woman’s Club’s event.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

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STRAWBERRY QUEEN CONTESTANTS SHOW OFF THEIR PC PRIDE

The 23 contestants of the Strawberry Queen pageant all hoped to walk away with the honor of the coveted crown.

STAFF WRITER

Each year, local young women compete in the annual Strawberry Queen pageant.

This is the 85th year the event has been held and its contestants proved once more that Plant City is home to some exceptional youth. The contestants all showed off their hometown pride, discussed their vision for the 2020 court and highlighted their creativity with their unique commercials for local businesses.

Kayla Drawdy and Scotty Davis were the Mistress and Master of Ceremonies. Doug Buffaloe was the special guest performer

for the evening. The five judges for the evening were Dorothy Benham, Miss America 1977, Lauren Nielson, Miss Tampa, George H. Bye, Miss America Organization volunteer, Michelle Topping, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Miss Florida Scholarship Pageant and Lynne Dalton, Miss Florida Board Member.

The contestants were scored on a personal interview, the public speaking competition, their casual wear and the evening gown competition. In the end, 10 contestants were selected for the final round. Judges then analyzed their answers to a Q&A, their overall look and their stage presentation and narrowed them down to the five that would represent the Queen and her Court.

Queen: Meghan White First Maid: Kennedy Sapp Court Members: Denim Hughes, Emma Miller and Lacie Collins Miss Congeniality: Meghan White

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

COMMISH ROUNDUP: JAN. SPURS NEW CHANGES City commissioners put several new contracts into action last week and set the stage for a busy and productive year. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

STAFF WRITER

The former vehicles exceeded their life expectancy and were in need of replacement. The Procurement Division did some shopping around and determined the most cost effective option was to purchase five trucks from Alan Jay Chevrolet, Cadillac, Inc. at a total of $135,365.00, two trucks from Duval Motor Company at a total of $68,866.00 and two trucks from Bartow Ford Co. at a total of $94,016.35.

This allowed the city to piggyback from the combined contracts for a total price of $268,247.35.

It ended up saving the city approximately $55,378.65 in comparison to sourcing a single contract.

“That’s a very good example of our procurement fleet, they shopped contracts and really got us the best pricing,” City Manager Bill McDaniel said. “If you look at the agenda report it talks about the savings and they basically saved the cost of an entire vehicle by really working the available contracts to get the best pricing.”

The city also entered into a contract with Larson’s Grading and Paving, LLC to allow the city to rent out heavy equipment and an operator to do various jobs around the

city. Right now, the city has a stormwater inlet that has settled on Concord Way and requires equipment the city does not have in its inventory. With this new contract, the city can reach out to Larson’s to rent the right equipment and a specialist to do the work needed without the city having to invest fully into that piece of machinery.

McDaniel said the contract will help streamline the process of repairs around the city. To get it going the city piggybacked on an existing contract between Larson’s and the City of Lakeland. The plan is to open the item up for bids at the end of the fiscal year to see which company would best support continuing the service with the city.

Commissioners also agreed to continue its agreement with Southern Group of Florida, Inc. for its lobbying services.

The company rebranded in 2019 and had formerly been called Southern Strategy Group of Tampa Bay, LLC. In 2017 the City of Plant City agreed to begin working with the company to lobby for the city’s interest in the legislature.

The group has had an agreement that costs the city no more than $50,000 a year.

Over the past three years, three of the major issues it has helped the city with were securing $750,000 for the Collins Street Complete Street Improvements project in 2017, $300,000 for the McIntosh Tract Regional Park Development in 2018 and

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$350,000 for the McIntosh Park Integrated Water Master Plan in 2019.

Commissioners agreed to enter a new agreement for an amount not to exceed $5,000 per month from Feb. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2022 for its lobbying services.

In several former meetings around town, Mayor Rick Lott and other city commissioners have said the hope is to continue to receive help for the ongoing McIntosh Park project, which McDaniel has said will have a massive impact not just on Plant City, but on the state as a whole.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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There’s no better time and place to get a good bowl of chili than this Saturday at the train depot.

Plant City Chilifest Chili Cook-Off, hosted by the Arts Council of Plant City, is back to give chili connoisseurs a taste of local flavors for lunch.

The event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., brings chefs from around the area together to the train depot and allows them to share their chili with the general public and enter it in a contest judged by

local celebrities. You never know what new recipe you will fall in love with.

Mild, spicy and “novelty” chili will be featured at the event and attendees can vote on the “People’s Choice” winner.

For $5, attendees get a ticket, a bowl and all the chili they can eat while supplies last. There will be live entertainment, great food and the forecast shows perfect chili-eating weather.

Visit plantcityarts.com for more information.

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Chilifest is a family-friendly event that has food, fun and entertainment for everyone.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

Celebrity Chef Dinner brings local flavor for 2020 File photo

PLANT CITY

Observer

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Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

There’s no doubt Carl and DeeDee Grooms know how to grow strawberries. But how well do the Plant City growers know their way around the kitchen?

The Groomses are about to put a new twist on the “farm-to-table” movement next Saturday night at the 12th annual Celebrity Chef Dinner, a major fundraiser for the United Food Bank of Plant City.

They’ll be sous chefs for celebrity chef Amy Freeze, a renowned baker who has appeared on Food Network’s Cooks vs. Cons show.

Left: Carl and DeeDee Grooms Above: The 2019 Celebrity Chef Dinner was a smash hit and raised nearly $100,000.

Right: Amy Freeze

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education that, for the UFB, made for a perfect match.

“We wanted to tie in the ag community, especially having Amy Freeze since she’s such a huge proponent of the FFA… and Carl and DeeDee love to give back to the community,” Scott said.

The event runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 1 at the HCC Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road, and tickets are available for $100 per person. All proceeds from the event will benefit the United Food Bank. Visit ufbpc.org/celebritychef or call 813-764-0625 for more information.

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and won the 2013 National Pie Championship. Her key lime pie is the stuff of legend and her 2013 championship launched AMF Cakes & Pastries. She runs the Gourmet Everyday blog at gourmeteveryday.net and is also a guest chef at Bok Tower Gardens, where she hosts classes and covers the farm-to-table movement.

The Groomses are best-known as the owners and operators of Fancy Farms, which has grown strawberries in Plant City since 1974. They’ve also appeared on Food Network programming, having been featured in Pitchin’ In with Lynn Crawford, and they share with Freeze a love of ag

It’s something of a return to form for the annual dinner, which in 2019 broke from the tradition of bringing in television celebrities and other well-known culinary experts by bringing Plant City Police Chief Ed Duncan and Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister together with Publix Aprons chef Anthony Logerfo to learn the basic cooking skills the two lawmen notoriously lacked.

Last year’s dinner raised more than $90,000 for the food bank, Leigh Scott said.

Freeze, a Polk County resident, is a teacher by day and a food blogger by night who started baking competitively in 2007

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Carl and DeeDee Grooms are this year’s celebrity sous chefs, joining National Pie Champion Amy Freeze on stage.

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JANUARY 23, 2020

Cody Anderson is an up-and-coming wrestler from Independence Academy.

See Page 14

Quick Hits

SPORTS

JANUS XXVII

AT PLANT CITY PARKS Tampa Bay Ultimate’s annual January tournament returned over the weekend.

Strawberry Crest Athletics/Twitter

CREST CHEERLEADING WINS WESTERN CONFERENCE Last year, Strawberry Crest’s cheer team wasn’t able to recapture its usual Western Conference championship glory after a fall brought the score down.

But that wasn’t the case this year, as Crest went to Durant High School on Jan. 16 and left with the trophy back in its hands.

DURANT ATHLETES RECOGNIZED WITH HCPS FALL SPORTS AWARDS Photos by Justin Kline

Hillsborough County Public Schools honored its top athletes and teams at last week’s 2020 Fall Sports Awards ceremony, and that included several local athletes.

From Durant, swimmer Morgan Shinault won the Henry Hicks Memorial Award for Outstanding Female Swimmer. The volleyball team was also recognized for having the highest team GPA in Hillsborough County.

AREA PARKS HOSTING TOURNAMENTS This week, the ninth annual ISSA/WBSC World Tournament of Champions comes back to Plant City. The senior softball tournament, which takes place at sites around the Tampa Bay area, will have games played at the Randy L. Larson Four-Plex from Friday through Sunday.

Visit seniorsoftball.org/2020-issaisfworld-tournament-of-champions.html for a complete schedule.

GSA Baseball’s spring league play also heats up this weekend at Mike Sansone and Ellis-Methvin parks. Games start between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Jan. 25-26.

Next weekend, GSA Baseball will host its Top Gun Challenge tournament at Mike Sansone Park, Ellis-Methvin Park and the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex. Games will start between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 1 and 2.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

The Janus tournaments bring the most intense ultimate action around to Plant City.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Tampa Bay Ultimate Frisbee Janus XXVII Tournament, came to Ellis-Methvin Park and the neighboring Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex over the weekend and brought the unique sport back to Plant City for two action-packed days.

It was the second consecutive year the tournament was hosted at Plant City’s biggest sports parks, though Tampa Bay Ultimate did make one key change in 2020: the youth tournament was instead held at Puryear Park in St. Petersburg, while Plant City hosted the open, mixed and college brackets.

Ultimate is an American invention that’s now played worldwide at the amateur and professional levels. In ultimate, or “ultimate frisbee, players fling a disc downfield until it’s either caught in the end zone like a football touchdown or intercepted. When a disc is caught, the holder can pivot on one foot as if they caught a pass in basketball and stopped dribbling.

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? THE HOLIDAY WE NEED BUT DON’T HAVE Why can’t the Monday after the Super Bowl become a legitimate holiday?

If I were a betting man, I’d say a decent amount of you readers are at least going to consider calling in “sick” the Monday after next. If you do, I can’t blame you at all — especially since only the Cincinnati Bengals are tanking harder than my odds to get Super Monday off are now.

I hope your bosses are either cool or take the bait, because coming down with

a mysterious (but definitely not madeup, no way) 24-hour bug the day after the Super Bowl is as grand an American tradition as eating latticed apple pie and lighting questionably legal fireworks in your back yard on July 4.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

JUSTIN KLINE

FROM PAGE 13

HOLIDAY?

SPONSORED BY SPORT CLIPS

Cody Anderson

Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at JKline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.

What Cody Anderson lacks in wrestling experience, he makes up for with his intensity. Anderson, an eighth grader at Independence Academy, has a football background but started to learn wrestling at Top Gun Wrestling Academy in November 2019. Anderson competed in his first two tournaments this month, both in the I Own Florida series, and placed first in the heavyweight class at both the Manatee and Winter Springs events.

Your career’s gotten off to a pretty good start. Tell me about the first tournament. What were you feeling before it started?

I mean, I was nervous, but I enjoy the sport. It was fun I just went out there and did my thing. I enjoyed it.

When did you get comfortable?

Most every year, there’s some new report making its rounds in the news about just how many billions of dollars in productivity employers stand to lose on Super Monday thanks to diehard football fans, regular folks who just had a few too many adult sodas at the party and everyone in the overlap of that Venn diagram taking the day off. The Washington Post estimated before last year’s game that more than 17 million people were going to take the next day off.

I can only imagine the numbers will go up now that the Super Bowl has two likeable, exciting, highly hyped teams competing and none of them are going to give us the “I’m so sick of the Patriots” blues.

In a way, it’s a lot like New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. All of the action happens the night before the actual holiday, yet it’s the next day where everyone’s pretty much done celebrating and nothing huge happens, but it’s still a federal holiday.

What do you do on New Year’s Day besides recover from an NYE party and remind yourself a hundred times to stop writing “2019” or whatever the previous year was on your documents? I certainly don’t do anything out of the ordinary.

I’m just trying to see Super Monday, the day after one of the most popular singular events in America, get its due as a full-blown holiday.

I don’t even have much of a stake in this! I can count on one hand the number of holidays where I don’t have to work.

Super Monday definitely wouldn’t be one of them. I’ve never even been able to not work on my birthday. But I still want this to be a holiday because it just feels right to take the next logical step when you know full well that so many people are going to try to get out of work anyway.

For the record, I’m not on board for doing the same for the Tuesday after the college football national championship.

There’s no good reason for the game to be on a Monday night instead of a Saturday, which would give everyone the next day off automatically. Can we at least make that happen?

1/9/2020 & 1/23/2020 Keiser – Lakeland 231-1854-PCO-NYNC-Nurs-5x6 Plant City Observer 5x6 sjb 12/18/19

Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Observer.

Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

When I went out there and we started doing it, I got into it and I just did what I do. After a couple minutes, I was into it, the nerves went away and everything fit together.

Strawberry Crest and my friend over there does it. She brought me in here and I’ve liked it ever since.

You must play on the defensive line.

Yes, sir. Defensive line and offensive line.

How do you think this might help you on the football field?

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

Definitely improving my tackling, confidence and hand fighting. Getting to the quarterback and destroying him. That’ll help me a lot.

What’s your favorite thing about wrestling?

It’s just me on that mat. It’s all up to me.

If I want to improve, I can. Nothing really stops me from doing that. It’s all about me, so I get to do my thing and I like that about the sport.

Did winning the first tournament help with your nerves going into the second one?

I was a lot more confident and upbeat going into it. I was more enthusiastic about doing it. Less nerves.

What was working well for you on the mat in those tourneys?

I come from football, so a lot of hand fighting. That’s really my thing. I tried a lot of offense on them. Shooting, doubleleg, that kind of stuff. That seemed to be working for me. I’m working on my offense, it’s definitely improving.

What got you to come out and try wrestling a few months ago?

Well, I played football and after that I needed something to keep me in shape.

I’m going to high school next year at

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

Quick Hits SIGN UP FOR YOUTH SOCCER Registration has begun for the 44th annual Plant City Recreation and Parks Department/Optimist Club Youth Soccer Program.

The league is open to all area youths age 4-18 as of June 1, 2020 (birth certificate required) and the players will be divided into 11 age groups. The season starts in late March and runs through the end of May, with games mostly played Saturdays for players age 4-11 and on Tuesday nights for players age 12-18. More than 1,300 kids participated last year in 100 total teams.

Registration costs $35 per player and includes the costs for jerseys and supplemental accident insurance. Sign up by 4:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the PCRPD office, 1904 S. Park Road, or by mail. For more information and to get a registration form, visit plantcitygov.com/parksrec/page/youthsoccer-league-ages-4-18, email recinfo@ plantcitygov.com or call 813-659-4255.

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TRI-STAR BASKETBALL COMP COMING SOON COLTS TO HOST FREE FOOTBALL CAMP The Plant City Colts are starting a new tradition with their first annual football camp for boys age 4-15.

The camp, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 1, will be held at the MLK complex at 1903 E. Dr. MLK Blvd. and will cover all the football skills and drills athletes need to know to get better with help from the Colts coaching staff. Food will be available at the camp.

OMG IT’S WEDNESDAY! PLANT CITY FARM AND FLEA MARKET Highway 39 North at Sam Allen Road—1 mi. N. of I-4 Exit 21

WEDNESDAY FLEA MARKET OVER 40 ACRES . . . MORE THAN 500 VENDORS

OP EN

PM 7A M T O 1 708 W. SAM ALLEN RD. 1 MILE NORTH OF I-4 EXIT 21

LIKE KMART WITHOUT A ROOF!

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Area hoopers age 8-13 are invited to the Tomlin Middle School gymnasium on Feb. 1 to put their skills to the test.

The 47th annual Plant City Optimist Club Tri-Star Basketball Competition tips off at 9 a.m. and will showcase competitors’ shooting, passing and dribbling abilities. You do not have to be in the city’s rec basketball program to participate, but the city team with the most players in attendance and in uniform will get a free pizza party.

The event is free and you can get a registration form by emailing recinfo@ plantcitygov.com or calling 813-659-4255.

PLENTY OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

WWW.PLANTCITYMARKET.COM

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

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We asked: What’s a movie you can quote by heart?

“Christmas Vacation.”

— Sean Michael

“Forrest Gump. I’m on the trivia every time we go to “The original Alice in Wonderland.”

Bubba Gump’s.”

“Interview with a Vampire.”

“The Princess Bride.”

— Kelli Michael

— Marissa Crane

— Elijah Crane

— Layla Crane

“Frozen and Tangled.”

— Onyx Crane

Barbara M. Worthy

Mary Lou Armbrester, 80, of Plant City, born on Aug. 23, 1939 in Marion, Virginia, entered into eternal rest on Jan. 18, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Steven Michael Brady Jerry Lee Thomas, of Plant City, passed away Saturday, Jan. 18 after a short illness.

Family & Friends may join his wife of 52 years, former Judith Balliet, for a Celebration of Life on Sunday, Feb. 2 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at The Home Place, 3740 McIntosh Road, Dover.

Jerry is best known as owner of the Shiloh Christian Supplies and the Goodtimes Pizzatorium in downtown PC. He served as a Plant City Commissioner; was an original board member of EHHS; one of the main proponents for saving the 1914 PCHS building and the PC Train Station from demolition.

Jaretha Fletcher

Jaretha Fletcher, 69, of Plant City, born on Feb. 14, 1950 in Chancellor, Alabama, entered into eternal rest on Jan. 19, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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made to a charity of the donor’s choosing.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

OBITUARIES

Mary Lou Armbrester

Jerry Lee Thomas

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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Agustin Pardo Agustin Pardo, 70, of Plant City, born on Aug. 8, 1949 in San Miguel, Guerrero, Mexico, entered into eternal rest on Jan. 14, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

James ‘J.J.’ Edward Hutchinson James “J.J.” Edward Hutchinson, 78, of Dover, born on June 15, 1941 in Accoville, West Virginia, entered into eternal rest on Jan. 15, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Steven Michael Brady, 56, of Crawfordville, died at his home on January 10, 2020. He was a native of Tampa and had spent most of his life in Hillsborough County before moving to Crawfordville in 2011.

He was a United States Army veteran and had been stationed in Germany. Steven was a mechanic by trade, he was an artist, a woodworker, loved tinkering and had a custom lawnmower fully equipped with radio, amplifier, mirrors and such that he enjoyed. He truly was a parrot-head and loved Jimmy Buffett.

He was predeceased by his father, Gene Brady. Survivors include his mother Jean Brady, children Justin Brady, William Brady and Stephanie Barron, brothers David Brady and Jeffrey Brady, sister Susan Brady Carr, seven grandchildren and his beloved pet, Nilya.

Barbara M. Worthy, 81, of Plant City, entered into rest on Friday, Jan. 17th, 2020.

She touched many lives as a Girl Scout leader and active part of our community. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Louise Worthy, and two children, Steven and Robert Reynolds. Survivors include her sister Marcia Pero, Michele Easley, Sylvia Reynolds, Tom Reynolds, Stan Reynolds and many grandchildren.

A casual Celebration of Life is set for Saturday, Jan. 25th, between 2:00 & 4:00 at 1308 Wilkinson Drive, Plant City.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

Arturo Acosta-Villegas

Arturo Acosta-Villegas, 82, of Dover, passed away on Jan. 18, 2020.

The family will receive friends Jan. 24, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to p.m. at Haught Funeral William ‘Bill’ Muench 8:00 Home, 708 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd., William “Bill” Muench, 86, of Plant Plant City, FL 33563. A funeral City, passed away on Jan. 15, 2020. mass will be held Jan. 25, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Clement Bill was a U.S. Marine Corps Catholic Church, 1104 N. AlexanVeteran. der Street Plant City, FL 33563.

A Mass of Christian Burial was Online condolences may be left held Jan. 21, 2019 St. Clement for the family at www.haught.

Catholic Church. care.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like contributions to be

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

FAMILY. COMMUNITY. COMPASSION. VALUE. FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971 HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

BEST BET SATURDAY, JAN. 25 CHILIFEST

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Arts Council of Plant City is hosting its annual Plant City Chilifest Cookoff at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, 102 N. Palmer St. Come on out and enjoy a variety of homemade chili and vote on your favorite chef. The chili tasting is $5 per person and there is a people’s choice competition as well as awards for the judges’ picks. Live entrainment will also take place throughout the event.

THURSDAY, JAN. 23

FRIDAY, JAN. 24

BEGINNER WALTZ CLASSES

DUPLICATE BRIDGE

2:30 to 4 p.m. Come on out to the Strawberry Square Dance Center for Waltz classes. No experience is necessary. The cost is $7 per person per lesson. Contact Tom and Cindy Bunn at 864-723-6965 or at tomandcindybunn@gmail. com to register.

DIGGING IN: LANDLORD OF THE UPLAND

5:30 p.m. Join Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., to learn about why the Gopher Tortoise is such an important and enigmatic species. The lecture is by Pam DeNeve and Polly the Gopher Tortoise will be in attendance to demonstrate the features that make this species so unique.

BREASTFEEDING AND NEWBORN CARE CLASS

6 to 8 p.m. South Florida Baptist Hospital is hosting a Breastfeeding and Newborn Care class. This class covers several aspects of newborn care, such as breastfeeding, bathing, diapering and safety risks. Participants may bring one guest to the class, which is held in the ICU Conference Room, 2-South. Bring a notepad to take notes. Snacks will be provided. Registration is free, but required. Call 1-855-2694777.

1 p.m. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 302 Carey St., is now hosting a weekly Duplicate Bridge game, the most widely used variation of contract bridge in club and tournament play.

Contact Walt Arnold at 813-7521602 for more information.

AMVETS POST 44 FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS

6 p.m. The AMVETS Post 44, 5521 FL-60, Plant City, FL 33567, is hosting a weekly dinner on Friday nights. The fourth Friday of every night is a menu of Philly cheesesteak and sides for $8. For more information, visit amvetspost44. org.

SATURDAY, JAN. 25 EAST HILLSBOROUGH DESTASH BASH

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The DeStash Bash is an art-related rummage sale of gently used art supplies, tools, books, materials and other miscellaneous studio treasures.

Hosted by the East Hillsborough Art Guild the event will take place at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St.

PLANT CITY COMMONS COMMUNITY GARDEN NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION 11 a.m. This event is a new member orientation for any member

that has not attended orientation and includes members that are not using a growing bed. They also welcome friends and anyone interested in knowing more about how the garden and membership works. The Plant City Commons Community Garden and Botanical Treasure Gardens is located at 2001 E. Cherry St. on the south side of the Plant City HCC campus.

JOE’S GARAGE BAND

8:33 to 10:33 p.m. Joe’s Garage Band will grace the stage in the Krazy Kup loft, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. The band is Veterans who joyously blend covers of classic rock, blues, country and a smattering of original tunes.

There is a $5 suggested donation.

MONDAY, JAN. 27 PLANT CITY DAYBREAK ROTARY CLUB

7 to 8 a.m. The Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club holds a meeting every Monday morning.

Now the group will be meeting in the Community Meeting Room of the Plant City Family YMCA, 1507 YMCA Place. Guests are welcome.

CRAFTERNOON: PERLER BEAD PENDANTS

4 p.m. Elementary students and their families are invited out to Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., to design and

create a customized Perler bead pendant. Students will take their personalized necklaces home.

For elementary students and their families.

BEGINNING MODERN WESTERN SQUARE DANCE LESSONS

6:30 to 8 p.m. Come on out to Strawberry Square Dance Center for a Beginning Modern Western Square Dance lesson. No experience necessary. Exercise and meet new friends. Cost is free for first three lessons, $6.00 per person per lesson thereafter.

Children 8 and up are free with parents. Call 770-825-6513 for more information.

TUESDAY, JAN. 28 SHUFFLEBOARD CLUB

9 a.m. Come on out to the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St., each Tuesday to play Shuffleboard. You’ll be an expert in no time. The club is hosted by Anita Balch and she can be contacted at 808-722-5821 for more information.

TEEN: ART IN THE STACKS: SALT PAINTING

5 p.m. All teens are invited to Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., and are asked to bring their creativity and favorite book. They’ll create a salt art painting while discussing their favorite books. For teens in grades 6-12.

BEGINNING LATIN DANCE RHYTHMS

7 to 8:00 p.m. Come on out to Strawberry Square Dance Center for a Latin Dance Rhythms class.

The cost is $7 per person per lesson. Contact Tom and Cindy Bunn at 864-723-6965 or at tomandcindybunn@gmail.com to register.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29 PAWS FOR READING WITH BONNIE THE THERAPY DOG! 4 p.m. Bonnie the Therapy Dog will be at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Bonnie loves to snuggle up with anyone who wants to share a book and rub her back. You can find her on the couch in the children’s area. Reading with Bonnie can help children improve reading, communication skills, and build confidence. Bonnie is a Shih Tzu Reading Therapy Dog certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. For children of all ages.

THURSDAY, JAN. 30 YBOR HISTORY WITH LONNIE HERMAN

5:30 p.m. Enjoy learning about Ybor’s history, the stories, hopes and dreams of the people at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. This program will educate about the struggles and triumphs that Ybor City has faced throughout its diverse history.

TEENS FRIENDSHIPS BONDS RELATIONSHIPS COMMUNITIES CHILDREN TODAY HEARTS CONNECTIONS

JOIN

BUILDING

Valid through 1/31/20.

STRONG

FAMILIES

MINDS RESOLUTIONS ROUTINES GOALS BODIES PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA 1507 YMCA Pl., Plant City | 813 757 6677 SMILES

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Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg January 22, 2020 PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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I LOVE PLANT CITY

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FORECAST THURSDAY, JAN. 23 High: 76 Low: 59 Chance of rain: 20%

FRIDAY, JAN. 24 High: 79 Low: 54 Chance of rain: 20%

32 Like early Beatles records 34 Drop the ball 35 QB’s mistake 36 Bert and Ernie, to each other 37 Buck Rogers portrayer Gerard 38 Undisputed truth 41 Lessen in intensity 43 Catch sight of 44 Chicken ___ king 45 Nae sayer 46 The Queen’s afternoon meal 48 PBS relative 49 Arches National Park location

50 Place for touchdowns 54 Cirque du ___ 56 Hauls into court 58 Mesozoic or Cenozoic 59 Corroded, with “away” 61 Be too inquisitive 62 Chaney of the silents 63 Lady Gaga or Lizzo 66 Online health resource 68 End of a threat 69 “Frozen” reindeer 70 Utopian 71 Chromebook manufacturer 72 Pay stub abbr.

73 Drink slowly DOWN 1 Roma’s country

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

High: 68 Low: 42 Chance of rain: 10%

SUNDAY, JAN. 26 High: 68 Low: 50 Chance of rain: 10%

STRAWBERRY Shipping point: Central Florida $14.90-$16.90

2 Polite turndown 3 Real puzzle 4 Gerbil, e.g., for a class 5 Response to “Would I look good in this?”

6 Happen again 7 Hoppy brew, for short 8 Type of jockey 9 Staircase post 10 *Seafood items served with melted butter 11 Word following “fresh” or “thin” 12 “Not to mention ...”

15 *Thing you shouldn’t pass on 19 Low female voices 22 *One might change your eye color 26 Emotion readers 28 Sound that may annoy a light sleeper 29 French hub 31 Picture day concern 33 Cereal bar bit 38 Celebrity’s Twitter followers, often 39 Lab supply?

40 *Lot contract 42 ___ constrictor 43 Dog part that may perk up 45 Luxury hotel booking 47 Victory that’s no sweat 51 Ari of MSNBC 52 Bakery attractions 53 Incense source, and a hint to the starred answers 55 Like someone who just can’t wait 57 Turn over 60 Dark blue 63 “The Old Man and the ___” 64 Spa treatment, briefly?

65 Crossed paths with 67 Prof’s URL ender

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SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Jan. 23

7:19a

6:01p

Friday, Jan. 24

7:19a

6:02p

Saturday, Jan. 25

7:18a

6:02p

Sunday, Jan. 26

7:18a

6:03p

Monday, Jan. 27

7:18a

6:04p

Tuesday, Jan. 28

7:17a

6:05p

Wednesday, Jan. 29

7:17a

6:06p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JAN. 25

The Sticks by George Jasper

ACROSS 1 Not at all competent 6 Get ___ of (toss) 9 March Madness org.

13 Printer need 14 “Avengers: Endgame,” e.g.

16 CNN anchor Burnett 17 Friendly relations 18 Bonus for an employee 20 Time delay 21 Post-E.R. area 23 Biblical spy 24 “___ Malala” (2013 autobiography) 25 Ran like heck 27 “Works for me, I guess” 30 River with piranhas

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Jan. 25 New

Jan. 29 First

Feb. 8 Full

Feb. 19 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Jan. 13

0.00

Tuesday, Jan. 14 0.00 Wednesday, Jan. 15

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Thursday, Jan. 16 0.00 Friday, Jan. 17

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Saturday, Jan. 18 0.00 Sunday, Jan. 19

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YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 00.65 in.

2020 0.65 in.

2019 00.37 in.

2019 0.37 in.

WEATHER

48 PBS relative ACROSS 11 Word 43 Dog part that 49 Arches 1 Not at all following may perk up National competent “fresh” or 45 Luxury hotel Park location 6 Get ___ of “thin” booking 50 Place for (toss) 12 “Not to 47 Victory that’s 9 March mention no sweat Send your photo submissionstouchdowns to Associate Editor Justin Kline at...” jkline@PlantCityObserver.com 54 Cirque du ___ Madness 15 *Thing you 51 Ari of or hashtag Instagram to feature.

56onHauls intofor @igersplantcity org. #iloveplantcity shouldn’t MSNBC court 13 Printer need pass on 52 Bakery 58 Mesozoic or 14 “Avengers: 19 Low female attractions Cenozoic Endgame,” voices 53 Incense 59 Corroded, e.g.

22 *One might source, and with “away” 16 CNN anchor change your a hint to 61 Be too Burnett eye color the starred inquisitive 17 Friendly 26 Emotion answers 62 Chaney of relations readers 55 Like someone the silents 18 Bonus for an 28 Sound that who just 63 Lady Gaga employee may annoy a can’t wait or Lizzo 20 Time delay light sleeper 57 Turn over 66 Online health 21 Post-E.R. 29 French hub 60 Dark blue resource area 31 Picture day 63 “The Old Man 68 End of 23 Biblical spy concern and the ___” a threat 24 “___ Malala” 33 Cereal bar 64 Spa 69 “Frozen” (2013 autobibit treatment, reindeer ography) 38 Celebrity’s briefly?

70 Utopian 25 Ran like heck Twitter 65 Crossed 71 Chromebook 27 “Works for followers, paths with manufacturer me, I guess” often 67 Prof’s URL 72 Pay stub 30 River with 39 Lab supply? ender abbr. piranhas 40 *Lot contract 73 Drink slowly 32 Like early 42 ___ conDOWN Beatles strictor 1 Roma’s records country 34 Drop the ball PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER Earlier thismistake month, it was cold enough in a field near Boot Bay Road that Kimberly Hatley could 2 Polite 35 QB’s see steam rising from bales of hay. turndown 36 Bert and 3 Real puzzle Ernie, to Follow us on e.g., social media: @PCObserver on Instgram, 4 Gerbil, each other O N L I N E @PlantObserver for a class on Twitter and Plant City Observer 37 Buck Rogers on5Facebook.

Response to portrayer “Would I Gerard look good 38 Undisputed in this?” truth 6 Happen again 41 Lessen in 7 Hoppy brew, intensity for short 43 Catch 8 Type of jockey sight of 9 Staircase 44 Chicken post ___ king 10 *Seafood 45 Nae sayer 46 The Queen’s items served 1/21 © 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal afternoon with melted www.upuzzles.com meal butter

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

PlantCityObserver.com