1.5.18 PCTO

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 5, NO. 27

FREE

Jason Jones moving up at Chamber of Commerce.

SEE PAGE 7 •

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

‘Eat mor Chikin’ Chick-fil-A to make test run in Plant City with limited-time restaurant. SEE PAGE 3

ENTERING ‘18

YOUR TOWN

Courtesy photo

Arie Fry attends International Leadership Seminar

Plant City-area soccer alumni hope 2018 reunion was first of many. PAGE 2.

See what’s happening in Plant City in 2018.

B

ig things are happening in this small town.

Plant City is growing across the board and 2018 could be a big year for the Winter Strawberry

Arie Fry and Florida FFA Association state officers are visiting South Africa, where they will join the 69 other state officers to participate in the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers.

Part of the seminar will include visiting farms, agribusiness and historical sites in South Africa. FFA uses the conference to spread awareness about the ever-changing global market. The global conference is supported by John Deere and Bunge.

On Jan. 2, the Florida FFA State Officers left Gainesville to go to Washington D.C. where they prepared to go to Johannesburg, South Africa. The group will tour a private game reserve, the Boer goat stud farm of Conrad Herbst, the Inyoni Crocodile Estate, the African Leadership Academy and more.

By visiting local markets, witnessing the day to day actions of South African Farmers and experiencing the unique attractions in the country, the FFA state officers will hopefully return to the states with a greater understanding of global agriculture and cultures.

Capital of the World. The Plant City Times & Observer is here to take a look at what’s in store for strawberry

City officials, FDOT plan on fixing the roads. PAGE 3.

country in the new year, from businesses and local government to community developments and area sports.

Strawberry Crest cheerleading stays positive despite low numbers. PAGE 8.

Next-level learning at Knights Elementary School. PAGE 6.

Unity Through Caring and Service coming to Plant City The Improvement League of Plant City and Somebody Cares Tampa Bay are partnering to help residents in the area who are in need of assistance.

The MLK Day of Service and CareFest Plant City are two workday events on Jan. 15 and 20.

Residents, churches and civic organizations are invited to submit projects for consideration for the workdays. This can range from visiting Nursing Homes, hosting car washes, assisting a disabled person or a senior citizen and more.

Call the Improvement League at 813-638-2260 or 813-7045800 for your submissions.

Volunteers are also needed and should contact Judy Beall at 813-957-0917.

The Bing House, 205 Allen St., will be the headquarters for the activities and will have registration and a light breakfast at 7:30 a.m. The workday is from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and a lunch for the volunteers will be held at 12:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Community Church, 904, E. Renfro St.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

Returning to the net For the first time in 20 years, alumni of the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department’s soccer program and Plant City High’s soccer teams gathered for a friendly match at the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Two teams comprised of faces many hadn’t seen in 20 years faced off early Saturday morning in a longoverdue soccer match.

Goals were scored, hugs were given and memories came flooding back to the alumni of the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department’s soccer program and Plant City High’s soccer teams as they gathered again for the first time in decades.

The idea had been batted around for years, but it took Jason Venning, a former player for PCHS and the Recreation Department, biting the bullet and throwing an impromptu reunion to make the event happen.

“I grew up with all these guys and I haven’t seen them in 20 years,” Venning said. “I just picked the lowest hanging fruit I could. I just said let's all meet at this day, at this time, at this place and if you can make it, make it. We’ll shake hands, we’ll hug each other’s necks, we’ll make fun of each other for getting old and run each other ragged.”

Despite the last-minute nature of the meeting, 15 former players, their families, a former referee and even a parent of a child who wasn’t there showed up. Many brought their workout clothes and cleats and took to the field, while others chatted under the gazebo at the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex.

Laughter filled the air but no one wore a smile quite as large as Jack Holland, the director of the Recreation and Parks Department. He

created the soccer league in 1977 and, despite the concept being new to the area, approximately 170 kids signed up. Now the program has an average of 1,300 players annually.

“From a Recreation and Parks standpoint it’s great to see these people getting back together,” Holland said. “All of these kids grew up in the program. It sparked a desire and love for the game. To see the passion that these guys have for the game that was developed right here in town and from a brand new program is great to see.”

He said the program introduced the sport to many children in Plant City and allowed the passion to grow and follow them into adulthood.

Many of the former players now coach, referee or still play. Though soccer is currently one of the largest sports in the country, it was far from widely accepted when the program first began in Plant City.

Years ago, when Venning told his friends and classmates he was playing soccer for the Recreation Department, he was met with teasing and questions from people who didn’t even know what the sport was. He said it was the closest to bullying he ever got while in school.

Now he lives in Orlando and said watching the sport take off across the country and living in a town that had a professional team like Orlando City, has been an amazing experience. Whenever he logs onto Facebook he sees everyone’s kids playing soccer, and up until six months ago, he was still playing the sport himself.

The Recreation and Parks Department sparked his interest years ago and allowed him to build relationships that have lasted for decades.

After seeing each other again, the group unanimously agreed they needed to make this an annual event and plan to expand it next year to include even more alumni from the city.

“These are the kinds of ties that will bind us together for the next 20 years if we get off Facebook and get in front of each other,” Venning said.

“Maybe next time we do this, everybody will get their kids together and then our kids can grow up knowing each other.”

Photos by Breanne Williams

Above: Plant City High’s Class of 1992.

Left: Several attendees brought their children to take part in the reunion.

Top: Alumni from the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department and Plant City High School’s soccer teams met for the first time in 20 years.

Above: Alumni brought their old jerseys to show off at the reunion.

Affected by Recent Mosaic Announcement and/or Considering Retirement?

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If you are currently an employee of Mosaic Company and fear your future with the company may be in jeopardy, it is important to fully understand your retirement plan options going forward. You’re invited to attend a discussion that outlines these options so that you may take full advantage of the opportunities offered as it relates to your financial future. If you are not a Mosaic employee but are considering retirement, you are also welcome to attend, as the information presented may also apply to you. A Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor can work with you to create a retirement strategy designed to meet your specific objectives and address your unique challenges. Join us, and learn how we can help you achieve your retirement goals.

Please call us at 866-263-0388 to reserve your place.

EVENT INFORMATION PLACE: Hampton Inn Plant City 2707 Thonotosassa Road Plant City, FL 33563 DATES: Wednesday, December 13—4:30-8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 19—12:00 noon-4:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 11—8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Food and beverages will be served during each presentation

HOSTED BY: The Milestone Financial Group at Morgan Stanley 1401 Manatee Ave. W., Suite 1110 Bradenton, FL 34205 (Speakers available at 4:30 p.m. and presentation to begin at 6:00 p.m.)

(Speakers available at 12:00 noon and presentation to begin at 1:00 p.m.)

(Speakers available at 8:00 a.m. and presentation to begin at 9:30 a.m.)

SPEAKERS: The Milestone Financial Group at Morgan Stanley Peter Winters, John Hancock Investments Regional Consultant, “Market Intelligence” Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. This material was not intended or written to be used for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

The guest speaker(s) is neither an employee nor affiliated with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Opinions expressed by the guest speaker(s) are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. There will be no discussion of, or distribution of written materials relating to, specific products or investments at this presentation. © 2017 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

11/17 CRC# 1951095

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FORECAST 2018

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

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Paving the way Plant City and the Florida DOT are heavily investing in Plant City’s roads during 2018, including repaving Alexander Street.

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Courtesy photo Wiki Commons

Should Chick-fil-A commit to Plant City, a dream long shared by many hungry residents would be realized.

STATE PROJECTS CURRENT Knights Griffin Road Bridge replacement at Itchepackesassa Creek, east of Charlie Taylor Road Interstate lighting upgrades along I-4 near Park Road

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

If Plant City were a wishing well, there’s a good chance it’d be filled with pennies tossed from hands with one overwhelming desire: Fix our roads.

It’s a plea city commissioners often remark hearing. Commissioner Mary Mathis said it was the number one complaint she heard from citizens.

It’s why the city chose to invest $6 million in road projects last year and why Plant City raised its property-tax rate for the first time in nearly three decades. Plant City wants the world to know it cares about the condition of its streets and the work is underway.

“It’s being accomplished. We have a lot of utility work being completed, streets are being paved now and more rounds are coming,” Interim City Manager Kim Leinbach said.

“I’m excited to see it’s already begun.

We’re on it right now. We’ve begun a really aggressive program thanks to the mayor and city commission and our public supporting the initiative.”

The city raised its property-tax rate, also known as millage, by $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value (one mill) during its last budget cycle. The $1.9 million generated by the increase has been used to create a special fund for street resurfacing. Additionally, the city was awarded $2 million of matching funds from the county for the current fiscal year and is working on a similar agreement for the next. Meaning, with the city’s regular investment of between $1 and 2 million, Plant City is on its way to investing $6 million per year in its roadways.

“It shows commitment on part of the city commission and residents in terms of resolving our issues,” Leinbach said. “We’re going to do what we say we’re going do and we’re gonna make sure our infrastructure and services are top-notch.”

Plant City has already initiated the first phase of what will be a continuous cycle of road repairs and resurfacing. City Engineer Michael Schenk said many of the first-phase projects are complete or nearing completion.

Work began last year on repairing utilities and resurfacing almost eight miles of Plant City streets. As that work is being completed, Schenk said, the engineering department is preparing to present commissioners with about $6 million more in repair requests for the coming year.

The first two phases of repairs are being done to streets identified by the engineering department, which identified “thoroughfares to move citizens and commerce through the city and improve the conditions of those streets,” Schenk said.

Streets for the next phases will be identified by a “pavement master plan” currently being put together by Tampa-based consulting firm Kisinger Campo and Associates. The plan is expected to be completed by late spring and will provide the city with a five-year plan for road resurfacing.

City officials said they’d like to repeat the process and create more plans as road projects are completed.

One of the most widely discussed roads in Plant City is the stretch of Alexander Street running from Interstate 4 to James L. Redman Parkway.

Social media coordinators for Plant City marketing and tourism pages

COMING IN 2018 Alexander Street repaving from Jim Redman Parkway to I-4

Chick-fil-A on its way...

Sort of.

Sam Allen Road widening from west of S.R. 39A (Paul Buchman Highway) to east of Park Road U.S. 92 EB (Thonotosassa Road/Reynolds Street) repaving from Mobley Street to Howard Street More details on FDOT’s Plant City projects can be found at their new website, fdottampabay.com/projects/city/plantcity/all

The Plant City EDC is partnering with a Lakeland-based Chick-fil-A to bring a pop-up shop to Plant City.

CITY RESURFACING PHASE 1 COMPLETED East MLK Boulevard South Lake Street Waller Street South Woodrow Wilson Street North Mobley Street Forest Club Drive Pine Club Drive Pine Club Court Oak Club Court Forest Run

IF YOU GO CHICK-FIL-A PLANT CITY POP-UP Where: 118 W. Reynolds St. When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV

ON THE MENU

STAFF WRITER

Since the Plant City Economic Development Corporation started in 2015, EDC President Jake Austin said one of the most frequently-asked questions he gets is, “When are we getting a Chick-fil-A?” The answer is now. Sort of.

The EDC has partnered with Gabe Porrata, owner and operator of Lakeland Square’s Chick-fil-A, to adopt a Field of Dreams “If you build it, they will come” attitude toward bringing the much-desired chicken champs to Plant City.

Beginning Jan. 8, the Plant City EDC office at 118 W. Reynolds St. will do double duty as a pop-up Chick-filA location. For the next few months, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, Plant City residents will be able to order from a limited menu including original and spicy chicken sandwiches, nuggets and more.

Austin said the pop-up shop is the first step in showing Chick-fil-A’s corporate offices that Plant City is a viable market for the famously picky brand.

“We want to gain attention through consistent demand in the market,” Austin said. “Once we complete the test phase, I could see this concept repeated and improved at a more long-term location in hopes that it transforms into the real thing.”

It happened quickly, Austin said.

He was driving home along the Polk Parkway in mid-December when he got a call from Greater Plant City Area Chamber of Commerce President Christine Miller.

“She said, ‘We’ve got Chick-filA here,’” Austin recalled. “I turned around and headed right back.”

When Austin got to the Chamber office, just across from the EDC office, he was greeted by Porrata, Miller and Nia Ramo, owner of Graphite Media, a Plant City-based social media marketing firm. Porrata had “long heard about the buzz in neighboring Plant City. So much so that he decided to roll up his sleeves and dig in,” EDC Vice-President Alyssa Cerrito said in a news release. After working with the city and looking at a few possible locations, they decided the EDC office would be the best spot to get a location up and running at the start of the

ONGOING Walter Drive North Franklin Street North Shannon Avenue West MLK Boulevard Grant Street

said they have been consistently bombarded with questions and comments about repairing the road, which now falls under the purview of the Florida Department of Transportation.

According to FDOT spokesperson David Botello, the Alexander Street resurfacing project is currently in the design phase and will begin construction by the fall.

FDOT will also be working on a number of other projects in Plant City including, lighting improvements to I-4, widening Sam Allen Road and repaving parts of Thonotosassa Road and Reynolds Street.

FDOT is steeped in other Plant City projects as well, like the Knights Griffin Bridge replacement which should be completed by the summer.

As important as improved roads are to residents, city leaders said pleasant roads are necessary for economic growth in the city. Some visitors say they agree.

Amy Atzel said she has visited Plant City from her home in Minneapolis a few times and would love to see more attention paid to bike paths and roadways as well. She said it’s a great way for visitors to experience Plant City’s “unique little downtown.”

“Bike lanes would be good,” Atzel said. “Visitors appreciate it. They need something to do. It’s so much better than driving and, here in Florida, you can do that all year round.”

City planners are also looking at incorporating aspects of a recently completed walk/bike plan into ongoing improvements to make Plant City more pedestrian and cyclist friendly.

Plant City, it seems, is literally paving the way towards progress.

ORIGINAL MEALS Meals include: entree, side and a sweet tea or canned soft drink. #1 CHICK-FIL-A CHICKEN Meal $8 Entree $4.50 #2 SPICY CHICKEN Meal $8 Entree $4.50 #3 CHICK-FIL-A NUGGETS (8-COUNT) Meal $8 Entree $4.50 SIDES Chocolate Chunk Cookie $1.50 Waffle Potato Chips $1.50 DRINKS Lemonade $3 Sweet Tea $2 Dasani $2 Canned Soft Drink (Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite) $2 SAUCES Chick-fil-A, Polynesian, Zesty Buffalo, Honey Mustard, Garlic and Herb Ranch, Sweet and Spicy Sriracha and Barbecue Menu items subject to availability

new year.

Cerrito said the food will be prepared at the Lakeland location and brought to Plant City via trucks. The EDC anticipates a high turnout, based on Plant City’s apparent demand for Chick-fil-A, but as the pop-up gets going, there might be some kinks that need working out.

“It’d be easier with a free-standing building, but we're doing what we can with what we have. We just ask for a little grace and understanding as we get things going. The wheels started spinning and here we are,” she said.

“While there is no guarantee that this brings an actual Chick-fil-A to the community, it does guarantee that we get the word out; Plant City is hungry for one.”

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Open Car Show Night from 4-7:00 PM with a different Pop Up Vendor each month.

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• Dawgs • Ganz • Blue Mountain Arts •

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Michael S.Cameron

110 W. Reynolds Street Suite 109, Plant City, FL 33563 michael@cameronfm.com CAMERONFM.COM

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813.759.8485

Securities Offered Through LPL Financial

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4

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

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We asked: What is your favorite way to spend a cold day?

“I like to go out and drink something warm. Also, I like to go to the movies.”

“To curl up on the couch and watch Netflix.”

— Debra Flowers, 46

— Amy Atzel, 53

“There aren’t many cold days in Florida so I usually like going out. Go on a nice cruise.”

“Drinking coffee. I like to make it at home.”

— Eric Clearo, 18

— Drew Wolfe, 17

“Generally go somewhere and get hot coffee or hot tea and sit outside and read a book, or inside next to a window.”

“I don’t leave the house. I didn’t want to leave today, but I had to go to a meeting.”

— Vicky Saunders, 30

— Lilly Brainard, 16

HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME & MEMORIAL GARDENS HAS PARTNERED TO SPONSOR AROUND TOWN.

HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS

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Evangelical College & Seminary

Evangelical College and Seminary will offer an 11- week Course on Old Testament Prophecy that will be open to the public.

The course will be held on Tuesdays beginning January 9th at 6:30 pm at Liberty Baptist Church.

Old Testament Prophecy Tuesday Evenings 6:30–8:30 pm January 9th – April 24th, 2018 Spring Semester, 2018 Instructor: Robert G. Westlake e-mail: rgwestlake@verizon.net Phone: (813) 730-1016 The course will be taught by Professor Robert Westlake, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. Professor Westlake has taught biblical prophecy at ECS for ten years and has lectured on prophecy at several local churches.

No preregistration is necessary. The cost of the course is $40.

Questions regarding the course can be addressed to Professor Westlake at rgwestlake@verizon.net or 813-730-1016.

COURSE DESCRIPTION The course will cover the topic of prophecy (both fulfilled and unfilled) in the Old Testament. The student will read the first 8 chapters of the textbook. Lectures will be designed to provide an in depth understanding of prophetic portions of the Old Testament, how they relate to each other and to the New Testament. The primary goal of this course along with its counterpart, New Testament Prophecy, is to help the student understand God’s overall plan of redemption for His creation, including those portions already fulfilled and those to be fulfilled in the future.

When completed, this course will give the student: • Confidence in the future • Motivation to live a life of trust and obedience • Concern for the plight of the spiritually lost • Assurance in the inspiration and reliability of God’s Word 261567

Each participant will be provided with all the material needed to teach the course to other groups such as Sunday school classes and small groups and will include over 70 charts.

PLANT CITY TIMES &

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER Locally owned by Ed Verner, Karen Berry, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Times & Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC, a jointventure of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.

1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103 Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 704-6850 www.PlantCityObserver.com ©Copyright Plant City Media LLC 2014 All Rights Reserved

CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays. It is inserted into the Tampa Bay Times for subscribers. The Plant City Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103.

SEND US YOUR NEWS We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements.

If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

To contact us, send your information via: Email: Sarah Holt, SHolt@ PlantCityObserver.com.

TO ADVERTISE

Mail: The Plant City Times & Observer, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103, Plant City, FL 33563

Call Al Berry, Danny Crampton or Chandler Workman at (813) 704-6850.

Observer Publisher / Karen Berry, KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Sarah Holt, SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline, JKline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Daniel Figueroa IV, DFigueroa@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams, BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com Editorial Designer / C.J. Major, cmajor@yourobserver.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

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

5

FORECAST 2018

file photo

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Gregory Champlin, Nutrition Educator for the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, with his class. Champlin said this has been the most successful class he's ever had.

Fighting for a healthier you

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The new year always brings in the desire to create a healthier lifestyle and work on taking health seriously.

The United Food Bank of Plant City is once again partnering with the Florida Department of Health to make sure the community has the opportunity to improve their health.

In July, the FDOH started a Diabetes Prevention Program in Plant City at the food bank. Led by Gregory Champlin, seven local residents began the journey to change their lifestyle and attempt to prevent themselves from developing Type 2 diabetes.

It’s been a little over five months and the results have blown Champlin away.

“This class is definitely my star class, for sure,” Champlin said. “In five months they’ve lost a total of 66 pounds for the class. Another goal of the class is to lose five to seven percent of your body weight. Of the seven people, five have already reached that and we’re not even halfway through the course.”

The year-long program teaches attendees that making minor changes to your lifestyle can make a drastic difference in your body’s well-being.

Though weight loss is a result of the program, the ultimate goal is to get attendees’ blood work in a better place.

Meal prepping, learning to make multiple affordable meals with one recipe, minor exercise changes and other alterations can help prevent someone from becoming a diabetic.

Debra Mezen, 56, joined the class because her husband wanted to learn through the program but didn’t have time to attend. She, too, fell in the pre-diabetic range and dove headfirst into the material.

She said her husband was at the point where he needed to make a major change or he would soon be on insulin, an option he refused to allow become a reality. Mezen herself has a family history of diabetes, and she hopes others will sign up to start the life changing program.

“There’s a lot of really good informational material in there,” Mezen said. “They really need to give it a chance. It’s definitely worth it. It can be hard but it’s not impossible, people need to just stick with it.”

The success of the class encouraged Champlin to expand the program.

In 2018, he will be offering two new classes starting in late January and early February.

“I was just blown away by how great this class has gone,” Champlin said.

“The hope is more people will come to the next classes so they can start working on changing their lifestyle.

Preventing diabetes is so important because it comes with so many other symptoms. Diabetics have the number one rates of amputation, they have heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, the list just goes on and on.”

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The success of the Diabetes Prevention Program in Plant City has spurred the Florida Health Department into expanding its services in the new year.

OMG IT’S WEDNESDAY!

CUTEST CRITTER

PLANT CITY FARM AND FLEA MARKET

Do you want Plant City to see how cute your favorite pets are? Send your pictures to Staff Writer Breanne Williams at bwilliams@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

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

Pup-sicle wishes for more sun: Maximus is remembering all the fun times he took for granted basking in the sun. Maybe if he wishes hard enough, some heat will return to the Sunshine State.

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!

PLANT CITY 1907 S. Alexander St., Ste. 2 Plant City, FL 33566 | (813)752-6604 BRANDON 329 Pauls Dr. Brandon, FL 33511 | (813)689-9297

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Navigation to Wealth Creation

WWW.PLANTCITYMARKET.COM

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PLENTY OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

FORECAST 2018

r WE BUY GOLD & SILVER! Jewelry & Watch Repair Insurance Appraisals Buying Gold & Diamonds

Fine Jewelry Sales Custom Designs Graduate Gemologist

New owner with Joe Grimes still doing repairs

(813) 752-0585 YFJ0801@yahoo.com

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1701 S. Alexander Street • Suite 102 • Plant City, Florida 33566

Courtesy of Lauren Egan Bergold

At the dedication ceremony, guests and students tested out the new equipment.

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Habitat Hillsborough will accept new Initial Applications Jan 2 - 31, 2018. Construction efforts will be focused in Plant City & East Tampa.

TO APPLY: www.habitathillsborough.org/homeowner-services/ initial-application/ TO REVIEW QUALIFICATIONS: www.habitathillsborough.org/homeowner-services/ homeownership-qualifications/

Knights Elementary’s new programs allow students to explore the world and learn new skills while never leaving the classroom.

SAMMIS LAW FIRM Attorneys on call 24/7

Free consultation

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

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Criminal Defense Attorneys for Plant City • Seal and Expunge • DUI • DV Injunction

• VOP • Drug Possession • All Misdemeanor and Felony Cases

Sammis Law Firm, P.A., 1005 N. Marion Street, Tampa, Florida 33602

(p) 813-250-0500 (f) 813-276-1600 criminaldefenseattorneytampa.com

Dr. Jeremy H. Gaffney O.D. Dr. Barry M. Gaffney, O.D. PA Dr. Daniel G. Gaffney O.D. The struggle between fashion and function is officially declared a tie!

Never before have eyeglass frames been offered in so many stylish choices.

Yet, you’ll be amazed at how many options are at your fingertips to help you see well and protect your vision!

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Time for New Glasses?

www.drgaffney.com

813.754.3593 | 2002 S. Alexander St., Plant City, FL 33563

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The world at their fingertips

Students at Knights Elementary may be returning to the same school after their holiday break, but the way they learn will soon be drastically revitalized.

In December, the school went on a mission to make its library a learning destination on campus. The new programs will permanently alter the way lessons are taught for students. With the new era of education came a new name and the library was officially dedicated to Mr. Truman E. Kahler, Jr., a former teacher at Knights who died in February of 2015.

“In order to reach your fullest potential in life, you must begin with a solid foundation,” the plaque in his honor at the library read. “This is a requirement for any type of success and building that foundation begins here, in your library. Mr. Kahler understood this and worked with his 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students to build the strongest of foundations, a foundation of knowledge.”

Educators at Knights are determined to give their students the best chance at success. The new programs will help give them the edge in the learning process.

Heather Mallard, a speech pathologist at the school, and Dr. Brian Greeno, a psychologist at Knights, both said the new library will allow the students to do more than simply check out books.

The school now has a Skype station where teachers can have students establish connections with sister schools across the globe, a 3D printing area, an upgraded studio, a Virtual Storybook Library, a Lego Center and Google Expeditions, which offers over 500 virtual field trips.

Mallard said, over the years, they have found many students struggle with literacy at the school and they were searching for an effective method to enrich their vocabulary.

The Virtual Storybook includes pre-

“This is kind of a way of leveling the playing field.

Providing teachers with great resources where they can do just that. Making school more than just sitting in class and listening to lectures, and more about setting lifelong goals… making that a reality and not just a buzzword.”

— Dr. Brian Greeno

recorded stories that can be accessed anywhere and at any time by the students, which she said is a buy-in for teachers because it is simple to implement but also heavily based in evidence.

“For students who are really struggling with reading, no matter their grade level, that’s an extra piece of intervention for them,” Mallard said.

“Whenever that student has down time and it might be a time for buddy reading in the class, or something like that, they can put the student on that computer and know that they’re getting interactive, effective and fun instruction in literacy.”

Mallard is pre-recording stories for the Virtual Storybook and she said once they are uploaded they will be there forever, allowing the library to continue to grow with little cost to the school. The program is set to be up and running by the next school year and Mallard plans to have other members of the staff help her include multiple translations of books to be inclusive of the diverse student body at the school.

The 3D printing station is currently comprised of two printers attached to a computer in the library. They’re in the process of training teachers and eventually students on how to use them. The goal is for teachers to have a project and choose an item that corresponds with their lesson to come out of the printer.

Mallard said the printers also allow

students to start thinking about what careers can use the printers to get them to understand that no dream is unattainable if you set your mind to it.

The Lego Center, which Greeno said will undoubtedly be a classroom favorite, allows students to design objects on their computers and then come into the library to build their creations.

One of the duo’s favorite new programs is the Virtual Field Trip area.

The system is designed around Google and controlled by a teacher on a tablet. Students will be taken into several different scenes. If they are on a field trip to the International Space Station the teacher will choose the location and then the students can turn 360 degrees to explore space.

Greeno said many of the students never make it outside of the local community. He said Knights can’t afford to take them to all of these places. However, the new program allows them to explore the world without having to leave the classroom. The program builds background knowledge, which Mallard said will bleed into other areas of the student’s learning.

“How can I expect a student to understand a passage they’re reading about the beach if they’ve never seen it?” Mallard said. “This gives them the opportunity to have access to pretty much the entire world.”

The school is funding the programs using a combination of grants and fundraisers. Greeno said the school is great at reinvesting the A+ dollars back into the school and they plan to continue to apply for grants to keep the library updated.

While teachers may take a while to adjust to the new tools at their fingertips, Greeno said he is confident many will begin to utilize the programs and students will soon be diving deep into the explorative options provided

by Knights. He said the ultimate goal is to translate the experiences they encounter at Knights into having more career options, into thinking beyond their local community.

“This is kind of a way of leveling the playing field,” Greeno said. “Providing teachers with great resources where they can do just that. Making school more than just sitting in class and listening to lectures, and more about setting lifelong goals… making that a reality and not just a buzzword.”

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Almost fifteen years ago, Jason Jones was a new business owner trying to learn the ropes. He turned to the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and quickly gained new skills and connections.

This year, that script is going to be flipped. Jones is set to become the chamber’s chairman this month and hopes to pass his own knowledge and resources on to local business owners.

“My goal this coming year is to give back to the chamber,” Jones said. “It gave me a lot of knowledge, a lot of resources, to help my business.”

When he replaces outgoing chairperson Yvonne Fry on Jan. 25, Jones said he will focus on three things: economic growth, business education and increased chamber membership value.

Jones, a University of Kentucky alumnus, is the owner of Advantage Restoration and Contracting.

He started his business in Plant City in 2003, just a few years after graduating college, and has never looked back.

“Starting in Plant City could not have been a better choice,” Jones said. “It was the best decision I could have made.”

He believes the reasons he was drawn to Plant City will attract more businesses to the area. The resources at a business owner’s disposal through the chamber, coupled with the city’s community and family-friendly nature, make it an ideal starting point for entrepreneurs. As Plant City evolves and continues to host large events, such as Pig Jam, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and a myriad of sports tournaments, it’s expected to become a hotspot along the I-4 corridor — as evidenced by

Justin Kline

Jason Jones has been in Plant City’s business scene nearly 15 years.

Plant City’s role in Hillsborough County’s Imagine 2040 plan.

Jones believes continued education is key to a business’s success and plans to double down on that by bringing back the chamber’s Lunch and Learn series in 2018.

These meetings, which are open to chamber members and non-members, will feature speakers making presentations on an assigned topic.

The Jan. 24 seminar will feature a presentation by Dan Raulerson, Irene Castillo and Nate Kilton about the new American tax code and how local businesses will be affected by it.

“That’s something that helped me a lot with my business when I first started,” Jones said. “Lunch and Learns taught me in some areas where I needed help starting a new business. Bringing those back, to me, will help other businesses in the Plant City community.”

Though the list of dates and topics was not finalized at press time, future Lunch and Learns will feature presentations on marketing and navigating the world of social media. Members can eat and learn for $10, while non-members can join in for $15.

Jones said more than 100 businesses became new members of the

Chamber of Commerce in 2017. He hopes to keep membership numbers on the rise in 2018 and, in addition, make businesses feel like they’re getting more value out of their chamber memberships.

This could be done by helping businesses get a larger presence in Plant City’s many community events, from sponsorships to straight-up participation. Giving businesses the best possible opportunities to learn and network, Jones said, makes each member feel their involvement with the chamber is worthwhile.

Jones said many of the projects started under Fry will continue going strong in 2018. The transfer of the Plant City visitors’ center from North Park Road into the chamber’s Evers Street headquarters downtown is nearing completion, with a touchscreen display unit set to be hooked up soon. The nonprofit roundtable, a group allowing local nonprofit organizations to connect and tackle projects together, will continue to operate and look to increase its own membership, Jones said.

He also hopes more people in Plant City will come to the Chamber with ideas for events, programs or other ways to benefit the community. Jones himself approached the chamber in 2009 with the idea for Planes, Trains and Automobiles, a free, family-friendly event held at Plant City Airport. It’s since become one of Plant City’s more popular annual events in its eight years of operation. Jones said he and the chamber will be open to any and all ideas that take advantage of Plant City’s resources, especially if they work for the whole family.

“It’s a community where you can come up with ideas, and the ideas will come into reality here,” Jones said.

The gavel-passing date isn’t far off, and Jones couldn’t be more excited to help Plant City work.

“It’s gonna be a great year,” he said.

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? 2810 block of Holly Bluff Court.

Fraud: Complainant stated they were contacted by what they believed to be the Kissimmee Police Department, which told the complainant they had issued a warrant for their arrest, but that the warrant could be taken care of for $10,000 in gift cards. The complainant agreed and provided the gift card numbers over the phone, and later found out they had been scammed.

COPS CORNER

Jones will become the chamber’s chairman at the end of January.

7

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

DEC. 18

FORECAST 2018

Jason Jones going full circle at chamber of commerce

|

DEC. 21

KID’S ON THE NAUGHTY LIST 2602 block of James L. Redman Parkway.

Shoplifting: A juvenile was arrested for stealing various items valued together at $253.34 from a retail store.

RIDIN’ DIRTY 1400 block of South Collins Street.

Grand theft: Complainant reported unknown suspect(s) stole two motorized carts from a grocery store.

The carts were valued together at $1,600.

DEC. 22

MICROWAVE MISCHIEF 2800 block of James L. Redman Parkway.

Fraud: Complainants stated a subject tried returning a microwave to a home improvement store using a fraudulent receipt.

DEC. 23

CRUSH WORKOUTS, NOT WINDOWS 600 block of East Alexander Street.

Criminal mischief: Complainant stated an unknown subject broke out an apartment complex gym’s door windows the night of Dec. 22.

DEC. 24

TRY THE DOLLAR MENU 2440 block of James L. Redman Parkway.

Counterfeit money: Complainant stated a subject attempted to use counterfeit bills to pay for a meal at a fast food restaurant.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

MT. CARMEL

8

Crest cheer getting back to the top Strawberry Crest’s competitive team is shorthanded, but not short on willpower.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

After every Strawberry Crest High School cheerleading practice, no matter how well the routines went, the Chargers turn to each other for inspiration.

It’s always in the form of a quote picked out by a team member who, as is always the case, was asked to come prepared with some words of wisdom on a specific day. One quote in particular, courtesy of captain Alexis Powell, applies more to the 2017-18 squad than usual.

“Life is only 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”

This paraphrase of a quote attributed to Christian pastor Chuck Swindoll means so much to the 2017-18 Chargers in part because, for the first time since 2015, team numbers took an unexpected dive. Crest’s cheer program, perhaps pound-for-pound one of Hillsborough County’s most successful and a perennial state championship contender, is fielding roughly seven fewer athletes than what’s normal of a small co-ed program.

Head coach Loveny Rivas, now in her fifth season helming the program, said the season hasn’t been an easy one by any stretch of the imagination. But her faith in the boys and girls of the program is high because, even with low numbers and the loss of a “big chunk” of seniors, the team knows what it needs to do to persevere under the circumstances.

“Even though it’s a small group, it’s a very dynamic group,” Rivas said.

“All the skill that’s on the floor is extremely high.”

It’s a different feeling for the Chargers, given the resume they’ve put together since 2013: three consecutive state and regional championship wins, four total regional titles, four Western Conference championships, one state and one regional runner-up finish. They’re the first group to hang a banner in the Crest gym and the first Hillsborough County team to ever win three state titles in a row. These kids don’t often get labeled as underdogs.

Running with 13 cheerleaders in a division that normally features 20 on the mat at one time, might change that perception. But Rivas counts on her “veterans” — about half the team, she says — to keep the newer Chargers on the right track.

“We don’t think about numbers that much … our 13 is just a hurdle and we don’t need to let it get to us,” Powell said. “We’re 13 strong.”

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

This week’s Crossword answers

The Plant City area was a hotbed for high school sports excitement in 2017. Though we’re just getting started with 2018, it looks as though this year could be as good or better to local sports fans.

Though there will certainly be more developments later in the calendar year, especially with effects from the “Choice in Sports” student transfer bill considered, several emerging storylines stand out at this time.

Whether it’s teams or individual athletes, these things could be making headlines soon in 2018.

PLANT CITY HOOPS DREAM TEAM?

2017

Powell said she’s personally taken the aforementioned Swindoll quote to heart since it was first brought up.

It defines her attitude on and off the mats. It even made its way onto her college applications. Most importantly, at least as far as the team’s concerned, it’s what she and fellow captain Cassidy Meyer come back to when they have to step up as team leaders this season.

“Champions can adapt to anything,” Powell said.

Though the 2017 part of the 2017-18 season hasn’t been particularly kind to Crest, the Chargers are adapting now and hoping for the best for later.

It’s not the first time Rivas has had to make do with a smaller group. Lessons she learned from the 2014-15 season, she said, are now in effect.

That year, Crest was plagued by a rash of injuries and cheerleader walkouts in December — and, despite not being able to perform its full routine until regionals, the season ended with a state title win. Unyielding perseverance, Rivas said, was what put that team in position to overcome an obstacle that could have derailed many teams.

“Never give up,” Rivas said. “Just never give up. Always move forward, no matter what.”

So far, Crest has won one competi-

tion — its first, held in Dover — and has since racked up several secondplace finishes. The showcase held a day before that win, Powell said, was a major turning point for the team in terms of getting its confidence up, as it was the first time the Chargers were able to nail their routine in front of a crowd.

“No matter how many people were out there, we had confidence in each other and ourselves,” she said. “We knew what had to be done to be successful.”

The next thing Crest must do to be successful, to hear Rivas tell it, is leave 2017 in the dust. The coach considers 2018 a fresh start, even if it’s not exactly starting a new season.

“I think the one thing we’re going to be focused on more in 2018 is knowing that it’s a brand new year and a brand new slate,” Rivas said. “When you hit those competitions, just go in full force with nothing but the utmost confidence and give it all you’ve got.”

The Chargers will try to get back into their first place groove in their next four competitions before heading into postseason action. With their blank-slate attitude for the new year, perhaps they’ll soon borrow a quote from the television version of Friday Night Lights.

“Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose.”

What to watch for in local prep sports Some developing storylines in the Plant City area are worth keeping an eye on.

©2017 NEA, Inc.

Justin Kline

Strawberry Crest’s cheerleading team is working as hard as ever to win.

Who’s got it better than Plant City’s boys basketball team? Right now, there’s nobody.

In Billy Teeden’s third season as head coach, the Raiders appear to have completed a total turnaround of the program with a 10-1 (5-0 district) record, losing only to state powerhouse Lakewood Ranch back in early December.

Matt Simpson, leading the team with 22.6 points and 2.3 steals per game, is the engine that makes the teal and orange machine go. Players like top big man Justyn King, newcomer Jadyn Strawder and freshman Jordyn Manning have it firing on all cylinders, as the team is scoring 71 points per game on 46% shooting and pulling down an average of 32 boards per game. This Raiders team is deep, athletic and visibly confident.

Could this be the year Plant City removes Tampa Bay Tech from the district throne? There’s certainly reason to believe so, as the Raiders were able to go to Tampa and grind out a 79-74 win there on Dec. 15. The Raiders and Titans will meet again at 1 Raider Place on Jan. 24 for a contest that will likely determine who gets the top seed in the upcoming 8A-9 tournament. Last year, Plant City took a 64-45 loss to the Titans in the finale.

GIRLS SOCCER SHAKEUP SEASON?

As usual, the Newsome Wolves are at the top of the 5A-6 girls soccer standings. But could a pair of Plant Cityarea teams give the vaunted program a run for its lunch money?

Durant and Plant City aren’t undefeated like Newsome, but both programs are enjoying successful seasons. The Cougars have a 7-2-1 (2-1-1 district) record and have not lost at home, though they did battle Plant City to a scoreless draw there on Dec. 15. The Raiders, meanwhile, have a 6-1-2 (2-0-2 district) record, have not lost on the road and sport a 4-1-1 record at home.

The Raiders have been efficient on both sides of the ball in district play, outscoring opponents 12-3 en route to two wins, two draws and no losses.

Newsome has outscored opponents 19-1 in 5A-6 play. Durant has both scored and allowed eight goals in 5A-6 play, though the Cougars have a 2-1-1 district record and have spent much of the season finding ways to win without such a prolific scoring touch.

But Durant, in its Nov. 30 7-1 loss to the Wolves, is the only district team to have put a shot past Newsome’s defense and find the back of the net.

And the team has already almost matched its win total from last sea-

son, when the Cougars made it to the district semifinal and hung in there with Newsome in an eventual 3-2 loss.

Plant City has not yet played Newsome, though that will change Jan. 9 when the Raiders go to Lithia for their regular-season district finale.

Could either of these teams be the one to upset the Wolves come district tournament time? With both Durant and Plant City showing improvements over the 2016-17 season, there’s a chance.

CREST SOFTBALL FIGURING IT OUT?

Plant City’s softball team, a state semifinalist in 2017, is deservedly going to get a lot of attention in 2018. But over in Class 8A-District 4, Strawberry Crest is looking to do big things as well.

Last season, the Chargers (14-13; 3-4 district) battled their way to the championship game of the district tournament and eventually made it to the second round of regionals, picking up a 9-5 win over Lake Minneola before getting knocked out by those pesky Wharton Wildcats in the May 9 semifinal.

The 2018 team is young enough that it lost just three seniors from last year’s team to graduation and lists only two — Celia Higgins and Taylor Finney — this time around. But it’s returning eight from 2017, including team batting leader Higgins (.417, 84 at-bats, 35 hits, 27 runs, 18 RBI, nine doubles, seven triples) and the entire pitching staff, including staff ace Kacey Fultz (11 wins, 114 innings pitched, 59 strikeouts).

Wharton may still be a team to watch out for in the district, but this Crest team has the experience and coaching needed to make improvements this year. Perhaps they could even shake things up in 8A-4 play.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

Wilson ‘Will’ Edward Parks

Allen Jackson ‘Jack’ Murkerson

Wilson "Will" Edward Parks, 51, of Plant City, born on Feb. 20, 1966 in Dade City, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 26.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Allen Jackson “Jack” Murkerson, 92, of Plant City, born on March 23, 1926 in Jakin, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 29.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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Felicita Aponte, 84, of Plant City, passed away on Dec. 23.

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

Art Lovely, 62, of Seffner, born Sept.

7, 1955 in Mars Hill, Maine, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 26.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Cathy E. Finley, 61, of Lakeland, born on July 16, 1956 in Plant City, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 28.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Rick Chancey, 51, of Valrico, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 26.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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Dollie Pless Dollie Pless, 95, of Thonotosassa, passed away on Dec. 22.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Lifepath Hospice.

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

Lauredo Holbrook, 96, of Lakeland passed away Dec. 21.

Her family will be having private services.

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

Frank "Frankie" Pierce, 63, of Mulberry, born on July 9, 1954 in Newfoundland, Canada, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 25.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Leah Beth Diamond Fischer, 61, of Lithia, born on Nov. 11, 1956 in Charlotte, N.C., was reunited with her family on Dec. 18.

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Ima Lee Boatenhamer Carte, 83, of Hudson, born on Jan. 21, 1934 in Wauchula, left this world peacefully in her sleep on Dec. 17.

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Donald Ralph Donatello, 88, of Seffner passed away Dec. 19.

The family held private services.

Donald was laid to rest in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Tampa.

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George E. Mercer

Otis Walter Hunter

George E. Mercer, 73, of Lithia, born on March 25, 1944 in St. Petersburg, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 21.

Otis Walter Hunter, 90, of Lithia, born on June 20, 1927, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 21.

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Naomi Ruth Lay, 97, of Plant City, born on Sept. 12, 1920 in Milborn, West Virginia, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 17.

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Mavis Cotton Register, 82, of Plant City, born on April 22, 1935 in Turkey Creek, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 18.

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Annie Mae Evers, 97, of Lithia, born on June 19, 1920 in Florence, Alabama, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 16.

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Lawrence Stanley Fisher, 73, of Plant City passed away Dec. 14.

His family held private services.

Eugene Ryals, 67, of Plant City, born on April 21, 1950 in Darien, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 29.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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FRIDAY, JAN. 5

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC 6:33 to 8:33 p.m. The Descendants will be performing contemporary Christian music at Krazy Kup Friday night. The brother and sister duo are worship leaders from Plant City.

SATURDAY, JAN. 6

FLORIDA OPRY 6 p.m. The Southern Express Bluegrass Band will be performing at the Florida Opry at 1914 PCHS Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. The Opry is presented by the East Hillsborough Historical Society. Randy Scott is the master of ceremonies.

For more information visit the website at ehhsoc.org/the-florida-opry. html. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students.

BLUEGRASS JAM 7:33 to 10:33 p.m. Krazy Kup will be hosting a Bluegrass Jam Saturday night in the music loft. Come on in and join the jam or stomp and clap while you enjoy the happy sounds.

MONDAY, JAN. 8

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

PLANT CITY GARDEN CLUB MEETING 10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Plant City Garden Club is holding its monthly meeting at the Walden Lake East Community Center, 1304 Teakwood Drive. The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. and coffee is at 10:15 a.m. The speaker will be James Reed, owner of Three Pines Tree Farm. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit PlantCityGardenClub.org or call Lisa Firm at 813-404-4922.

BEST BET

A SHORT DRIVE

FRIDAY, JAN. 5

PLANT CITY OLD SCHOOL SOCK HOP DANCE 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Plant City Old School Sock Hop Dance is held at the auditorium at the Historic Glover School Campus, 5104 Horton Road. Admission is $10. There will be music from the 1960s and 1970s spun by DJ Mike Hamilton from Hallback’s Bar & Grill as part of the Plant City MLK Festival. Proceeds benefit the MLK and Jeremiah Bailey College Scholarship Fund.

EAST HILLSBOROUGH ART GUILD 6:30 to 9 p.m. This East Hillsborough Art Guild meeting will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Plant City, 303 N. Evers St. Sue Allen, an artist and instructor in Tampa, will demonstrate abstract art-acrylic on canvas. Light refreshments are provided and the event is free to the public. For more information, contact Loretta at 864838-9880.

MASTER GARDENER: MOONLIGHT GARDENS 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Master Gardeners of the Hillsborough County Extension Services is hosting a

ONLINE For more events and ongoing events, visit

PlantCityObserver.com

SUNDAY, JAN. 7

NEW YEAR’S NEW ME 5K AND 10K 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Tampa’s Al Lopez Park, 4810 N. Himes Ave., Tampa. Tickets are $30 and $40 and registration ends Jan. 6. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

“moon gardens” evening stroll at the Bruton Memorial Library, 301 McLendon St. Come learn what plants show up best by the light of the moon and those whose fragrances fill the nighttime air.

Discover the benefits of attracting bats to your backyard. Participants are encouraged to bring a plant for the plant exchange afterward.

TUESDAY, JAN. 9

CROSSPOINTE INTERACTIVE WORKSHIP 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Chamber of Commerce is holding an enhanced website marketing program on Jan. 9 and 10. The presentations are approximately 30 minutes long and are conducted on the hour, every hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Your

company can achieve enhanced visibility by displaying your business information and virtual sponsorship on several different locations throughout the Chamber’s website.

This is a members-only benefit. For more information, contact Mike Baskerville at 937-829-0623.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 10

MAGIC SHOW 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kevin Long Illusionz will do three magic shows at the Plant City Farm & Flea Market, 708 W Sam Allen Road, at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Long is an illusionist, magician and gospel illusionist. The event is kid-friendly.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 10

DIRTY DANCING: THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE 7:30 to 10 p.m. Dirty Dancing is coming to the RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland. Seen by millions across the globe, this smash hit tells the story of Baby and Johnny, two independent young spirits from different worlds. Tickets can be found on the event’s Facebook Page.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

FORECAST

SUNRISE / SUNSET

High: 54 Low: 33 Chance of rain: 0%

Friday, Jan. 5

7:20a

5:47p

Saturday, Jan. 6

7:20a

5:48p

Sunday, Jan. 7

7:21a

5:48p

Monday, Jan. 8

7:21a

5:49p

Tuesday, Jan. 9

7:21a

5:50p

Wednesday, Jan. 10

7:21a

5:51p

Thursday, Jan. 11

7:21a

5:51p

High: 57 Low: 38 Chance of rain: 0%

SUNDAY, JAN. 7

11

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

FRIDAY, JAN. 5

SATURDAY, JAN. 6

Do you have a photo that speaks to the heart of Plant City?

Send it to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com

|

Sunrise Sunset

MOON PHASES

High: 70 Low: 52 Chance of rain: 10%

Jan. 17 New

Jan. 12 Last

Jan. 21 First

Jan. 31 Full

MONDAY, JAN. 8 High: 77 Low: 58 Chance of rain: 20%

STRAWBERRIES Allison Sparkman submitted this shot of Turkey Creek Middle School FFA’s on-campus strawberry field.

Sparkman wins this week’s I Love Plant City photo contest.

Shipping point: Orlando $18.90

ONLINE

Courtesy of the United States

Follow us on social media: @PCTObserver on Instgram, @PlantObserver on

Department of Agriculture

Twitter and Plant City Times & Observer on Facebook.

0.00

Friday, Dec. 29

0.00

Saturday, Dec. 30

0.00

Sunday, Dec. 31

0.00

Monday, Jan. 1

0.00

Tuesday, Jan. 2

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

DEC. TO DATE:

2017 44.77 in.

2017

0.57 in.

2016 38.68 in.

2016

0.16 in.

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STUFF IN MIX-UPS by Timothy B. Parker

some 32 Not cloudy at all 1 Firstborn, to the second 36 Included in an atlas born 38 Couric, once, in “now, a 6 A long way from fresh monarch” 12 Infinite 44 Glue kin 19 Chapter go-with 46 Columbus was born 20 Ornamented with gold there 21 Ostrich relative 48 Showy, dazzling musical 22 Be an overactor execution 23 Reality evader in “hmm, 49 Brooch nice seascape” 50 Ones seeking gold in 25 Steinbeck or Dickens, “clam thesis” e.g.

54 Rent over and over 27 Mail in, as a payment 55 Eight-related 28 Discontinue 57 Marjoram or dill 29 Once named 58 Hubby of Queen Victoria 30 Facial features, for

61 Feature of any great athlete 62 Devoured 64 Mariner’s safer direction 65 Actress Lupino 68 Places for making soaps 69 Children’s dentist in “oddest to pin” 71 Slangy summons 72 King James Bible suffix 73 Ireland of poetry 74 Daily hotel fees 75 Topple 76 Crate up 79 Stereo’s predecessor

80 House style of old England 81 Cap brim relative 83 Latex source in “err but beer” 88 Anger 89 One of South America’s longest rivers 92 Be educated 93 Royal Opera House solos 95 Barbie-esque in “sew a spit wad” 97 ___ de corps 100 Mix-up or confuse 101 Singer Minogue 102 Seeing ball

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105 Thing that’s staged 108 Informal “Would you like to?”

112 Beating around the bush 115 Queen’s attendants in “tied as in wailing” 120 Macho 121 Retaliated 122 Inside jacket layers 123 Fragrant oil from rose petals 124 “___ with everything” (neutral-shade fashion truism) 125 Rains ice 126 Groovy relative

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44 Type of fence 45 Exact opposite in “is hesitant” 47 Journalist in with the troops 49 Wild West robber chasers 51 Is a loud fan 52 More intoxicating 53 Prominent or striking 56 Gore and Unser 59 Lease provider 60 Wager 63 Neither here ___ there 64 Barrister in “entry oat” 66 Organ givers 67 Wrestling’s “Giant” 69 Veggie in a straw DOWN 70 Title giver 1 Get ___ (settle a score) 71 PC’s brain 2 Certain citrus fruit 75 Wombs 3 Took the car wheel 77 Like treated diners in “an 4 Values highly gin pony” 5 Part of a fisher’s gear 78 What three is, in a saying 6 Purloin future sirloins?

81 Pledge at an altar 7 Bowlike shape 82 Roth, for one 8 Approaches 84 Center of subcultures 9 Superman has one 85 Spelling competition 10 Twosome, tabloid-style 86 Far from edible 11 Moore of film 12 Abbr. that prevents long 87 Like humans and mugs, but not all seals lists 90 Dastardly guy 13 Gov’t medical research 91 Engine necessity arm 94 Say again and again 14 Genetic strand, briefly 15 SUV brand in “old rev ran” 96 Tailor-made?

98 Hurls 16 Arabian independent 99 Engine sounds that cause ruler concerns 17 Mediocre 18 Type of basement pump 101 38-Across first name 103 Rumormonger 20 Big name in fables 104 Showy display 24 Imprint in rock 105 Developer’s map 26 Press forward 106 Magma on the surface 31 Joel of Hollywood 33 Easy underhanded toss 107 Mideast’s Gulf of ___ 34 Make an incorrect deci- 109 Tannery punching tools 110 Catch in the act sion 111 Yellow-striped pool ball 35 “Not that I’m ___ of” 113 Model that married 37 If-possible link David Bowie 38 Musical DiFranco 114 Fledgling or rookie 39 Negative answers 116 Swelled head 40 Household feline 41 Television, radio and more 117 “Catch that?”

118 Proofs of you in “I mime adult” 42 “Diamonds ___ Forever” 119 QB pass to the wrong team.

43 Singing King Cole

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1-4-17

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

PlantCityObserver.com

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