11.10.22 PLCO

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

To pave or not to pave, that is the question.

Actually, when city engineers and planners are discussing which roads get repaved and when, the question requires much consideration and millions of dollars. A lot of planning goes into these decisions, including the current condition of pavement and underlying base material and need for repair of underlying drinking water and sanitary sewer utilities.

When the projects are scheduled, they’re grouped by similar types of work and distributed throughout the many neighborhoods in the city.

Potholes, cracks, fractures and various other types of damage are unpleasant and dangerous and require decision-makers to recognize the need for repairs. Plant City’s decision-makers are aware of the need and working to make the needed repairs. City officials ve planned out three years’ worth of street resurfacing projects to fix the damaged roadways.

EAST HILLSBOROUGH HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS 45TH ANNUAL PIONEER DAY CELEBRATION

The East Hillsborough Historical Society is pleased to announce the 45th Annual Pioneer Day celebration will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 at the historic 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 North Collins Street. Hours for Pioneer Day will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will welcome food and craft vendors, pioneer exhibits and the display of homemade and historic quilts. The family oriented, free, all-day celebration will also include live entertainment, a train ride for kids and a day of fun.

Visit the 1914 PCHSCC Pioneer Museums, the Henry B. Plant Railroad Historical Society’s model train layout, museum exhibits, heritage demonstrations, clogging, dancing, singing and a whole lot more.

Alumni from Turkey Creek High School will share with the community their archives collection for their school’s history.

The Quintilla Geer Bruton Archives Center will host their annual Bake Sale with mouth watering sweets and treats to choose from.

A new exhibit, The Seminole and Miccosukee People of Florida will be welcomed to The Classroom Gallery.

Artist John Briggs will be in his studio turning the press and releasing a new lithograph. Henry B. Plant will bring some of his fellow hotel staff fom the Plant Museum and they will tell the inside stories from Mr. Plant’s famous Tampa Bay Hotel. Mr. Planter, the mascot from the days when the 1914 was a high school, will be visiting the classrooms from his days of reign.

Descendants of pioneering families who have lived in the Eastern Hillsborough County area for one hundred or more years are eligible to receive a Pioneer Certifiate. Applications are available in the Archives Center or email info@ehhsoc.org.

PLANT CITY OPTIMIST CLUB BRINGS BACK ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LOT

For nearly 60 years, the Plant City Optimist Club has been helping the youth within the Plant City community, following its motto of “Friend of Youth.” Their work each year is primarily funded by Christmas tree sales at their annual Christmas tree lot.

Each year, the club sells over 900 Christmas trees at their lot and for several years the club has offered a discount in exchange for non-perishable donations. Partnering with the United Food Bank of Plant City, these commodities will be used to help local families during the holiday season. This year, the club is offering a $5 discount on any tree from the lot with the donation of three or more cans or boxes of non-perishable food.

Trees from 4 to 11 feet tall are delivered to the lot several times throughout the sales season to ensure fresh-cut trees. Club members staff the lot with assistance from students in the various high school service clubs.

Many people travel into Plant City from outlying areas to buy their tree from the Optimists, knowing the topgrade trees are fresh cut and that all the proceeds stay in town to support local youth programs.

The Plant City Optimist Club will begin setting up their lot for the 2022

season on Nov. 19 and be open for business on Nov. 22. Located at the corner of Maki Road and W. Alexander Street in front of Plant City High School, the Optimist Club lot’s normal season runs for around three weeks, with a targeted end date for this year of Dec. 10.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO HOST FREE ADULT CAREGIVERS WORKSHOP TO INTRODUCE LOCAL SERVICES AND RESOURCES

November is National Family Caregiv ers Month and Hillsborough County’s Adult Day Services is hosting a caregivers workshop to assist residents who care for an elderly person.

The workshop, Caregiving Happens: Find Support, Resources and Fellowship — is open to all Hillsborough County caregivers and will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Phillis Busansky Specialized Adult Day Center, 4102 W. Spruce St.

IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE TO HOST VETERAN’S FISH FRY

The Improvement League of Plant City will host a Veteran’s Fish Fry at the Bing Rooming House Museum, 205 Allen St., on 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11.

Those who attend this free event will enjoy a homestyle fish fy and music from the 70’s and 80’s.

The Bing Rooming House Museum is a museum in a historic residence in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Plant City, built about 1928 as a boarding house and was operated by Mrs. Janie Wheeler Bing for AfricanAmericans who were not allowed to stay in segregated white hotels or eat in white restaurants. On September 14, 2002, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. In addition, the museum provides free assistance to veterans seeking disability benefis each wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. within their local community. Various goods ranging from vegetables to meats to dairy and bakery goods will all be available.

The pantry, “Moving Hope,” takes place at Hope Lutheran Church on the third Thursday of each month, no identifiation is required to participate and the pantry is open to anyone in the Plant City community who may need an extra hand.

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH WELCOMES

MOBILE FOOD PANTRY

Hope Lutheran Church will once again host their mobile food pantry in the church parking lot, 2001 N. Park Rd., on Thursday, November 17.

This pantry, in association with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lakeland, will begin distributing food to those in need beginning at 6 p.m., running until the supplies are distributed. Anyone in need of grocery assistance is encouraged to join as Hope Lutheran works to help eliminate food insecurities within their local community. Various goods ranging from vegetables to meats to dairy and bakery goods will all be available.

The pantry, “Moving Hope,” takes place at Hope Lutheran Church on the third Thursday of each month, no identifiation is required to participate and the pantry is open to anyone in the Plant City community who may need an extra hand.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Success is a sweet fruit of hard work and sacrifie. For Wish Farms, its success IS fruit…berries, that is.

The international grower and yearround marketer of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and pineberries celebrated its 100th anniversary not with fanfare and applause but with a $10,000 charitable give-back campaign last month called “Pick-ABerry, Pick-A-Cause.” The beneficiaris included causes that align with Wish Farms Family Foundation’s three pillars of giving (food insecurity, youth education and community) and included Meals on Wheels of Tampa, The Ameri can Heart Association and The Florida Future Farmer’s of America Foundation.

Continuing with its mission to give back, a theme ingrained in its company culture, Wish Farms is also hosting PixieRock, its official00-year milestone party on Sat., Nov. 12. Artists ZZ Top, Bishop Briggs, Saint Motel and Blanco Brown will perform live at the Wish Farms headquarters. Wish Farms funds the event and all proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships benefit theWish Farms Family Foundation and other charities.

“PixieRock takes half the year to plan but it’s worth it,” said public relations manager Nick Wishnatzki. “It helps fund our family foundation so we can support charitable causes throughout the year.”

Wish Farms traces its roots back to 19-year-old Harris Wishnatzki, who emigrated from Ukraine to the United States in 1904. Arriving at Ellis Island with little but a strong work ethic, he began selling fruits and vegetables from a pushcart on the streets of New York.

In 1922, his operations grew to a fleet of pushcarts after he teamed up with fel low pushcart peddler Daniel Nathel. The pair established Wishnatzki and Nathel, a wholesale business selling fruits and vegetables from the Washington Market in lower Manhattan. He was one of the country’s earliest snowbirds, traveling to Florida in the winter months to be closer to production and the auction market. He established a commercial operation in Plant City and eventually moved to Lakeland in 1937 to escape New York’s frigid winters.

In 1936 his sons Joe and Lester got involved in the family business. The family patriarch passed away in 1955, leaving the company’s future in the hands of the second generation of Wishnatzki’s.

Joe’s son Gary (Nick’s father) began working for the company in 1974. His long list of accomplishments during his almost 50 years in the business include establishing G&D Farms in 1987, named for company founders Gershon Harris Wishnatzki and Daniel Nathel which has become the largest strawberry farm in the United States. Under Gary’s leadership, the company added blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and pineberries to its portfolio. It became the fist grower in Florida to offer organic strawberries on a commercial sale. He established startup Harvest CROO Robotics to solve the global farm labor shortage through automation. In 2019, he began construction on its new headquarters south of I-4. His wife Therese works with the foundation’s charitable efforts and wrote Misty the Garden Pixie (more on that later.)

Nick Wishnatzki considers his father a patient and understanding leader who’s a great listener. “He jokingly calls himself a benevolent dictator and honestly he’s an easy man to work for,” he said.

In 2001 the Wishnatzki and Nathel families agreed to split the company with the Nathels retaining the New York wholesale business and the Wishnatzki family keeping the Florida growing and shipping operation. They renamed the company Wishnatzki Farms.

The name was still a mouthful. In 2009, Gary commissioned a survey to determine if customers recognized his brand in grocery stores. The results were berry alarming and became the catalyst to rebrand the business. Out of 400 people surveyed, only one person could name the brand unaided and they misspelled it.

The following year they took the moniker Wish Farms and created its mascot Misty the Garden Pixie, who lives in the Land of Berry Plants and with a wave of her wand berry plants flourish and her pixie dust has the power to make berries sweet.

Don’t be fooled though. It’s not pixie dust that gets the juicy berries to market but a staff f hundres of workers across North and South America working hard to pick the berries, which

start dying as soon as they’re removed from the vines, to get into the hands of consumers.

“We have a very dedicated operations and sales team that have to make splitsecond decisions on where product is going all while maintaining a cold chain to keep the berries preserved,” said Nick.

He said the company couldn’t succeed without its dedicated employees. “We value and respect each and every one of them, whether they’re working on the farm or in the office,” he said.

The fourth-generation of Wishnatzki’s are actively involved in the business. Gary’s son Nick and husband Stephen Cramer joined the business in 2017 in Public Relations and Accounting, respectively. Gary’s daughter Elizabeth works with the company’s marketing team while raising the fifth eneration (Will and Joey) and her husband James currently serves as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Even though the family gets lots of face-time with each other while at work, the close-knit group also spends plenty of time together at family dinners and on vacations. Does the topic of berries ever enter the conversation? Yep. “Inevitably it always comes up because we’re all so passionate about our work,” said Wishnatzki. “It’s a part of our DNA.”

The fourth-generation of Wishnatzki’s seem to have the same zealous energy for the business as the fist. What would its founder say about today’s thriving company?

“I don’t think my great-grandfather could have ever imagined what his small pushcart business would become,” said Wishnazki. This year Wish Farms will ship a staggering 100 million pounds of strawberries, 35 million pounds of blueberries and seven million pounds each of raspberries and blackberries.

Where does Wishnatzki see the company in another hundred years? “We’re standing on the shoulders of giants,” he said. “My great-grandfather was a kind and compassionate man and he set the groundwork for what we’ve become,” he said. “As long as we stay true to our values and guiding principles we’ll continue to flourish and gow.”

For more information about Wish Farms visit www.wishfarms.com. For more information about PixieRock visit www.pixierock.org.

MISSING PIECES

2000 block of Wood Ct.

Theft: An officer met with the manager of a business who advised that the catalytic converter was stolen from one of their work trucks.

BYE-CYCLE

100 block of S. Collins St.

Theft: An officer was dispatched to a business at the listed location in reference to the theft of a bicycle.

OCTOBER 29

CLEAN PLATES

400 block of W. Ball St.

Stolen tag: An officer met with the victim at the listed location who reported that the license plate was missing from their vehicle.

OCTOBER 30

CAR TROUBLES

1300 block of E. Baker St. Stolen vehicle/recovered: An offier responded to a business at the listed location in reference to a vehicle theft.

WINDOW PAINS

1600 block of Cedar Dr. Criminal mischief: Officers met with the victim at the listed location who advised that a rock was thrown through their front window.

ROAD BLOCK

100 block of N. Pearl St.

Disorderly conduct: Officers responded to the listed location in reference to an individual blocking the entrance and exit of an apartment complex. One individual was subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct.

OCTOBER 31

TOOL TIME

400 block of Bonnie Dr. Grand theft: Officers met with the victim who stated that an unknown individual removed an unsecured Craftsman toolbox from the bed of their truck.

NO SERVICE

500 block of S. Maryland Ave. Grand theft: An officer met with the victim at the listed location who reported leaving their Apple iPhone inside the business where it was subsequently taken.

UNLOCKED AND LOADED

1600 block of E. Calhoun St. Vehicle burglary: An officer responded to the residence at the listed location and met with the victim who reported that they left their Coach purse and wallet — containing her driver’s license, social security card, birth certifi cate, a credit card and $91 in cash — inside of her unlocked vehicle where they were stolen.

STOLEN VALUE

1700 block of N. Burton St. Grand theft: An officer met with the victim at the listed location who advised that theri vehicle was burglarized.

RENT PAST DUE

3300 block of Milton Pl. Fraud: An officer met with the victim at the Plant City Police Department where the victim reported being defrauded in reference to a home rental scam.

REST ROOM RUCKUS

1400 block of W. Dr. MLK Blvd. Criminal mischief: An officer met with the complainant at the listed location in reference to damage done to the bathrooms.

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com

Sports Writer / Taylor Jenkins tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com

StaffWriter / Michell Caceres michelle@plantcityobserver.com

Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez

Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

TO ADVERTISE Call (813) 704-6850

Advertising / Richard Brame richard@plantcityobserver.com

Advertising / Karen Berry kberry@plantcityobserver.com

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PLANT CITY GOVERNMENT PLANS THREEYEAR STREET RESURFACING PROJECT

A PLAN MAPS OUT A THREE-YEAR TIMELINE FOR

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

“A well maintained road not only provides a smooth driving surface but it also protects the road base structure from costly water damage,” said Plant City senior engineer Frank Coughe nour. “Well maintained roads and infrastructure also help foster a sense of community pride.”

In fiscal year 2021-2022, approximately nine miles of asphalt on 53 city streets will be resur faced at a project budget of $2.7 million. The job is currently out for construction bids. It’s antici pated that work will be completed between Jan. 2023 and May 2023.

In fiscal year 2022-2023, almost 10.5 miles of asphalt on 55 streets will be resurfaced at a pro jected budget of $2.5 million. This project is in the design phase but it’s expected to be out to bid by Jan. 2023 with construction being completed between Mar. 2023 and Sept. 2023. Depending on actual construction costs, some of these street segments may be deferred to the next fiscal year.

In fiscal year 2023-2024, almost 14.5 miles of 87 streets will be resurfaced at a projected cost of approximately $6 million. This project, which will begin a focused effort to address the remaining unpaved roads in the city, will also include Collins Street and James L. Redman Parkway from East Alsobrook Street to Alexander Street. Community involvement will be sought as city officials con sider alternatives to conventional asphalt paving. This project is in the design phase and will be out to bid in Sept. 2023 with construction expected to be completed between Dec. 2023 and May 2024.

“Fiscal year 2023-2024 is an ambitious list of projects and it’s likely some of the street segments may be deferred to the following year depending on actual construction costs,” said Coughenour.

For more information or questions, email Coughenour at fcoughenour@plantcitygov.com.

OLD

W. LEE ST. CRUM ST. S. WALKER ST. S. EMPIRE ST. W. ALSOBROOK ST. 10' NORTH OF W. BALL ST.

W. BALL ST. 10' WEST OF W. ALSOBROOK ST. 10' EAST OF W. ALSOBROOK ST.

BAY DR. WHITEHALL ST. VICTORIA ST.

W. CALHOUN ST./WHITEHALL ST. VICTORIA ST. N. FERRELL ST. N. FERRELL ST. W. CALHOUN ST. W. CHERRY ST. W. TEVER ST. N. FERRELL ST. N. FRANKLIN ST.

1Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Street Resurfacing Project

Road Name From To

CREEK WOODS DR. SUGAR CREEK DR. CREEK WOODS DR.

SUGAR CREEK CT. SUGAR CREEK DR. CUL DE SAC

SUGAR CREEK DR. W. BAKER ST. W. REYNOLDS ST.

E. GILCHRIST ST. N. COLLINS ST. N. PALMER ST.

N. PALMER ST. E. TEVER ST. E. BAKER ST. N. ROUX ST. E. TEVER ST. W. CALHOUN ST.

W. SAUNDERS ST. N. ROUX ST. N. WHEELER ST.

VIOLET ST. REYNOLDS ST. WAVER ST. WAVER ST. VIOLET ST. N. JOHN MARTIN ST.

E. TOMLIN ST. N. GORDON ST. N. MARYLAND AVE.

E. TOMLIN ST. N. WARNELL ST. DEAD END E. GILCHRIST ST. N. VERMONT ST. N. GORDON ST.

W. TOMLIN ST. N. COLLINS ST. N. EVERS ST.

TOMLIN ST. N. COLLINS ST. N. PALMER ST.

E. CALHOUN ST. N. COLLINS ST. RAILROAD CROSSING N. RITTER ST. W. REYNOLDS ST. W. MOODY AVE.

MAYS ST. W. REYNOLDS ST. WAVER ST. N. EDWARDS ST. W. REYNOLDS ST. WAVER ST. N. JOHN MARTIN ST. W. REYNOLDS ST. WAVER ST.

CASSELL ST. W. GRANFIELD AVE. W. REYNOLDS ST.

PINECREST ST. W. GRANFIELD AVE. W. REYNOLDS ST.

KIPLING AVE. PINE CLUB DR. BARRET AVE.

LONGFELLOW DR. N THACKERY WAY BARRET AVE

STEVENSON ST. S THACKERY WAY CONCORD WAY

CLEMENS CT. STEVENSON ST. CUL DE SAC

E. DAMON ST. N. COLLINS ST. N PALMER ST.

EMERSON PL. BARRET AVE. CUL DE SAC

W. LOWRY AVE. VIOLET ST. N. WOODROW ST. W. MOODY AVE. VIOLET ST. N. WOODROW ST.

CENTER ST. OAKDALE ST. CUL DE SAC

N. WILLIS ST. OAKDALE ST. CUL DE SAC

N. WILLIS ST. E. CALHOUN ST. E. TOMLIN ST.

HICKMAN AVE. WALTER DR. N. SEMINOLE LAKE BLVD. BELMONT ST. HICKMAN AVE. W. REYNOLDS ST. DRAKE ST. W. DELAWARE AVE. W. REYNOLDS ST. W. OAK AVE. WALTER DR. CULDE SAC N. LAKE DR. WALTER DR. CULDE SAC W. RISK ST. WALTER DR. N. SEMINOLE LAKE BLVD. CREEK WOODS DR.

GORDON ST. N. MARYLAND AVE.

E. TOMLIN ST. N. WARNELL ST. DEAD END E. GILCHRIST ST. N. VERMONT ST. N. GORDON ST. W. TOMLIN ST. N. COLLINS ST. N. EVERS ST.

TOMLIN ST. N. COLLINS ST. N. PALMER ST.

E. CALHOUN ST. N. COLLINS ST. RAILROAD CROSSING

N. RITTER ST. W. REYNOLDS ST. W. MOODY AVE.

MAYS ST. W. REYNOLDS ST. WAVER ST.

N. EDWARDS ST. W. REYNOLDS ST. WAVER ST.

N. JOHN MARTIN ST. W. REYNOLDS ST. WAVER ST.

CASSELL ST. W. GRANFIELD AVE. W. REYNOLDS ST.

PINECREST ST. W. GRANFIELD AVE. W. REYNOLDS ST.

KIPLING AVE. PINE CLUB DR. BARRET AVE.

LONGFELLOW DR. N THACKERY WAY BARRET AVE

STEVENSON ST. S THACKERY WAY CONCORD WAY

CLEMENS CT. STEVENSON ST. CUL DE SAC

E. DAMON ST. N. COLLINS ST. N PALMER ST.

EMERSON PL. BARRET AVE. CUL DE SAC

W. LOWRY AVE. VIOLET ST. N. WOODROW ST.

W. MOODY AVE. VIOLET ST. N. WOODROW ST.

CENTER ST. OAKDALE ST. CUL DE SAC

N. WILLIS ST. OAKDALE ST. CUL DE SAC

N. WILLIS ST. E. CALHOUN ST. E. TOMLIN ST.

HICKMAN AVE. WALTER DR. N. SEMINOLE LAKE BLVD.

BELMONT ST. HICKMAN AVE. W. REYNOLDS ST.

DRAKE ST. W. DELAWARE AVE. W. REYNOLDS ST.

W. OAK AVE. WALTER DR. CULDE SAC

N. LAKE DR. WALTER DR. CULDE SAC

W. RISK ST. WALTER DR. N. SEMINOLE LAKE BLVD.

CREEK WOODS DR. CREEK WOODS DR. CREEK WOODS DR.

CREEK WAY CT. SUGAR CREEK DR. CULDE SAC

STEINBECK PL. BARRET AVE. CULDE SAC

WHICH STREETS GET RESURFACED IN EACH FISCAL YEAR.

Berchelmann, MD

Photo courtesy of CWR Contracting, Inc.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Veterans Day is Friday, Nov.11 and whether you’re currently serving in the military or a retired veteran, some busi nesses want to thank you for your service and sacrifice with free stuff. These busi nesses are either located in Plant City or it surrounding cities.

While this list was compiled and distrib uted by the Veterans Administration, not all franchise locations participate in their national chain’s Veterans Day programs so it’s best to contact the local business to make sure it’s honoring the promotion. Also, some businesses offer the special to both veterans and active-duty military while others only offer it to veterans. Keep in mind that most businesses require proof of military service so you’ll want to bring your military ID.

2022 VETERANS DAY RESTAURANT DISCOUNTS:

7-Eleven- Get a free coffee or Big Gulp on Veterans Day. Download the 7-Eleven app and sign in or register.

Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza- Veterans and active-duty military receive a free 12-inch cheese pizza on Veterans Day.

Applebee’s- Veterans and active-duty military can select a free meal from a lim ited menu on Veterans Day.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s- A free meal for veterans with a purchase of equal or greater value up to $10 on Veterans Day.

Black Rock Bar & Grill- Free steak din ner for veterans and active-duty military on Veterans Day. Dine-in guests only.

Bob Evans- Veterans can select from one of seven homestyle menu items for free on Veterans Day, including country-fried steak and crispy fried chicken.

Buffalo Wild Wings- Veterans and active-duty military who dine at the res taurant can receive a free order of 10 tra ditional wings and a side of fries at par ticipating locations on Veterans Day. The Lakeland location is honoring the special.

Chicken Salad Chick- Veterans and active-duty military will receive a free meal on Veterans Day. Offer valid for ser vice members in uniform or those with a valid military ID.

Chick-fil-A- Veterans with a valid iden tification can snag a free original chicken sandwich or 8-count nuggets at the Plant City Chick-fil-A location.

Chili’s Grill & Bar- All veterans and active-duty military personnel can choose a complimentary meal from a select menu on Veterans Day.

Cici’s Pizza- The chain is offering a free adult buffet with valid active-duty or retired military ID on Veterans Day.

Cracker Barrel Old Country StoreCracker Barrel will offer in-store specials on Veterans Day for veterans and promo tions throughout November to support military families in partnership with Oper ation Homefront. On Veterans Day, veter ans can receive a free slice of double fudge Coca-Cola cake with their meal.

Denny’s- All veterans or active-duty military with a valid ID will receive a free Build-Your-Own Grand Slam breakfast from 5 a.m. until noon on Veterans Day.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit- Veterans and cur rent military personnel, with valid military ID, will receive a free pulled pork sandwich on Veterans Day.

Dunkin’ Donuts- Veterans and activeduty military can enjoy a free donut, no purchase necessary, on Veterans Day.

Einstein Bros. Bagels-Veterans and active-duty military can get a free hot or iced medium coffee on Veterans Day.

Glory

Golden Corral- Military Appreciation Night will be held on Monday, Nov. 14 from 5 p.m. - close. Veterans and activeduty military members will receive a free “thank you” meal.

Grillsmith- Veterans and active-duty military members will receive a compli mentary entree on Veterans Day.

Hooters- All veterans who present a mil itary ID or proof of service and purchase a beverage at any participating Hooters will receive a free entree from a special menu (dine-in only.)

IHOP- Veterans and active-duty mili tary can get a free Red, White and Blue berry pancakes on Veterans Day. Dine-in only with proof of service.

Ikea- Enjoy a free meal at Ikea on Veter ans Day. Military ID required.

Krispy Kreme- A doughnut and coffee will be on the house for Veterans on Vet erans Day.

Little Caesars- Veterans and active-duty military can get a free lunch combo from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at participating locations on Veterans Day.

Macaroni Grill- Veterans and activeduty military receive a free mom’s ricotta meatballs + spaghetti with military ID on Veterans Day.

Mission BBQ- Veterans and active-duty military will receive a free sandwich on Veterans Day.

Olive Garden- Veterans and active-duty service members receive a free entree from a special menu on Veterans Day.

Outback Steakhouse- Veterans and active-duty service members can enjoy a free Bloomin’ onion and Coca-Cola on Veterans Day.

Red Robin- Show your proof of military service anytime between Nov. 1 and Nov. 14 and grab a free Red Robin Tavern Double Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries.

Smoothie King- Show your military ID and get a free 20-ounce smoothie on Vet erans Day.

Sonny’s BBQ- Veterans and active-duty military receive a free pulled or sliced pork sandwich plus a voucher for free BBQ egg rolls on a future visit on Veterans Day. Dine-in or take-out only.

Starbuck’s- Active-duty service mem bers, reservists, veterans and military spouses are invited to enjoy a free tall (12-ounce) hot or iced brewed coffee at participating locations on Veterans Day.

Texas Roadhouse- On Veterans Day from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., veterans can drive into the parking lot of their closest Texas Road house and pick up a meal voucher with a valid military ID or proof of service.

Village Inn- Free V.I.B. breakfast on Vet erans Day.

Wawa- Veterans, active-duty military and family members receive free coffee on Veterans Day.

Wendy’s- The hamburger chain is offer ing a free small breakfast combo with valid military ID on Veterans Day. No purchase is necessary.

Zaxby’s- At participating locations, veterans and active-duty military get free boneless wings on Veterans Day.

Great Clips- Veterans and active-duty military can visit a salon on Veterans Day to receive either a free haircut that day or a free haircut card to use at a later date. Visit its website for details.

Sports Clips- Some locations (including the salon at 2404 James L Redman Park way) will be offering free haircuts to vet erans and active-duty service members on Veterans Day.

The right care takes

PLANT CITY HONORS VETERANS AT LOCAL CEMETERIES

TAYLOR JENKINS STAFF WRITER

Volunteers made their way to four local cemeteries this past Saturday to help Plant City honor veterans as they placed nearly 1,300 flags at the graves of veterans.

In their third year holding the event, Plant City Parks & Recreation saw dozens of volunteers show up to assist, including Chief James Bradford and fellow mem bers of the Plant City Police Department, city commissioners, Durant High School ROTC Cadets and several members of the community.

“This is the third year that we’ve done it,” Plant City cemetery superintendent Jeff Black said. “I’ve been here since November of 2019, we started the event in 2020. I think we had 23 people the first year and today we had about 75. The first year Durant ROTC came out they just helped but this year they’re helping us run the event, so they’re passing out flags and guiding folks to the headstones, stuff like that. Commissioner Jason Jones was here and it was nice to see that support, Chief Bradford and a bunch of the detectives. It’s morphing into what we hoped that it would be.”

After serving eight years with the United States Navy, later working with Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C., West Point Cemetery in New York and Fort Jackson National Cemetery in South Caro lina, cemetery supervisor Jeff Black joined Plant City in 2019 before orchestrating the event for the first time the following year.

“I’m a veteran, my wife also just retired from the army after 20 years and I got my start in national cemeteries at Arlington, the West Point Cemetery, the V.A. Cem etery, so this is important to me,” Black said. “Especially seeing all of the children out here, that’s why we do it. If it was just

children I’d still be happy because I think for them to have that opportunity to rec ognize and understand the sacrifices that the people around them have made for our country is important and it shows that it’s important to their parents as well because they’re here. So it’s really neat to see as many kids out here as there are.”

The event comes one week before Vet eran’s Day as Plant City continues to hon or those who have served in the United States’ Armed Forces, but it’s also just one facet of how Black — along with foreman Leo Carrizales — has greatly impacted cemetery operations since joining the city as superintendent.

“Once I took over the department, cem eteries was something that I had minimal knowledge in,” director of Parks & Rec reation Julie Garretson said. “So the first couple of months here I got with Jeff and just told him that he needed to give me a crash course in cemetery operations. Since then that’s changed my entire outlook of the cemeteries and all that these guys have to do as far as our field guys, our foreman, Jeff as our superintendent. With his expe rience coming from Arlington National Cemetery, that was kind of a no-brainer for the city as an asset to the team. The pride that he takes into the cemetery and the progress that he’s made over the past three years that he’s been here is night and day. He’s extremely enthusiastic but not just focused on conserving and protecting what we currently have but also expand ing and innovating in ways that no other municipality in the area are doing. So we’re super fortunate to have someone so wellversed in cemetery operations that can help me as the director to see the direction that we need to go.”

Photos courtesy of James Bradford

NEW PLANT CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES DESIGN AWARD

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Winning isn’t everything but when you do it’s nice to celebrate the win. Fire Station No. 3 won an Award of Merit in the Investment, Planning and Historic category at this year’s 40th annual Planning and Design Awards presented by TECO and hosted by Hillsborough County Planning Commission.

“More than just public safety infrastructure, the Fire Station meets the needs in a growing area while preserving history and engaging a previously under served community,” said Melissa Zornitta, FAICP, Planning Commission executive director.

City of Plant City mayor Nate Kilton, members of the Plant City City Commission, city manager Bill McDaniel and fire chief David Burnett were on hand at the banquet on Oct. 27 to accept the award.

“Fire Station No. 3 is unique in that the station was designed to not only preserve our past but also cre ate a state-of-the-art facility,” said Burnett. “A lot of thought was put into its design.”

The 8,400 square-foot fire station, located at 1704 North Park Road, was completed in 2020. The threebay station is equipped with seven private dorms with individual bathrooms for privacy, making it easier to accommodate mixed-gender crews. Build ing features include polished concrete floors, a con temporary industrial kitchen, red block walls, solidsurface countertops, limited paint and conduits on the roof to add solar panels which will increase the building’s energy efficiency.

An existing tourist information building that was constructed in the 1950’s was incorporated into the building’s design. The structure was in great shape

An

24-hour shifts. The fire station never sits empty and is staffed 365 days a year.

The sleek station is also home to a 1927 American LaFrance Fire Engine which sits beind a set of mas sive glass walls and can be seen from the road. The truck, purchased by the city in 1927, was used to con trol fires until it was decommissioned. It was driven in local parades up until 2017, when it was officially retired, its fluids drained and it became a museum piece. “It’s a showpiece for the public, especially children,” said Burnett.

In addition to serving as a monument to its past, the design also encourages community engagement as an event site and educational facility.

The fire station benefits the public in many ways, from improving response times across the City to reducing insurance premiums for residents and businesses. It’s designed to serve the residents of Plant City not only today but for many years to come.

“We’ve got a lot of growth upon us and the city continues to work together as a team to serve its citi zens,” said Burnett.

For more information about Fire Station No. 3 visit www.plantcitygov.com.

and remodeled a bit on the inside and now it serves as the three battalion chiefs’ quarters. “The three battalion chiefs used to share one very small office but now they have their own offices,” said Burnett.

old outdoor pavilion, previously on park prop erty, is now a patio and barbecue area for firefighters who call the building home during

The award was accepted at The Planning Commission’s 40th Annual Planning & Design Awards.

LUNCHEON

PLANT CITY HONORS VETERANS AND ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS AT LUNCHEON

The annual event held at the TECO Expo Hall drew more than 500 guests.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

In 2018 a small group of community members from the Elks Lodge partnered with the City of Plant City, the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and Plant City Main Street to throw an inaugural picnic event for 250 local veterans to thank them for their selfless sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy.

This year’s event, held last Sunday at the TECO Expo Hall at the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, featured an attendance of more than 500 guests who enjoyed a meal of pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw from The Wooden Spoon. Dairy Queen ice cream capped off the meal.

This year’s event was a cooperative effort between the Elks Lodge, Historic Plant City Main Street and the City of Plant City and was sponsored by dozens of local busi nesses. Two free tickets were given out to veterans and other tickets were sold for $10 each.

The program included presentations by Suncoast Credit Union service center manager Derek Yates, former Elks National President Mike Smith and keynote speaker Brian Moyer, legislative director of Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc.

Event organizer and Elks district veterans services chair man Judy Wise, who began planning the event in August, is proud and humbled to be trusted with the task of executing an event of this magnitude. “I’m not kidding when I say that it’s a team effort to put on an event of this size,” she said. “We’ve got the best community around.”

Every event detail was thoughtfully planned, from the menu, program and patriotic decorations. Golf carts were donated to transport older veterans from the parking lot to the event building. Volunteers served veterans at their table who had trouble walking up to the food table.

Attendees included more than a dozen patients from James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and residents of Liber ty Manor, a charitable organization that provides housing for homeless veterans. When Wise was on stage welcom ing the crowd, a couple of Liberty Manor veterans went onstage to thank her for the invitation to the event and to present her with a t-shirt and certificate.

“It was all I could do not to cry in front of 500 people,” she said. “I was so humbled and thankful for them.”

Thankful is a word that best describes the sentiment from the veterans that attended the event. A few of those attendees are:

* Plant City resident Angel Valentin, who served in the U.S. Army for 30 years from 1974 - 2005. “I enlisted right after high school and always wanted to serve because I liked the structure of the military,” he said. “There’s a sacrifice that you make as a member of the Armed Forces because you miss a lot of birthdays and Christmases.” His love of country made the sacrifice worth it. It was his first time attending the event. “I’m pretty impressed,” he said.

* Plant City resident Wayne Smith attended the event with his wife Faye. He served in the Army from 1968 - 1972 and was stationed in Vietnam for two of those years.

* Jack DeVane attended the event with his wife Dot. he was in the Army from 1955 - 1958. Four of his brothers also served in the Armed Forces. A grandson is in the Marines. “This is such a wonderful event,” he said.

* West Point Class of 1981 graduate Kathy Gam brell served in the Army for five years. Her husband Alan Gambrell served in the Army for 20 years.

* Vietnam veteran and longtime Plant City resi dent Carlos Aponte, originally from Puerto Rico, was an active-duty military member for 20 years.

* Bill Graham served in the Air Force from 19611982. It’s his fourth time attending the event. “My favorite part is seeing veterans come together,” he said. “It’s good to see there’s a place to get together with fellow brethren who’ve served.”

* Plant City resident Kenneth Markham served in the Coast Guard from 1956 - 1959 as an anchor crank er. Sitting next to him at the event was his son, Blair Markham, who served 25 years active-duty in the Coast Guard and then another 14 years as a civilian employee. Blair’s son, Jack, is currently in his first year at the Coast Guard Academy. “My son is third generation Coast Guard,” said the proud father. “He couldn’t be here today because he’s busy doing push-ups.” It was Blair’s first time attend ing the event. “It makes me proud to be recognized for my service and to be here with so many other veterans,” he said. Blair looks back on his time in the service with many fond memories of his time spent working at land-based

search and rescue stations. “I can look back on my career and know I made a difference,” he said. “There are people alive today that wouldn’t be if my team hadn’t gone out to save them.”

* Plant City resident Larry Kimbley served from 1988 - 2003 in the Navy and then as a doc in the Marine Corps. He served during Desert Shield, Desert Storm, the Bosnian War, the Haitian Invasion and Iraq. He’s traveled to 32 countries. His military legacy includes great-great uncle, Francis Kimbley who served in the Revolutionary War, a great-great grandfather that served in World War I and grandfathers who fought in World War II and Korea. He attended the event with his wife Thania and 8-year-old son David. It was their first time attending the event. “I’d always hear about it after the fact but this year my wife got our tickets when she was at the library one day,” said Larry. “It’s nice to be here with other veterans.”

Past Elks national president Mike Smith said the orga nization’s goal is to serve our country’s veterans. “We rec ognize the heroes who gave us our freedoms,” he said. “We love and appreciate you and will always watch out for you.”

God bless the U.S.A., he said.

EMPTY BOWLS FILLS UNITED

BANK OF PLANT CITY COFFERS

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Don’t miss out on the twelfth annual Empty Bowls Project being held this Sat urday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at The Robert Willaford Railroad Museum and McCall Park, where hungry people will gather to pick out a hand-crafted bowl made by local schoolchildren and share a meal together to promote hunger awareness while benefit ting The United Food Bank of Plant City.

Some event attendees will work up an appetite running in The Fork Ran Away with The Spoon 5k kick-off event that starts at 7 a.m. and takes racers through the streets of downtown Plant City.

Twenty chefs will be serving up dozens of different types of tasty soup so there’s sure to be a soup to satisfy every palate. Event entertainment will include Ace Jackson and the Jump King, saxophonist Larry Clarke and the Plant City Community Chorale.

Art teacher and professional street painter Leigh Alfredson hosted a workshop last month to teach budding artists how to create pastel chalk masterpieces which they will design on the sidewalk during the event. Three-dimensional street painter Janet Tombros will also be creating a design on the sidewalk the day of the event.

There will be a live auction starting at 10:30 a.m. of artist-painted bowls cre ated by several local artists, including the 2022 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen and Court, Josie Azorin, Gerri Baldridge, Mar Harrer and Melissa Hart. A second live-auction beginning at 11:30 a.m. fea ture bowls created by LMPC and court members, Colleen Justin, Angie Klein, Lesli Platt and a community bowl that was designed at last year’s event.

“We expect to feed between 600 and 700 people this weekend,” said United Food Bank of Plant City director Mary Heysek.

The proceeds from the event are expect ed to total approximately $25,000 which will go a long way to helping Heysek and her team with its mission of feeding local resi dents struggling with food insecurity. The Food Bank typically feeds approximately 11,000 people a month.

For Food Bank board member Silvia Dod son, the mission of the charity is dear to her heart. She and her family immigrated from Cuba in 1963 with nothing but the clothes on their backs and recollects relying on assistance from Catholic charities and a food bank. Knowing first-hand what a life line a food bank provides, she pays it for ward by sacrificing her time and resources to help others. “I feel like it’s important to give back,” she said. “This event is a won derful way to bring awareness to the issue of hunger and all the empty bowls that don’t get filled every day.”

Tickets can be purchased the day of the event and cost $10 per person. For more information about Empty Bowls Project visit www.ufbpc.org.

THE ANNUAL EVENT HELPS THE CHARITY FULFILL ITS VISION TO STAMP-OUT HUNGER IN EAST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

SPORTS PLANT CITY ENDS SEASON WITH WIN OVER JEFFERSON

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

The Plant City Raiders hosted the Jeffer son Dragons on Friday Night, coming away with a 20-8 win to finish their first seaso nunder head coach Michael Clayton at 3-7.

“We went into this game wanting to domi nate, as we did every game,” Clayton said. “It was also a sentimental game for our seniors so we had a lot of guys that hadn’t played much all year, seniors that we wanted to make sure we got into the game. Jefferson came in and made it a game early so we weren’t able to get them into the game until the end but we finished on a high note. The message to this team all year was to stay together. We faced a lot of adversity, some of it was self-inflicted, but we learned from it and the mindset got better week in and week out. We were able to learn from our mistakes this year and I’m really excited about going into next year. We had a very young team this year, we kickstarted our program this year and finished strong.”

Plant City received the opening kickoff and started their first drive at the 36 as running back Dominic Jones jumped on the short squib kick, but the Raiders would quickly be forced to punt as they gained just five yards on their first three offensive plays.

The long punt from kicker/punter Isaiah Wilson put the Dragons at their own 28 and after a five-yard carry on first and a loss of one on second, Jefferson was quickly fac ing a potential three-and-out of their own.

On the ensuing third-and-six, Jefferson quarterback Logan Rodgers dropped back and fired over the middle of the field, inter cepted by Raiders linebacker Seth Hogan and returned for a touchdown as Plant City jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead following the extra point from Wilson.

The Raiders defense once again forced the Dragons to punt and Plant City was able to extend their lead on the next drive. After starting at their own 18, quarterback Champ Mitchell was sacked on first down to immediately move Plant City behind the sticks and set up second-and-15. After a

short completion moved the Raiders up to the 19, Mitchell hit Jones on a hook route over the middle of the field and the junior running back broke free up the right side line for a big gain to the Jefferson 41-yard line. Two carries on first and second left the Raiders with a third-and-two at the 33 when Mitchell dropped back, rolled out to his left and took off for a first down to the 25. A sixyard swing pass and two carries from run ning back Jaden Mccants had the Raiders set up at the 10-yard line facing a secondand-nine, but a one-yard carry on second down from linebacker Cole Highsmith and an incomplete pass on third forced Plant City to settle for a field goal, converted by Wilson to give the Raiders a 10-0 lead with 11:10 left in the second quarter.

Both offenses struggled to find a rhythm throughout the rest of the quarter before Jefferson finally got on the board as Rod gers found receiver Sykhi Madison streak ing down the right sideline for an 80-yard touchdown with 2:19 left in the first half. A successful two-point conversion followed and the Dragons were able to cut into the deficit and head into the locker room for halftime trailing just 10-8.

Plant City’s defense forced a Jefferson punt on the first drive of the second half before the Raiders turned the ball over inside their own territory on the first play of the ensuing drive, giving the ball back to the Dragons at the 41. But as quickly as the Raiders gave possession up, their defense took it right back as the unit pushed Jef ferson into a third-and-11 before Plant City defensive back Chase Dexter high-pointed a deep pass over the middle of the field to haul in an interception of his own at the twoyard line.

“He made some big plays for us this year,” Clayton said. “He’s still a young player too and will have a great opportunity to do a lot of big things next year. He had the oppor tunity to get his hands on the football and finally got his interception that he’s been waiting for. He’s a solid player, he’s probably the smartest defensive player that we have out there, he’s the captain in the secondary

getting everyone lined up, so we’re pretty excited about the player that he’s going to be next year.”

The game would remain without another score until into the fourth quarter.

After a Wilson punt pinned the Dragons back at their own nine, Jefferson would narrowly get off a short punt of their own on fourth-and-13 three plays later from the shadow of their own goalpost, giving the Raiders great starting field possession at the 22, but Plant City would once again drive into the Jefferson 10-yard line before bringing out Wilson for another field goal to extend their lead to 13-8 with 7:54.

Late in the contest Plant City tacked on one final score. After a huge punt return from receiver Jaylen Smith set the Raiders up at the Jefferson 27-yard line, a series of tough runs from the duo of Mccants and Jones left Plant City facing a first-and-goal at the one-yard line. The Raiders deployed a split backfield of Jones and Highsmith and Highsmith took the direct snap to the right side, punching in the short carry to notch the first touchdown of his high school career.

“I can’t say enough about Cole Highsmith,” Clayton said. “He’s all over the football field, one of those players that just pops off week in and week out. Just grit and toughness and effort, always showing up and serving his team. He’s the main reason why I became the head coach here at Plant City, when I first met him, and he didn’t disappoint me one single day. I want to see that kid play at the next level, he’s certainly talented to play at the next level and hopefully some colleges give him an opportunity to do so.”

The touchdown put Plant City up 20-8, a lead that they would hold with ease to finish their first season under Clayton with a win, ending the year at 3-7.

Offensively, quarterback Champ Mitchell completed seven of his 13 pass attempts for 85 yards while adding 17 rushing yards on six carries. In the backfield, Mccants led the charge with 86 yards on 18 carries, followed by Jones with 59 yards on 10 carries and Highsmith with two yards and a touchdown on two carries. Jones also led all receivers

with 40 yards on one reception, followed by Smith with 27 yards on three receptions and Judah Bendorf with 18 yards on three receptions.

Defensively, Highsmith led the unit with 12 total tackles, followed by defensive back Tahuji Miller with 11. Miller and Davin StoneGrant each had three tackles for loss, fol lowed by Highsmith, Tamarce Miller, Mat thew Bollinger, Donta Jenkins and Mike Bell with two and Dacoby McDonald with one. Stone-Grant totaled 1.5 sacks, followed by Jenkins with one and McDonald with a halfsack. In addition to the interceptions from Dexter and Hogan, senior Eden Williams added one takeaway of his own.

“This team can be a lot better next year,” Clayton said. “We’re going to surprise a lot of people. We only had 10 seniors this year, two of them were kickers and a majority of our seniors weren’t a part of our start ing group so we’re loaded with freshmen, sophomores and juniors. I can’t wait to step into this thing. We’re going to be a solid foot ball team. Hopefully we’ll get a nice fresh man class next year to build off of the good freshman class we got this year. I’m excited about where we’re going with this program.”

While the past two weeks have marked the end of the season for Strawberry Crest and Plant City, Durant is currently preparing for their regional quarterfinal matchup on Saturday, hosting 6-4 Ocoee at home on the heels of an 8-2 regular season.

This week’s game will kickoff on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Taylor Jenkins is the Sports Writer at the Plant City Observer. Email: tjenkins@ plantcityobserver.com.

The Plant City Elks Lodge held their local iteration of the Elks National Hoop Shoot on Saturday. The annual free throw contest features both male and female participants over three different age groups ranging from eight to 13 years old, with each competitor fighting or a chance to advance through each stage and potentially earn their spot in the national competition next spring.

“Hoop Shoot is a national program that the Elks started 51 years ago,” Plant City Elks member George Domedion said. “We take kids between the ages of eight and 13, with three different age groups for both male and female, and we have them come shoot 25 free throws. We do it to teach the kids grit, that’s our motto. The idea is that not every kid can dribble and pass and be on a basketball team, but almost any kid can throw the basketball at a hoop so we have them come and participate and if they don’t do well or they don’t win a contest like this, we encourage them. We tell them to go practice, we say next year you’re going to be three inches taller and a lot stronger and if you come back you could be one of those winners. We try to teach them perseverance and grit, that’s the whole idea behind hoop shoot.”

After inviting competitors from local basketball camps and teams, Domedion brought 90 kids together for preliminary hoop shoots to narrow the field or Saturday’s event that ultimately featured 18 total participants with each age and gender category represented. In addition, the Hoop Shoot featured former participants Marlee Kraus and Brendan Smith in attendance to serve as “celebrity scorekeepers” and speak briefly about their xperience going through

last year’s competition. Kraus finished thid in the state of Florida in 2021 while Smith went on to win the national championship in his age group, now featured in a brandnew digital exhibit in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Mass. that honors last years champions. After moving from Plant City to Marietta, Ga. just before last year’s Hoop Shoot was set to begin, Domedion put Smith and his family in contact with Lodge 1657, whom he represented throughout championship-winning run.

Listed below are the winners from Saturday’s Hoop Shoot:

BOYS

8-9: Joshua Kadasele 10-11: Liam Demontmollin 12-13: Angel Ortiz

GIRLS

8-9: Eleanor Morrison 10-11: Kara Ouzts 12-13: Addison Desmarais

The winners will now advance to Lake Placid, Fla. for the district round. With a win at that level, they have the opportunity to advance through the competition with stops at Lake Placid for the district round, Sanford for the state regional round, Umatilla for the state round and Valdosta, Ga. for the national regional round before the National Championship held at DePaul University in Chicago.

PLANT CITY LIONS CLUB HOLDS ANNUAL GOLF FUNDRAISER

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

The Plant City Lions Club headed to Diamond Hill Golf Club last Friday for their annual golf tournament, one of the orga nization’s largest fundraisers of the year.

The Lions Club holds three major fund raisers each year, including their golf tour nament, the Strawberry Queen’s Pageant and a food booth operated at the Florida Strawberry Festival, with the golf tourna ment raising around $13,000 last year.

“This tournament is organized by the Plant City Lions Club and all local sponsors through their donations,” club member and tournament organizer Jim Sparks said. “All of the money goes back into the commu nity, that’s what Lions Clubs do. We have new eye screening equipment that we just purchased this year going into daycares and whatnot to screen kids under six. If there’s a child under six and we can screen them in time we can get them glasses, if they can’t afford glasses we’ll pay for it, and if we can get these things identified while they’re under six it can sometimes be corrected through glasses for the rest of their lives. After that it’s a little difficult but that’s our focus, on kids. We do diabe tes screenings, eye procedures and things like that. This is one of our major fundrais ers that helps us do just that.”

Friday’s tournament included a round of golf, a lunch banquet, an awards ceremony and to raise additional funds, tickets were

available for purchase to win a number of prizes that were raffled off at the conclu sion of the round. With a full field of 88 par ticipants, the round kicked off at 8 a.m. on a beautiful day in Dover.

The tournament has been a staple for the Plant City Lions Club, being held for over 35 years.

“The Lions Club focuses on vision but they do so much more, with disaster relief, hunger, diabetes and humanitar ian efforts,” president Bridget Zickefoose said. “At the Plant City Lions Club we really focus on helping children get glasses. This year’s event has come together and we’ve been doing it for so many years we’ve kind of gotten it streamlined. Tony Lee and Jim Sparks do a great job at making sure that all of the stations have someone to man age it and it’s really fine-tuned. We’ve been at Diamond Hill for a couple of years now and I really think it’s great location to bring people here, not just from Plant City but from surrounding areas to support Plant City.”

Taylor Jenkins is the Sports Writer at the Plant City Observer. Email: tjenkins@ plantcityobserver.com.

The annual round is one of the organizations’ largest fundraisers of the year.

OCTOBER 2022 Real Estate Transactions

Local October 2022 sales and trend information courtesy of The Crawford Group.

“The Sky is falling.” Chicken little’s fairy tale is much like many of today’s media headlines. They contribute to consumer confusion and doubt about what is happening in the real estate market. The story is synonymous with alarmism, and one can summarize the message or moral as; don’t form an incorrect conclusion from insufficient da and don’t stoke fear in others without a good cause.

While putting together this article, I went back to last year’s November issue to see what was discussed then. The main news then was Zillow’s decision to get out of the I-buying program, which many thought would be the start of the real estate correction and crash. We were not in that camp of thought then or even now. However, I did make a couple of predictions based on the data. One was that we would have another 12-24 months of a sellers’ market or until we reached three months of inventory supply, and I didn’t think we would have another strong 20 percent growth in property values in the coming year.

Zillow did get out of the I-buying market, and its stock price has tanked more than 68 percent since they announced the change. The inventory supply has increased from 0.88 to 2.32 months, not quite at the 4–6-month equilibrium yet, but it has only been 12 months; sellers still have a slight advantage over the buyers. As for the property values, our Plant City market appears to have peaked in May-June this year, but in October’s year-over-year numbers, we have seen a 26 percent increase over the last year-to-date numbers. The anomaly is the government maintained interest rates

artificially lw for far too long and caused the surge in property values, amongst many things, and now trying to correct their original miscalculation by raising the rates steadfastly, resulting in other economic issues.

It needs to be said, Supply Demand economic models will correct themselves over time without government assistance. There is another agenda involved with all the other interference, which is an entirely different subject matter. Plant City’s real estate market is sound; yes, while some changes will affect parties differently.

As we look at the Plant City housing data, in October 2022, our market area sold 92 homes, about a 77 percent increase from the previous month and yearto-date down 9.2 percent. 26 percent of this month’s increase came from new construction and will likely continue to see growth from those areas’ developments.

The average selling price per square foot was $196.72, which accounted for a 5.1 percent reduction over last month but compared to the year-to-date average, it accounted for only a 1.6% decline. The average selling price was $373,429 in October or a 3.9 percent upturn over last month, and YTD, the average, amounts to a 3% gain. Now it’s hard to define the exact trendline, but our market peaked in May/June and has started to decline slightly. We will finish the ear with an average price per square foot in the $200 range, which amounts to a 20-22 percent increase over last year.

The active inventory increased slightly this October to 2.32 months’ supply from 2.3. However, we are still 6-12 months from the equilibrium of three months’ supply levels.

Comparing the Median prices month over month data, October finished with median sales price of $349,995, which was 2% more than in September and a 3.2 percent increase year-to-date. In addition, October’s average days on the market (ADOM) was 32.5 days, an 11 percent increase over last month. Before the market surge, we typically averaged 45 days on the market.

What does the near future hold for our real estate market? It depends on whether you have a “Chicken Little” attitude or the market is stabilizing viewpoint. In the ensuing few months ahead, many lenders may still have an alarmist attitude but will discover the mortgage rates will correct themselves by the second quarter of 2023, and we will see rates in the mid 5’s range again. The average sales price growth will be flat in alue.

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home, seek an experienced professional Realtor® to assist you in this transaction process. There are too many consequences, going it alone without proper representation. If you have any questions, want a market value analysis of your home, or see what’s available to purchase, please reach out.

M Crawford Crawford Group

Sales Snapshot

The following residential properties were a sample listed as sold on the Greater Tampa Realtors Association MLS in October 2022 for the Plant City Market Area.

The home at 2302 Maki Rd, Unit 24 sold October 7 for $151,500. Built in 1987, it has 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bath and 896 square feet of living area.

The home at 109 S Gordon St sold October 19 for $215,000. Built in 1961, it has 3 bedrooms, 1 bath and 1092 square feet of living area.

The home at 418 Pevetty Dr sold October 4 for $224,000. Built in 1956 it has 3 bedrooms, 1 bath and 1138 square feet of living area.

The home at 2053 Greenwood Valley Dr sold October 11 for $245,000. Built in 2008, it has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bath and 1632 square feet of living area.

The home at 901 N Clark St sold October 14 for $270,000. Built in 1912, it has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath and 2324 square feet of living area.

The home at 702 E Gilchrist St sold October 26 for $295,000. Built in 1928, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1516 square feet of living area.

The home at 2762 Golf Lake Dr sold October 7 for $334,000. Built in 1996, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1810 square feet of living area.

The home at 1402 Tahitian Sunrise Dr sold October 31 for $349,990. Built in 2022, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1936 square feet of living area.

The home at 4301 Barret Ave sold October 11 for $368,420. Built in 1999, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1808 square feet of living area.

The home 3453 Silver Meadow Way sold October 13 for $397,500. Built in 1993, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1852 square feet of living area.

The home at 2006 Berry Rd sold October 11 for $430,000. Built in 2017, it has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and 1982 square feet of living area.

The home at 6610 Papa Guy Ln sold October 7 for $450,000. Built in 1988, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1740 square feet of living area.

The home at 5205 Five Acre Rd sold October 26 for $500,000. Built in 1968, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and 2197 square feet of living area.

The home at 2918 Spring Hammock Dr sold October 12 for $667,000. Built in 1999, it has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and 2651 square feet of living area.

The home at 1716 Charleston Wood Ct sold October 26 for $1,950,000. Built in 2021, it has 5 bedrooms, 6.5 baths and 5575 square feet of living area.

Data pulled from GTAR MLS as of 10/5/22 for the Plant City market area.

“Definiely

Joshua Turner, 43, of Dover, Fla., born on Oct. 11, 1979 in Lakeland, entered into eternal rest on Nov. 1, 2022.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Patricia Ann Teetzel

Hoogstra

Patricia Ann Teetzel

Hoogstra, 85, of Lakeland, Fla., born on May 19, 1937 in Detroit, Mich. entered into eternal rest on Nov. 3, 2022.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Thelma Jean Thompson Wright

Albert Timmons ‘Tim’ Epps, Sr.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Thomas A. Murray

Thomas A. Murray, 55, of Lithia, Fla., born on March 20, 1967, entered into eternal rest on Nov. 1, 2022.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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Thelma Jean Thompson Wright, 94 of Brandon passed away Nov. 5, 2022. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m., Nov. 11, 2022, Haught Funeral Home, 708 W Dr MLK Jr Blvd, Plant City, with services to follow at 3p.m. Online Condolences may be left for the family at haught.care

Albert Timmons “Tim” Epps, Sr., passed away Nov. 2, 2022. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Nov. 12, 2022, Full Gospel Tabernacle, 2311 Sammonds Road, Plant City, with services to follow at 2 p.m.

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

Richard L. Davis

Richard L. Davis, 89, of Plant City, Florida, born on Aug. 27, 1933 in Plant City, entered into eternal rest on Nov. 7, 2022.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

Laci Mae Gilileo

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HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Laci Mae Gilileo, 15, of Brandon passed away Nov. 1, 2022. Born in Brandon, Florida. A funeral service was held Nov. 9, 2022 at Countryside Baptist Church, 13422 Sydney Road, Dover, FL 33527

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

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

Denise Michelle Morris

Denise Michelle Morris, age 60, of Seffne, Fla passed away on Nov. 3, 2022.

Services will be held privately.

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

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

Joshua Turner

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12

FORK RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON 5K

7 to 9:30 a.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. Lace up your running shoes to get some exercise and support a worthy cause. All fitnss levels are encouraged to participate in this 5K and proceeds from the event will go to benefit the Unied Food Bank. Cost to participate is $35 and includes a ticket to the United Food Bank’s Empty Bowls Project event later that day. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.forkranawaywiththespoon5k.com

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12

PIONEER DAY

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 605 N. Collins St. The East Hillsborough Historical Society will present the 45th Annual Pioneer Day celebration, to be held at the historic 1914 Plant City High School Community Center. The event will feature food and craft vendors, pioneer exhibits and the display of homemade and historic quilts. The familiy oriented, free, all-day celebration will also include live entertainment, a train ride for kids and more for a day full of fun. For more information, contact the EHHS by phone at 813-757-9226, by email at info@ ehhsoc.org or by visiting their website www.ehhsoc.org.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Open Mic Night is back at Krazy Kup. Join them for a fun night where you get to be the star of the show. Come out, strut your stuff and shw everyone what you’ve got.

BEGINNING TANGO LESSONS

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the 4401 Promenade Blvd. Strawberry Square Dancing will be hosting beginning tango lessons at the Strawberry Square Dance Center this month, an event that’s fun for all with no experience required. The class will cost $7 per person and more information can be found at www.strawberrysquaredancing. com.

PIXIEROCK

4 p.m. at 1301 S. Frontage Rd. Wish Farms is celebrating 100 years with their second annual PixieRock music festival, featuring musical acts Shevonne, Blanco Brown, Saint Motel, Kim Richey, Bishop Briggs and headlined by ZZ Top. Gates will open at 4 p.m. and the musical performances will begin at 4:30 and continue to run throughout the day until ZZ Top takes the stage at 10 p.m. Local food favorites will be available for purchase throughout the event including authentic tacos, artisan stone-fie pizza, smokin’ BBQ, mouthwatering burgers and sweet donut treats, along with full bars situated throughout the venue. General admission tickets can be purchased for $125. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. wishfarms.com

EMPTY BOWLS PROJECT

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. The Empty Bowls Project is returning to Plant City, with all proceeds benefiting the United Food Bank of Plant City. Tickets cost $10 and includes your choice of soup(s) provided by local churches and service organizations. Each ticket is good for one 16oz, two 8oz or four 4oz soup of your choice, along with bread, an apple, a water and your choice of one studentmade clay bowl to take home. Tickets can be purchased at the United Food Bank Office, 702 E. Alsobrook St., or through a UFB Board Member.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

PLANT CITY GARDEN CLUB MEETING

9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 303 N. Evers St. The Plant City Garden Club will host their monthly meeting at the First United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall. There will be a coffee meet and greet at 9:30, followed by a general meeting at 10. November’s meeting will include guest speaker Patrick Strickland, owner and CEO of Stalk-n-Vine, who will speak about sustainable and natural growing methods. For more information, contact Christy Linke by email at clinke3173@aol.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16

FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Federal, state and local opportunities are constantly changing. If you’ve served any time in the military, retired or non-retention, and would like to review your benefis please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday. Walk-ins welcomed or call 813-704-5800 to set a specific tim.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

PLANT CITY PIG JAM

5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at 1401 Gordon Food Service Dr. Don’t miss out on this Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) sanctioned competition offering you the change to enjoy mouth-watering BBQ, live entertainment, a kids’ zone, complete with a rock climbing wall and moonwalks. The event will take place on both Friday and Saturday where admission is free for all to attend and parking will cost $10 per vehicle.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN

3 to 6:30 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. The Plant City Strawberry Classic Cruise-In is back on Saturday, Nov. 19, rain or shine. Cars and trucks manufactured in or before 1996 can register for free starting at 3 p.m. Live music by DJ John Paul Gasca.

BLUEGRASS NIGHT WITH SOUTHERN EXPRESS

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Head to Krazy Kup and enjoy some great Bluegrass music with the local Southern Express Bluegrass Band. Based in Auburndale, the group features several experienced Bluegrass musicians and is no stranger to performing all throughout the Central Florida area. Admission is $15 and will be available at the door on the night of the event or at www.eventbrite. com.

PLANT CITY SOCIAL DANCE

6 to 9:30 p.m. at 4401 Promenade Blvd. DJ Ken will be hosting the Plant City Social Dance every Saturday throughout the month of November at the Strawberry Square Dance Center. Cups and water will be available and the event’s cost is $7 per person. For more information or a chance to look at sample playlists, visit www. djkenmiller.com.

IMPROV NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Improv night is making its way back to Krazy Kup this month and all are welcome to join in for a hilarious night of interactive side-spitting comedy. The event is free of charge and fun for patrons of all ages.

Thursday, Nov 10 6:46a 5:37p

Friday, Nov 11 6:47a 5:37p

Saturday, Nov 12 6:48a 5:36p

Sunday, Nov 13 6:48a 5:36p

Monday, Nov 14 6:49a 5:35p

Tuesday, Nov 15 6:50a 5:35p

Wednesday, Nov 16 6:51a 5:35p

“We provide compassionate care for you and your family.”

It’s

It’s

not just an ID badge.

a badge of honor.

At South Florida Baptist Hospital, the team members who wear this badge give you high-quality care in a comfortable atmosphere. Our wide range of specialty services includes comprehensive orthopedic care, sports medicine services and total joint replacement procedures. We have a comprehensive gynecology program that offers a variety of women’s services, and our weight loss surgery program meets nationally recognized standards. And if surgery is required, we have surgeons who are experts in minimally invasive robotic surgical procedures, which means shorter hospital stays and smaller incisions that reduce the risk of infection. All of this means you get outstanding, compassionate care right here in Plant City. Learn more: SouthFloridaBaptist.org