11.11.21 PLCO by Plant City Observer

FREE • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

VOLUME 6, NO. 170

CITY COMMISSION MEETING ROUNDUP FERNANDES MEETING PRESENTATIONS, BRIAN STAFF WRITER The most recent Plant City City Commission meeting was ACCOLADES AND RULINGS held on Monday. Here are the highlights of the meeting.

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Judy Wise of the Plant City Elks Lodge #1727 presented the new POW-MIA flag before the City Commission for the town. “About four weeks ago I drove by our veterans park and saw the American flag, which always makes me feel good,” said Wise, “but I noticed that we did not have a POW-MIA flag. That’s a near and dear subject to all veterans.”

She reached out to City Manager Bill McDaniel to co-sign the implementation of the flag at the Veterans Memorial Monument Park and he gave his blessing. At Monday’s meeting, she displayed the full-sized flag that will be flown at the Plant City park. The flag was officially raised at the park on Wednesday. The POW-MIA flag was conceptualized in 1971 by Mary Helen Hoff. It was to commemorate veterans, including her husband Lt. Cmdr. Michael G. Hoff who was listed as ‘missing in action’ after his plane crashed in 1970 during the Vietnam War.

COMMEMORATING OUR HEROES PLANT CITY REMEMBERS ITS PATRIOTS AT MEMORIAL PARK BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

The Plant City Veterans’ Memorial Monument Park was beaming with radiance as folks came out for the 35th Annual Veterans Appreciation Event on Saturday. The ceremony had both retired servicemen and citizens come together to celebrate veterans alive and fallen. Before the audience was the American flag waving high. At their feet were the names of veterans engraved in the bricks paving the ground. After the Durant High School ROTC did the presentation of colors and the national anthem was sung, Plant City Vice-Mayor Michael Sparkman offered some remarks.

The Durant High School ROTC did the presentation of colors at the 35th Annual Veterans Appreciation Event. The Nov.6 service was held at the Veterans Memorial Monument Park in Plant City.

He recalled having to register for the draft for the Vietnam War. He ended up spending nine years in the Florida National Guard and in the Army Reserve. He also spoke on the legacy of his wife’s uncle who served in the Korean War and was killed just days before it ended. It is those sacrifices that seven youths wanted to express gratitude for by reading their own personal essays. They were the top essay contest winners chosen. The winners were Aiden Jones, Maddison Rodgers, Anne Marie Cabrales, Logan Hyatt, Eli Webb, and Kendal Andress.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

NEWS BRIEFS

Speed limit changing on James L. Redman Pkwy In the interest of safety after studies done on the specific ection of roadway, the speed limit on James L. Redman Parkway between W. Prosser Drive and Alexander Street will be lowered from 45 to 40 miles per hour. The change is already in effect, beginning on Nov. 9, following a safety study done by Plant City’s Traffic perations Department “The change was enacted because the original speed limit had been set around 1992,” Plant City Police sergeant Alfred Van Duyne said. “Of course, that was way beofre the level of development and the number of people traversing that area that we have now and that at least needed to be studied.” Van Duyne added that a fi e-year study showed 186 car accidents in the effected stretch of road, with a majority of them being attributed to aggressive driving.

Plant City Parks & Recreation to host fishing derb , youth basketball league On Nov. 13, the Plant City Parks & Recreation Department will host the Fall 2021 edition of their 24th Bi-Annual Fishing Derby event. The event is open to all boys and girls ages fi e to 15. The derby will be held at 1500 S. Park Road from 8:30 to 10:30, with award presentations to follow at 10:45 a.m. The event is free of charge and all participants will need to bring their own pole and bate, a fi e-gallon bucket for their catches and all anglers are required to be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is preferred prior to the derby, ending at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 11, however participants will be able to register on-site the day of the event from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. Online registration forms are available at PlantCityGov.com or you can obtain a form and more information by email at recinfo@plantcitygov.com or by calling 813659-4255. Fill out the required forms and return by fax, email, postal mail or hand delivered to Kristen Self (kself@ plantcitygov.com) at the Parks & Recreation administrative office, 1904 South Park Rd, Plant City FL 33563.

The PCPRD/Optimist Youth Basketball Program is also still registering players for its 53rd season. All local kids throughout six age groups — co-ed 8-9, boys 10-11, girls 10-12, boys 12-13, girls 13-15 and boys 14-16 — are eligible to participate. Age is determined as of March 3, 2022 and a birth certifi ate is required for registration. Games will be played in gyms at Tomlin Middle School or at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. The season will run from early January to the end of February, with games primarily taking place on weeknights for all age groups, and possibly Saturday mornings for the co-ed 8-9 age group. Registration costs $37 and covers all expenses, including a jersey and supplemental accident insurance. Registrations will be accepted through Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 4:30 p.m. by postal mail or in person at the Parks & Rec Department’s administrative offices, 1904 S. Park Rd. The department is also still in need of coaches and referees for all age groups. Registration forms, along with more info, are available by email at recinfo@plantcitygov.com or by phone at 813659-4255.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

YOUTH HONOR THEIR VETERANS KIDS HELP CELEBRATE HEROES THROUGH ESSAYS

THREE GENERATIONS OF MARINES BEGIN IN PLANT CITY

Dr. Dan Middlebrooks (left) joined Maddison Rodgers, Vice Mayor Michael Sparkman and country singer Kenzie Wheeler at the 35th Annual Veterans Appreciation Event, on Nov. 6. Rodgers shared her contest-winning essay on what veterans mean to her. BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

And there was Makyla Brown who was chosen as the essay overall contest winner. All winners received a certifi ate, IPad, and had their picture taken with country music artist Kenzie Wheeler, Chaplain Dan Middlebrooks and the vice-mayor. When Brown took to the stage, she reminded the audience why we have freedom. “Do you love being able to hang with your friends everyday – thank a veteran. Do you love not living in fear of a war – thank a veteran. Do you love living in a free country – thank a veteran.” Jones spoke about having veterans in his family when reading his poem. He also offered the audience some advice saying, “If you see a veteran, shake his hand. Ask him if you can do anything for him. Everything I own is from the hard work of veterans. A good way of honoring veterans is to show more gratitude towards them.” Rodgers said that veterans should be recognized daily not yearly, and Andress understood that the holiday is more than just getting time off f om school. “Veterans have fi sthand experience when it comes to sacrifi e,” said Cabrales. “Sacrifi e means to give up one thing for another thing that is considered to be of greater value.” Her father served in the Marine Corps and did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. She said that while it kept him busy, she was grateful for all he has done. Hyatt took the time to offer thanks to his grandfather and godmother by saying, “They are two of the bravest people I know, and I am honored to call them my family.”

Webb too expressed his pride in having veterans in his family. Mitchell Kerwin served in the navy and performed the famous “Taps” instrumental, which is commonly played during a funeral service of a fallen soldier. He said that he was impressed with the large crowd turnout, especially hearing from the essay writers. “It’s an unbelievable experience,” said Kerwin. “Now kids are beginning to see Veterans Day and what it really means, instead of a day off f om school.” At one point, servicemen and servicewomen of each different branch of the U.S. military were asked to stand – all met with applause. Throughout the event, Kenzie Wheeler and the Springhead Elementary School Chorus performed patriotic songs. “We are all Americans, all Americans, all Americans, me and you,” sang the Chorus. “We have our freedom, we have our choices, we have our right to raise our all-American voices.” At the end of the service, Wheeler joined the students as they sang “God Bless the U.S.A.” Plant City native Frank Ray was sitting among the crowd, enjoying the service. He retired as a chief petty officer in the Navy after serving 22 years. His wife Debbie purchased a brick for his name to be engraved on the monument premises and is waiting to see it placed among others who served. Although he had to retire due to injuries he suffered as an officer, the 73-year-old said he has no regrets. “I enjoyed my tours. I’d do it again to save this country, I sure would. That flag means a lot to me.”

Veteran Frank Ray and his wife Debbie were present at the 35th Annual Veterans Appreciation Event. The Nov. 6 service was held at the Veterans Memorial Monument Park in Plant City.

TAYLOR JENKINS STAFF WRITER

Plant City’s Mack McClendon graduated from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in 1964 and began his four years of service with the United States Armed Services. Along with McClendon, his cousin graduated from the same Marine training facility in 1964 and his brother followed suit in 1966. For McClendon, he says that it was an unspoken expectation in his family that you would serve your country. Before enlisting himself, his father, two of his uncles and his older brother all served in the United States Army. “We figu ed that we owed somebody

Mack McClendon

something,” McClendon said. “You’ve got to pay your dues… I don’t know, it was just sort of like it was expected of you to do it.” To the surprise of McClendon and his wife Nora, their son Gary later followed suit. It was never something that Gary McClendon had mentioned or seemed driven to do growing up, according to his parents, until the day he showed up at the front door with a Marine recruiter. “It was never discussed,” Mack McClendon said with a laugh. “Nobody ever said anything about it, he just came home one day with a recruiter.” Gary McClendon became a second generation member of his family to graduate from Parris Island before also going on to graduate from from Marine Corps Base Quantico, ultimately serving fi e years as his service was extended while working as a Marine Security Guard at the United States Embassy in Guatemala during Operation Desert Storm. Gary McClendon returned home, earned three college degrees and currently works for BayCare. Extending further, Mack McClendon has two nephews who served in the Armed Services and several members of his extended family who have served as well. Earlier this year, Gary McClendon’s son William McClendon became the third generation of their family to enlist in the Marine Corps and graduate from Parris Island. After graduating from Steinbrenner High School in Tampa and spending two years at Hillsborough Community College, William McClendon made his decision, enlisted and the family was later able to be in attendance for his graduation, allowing a grandfather, son and grandson to reunite for the fi st time as three generations of Marines at the training facility that they all once attended in South Carolina. “If you put your mind to it, you can do anything you want to,” Mack McClendon said he learned from his time in the Marine Corps. “It doesn’t matter what it is in life, you can do anything. I guess you could say that it gives you confiden e on your own and in yourself, it’s all up to you.”

Gary McClendon

William McClendon

Thank You For Your Service

COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

PLANT CITY

Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigate a missing trailer, a broken window and a

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

stolen identity.

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com istock

OCT. 29 TRAILER TRASHED 1900 block of Gloria Ave. Fraud: Officers made contact with the complainant who advised them that during a routine inventory check, it was discovered that one of the company’s 14-foot trailers was now missing.

GRIFT CARDS 1 Police Pl. Fraud: Officers met with the victim who purchased two Visa gift cards that were each worth $30, only to discover later that the money had been removed from them.

Sports Writer / Taylor Jenkins tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com

that one of the nearby residences had been damaged by multiple gunshots. Upon further investigation, it was found that the vehicle parked in the driveway also had damage from the gunshots.

OCT. 31 PAYING FOR DAMAGES

NIGHT TERRORS 1800 block of W. Lowry Ave. Criminal mischief: Officers responded to the listed location after reports of gun shots being heard. While checking the surrounding area, officers discovered

1500 block of Plantation Grove Ct. Criminal mischief: Officers responded to the listed location where the suspect was arrested for trespassing in an occupied structure, driving with an

expired license and criminal mischief, as a result of approximately $1,200 in damage done to a police vehicle while he was in custody.

Staff Writer / Brian Fernandes bfernandes@plantcityobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

THOSE IN GLASS HOMES… 800 block of W. Madison St. Criminal mischief: Officers responded to the above location and met with the victim who advised the officers that an unknown suspect had thrown a rock, breaking the front window of the home and causing approximately $500 in damage, sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

NOV. 2 BIG MESS IN TEXAS 500 block of Sandalwood Dr. Identity theft: Officers made contact with the victim who advised them that his identity had been used to purchase a vehicle at a dealership in San Marcos, Texas. TRUNK OR TREAT 1700 block of Oakwood Estates Dr. Vehicle burglary: Officers responded to the listed location after receiving a call from a third party regarding a trunk that was open on a neighbor’s vehicle.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

HIGHLIGHTS FROM CITY COMMISSION MEETING CITY COMMISSION PRESENTED WITH ACCOLADE BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

On Oct. 27, Plant City was recognized for its good deeds during the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission’s 39th Annual Planning & Design Awards. It was for establishing the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. During the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017, Plant City’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, suffered damage that was deemed to be beyond repair. As a result, the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center was built in its place. Jack Holland, director of the Plant City Parks and Recreation Department, and his staff, played a pivotal role in constructing the new community center. They were present at Monday’s meeting and were commended by the City Commission. “Thanks to all of you for your hard work,” said Plant City Mayor Rick Lott. “It’s really nice to see the community respond to it as well. The activities are always full in attendance. We’re very proud.” Consent Agenda A package of four resolutions were passed by the City Commission by 4-0.

1. The renewal of a software system for the police and fire departments’ Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) and the Records Management System (RMS). 2. The replacement of a well pump and motor at one of the town’s water treatment plants. 3. The purchase of new laptops for the police department vehicles allowing for certain conveniences such as tele-conferencing. 4. Replacing a temporary easement, or real estate ownership right, with a permanent one on Plant City property. Legislative Public Hearings There was a legislative public hearing on an ordinance to annex approximately 64 acres of land at Sam Astin Road and Trapnell Road. And to annex less than one acre of land on Son Keen Road. It passed by 4-0. And there was the first of two hearings on an ordinance to rezone over 362 acres of land located at 775 E. Knights Griffin Rd. No action will be taken until the Nov. 22 commission meeting.

Jack Holland, executive director of the Plant City Parks and Recreation Department, and Plant City Commissioner Mary Mathis, both display the Planning and Design Award presented to the Plant City City Commission, on Oct. 27. Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission presented the accolade for the constructing of the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

DISHING UP DONATIONS WITH BOWLS

POLICE OFFICERS NEW LOOK TO HELP KIDS FOR HOLIDAYS PLANT CITY POLICE’S NEW FASHION STYLE RAISES MONEY FOR CHRISTMAS TOYS

Pic is Courtesy of Plant City Police Department

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

THE EMPTY BOWLS PROJECT IS BACK IN PLANT CITY BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

The Plant City Empty Bowls Project will once again make its return on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be held at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, 102 N. Palmer St., in Plant City. There patrons can purchase and choose from an array of 24 soups for $10. These will be prepared by Fred’s Restaurant, local churches and organizations. Different container sizes can hold anywhere from 1 to 16 ounces; 2 to 8 ounces or 4 ounces of soup. “Last year, we incorporated CDC and City COVID-19 protocols like social distancing our chefs and public, provided hand sanitizing stations, masks - and gloves were worn,” said Silvia Dodson, board member of the United Food Bank and Services of Plant City. “A drive-thru service was created in the north parking lot adjacent to the railroad museum to serve the

public with their selection of soups. This year, we will do the same.” Along with the soup, the $10 donation can also purchase a custom-made bowl created by students from local schools. Also, 3D chalk artists will be painting the sidewalk along Palmer Street, accompanied by art students. Photo opportunities with the sidewalk art will be available. John Haney of Ace Realty and Auctioneers will host the auctioning off f various bowls. There will be live performances by saxophonist Larry Clark and his daughter. Jazz artists Geri Blount and Friends will perform as well.. The Fork Ran Away with the Spoon 5k, which will run from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Participants will meet in front of Krazy Kup, 101 E. J Arden Mays Blvd, and at Whistle Stop, 102 S. Collins St. All proceeds will go toward the United Food Bank and Services of Plant City.

If you happen to see a Plant City police officer sporting a hairy face this holiday season, chances are it’s for a good cause. This year, the Plant City Police Department has implemented its first ‘Back the Beard’ campaign. It’s a fundraiser that allows male officers to grow full beards and female officers to polish their nails with non-traditional colors, after giving a donation. That contribution goes toward the purchase of toys and electronics for kids. With a minimum $150 donation, the officers can sport their look until December 31st. The campaign officially began on Nov. 1, however contributions were being taken in as early as Oct. 20. The department is going to work in conjunction with one or more organizations that can help them pinpoint disadvantaged families with children. That will help them determine what to buy for certain age groups. “Our goal is to go out, buy gifts and then present them to the families prior to the holidays,” explained Capt. Alfred Van Duyne of the Plant City Police Department. Parents and guardians will be notified when the gifts are ready to be picked up and can receive them at the police precinct.

The unconventional look for officers steer away from traditional norms widely kept within law enforcement – or at least temporarily. “For the longest time it was always that you had to be clean shaven – very similar to the military,” said Van Duyne. “This was a very happy medium for us.” Since his arrival to the department last year, Plant City Police Chief James Bradford has been asked by officers if he could grant them some leniency when it came to growing facial hair. He had been reluctant but after considering the goal of the campaign, he has approved it until the end of the year. The fundraiser has become popular within the department. “The officers have responded very well to it,” said Van Duyne. “We’ve raised a considerable amount of money.” He also made another observation that shows the campaign’s effect on police and community ties. “Some people have noticed it and given the officers positive reviews,” said Van Duyne. “I think it makes the officers more approachable.” The public is welcome to contribute to the donation effort by dropping off funds at the Plant City Police Department, 1 Police Center Dr., Plant City.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

OPENING DOORS TO LEARN AND PROSPER Achieve Plant City Celebrates its Anniversary While Relocating

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

When you go upstairs in the Wesley Centre and wander through the Achieve Plant City classrooms, you’ll find the result that’s been a decade in the making. Last Thursday, a ribbon cutting ceremony officially recognized the school as a part of the Wesley Centre – which is owned by the First United Methodist Church of Plant City. 2021 marks the 10-year anniversary since the non-profit organization opened its doors for those seeking a better education. And what better way to celebrate than accommodating students with a new learning environment. “This is a very exciting time for us,” said Angelica Ibarra, the executive director of Achieve. “It feels wonderful.” Ibarra had conceptualized the idea of building a learning institution that accepted both children and their parents as students. It offers services for early childhood development, after school programs, and courses for parents who are illiterate. There are four classrooms that cater to specific needs. One room is divided into two areas for the youngest kids. One section is for 2-year-olds and the other is for 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds. The goal is to teach these children to become readers before starting grade school. “One of the things we find the most successful, is when we get them when they’re 2,” said Ibarra. “When they stay with us for two years, that’s when the progress that we can make is tremendous. In their second week of school oinkindergarten, the kids are actually reading.” Fifty-four percent of third graders can’t read at their grade level, according to Achieve Plant City statistics. The organization goes on to state that these third graders who live in poverty are three times

more likely to drop out of high school. Ibarra said that there’s a 100% success rate among her students. The next room is set up for an after-school program. There, students can get tutoring after leaving their primary day school. Achieve staff help these kids to catch up in classes where they may have difficulty learning the material. This class serves kids in kindergarten to fifth grade. It also is a familiar environment for them to stay until their parents can pick them up. Then there’s the technology room equipped with electronics that may not be accessible at a student’s home. At different stations are computers, helping to make lessons more comprehensible, as well as copiers and printers. The Children’s Board Family Resource Centers of Plant City helps to fund this equipment. And the fourth classroom is for adult literacy and parenting courses. Here staff provide lessons for parents who have poor reading skills. It also offers the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. This helps to break down the language barriers that may prevent adults from obtaining certain needs when out in public. Especially when trying to communicate with their children who are already being taught English in their classrooms. Also, it lessens the likelihood that their children will have to be a translator between their parent and an English speaker. In addition to learning how to read, instructors provide tools to help parents teach their children to read. Ibarra noted that it’s important not to always believe the stigma that parents don’t want to play a sufficient role in their child’s education. In many cases, they just don’t know how to. “It doesn’t matter if you come from a wealthy family, if you come from a poor family,” she

said. “The number one indicator of a child obtaining success in school is parent involvement. They come, they put the effort into it, they follow what they need to be doing to support their kids and you see the difference in the families. We are such a grassroots organization we don’t have a complicated process. As long as we have space available, they can literally come, inquire today, start classes tomorrow.” Ibarra explained that it was her humble beginnings that led her to focus on helping others become more educated. A Mexico native, she and her family migrated to Texas, in order to continue agricultural work and make a decent living. Then they relocated to Plant City where she became a mother and decided she didn’t want to repeat the family cycle of farming. That lifestyle was more emphasized than higher learning, said Ibarra. She got her GED, attended Hillsborough Community College, and ultimately received her bachelor’s degree in international studies at the University of South Florida. Ibarra then landed a job working for a credit card company, with a good salary and benefits. However, she felt she was only taking advantage of migrants, like herself, who didn’t have financial stability. She then decided that she would dedicate herself to empowering others and open a school. With little to no funds, she gradually began to establish Achieve, collecting grants, donations and hiring staff. “I honestly don’t know how it worked out, but it worked out,” said Ibarra. “I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.” She added that she is finally living her “American Dream” by giving others a chance to better themselves. That also meant providing an accommodating learning environment. At their former residence, Achieve staff had limited room to

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teach, even having to knock down a wall to turn two offices into one classroom. After speaking with the pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Plant City, vacant space in the Wesley Centre was leased to the organization. Whether a “blessing” or “coincidence” or something “meant to be,” Ibarra said she doesn’t know how to describe it. Achieve Plant City moved into the Wesley Centre in May and officially opened its doors to students in September. And now, she and her staff are considering an expansion by offering night classes, more afternoon programs and technical training for parents. Over the past decade, she has seen parents and children continue to prosper after leaving the learning center. One former student who had gone to medical school, was the

speaker at a past Achieve fundraiser. “The work is rewarding,” said Ibarra. “The stories that they share with us is what keeps us going. You see the impact that you’re making in their lives.” There will be an upcoming wine-tasting and silent auction fundraiser on Feb. 18, 2022. It will be held in the Trinkle Center at the Hillsborough Community College- Plant City Campus from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Reservations can be made by visiting AchievePlantCity.org, emailing Angelica@AchievePlantCity.org or calling (813) 7524010.

NOVEMBER 11, 2021

SPORTS

STRAWBERRY CREST WRAPS UP SEASON WITH ANOTHER WIN

Strawberry Crest moved to 5-5 on the year with the 26-12 victory over Leto in their last game of the season. TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

The Strawberry Crest Chargers headed to Leto on Friday where they came away with the 26-12 win, finishing the season with a 5-5 record. “These guys have gone through a lot,” said head coach Phillip Prior following the win. “For years they’ve been around school, around the community, telling them that they can’t do and that they’re not any good, all of that, and here they are winning [more

games than they have in a long time.] And we talked about that throughout the season, that’s what we wanted to do. Get to two, get to three, get to four, we got a forfeit win this week from Armwood and got to five.” In unquestionably their most successful season since going 7-5 in 2013, Crest finished the year with wins over Spoto, Freedom, Brandon and Leto. In a late-season twist, Armwood had three of their wins retroactively vacated earlier in the week due to an ineligible player, with one of those victories coming over the Chargers on Sep. 17. Adding in the forfeit victory, 2021 becomes just the third season in their 13-season history to finish the year .500 or better, going 7-5 in 2013 as previously mentioned and 5-5 in 2010. Strawberry Crest took the opening PLANT CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 kickoff but were quickly forced to punt. A short punt, a short return and LENNARD . . . . . . . . . 7 a facemask penalty added onto the STRAWBERRY CREST . . . . . . 26 end of the play set Leto up inside the Crest 20-yard line to start their first LETO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 drive. A few plays later, quarterback Christopher Rodriguez was forced out of the pocket but found room to run on the right side of the play, getPLANT CITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 ting into the end zone and giving Leto and early 6-0 lead. SHORECREST PREP. . . . . . . . . 2 Crest moved across midfield on their next drive but ultimately stalled out. On fourth down, the Chargers ran a fake punt with direct snap to STRAWBERRY CREST . . . . 2 defensive lineman Brock Craig, but couldn’t convert. On the first play of PLANT CITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Leto’s ensuing drive, defensive lineDURANT. . . . . . . . . . 2 man Quintin Walker got to Rodriguez in the backfield, forced the strip sack PLANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 and Crest took over in the Leto red zone. A couple of strong runs from quarterback Coby Burger is all it took to STRAWBERRY CREST . . . . 8 reach the end zone, put Crest on the board and give the Chargers a 7-6 PLANT CITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 lead. DURANT. . . . . . . . . . 4 While it was expected before the season that the Chargers would use a PLANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 rotation in their backfield, both at the running back and quarterback positions, Burger took over as the primary

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Boys Soccer - Nov. 8 Boys Soccer - Nov. 9

Girls Soccer - Nov. 9

signal caller midseason. And although his passing stats were meager, totaling just 72 passing yards on the season, Burger’s ability to make plays on the ground opened up a new dimension for Crest’s offense. Burger led the team with 358 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 82 carries, even hauling in a 25-yard reception against Leto. “He helps us from the standpoint of running the football,” said Prior. “When you add that quarterback run game to the mix, it makes it more difficult on defense and he’s one of the fastest guys on our team so we have to figure out ways to get him the ball and he made a big difference. Those last three games where we put up our most points, he was back there for us and he had a lot to do with that on the ground.” With time winding down in the first half, the Chargers got a fourth down stop deep in Leto territory and took over right on the edge of the red zone but were quickly facing a third-and-11. Jordan Lewis, a midseason addition to the football team and a multi-sport athlete at Crest, came in at quarterback. He found running back Ryan Weems out of the backfield on a screen pass and Weems fought his way up to the 10 yard line for a first and goal. After pushing up to the Leto three yard line, Weems took the toss to the left and scored to give the Chargers a 13-6 lead with seconds remaining in the half. In addition to his touchdown, Weems hauled in an interception and nearly had another late in the fourth quarter. A staple on both sides of the ball for the Chargers this year, Weems finished the year just behind Burger with 354 yards and four touchdowns on 51 carries.

Leto moved up near midfield on their first drive of the second when Craig chased down the ball carrier on fourth down and made a great tackle on the edge to get the ball back for the Chargers at midfield. After pushing up to the 22, running back Devin Blunt broke free up the middle for the long touchdown run but it was called back for holding, keeping Crest off the board but only for the time being. Blunt followed up the negated score with a gain of 10 on the next play and a 15-yard touchdown run two plays later. The third-leading rusher on the team, Blunt carried much of the load in Crest’s backfield against Leto as he finished the game with 71 yards and his first touchdown of the season on nine of the Chargers’ 39 carries. As the rain came down in the fourth quarter, both teams were able to find the end zone one more time to run the clock down on Strawberry Crest’s 26-12 seasonending victory and one of their best individual seasons in school history. “It’s night and day,” said Prior about how different this season felt. “But we still have a long way to go. There were games that we wanted to be more competitive in, where we were competitive at times. We still have to make that next jump in our program but we took that first step this year, starting to win football games. But it means a great deal when your kids show up and have opportunities to win. They come out to practice and they’re more engaged and all of those different things, so winning cures a lot. We got that part, now we’ve got to take the next step next year.”

PLAYOFF OPPONENT PREVIEW Durant and Plant CIty will both be on the road this weekend to kick off their playoff runs. TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

While Newsome was able to claim the 8A District 10 title with a win over Plant City two weeks ago, both Durant (8-2) and Plant City (6-4) clinched postseason berths following the 2021 regular season. Durant was given the seventh seed in the region and will head to Winter Garden on Friday, just east of Orlando, to take on 9-1 West Orange High School in the regional quarterfinals. West Orange claimed the second seed on the heels of a dominating regular season in which they won all of their contests by multiple scores, with the exception of their lone 13-0 loss to Apopka. Durant and West Orange both have balanced offenses that can attack you through the air or on the ground, and both have strong defenses that surrendered fewer than 100 total points against on the season.

West Orange was led by quarterback Tyler Huff, finishing the year with 1,312 passing yards and 19 touchdowns to just five interceptions, his favorite target coming in the form of four star wide receiver and University of Florida commit Jayden Gibson. Gibson totaled 698 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. In the backfield, West Orange was paced by 609 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns from Terrell Walden, followed by 442 rushing yards by Jessie Shannon. Plant City will head to Venice to take on 9-1 Venice High School, the top seed in the region. Venice’s lone loss on the season came in a 28-22 contest against Fort Lauderdale’s Cardinal Gibbons. Venice has an extremely explosive offense -- averaging 43.4 points per game -- led by quarterback Ryan Brown, who finished 10th in Florida’s 8A division with 1,825 passing yards and seventh with 21 touchdowns. Brown also

finished second on the team with 496 rushing yards and six touchdown runs. Running back Damarion Escort eclipsed 1,100 yards on the season, reaching 1,161 in total, with 15 touchdowns and was spelled by Alvin Johnson III with 419 yards and 7 touchdowns. Out wide, Venice had two receivers put together 600-yard seasons as Jashawn Platt hauled in 41 receptions for 652 yards and seven touchdowns, followed by Omari Hayed with 47 receptions for 612 yards and nine touchdowns.

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

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

PlantCityObserver.com

PLANT CITY SOCCER OPENS SEASON WITH VICTORY OVER STRAWBERRY CREST While no longer district foes, the local rivalry still brought plenty of energy.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

While Plant City officially opened their season against St. Pete’s Shorecrest Prep on Monday night, the Raiders returned to Plant City for a 3-2 win in their home opener against Strawberry Crest on Tuesday night. Despite the loss of 13 seniors from 2020, Plant City was able to retain seven of their starting 11 heading into 2021. “We did have 13 seniors last year,” head coach Benjamin Henderson said. “From our playoff game against Viera, we brought back seven of our 11 starters but it just so happens that we graduated our top three goal scorers. So we feel confident on the back end, especially with (Esteban Navarrete) back in net, but it’s just finding ways to manufacture goals.” Plant City and Strawberry Crest were previously district rivals, with the Raiders claiming the 6A District 11 title in 2020 on the heels of a 15-3-1 season and the Chargers falling just short in the district semifinals as the second seed, but Plant City has moved up to 7A in 2021. With both being local Plant City schools however, the competition remains fierce between the two schools. Plant City opened the scoring on a penalty kick in the 18th minute, converted by senior Steven Nagrete, but Crest answered right back. In the 21st minute, forward Eliel Arroyo tied the contest with a long shot from the left side of the 18-yard box before giving the Chargers a lead in the 28th minute by burying a header from the incoming cross. Plant City was knocking on the door in the 37th minute following a series of corner kicks that provided several opportunities, but the Chargers were unable to break through. In the 40th minute, just moments before the halftime whistle, Plant City sophomore Osvaldo Rodriguez sent a ball into the box and Simon Gonzalez redirected the attempt for a goal, knotting the match up at 2-2 heading into halftime.

Plant City controlled the pace of play early in the second half and broke through on a goal in the 48th minute from sophomore Kooper Yacinich, converting on a rebound chance to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead that they would keep. The remainder of the contest was tense, seeing Crest narrowly miss a number of chances that would have brought them level and seeing Plant City send a few shots just wide that would have extended their lead. But ultimately, it was Plant City that claimed victory when the final whistle sounded. The challenge now, according to Henderson, is getting players on the same page as they return to the high school season from the club teams that they play for in the offseason. “All of these guys are on their own club teams, so I like to look at us as their national team,” Henderson said. “In the offseason they’re all with their club teams doing their own thing, so it’s meshing everyone together at once into a system that works best for us. I’m not someone who says, ‘we’re going to play this system.’ It’s taking the players that you have and building a system around that.”

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

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

REAL ESTATE

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

OCTOBER 2021

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Local October 2021 sales and trend information courtesy of The Crawford Group. Zillow Group Inc. is calling it quits on the home-flipping busin ss, while disclosing expected losses of more than $550 million on homes purchased in the second half of this year, for which the company admits it paid too much. The real-estate giant on Tuesday blamed a faulty algorithmic model for ditching its iBuying business of buying and selling homes quickly and said it will lay off abou a quarter of its staff. (Dow Jones Newswires 11/3/21) As realtors, we have known this to be true for a long time that faulty Zestimate’s gave sellers an unlikely value to their property. The value could be easily manipulated by an overpriced listing. It’s the primary reason I continued to say, seek out an experienced Realtor to assist you in this process. if you are looking to buy or sell a property. We know the local area, we will actually view your property, knowing its characteristics to give you a market valuation and how to market it for its highest potential. Now that we have one less corporate buyer in the mix, the inventory may start to increase to better supply/demand model numbers. The Plant City market area’s inventory is currently running about 0.88 month’s supply, we could stand to have that increased to two to three month’s supply. The market is not by any means falling, but I do not expect to see another 20 percent yearly increase in property values next year. The month of October shows the Plant

City area had 88 homes closed, 129 homes undercontract and 81 homes available to purchase. We continue in a seller’s market, but the month over month price increases have somewhat leveled. This month’s average selling price was $295,480 as compared to $314,534 last month, a 6.1 percent price decrease over the prior month. The average days to contract have decreased slightly to 11.8 days in October, but still below the year-to-date average of 16.67 days. Although we had a slight decrease in average values for the month, we are still running at $173.25 per square foot, which is higher than the yearto-date average of $159.85 per square foot. We will continue to have a sellers’ market in real estate for the next 12 to 24 months or until we reach three plus month’s inventory supply. If you’re in the market to buy, waiting is not on your side. SALES SNAPSHOT The following properties were a sample listed as sold on the Greater Tampa Realtors Association MLS in Oct. 2021. The home at 1702 E Carol Dr sold Oct 11 for $156,100. Built in 1959, it has 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bath and 1200 square feet of living area. The home at 406 N Franklin St sold Oct 28 for $200,000. Built in 1926, it has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath and 1168 square feet of living area. The home at 105 Seville Ct sold Oct

14 for $230,000. Built in 1981, it has 2 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1581 square feet of living area. The home at 4733 S Dawnmeadow Ct sold Oct 4 for $240,000. Built in 1986 it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1432 square feet of living area. The home at 5110 Twin Pine Dr sold Oct 29 for $245,000. Built in 1971, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1556 square feet of living area. The home at 333 N Forbes Road sold Oct 7 for $250,000. Built in 1993, it has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and 924 square feet of living area. The home at 3404 Joe Sanchez Road sold Oct 29 for $271,600. Built in 1965, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1401 square feet of living area. The home at 1202 E Calhoun St sold Oct 4 for $284,000. Built in 1929, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1590 square feet of living area. The home at 3834 Crystal Dew St sold Oct 11 for $292,000. Built in 2015, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1546 square feet of living area. The home 3905 Trapnell Ridge sold Oct 21 for $320,000. Built in 2007, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1885 square feet of

living area. The home at 3407 Young Road sold Oct 28 for $355,000. Built in 1920, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1438 square feet of living area. The home at 1617 Avondale Ridge Dr sold Oct 27 for $400,000. Built in 2006, it has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and 2467 square feet of living area. The home at 303 Karppe Road sold Oct 8 for $415,000. Built in 1972, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1905 square feet of living area. The home at 3111 Sam Hicks Road sold Oct 1 for $615,000. Built in 2006, it has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and 3417 square feet of living area. The home at 4601 W Sam Allen Road sold Oct 13 for $875,000. Built in 2017, it has 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and 3664 square feet of living area.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

289704-1

We asked Plant City: What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving dinner? “Being with family.” - Donna Varano

“Not having to cook any of it.” - Jan Boarman

“Thanking God for all the “Family, football, food. I things he has done for us like the parade too.” this year, and spending - Chris Weber time with family.” - Jeannie Denny iStock image

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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Jason Randolph Broff, 51, of Valrico, Fla., born in New Britain, Conn., entered into eternal rest on Nov. 5, 2021. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Mary Catherine Crowley Mary Catherine Crowley, 100, of Plant City, Fla., born in Indianapolis, Ind. on May 10, 1921, entered into eternal rest on Nov. 4, 2021. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Crea Beauchamp Crea Beauchamp, 88, of Plant City, Fla., born on Jan. 22, 1933, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Nov. 7, 2021. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Aureliano Blas Aureliano Blas, age 82, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Nov. 4, 2021. The family will receive friends Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Mission De San Juan Diego. Funeral services will follow at 11:00am Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

Bettye Salter Ruis Bettye Salter Ruis was born Dec. 12, 1929 and entered into eternal rest Nov. 1 2021 in Plant City, Fla. She is survived by sons Robert Steven Ruis (Debbie) and Sam Salter Ruis (Linda); four grandchildren and one great-grandchild; six nieces and nephews. She was preceded in passing by her husband Robert Lee Ruis; her parents John Gaston Salter and Mary Elizabeth (nee Cunningham) Salter; siblings John Gaston Salter Jr., Ann Salter Ennis and Linda Lea Salter. Interment will be at Mt. Enon Cemetery. She was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Plant City. She spread love and kindness wherever she went. There will be no services.

Wayne Johnson Wayne Johnson, 81, of Dover, Fla., born in Turkey Creek on Nov. 1, 1940, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 30, 2021. He was a Veteran of the United States Air Force. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

Debbie Casella Fenton Debbie Casella Fenton (Debra A. Hinton), 60, of Valrico, Fla., born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on April 15, 1961, entered into Heaven on Nov. 7, 2021. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

OBITUARIES

Jason Randolph Broff

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ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

116 North Collins Street Plant City, FL 33563 ph: (813) 567-5735 allabloomtampa.com

YOUR CALENDAR

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

BEST BET SATURDAY NOV. 13 PIONEER DAY CELEBRATION 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 605 N. Collins St. The East Hillsborough Historical Society will hold the 44th Annual Pioneer Day celebration at the historic 1914 Plant City High School Community Center. The free, family-oriented, all-day celebration will include live entertainment, a train ride for kids and several different vendors and exhibits for a day full of fun.

THURSDAY NOV. 11

FRIDAY NOV. 12

VETERAN’S DAY CONCERT

MOVIE TRIVIA NIGHT - MOVIE MUSICALS

7 p.m. at 1 Raider Pl. The Plant City High School band will be hosting a Veteran’s Day convert on Nov. 11. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the Plant City High School auditorium and is free and open for all to attend.

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

7:30 to 9 a.m. Join the Plant City Toastmasters for breakfast, laughs, and fun; there’s no better way to start your Thursday mornings. Bring a chair and a mask. The Toastmasters also offer Zoom meetings for those who can’t make it in person. Visit the Facebook page, facebook.com/ PlantCityToastmasters, for meeting locations and information.

will serve a simple lunch of a variety of soups with desserts, including musical entertainment, for a $10 donation.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 17

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. November Movie Trivia Night at Krazy Kup will feature questions relating to movie musicals. Brings your friends and family to grab a cup of coffee and head up to the loft to show off our movie knowledge or just to cheer on your loved ones with a chance to win a prize. As always, the event is family friendly and free.

EXPRESSO SELF ART

4 to 6 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Head up to the loft at Krazy Kup on the second Saturday of each month for art classes. Bring a friend, grab a treat and a drink downstairs and enjoy them upstairs as you ‘express-o’ yourself through art. Classes are $30 per person and open to all.

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 benefi s 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 .

SATURDAY NOV. 13

OPEN MIC NIGHT

SUNSET SOUNDS

THE FORK RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOOK 5K, EMPTY BOWLS PROJECT

7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. The ForkRanAwayWithTheSpoon5K run is an event dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives, providing a safe, fun and family-friendly event that benefi s the United Food Bank of Plant City. All runners must be at the starting line by 7 a.m. and the course will close at 9 a.m. to local traffic or the neighborhood. For more information on the event, visit www.forkranawaywiththespook5k.com. Following the 5K, starting at 10:30, the United Food Bank will hold their Empty Bowl Project fundraisor at the same location. The fundraiser

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 sh w everyone what you’ve got.

WILD AND WONDERFUL FLORIDA

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 605 N Collins St. Head down to the Historic 1914 Community Center on Saturday for the Plant City Garden Club’s annual fl wer show. Outstanding Florida creations and award winning horticulture will be on display at the event and all are welcome. For more information, visit www.plantcitygardenclub.com.

FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS

6 to 8 p.m. at 5202 Thonotosassa Rd. Sunset Sounds is a summer music series featuring acoustic music from local artists. Head over to Keel & Curley Winery every Wednesday evening to enjoy music, food, drinks and sunshine on their patio.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FORECAST

Send your photo submissions to staff writer Taylor Jenkins at tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com or hashtag #iloveplantcity on Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature.

THURSDAY, NOV 11

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Nov 11

6:47a

5:37p

High: 81 Low: 62 Chance of rain: 39%

Friday, Nov 12

6:48a

5:36p

Saturday, Nov 13

6:49a

5:36p

Sunday, Nov 14

6:49a

5:35p

FRIDAY, NOV 12

Monday, Nov 15

6:50a

5:35p

Tuesday, Nov 16

6:51a

5:35p

Wednesday, Nov 17

6:52a

5:34p

High: 81 Low: 62 Chance of rain: 10%

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, NOV 13 High: 77 Low: 51 Chance of rain: 16%

SUNDAY, NOV 14 High: 70 Low: 46 Chance of rain: 6%

MONDAY, NOV 15 Les Cole took this early morning photo of Walden Lake in Plant City.

ONLINE

High: 79 Low: 49 Chance of rain: 3%

Dec. 4 New

Nov. 11 First

Nov. 19 Full

Oct. 28 Last

RAINFALL LAST WEEK:

MONTH TO DATE:

3.33 in.

YEAR TO DATE:

NOV. AVERAGE:

49.49 in.

1.83 in.

STRAWBERRIES Shipping point: South Florida $16.00-$16.85

Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

Your One Stop Shop For All Parties, Events & Reunions! Choice Meats • Meat Bundles • Specialty Meats • Produce • Smoke House • Groceries 617 N. Maryland Ave. • Plant City 813-752-1548 (C) 2021 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

Down

Across 1 Bldg. units attended to by supers 5 “Queen of Soul” Franklin 11 Flow back, as the tide 14 Half a toy train? 15 “You cheated!” 16 Water tester 17 *Very limited consolation 19 Gasteyer of “Mean Girls” 20 Approaches 21 “__ show time!” 22 Illuminated 23 Left-hand page 24 Sun.-to-Sat. periods 26 Go for the hook

27 Greek vowel 28 *Tidy Lotto prize 32 Skin pics 34 Boston skyscraper, with “the” 35 Low grade 36 Parlor game encouragement suggested by the starts of 17-, 28-, 45- and 60-Across 41 Novelist Rand 42 “The Simpsons” bartender 43 Northern New Mexico art community 45 *Genuine greetings 50 Monotonous routine 51 Above

52 Number that’s its own square root 53 Beav’s big brother 55 Bumped into 56 Nashville awards org. 58 Scout’s merit __ 59 Square of butter 60 *In-demand real estate listing 64 Apply 65 Iron deficien y concern 66 Riga resident 67 Guys 68 Fails to 69 Watched closely

1 Duke’s conf. 2 Back-and-forth missed calls 3 Put up with 4 Root beers, e.g. 5 Calendario units 6 Bucharest is its cap. 7 Terrible grade 8 Lao-tzu’s philosophy 9 Trumpeter Al 10 Performing __ 11 Bibliography spacesaver 12 Beautiful, in Barcelona 13 Scrambled, as eggs 18 Gator’s kin 23 Chow Chow checker 24 __-out: exhausted 25 Jack who played Quincy 26 Sanctifie 29 Express a view 30 Twiddled one’s thumbs 31 “Seinfeld” uncle 33 “Forever” post office purchase 37 Norse war god 38 Apple throwaway 39 Tea named for William IV’s prime minister 40 Casino wheel 44 Snorters’ quarters 45 Beads once used by Native Americans as currency 46 Opposite of “Atten-hut!” 47 Way past ripe 48 Pointed beard 49 Cashless deal 54 One-named “Hello” singer 56 Landlocked African land 57 Like old records 58 Dinghy or dory 61 Canadian VIPs 62 __ Tin Tin

LL Wiiiams & Karen Davis OWNERS OF FELTON'S

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

Don’t let fear stop you from getting the care you need. Don’t delay getting essential medical care. We’ve put enhanced safety measures in place to help keep you safe. COVID-19 has stopped people from doing many things. But we can’t let it stop us from getting what we need most: medical care. BayCare is helping to keep our patients safe by following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for safety processes and cleaning procedures. This makes sure that everyone can feel secure getting the care they need. Don’t let fear of this pandemic make other health conditions worse. Learn more about how we’re keeping you safe: BayCare.org/Safety

21-1392274-0221

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