11.12.20 PLCO by Plant City Observer

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

YO UR NEWS PAP ER . CITY MOVES TO UPGRADE EQUIPMENT VOLUME 6, NO. 121

Monday’s city commission meeting saw commissioners commit to improving service performances around town.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

City commissioners had a hefty consent agenda Monday evening that inevitably helps keep the city up-to-date. Most of the items are designed to improve the city’s service performances and will be replacing aging equipment. Commissioners agreed to purchase two replacement generators for Utilities Maintenance using funds already

included in this fiscal year’s budget. The generators will replace the two current ones, which Utilities said have “exceeded their useful life.” The generators are used to provide auxiliary power for the City’s sewage lift and well stations. Using a Florida Sheriff’s Association Bid the city will purchase the two new generators from Tradewinds Power Corp. The total purchase price is at $110,122.

SEE PAGE 5

HONORING HENRY DEMPS

On Tuesday afternoon, Henry Van Demps got the headstone and military honors he needed in 1966. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

United States Army Pfc. Henry Van Demps, born and raised in Plant City, deserved better than he got 54 years ago. Demps started a tour of duty in Vietnam with the Army 503rd Infantry on April 18, 1966 at age 22. A little more than three months later, he was killed in the Long Khanh Province of South Vietnam. On September 3, 1966, the son of Robert N. and Thelma C. Demps was laid to rest in his hometown at Garden of Peace Cemetery.

But if you didn’t know Demps personally, you wouldn’t know anything about his service just by looking at his gravesite. For reasons unknown to the City of Plant City’s Cemetery Operations Unit, Demps spent the last 54 years in an unmarked grave and was not given full military honors at his funeral. SEE PAGE 7

SEE PAGE 7

Plant City Photo Archives

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

Courtesy of Wonderland of Lights

Plant City High teacher dies after contracting COVID-19

Christmas lights display to reopen in late November

The Plant City High School community mourned the death of Michael Wanner, a beloved science teacher at PCHS since 2004, last week. Hillsborough County Public Schools confirmed Wanner, 61, died Nov. 3, several weeks after contracting the COVID-19 coronavirus and battling related illnesses. The school district made the announcement late Nov. 4 and the school had grief counselors on hand Nov. 5 for the many students and teachers who knew him. The school district said Wanner, an HCPS employee since 1998, did not contract the virus inside Plant City High School and had been quarantined away from campus for several weeks. He is the fi st teacher in the county known to have died from COVID-19 complications. In addition to teaching, Wanner was also passionate about scouting and spent many years as a Boy Scouts leader, mentoring many Plant City youths and helping several reach the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. Visitation and funeral services were held Monday at Haught Funeral Home.

The Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village is all set to return Nov. 26 to bring holiday cheer to the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Road, Dover. The fifth annual vent will offer attendees a non-contact, drive-through experience every week until Dec. 27. The light show is the main attraction from Monday through Wednesday. From Thursday through Sunday, attendees can also hang out at Santa’s Village to see Santa Claus himself. Also on the schedule are several family-friendly acts like Rulito’s Musical Comedy Extravaganza (Nov. 26), Nerdy Noah’s Comedy Show (Dec. 10-13) and the duo of Dennis Lee and Stephanie Ann (Dec. 24-27). Tickets are $15 per car Monday through Wednesday and $25 per car Thursday through Sunday. If you donate blood or plasma at select OneBlood Big Red Bus locations in November, you can get a coupon for 50 percent off our Opening Night ticket. If you bring 10 non-perishable food items to donate to the United Food Bank of Plant City at the gate on Dec. 3, you’ll get $5 off or your ticket. At the end of the tour, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay will be set up in Santa’s Village for a pet adoption event. For more information about the event, visit thewonderlandofligh s.com. For Big

Courtesy of the City of Plant City

Red Bus locations, visit oneblood.org/ wonderland.

COAST offender arrested after Plant City burglary Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday the arrest of Chad Leslie Clark after he was caught burglarizing a Plant City home last week and linked to at least two more in Hillsborough County. Detectives started tracking Clark, 50, last week after his truck was filmed fleein a female victim’s home in Seffne . The victim said she was asleep when the break-in occurred and she awoke to find a male suspect inside stealing her jewelry. Last week, HCSO detectives witnessed Clark casing several Plant City-area homes and on Nov. 6 saw him enter a home and leave with pillowcases full of jewelry, Halloween candy and an urn containing the ashes of a family’s deceased pet. They followed Clark to a home on Sligh Avenue in Tampa and arrested him without incident. A search of the residence uncovered stolen jewelry from another burglary in which a total loss of $26,000 was reported. Clark is considered a COAST offender and is required to register his residence with both lawn enforcement and the FDLEmaintained Career Offender Application for Statewide Tracking (COAST) program. He was released from Florida State Prison on Jan. 26 after serving 15 years

for burglary. Clark currently faces charges of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, felony petit theft, possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, three counts of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, possession of burglary tools, grand theft (from dwelling), theft from persons 65 years of age or older and grand theft between $10,000 and $20,000. “COAST offenders have a history of offenses that presents a threat to the public,” Sheriff Chad Ch onister said. “I am proud of our detectives for getting this man off the treets so he cannot victimize any more people.”

Volunteers help city place flags on veterans’ headstones The City of Plant City’s Cemetery Operations Unit had a big volunteer turnout on Nov. 7 for its initiative to place American fla s on the graves of veterans for Veterans Day. Forty individual volunteers of all ages came out that morning and helped the unit place fla s at 1,170 military graves throughout the 52 acres of city-maintained cemeteries throughout the day. Parks and Recreation Department Director Jack Holland said volunteers will also be needed at 9 am this Saturday for the removal of the fla s.

PlantCityObserver.com

EMPTY B RETURNS

WLS

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

The annual event, which benefits the United Food Bank of Plant Cit , is this weekend. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The annual Plant City Empty Bowls Project is returning this weekend and the community is invited to enjoy a hot cup of soup while simultaneously giving back to the United Food Bank. Every year, downtown is flooded with patrons who spend their lunch breaks enjoying a variety of homemade soups, listening to live music, selecting bowls crafted by local students and bidding on unique items. This year’s event is from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, 102 N. Palmer St. “This is one of the main fundraisers the food bank has and it’s important to get the community involved,” Silvia Dodson, UFB Board Member/Empty Bowls Team Member, said. “We have Celebrity Chef, which is a big ticket item every year, and then we have this, which is just a small expense for the community to help the food bank with our mission.” Tickets are $10 and the entire donation goes to the food bank. Before the event even begins, the sidewalks will be filled with supporters of the food bank during the Fork Ran Away With The Spoon 5K, which starts at 7 a.m. the same day. Runners must register by Nov. 13 to join. All proceeds from the race will also go to the United Food Bank of Plant City. While most people come to enjoy one of the 39 different soups available, others participate for the one-of-a-kind gift every ticket holder receives. Those who purchase a ticket also get a handcrafted clay bowl made by a local student. It’s a reminder of all of the bowls in the community that remain empty, a heavy reminder that hunger is at many of our neighbor’s doorsteps. Local schools always partner with the food bank for the event. Dodson said that while the teachers and students had to adapt to the COVID-19 protocols, a total of 19 Hillsborough County public schools signed up this year. The students got to

form the bowls by hand and decorate them themselves, thus no two bowls are alike. Obviously with 2020 being a year like no other, certain elements of the event have changed. There will be hand sanitizer stations at the event and the tables where attendees will stop to enjoy their bowls of soup will be spaced out per social distancing guidelines. One of the biggest changes to come this year is the fact you can participate without ever leaving your car. The group is calling it the “Drive-Thru Order & Go” program. Essentially, if you want to participate and support the food bank but don’t feel safe walking around the train depot for the event, you have a second option. Four parking spots off to the side of the event are designated for those who want to take a bowl home with them. Police officers will be on site directing traffic and volunteers will be waiting to take the orders. When you park, you’ll roll down your window and will be given a blank card to pick your favorite of the 39 soups offered. Then the volunteer will go get it for you and bring it back to your window. You never even have to unbuckle your seat belt. “If anyone is concerned with being out in public, this is an option for you,” Dodson said. “We think some will take advantage of it but we hope those who feel safe come and enjoy the day with us. There’s so much to do, so to really get the most of the experience you should come and prepare to stay.” Live entertainment will be provided by Larry Clark, a Christian and secular jazz saxophonist and member of the Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame, and Ace Jackson and the Jump Kings, a pop and jazz band. There will also be an interactive mosaic created by a Disney sidewalk chalk artist, also known as a “street painter.” She is creating a massive mosaic that will be broken up into individual squares. Attendees can then get involved and make their own squares and at the end it should have a quilt-esque “big picture.” One of the most anticipated aspects of the event each year is the live auction. This year it will be broken up into two parts with the first happening around 11 a.m. and the

second around 12 p.m. Some of the items auctioned off will be the nine larger bowls that have been designed by local artists. The Florida Strawberry Queen and Court painted one of the nine bowls and will assist in the second live auction. “Come out and enjoy the community service project for the food bank, support the food bank and just have a great time with your family,” Dodson said. For more information, visit ufbpc.org.

File photos

The annual Empty Bowls Project is one of the most popular fundraising events in Plant City.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY

Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigated flattened tires, a stolen catalytic converter, stolen coin books, a fake check and more.

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com

Photo: iStock

Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com

THIEF IN THE NIGHT

OCTOBER 30 FEELING DEFLATED 1200 block of West Reynolds Street Criminal mischief: This complainant stated someone flat ened her vehicle’s tires and scratched up the paint overnight.

OCTOBER 31

2200 block of West Oak Avenue Theft: This complainant stated $60 went missing from a lockbox in his room at Community Care Center and that he believed his overnight nurse’s aide stole it. The complainant declined to press charges but wanted the incident documented for reimbursement purposes. He signed a waiver of prosecution. HALLOWEEN HAVOC

ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER 2900 block of James L. Redman Parkway Theft: This complainant stated that his vehicle’s catalytic converter was stolen while it was parked at AAMCO awaiting repairs.

2300 block of Thonotosassa Road Aggravated battery: Officers responded to a report of a disturbance and arrested two men in connection with the incident on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. They were transported to Orient Road Jail.

NOVEMBER 1

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Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com

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600 block of East Alexander Street Vehicle burglary: This complainant stated both of his vehicles were burglarized.

500 block of West Alexander Street Fraud: A man was arrested for fraudulently cashing a check for more than $1,450.

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1100 block of North Alexander Street Burglary: This complainant reported someone broke into their home and stole two coin books from inside.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

CITY PURCHASES VARIETY OF NEW EQUIPMENT Commissioners approved multiple purchases Monday evening for upgrades and new equipment across the city. FROM PAGE 1 BREANNE WILLIAMS

The city is also purchasing a new digester pontoon for its Water Reclamation Facility. The facility uses pontoons in process digester tanks to support mechanical aeration. Over time, the equipment wears down and the current pontoons have “outlived their useful life,” according to the report. “Without mechanical aeration, the sludge would not process properly and cause severe odors,” the report read. So the city sought bids and four came in for the job, ranging from $53,154 to $100,466. Commissioners agreed to award the bid for a new digester pontoon to Mechanical Industrial Services, Inc. for $53,154. The funds were available in the Water/Sewer Fund. One of the items approved for purchase was a 2021 Custom Ambulance with all necessary options. Fire Rescue requested the city replace its 2005 Ford Ambulance, which currently has 100,000 miles. The new ambulance is is available on the Florida Sheriffs Association Bid. Commissioners agreed to authorize the purchase, which costs $225,059 using the Florida Sheriffs Association Bid. It will take approximately five months to build the ambulance. Outside of the items approved for purchase, commissioners also agreed to authorize the renovation of Fire Station 2.

The current budget includes funding for the renovation and will tackle some longawaited changes for the site. The renovation will take place within the 5,100 square feet of living space and includes improvements to the kitchen, bathrooms, dayroom, offices, apparatus bay and fitness area. It also will reconfigure the dorms to accommodate workforce changes. “This should be the last of the renovations,” City Manager Bill McDaniel said. “We had our old leaky roof that was addressed recently and over the years there have been minor repairs and alterations, but not a significant renovation. It’s still essentially the same as it was when it was built. It’s definitely in need of it… I’d have to take a guess on the exact number, but a third of our firefighting force, over three shifts use this facility, so this is going to have a major impact for our force.” Bids were published on Aug. 27 and 10 were received on Oct. 1, ranging from $328,588 to $577,108. The city determined D-Mar General Contracting & Development had the lowest bid received with a price of $328,588 and commissioners agreed to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with D-Mar General Contracting & Development, LLC. for the service. Courtesy of the City of Plant City

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

FLORIDA ADDED 4,353 NEW COVID-19 CASES TUESDAY The state continues to fail to get a grip on the spread of COVID-19. Deaths are rising and hospital beds are filling up once more. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Another 4,353 COVID-19 cases and 69 coronavirus related deaths were added to Florida’s count Tuesday. This brings the total number of cases in Florida to 852,174. While the numbers are still higher than in many other states, Florida’s weekly case average did decrease to about 5,068 cases per day. In Tampa Bay there were 897 COVID-19 cases added on Tuesday and 11 total deaths. Of those, the most deaths were in Polk County, where there were four.

Three deaths were in Manatee, two were in Pinellas and Citrus and Pasco counties had one each. Hillsborough and Hernando counties had no deaths reported. The 69 deaths announced on Tuesday brought the total statewide coronavirus related deaths up to 17,460 since March, according to the Florida Department of Health. Those numbers include 212 non-resident deaths that occurred in the state. While our average weekly total number of cases in the state may be going down, the weekly death average is on the rise. Currently the numbers indicate there is an average of 52 deaths per day.

Other trends lie in the total hospitalizations due to COVID-19. In October there were approximately 2,000 people statewide hospitalized from the virus. Now that number has risen to just under 3,000, according to the Agency for Health Care Administration. That has brought the total number of people hospitalized due to the virus up to 50,872 since the start of the outbreak. Tampa Bay has a signifi ant number of those hospitalizations as its hospitals are caring for 650 people who have been admitted with a primary diagnosis of coronavirus.

Breaking those numbers down further, the new numbers mean that only approximately 25 percent of the state’s hospital beds and 24 percent of intensive care unit beds are currently available. Tampa is behind that trend as it has approximately 23 percent of hospital beds and 18 percent of ICU beds available. The White House Coronavirus Task Force related a report that found 70 percent of the counties in Florida are “displaying moder-

ate to high levels of community spread.” Experts are warning that future reports of COVID-19 numbers could be skewed as many testing locations across the state have been temporarily closed due to Tropical Storm Eta.

FOOTSTEPS OF FAITH: A TORCH AND A LIGHT The Statue of Liberty is one of the greatest reminders we have of our freedom, which our military veterans have fought tirelessly to protect.

DR. DANIEL MIDDLEBROOKS

She has become an icon to those desiring freedom, a national treasure for a nation to remember as one of the most recognized figures in al the world. Each year, millions of people make the journey to see her and experience the history of her nation. Those that cherish her ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness marvel at her grandeur and size. She has become, for the United States and the rest of the world, a symbol of freedom, inspiration and hope. She is the Statue of Liberty. Lady Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States to celebrate the centennial of our nation’s freedom. It was designed by staunch American supporter and French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel. The statue was finished and dedicated by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886. At the base of her marble foundation is a plaque that reads, “Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” It is that very lamp that draws my attention. Although her torch has undergone multiple refurbishments and eventually a replacement, the very essence of the “Light of Liberty” continues to shine in New York Harbor and in our hearts, especially in the hearts of our veterans, those men and women who have endured the darkest of nights, the worst of storms and the greatest of sacrifices to ensure that freedom’s light will never go out. It is a light that has been tried and tested over the short history of our great country and will continue to be attacked by those that desire to snuff out this beacon of help and hope. From the voice of the veteran, we hear “Not on my watch! This light will not be dampened, dimmed or

diminished. It will not be hidden or hoarded by tyrants wanting its power, nor will it be cheapened because of the attitude of entitlement and selfishness!” This light may flicker but it will not fade. It continues to pierce the darkness of deceit to bring through the night a morning of reassurance and restoration. Yet, as great as this torch of Lady Liberty is, there is a light that will never be extinguished and will never lose its power to permeate, protect and prevail against the powers and principalities of the land and air. In John 1:1-5, we see the greatest light known to all mankind as John pens these words: “4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Just as Lady Liberty lights New York Harbor with her torch, the Lord’s light illuminates all our lives to provide for us a hope for our future. Wow! What an incredible light. Just as the plaque calls for the “huddled masses,” the proclamation from our spiritual light is “Come to me, all you who are burdened and heavy-hearted, and I will give you rest!” (Matthew 11:28). I have been honored to serve in the US Army for 26 years and I am even more proud to have served as a warrior of the light for almost 47 years. Both in the service of the country that I love and the King of Kings who loved me first, I see the torch and the light burning bright. As one nation under God, we will continue to be that beacon of help, healing and hope as long as there is breath in every veteran that stands to protect it. To all our veterans past and present, “Stand watch and press on until we are fully relieved of our duty from the ultimate Commander in Chief of all creation!”

Dr. Daniel Middlebrooks is the Senior Chaplain of First Call Church and the CEO/President of Chaplaincy Care, Inc.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

CHANCE ENCOUNTERS LEAD TO MUCHNEEDED HONORS FOR PLANT CITY VETERAN Henry Van Demps never got the military honors he was due when he was buried in Plant City 54 years ago. That finally changed on uesday afternoon. FROM PAGE 1 JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

John Lawler knew who Demps was. Lawler is a volunteer with the Coffelt Group, which for 40 years has compiled a database of Vietnam War casualties around the country so that those who served may not be forgotten. He found Demps and traveled to Plant City to find his gravesite. Locating it was much easier said than done. “What I had was, in the 80s, the Florida Genealogical Society did a survey of every cemetery in Hillsborough County,” Lawler said. “Mr. Demps, although his name was misspelled, it did label him as being here… I knew he was here somewhere by that, but I did not know exactly where the burial was. I contacted the office after several tries of looking — you basically just walk — and Mr. (Jeff) Black came out and we found what you see here… there’s no marker. You could walk past the rows and never know he was here.” With help from Cemetery Operations Unit Superintendent Jeff Black, himself a United States Navy veteran, Lawler finally found Demps this past May. The two men

looked upon the gravesite and had the same thought: Demps deserved better. Black got in touch with the Hillsborough County Veterans Services Office and VSO Clifford Heasty helped him secure a new headstone for Demps. Later, at an unrelated burial service, Black had another chance encounter that helped him piece together Demps’s puzzle. He struck up a conversation with a relative of the deceased, who started pointing out other buried family members — whose surname was Demps. That’s when it all clicked. “I just asked her if she knew who Henry is and she said ‘That’s that boy that died in Vietnam,’” Black said. Black connected with more of Demps’s relatives and the mission to honor Demps himself got another objective. He needed the full military honors he never got. Black worked with the Army Casualty Assistance Office at Fort Stewart, Georgia to coordinate the military funeral honors and got the Durant High School JROTC Color Guard involved. Demps finally got what he deserved on Tuesday. The City of Plant City invited the public to a military ceremony for Demps at Garden of Peace Cemetery that afternoon.

The ceremony was attended by more than 40 people including several of Demps’s relatives, city commissioners and Lawler. After Demps’s new headstone was unveiled to the public, Taps was played and Thelma Demps received her son’s flag. Tuesday’s ceremony was unique, according to those involved. Lawler, who has been walking cemeteries all over the state for several years looking for people like Demps, has never had this happen. Heasty, who has been with the VSO for several years, was not aware of anything like this happening in the county since he’s been here. Parks and Recreation Department Director Jack Holland said he doesn’t believe a ceremony like this has happened in his nearly 45 years of working for the city. Tuesday’s ceremony may have been unique, even unprecedented, but everyone agreed it was necessary. “It was exciting that on this off chance… it’s just really weird the way this all came together,” Black said. “John Lawler was just looking. I got the Hillsborough County

Photos by Justin Kline

VSO involved and Mr. Heasty was incredibly willing to help. It was neat to see a whole group of people who just wanted to see this happen.” The Coffelt Group’s database is viewable online at coffeltdatabase.org/index.php.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

GRACE MANOR HOSTS WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S The senior living facility raised money for the Alzheimer’s Association with a new event on Nov. 7. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

More than 30 walkers came out to Grace Manor at Hunters Creek, 765 W. Grant St., bright and early Nov. 7 to hit the trail for a good cause. Grace Manor hosted its inaugural Walk to End Alzheimer’s, a fundraiser event for the Alzheimer’s Association. After warming up with personal trainer Dawn Lucowitz, the group walked around the Grace Manor property and crossed Hunter Street to get to Brewer Park, where it completed several laps around the walking trail while being cheered on by event staffers waving pom-poms. When walkers were finished at the Brewer Park trail, they could head back to Grace Manor to try and win some raffle prizes. Photos by Justin Kline

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

FROM THE PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

PlantCityObserver.com

NOVEMBER 12, 2020

SPORTS

Romello Jones has been carving defenses up on the football field in the last few weeks. See Page 12

GAME OF THE WEEK:

PLAYOFFS JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Welcome to the wild-card round of the 2020 high school football season, brought to you by COVID-19. In case you need to refresh your memory, the FHSAA Board of Directors voted back in August to redraw almost all classes and give everyone who opted into the FHSAA State Series a regional play-in game. These matchups were determined a few weeks ago by blind draw for seeding and home field advantage determined by coin flip. All three Plant City-area teams opted in, so all three are getting ready for the postseason now. Two will play win-and-in games this Friday night. Here’s a look at what went down last week for both our local teams and their upcoming opponents.

DURANT VS. WINNER OF BARTOW/TAMPA BAY TECH, 7:30 P.M. NOV. 20 Though the stats for Durant’s game at Wharton weren’t available at press time, the good news for Cougar fans is that game ended with a 20-9 DHS win. Durant handed the Wildcats their first and only loss of the 2020 regular season, though Wharton may get some consolation knowing the FHSAA blind draw set up a Friday game against a 1-7 Riverview team that’s given up at least 40 points in six of its eight games (including last week’s 75-14 loss to Tampa Bay Tech). It was a great

way for Durant to bounce back from the previous week’s 35-7 loss in the Battle for the Redman Cup with Plant City. The Cougars are the only team that won’t have to worry about playing in an elimination game this week. They were scheduled to face Leto on Friday night, but the Falcons’ 2020 season came to an end not long after picking up their only win of the season against Robinson last week. Due to a positive test for a Robinson player after that game, the Falcons had to quarantine a large part of the roster and forfeit this week’s play-in game. That means Durant has automatically advanced to the regional quarterfinals on Nov. 20 and will host the winner of this week’s Bartow-Tampa Bay Tech game. Fans of those teams should be in for a fun one — both offenses have been extremely productive in 2020. The Yellow Jackets are now 8-0 after last week’s 42-10 win over Lake Wales (3-1) and have averaged 45 points per game, though that game was their only win over an opponent at or above a .500 win percentage. Tampa Bay Tech is coming off of a 75-14 win over Riverview and has scored no fewer than 42 points in each of its last five games (four wins and one loss to Plant City). Since the Titans have been battle-tested against solid teams like Armwood (a 48-47 win), Bloomingdale (a 25-22 loss) and Gaither (a 34-14 loss), they appear more likely to be the Cougars’ next opponent. No matter who Durant draws next week, having this unexpected bye week will help.

PLANT CITY VS. BLOOMINGDALE, 7:30 P.M. No team in the area has it tougher than Plant City, which drew a rematch with the undefeated Bloomingdale Bulls for Friday. The last time these two teams met (on Oct. 2, also at 1 Raider Place), the Bulls picked up a 37-20 win in which the Raiders hung within a touchdown and a field goal for much of the game. Bloomingdale’s defense pitching a fourth-quarter shutout ended up sealing the deal that night, but Plant City can say it was the last opponent to give the Bulls a tough test (which is impressive considering Lakeland loomed on the horizon just a few weeks later, only to get blown out at home Oct. 23). Last week, Bloomingdale almost completely contained Newsome’s run-heavy offense and got a 38-10 win to finish the regular season unblemished. The Bulls held a 24-3 lead at halftime and also forced the Wolves into fumbling seven times (four of which were recovered by Bloomingdale). Meanwhile, at Hillsborough High School, Plant City took a 32-14 loss to the Terriers. There were some efficient stat lines put up by the Raiders. Quarterback Nick Felice completed 13 of 19 pass attempts for 192 of the team’s 216 total passing yards, Mario Williams and Reagan Ealy caught 11 balls for 173 total yards and lead running back Romello Jones picked up 70 yards and both touchdowns on 17 carries. But the Terriers outmuscled the Raiders

FOCUS ON FITNESS No matter how much time you have in a day, there’s a way for you to work out.

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Due to an FHSAA rule change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all high school football teams that opted in to the state series will get a regional play-in game. That means all three Plant City-area teams will play postseason football this week.

on both sides of the ball to get their sixth consecutive win and finish with a 6-1 regular-season record. Despite that loss, Raider fans have every reason to believe Plant City can pick up the pace against the Bulls. These teams have played each other close in both meetings since 2019, even if that 37-20 final score earlier this season doesn’t look like it. Last year’s matchup, a 37-34 Bulls win decided in overtime, was an instant classic. Plant City should come into this game motivated to break the two-game losing streak to Bloomingdale, but the Bulls look better than ever. Buckle up for this one.

STRAWBERRY CREST VS. GEORGE JENKINS, 7:30 P.M. Last, but not least, we’ve come to an important moment in Strawberry Crest program history: its first-ever postseason game. The 2013 Chargers came very close to making the cut in that season’s three-way tiebreaker but ultimately fell short of the goal. This may not have been a playoff spot-clinching season in the traditional sense, but Charger fans should still take it for what it is. And in even better news, Crest is heading into this one with a win. Last week, the Chargers’ hard work and patience paid off to the tune of a 36-33 win over Freedom at home in which Jesse Waldrop (104 yards, three touchdowns) and Ryan Weems (86 yards, one touchdown) ran all over the Patriots’ defense. The Crest defense, despite giving up

228 yards and five touchdowns to running back Robby Washington, shut down Freedom’s passing game and made big stops when they were sorely needed to finally end the losing streak. The Chargers’ 36-point performance was not only their season-high total, but was also more than they had scored throughout the rest of the 2020 season (27 total points) as well as the second-highest total in seven years (behind only the 2013 team’s 52-12 season-opening win at Middleton). They’ll host a 2-8 George Jenkins team on Friday with the hopes of handing the Eagles their fourth consecutive loss. Last week, Jenkins went to Davenport-Ridge and took a 30-13 loss brought on mostly by the legs of Beau Herrington, who torched Jenkins with 288 yards and three scores on 28 touches. Jenkins has struggled against run-heavy offenses of late, which bodes well for the Chargers. The Eagles gave up 229 yards and three touchdowns on 16 total touches in their 49-10 loss to Tampa Catholic (in which the Crusaders attempted just nine passes and completed seven), and they gave up 255 yards and five touchdowns on 28 carries for eight Winter Haven players in a 46-0 shutout loss to the Blue Devils. Crest has tended to spread out its touches more like Winter Haven did in that game, though it’s a good sign that Weems and Waldrop got hot last week and playing that hand again to lead the offense might result in both big numbers and a big win. Keep in mind that if you can’t go to the games, you can watch them live on NFHSNetwork.com.

SHORT ON TIME? GIVE HIIT WORKOUTS A TRY Nowadays, our lives are so busy and hectic that often we only have 15 to 30 minutes to work out. The mentality that surrounds the fitness industry is that a good workout should take you at least 60 to 90 minutes to complete. Contrary to that belief, sometimes you can get a more efficient workout in less time. A few things everybody wants coming out of a good workout are a sense of accomplishment, a feeling of strength and the inspiration to come back and do it all again tomorrow. Well, I am here to help broaden your horizons and give you some fun and unique workout variations so you can get

efficient movement and tailor your workout time to your schedule. Your workout routine should evolve with you — not the other way around — and that’s why HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) is one of my favorite training tools. What are HIIT workouts? They are brief exercises in time intervals at maximum pace with short breaks in between. Benefits include increased anaerobic and aerobic threshold, increased metabolic rate after workout, reduced heart rate and blood pressure and increased weight loss.

SEE PAGE 14

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

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

One of the Plant City Raiders’ top offensive weapons of late has been junior running back Romello Jones, who has stepped into a larger role over the last few weeks and rewarded the Raiders with plenty of points. In the Battle for the Redman Cup, Jones powered the PCHS offense to a 35-7 win with 203 rushing yards and all fi e of the team’s touchdowns coming on just 10 carries. The following week, Jones gained 70 yards on 17 carries and scored both of Plant City’s touchdowns in the Raiders’ 32-14 loss to Hillsborough. His last two performances have seen Jones take the team’s season lead in both rushing yards (540) and touchdowns (eight). He and national star Mario Williams are now tied for the team lead with eight total touchdowns on the season. Your workload’s gone up quite a bit in the last few weeks and you’ve been playing very well. What’s changed for you since the start of this season? My work ethic. My coaches have been pushing me to go harder. They’re pushing me and expecting more out of me. On top of that, my coach kept pushing me to go to the weight room early in the morning and I’ve been going, I’ve been lifting. Let’s talk about the Durant game. That was a crazy night for you. What were you feeling before the game and what was working for you on the field

Once I started seeing my team was struggling to score a little bit, I was about to step it up. I have to thank my o-line and thank God… the coaches were working with me, they had faith in me, they gave me the ball on fourth down and I was able to make plays. They trusted me and I didn’t let them down. How do you feel about the way this season so far has gone for you and the Raiders? It hasn’t been going so bad. There’s some games I feel like we should have won. In my opinion we should be undefeated, but now the playoffs are just beginning and we’re moving forward. Everybody’s 0-0. Me and my team are ready to go out there and get that ring. We’re on that road. What’s something you’ve learned from playing this year that’s helped you get better on the field Cooler heads prevail. I realize that when people talk trash to me and I stay calm, I feel better in everything I do. When you play the game and it comes to you naturally, you don’t talk trash and it works in your favor. Stay humble, stay hungry. Are there any running backs you try to model your own game after? D’Andre Swift when he was in college at Georgia. I admired him as a running back. In the NFL, Jamaal Charles, Alvin Kamara and Barry Sanders. LeSean McCoy, too. I used to love the Eagles with him and DeSean Jackson.

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How long have you been playing football? I’ve been playing football, I would have to say cause I’m about to be 17 in a couple days (Wednesday), 14 or 15 years. I used to be outside every day playing football from when I was 2 or 3 years old. When I fi st touched that pigskin, I just fell in love with it… My dad knew that was gonna be the sport for me. I love it. Do you play any other sports? I run track and also play basketball. In track I run the 100, 200 and 400 and the 4x1 relay.

leges had interest in me… I felt great. That motivated me to keep working hard. Any college offers or scouts looking your way yet? Not right now, no college offers. I do have a couple colleges keeping an eye on me. What are your goals for the rest of your high school career? For the team to do great, to be a good example for everyone who will come after me, to become a leader on the football field and in the ommunity, to be a positive force on my team and to make my coaches, my parents and God proud.

What’s been your proudest moment as an athlete? When my running back coach was telling me I was gonna be a captain on the team and I was gonna do great, a couple col-

Quick Hits

Courtesy of Plant City Colts

COUNTY CANCELS ATHLETIC EVENTS FOR THURSDAY With Hurricane Eta looming in the Gulf of Mexico, Hillsborough County Public Schools made the decision Wednesday to shake up the athletic schedule a bit. Eta, which the National Hurricane Center has forecasted to make landfall in Florida as a tropical storm, will bring inclement weather to the state on Thursday and likely for much of Friday. The county announced it would close schools those two days so they may be used as emergency shelters if needed and that all Thursday athletic events have been canceled. Friday events, including the football playoffs, have not been canceled.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

FOCUS ON FITNESS

CUT DOWN ON YOUR WORKOUT TIME WITHOUT SACRIFICING BENEFITS

With HIIT Training, you can get maximum results out of a minimal time commitment. There are many variations of HIIT workouts that you can do to keep things fresh over time, but here are some of my absolute favorites: AMRAP: AMRAP stands for “As Many Rounds As Possible.” This means you will choose anywhere from two to 10 exercises and go through them as quickly as possible before your time runs out and rest when needed. I love this variation of HIIT because it is so versatile and anyone at any fitness level can complete it. EMOM: EMOM stands for “Every Minute on the Minute.” With EMOM workouts, you have one minute to complete a specific number of reps of a particular exercise. The key to this type of workout is to finish your repetitions before the minute is over so you can rest longer. In this case, the amount of rest is dependent on when you finish your set number of repetitions.

Here’s what you need to do to customize your workout: First, you need to pick your workout variation: AMRAP, EMOM, Tabata, Circuit, Interval, etc. Next, you need to decide what length you want your workout to be. If you are only going for 10-15 minutes, then you should make your intensity about 88-95 percent of your max effort. If you are going anywhere between 20-35 minutes, decrease your intensity to 78-85 percent. Once you decide your workout length, this will help you decide how much rest you need. If you are only going for 10-15 minutes, then I recommend a short rest period and a longer rest for 20-35 minutes. Lastly, pick your exercises. I recommend exercises that work multiple muscle groups at the same time. This will help increase your heart rate and efficiency to make the most of the time you have given

yourself. For example, instead of just doing a dumbbell shoulder press, add in a squat to work your legs simultaneously. Try this AMRAP out. Set your timer for 15 minutes and complete as many rounds as possible. • Eight Dumbbell Squat to Shoulder Press • Eight Push-ups • Eight Crunches • Eight Burpees • Run 100-200 meters

The holiday season is upon us and these are some great alternatives to start incorporating exercise into your busy routine. Do not let the seasons determine your success.

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Hannah Franklin is a Wellness Director at the Plant City Family YMCA.

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We asked Facebook: The Empty Bowls Project is coming back this weekend to raise awareness about food insecurity throughout Plant City and the Tampa Bay area. What’s a cause close to your heart that you’d like to raise awareness for? “A veterans outreach program would be wonderful. So many are homeless and alone.” — Donna Robbins Local veterans who are currently homeless do have options available to them within Hillsborough County. Here in Plant City, veterans can visit the Bing Rooming House Museum, 205 S. Allen St., between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Wednesday to learn which services and benefits are available to them. George Hampton, a A counselor, works with clients for free to help them take advantage of programs veterans may not know they’re eligible for. You can either walk in or call 813-704-5800 to set up an appointment.

The Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative has compiled a list of resources available to homeless veterans that includes addiction counseling, employment, health care, housing, benefits linkage, emergency homeles ness shelters and more. Its website, thhi.org/veterans, has a wealth of resources and information that could be useful for homeless veterans, whether that’s you or someone you know.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

OCTOBER 2020 REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Taking care of PlantCityObserver.com eachBobbie other isJean whatHarwell

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REAL ESTATE

“October didn’t spook anyone from buying and selling in the Plant City area,” Crawford said. “The year 2020 is almost in the books as completed, the stock market has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, mortgage rates are at all-time lows and the housing demand is still strong with limited supply. Next year is going to be a very robust year in real estate and their associated businesses.” October 2020 SALES SNAPSHOT The following properties were a sample listed as sold on the Greater Tampa Realtors Association MLS in October 2020. The home at 4302 Coronet Road sold Oct. 30 for $107,000. Built in 1976, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 960 square feet of living area.

passed away on Thursday, isNevada, all about.

October 29, 2020. Bobbie was born September 27, 1937. A graveside service dedicated to helping families create a W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community was held we’re November 11, 2020 at 10:00 unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. celebrates the life it represents. As your Dignity Memorial professionals, am at Bethlehem Cemetery in Dover, > 100% Service Guarantee FL. > National Plan Transferability > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® Fond memories and expressions of Rmay be shared at www.Wellssympathy Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberrythe Festival. Memorial.com for Harwell family. ®

Local October 2020 sales and trend information courtesy of The Crawford Group. Permit information was obtained from the City of Plant City. Last month, 100 properties sold at an average price of $240,194, or $138.47 per square foot. Mitchell Crawford, of the Crawford Group, said the average selling price per unit has increased 37 percent over the last month and that the 100 units sold is the highest total for a month since August 2018.

community Bobbie Jean Harwell, 83, of Las Vegas,

The home at 417 Abigail

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Road sold Oct. 19 for $210,100. These are the largest building permits issued in Plant City for the Built in 2001, it has three bedmonth of October 2020, in order of dollar amounts. rooms, two and a half baths and Address Permit Amount 1,456 square feet of living area.

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The home at 3202 Magnolia Meadows Drive sold Oct. 5 for $219,900. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,770 square feet of living area.

2103 Mud Lake Road

Amusement/social/ recreation

$1,500,000

1716 Charleston Woods Court

Single family detached

$500,000

The home at 2509 Sage-

3502 Fancy Farms Road

Occupancy

$421,000

2705 Wilder Meadows Lane

Single family detached

926 Walden Pond Drive

Single family detached

4021 Rice Road

Occupancy

1208 W. Baker St.

Single family detached

2703 Wilder Meadows Lane

Single family detached

2709 Wilder Meadows Lane

Single family detached

2795 Wilder Meadows Lane

Single family detached

2803 Wilder Meadows Lane

Single family detached

2805 Wilder Meadows Lane

Single family detached

928 Walden Pond Drive

Single family detached

920 Walden Pond Drive

Single family detached

1655 S. County Line Road

Occupancy

922 Walden Pond Drive

Single family detached

916 Walden Pond Drive

Single family detached

909 Walden Pond Drive

Single family detached

912 Walden Pond Drive

Single family detached

2701 Wilder Meadows Lane

Single family detached

brush Road sold Oct. 14 for $225,000. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,561 square feet of living area. The home at 4110 Longfellow

Drive sold Oct. 13 for $229,565. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,632 square feet of living area. The home at 3715 Crystal Dew Street sold Oct. 30 for $246,000. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,790 square feet of living area. The home at 1711 Johnson Pointe drive sold Oct. 26 for $262,485. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,828 square feet of living area.

The home at 1800 Sagebrush Road sold Oct. 23 for $275,000. Built in 1987, it has The home at 1317 E. Laura St. four bedrooms, two baths and 2,027 square feet of living area. sold Oct. 19 for $140,000. Built in 1966, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,044 square feet The home at 3047 Sutton of living area. Woods Drive sold Oct. 23 for $314,900. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, two baths and The home at 1918 Greenwood Valley Drive sold Oct. 2 for 1,982 square feet of living area. $165,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two and a half The home at 3021 Forest baths and 1,649 square feet of Hammock Drive sold Oct. 7 for living area. $335,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,215 square feet of living area. The home at 3223 Thackery Way sold Oct. 26 for $195,000. Built in 19490 it has three The home at 4308 Windmill bedrooms, two baths and 1,232 Ridge Road sold Oct. 30 for square feet of living area. $360,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,467 square feet of living area. The home at 1907 E. Carol St. sold Oct. 16 for $205,000. Built in 1959, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,258 square feet of living area.

10/27/15 10:42 AM

Dorothy Hardee Harkala

On November 7, 2020, Dorothy Hardee Harkala, loving mother of two children, passed away at the age of 81 surrounded by her loving family. $329,788 Dorothy was born on February 6, 1939 in Tampa to Clifford and Ethel Hardee. She lived her entire life in Plant City $310,023 and graduated from Florida Southern College. She was retired as a real estate executive and was active as a director for $300,000 the Hillsboro Bank in Plant City. Dorothy was preceded in death by her $296,100 husband of 39 years, Walter, in 1997 and is survived by her children, Hal Harkala (Beth) and Tracy Adams (Rick); sisters, $269,555 Carolyn Manee (Robert) and Rhonda Hardee; four grandchildren, Ryan Adams, Ashley Adams Lazewski (Mat$269,555 thew), Halee and Kortnee Harkala. Other survivors include her loving and devoted companion of 18 years, Nicholas Brown; $269,555 nephews, nieces, cousins, and stepgrandchildren. Dorothy (Dot or Dottie, as most of her $269,555 friends called her) loved to travel with her companion, Nicholas Brown. She enjoyed playing bridge with her lifelong $269,555 bridge club friends and spending time with her family. She was a longtime member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church $269,555 and a past member of the church vestry. She was also a former member of the East Hillsborough Historical Society, $269,555 Ladies of the Elks and the Arts Council of Plant City. The family will greet visitors at Wells $267,000 Memorial Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. on November 12, followed by a private funeral at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church $254,000 at 11 a.m. on November 13. A graveside service will follow at East Oaklawn Cemetery. Visitation and graveside services $254,000 are openwe’re todedicated all friends. In lieu ofa fl wers, to helping families create W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. please make celebratesa thedonation life it represents.to The Moffit As your Dignity Memorial professionals, Cancer Center The American Cancer $231,963 > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan or Transferability > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® Society. Condolences may be offered at www. R wellsmemorial.com. $223,589Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

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10/27/15 10:42 AM

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Ruby M. Butts, 84, of Valrico, born on September 27, 1936 in Brundage, Alabama, entered into eternal rest on November 4, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Gilberto Vera Gilberto Vera, 79, of Riverview, born on May 14, 1941 in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, entered into eternal rest on November 1, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Roy John Fitzgerald Roy John Fitzgerald, 89, of Plant City and of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, born on August 6, 1931, entered into eternal rest on November 2, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Richard Wayne Carr Paul N. Richard Wayne Carr, 57, of LakeOverstreet, Jr. land, born on February 26, 1963 in Plant City, entered into eternal rest on October 31, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Terri Lynn Fisher Terri Lynn Fisher, 63, of Dover, born on June 25, 1957 in Shelby, Michigan, entered into eternal rest on November 2, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Diane H. Moore Diane H. Moore, 56, of Lakeland, born on February 20, 1964 in Plant City, entered into eternal rest on November 5, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Franklin Brown Groome Franklin Brown Groome, 93, of Plant City, born in Ft. Pierce on March 15, 1927, entered into eternal rest on November 9, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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community

Betty Osborne Cooper, 78, Opal Jeannette Hayward, 81, of of Dover, passed away on Brandon, passed away on WednesOctober 31, 2020. A Memorial day, October 28, 2020. Opal was Service will be held Tuesday, born May 14, 1939 in Plant City. we’re dedicated helping families create a W E ’ RE P RO TO S E RV E our community November 17, 2020 atU D4:00 Burial took placetoin Bethlehem unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. celebrates the life it represents. As your Dignity Memorial professionals, PM at Harmony Baptist Cemetery in Dover, FL. > 100% Service GuaranteeFond > National Plan Transferability Church, 6008 Knights Griffi memories and expres> Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® Road, Plant City, FL 33565. sions of sympathy may be shared R Condolences may be left at at www.WellsMemorial.com for the Proudly supporting the Plant Cityfamily. Strawberry Festival. haught.care. Hayward

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Michael Dean Wanner Michael Dean Wanner, 61, of Plant City, passed away on November 3, 2020. Funeral services were held November 9, 2020 at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W Dr MLK Jr Blvd, Plant City, FL 33563. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

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Serjio Juarez, 29, of Plant City, passed away on November 4, Morgan Edward Smith, 79, of 2020. Lakeland, passed away on Tuesday, A Funeral Mass will be held November 3, 2020. Morgan was November 12, 2020 at St. Clemborn August 13, 1941 in Auburn, ent Catholic Church at 11:00 New York. He was a veteran of the AM. United States Air Force. Online condolences may Fond memories and expresbe left for the family at www. sions ofwe’re sympathy may be shared dedicated to helping families create a W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community unique and meaningful memorial that trulythe with personal, compassionate care since 1896. haught.care. at www.WellsMemorial.com for celebrates the life it represents. As your Dignity Memorial professionals, Smith family.

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Paul “Big Daddy” N. Overstreet, Jr., 93, of Plant City, born on April 11, 1927 in Stilson, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on November 2, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Taking care of

Betty Osborne each Opal other Jeannette is what Cooper Hayward

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

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Osvaldo Cervantes-Bustamante, 15, of Dover, born on January 15, 2005 in Tampa, entered into eternal rest on November 7, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

BEST BET SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 EMPTY BOWLS PROJECT

10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The United Food Bank of Plant City’s annual Empty Bowls Project fundraiser is coming back downtown to the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, 102 N. Palmer St. Attendees can buy handmade bowls crafted by local students, dine on tasty soup (take-out is also available) and enjoy live music by Larry Clark and Ace Jackson and the Jump Kings. All proceeds benefit UFBP . For more information, visit: https://ufbpc.org/empty-bowls-project/.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12

free. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Barbara Patrick at 813626-4554.

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.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 THE FORK RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON 5K

7 a.m. at the train depot, 102 N. Palmer St. The Fork Ran Away with the Spoon 5K benefi s the United Food Bank of Plant City. The organizers encourage a lifestyle of fitn ss, and building relationships in the process is important. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned runner, you, your family and friends are invited for the run and for the fun. All must be at start line by 7 a.m. The course will close at 9 a.m. to local traffic or the neighborhood. Awards will begin at 9 a.m. There will be a trail car or golf cart as-

BATON TWIRLING CLASSES

Plant City Recreation presents Baton Twirling Classes at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. Classes are held every Thursday. Beginner classes are from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Intermediate classes are from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Your fi st class will be

sistance as needed. The cost to register is $35. You can sign up and get more information online at forkranawaywiththespoon5k. com.

VOLUNTEER DAY AT PCC COMMUNITY GARDEN

9 a.m. Spend a couple of hours in the Plant City Commons Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St. There are always projects that need special talent and attention. You do not have to be a gardener. You can help by building, painting, cutting, drilling and more. Volunteer days are the second Saturday of every month. Call (813) 435-8111 for more information.

SEED LIBRARY OPEN AT PCC COMMUNITY GARDEN

9 a.m. Choose or donate heirloom seeds at the Seed Library in the Plant City Commons Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St. This helps keep diversity in the local food system. The library is open on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. Call (813) 4358111 for more information.

Combine & Save. Good things happen when you combine your home and auto insurance with State Farm . Like saving an average of $894.* Plus, you’ll have a good neighbor like me to help life go right. CALL ME TODAY. ®

*Average annual household savings based on 2016 national survey of new policyholders who reported savings by switching to State Farm.

Jimmy Fisher, Agent 6920 E Fowler Ave On Fowler Ave near I-75 Tampa, FL 33617 Bus: 813-989-2037 jimmy.fisher.caos@statefarm.com

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OPEN MIC NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. Open Mic Night is back at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. You get to be the show in this “krazy” fun night. To sign up, visit https://forms.gle/tYPLqRiyYBmNTtCP9.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 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 nor 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 813704-5800 to set a specific tim . Masks are required and temperatures will be taken at the door.

com/PlantCityToastmasters/, for meeting locations and information.

BATON TWIRLING CLASSES

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20 RETRO MOVIE NIGHT

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19

7 to 8:30 p.m. Visit Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., for Retro Movie Night. This month’s feature is the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie released in 1990.

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21

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.

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN

3 to 8 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. The Plant City Strawberry Classic Cruise-In is back, rain or shine. Cars and trucks manufactured in or before 1995 can register for free starting at 3 p.m.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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Send your photo submissions to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com or hashtag #iloveplantcity on Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature.

THURSDAY, NOV. 12 High: 81 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 70%

FRIDAY, NOV. 13 High: 85 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 20%

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Nov. 12

6:48a

5:36p

Friday, Nov. 13

6:49a

5:36p

Saturday, Nov. 14

6:50a

5:35p

Sunday, Nov. 15

6:50a

5:35p

Monday, Nov. 16

6:51a

5:35p

Tuesday, Nov. 17

6:52a

5:34p

Wednesday, Nov. 18

6:53a

5:34p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, NOV. 14 High: 85 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 20%

SUNDAY, NOV. 15 High: 86 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 50%

TOMATOES Dara Jent recently snapped this striking sunset photo in Plant City.

ONLINE

Shipping point: Central Florida $19.95

ACROSS 1 __ Plaines: Chicago suburb 4 J. Edgar Hoover Building org. 10 Catch 14 Suffix with h o 15 Sea between Greece and Turkey 16 Dutch South African 17 They’re ominous 19 Decent-sized lot 20 “No more, thanks” 21 End of many long weekends: Abbr. 23 Ad __ committee 24 Many a “Twilight” char-

acter 25 Gulf State native 27 That, in Oaxaca 28 They’re luminous 32 Word in a January song 33 Wood strip 34 Song fi st sung by Ethel Waters at Harlem’s Cotton Club ... and a hint to four other long answers 40 Flat-bottomed boat 41 “Sesame Street” pal of Zoe 42 They’re clamorous 49 “Jingle Bells” contraction 50 Last Supper question

51 “Ivy and __”: kid-lit series by Annie Barrows 53 Infamous Amin 54 More than unfriendly 55 Breed of sheep 57 Astrological transition point 59 They’re ruinous 62 Wasatch Mountains resort 63 “Twilight” vampire 64 Suffix with ooklyn 65 For fear that 66 Trounces 67 Some NFL blockers

DOWN 1 Finished a job 2 Dental layer 3 Composer Rachmaninoff 4 Food truck fare 5 Believed 6 Swelled head 7 Pot-au-__: French stew 8 Outlaw 9 Happy way to break out 10 Abbr. in an unfilled TV slot 11 New __, NY: home of Iona College 12 Ford’s fi st minivan 13 Like some concrete 18 Big ape 22 Bird’s beak 25 Sole 26 Corn Belt region 29 Guffaw syllable 30 Rum __ Tugger: “Cats” role 31 __Kosh B’gosh 34 Bus kiosk posting 35 Ones seeing things 36 Dominate 37 K-12, in education 38 Latin lover’s word 39 Parking violation risk 40 Showing no emotion 43 502, in old Rome 44 Steer clear of 45 Saudi Arabian capital 46 Iberian river to the Mediterranean 47 Carl with nine Emmys 48 Most sensible 52 Snoops (around) 55 Car sticker no. 56 Postings at an airline gate, for short 58 Vanna’s partner 60 __ Jima 61 Quick fligh

Nov. 15 New

Nov. 19 First

Nov. 29 Full

Dec. 10 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Nov. 2

0.00

Tuesday, Nov. 3

0.00

Wednesday, Nov. 4

0.00

Thursday, Nov. 5

0.00

Friday, Nov. 6

0.00

Saturday, Nov. 7

0.02

Sunday, Nov. 8

0.23

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 51.60 in.

2020 0.30 in.

2019 39.49 in.

2019 0.31 in.

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

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