11.25.20 PLCO by Plant City Observer

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COMMISSIONERS COMMIT TO PARKS UPGRADES BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

It was a lengthy evening for city government Monday after a special commission meeting at 5 p.m. that transitioned into a night filled with public hearings and presentations. In the process, commissioners set the next phase of several projects in motion and purchased some new equipment. The playground at the Planteen Recreation Center will soon be replaced. It was installed in 1997 and thus has exceeded its useful life of 15 years. The heavy use and weather damage has led to it being not feasible to repair the worn sections, so it’s

time to replace it. The city got a quote from Rep Services, Inc., which was available via piggyback on an existing contract with Clay County. The cost to purchase and install the new equipment with a safety fall zone is $68,940.19. The project has a rather quick turnaround as there is no new design — it’s just a simple replacement.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Photos by Breanne Williams and Justin Kline

OBSERVER STAFF

The Strawberry Classic Cruise-In came back downtown over the weekend for its second monthly event since Florida’s COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed.

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PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

File photos

Above: The Empty Bowls Project and Fork Ran Away with the Spoon 5K raised tens of thousands of dollars together for the United Food Bank of Plant City.

Fundraising totals reported for local events A handful of fundraisers held in the Plant City area this month were successful, according to their organizers. The GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City hosted its first-ever Happy Feet Walk for Alzheimer’s on Nov. 5 and club president Patricia Wolff said it raised a total of $2,429.70 for the Alzheimer’s Association. The 10th annual Empty Bowls Project and its accompanying Fork Ran Away with the Spoon 5K were also big hits. United Food Bank of Plant City director Mary Heysek said that the two events have netted the food bank approximately $25,000.

Upcoming donation opportunities at Wonderland of Lights The Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village, 215 Sydney Washer Road, Dover, has several opportunities upcoming for attendees to get discounted entry and give back to the community. Today and tomorrow, you can visit certain OneBlood Big Red Bus locations around Tampa to get a 50 percent discount on your Opening Night (Nov. 26) ticket. Visit oneblood.org/wonderland for locations and more information. Starting at 6 p.m. Dec. 3, you can get a $5 discount on your ticket with a donation at the entry gate of 10 undamaged, non-perishable food items for the United Food Bank of Plant City. Donations may include canned foods such as beans, corn, tuna, soup, evaporated milk, peanut butter, pasta and boxed items such as rice, noodle

Courtesy of the Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village

If you wish to see a winter wonderland this Christmas from the comfort of your car, you’ll soon be able to check out the Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village.

mixes, cereals, granola bars, crackers and juice. For the full wish list, email mheysek@ ufbpc.org. For more information, visit ufbpc.org. On Dec. 10, you can also get $5 off with a minimum donation of a five-pound bag of unopened dog or cat food for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. After the light tour, guests are encouraged to stop by the Pet Adoption Event by the Entertainment Complex in Santa’s Village. Visit humanesocietytampa.org to learn more about pet adoption. The 2020 Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village runs from Nov. 26 through Dec. 27 at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds. Visit thewonderlandoflights.com for more information.

EHHS receives CARES grant The East Hillsborough Historical Society recently announced the Florida Humani-

ties Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities have awarded it a CARES grant to help keep it going. “2020 has been a challenging time for our community and as we embark on the balance of the year, we want to publicly thank the Florida Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities for their financial support in the form of a CARES grant that assisted our organization with financial support in these unprecedented times,” EHHS president Shelby Bender said in a press release. “Since the beginning of spring, our society, museum and archive has been extremely limited in our public programs and outreach services, thus drastically reducing our revenue sources. Keeping our ‘doors open’ through the virtual lens has been our way of survival and would not have been possible without the CARES funding support. Their support has enabled the society to continue its mission of ‘Preserving the Past for the Future.’”

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

OFFERS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL SHOPPERS Plant City Main Street is rolling out its new Downtown Passport on Saturday in hopes of enticing holiday shoppers to shop local rather than turning to large corporations for their gifts. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Small Business Saturday has never been more important and Main Street Plant City is kicking off a new program in hopes of drawing holiday shoppers to the local businesses downtown. The small businesses that call downtown Plant City home have tried creative ways to bring in customers as they struggle to make ends meet during the pandemic. Many were closed for months and those who opened had to limit capacity and enforce social distancing protocols. Now all of the doors are unlocked and open to customers, but many shoppers are sticking to the routine they established in isolation: online shopping. Surveys across the nation show this will be a Black Friday unlike any other. Many stores have opened their deals all week long in hopes of reducing crowds. Others aren’t having any deals whatsoever as they attempt to keep their employees safe from an onslaught of shoppers. Some are relying heavily on online deals and others have greatly scaled back their hours for shoppers to arrive. Because of this, the advertisements for Cyber Monday have been more prevalent than ever. But the third holiday nestled between has been greatly overlooked. The argument is that there is a shift in focus from one weekend of shopping local to an altered lifestyle where that becomes your foundation and shoppers only turn to other outlets once their local perusal is complete. However, local businesses are hoping they won’t be forgotten this weekend and have partnered with Plant City Main Street to offer a unique incentive to holiday shoppers. Main Street will be

unveiling its new Downtown Passport on Saturday. Sponsored by a variety of local businesses and organizations, the passport offers a quick tour around downtown that can lead to massive discounts. “We’ve been trying to promote the ‘shop local’ mindset as much as possible,” Jerilyn Rumbarger, executive director of Plant City Main Street, said. “The idea for the passport came out of our Merchants Committee and really the idea is that this can act as that extra boost for our local businesses. In this pandemic we have really seen that our small businesses really are the heart of the community and America. We cannot let them fail. And when you think about it, the money that you spend locally recycles back into the community. I think it’s $68 of every $100 spent in a small business goes back into the community. You’re not helping a corporation. You’re helping a parent and a friend. You’re helping your neighbor and you’re getting some really unique items for yourself in the process.” Because of the overwhelming support from sponsors, Main Street is able to provide the passport for free for the community. Essentially, you come downtown to one of the 20 participating businesses and pick up your passport. Flip through the pages and find the list of businesses. Each has an empty circle beside it. When you shop in that business, you will get a stamp on that circle. The stamps will be distributed to shoppers from Nov. 28 through Dec. 5. The number of stores you visit will play a key role in the savings you will get. You can revisit any of those stores to redeem your savings from Dec. 6 through Jan. 31, so you’ll have plenty of time to wrap up Christmas shopping and even pick something up for yourself in the new year. To get a stamp you must spend a minimum of $10 in each store. Then when you

return, every store you shopped in prior will give you a one-time discount based off of the number of shops you hit during the initial week. If you shopped at 10 stores, you get a 10 percent discount. If you shopped at 11 or more businesses, you get 15 percent off. If you visited all 20 businesses, you get 25 percent off. “All of our small business owners are living the American Dream,” Rumbarger said. “Everyone dreams of owning their own business and every dollar counts for them, every penny counts for them. Shopping there helps keep their lights on and these larger corporations don’t need that. And what’s great about our downtown specifically is that there is such a wide variety of businesses here that there’s something for everyone.” You can buy unique antiques for your eclectic family member, handmade soaps and lotions for your loved one you hope to pamper, homemade chocolates for your family member with a sweet tooth, LEGO for the children in your life (or the young at heart), coffee or a java gift card for your caffeine connoisseur and more. Businesses will be open during their normal hours on Small Business Saturday, but Rumbarger wanted to remind shoppers that many have altered and expanded their shopping options as a response to this pandemic. Several now offer curbside pickup and many others allow you to shop online. If you don’t yet feel safe going into stores, there’s still a way for you to participate. The business can still stamp your passport if you choose to remain in your car and have your items walked out to you. “We’ve all seen how resilient our downtown has been,” Rumbarger said. “Everything is different now, but our businesses adapted and moved forward without any hesitation. Our objective at Main Street is to continue to drive traffic to the businesses, which in turn drives revenue for downtown. And I think this passport will be a unique way to do that. We are so thankful for our sponsors because if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be able to give these out for free to the community. I think it’s really going to be a big hit. People want to give to a small business rather than a corporation. They want to show up on Christmas morning with unique gifts that no one else can find. It’s really a win-win and I hope that our businesses see a lot of support.”

PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES

Brick City Bricks I Hate My Trainer The Mercantile Tennessee Jane Two Blondes Boutique Krazy Kup Norma’s Cuban Sandwich Shop The Honey Pot Wax Studio Clever Massage Aim Lighting Tub Treats The Device Clinic Dark Horse Music Store The Industry VEV Fitness & Nutrition Brick House Cafe Snellgroves Restaurant Aromatic Harmony Blue Thumb Computer Repair The Corner Store

COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

PLANT CITY

This week on Cops Corner:

Observer

Plant City Police investigated porch package theft, road rage, shots fired, stolen security

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

cameras and more.

NOVEMBER 13 LAWNCARE LARCENY 1010 block of Redbud Circle Burglary: This complainant stated someone stole miscellaneous tools from his shed sometime during the previous two days. Items stolen included a saw, a leaf blower, a weed whacker and more.

NOVEMBER 14 SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED 2000 block of South Frontage Road Warrant arrest: Officers working a trespass call came into contact with a female subject who was found to have an outstanding warrant out of Hillsborough County for illegal narcotics. She was arrested and taken to Orient Road Jail without incident. NOT SO GOOD MORNING 1800 block of Bethune Drive Criminal mischief: This complainant stated he heard several gunshots around 10 p.m. the previous

night. He went to sleep, woke up and found that his vehicle’s body, tires, front and rear windshields were struck by bullets.

NOVEMBER 15 ROAD RAGE South Woodrow Wilson Street/ Sammonds Road Vehicle burglary, battery: Officers responded to a traffic accident in which the driver of one vehicle stated the driver of the other vehicle entered hers and struck her. UNDER PRESSURE 1900 block of Sweet Bay Court Burglary: This complainant stated an unknown subject entered his garage and stole a pressure washer.

NOVEMBER 16

while riding a bicycle and learned he had an outstanding warrant out of Tallahassee for violating parole. He was arrested and taken to Orient Road Jail.

GLOW-UP 240 block of West Alexander Street FEELING DEFLATED Theft: A store manager at Ulta 900 block of East Renfro Street stated someone entered the store Criminal mischief: This complain- on Nov. 14 and stole $1,800 worth ant stated unknown suspect(s) of make-up. possibly punctured the front and rear tires on the passenger side of NOVEMBER 19 his vehicle. THREE-FOR-ONE DEAL BLIND SPOT 540 block of Lindsay Anne Court 2800 block of Vehicle burglary: This complainJames L. Redman Parkway ant stated someone burglarized Grand theft: While workers at three of her vehicles overnight. Lowes were installing security cameras, unknown suspect(s) PORCH PIRATE stole two cameras valued together 1020 block of Ashentree Drive at $3,000. Theft: This complainant stated someone stole two Amazon packages totaling $33.

HELPING HAND West Alabama Street/ South Evers Street Warrant: Officers stopped a man who committed a traffic violation

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

PARK UPGRADES INCOMING FROM PAGE 1

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Samuel W. Cooper Park will soon have fitness equipment installed after commissioners authorized a contract with Rep Services, Inc. on Monday evening for $137,265.60 via piggyback of Clay County. Cooper Park has a 0.6-mile paved walking trail and the HealthBeat Outdoor Fitness System is set to be installed. It has a set of 14 exercise stations that “provides safe structures for users to enhance their balance, flexibility, strength and cardiovascular system. The ADA-compliant system can also be used for joint replacement rehabilitation,” according to the City of Plant City. Big changes are underway for the McIntosh Park Preserve. Phase I of the Trail Construction was approved Monday by commissioners. Florida Communities Trust

requires “development of a minimum twomile pedestrian trail and a wildlife observation tower for the McIntosh Preserve,” according to the city report. This includes approximately 2.3 miles of “at-grade compacted aggregate trails” as well as a parking lot, parking amenities and an elevated steel observation tower. Eight bids were received to tackle the project and the lowest responsive and responsible bid came from Stellar Development for $435,863.27. An alternate add-on was included to construct a small playground with poured-in-place safety surfacing at the wildlife observation tower for $55,757.42, which brings the total up to $491,620.69. The original budget for the project was $630,000. Of that, $529,181 is available in Project RC007 – McIntosh Tract Property Development, which includes $330,000 from a Florida Legislative Grant and $300,000 from Recreation Impact Fees.

City Manager Bill McDaniel said this has a “really fast timeline” and should be done 90 to 120 days after its start. The CARES Act Funding Agreement between Hillsborough County and the City of Plant City was also revised. The city and the county originally entered into the agreement on Sept. 2. The agreement provided $4 million to the city “to offset allowable pandemic expenditures consistent with CARES Act funding requirements.” This first modification will provide an additional $2 million to the city, for a total of $6 million. It will have until the end of the calendar year to use it to help with the impact of the pandemic. McDaniel said this was a massive project and that the entire second floor of City Hall is currently vacant. Some of the staff has been relocated, like the building department which is operating out of the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. Others are working

from home. The entire floor is being gutted for the new office setups, which will help slow the spread of contagion within City Hall. The 2020-21 fiscal year’s budget included funding for a lateral launch camera system for the Utilities Department. The proposed system is an upgrade to the city’s current Cues Inc.-built TV sewer inspection van. It will provide “160 feet of pan and tilt lateral visibility from the main sewer line into service lines in an effort to proactively manage sewage complications.” Using a contract already in place with Cues Inc. through Houston-Galveston Area Council, the city can purchase the Lamp 2 Lateral Launch Camera System for $125,160, which falls below the $131,418 budgeted funds in place. The funds are available via the city’s Fleet Replacement Fund.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

FOCUS ON FITNESS:

WORKING OUT AT WORK

Whether you’re still in the office or forced to work remotely, you can still stay fit even if going to the gym isn’t always possible for you. This past year has completely changed our work/home life balance. The pandemic has shifted our way of life. We all had to readjust our ways. If you’re one of the many non-essential workers still working remotely from home, then you know firsthand the struggles of achieving work/life balance. Fitness is just one of the many areas that have been thrown off during this time. While gyms closed and routines were disrupted, many have fallen off the important fitness train since they can no longer get to that quick class or hop over to the gym after work. Luckily, there are a few easy office exercises you can do each day in under 10 minutes that will help you stay fit as you continue working remotely from home. Here are a few tips that can help you take advantage of your work activity and use it to your benefit. • If you spend hours on the phone, walk around the desk while on the conversation. • If you need to be at your computer for long hours, buy a desk stepper. They’re

compact and will fit right under your desk. • Another option is to change up your desk setup if possible to a standing desk, or swap your chair for an exercise ball. • Set your phone alarm every hour and take three minutes to stretch and do some easy office exercises. What are “easy office exercises?” They’re very simple: you don’t even need to get out of your chair to be able to perform them. Here are 10 you can try: • Lift one leg off the seat, extend it out and hold it for two seconds, then lower your foot just short of touching the floor and hold that for two seconds. Repeat and work your way up to as many as you can do with each leg. • Place both hands on your chair arms and slowly lift your bottom off the chair. Lower yourself back down, but stop short of the seat. Hold for a few seconds, then repeat. • Place your hands on your desk and hang on. Slowly push your chair back until your head is between your arms and you’re looking at the floor. Then, slowly pull yourself back in.

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•Sitting tall in your chair, stretch both arms over your head and reach for the sky. After 10 seconds, extend your right hand higher and then do your left hand. • Let your head roll over so your right ear nearly touches your right shoulder. Using your hand, gently press your head a little lower. Hold for 10 seconds, relax and repeat on the other side. • Perform a football foot drill by rapidly tapping your feet in place like you are running. Do the same things while seated for 30 seconds at a time. • Use a full water bottle as a weight to increase the difficulty of your workout. You can do front arm raises, overhead presses and bicep curls with a water bottle. • Sit on the edge of your chair and stretch out your arms in front of you while keeping your back straight. Contract your abdominal muscles. Relax and repeat. Photo: iStock

• Sit facing forward, then turn your head to the left and your torso to the right. Hold for a few seconds. Repeat 15 times while alternating sides. • Place the palms of your hands on your chair and your feet on the floor. Bend your elbows and your body. Straighten your arms to return to the starting position.

Mike Gartz is a personal trainer who owns I Hate My Trainer at 117 E. Reynolds St. Plant City.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

JAMES BRADFORD

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

Courtesy photo

SELECTED AS PCPD CHIEF The City of Plant City announced Monday afternoon that James Bradford, formerly of HCSO, would be the new chief for the Plant City Police Department. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Plant City Police Department officially has a new chief following an announcement Monday afternoon that James Bradford was tapped for the role. The city conducted a nationwide search with nearly 80 applicants. Of those, the top four were pulled to participate in a variety of panels and then were able to interact with the public in a meet-and-greet at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center last Friday evening. City Manager Bill McDaniel then took the weekend to think about the decision and made his pick Monday. “You had four highly qualified candidates and went through a very extensive process with them, and by the time it was all over I determined that he was the best fit for the city, our department and moving us forward on a continued path of professionalism and excellence in law enforcement,” McDaniel said. Bradford formerly served as a colonel with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. He has served in a variety of departments including burglary, robbery, patrol, homicide, intelligence and more. He has also served on the Hillsborough County Juvenile Justice Board and Hillsborough County’s Blue Ribbon Committee for Child Safety. Bradford is a native of New Jersey and received his law enforcement certification through the Tampa Police Academy in 1989. He started his career in patrol and then climbed the ranks to hold a variety of detective positions in the department. He also “was on the transition team to bring

child protective investigations on a contract basis from the Florida Department of Children and Families to the Sheriff’s Office,” according to HCSO. Bradford is a graduate of the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology. McDaniel said that Bradford’s experience helps make him the “best fit” for the needs of the community. He will officially begin with PCPD on Nov. 30 and will have a transition period with current PCPD Chief Ed Duncan for approximately a month before Duncan officially retires. During the community meet-and-greet event, Bradford said he received a lot of questions that indicated to him this was a community that was plugged in and concerned with the way their city was run. He said as chief, his goal would be to focus on community involvement. “When a place chief is sitting behind his desk, there is physically and theoretically a barrier there,” Bradford said. “It’s important to get out from behind the desk and get to know the community you are working in… it’s so important to get out of the office, especially for a new chief. You’ve got to learn your community. If you don’t know your community, you cannot be effective. You’re destined for failure. You not only fail yourself, you fail the community and you fail the people that work at the police department, which is not fair. So I think it’s extremely important to get out and meet people and listen to their concerns.” Bradford said the police are the face of the city because they are the aspect of the city the general public sees the most. The way they do their jobs ends up crafting the reputation of that city and he vows to ensure that he will leave a promising status.

One of the main issues he will inherit is the tight budget that has led to an understaffed department. The city is growing at a fast rate and the number of officers on staff does not reflect that growth. It’s something that has been a problem for years and Bradford said he believes there is a “several-pronged approach” that could work to tackle the issue. “When you’re talking about overworked officers, I think it’s important that as the chief, your supervisors are supervising and paying attention and making sure that they’re not getting burned out,” Bradford said. “If they are getting burned out, if you see their performance start to lag, go to them and say ‘What’s going on? Everything OK?’ Because usually if you ask, they’ll tell you. And if you know they’re not being

truthful, keep at them or keep watching. As far as budgetary concerns, that would be a negotiation with the city manager and the council about where the money is coming from. I know Mr. McDaniel is, he’s well aware of the expansion and the need to expand coverage and all that. He’s got some background on that.” He said when his time as chief is done, he hopes he left a legacy of continued excellent service to the community. He stressed the word “continued” because he said it was something he believes former chief and current city manager Bill McDaniel did and that Duncan continued that reputation. He hopes it’s something he carries on. Bradford’s investiture ceremony will be held at the next city commission meeting on Dec. 14.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

DOCTOR’S NOTE: DON’T DELAY YOUR MEDICAL NEEDS

Medical offices are taking extra precautions to keep you safe during the pandemic. Many people have concerns about coronavirus (COVID-19), but you should still be able to make an appointment and safely visit your doctor during the pandemic. Don’t put your healthcare needs on hold. Getting the care you need is just as important and necessary as it was before the onset of the virus. Medical care has always been considered essential and Florida E.N.T. & Allergy continues to practice under very careful guidelines. The health, well-being and safety of their patients, staff and community is their highest priority. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended a variety of steps that all medical practices should implement to help reduce the spread of the virus. Below are some of the safety precautions Florida E.N.T. & Allergy has implemented. Feel free to use these as a guideline to check the precautions that are being taken in your doctor’s office: • Pre- screen and reschedule patients who are experiencing symptoms of the virus. • Patients, especially those at high risk, are asked to utilize a telemedicine option whenever possible to continue social distancing. Telemedicine allows patients to have a visit with a provider from the comfort of their home or office. • All patients who require or prefer an in-office appointment are asked to wear a cloth face covering over their nose and mouth to help prevent the spread of the virus. • There are fewer chairs in waiting areas to create additional distance. • Sanitizing stations are easily accessible and patient contact surfaces are sanitized after each use, and again at the end of the day. • Staff members wash their hands after contact with each patient and throughout the day and staff members who are sick are required to stay home. • HEPA filters have been installed in procedure rooms to provide additional air contamination control. • UV light technology is utilized as an added layer of sanitation.

• Every practice should continue monitoring communications from local, state, and federal agencies and continue to communicate updates to our patients. It’s natural to have concerns about receiving health care during the pandemic. Many people are taking extra safety precautions like washing their hands more frequently, keeping their distance from others, and staying home. Putting off health care is one thing that you should not do. To learn more about how to stay safe from COVID-19, while getting the care you need, contact your doctor’s office to verify what precautions they are taking and make note of the precautions listed above. For additional information or to schedule an appointment with Florida E.N.T. & Allergy please call (813) 879-8045 or visit Florida E.N.T. & Allergy online at www. FloridaENTandAllergy.com. The physicians of Florida E.N.T. & Allergy have served the Tampa Bay community for over 40 years. The board certified physicians & doctors of audiology have completed extensive education and clinical training. They also have specialized training in their area(s) of expertise. From pediatric allergies to fitting hearing aids, our caring and experienced providers specialize in ear, nose and throat care for the entire family using comprehensive, cutting-edge technologies.

For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please call 813-879-8045 or visit Florida E.N.T. & Allergy online at www.FloridaENTandAllergy.com.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

REVAMPED 2020 SUBARU LEGACY A WORTHY DAILY RIDE

Courtesy of Nitish S. Rele

NITISH S. RELE

With Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Mazda6 and more, competition is vicious in the midsize sedan segment. One competent vehicle that has not received as much attention in the field is the Subaru Legacy, which displays incredible nimbleness, remarkable handling and response. Partial credit, of course, goes to the standard symmetrical all-wheel-drive system that Subaru equips in all its vehicles. For 2020, the seventh-generation Legacy has been totally redesigned inside out. A 2.4-liter horizontally-opposed, turbo four-cylinder engine produces a healthy 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 pounds-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm. Power routed through the revamped continuous variable transmission with eight-speed manual-shift capabilities contributes to a potent performance while ensuring fuel savings. The revised independent MacPherson strut front and a double wishbone rear suspension results in a delightfully supple ride. Steering response with the rack-and-pinion power assist is sharp, precise and perfectly weighted. Zero to 60 is achieved in 6.1 seconds â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not bad for a car weighing 3,779 pounds. Ensconced on the unitized body structure is a frameless hexagonal grille and lower air intake with centered Subaru star cluster insignia, flanked by C-shaped LED headlights. Outdoor-loving folks will appreciate the mounting brackets atop the roof to haul a canoe or surf board. A twin cockpit with electroluminescent analog gauge displays for speedometer,

tachometer, fuel and coolant temperature give the cabin a rich feel. An all-new and mammoth 11.6-inch tablet-style touch screen to control navigation, audio and phone along with circular control knobs is easy to use. Drivers of different heights in the family will appreciate the three-spoke tilt/telescopic steering column. Trunk capacity of 15.1 cubic feet matches rival offerings and 1.4 inches of additional cargo floor length is welcome. Other standard comforts are dual auto a/c, 10-way adjustable power driver and eight-way passenger seats, 60/40 fold rear seat, rear-seat a/c outlets, overhead sunglass holder and power moon roof. Safety features include dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag for both rows, driver knee airbag, four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, vehicle dynamic control, stability and traction system, rearview camera, blind-spot detection with lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert, reverse auto brakes, tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights. The standard Eyesight assist monitor, which features lane departure warning and active cruise control, ensures that the driver maintains a straight path while the DriverFocus distraction mitigation system sounds a warning if its camera and facial recognition software finds tiredness signs or driver diversion. A standard all-wheel drive to maintain stability in untoward road/weather conditions, first-rate and spacious cabin and, best of all, admirable gas mileage (going nearly 480 miles on a tank) makes the Legacy a great everyday sedan.

LEGACY LIMITED XT Tires: 225/50R18 Wheelbase: 108.3 inches Length: 190.6 inches Height: 59.1 inches Width: 72.4 inches Fuel capacity: 18.5 gallons City: 24 mpg Highway: 32 mpg Base price: $34,195 Web site: www.subaru.com

Nitish S. Rele operates motoringtampabay.com and Khaas Baat, and was an automotive editor/ columnist for the Tampa Tribune. Email him at motoringtampabay@gmail.com.

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

SPORTS

Cain Cook starts at right tackle for the Plant City Dolphins Midgets football team. See Page 11

BACK IN BLACK (AND SCARLET)

Aliyah Gregory has returned to her alma mater, Strawberry Crest High School, as the new head coach of the girls basketball team.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

If there’s a Mount Rushmore of Strawberry Crest High School student-athletes out there somewhere, Aliyah Gregory is definitely on it. Gregory carved out an exceptional career for herself on the basketball court, surpassing the 2,000-point mark and claiming virtually every school record by the end of her senior season. When she was a Charger from the 2010-11 through 2013-14 seasons, Gregory helped the varsity team shake off a winless inaugural season in 2009-10 and become a perennial playoff team by her junior year. If anyone knows what it takes to build and maintain a successful program, it’s her. And now her alma mater has given her the chance to prove she can succeed not only as a player, but also as a head coach. Gregory took the reins at Crest this season in an effort to continue what longtime head coach La’Tosha Lewis started shortly before she enrolled at the school as a freshman in 2010. It’s not Gregory’s first time in a coaching role, but it is her first head coaching job — and her first time back at Crest on a regular basis. “It’s been extremely rewarding,” Gregory said. “Of course, it’s been a little different

being in this role. Last time I was at Strawberry Crest, I was in a jersey.” Lewis knows that the right decision isn’t always the easiest one to make. Though technically not the first head coach in program history (she took over the position shortly before the program’s first season in 2009), Lewis was its head architect. She built and guided what’s become one of Hillsborough County’s most consistently successful girls basketball programs over the course of 11 seasons and won four district championships. She only needed four seasons to take a team “barely getting the ball across the court” in 2009 and make a district champion. Lewis can also take pride in maintaining an extremely high graduation rate in the program. “I only wanted to do it for one year and it turned into 11,” Lewis said. But when COVID-19 began its spread across the United States, Lewis realized she would have to give all of that up. Lewis knew she needed to take care of her mother, who lives in her home state of Texas, and that meant she had to move back to Houston. She also knew she needed someone to take care of her basketball program. Not just anyone would do — it had to be someone she felt comfortable with, someone whose work ethic and dedication to the program wouldn’t ever be in question.

TAMPA BAY TECH ELIMINATES DURANT FROM FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS Despite a strong defensive effort, the Cougars took a 7-3 loss at home and their season came to an end on Nov. 20. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Nobody in 2020 has been able to do to Tampa Bay Tech what Durant did on Nov. 20: keep one of the most productive offenses in Hillsborough County under 10 points in a game. But the Titans’ seven points were all they needed when they

visited the Cougars, as they left with a 7-3 win and a spot in the upcoming regional semifinal. All of the game’s scoring came early in the second quarter on back-to-back drives. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Luckily, she didn’t have to try too hard to time I saw them in person. I hadn’t gotten find somebody. to know them as people. It was us figuring Gregory (and her sister Erin who is also each other out… but after my first day, I now on the coaching staff) is Lewis’ god- was super excited and ready to get working daughter. The two women have been very with the girls. I was super motivated. After close for decades and one of the reasons seeing one practice and interacting with Lewis even began coaching at Strawberry the girls, I thought ‘We might be alright.’” Crest was because the Gregory girls were Like Lewis before her, Gregory is walking going to play there. into the job with plenty of work to do. “I kept in constant contact with her This team has heart and hustle. Gregothrough the whole time I was in college,” ry said they’ve already formed a familial Gregory said. “We’ve spent Christmas and bond, a sisterhood, and that everyone on Thanksgiving together. She came to my that team is willing to go out there and play college graduation. When I started as an hard on any given night. This team is also assistant, I’d call her and bounce ideas off very young: its oldest player, point guard of her… when she decided she was leaving, Kayla Simmons, is the only junior on a rosI was the first person she called.” ter packed with freshmen and sophomores. Lewis knew Gregory had it in her heart to But if there’s one thing Gregory learned be head coach of the Chargers, even if she from her coach that’s defining her own needed “a little convincing” at first. tenure, it’s that hard work eventually pays “I had been trying to get her to come off if you’re willing to buy in. coach with me since she graduated from “You have to deal with all those ‘young college,” Lewis said. “When I was leaving player’ mistakes,” Gregory said. “But I I was like, ‘Well, who would be the best know they’re always gonna go hard and fit to fill the role, who knows the game, they’re always gonna buy into whatever who can the kids relate to?’ I didn’t want I’m trying to teach them. They come in to turn the program over to just anybody. and work hard and we get better every day. She already had her credentials for P.E., I’m not a person to say we’re gonna win 80 had coaching experience… she’s the best percent of our games or win every single player that’s played there. She holds most game we play — I think a lot of the success every record there that you can name. She’s we have is based on how much we learn and young, mature, hungry, knows the game… I grow. It’s bigger than just wins and losses.” felt that would be a good person to turn the It’s worth noting that Gregory’s first seaprogram over to.” son did, in fact, start with a win. The CharThe transition from Lewis to Gregory gers visited King High School on Nov. 17 was seamless. Lewis made herself avail- and picked up a 47-25 win highlighted by a able at all times to answer any questions huge 30-point performance by sophomore Gregory could think of, to help her settle guard Ki’Ajanae Gordon. Simmons chipped into her new role and to make sure Gregory in with 14 points, too. would start the 2020-21 season completely “It was a rough one, but we were able to prepared to run a program for the first time. pull it out,” Gregory said. “The first game And learning that her program is now being of the season is always the first real test. We led by several of her former players (includ- learned a lot.” ing assistant Laney Mastrovito) makes her Crest’s Nov. 19 home opener against even more proud of what she helped build Chamberlain ended with a 39-28 loss for in Dover. Gregory and the Chargers. They’ll be back “Those girls, my former players, they on their home court at 8 p.m. Dec. 1 to take have pride in the program because they put on the Brandon Eagles. in the work,” Lewis said. “They’re gonna work hard and be hungry just like I was. That program is in my heart forever. It was hard for me to leave, but I wanted somebody in there with the same work ethic and dedication to the program that I had.” Gregory couldn’t wait to get in the gym with the girls, to start working and actually get to know her squad. When that first day of practice finally came, Gregory went in not quite knowing what to expect and left completely satisfied. File photo “It was interesting,” she said. “The very first day we practiced — and I met the girls Aliyah Gregory went from leading the Chargers on Zoom over the summer — it was the first as a player to leading them as their coach.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

After Durant missed a 35-yard field goal attempt less than a minute into the quarter, David Wright and the Titans marched downfield in just under four minutes and set up running back Rod Gainey for a 23-yard touchdown. Marcus Miguele and the Cougars answered right away with a combination of his and Eli Reed’s running, a false start penalty on Tech and a huge pickup by Aashton Kirkland that put Durant on the Titans’ 12-yard line. Unfortunately for the Cougars, the offense couldn’t find the break it needed to get in the end zone and settled for Leo Tabakovic’s 37-yarder to cut Tech’s lead to just four points. From that point on, Durant’s defense was on fire. The Cougars covered Tech’s strong receiving group well enough to force the visitors to have to try and beat them on the ground. Kirkland and Zaevion Jordan each intercepted Wright in the third quarter and Durant’s defensive front was able to break through and apply pressure fairly often.

Luck swung both ways for the Cougars in the fourth quarter. It started with a fumble lost by Durant and recovered by the Titans. After forcing TBT to punt on the ensuing drive, what was almost a three-and-out drive for the Cougars ended with a second chance as Miguele’s punt bounced off of a Titan’s back and the ball soon found itself in the arms of Tyler Bokor in Tech territory. Just when it seemed momentum was firmly on Durant’s side, Steven Parker picked off Miguele on a deep pass with just under three minutes left in the game. If there was any consolation for Durant on that play, it’s that a huge return was wiped out by a blindside block penalty against the Titans. Tech picked up several first downs afterward and, aided by a personal foul against the Cougars, was able to burn all the time left on the clock to eke out the win. Durant’s loss has ended the 2020 high school football season in the Plant City area, as both Plant City and Strawberry Crest lost their play-in games two weeks ago.

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

The Plant City Dolphins Midgets are undefeated at 5-0-0 in 2020, but they got a close call last week against the North Lakeland Legends. The Legends put up a tough fight against the reigning TCYFCC champs, but the Dolphins put their noses to the grindstone and pulled off a 7-0 win to keep their perfect record alive. Head coach Robbie Jordan said the Dolphins ran behind starting right tackle Cain Cook all day and that was a difference-maker. Cook, 11, is in his sixth year with the Dolphins organization and is one of the Midgets team’s few veterans. Tell me about that game with North Lakeland. That was a tough one for you guys, wasn’t it? The whole line, the people I play with most of the time, they were on time on the spot the whole game… a win’s a win. You’ve been with the Dolphins for six years now. What made you want to start playing football? I started to play baseball and I liked it, but the only things you did were run, hit the ball and catch the ball. I tried football out and liked it, so I stuck with it. What do you like about football that made you want to make that your main thing? I get to hit people. Which positions do you play for the Dolphins, besides right tackle? On defense, I play on the strong side of the

ball at tackle. And when we played Turkey Creek, I got to run the ball one time. Which is your favorite? Probably defensive tackle. What’s been your favorite game you’ve played in with the Dolphins? Last season’s Superbowl. Who are some football players you look up to and try to play like? J.J. Watt and Ryan Jensen from the Bucs. Is there any position you haven’t played but want to try one day? Fullback. What’s a sport you’ve never played but want to try? Lacrosse. What’s your favorite thing about playing for the Dolphins? I know pretty much everyone. I’ve made a lot of friends and some of them go to my school, too. What advice would you give to someone who’s new to football and might join the Dolphins? Don’t cry. What’s some of the best advice a coach has given you? Have quick feet and try hard.

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Photos by Justin Kline

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

SPONSORED BY

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

COUGARS’ DEFENSE SHINES, BUT TITANS GAIN EDGE IN 7-3 PLAY-IN FINAL

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

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In light of the Florida Strawberry Festival’s announcement of canceling MainStage headline entertainment for the upcoming 2021 event, our readers took to Facebook to voice their thoughts on the festival’s big decision. “According to the state site SFBH is at full capacity right now. Where will people be able to get treatment after this super spreader event? P.S. I voted for Trump” — Frances Beaty “This is devastating to Plant City!! Shame on them for caving to fear and not lift up in faith and prayer and caution and protection! Very disappointing!!” — Mia Roach “There is no shame on the festival and certainly no caving to fear. There are guidelines issued by the state that the festival has to abide by that affect how things must be done. I assure you with firsthand knowledge that there is more faith and prayer on that board than most people will ever know. It is disappointing but it is by no means their fault. It will be back and better than ever. We just have to be patient and keep that faith during temporary setbacks.” — Farrah Waldron Moore

“Berry disappointing” — Ashley Barrett “I imagine it’s nearly impossible to get top stars to make a commitment this time. Sounds like a good solution.” — Meg Scott “So, why not cancel the whole thing? I guess the people walking around the rest of the grounds can’t spread germs…smh” — Lisa Messer “Yes cancel the whole thing... no sense having no live music people will require to wear mask and how the heck the people do social distance at a fair? freaking covid-19... messing up everything” — Carmen Perez-Rivera

File photo

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Richard Bryan Kelley, 58, of Plant City, entered into eternal rest on November 13, 2020. He was born on November 15, 1961 in Plant City. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Carolyn Clark Carolyn Clark, 92, of Plant City, passed away on November 21, 2020. Graveside services were held at Mt. Enon Cemetery 11/24/ 2020. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

Charles Albert Robinson

Marion Kenneth Kaufmann

Taking care of Taking care of Kaufmann, 94, Marion Kenneth Charles Albert Robinson, 94, of each other is what of Lakeland, passed away on Winter Haven, passed away on each other is what

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David S. Metzler

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in Colebrook, Ohio. He was a 1926 in Brewer, Maine. He was a United States Army veteran. United States Military veteran. David S. Metzler, 56, of Plant Fond memories and expresFond memories and expresCity, born on October 14, 1964 in dedicated to helping families create a ’ RE P RO U D TO create S E RV Ea our community dedicated W toEhelping families W E ’ R E P R O U D TO S E RV E our community sions ofwe’re sympathy may bethat sions ofwe’re sympathy may be Miramar, entered into eternal rest unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate unique and meaningful memorial truly care since 1896. with personal, compassionate care since 1896. the life it represents. As ityour Dignity Memorial professionals, the life represents. As your Dignity Memorial professionals, sharedcelebrates at www.WellsMemorial. sharedcelebrates at www.WellsMemorial. on November 16, 2020. > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability > 100% Service Guarantee > National Transferability com for thePlan Kaufmann family. com for Robinson family. Expressions of condolence at Bereavement Travel Assistance > the The Compassion Helpline® > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion >Helpline® HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM HopewellFuneral.com. ®

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Louise C. Sullivan Louise C. Sullivan, 83, of Plant City, born on May 20, 1937 in Dover, entered into eternal rest on November 15, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

R Theodore AtosProudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

Alfred ‘Al’ Smith Alfred “Al” Smith, 82, of Lithia, born on July 29, 1938 in Broxton, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on November 16, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Don L. Fritz

Elizabeth “Betty” Rose Wittmann Elizabeth “Betty” Rose Wittmann, 87, of Plant City, born in Newark, New Jersey on April 14, 1933, entered into eternal rest on November 19, 2020.

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YOUR CALENDAR

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

17-19, Jan. 1-2 and Jan. 8-9.

BEST BET

PLANT CITY CHRISTMAS PARADE

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26 THE WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS & SANTA’S VILLAGE OPENING NIGHT

The fifth annual Wonderland of Lights event opens Nov. 26 and 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. For more information about the event, visit thewonderlandoflights.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 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 benefits, 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 time. Masks are required and temperatures will be taken at the door.

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

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27 BORN LONESOME

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26

7 to 8:30 p.m. Visit the loft at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., for an evening of bluegrass with Born Lonesome. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online at eventbrite.com.

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28

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.

BATON TWIRLING CLASSES

Plant City Recreation presents Baton Twirling Classes at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301

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) 435-8111 for more information.

PLANT CITY SOCIAL DANCE 6 to 9:30 p.m. Every Saturday night at Strawberry Square,

4401 Promenade Blvd., DJ Ken Miller and Plant City Social Dance are letting 50 people who preregister hit the dance floor and get moving. Ballroom music will be played from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the regular dance, which has country and rock music, picks up from there until 9:30 p.m. Sample playlists are viewable at djkenmiller.com and you can call 863-409-7714 to sign up.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2 FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 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 first class will be free. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Barbara Patrick at 813626-4554.

A HANDMADE’S TALE: WREATH TAKE AND MAKE KIT

This kit and tutorial helps you make a festive wreath!.The tutorial will be shared on Bruton Memorial Library’s social media and kits will be available at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., while supplies last.

LIGHTS OF LOVE

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Plant City’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony is back at McCall Park. Stop by to get pictures with Santa, enjoy Christmas music and celebrate the holiday.

7 to 9:30 p.m. Plant City’s hometown Christmas Parade, “Celebrate the Season - 2020,” will be held December 4. This has been a difficult year for everyone and the parade board feels like we all need something positive to begin our holiday season. There will be beautifully decorated floats, high-energy marching bands, heart-warming participation and so much more.

JAMES HURLBURT LIVE AT KRAZY CUP

7 to 8:30 p.m. It’s getting to feel a little like Christmas! Join James Hurlburt in the loft at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., for an evening of inspired and festive music. A love offering will be collected.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 BLUEGRASS JAM

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This is an open invitation for local bluegrass musicians and fans to come to the Krazy Kup Loft, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., and jam, clap hands, stomp feet, and enjoy. They host a Bluegrass Jam the first Saturday of every month.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4 SLABACH & CO. WINTER WONDERLAND

5 to 8 p.m. Slabach & Co. Farmers Market, 110 E. Keysville Road, is kicking off its Winter Wonderland festivities. Visit the market on the following days for food, music and fun: Dec. 4-5, Dec. 11-12, Dec.

BIKE FEST

4:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Plant City Bike Fest will be back downtown by the train depot, 102 N. Palmer St., to kickstart December.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FORECAST

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

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25 High: 83 Low: 63 Chance of rain: 10%

THURSDAY, NOV. 26 High: 84 Low: 61 Chance of rain: 10%

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Wednesday, Nov. 25

6:58a

5:32p

Thursday, Nov. 26

6:59a

5:32p

Friday, Nov. 27

7:00a

5:32p

Saturday, Nov. 28

7:00a

5:32p

Sunday, Nov. 29

7:01a

5:32p

Monday, Nov. 30

7:02a

5:32p

Tuesday, Dec. 1

7:03a

5:32p

MOON PHASES

FRIDAY, NOV. 27 High: 83 Low: 61 Chance of rain: 10%

SATURDAY, NOV. 28 High: 82 Low: 63 Chance of rain: 10%

TOMATOES Toni Colon/Instagram (@earth_to_toni)

Toni Colon snapped this beautiful sunset photo in Walden Lake earlier this month.

ONLINE

Shipping point: Central Florida $19.95-$21.95

ACROSS 1 Photographer Adams 6 “Happy Motoring” company 10 Cuba, por ejemplo 14 2000s first lady Bush 15 Matty of baseball 16 Twice-monthly tide 17 Crème de la crème 19 Kvetch like a fish? 20 West of “My Little Chickadee” 21 Mr. Peanut prop 22 Dental hygienist’s gizmo 24 Essen’s river 26 Russian space station for 15 years 27 Hurry-scurry

28 “__ Yankees” 30 Spar without a partner 33 Rascal 35 “Honor Thy Father” author Gay 36 Hawaiian porch 37 Ab __: from day one 38 Uses a sieve 42 Apply, as a brake 44 Flynn of “Captain Blood” 45 Extremely lame, in modern slang 48 Hunky-__: fine 49 Toronto’s prov. 50 Dada co-founder 51 Either H in H2O 53 Home of the NHL’s

Senators 55 A head 57 “Aladdin” monkey 60 Old phone feature 61 Business manager skilled at reducing expenses 64 Shortest-named Great Lake 65 Sci-fi’s Jabba the __ 66 Mars has two 67 Aloha State bird 68 Jazz and Disco periods 69 Popular pie, and what the ends of 17-, 30-, 45and 61-Across have in common

DOWN 1 Grad 2 Auto parts giant 3 Clark Kent, really 4 “... __ he drove out of sight”: Moore 5 Tree that rhymes with a month 6 Deserve 7 Pivot around 8 “Help!”-ful soap pad brand 9 Not in the house 10 Ancient Andean 11 Aquanaut’s base 12 Texas city in a cowboy song 13 Estimated: Abbr. 18 Wheels, so to speak 23 Game stick with a netted pocket 25 Expose 26 Sam who owned Cheers 28 ISP alternative 29 Fed. law known as Obamacare 30 Clog 31 “Wreaked” state 32 Creepy sort 34 Tool for two lumberjacks 39 Completely, alphabetically speaking 40 A.L.’s Blue Jays 41 Scheming 43 Pain in a canal 45 Made of oak, say 46 Complete 47 Reach, as a goal 51 NC State’s conf. 52 Dull sound 54 On the safe side, at sea 55 Spanish “this” 56 Lawyers: Abbr. 58 Mercedes-__ 59 Big Dipper bear 62 Lord’s Prayer start 63 You, in French

Dec. 13 New

Nov. 19 First

Nov. 29 Full

Dec. 10 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Nov. 16

0.00

Tuesday, Nov. 17 0.00 Wednesday, Nov. 18

0.00

Thursday, Nov. 19 0.00 Friday, Nov. 20

0.00

Saturday, Nov. 21 0.04 Sunday, Nov. 22

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 57.83 in.

2020 6.53 in.

2019 39.83 in.

2019 0.65 in.

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

PlantCityObserver.com