11.27.15 PCTO by Plant City Observer

Plant City Times &

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

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PIGGIES

Protect yourself from thieves when gift shopping.

Guests stuff their stomachs at Pig Jam.

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CHEERS TO 15 YEARS

Plant City Dolphins take Superbowl.

by Emily Topper | Staff Writer

Cuzzins Bar makes its last call ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Check PlantCityObserver. com for a complete list of holiday entertainment to perform at Christmas Lane. The holiday event will be from Friday, Nov. 27, to Sunday, Jan. 3, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Hall, 2508 W. Oak Ave.

OUR TOWN + Sunshine Bank expands

On Saturday, Nov. 28, Mel and Sharon Ardelean will close the doors of their bar in Historic Downtown for good. Before 8 a.m., members of The Breakfast Club are already standing outside of Cuzzins Bar on North Palmer Street. A line of people outside before the doors open isn’t unusual for Mel and Sharon Ardelean. The couple has owned and operated the local watering hole for the last 15 years. But soon, The Breakfast Club — mostly local residents who have just gotten off of the night shift — will meet at Cuzzins for the last time. On

Saturday, Nov. 28, the Ardeleans will be shutting down the bar for good and retiring. It’s the final step of the 15-year plan they started in 2000. “I was 50 years old,” Mel Ardelean said. “Retirement looked pretty bleak. Pensions started disappearing. Job hopping was the way to get ahead.” When the bar first opened, the marketing plan was simple: a country western bar in a country western town.

Even behind the bar, Mel and Sharon Ardelean made sure to welcome everyone who entered Cuzzins Bar.

But the beloved bar had small beginnings. Because it was once a bar that was only open once a month during Bike Week, attracting customers to Cuzzins was harder than the Ardeleans had anticipated. “For the first two weeks, almost no one came in,” Mel Ardelean said. “We thought, ‘Oh my God, what did we do?”

Emily Topper

SEE CUZZINS / PAGE 5

BLITZ by Justin Kline | Sports Editor

Sunshine Bancorp Inc., the parent holding company of Plant City-based Sunshine Bank, announced the completion of its branch purchase agreement with First Federal Bank of Florida. This transaction positions Sunshine with two locations in Manatee County and a platform for continued growth in the greater Sarasota region. The transaction was announced on July 17, and all required regulatory approvals were received earlier in the fourth quarter of 2015. As a result of the transition, Sunshine’s network will include 12 banking facilities, operating under the Sunshine Bank name, in Hillsborough, Manatee, Orange, Pasco, Polk and Sarasota counties.

PLAYOFFPOWER

+ Purchase wreaths for veterans Plant City’s chapter of Youth in Government is asking for residents to purchase wreaths for Wreaths Across America. Youth in Government chapters across the United States will be putting the wreaths on the graves of United States military veterans in Arlington National Cemetery, in addition to local veteran cemeteries. Last year, volunteers placed over 700,000 memorial wreaths at 1,000 locations. Members of Florida Youth in Government will be at Florida National Cemetery, in Bushnell, in December to place the wreaths. In addition to selling wreaths, the sponsorships will help raise money for the Plant City chapter’s annual Florida Assembly trip in Tallahassee. Wreaths can be purchased by Sunday, Nov. 29, for $15 each. Checks should be made to Wreaths Across America and can be sent to Youth in Government, c/o Plant City YMCA, 1507 YMCA Place, Plant City, FL 33563.

Justin Kline

Markese Hargrove scored on a 75-yard run in the Nov. 20 game against Tampa Bay Tech.

HE RAIDERS are going to the ‘ship. • Plant City’s dominant 35-15 win over district rival Tampa Bay Tech Friday, Nov. 20, means that the Raiders are set to host the FHSAA regional championship game Friday, Nov. 27. The game against Braden River will be the last game in town before the Dec. 4 state playoffs. Read about the big game on Page 13.

CHRISTMAS BUSINESS by Justin Kline | Sports Editor IF YOU GO WHERE: John R. Trinkle Center at Hillsborough Community College, 1206 N. Park Road WHEN: 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1 COST: Free admission; drinks and some vendor items will cost money. Prices vary.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Holiday items for sale Santa Claus Concerts Door prizes Free samples

Chamber expo rebrands for holiday season shopping It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — at least it will at the next Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Community Expo. The annual expo, which showcases local businesses and gives them the chance to promote themselves, is changing its tune in 2015 and adopting a Christmas theme. The move was done not only to introduce a new

theme, but also to encourage local businesses to get in the holiday spirit. “(We) thought it would be a great opportunity for local businesses to sell holidaythemed items,” Chairman Jim Scott said. Scott and the chamber have gone all-out in making the event as festive as possible. The John R. Trinkle Center

INDEX Calendar........................2

at Hillsborough Community College in Plant City will be decorated to suit the holiday, and everything will be family-friendly. Youth groups will be singing and entertaining at the expo, and Santa Claus will stop by for pictures for anyone who brings their own smartphone or camera.

SEE EXPO / PAGE 4 Vol. 3, No. 17 | One section

Crossword....................15

Obituaries....................11

Sports..........................12

Weather.......................15

PlantCityObserver.com

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

COMMUNITYCALENDAR FRIDAY, NOV. 27 Anna Gavin and Este Love — takes place beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, at Duke’s Brewhouse, 2212 James L. Redman Parkway. (813) 7522700. Christmas Lane — takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, to Sunday, Jan. 3, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Hall, 2301 W. Oak Ave. Over 1.5 million lights covering 100 Christmas trees will be on display. The largest tree is 40 feet tall. There will also be a concession stand, gift shop, live musical entertainment, Santa appearances and more. ChristmasLane.org.

SATURDAY, NOV. 28 Beauty and the Beard Grand Opening — takes place at the Art Lounge Gallery, 119 E. Reynolds St. Join Rebecca Nipper and Galvin Leatherworks as they kick off a brand new venture on Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday — takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, in shops around Plant City. Remember to buy local this holiday season. Shops around Plant City will be offering discouts. PlantCity.org.

To publicize your event in our Community Calendar, please send by mail: 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563; or by email: ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com. Photos are welcome. Deadline is noon Monday.

EHAG Christmas Art Show — takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at Walden Lake Golf & Country Club, 2001 Clubhouse Drive. The guild will also be giving a scholarship that evening to one of Plant City’s young artist, Jessica Bradley.

FRIDAY, DEC. 4 Diva’s Holiday Delight — takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at the Woman’s Club of Plant City, 1110 N. Wheeler St. Booth rentals are $25. PlantCity.org.

BEST BET Gift Tag & Wrapping Paper Decoration Class —— takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Adults are welcome to come and create gift tags and wrapping paper. Hot cider and cookies will be served, and there will be holiday music playing. Register by calling (813) 757-9215.

MONDAY, NOV. 30 Plant City Area Democrats Club Meeting — takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at C.L. and Ione Townsend’s home, 2707 Spring Meadows Drive. The guest speaker will be County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who will discuss business issues in Hillsborough County.

TUESDAY, DEC. 1 Business Expo and Holiday Showcase — takes place beginning at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road. Over 700

P R O U D L Y

local businesses will be at the free expo, as well as food, live holiday entertainment, prizes and free pictures with Santa. PlantCity.org.

THURSDAY, DEC. 3 Lights of Love—— takes place beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at McCall Park, 100 N. Collins St. Kick off the holiday season with the unveiling of a lighted display, Christmas carols, food and a city address from the mayor. Lights of Love is a fundraiser for South Florida Baptist Hospital. PlantCity.org.

S E R V I N G

T H E

Christmas Parade — takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in Historic Downtown Plant City, 100 N. Collins St. Watch the parade, made up of community floats, glitter down Collins Street. PlantCity.org.

SATURDAY, DEC. 5 Community Yard Sale — takes place fom 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Madison Park Road, 2120 Village Park Road. Resident’s will have an opportunity to sale various personal items, ranging from handcrafted furniture, clothing, electronics, jewelry, etc.

ONGOING Acoustic Happy Hour — takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

G R E A T E R

Fridays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Blues Night — takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Top Shelf Bar & Grill, 110 E. Reynolds St. Blues veteran Don Lehman brings sophisticated, contemporary blues, soul, funk and jazz to Historic Downtown. No cover. For more information, call (813) 7046994. Christian Contemporary Music — takes place from 6:33 to 8:13 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220. GriefShare — takes place beginning at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, at Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Park Road. Each GriefShare session includes a video seminar and group discussion to help cope with the death of a loved one. (813) 752-4622. Live Music — takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100. Live Music — takes place beginning at 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

P L A N T

C I T Y

Motion Commotion — takes place beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. This 45-minute program incorporates music, literacy and fitness. For children ages 18 months to 5 years and their caregivers. (813) 757-9215. Open Mic Night — takes place beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Plant City Connections — takes place beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesdays, at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 State Road 60 E. For a list of speakers visit Facebook.com/Groups/ PCityConnections. Plant City Local Harvest Farners Market — takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, at McCall Park, 100 N. Collins St. The seasonal, open-air market showcases local family farms and artisan products. Contact Michael Stanley at (813) 531-1911. Yoga — takes place from 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays, and 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Classes are taught by Jenna Anticola. (813) 757-9215.

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17 Annual Lights of Love th

Thank You for Your Gift of Love Join South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation for a special community tree lighting ceremony, Lights of Love, at McCall Park in historic downtown Plant City.

Thursday, December 3 5:30-8:00pm Photos with Santa – Train Depot Music presented by First Baptist Church of Plant City Lighting of the Tree presented by the City of Plant City

SFBHFoundation.org

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BC1508213-1115

186114

Joint Commission Accredited

This joyous event is sponsored by: Lights of Love Major Sponsor Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc. Tree Sponsor Terry and Peggy Crum Photos with Santa Sponsor Radiology and Imaging Specialists Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen Sponsor Susan L. Doan Top Star Sponsors City of Plant City First Baptist Church of Plant City Plant City Daybreak Rotary Sally and John Verner Patron Sponsors Barbara Bowden Brenda J. Futch Sylvia Knox Jack and Carolyn McMullen Paul’s Hand Lettering Ruby Jean Redman Mike and Diane Sparkman Supporting Sponsors Ruthelise Anderson Bay Area Pump and Well Service, LLC Beachcombers – Our Strolling Carolers Bart and Jana Butler Coleman and Sue Davis Edwards Platt Meyer, PA Jimmy and Ola Jean Hardee Steve and Krista Howard Jarrett-Scott Ford Wade and Karen Kerr Dub and Pec McGinnes Dean and Nancy Nourie Patterson Companies Bruce and Margaret Rodwell Melissa L. Stidham Sunshine Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, PA Union Contractors Association Don E. Walden Al and Norma Whitaker

BC1508218-1115

PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

GOVERNANCE by Emily Topper | Staff Writer

FDOT to widen Highway 92 in five-year plan City Manager Mike Herr announced the plan at the City Commission meeting Nov. 23. At the City Commission meeting Monday, Nov. 23, City Manager Mike Herr briefed commissioners on two major Plant City road improvement projects by the Florida Department of Transportation. Between 2017 and 2021, portions of U.S. Highway 92 will be widened from two lanes to four lanes. Those portions include a stretch in eastern Plant City to County Line Road and areas near Sabal Park, which is by Interstate 75. FDOT has allotted $3 million dollars for the project as part of a five-year work program, but a start date has not yet been announced. “It’s a ways out there,” Herr said. Though Herr and other city staff have focused on bettering roads in Plant City through resurfacing and other infrastructure improvements, the widening of U.S. 92 is not a

project that the city is financing. U.S. 92 is part of FDOT’s highway system and will be completely funded by FDOT. “It’s not something that we had in our five-, 10-, 20-year plan,” Herr said. The funding for the project comes after FDOT decided against widening segments of State Road 574, U.S. 41 and an area of U.S. 92 between Kingsway and Thonotosassa roads that is outside of Hillsborough County’s Urban Service Area. The U.S. 92 project is targeted as part of Hillsborough County Planning Commission’s Imagine 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan. Plant City is expected to have 17,000 to 32,000 jobs by 2040, in comparison to 6,000 jobs in 2010. Sabal Park is expected to have 33,000 to 55,000 jobs by 2040, in comparison to 24,000 jobs in 2010. The anticipated growth will

have a toll on infrastructure. The stretch of U.S. 92 in eastern Plant City to County Line Road would be 50% over capacity by 2040 if nothing was done to improve it after 2018. U.S. 92 near Sabal Park is projected to be 30% over capacity by 2018. If nothing was done to improve it after 2018, it would also be 50% over capacity by 2040. “That’s a necessary project because U.S. 92 is a major corridor,” Herr said. The other major road improvement project being funded by FDOT will enhance Collins Street, from Merrick Street to East Laura Street. This section is projected to be 50% over capacity by 2018. FDOT has allotted $690,000 for the project, which also is part of the five-year plan. The decision to fund the project was announced at a Nov. 10

meeting of the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization board. Aside from FDOT’s funding for the two major road expansion and improvement projects, the City of Plant City does not have any immediate improvement projects, although it has allotted $1 million from the 2015-16 fiscal year budget for resurfacing Plant City roads. The fiscal year began in October. “There are no other road improvement projects on the horizon,” Herr said. In August, city workers constructed an additional right turn lane from Timberlane Drive to Alexander Street to improve traffic flow in the Walden Lake community. Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver. com.

IN OTHER NEWS • Commissioners voted to sell 1101 N. Knight St., a property that was condemned in April 2014. By selling, City Manager Mike Herr hopes to recover the costs the city spent on the property. Costs include: $10,118.18 for the condemnation of the property; $3,566 in taxes and title; and $1,894.21 in mowing charges. Herr originally wanted to hire a real estate broker for the property, but Commissioner Mike Sparkman made a motion for the city manager to negotiate with interested buyers and seek an appraisal rather than a realtor. The motion passed. • The City Commission also approved the purchase of 10 new vehicles for the Plant City Police Department. The $310,000 needed for the purchase will come out of the department’s fund for the 2015-16 fiscal year. The purchase includes: 10 black-and-white Ford Interceptors at $23,807 each; emergency equipment for 10 police vehicles; installation of existing mobile radios; and vinyl cost. The cost per unit is $30,564.62. The vehicles are replacing the department’s older vehicles. • Following the City Commission meeting, commissioners hosted the Community Redevelopment Agency meeting. Commissioners approved the purchase of 602 S. Evers St. for $300,000. Once purchased, the property will be used for further development of the Midtown redevelopment project. The funds for the purchase are coming out of the CRA fund.

PREVENTION by Emily Topper | Staff Writer “Criminals have shied away from (drawing attention). They’ve evolved into opportunists. They look for open doors and things in plain view. That’s really gotten very prevalent.”

How the Grinch wants to steal your Christmas As residents buy gifts for friends and family, opportunists look for ways to take advantage of the unsuspecting.

ith the holiday season here, many Plant City residents have a shopping list started. But between the hustle and bustle of buying gifts, some residents may forget to keep a close eye on their surroundings. Last year, the holiday period from October to December saw an increase in the number of reported vehicle breakins compared to previous months. In September 2014, nine vehicle burglaries were reported to the Plant City Police Department, followed by 31 in October 2014. To safeguard against theft, there are preventative measures that residents can take. “The biggest precautionary method is not leaving anything unsecure,” Plant City Police Department Sgt. Al Van Duyne said. “Depending on where you live, you have different levels of security.” One of the easiest steps that residents can take to safeguard their items is to make it difficult for thieves to access or spot them, such as by closing garage doors and locking car doors. “Criminals have shied away from (drawing attention),” Van Duyne said. “They’ve evolved into opportunists. They look for open doors and things in plain view. That’s really gotten very prevalent.” Often, residents who are victims of crimes like a vehicle break-in have left an item in plain view, such as a laptop in the backseat of their car or a

NEWS BRIEFS + Robber hits two stores Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department detectives arrested Kristofer Jason Mayo, 21, Tuesday, Nov. 24, in Plant City on charges of two strong armed robberies. The robberies took place at two different convenience stores in Dover. At 4 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, Mayo entered the 7-Eleven Kristofer Mayo at 3629

GPS still attached to the inside of the windshield. Thefts are not only reported in the driveways of residents’ homes. Many break-ins are reported in the parking lots of large retail stores. “As folks prepare for the holidays and go shopping, folks need to secure the items in the trunk and not leave them in plain view,” Van Duyne said. “We had ... many at Bealls and many at Wal-Mart.” If shoppers don’t have room left in their trunk to store items, there are still precautionary measures that they can take to hide their items. If they don’t want to carry their items from store to store, they can hide them on the floor of their car and throw a jacket or blanket over them. Burglars who break into homes look for homes that are left unsecure, and watch as residents come and go. Although hiding items inside one’s home might not be necessary, it’s important to check that all doors and windows are locked and that no valuable items are left in plain view. “That’s kind of how we see the method of operation for a lot of residential burglaries,” Van Duyne said. Some stolen electronics, such as laptops, are hard to track if the serial numbers have not been recorded. This is necessary for insurance purposes, Van Duyne said. “Write those serial numbers down,” Van Duyne said. “That way if it gets stolen, I have a little bit of a better shot at

tracking it down.” Out of items usually targeted for theft, Van Duyne said that high-dollar electronics are usually stolen the most. Phones, Kindles, laptops and tablets are all relatively small and easy to conceal. “They can still fetch a pretty good penny on the black market if they try to sell it,” Van Duyne said. When items are stolen, they are often taken out of town and sold at pawn shops. The detective units from neighboring areas often team up to track items down. “The collaborative effort is what leads us to getting property back,” Van Duyne said. Van Duyne also recommends that residents tie down items that might earn a cheap dollar, such as large, outdoor holiday decorations. Because those items are not serialized like electronics, they are harder to track down if stolen. Additionally, residents can take additional measures that may help the police if someone does break into their home. Home security systems can be installed for a monthly charge and some even allow for the cameras to be brought up on a cell phone screen. If a potential burglar sees a camera in a home, they may be deterred from breaking in. “It doesn’t prevent anything from happening,” Van Duyne said. “It’s a safeguard.” When residents leave their homes to embark on their holiday shopping, taking a buddy along can also deter

E. State Road 60 and approached the clerk at the counter to make a purchase. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, Mayo lunged over the counter and struck the clerk in the head with a small object. Mayo grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash and left the store. At 2 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Mayo entered the Circle K at 3307 E. State Road 60 and approached the clerk to make a purchase. Mayo again lunged over the counter and struck the clerk with a small object. Mayo grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash and left the store. Mayo may have fled the area in a red or maroon pickup truck with a toolbox in the back. Arrest warrants for Mayo were issued on the day of his arrest.

+ Man arrested on child pornography charges A 56-year-old man was arrested Monday, Nov. 16, on allegations that he was in possession of child pornography, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Michael Lawrence Rodgers was arrested on 20 counts of possession of child pornography, one count of tampering with evidence and one count of resisting an officer without violence. According to the FDLE, a computer at Rodgers’ home at 8106 Elk View Way was sharing images of child pornography on the Internet. A search warrant was served on the home Monday, authorities said, and several pieces of digital evidence were seized.

— Sgt. Alfred Van Duyne

HOLIDAY STATISTICS The number of reported vehicle break-ins in Plant City during the 2014 holiday season saw an increase from summer months. Aug. 2014.............. 12 Sept. 2014............. 9 Oct. 2014........... 31 Nov. 2014........ 31 Dec. 2014...... 26

BE SURE TO... n Close garage doors. n Lock car doors. n Remove GPS off the windshield. n Hide electronics, bags and purses in the car trunk, under the seat or under a jacket. n Write down the serial numbers of electronics devices. n Tie down holiday yard decorations. n Use the buddy system when shopping.

GET TECHNICAL High-dollar electronics are usually stolen the most. Phones, Kindles, laptops and tablets are all relatively small and easy to conceal.

thieves and those looking to take advantage of people who are alone. “When people go shopping, there’s folks out there who look to victimize,” Van Duyne said.

“Take someone with you, and be mindful of who’s around.” As shoppers load their cars, it is also recommended that they drive to a different location, where someone may not

have seen them put items in their car. Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver. com.

+ P.C. mayor supports governor

interest.

Farms of failing to stop its recruiter, All Nations Staffing LLC, which was not named in the suit, from seeking such payments. The recruiter forced each worker to pay between $3,000 to $4,500, the lawsuit said, “to ensure that each of the workers would not abscond from their positions.” But the lawsuit said the workers were never compensated for those payments. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 51 Hondurans and their fellow guest workers. The lawsuit said that Fancy Farms was authorized to hire 175 workers. The lawsuit seeks lost wages and damages. The suit was filed on behalf of the workers by Florida Rural Legal Services. Representatives of the workers and the farm could not be reached for comment.

On Friday, Nov. 13, Plant City Mayor Rick Lott released a letter expressing his support of Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s proposal to create the $250 million Enterprise Florida Fund. The goal of the Enterprise Florida Fund is to boost efforts to recruit companies to Florida through Enterprise Florida Inc., a public-private partnership between Florida’s business and government leaders. “Enterprise Florida has been integral to creating jobs in our community,” Lott wrote. “These reforms will continue to diversify our local economy, empower small businesses and create even more great jobs.” The fund would be made a state trust fund and would replace the existing escrow account to allow the state’s investment to accrue more

+ Fancy Farms sued Plant City’s Fancy Farms Inc. was sued in federal court Tuesday, Nov. 17, by 51 Honduran laborers who accused the family-owned farm and its recruiter of forcing them to pay more than $4,000 each in “exorbitant recruitment and hiring fees” to pick strawberries during the 2013-14 harvest season. According to the lawsuit, the workers legally entered the United States through the H-2A program, which allows temporary agricultural workers in from other countries. The workers said their contract with Fancy Farms fell under federal regulations that “forbid any recruiter” from being paid by prospective workers employees. The workers accused Fancy

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Around

Reporters from the Plant City Times & Observer hit the streets of Plant City to ask residents a little about themselves. Will we spot you around town next?

TOWN

2015

We asked:

BUSINESS

& HOLIDAY SHOWCASE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1st 3 pm - 7 pm Trinkle Center @ HCC Plant City

Hosted by: Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce 813-754-3707 www.plantcity.org • info@plantcity.org

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Angela Ruiz, 16 All the great deals going on.

Bailey Bening, 21 I’m going to raid Bath & Body Works.

Ken Picciano, 26 Skipping the shopping and spending time with my family.

Steven Kirby, 26 Going to the outlet malls with my girlfriend.

Wille Grizzard, 22 I’m getting a Sony Smart TV.

Zach Jones, 25 I’ll be checking out the deals on electronics.

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EXPO / FROM PAGE 1 The expo will feature door prizes, and the only thing guests will have to pay for are the drinks, which include beer, wine, coffee, soda and hot chocolate. Some of the restaurants participating in the event will offer free samples. The expo booths are normally comprised of businesses that are members of

the chamber, but Scott said this year’s expo is also open to non-members. The chamber encourages all participating businesses to offer some holiday-themed items, in keeping with the theme. The expo will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1. Even the times have been changed for the holiday, as Scott and the chamber are hoping a later start will bring

a bigger turnout. “We want plenty of time for people to go home, get their families and come back,” Scott says. “We want people who work during the day to get their kids and come on up.” For more information on the Plant City Chamber of Commerce, visit PlantCity.org. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

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Join Haught Funeral Home during the month of December as we remember those we have lost. Stop by during regular business hours and place a personalized Angel on our Angel Tree. There is no cost for the angel. This is our way of remembering our loved ones during the holiday season. This service is available to everyone in our community. Also plan on joining us Tuesday December 15th at 7:00pm for our Service of Remembrance.

708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Plant City, FL 33563 813-717-9300

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PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

The Ardeleans worked seven days and seven nights per week, with the bar open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. The Ardeleans took to the streets to garner attention for the bar. Mel Ardelean stood outside with bags and hats on his head, and Sharon Ardelean waved people into the bar. Eventually, customers started coming back â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and bringing their friends. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once we started to roll a little bit, it became successful,â&#x20AC;? Mel Ardelean said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too late. At 50 years old, we made the conscious decision to put in 15 years of hard work.â&#x20AC;?

WORKING HARD

For the entire 15 years that the Ardeleans owned and operated Cuzzins, Mel Ardelean kept an additional full-time job as a vice president at various advertising agencies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All the bar had to do was break even,â&#x20AC;? Mel Ardelean said. Because Mel Ardelean worked multiple jobs, Sharon Ardelean was in charge of the bar. The Ardeleans worked seven days and seven nights per week, with the bar open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Even if someone else was covering the opening shift, the Ardeleans still only got about two or three hours of sleep every night. Over the last 15 years, the Ardeleans have worked 20 shifts per week at Cuzzins. At one time, they also owned Big Dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Patio and Annaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Silver Dollar Saloon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m definitely tired,â&#x20AC;? Sharon Ardelean said. The hard work paid off. With three bars within walking distance in the Historic Downtown district, the Ardeleans have befriended nearly every stranger thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s walked into Cuzzins over the last 15 years. Every time a new person walked into Cuzzins, the Ardeleans would stop and introduce themselves. They were willing to lean over the bar and listen when any customer â&#x20AC;&#x201D; newcomer or regular

IF YOU GO Cuzzins Bar Closing Night When: 7 p.m. to 2 a.m, Saturday, Nov. 28 Where: Cuzzins Bar, 111 S. Palmer St. Attire: Gators or FSU pajamas in celebration of the UF vs. FSU game.

SHARE THE MEMORIES Cuzzins patrons can share their favorite memories on the barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page: Facebook.com/Coyotees. Cuzzins â&#x20AC;&#x201D; needed to take a load off. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A friendly country bar that treats people with respect and listens â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that was a winning formula,â&#x20AC;? Mel Ardelean said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This bar can compete with anybody here, and we have.â&#x20AC;? With a friendly and inviting atmosphere, Cuzzinsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; patrons have remained respectful over the years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve hardly had any trouble,â&#x20AC;? Sharon Ardelean said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember the last time we had any trouble.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;People know that this place is being watched,â&#x20AC;? Mel Ardelean said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Couples and single women can come in and feel safe. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a priority since day one.â&#x20AC;?

MOVING FORWARD

Though the bar has been hugely successful in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, the Ardeleans have faced their own series of troubles. Sharon Ardelean fought a battle with cancer. The Ardeleansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; daughter, Misti Whitfield, disappeared in May 2013, and her remains were discovered in 2014. On a white board outside of Cuzzins, a tribute to Whitfield is still posted.

NEW, USED AND ABUSED!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to take time to grieve my daughter,â&#x20AC;? Sharon Ardelean said. As the Ardeleans begin the process of closing the bar, friends, regulars and strangers from over the years have reached out to share memories â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the good, the bad and the nights they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always remember. The Ardeleans are expecting a large turnout on closing night. The couple is thankful for everyone who has taken a seat on a barstool over the last 15 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re expecting a good crowd,â&#x20AC;? Mel Ardelean said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The bottom line ... we want to thank loyal customers.â&#x20AC;? The community also has expressed support for the bar in its last days. Big Dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Patio, located within walking distance from Cuzzins, will close Nov. 28 to support the Ardeleans on their final night. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty darn nice of them,â&#x20AC;? Sharon Ardelean said. Though the bars are competitors, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sense of family that comes from the three bars located just a block away from each other. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be a missing chunk here,â&#x20AC;? Mel Ardelean said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a chance for everyone to say goodbye. We want to spend time with everybody. We have a lot of dedicated customers.â&#x20AC;? After the night of football and keg killing is over, the Ardeleans will ease into their retirement. Mel Ardelean is still working three days a week at the advertising agency. The Ardeleans plan to remain in Plant City and keep their lake home in Auburndale. Though they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t entirely sure what the future holds, one thing is certain. â&#x20AC;&#x153;None of what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thinking of doing will involve alcohol,â&#x20AC;? Mel Ardelean said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will be non-alcohol related activities.â&#x20AC;? Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver. com.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

MY VIEW

MY VIEW by Donna Bollenbach | Florida Native Plant Society

Sustaining relationships At some point in life, most people start a long-term relationship with someone. Having a companion SCOTT in life reducTOLER es feelings of isolation and leads people to form other social bonds that support a healthy society. The people involved in such a partnership tend to get to know each other better than they have ever known anyone else. The closeness of this relationship can cause joy from discovering appealing qualities that were overlooked at first. However, it can also cause frustration from discovering irritating qualities. If someone chooses to concentrate on the annoying qualities and not the admirable ones, tension becomes the norm in the relationship. It is important to value your partner for the person that they are in the present, instead of projecting an idealized picture in your mind of the person you would rather see. Such a fantasy may never be realized, and the genuine essence of your significant other is missed when you are distracted by the process of building that perfect, flawless person. Each person brings to any relationship a uniqueness that cannot be replicated. Thus, the people involved in that partnership are privileged to watch each other as they develop the lives that they were meant to live. Expectations of a partner in a relationship are not always fulfilled. When this becomes the case, it is good to ask how realistic the expectations were in terms of the kind of person the partner is. Determining that the other person is unable

Can we talk? Admitting to yourself that you are bothered by a quality that you find unattractive in your partner is important. This can lead to conversations about how your emotional state is affected by what they do. If your issue is phrased in a non-judgmental way that avoids an accusatory tone, it can result in a compromise that strengthens the relationship. Using statements such as, “When you do or say that, I feel this way,” is an example of putting an issue in a context without condemning. Saying, “You always interrupt me,” or, “You never do anything for me,” comes from limiting your partner to one form of behavior. Reminding yourself of what you find attractive about your partner.

A wild oasis: Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve

to meet the expectations because of the kind of person they will allow you to let go of what they cannot do. From this will come discussions with your partner about reachable expectations that they may meet. Become comfortable with the fluctuations that longterm relationships undergo. Saying, “I love you,” on daily basis can aid in the longevity of a relationship. Expressions like this show that no matter what comes your way, the affection you have for a partner endures.

Scott Toler is a licensed mental health counselor living in Plant City. He can be reached at etoler25@tampabay. rr.com.

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o appreciate the beauty of native plants, you should see them in the wild, and the wild is closer than you think: the Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve in Plant City is 1,993 acres of pristine wild habitat. The preserve is predominately pine flatwoods, palmetto prairie and riverine swamp with scattered areas of oak hammock, cypress swamp, freshwater marsh and wet prairie. Each habitat has its own unique plant communities, making it a great place to see native plants and wildlife in your community. When I went to Blackwater Creek in July it was hot, but the goldenrod, narrow-leaf sunflowers and paintbrush were already starting to bloom. When the cooler days of fall come to stay, the wildflower show should be spectacular. There were also dense blooms of white-topped asters, pale rose rush, pink meadow beauties and yellow bachelor buttons — all native beauties. There are six miles of trails in the preserve, but you don’t have to walk far to appreciate the splendor. From the parking lot, the trail opens to a prairie of sweeping grasses and colorful wildflowers. The plants in the prairies vary according to the moisture. Saw palmetto, wax myrtle, wiregrass and broomsedge is found throughout the prairie and flatwoods. In the drier areas, one might see sand live oak, pawpaw and shiny blueberry, while wetter areas support bachelor buttons, gallberry and St. John’s Wort. The creek is about 2.5 miles from the trail head. Besides the beautiful views of the water, here you will find a diversity of trees and plants. Bald cypress, cabbage palm, American elm, pop ash, black gum, water oak, laurel oak, water hickory, red maple and hackberry form canopies along the water. Shrubs under the tree canopy include buttonbush, swamp dogwood, shiny lyonia, wax myrtle and wild coffee. Other wet areas in the preserve include cypress swamp, wet prairie and freshwater marshes. Pipewort, marsh pennywort, smartweed, broomsedge, and soft rush-

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Pine flatwoods surround Blackwater Creek.

Call Nikki McAlpine, (813) 545-5505.

We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via: Email: Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563

BLACKWATER CREEK NATURE PRESERVE WHAT: This 1,993-acre preserve includes some of the finest remaining examples of pine flatwoods, palmetto prairie and riverine swamp, interspersed with oak hammock, cypress swamp, freshwater marsh and wet prairie. HISTORY: The Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve was acquired from 1997 through 2003 by Hillsborough County through the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program and Florida Communities Trust. WHERE: The preserve is located at 2469 Patrinostro Road, Plant City HOURS: Sunrise to sunset es grow in the moist areas. Deeper wetlands support pickerelweed, duck potato, rush species, a variety of ferns, spoon flower, lizard’s tail, dayflower, star rush, wild petunia and water grass. The preserve supports a variety of wildlife as well. One can hardly walk by the marshes without hearing a chorus of frogs or flushing a flock of birds out of the grasses. Hawks make low flying circles over the prairies in search of small prey. Deer, wild turkey, Sherman’s fox squirrel and a variety of birds may also be seen in the preserve. If you haven’t visited Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve, you really should. After all, it is practically in your own backyard.

Native plants provide food for wildlife.

Donna Bollenbach is the vice president of both the Suncoast chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and the Friends of Kissimmee Prarie Preserve State Park. She loves to photograph nature, especially Florida native plants and animals. Join the Suncoast chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society at SuncoastNPS.org. The chapter meets every third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Seffner Extension Services office, 5339 County Road 579.

CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays. It provides free home delivery to several neighborhoods in Plant City. The Plant City Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

Publisher / Karen Berry, kdberry@inthefieldmagazine.com General Manager/Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writers / Justin Kline, jkline@PlantCityObserver.com; Emily Topper, etopper@ PlantCityObserver.com Design Editor / Terry Chapman, tchapman@yourobserver.com Advertising Executive / Nikki McAlpine, nmcalpine@tampabay.com; Circulation/Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” — Friedrich Hayek, “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

CUTESTCRITTER

BACK TO BACK by Abby Baker | Staff Intern

Holiday events kick off December Christmas Parade. WHEN: Activities begin at 5:30 p.m.; lighting program begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 WHERE: McCall Park, 102 N. Palmer St. PURCHASE A LIGHT: To show support for a loved one, purchase a $25 red light, $50 blue light, $75 green light or a $100 orange light. Call (813) 757-8478 for details.

LIGHTS OF LOVE

On Thursday, Dec. 3, the 17th annual Lights of Love ceremony will be held in McCall Park. Proceeds of the fundraiser will benefit the new Critical Care Center at South Florida Baptist Hospital. Standing as one of the tallest structures in McCall Park, the traditional Christmas tree will be lit, along with every Christmas light in Historic Downtown displays, after a lighting program at at 6:30 p.m. Lights can be purchased to support a contributor’s loved one. Supporters can purchase a red light for $25, a blue for $50, a green light for $75 or an orange light for $100. “The lights are symbolic and can be purchased for anyone,” Executive Director Jana Butler said. “However, many are in memory of someone.” Last year, Lights of Love raised $35,000 and attracted over 500 people. “It’s a fun, family event,” Butler said. “It’s nice to have all the lights on as a gift of love.” The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and will start with Santa Claus. For $10 guests can get photos with Santa Claus at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum. Visitors can browse through downtown shops and visit the

CHRISTMAS PARADE WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 WHERE: The parade will start between Collins and Alsobrook streets and travel through Historic Downtown on Collins Street. SPONSOR THE PARADE: Contact Sharon Moody at (813) 453-7134

local businesses that will be open late for the occasion, including Neumeister’s Candy Shoppe and Krazy Kup. Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen, a food vendor run by South Florida Baptist Hospital’s catering team, will be open to provide treats, such as kettle corn and corndogs, and warm drinks, such as apple cider. Groups from Plant City’s First Baptist Church and The Beachcombers will be singing Christmas carols throughout the night. During the lighting ceremony, city officials will speak and more groups will sing. The lights will go on after, in a countdown led by Santa. Lights of Love premieres the night before the Plant City

CHRISTMAS PARADE

On Friday, Dec. 5, Plant City’s Christmas Parade will be led by the same people that watch over it. This year’s Grand Parade Marshal will be Plant City’s first responders: Plant City Police Department, Plant City Fire Rescue, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol. Members from each department will start the parade with a red, white and blue patriotic-style float sponsored by Baskin Tax Accounting. “They give so much, and we need to thank them,” Sharon Moody, parade president, said. “They don’t always get recognition, and we are going to honor them in a special way.” The parade, themed Celebrate the Season, will begin at 7 p.m. at Collins and Alsobook streets and end at the courthouse on West Reynolds Street. Seven marching bands, several drill teams, dance groups and more will be walking the streets along with many elaborately decorated floats. “There is something about the way the floats and the lights look at night,” Moody said. “This year we have a lot more floats than usual.” As tradition entails, Santa Claus will be making a surprise appearance on one of the floats. It is not known which float until parade night. This year’s major sponsors are Unity in the Community and Stingray Chevrolet. Abby Baker is a staff intern for the Plant City Times & Observer and a student at Hillsborough County Community College.

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He is a maltese and doesn’t mind sitting on someone’s lap all day. He does not like dog clothes, and he plays sick if you dress him. Turkey Creek Animal Hospital and Animal Wellness Center have partnered to present a weekly Cutest Critter Contest. Entering is simple: Just submit a high-resolution photo (200 dpi or better) and a sentence or two about why your pet is the cutest. Include your name and contact information. Winners will be showcased in the Plant City Times & Observer and will receive a free bag of dental chews to be picked up at Turkey Creek Animal Hospital and Animal Wellness Center. Submit your entries to Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com; subject line: Cutest Critter.

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Although Plant City residents may have seen holiday displays and evergreen wreaths going up in Historic Downtown in November, they won’t shine until two traditions brighten the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World: Lights of Love and the Christmas Parade. For anyone who wants to kick off the season, these two events offer caroling, sweet treats and pictures with Santa in a family-friendly environment.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

TRADITION by Abby Baker | Staff Intern

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The 38th Annual Pioneer Heritage Day was held Saturday, Nov. 14, at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center. Guests enjoyed food, drinks and a hayride. Attendees also enjoyed performances by Dance Connection and could buy items sold by various vendors.

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Plant City High School students were recognized Monday, Nov. 9, for their art entries in the national Reflections Art Contest. The award ceremony was held at the John R. Trinkle Center on the Hillsborough Community College campus for the second consecutive year. It honored students in music composition, visual arts, photography, literature, film production and dance choreography. The event was organized by PTA Reflections Chair Sunni Baerwalde and PTSA President Yvonne Fry, and it was sponsored by the Art Council of Plant City. Before the winners were announced, student entries were displayed at a pop-up art gallery in Plant City Mercantile in October, and students and their families were able to view the pieces. “We had a lot of success with people coming to view the art work,” Baerwalde said. “We love seeing the community come out to support the young artists.” Once the community had gotten the chance to view the artwork, judges got their opportunity. The judges this year were Mark Shultz, David Gnage, Taylor Baker, Sophia

Reflections Art Contest winners Literature: Madison Manley, “A Soaring Bird” Music: Benjamin Padgett, “Fall” Visual Arts: Samantha Sun, “Nefelibata” Film: Shelby Baerwalde, “Why the Fairies Hide” Photography: Shelby Baerwalde, “What the Forest Knows” Dance: Kendall Gaudens Winner of Best Interpretation of Theme: Madison Manley, “A Soaring Bird”

Hyde and Plant City Times & Observer Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen. Principal Susan Sullivan was also excited to see all that the students had to offer. “I believe that this is a great opportunity for our talented students to express themselves,” Sullivan said. “It’s about recognizing their talent and celebrating their creativity. It allows students and their parents to honor the students’ hard work. And our PTSA did an awesome job at making the

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event such a success.” PTSA President Yvonne Fry learned of the Reflections contest last year and thought Baerwalde would be a good person to put it together. “I knew when Yvonne called me last year with the idea of doing Reflections I would be a big supporter,” Baerwalde said. “I always love to support the arts. It’s something that’s very important to me and my family.” The ceremony began with Baerwalde sharing the story of how her music teacher got her started in singing. It is something she has done ever since. Guest speaker Charles Harris felt similar to Baerwalde. Harris is both a businessman in the local hotel industry and an artist. “I grew up with my family planning for me to be a car salesman, like my father,” Harris said. “It was during college that I got to explore more of my artistic side and learned that it was something I loved. Even in the work I do today, art always seems to follow me.” Multiple contestants have been doing art for years, and some have even competed in both Reflections competitions. Samantha Sun, who won first place for visual arts, also competed in Reflections last year. “Last year I received first place in my category and really enjoyed the experience,” Sun said. “I’ve always loved art, and Reflections gives me the opportunity to use that love outside of school. Through the process of submitting a piece, you can get a lot of experience and learn how to improve. I love that this gives me the experience of letting the community see my work.” Niki Carpenter, a PCHS art teacher, encouraged her students to be a part of the contest. “A lot of confidence is learned through submitting a piece of art,” Carpenter said. “This allows students to gain recognition for their work and show them what it feels like to have their art displayed at a gallery. We are so lucky that Sunni Baerwalde helped give them this opportunity. I don’t think there’s anything else like it.” Arden White is a staff intern for the Plant City Times & Observer and a student at Plant City High School.

PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

NEIGHBOR

Emily Topper

KYLE SUHR

Suhr and his three sons have started a traveling RC racetrack. Kyle Suhr works the dinner rush as a server at the Plant City Outback, but his main gig is a lot more fast paced. The father of three is the creator and designer of Rilocam RC Racing. He debuted a new racetrack at the Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales Friday, Nov. 20. The racetrack is located between the Regal Cinemas theater and First Frame Bowl, inside of the mall. The racetrack allows for up to eight remote control

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cars to race at a time. The new track is Suhr’s second Rilocam endeavor. Two months ago, he debuted a mobile trailer, complete with a two-layer racetrack that can race between four to six cars at a time. Though the trailer just launched a few months ago, Suhr and the rest of the Rilocam team have already hosted the trailer at three events and multiple birthday parties.

Mark Ford, DO

“Rilocam is the first of its kind,” Suhr said. “Nobody else has it. There are car tracks, but no mobile one in the United States. Everybody’s into it.” Suhr decided on the name for the business by combining the first two letters of the names of his sons: Riley, Logan and Camden. As a single father, Suhr wanted to start a business that would allow him to spend more time with his children, as well as some-

Gregg Gutowski, MD

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RACE WITH RILOCAM Rilocam hosts parties at its mall track, as well as parties and larger events through its mobile trailer. Rilocam also sells RC race cars that are customizable and have a microchip. COST: Party Packages begin at $249 for the mall track, which includes two hours of race time. Trailer rentals begin at $349 for two hours, and $1,800 for eight hours. RC cars can also be purchased beginning at $229. After a car is purchased, racers can use their car at the mobile track for a $5 fee and race as long as they want. WEBSITE: Rilocam.com for individual races. The trailer, which is built to go anywhere, also has extra features. The mobile RC racetrack is complete with GoPros so that racers can watch themselves watching the race. The trailer also has a gaming system and a music system. The trailer is mostly used to host events and parties, but Suhr also wants to take the trailer to be used at charities, such as the Wounded Warrior Project. Though the racetracks serve as a different type of venue for kids’ birthday parties and other similar events, Suhr has found that adults, typically men between the ages of 20 and 40, are also interested in RC racing. “Mostly adults buy them and race them,” Suhr said. This summer, Suhr plans on bringing his family on the road with the Rilocam trailer to go to state fairs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas and New York. In the future, he would like to see a Rilocam racetrack at every mall across the country. — Emily Topper

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Kyle Suhr’s Rilocam RC Racing poster features his three sons, Riley, Logan and Camden.

thing they would enjoy. “I did this for my kids,” Suhr said. The first talks of Rilocam happened nearly a year and one half ago, when Suhr sat his boys down for a “Suhr meeting.” “We have a Suhr meeting anytime we need to have a family meeting,” Suhr said.“I think that’s very important, to be engaged with your kids.” The venture into the world of RC racing is far from Suhr’s first career. For years, he owned a successful bounce house company, but the competition was fierce. He worked as a proprietor for Chili’s for 10 years before becoming an interpreter for the deaf and hearing impaired. Suhr picked up his night job at Outback as a way to pay for Rilocam. As the design process came together, Suhr first built the racetrack out of cardboard. Then, his sons built the track on Minecraft before beginning the building process. Now, the racing business has become his full-time job. “The goal is to do 10 events per week at the mall and four on the trailer,” Suhr said. But there’s more to Rilocam than just a well-built racetrack. All of the RC cars are customizable and can go between 20 to 30 miles per hour. Each car has a microchip, and so does the carpet of the race track. As participants race, the microchip is able to determine who finishes the race first when the finish line is crossed. At the racetrack in the mall, the winner’s name flashes across a television screen. While other participants wait for their turn to race, they can play video games on two additional 60-inch television screens built on the side of the track. The walls of the track are lined with opportunities for advertising. Cars can be rented or purchased, and participants can rent cars

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

PIGGING OUT by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

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BRINGING HOME THE BACON

Competitors smoked each other at the 13th annual Pig Jam competition Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21. The event took place at the Plant City Stadium on Park Road and included fun actives and games for kids, live music, a national barbecue competition and plenty to eat. Pig Jam brings in thousands of guests and is one of Plant City’s biggest events. It is put together by the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, and its title sponsored was Suncoast Credit Union. A complete list of winners was not available at press time. Go to PlantCityObserver.com to see who brought home the bacon at this year’s Pig Jam.

This week’s Cryptoquiz answers

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PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Observer

Obituaries Bonnie Lee Bauman

Bonnie Lee Bauman, 82, of Zephyrhills, died Nov. 14, 2015, at Gulfside Hospice. Mrs. Bauman was born in Elkhart, Indiana, to James and Eloise (Chapman) Miller. She was a resident of the Zephyrhills area for the past 21 years before moving from Syracuse, Indiana. She was a devoted Christian and a member of the Pleasant Ridge United Methodist Church in Goodspring, Tennessee. She enjoyed her involvement with the Rainbow Girls and bowling with the Keep’Em Rolling bowling league. She worked diligently on her family genealogy since 1982 and collected antiques. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Jim Tom Bauman; sons, James Jr., of Kissimmee, Robert L. (MaryAnne), of Plant City, Ronald C. (Lynn), of Goshen, Indiana, and Richard N. (Cheryl), of Elkhart, Indiana; sister, Rebecca L. Reyes, of Tennessee; grandchildren, Janine, Matthew, Garrett, Kelly, Michael, Amy, Ross, Michelle and Andrew; and 13 greatgrandchildren. A funeral service was held Friday, Nov. 20, at Fifth Street Chapel of Hodges Family Funeral Home, followed by a burial in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Dade City. Those desiring to make a donation in honor of Mrs. Bauman’s life may consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105 or DAVDisabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45250-0301.

John Edward Boos Jr.

John Edward Boos Jr., 74, died Nov. 18, 2015, after a

long battle with illness. Mr. Boos was born in Rockville Center, New York. He was a veteran of the United States Army. Burial will be held at Florida National Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial. com.

Margaret Gargani

Margaret Gargani, 101, of Plant City, died Nov. 19, 2015, in Lakeland, Florida. A native of Philadelphia, Mrs. Gargani was the daughter of Frank and Anna Labriola Venuti. She enjoyed sewing, crafts and knitting, and talking and sharing with her family. She is survived by her children, Anthony Gargani (Susan), Frank Gargani (Maria), Marianne Pillarella and Judy Vogel (James); sisters, Jean DiGiambattista and Marie DiOrio; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 53 years, Anthony Gargani; and son, Gary Gargani. The family will receive friends from 12 to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, at Haught Funeral Home Chapel, 708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Plant City. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

Henry Lee Hutto

Henry Lee Hutto, 83, of Dover, and born in Largo, Florida, died Nov. 18, 2015. Mr. Hutto was a veteran of

the United States Navy, having served in the Korean War. He was a retired state trooper with Florida Highway Patrol and a strawberry farmer. He was the chairman of deacons for Church on the Rock, a board member for the Florida Strawberry Growers Association and the security escort for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ John McKay. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Patricia “Pat” Hutto; daughter, Sherri Lynn Prescott (Mark), of Plant City; daughter-in-law, Becky Hutto, of Plant City; brother, David Hutto (Joyce), of Leesburg; grandchildren, Dale Hutto, of Plant City, Ashley Prescott (Kevin), of Plant City, and Greg Hutto (Paola), of Equador; and great-grandchildren, Ryan Prescott, Maddox Prescott and Bianca Hutto. He was preceded in death by his son, Rodney Lee Hutto. A celebration of life was held Tuesday, Nov. 24, at Church on the Rock. Committal followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City. All-A-Bloom in Plant City provided flowers for the family. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.

Alice Lampp

Alice Lampp, 85, died Nov. 10, 2015, in Plant City. Ms. Lampp was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Plant City. She worked many years for GTE and retired from a local Plant City credit union. She is survived by her nieces, Sherry L. Willis (Michael) and Rebecca “Becky” Richey; great-nieces, Michelle Tears (Shawn) and Dr. Crystal

D. Willis; great-nephew, Christopher Richey (Ashley); great-great-nieces, Reagan Tears and Avery Richey; and great-greatnephews, Kyle Tears and Evertt Richey. She was preceded in death by her parents, R.L. and Merrill (Lett) Lampp; and sister, Louise Garrels. A funeral service was held Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Wells Memorial Funeral Home and Event Center in Plant City. Burial followed at Mt. Enon Cemetery in Plant City. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to a charity of choice. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial. com.

Cheryl Parke Meeks

Cheryl Parke Meeks, 70, of Plant City, and born in St. Louis, Missouri, died Nov. 21, 2015. Parkesdale Farm Market mourns the loss of its own. Her granddaughter, Zoe, summed her up best: she had a beautiful heart, soul and face. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, James W. “Jim” Meeks; son, James W. “Jim” Meeks III (Xiomara), of Plant City; grandchildren, Zoe Meeks and Piper Meeks; mother, Helen Parke, of Plant City; siblings, Sandee Sytsma (Hank), Bobby Parke (Peggy), Colleen Fulton (Terry), and Gary Parke (Terri), of Plant City; and many nieces, nephews, family, and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, R.E. “Roy” Parke Jr. The family received friends Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Hopewell Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to LifePath Hospice, Development Dept., 12470 Telecom Drive, Suite 300, Temple Terrace, 33637. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.

Dorothy T. Miller

Dorothy T. Miller, 96, of

RANDALL LEE MOORE JR. Dec. 31, 1974 Nov. 18, 2014

A walk with God brings forth comfort knowing the child has gone to heaven. I love you and miss you. — Mama Lakeland, died Nov. 11, 2015. A native of Oakfield, Wisconsin, Mrs. Miller was the daughter of the late George and Lillian Meyers Tesch. She was of the Methodist faith. She was an amateur novelist who also enjoyed gardening, flower arranging, sewing, playing bridge and playing piano and guitar. She was the principal’s secretary at Niskayuna High School in Schenectady, New York, when it opened in 1957. In 1962, she resumed her college education and graduated summa cum laude from S.U.N.Y at Albany in 1964. She then returned to Niskayuna High School as an English teacher. While teaching, she received a master’s degree in English education at S.U.N.Y at Albany in 1968. During retirement, she lived in Mountain Home, Arkansas, Springfield, Missouri, Tampa, Florida and Lakeland. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Daniel R. Miller. She is survived by her children, Katherine Shaffer (Don), of Plant City, and Thomas Miller (Katherine), of Schenectady, New York; sister, Carol Whyms, of Oakfield; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Services will be private. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

Jacqueline Minich

Jacqueline Minich, 72, of Plant City, died Nov. 18, 2015, at her home. Mrs. Minich was a mem-

ber of St. Clement Catholic Church in Plant City. She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Larry; son, Dean Mosher; brother, Tyrone Andrews; and nine grandchildren. A celebration of life will be scheduled at St. Clement Catholic Church in the future.

Aniseto Ponce Molina

Aniseto Ponce Molina, 71, of Plant City, and born in Mexico, died Nov. 16, 2015. Mr. Molina was preceded in death by his wife, Claudia Mendoza. He is survived by his children, Romelia Ponce (Martin Charades), of Monterrey, Mexico, Gilbert Ponce, of Plant City, and Ma Rosa Ponce (Luciano Vasquez), of Noriega, Mexico; five brothers; one sister; 17 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A celebration of life was held Thursday, Nov. 19, at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City. Interment was held in Noriega, Mexico. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.

Mary Etta Myers

Mary Etta Myers, 76, of Lakeland, died Oct. 28, at her home. Mrs. Myers was an active member of Full Gospel Tabernacle and had served many families as a housekeeper for over 25 years. She also worked in the past for Sooner Defense, making ammunition for the military. She is survived by her son, Donald Myers Jr.; daughter, Deborah McFarland (Harold); brothers, Buddy and Barney Albritton; sister, Martha Costic; and grandchildren, Michael and Austin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Myers; and daughter, Phyllis Kay Myers. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Full Gospel Tabernacle, 2311 Sammond Road, Plant City.

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Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Donte Woodard Jr. was the JV Dolphins’ defensive MVP. 14 SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

SIDELINES Do you have a good Sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com, or Tweet us at @PCTOSports.

FOOTBALL

+ Dolphins present check to hospital After the Dolphins picked up the first win of the day, the team held an on-field ceremony to honor the memory of late president Buddy Bennett and present the hospital with a check. The check, which was put together after the Dolphins’ fundraising events, totaled $9,000. The hospital’s infusion/chemotherapy room is to be renamed in Bennett’s honor. Executive Director Jana Butler represented the hospital and receive the check.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

TOUCHDOWN by Justin Kline | Sports Editor

SUPERBOWL SATURDAY

Four Plant City Dolphins teams played in the Nov. 21 TCYFCC Superbowl. Two left with championships.

IT WAS A BIG DAY for the Plant City Dolphins: four of five teams in the Superbowl, plenty of fans in attendance and boxes upon boxes of first-place trophies to play for. • The Mighty Mites and varsity teams were able to grab that brass ring, opening and closing the day with orange-andteal-flooded trophy ceremonies. And although 50% of the Dolphins teams went home winners, 100% gave it their best effort.

MIGHTY MITES

+ PCHS to honor ’98 and ’99 teams

The Plant City Raiders are in the middle of a hot streak, and it’s only fitting that the school wants to give props to some of its best-ever teams. The 1998 and 1999 teams, which were the last two to advance to the second round of the playoffs, will be honored at the Friday, Nov. 27, home playoff game against Braden River. Both teams were coached by current Durant High athletic director Todd Long. The 1998 Raiders won their district and finished the year with a 10-1 record. One year later, Plant City earned the district wild card spot and ended with a 9-3 record. It’s not decided whether the ceremony will happen before the game or during halftime. For further updates, check PlantCityObserver.com.

SOFTBALL

+ Adult winter league sign-ups begin

The Plant City Recreation and Parks Department’s annual Winter Softball League is accepting registrations until Monday, Dec. 28. The league, which is based at the Randy L. Larson Softball Complex and Plant City Stadium, has three divisions: Monday Co-Ed, Tuesday Men’s Doubleheader and Thursday Men’s League. The cost is $310 per team for the regular 10-game schedules, and $500 for the 18-game doubleheader league. The season runs from mid January through April. All teams will provide their own balls before each game. Teams can register at the Rec and Parks administrative office, 1904 S. Park Road. For more information, contact Deborah Haldane at (813) 659-4200 ext. 4302, or by email at dhaldane@ plantcitygov.com. League information can also be found at teamsideline. com/plantcity.

Photos by Justin Kline

Derrick McBride splits the defense.

he Mighty Mites played in the closest game of the day, picking up a 26-21 win over a feisty Brandon Lions team. Derrick McBride and Ty’one Cooper gave the Dolphins a 14-0 lead with rushing touchdowns in the first quarter, but Brandon running back Cameron Battle made it a 14-8 game with a long run in the second quarter. McBride tacked on an insurance score with 36 seconds to play, running in the end zone on a left-side sweep. Brandon then had a touchdown called back on an illegal block, and Battle’s last-minute, zig-zag scoring chance was derailed by a fumble as

time expired. With the score at 20-8, it was the Dolphins’ turn to have a touchdown called back. Another McBride run was taken away by penalty, and several more penalties handed Brandon the ball just after the fourth quarter began. Battle scored on an 80-yard run immediately after the Lions secured the turnover on downs, making it a 20-15 game. McBride scored one more time, sweeping to the right on a 12-yard pickup, with 1:28 left to play. Brandon answered with another long run by Battle with 23 seconds left, but the Lions’ extra point attempt was no good. Plant City was able to let the clock run out.

Cameron Pelletier enjoyed every second of the win.

The Mighty Mites were the only Dolphins division to win both the Superbowl and the Cheer Off.

PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

MIDGETS

Thoughts on Superbowl Saturday

The Bucs’ defense swarmed the Dolphins. Try as they might, the Dolphins just couldn’t find an answer for East Bay’s defense until the fourth quarter. Running back Eden Wil-

liams prevented the shutout with a 55-yard rushing touchdown, which came at the 7:13 mark in the final quarter. But East Bay took the en-

suing kickoff to the house for another touchdown and got an interception at the 3:38 mark that, unofficially, iced the game.

JUNIOR VARSITY

ompared to the Pinecrest boys, the Dolphins’ JV team was undersized at nearly every position. It might have showed on the box score, too, as the Pilots got a 29-6 win. Nobody scored until early in the second quarter, after Plant City turned the ball over on downs deep in its own territory. The great field position, coupled with the Pilots’ size, didn’t matter: the Dolphins held steady and prevented Pinecrest from completing a fade in the end zone. The Dolphins scored when Jabari Wilson broke off an 80-yard run at the 7:53 mark. Donte Woodard Jr. recovered the kickoff, and Plant City was suddenly looking good against the top JV squad in the league. The second half was a different story, as Pinecrest ripped off 29 unanswered points — mostly rushing touch-

Dawson Traffanstedt cuts past a Pilots defender. downs by Hunter Cervantes. It also got one 35-yard passing touchdown in the fourth quarter to set the final score.

VARSITY

BLACK BLACK BLACK FRIDAY

Tommy Johnson made plays with his legs and arm. ed up. But, when Johnson returned in the fourth, the Dolphins woke up again.

The QB ended up scoring one last touchdown on a three-yard keeper with 2:31

FRIDAY FRIDAY

JOINING VOUCHER JOINING VOUCHER SKIP THE LINES AND JOIN THE CIRCUIT!

LEGAL NOTICE The City of Plant City will conduct smoke testing on the mainline sewer system beginning December 1, 2015 through December 4, 2015 on the following streets; Robin Drive, Johnson Loop, Spotted Lilac Lane, Lavender Jewel Court, North Johnson Street, Gordon Oaks Drive, N. Wills Street, E. Spencer Street, E. Mimosa Drive, E. Carol Drive, E. Linda Street, N. Park Road, N. Maryland Avenue, Shannon Avenue, McDavid Avenue, N. Vermont Street, N. Pennsylvania Avenue, E. Young Street, E. Devane Street, E. Frances Avenue, E. Cherry Street, E. Tomlin Street, Oakdale Street, E. Gilchrist Street, E. Baker Street, E. Calhoun Street, E. Reynolds Street, Michigan Street, N. Night Street, N. Johnson Street, N. Merrin Street, N. Warnell Street, N. Gordon Street, Center Street, Powell Street, N. Palm Drive, N. Bracewell Drive, N. Crystal Terrace, N. Nancy Terrace, S. Frontage Road, Illinois Street, Lee Villa Drive and Brown Street. If you have any questions, please call Angel Soto-Diaz at 813-757-9288 ext. 4725.

BLACK JOINING VOUCHER

NOTIFICACION PUBLICA

La ciudad de Plant City conducirá una pruebas de humo en el sistema de alcantarillado principal en las calles, a partir del 1 de diciembre de 2015 hasta diciembre 4, de 2015; Robin Drive, Johnson Loop, Spotted Lilac Lane, Lavender Jewel Court, North Johnson Street, Gordon Oaks Drive, N. Wills Street, E. Spencer Street, E. Mimosa Drive, E. Carol Drive, E. Linda Street, N. Park Road, N. Maryland Avenue, Shannon Avenue, McDavid Avenue, N. Vermont Street, N. Pennsylvania Avenue, E. Young Street, E. Devane Street, E. Frances Avenue, E. Cherry Street, E. Tomlin Street, Oakdale Street, E. Gilchrist Street, E. Baker Street, E. Calhoun Street, E. Reynolds Street, Michigan Street, N. Night Street, N. Johnson Street, N. Merrin Street, N. Warnell Street, N. Gordon Street, Center Street, Powell Street, N. Palm Drive, N. Bracewell Drive, N. Crystal Terrace, N. Nancy Terrace, S. Frontage Road, Illinois Street, Lee Villa Drive and Brown Street. Si usted tiene alguna pregunta, por favor llame a Angel Soto-Diaz at 813-757-9288 ext. 4725.

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PUBLIC NOTICE OF TESTING

left in the season, and Plant City iced the game by recovering the ensuing kickoff.

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n the other hand, the varsity team dominated Pinecrest in a 30-8 win. It was a heck of a day for quarterback Tommy Johnson, who threw three touchdown passes in the first half to give his team a 16-8 lead. Johnson and the offense were so good at sustaining and succeeding at drives that the Dolphins were able to keep Pinecrest’s offense off the field until the 4:14 mark of the first quarter. The Pilots scored a short rushing touchdown at 9:49 in the second quarter and wouldn’t come close again. Johnson had to miss a few plays after getting a little ding-

I spent nine hours at the this game’s final score could TCYFCC Superbowl Saturhave been. day, Nov. 21, and my feet are On that note, I’m also glad still a little sore. But, since that the Lions’ fans didn’t the games were so good, it get in any fights after the was worth it. loss this year. That’s a huge I’m happy for the two Dol- improvement over last year, phins teams that won when things got ugly their games. Even as the varsity team though the other two played Turkey Creek. didn’t win, those kids played hard until the DOLPHINS VS. BUCS fourth quarter ended. I’ve got to hand it That’s always going to to the East Bay Bucs: get you respect from these teams always the other teams, fans come ready to play and even the reportPlant City, and they JUSTIN ers on the sideline. usually put up a fight. KLINE The only thing I They kept Plant City wasn’t happy with off the scoreboard was the field. There were until the third quarter, by rumors going around TCYwhich time the Bucs were FCC circles, well before the already ahead by 28. And, Superbowl, that the games with former Athlete of the would be held at StrawWeek Eden Williams running berry Crest High’s field. That the ball, shutting down Plant would have been perfect, City isn’t always easy. There’s as the parking, seating and a reason these two programs field conditions in Dover are have, in my opinion, the all much better than what best rivalry in the TCYFCC. we got over the weekend. The games ended up PINECREST being played at the old I occasionally get emails Lakeland High practice from Pinecrest parents who field off of Highway 98 and want to know why we don’t Hollingsworth Road, behind cover the Pilots. They’re just the school. Parking didn’t a little too far south of our seem to be a problem, but beat — a precedence that there wasn’t much seating was set before I got here. and, worst of all, the field But, after watching their JV conditions were awful: holes team play Plant City, I wish everywhere, dirt everywhere I had been able to go see and anytime a run play them in action this season. developed around midfield, I’ve never seen bigger a little dust storm popped 12-year-olds in my life. That up and made things a little team’s not fast, but it makes more difficult for the playup for it everywhere else. ers. Plant City JV was easily the I would hope that, in the faster team but, when you’re future, the TCYFCC steps going up against guys who up to ensure that its kids are are twice your size, it’s tough playing Superbowls on fields to squeeze out a win. The that are actually maintained. Dolphins weren’t able to do Fields like Lakeland’s are it, but the final score doesn’t dangerous to kids of all ages, indicate how hard Pinecrest and I heard many people say had to work to get its points. that even the Dreadnaughts The coach was even quick have stopped practicing on to give Plant City big props the field. If that’s true, you’d in the postgame circle. I think it would be a sign that think this week’s Athlete of maybe kids shouldn’t be the Week interview, which playing there. features Donte Woodard Jr., With that, I’m done comgives you a good look at this plaining. Let’s hear about Dolphins team’s mindset for the good stuff. the game. It was cool to see the DOLPHINS VS. LIONS Dolphins varsity team get The Mighty Mites game revenge over Pinecrest immight have been my favormediately after the JV game. ite, as it was a total grinder The Pilots used a “Come that brought the drama. and Take It” flag to fuel both After getting out to a firstteams. Of course, it might half lead, the Dolphins were have worked a little better able to stay ahead for most for Plant City, if that 30-8 of the second half. But Bran- final score is any indication. don battled back, mostly on Tommy Johnson had the back of Cameron Battle. himself a game, both throwI know it’s just Mighty ing and running the ball. He Mite football and that the accounted for all of the Dolkids aren’t developed yet — phins’ touchdowns in some hence the coaches in the way. I also have to give credit backfield — but that kid to the o-line for keeping him looks like he was born to off of his back so well. play running back. If Plant City didn’t have guys like Contact Justin Kline at former Derrick McBride jkline@plantcityobserver. on hand, who knows what com.

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his 35-7 win was East Bay’s right from the beginning. The first play from scrimmage saw the Bucs score on a 60-yard run. On the Dolphins’ first possession, East Bay forced and recovered a fumble. The Bucs scored a minute and one half later, around the 6:00 mark — also the sixth play of the game. They would score one more time in the quarter, picking up a rushing touchdown not long after getting the ball back from Plant City’s turnover on downs. Plant City drove to East Bay’s red zone at the end of the quarter, but was stuffed near the goal line at the start of the second quarter. In the third quarter, East Bay picked up another touchdown to take a 28-0 lead.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

GAME OF THE WEEK

DONTE WOODARD JR.

by Justin Kline | Sports Editor

Although the Plant City Dolphins JV team took a big loss to Pinecrest at the Superbowl, every athlete on the team played with heart. One of the biggest efforts on the team came from defensive end Donte Woodard Jr., who picked up a few sacks and almost always found his way to the ball on every Dolphins defensive play. You had a pretty solid game on defense today. How did you feel before the game? I felt kind of like I had butterflies, but I believed in my team. Was this your first Superbowl? No. Every year that I’ve played, and it’s been seven years, we’ve been in every year. We’ve never won. What makes you nervous, then? They (Pinecrest) were big, and I know what happened to previous teams they played.

ran it back. That was last year, against the Lakeland Gators. That was my only punt block. What positions do you play? I play D-line, and I was playing linebacker. Which do you like better? Linebacker. It’s easier to get to the ball, and you don’t get blocked that often. You get a lot of tackles. These Pinecrest kids are massive, but you still found a way to make a ton of plays and get to the ball. How did you do it, being half the size of some of these kids? My coach always told me, ‘The bigger they are, the harder they fall.’ So that helped me. My mom told me to never be scared of height or weight.

Are you playing on this team next year? Yeah, I will be playing on this team next year. Hopefully, we’ll win. What did you learn from the game? To never give up, and strive for greatness.

Do you play any other sports? Sometimes I play basketball. And I might play baseball this year. But my favorite is football.

You all never gave up, even down big. A lot of teams would probably give up when they’re down, 29-6. Why did you guys keep going hard? Because guys like me, we’ve never won a Superbowl. We have to practice hard so that guys like us can win.

Who’s your favorite football player? Probably Warren Sapp. If you could play for any pro team when you get older, what would it be? The Seattle Seahawks.

So, are you guys gonna come out next year, turn it around and get that first win? Yes, sir, hopefully.

Let’s say a younger kid is coming up through Mighty Mites for the first time and asks you how to be good at football. What do you tell him? All you’ve got to do is put in hard work and dedication, and you’re gonna be good.

How long have you been playing football? Ever since I was 3 years old. I’m 12 now. All with the Dolphins? No, sir. I was with the Plant City Eagles for flag, then I came to the Dolphins.

You get $1 billion in the bank with your first pro football contract. What’s the first thing you buy? I don’t want to buy anything. I’m gonna give back to the organization — maybe buy a dome for them.

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever done on a football field? I blocked a punt and

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Braden River at Plant City: Hold the Line Can the Plant City Raiders make one last stand at home and head to states?

fter the Armwood game, Plant City has done nothing but pass its tests. Could the Raiders overcome a notably athletic defense? Sure — they beat Brandon, 21-13, on the road. Could the Raiders beat a team with three or four of the top playmakers in the district, let alone Hillsborough County? Sure — they beat East Bay, 22-7, on the road. Could the Raiders beat a team with a hard-hitting defense and a couple of explosive athletes? Sure — they beat Tampa Bay Tech twice, 19-3 and 35-15. Could the Raiders beat a surging rival in a game with district championship implications? Sure — they beat Durant, 21-16, on the road. If there’s a trend here, it’s that each test has been tougher than the last. And the trend will continue Friday, Nov. 27. Can the Raiders beat undefeated county juggernaut Braden River?

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Plant City’s big rematch win over Tampa Bay Tech gave the Raiders a boatload of confidence.

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yards, seven have touchdown catches, and all average over There may not be a bet- 21 yards per game. The Pirates run for almost ter team in Manatee County than the Braden River Pirates. 210 yards per game, mostly This season, those guys never with the dynamic duo of Raycame close to taking a loss: mond Thomas and Deshaun the Pirates have scored about Fenwick. Thomas, a junior, has 794 yards and 36 points per game, allowed about eight IF YOU GO 15 touchdowns on 95 carries. Fenwick, and only once (in a Where: a sophomore, has 27-17 win over Sarasota) had something 1 Raider Place, 630 yards and nine Plant City touchdowns on 98 close to a fourthWhen: carries. quarter meltdown. 7:30 p.m. Defensively, this (Seventeen points alteam knows how to lowed.) get to the ball. The Offensively, this team does just about every- Pirates have 20 interceptions thing well. Senior quarter- — five more than the Raidback Jacob Huesman has ers — and average two picks completed 66% of his passes per game to the Raiders’ clip for 1,593 yards and 14 touch- of 1.3. Team leader Demetrius downs against three interceptions. Although none of Lawson, a junior, has six his wideouts have more than picks and 93 total yards, while three touchdown catches or runner-up Tyrone Collins has Travis Williams’s 308 total three picks and 11 passes de-

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The thing is, Venice — a team Braden River had faced before in the season — does a lot of the same things that Plant City does well. Venice has a QB in Carpenter that can be dangerous when flushed out of the pocket, but Venice’s passing stats are a great deal better than Plant City’s. Venice also has an RB with over 1,000 yards and doubledigit touchdowns. And it has a third player, Court Doss, who has picked up 700-plus yards and seven touchdowns. Venice’s stout defense has a penchant for getting tackles, sacks and picks — 21 picks, three kids with 100-plus tackles and one with double-digit sacks. Plant City fans may be wondering if Venice and Braden River are all that good or, as they may have decided after the East Lake game, football is a lot easier in most places outside of Hillsborough County. It’s a fair question to ask at this point, as Hillsborough teams have looked good throughout the playoffs. What’s important to note is that the Pirates will be on the road for the first time in the playoffs. Plant City has built up a ton of momentum with its recent home wins, and have thus far shown the ability to adapt to whatever sticky situation it can fall into. Beating Braden River would be an enormous confidencebooster for the Raiders, which they would absolutely need: their next game would be in Orlando against the winner of Ft. Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas and Hialeah Gardens-Mater Academy. All Plant City has to do is exactly what it’s done for most of the season: hold the line. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobser ver. com.

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fensed. Last week, Braden River picked up a 17-0 win over Venice. The Pirates only managed to score in the first half, but the box score can only say so much. Braden River was in control from start to finish. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Carpenter, clearly rattled, completed nine of 17 pass attempts for 127 yards and threw two picks.

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PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

RAIN

PLANT CITY

(INCHES) Nov. 12

0.00

FRI.

TEMPERATURES

Nov. 13

0.71

Friday, Nov. 27 Saturday, Nov. 28 Sunday, Nov. 29 Monday, Nov. 30 Tuesday, Dec. 1 Wednesday, Dec. 2 Thursday, Dec. 3

SAT.

Nov. 14

0.91

SUN.

Nov. 15

0.81

MON.

HIGH 81 82 83 85 83 80 76

Nov. 16

SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

TUES.

Friday, Nov. 27 Saturday, Nov. 28 Sunday, Nov. 29 Monday, Nov. 30 Tuesday, Dec. 1 Wednesday, Dec. 2 Thursday, Dec. 3

0.00

Nov. 17

0.00

WED.

Nov. 18

0.00

MONTH

TO DATE

4.29 (2014: 3.26)

SUNRISE 6:59 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 7:01 a.m. 7:02 a.m. 7:03 a.m. 7:04 a.m.

LOW 62 63 64 65 66 62 60

Do you have a picture that speaks to the personality of Plant City? To enter the I Love Plant City photo contest, email that photo and a caption to Managing Editor AMBER JURGENSEN at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com. Winners will have their picture featured and receive a special gift.

MOON PHASES

SUNSET 5:33 p.m. 5:33 p.m. 5:33 p.m. 5:33 p.m. 5:32 p.m. 5:32 p.m. 5:32 p.m.

Dec. 3

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Dec. 11

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YEAR

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CRYPTOQUIZ Each of the following cryptograms is a clue to the identity of an American politician. Using the hints A=E and T=R, decipher the clues to name the politician.

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CROSSWORD YUM! by Oscar Puma ACROSS 1 Sheriff’s symbol 6 Chopped with an ax 11 1/2 fl. oz. 15 Headstone letters 18 Coolly detached 19 “Hurray!” 20 Lines on timelines 21 Express longing 22 Yummy 24 Yummy 26 Blood supply 27 Gambler’s woe 28 Fertile areas in deserts 30 Musical beginning 31 Downpour or drizzle 33 Lowly laborer 35 Desert plants 37 Treat tenderly 40 Like flushed cheeks 42 Femur’s upper end 43 Animal that beats its chest 44 Engage in a price war 46 Playground fixtures 50 Luxurious passenger cars 52 Prepares 54 Pod denizen 55 En route by ship 56 Golden Horde member 59 Fancy wheels 60 Aquatic resorts 61 Refer to, as a research paper 63 Woodworker’s tool 66 Blade sharpeners 68 Additional 70 Yummy 73 Affected, as a museumgoer 74 Signs back in 76 Tied up 77 Caesar’s 8 78 Eyes, in poetry 79 Yelled “Action!” 81 Operatic villains, often 84 Old Russian autocrat 87 “Do re me fa ___ ...” 88 Do a second time, as a role 91 Kind of patch 93 Expert at interpreting text 95 All-male get-together 98 “Yes” gesture 99 Grabbed a bite 100 Red carpet moment 101 Acts as king 103 Bagel enhancers 107 Eliminates from (with “of”) 108 Grounds for a suit 109 Ishmael’s people 110 No longer on the plate 112 1.3-ounce Asian weight 114 Guinness and others 118 Yummy 120 Make a pig of oneself 123 Wall St. debuts 124 Bottom-line figures 125 Tear open, as seams 126 Wilkes-___, Pennsylvania 127 ___ Moines, Iowa 128 Furtive summons 129 Orange rinds

130 Once ___ (annually) DOWN 1 Baseball bases 2 ___ vera (lotion plant) 3 It’s in a jamb 4 French filmmaker Jean-Luc 5 Baby newt 6 Chinese green tea variety 7 Has dinner 8 Library volume? 9 Clock watcher’s wait, seemingly 10 Humanitarian 11 “Bill & ___ Excellent Adventure” 12 Like some births 13 Hispanic dance music 14 Tire-pressure letters 15 Causes for the National Guard 16 Become accustomed (to) 17 Change in Chihuahua 21 Some cheesecake 23 Make an enemy 25 They have their limits 29 Cronelike 32 Styptic-pencil ingredient 34 Harris and Asner 36 Kraft product

37 ___-pie (from head to foot) 38 “Mr. Holland’s ___” (1996) 39 Yummy 40 Take a load off 41 Grand closing 45 “CSI” evidence 46 A ___ for sore eyes 47 Yummy 48 Becomes threadbare 49 Mouthy 51 Scottish landowners 53 The break of day 57 Rainbow’s shape 58 200-meter, e.g. 60 Like a tough teacher 62 It’s on some Scottish locks 64 Ford Explorer, e.g. 65 Commoner 67 ___ chi 68 Jagged, as a leaf’s edge 69 Make copies of 70 Medicated compress 71 Mouse manipulator 72 Alfonso’s royal wife 75 Drink served with a lemon (var.) 77 Old record player 80 Home plate? 82 Click, as the fingers

83 “Dear” one 85 Shakespearean “soon” 86 Cincinnati nine 88 Do 111-Down again 89 Keep for later use 90 Gobbling with gusto 92 ___ and terminer (hearing or trial) 94 Bass members of the viol family 96 The Almighty 97 Models exhibit it well 100 One of a Biblical 150 102 Call ___ (quit) 103 Yummy 104 Band worn as a sign of mourning 105 Angelic headwear 106 Picture puzzle 108 Here-today employees 111 Word with “scratch” and “screen” 113 Protective seed cover 115 Italian cash, once 116 Pound or Cornell 117 Crystal-ball consulter 119 Cleopatra’s deadly reptile 121 Small bill 122 76ers’ org.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

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DEPRESSION

1IN 6

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GENERATION XERS (AGES 37-48) ALREADY HAVE HEARING LOSS

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TEENAGERS HAVE SOME TYPE OF HEARING LOSS

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