Plant City Times &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015
Find out season happenings in this year’s guide.
Parkesdale co-owner is remembered.
PlantCityObserver.com has a new look. We’ve updated our website to give it a streamlined feel. Readers will find its minimalist design and simplified categories easy to navigate. Tell us what you think on our Facebook page, Facebook. com/PlantCityObserver, or email Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcity observer.com.
How did area football teams fair this year?
INSIDE
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YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Corner Store expands with pop-up shop WHAT’S INSIDE:
ONLINE
RECAP
HOLIDAY GUIDE
TRIBUTE
OUR TOWN
FREE
Time to Celebrate - Find out what’s going on for the holidays with our calendar - pg 2 Put a Bow on It - This shopping guide will help you check off your Christmas list - pg 4 Treats for Santa - Make Santa more than cookies with these sweet recipes - pg 12 Vintage Christmas - See how Plant City celebrated the season in the past - pg 14
PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER HOLIDAY GUIDE
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Known for its “Eat Well or Die” mentality, a shop is now open in Lakeland. The rich flavors of Spanish cuisine, the sizzling spices of India, gourmet cheeses and delicacies from around the globe — that’s what Corner Store owners Cynthia and Joe Diaz are offering at their new location in Lakeland. A fixture on Reynolds Street in Plant City’s Historic Downtown, The Corner Store was opened in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World eight years ago. Over two years ago, its own-
ers began their next endeavor: creating a specialty, pop-up grocery store in neighboring Lakeland. The new establishment, at 801 E. Main St. in Lakeland, opened in November. The store offers a variety of gourmet goods and specialty foods, different from items sold at Plant City’s location. The cozy store, which Joe Diaz built out of a pod, will not feature the Corner Store’s typical menu items, but will in-
stead focus on selling unique ingredients from Mexico, India, Thailand, Spain and more. A variety of local products also will be available. In addition to ingredients, the shop will sell dips, spreads and prepared salads and sandwiches. “The gourmet specialty market in Lakeland was our goal, and I think we’ve done it,” Cynthia Diaz said. “We want people to think of us first.” The Diazes decided to open
the new pop-up shop after partnering with Jarrid Masse and Robyn Wilson, the owners of The Poor Porker in Lakeland, a specialty shop that started off as a beignet booth. The Diazes first met Masse and Wilson at a Lakeland farmers market five years ago. Now, The Corner Store will be located in a hub of other specialty shops that sell lo-
SEE CORNER STORE / PAGE 4
by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
DWTL a success
Army veteran Carmen CuzaVelez and son Triston Wright are staying with her husband, Roy, and their three other children at La Quinta Inn & Suites in Tampa. CuzaVelez is one of nearly 50,000 homeless veterans in the United States. Emily Topper
A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Carmen Cuza-Velez is proud of her military background. But now, the mother of four is facing a battle on her homeland.
Tree lot accepting food donations The Optimist Club is expanding its outreach efforts through its Christmas Tree Lot. Visitors who bring three nonperishable cans or boxes of food will get a $5 discount on their tree. The club will work with the Plant City Police Department to identify families in need. The club sells over 800 trees. The lot has been running for 50 years. It is one of two fundraisers for the civic-minded club. Proceeds benefit area youth programs. The lot is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends. For more information email president@ plantcityoptimistclub. com.
HOMELESS VETERANS According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there are about 49,933 homeless veterans in the United States. Of these veterans: make up the homeless adult population reside in suburban/ rural areas of homeless veterans have disabilities have substance abuse problems
12% 32% 51% 70%
G
rowing up, New Jersey native Carmen Cuza-Velez was a daddy’s girl. But after seeing the film “Private Benjamin,” which stars Goldie Hawn as a ritzy, prissy girl who joins the United States Army, CuzaVelez made the decision to enlist. “It was the best decision of my life,” Cuza-Velez said. “I would definitely be a career soldier.” Now a proud veteran, CuzaVelez’s father didn’t take her too seriously when she announced her plans to join the armed forces. But after doing well on her tests, Cruz-Velez was stationed in Georgia, South Carolina and Hawaii, while serving from 1991 to 1995. As part of her active duty,
Cuza-Velez worked as an armor supply specialist. She inspected and cleaned weapons, and was able to take them apart and put them back together. “It’s funny, because I never really liked weapons,” CuzaVelez said. “But I liked putting on my uniform ... and doing what I do. The camaraderie, the teamwork ... it felt like a family.” In 1995, Cuza-Velez left active service to give birth to her eldest son, Triston Wright. Wright, now 19, was CuzaVelez’s first child after three miscarriages. Cuza-Velez left active duty with a hearing disability, but thought about re-enlisting after she finished her three years in the U.S. Reserves.
HOMETOWN HEROES EDITOR’S NOTE: Hometown Heroes is a recurring feature in the Plant City Times & Observer in which we profile veterans from Plant City. If you have a loved one currently serving or who has served in the past, please contact Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen by email at ajurgensen@ plantcityobserver. com or by phone at (813) 704-6850.
SEE HERO / PAGE 4
Traffic to be eased near Wawa A traffic light and turn lane will be installed on Thonotosassa Road at the Interstate 4 exit ramp. Construction began in November on a Florida Department of Transportation project to help with traffic congestion at the intersection of Thonotosassa Road and the eastbound Interstate 4 exit ramp. A traffic light will be installed at the intersection, and an additional right turn lane from I-4 onto southbound Thonotosassa Road will be added next to an existing lane. The intersection has seen an increase in traffic as more businesses, including Starbucks, Wawa and Publix, have been built near it. A Hampton Inn is also under construction on the east side of Thonotosassa Road, near Waffle House. The goal of the project is to keep all lanes of traffic open, especially during peak travel times. The new additions also will allow for better traffic flow during major Plant City events, such as the annual Florida Strawberry Festival. “Right now it’s all free flow,” John McShaffrey, the public information officer for the FDOT’s Interstate Construction office, said. The project is estimated to be completed in spring 2016. It will cost about $2 million and is being completed by Gibbs and Register Inc. “For the most part, staging’s being done,” McShaffrey said. Since the contract began on Nov. 12, the contractor has put
SEE TRAFFIC / PAGE 4
INDEX Calendar........................2
The Corner Store, Lakeland Offers gourmet and specialty foods not sold at its Plant City location. Local products such as honey, jams and jellies are available, as are dips, spreads, salads and sandwiches. Where: 801 E. Main St. Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday to Sunday Web: TheCornerStore.com
ON THE ROAD
HOMETOWN HERO by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
The final tally is in: Dancing with the Locals raised over $50,000 Friday, Nov. 13. The charity dance competition is held every year at the John R. Trinkle Center. Dancers raise money for Plant City’s Noon Rotary Club. Ticket sales also bring in proceeds. There were over 350 guests at this year’s event. This year, Darry and Heather Dykstra won for the top dancing couple. The winner is decided by the most votes, with votes equaling dollars. There is also an award by the panel of judges, for their favorite dancers. Marshal Sewell and Megan Mayo-Sewell won the award. If you are interested in dancing next year please contact Jodi SmithStevens at jodi.smithstevens@baycare.org.
IF YOU GO
Vol. 3, No. 18 | One section Crossword....................15
Obituaries....................11
Sports..........................12
Weather.......................15
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