12.10.20 PLCO by Plant City Observer

Plant City Observer

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FREE • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

VARREA PUBLIC HEARING AROUND THE CORNER City commissioners are BREANNE WILLIAMS

holding a public hearing on modifications to the Varrea Development District next week.

STAFF WRITER

Next week’s commission meeting is sure to draw a crowd as commissioners will finally hear from the Varrea Planned Development District about conceptual modifications. Varrea, which was originally approved by the City Commission in 2007 as the Cone Farms Community Unit District, was subsequently modified in 2011 and 2015. Much like North Park Isle, it is years in the making and the community has often wondered if it would ever be completed.

It appears the time is close at hand. The plan is for Varrea to become a massive community on the other side of I-4 near the southwest corner of Charlie Taylor and East Knights Griffin roads. Over the years, commissioners have heard complaints from neighboring residents of flooding issues, traffic concerns and the threat to wildlife by the influx of motor vehicles on the rural backroads.

SEE PAGE 5

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Oh, what a night. The annual Plant City Christmas Parade, held Dec. 4, was a massive hit as the community tuned in — both in person and via social media — to get their holiday fix. This year’s event was shorter than most have seen in years, but stuck to its traditional route along Collins and Reynolds streets. Floats, ROTC units, churches, businesses and organizations all led a merry march through downtown to shepherd in Santa’s return.

Guest judges Wendy Whitt, Rob Shaw, Taylor Jenkins and C.J. Major reviewed each entry and picked the top three winners, who will receive their prizes later this week in a special ceremony. This year’s event had a twist that turned out to be a major hit. The City of Plant City live-streamed the entire parade with Mayor Rick Lott and City Manager Bill McDaniel emceeing. The duo also interviewed influential people involved in the parade throughout the evening, adding some depth and a behind the scenes look at the experience.

SEE PAGE 6

Christmas lights, festive floats, holiday music and an appearance of Santa Claus himself made Friday’s Christmas Parade one to remember for years to come.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

thank the crew from ‘Our Gang,’ the Plant City Elks Lodge and friends and neighbors of our community. The gifts will stay right here in Plant City.”

Bubbakoo’s Burritos opens Plant City restaurant

Photos courtesy of the City of Plant City

Dog park project under way The Plant City Dog Park parking and bridge project is going full steam ahead, the Parks and Recreation Department said in a press release. Tampa Bay Marine is upgrading the park, 905 E. Knight St., with a new asphalt parking lot with “17 parking spaces including two handicap spaces, a stormwater pond with pipe culvert and drainage structures, signs and pavement markings, installation of a pre-fabricated pedestrian bridge with concrete foundations to allow for pedestrians to cross the existing canal and access the dog park, ADA sidewalk connection from the parking lot to the dog park, and LED site lighting for the parking lot area, the dog park facility and the pedestrian bridge,” according to the press release. The park will be closed at times through the expected project completion date of March 2021. For more information, contact the department at 813-659-4255 or recinfo@ plantcitygov.com.

The coronavirus only made life tougher for many people in 2020, so offering more help was an easy call for Sobh to make. “We all know families and organizations that have taken even a harder hit this year,” Sobh wrote on the @hungryhowiespc Instagram. “Help me give them a December that they’ll remember. If you know a family or organization with a need please nominate them. Let’s continue to stay #PlantCityStrong and spread holiday cheer!” To nominate families in need, send a direct message to the @hungryhowiespc Instagram account.

Elks report toy drive results Courtesy of Judy Wise Today with Rae

Hungry Howie’s helping more families Fresh off of a joint effort with The Corner Store to feed local families on Thanksgiving, the Alexander Street Hungry Howie’s is back at it again in December. Owner Ali Sobh is in the middle of a “December to Remember” campaign to help even more Plant City residents in need. It’s the second year in a row Sobh and the restaurant have gotten in the Christmas spirit: last year, they sought nominations for local families that could use some help and he personally took them to Walmart for a shopping spree on Christmas Eve.

Last week’s toy drive dinner at the Plant City Elks Lodge was a success with more than 40 bicycles and a huge heap of unwrapped toys donated by the community. “What a special community we have in Plant City,” Elks officer Judy Wise said. “Our friends and neighbors stopped by or dropped off gifts for hours. We want to

New Jersey-based Bubbakoo’s Burritos, a Mexican fusion-style fast-casual chain where customers can build their burCourtesy of the Cityown of Plant City ritos, finally opened its doors in Plant City on Monday. “Our team is thrilled to open in this area,” franchise owner Mike Goodwin said in a press release. “We’re looking forward to serving some delicious food to a new community.” Bubbakoo’s, located at 1701 S. Alexander St. Suite 108, has opened 40 locations in seven states since its founding in 2008 and the chain is rapidly expanding. Bubbakoo’s offers burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, chips and dips, desserts and more, and it also offers a signature creation of the month. This month’s signature item is the Crispy Chicken Bacon Quesadilla. It’s known not only for its food but also for its Read It to Eat It program, where students can receive a free meal for every five books they read. Visit bubbakoos.com for more information about the chain or to order online.

Courtesy of Bubbakoo’s Burritos

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

CHRISTMAS IS NEAR PREPARES TO HEAD TO PLANT CITY The massive Tampa Christmas celebration is headed to Plant City on Dec. 23. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

One of Tampa Bay’s most anticipated Christmas event is headed to Plant City. Christmas is Near, a free community event hosted by Relevant Church, has been spreading Christmas cheer to the community for eight years. The event is traditionally held at Curtis Hixon Park in Tampa and the church itself is located in Ybor City. When the idea first came to light it aimed to provide a Christmas service for families and individuals that wanted to have something at Christmas time, but weren’t looking for a traditional service at a church. Paul Wirth, Relevant’s Lead Pastor, added that its goal was twofold as it also allowed members from neighboring churches to attend without competing or conflicting with traditional services churches all over the world hold on Christmas Eve. “It’s more like a Christmas festival,” Wirth said. “There are events for kids to do — and I think the best way to describe the kids’ game area is to picture festival or carnival type games with free gifts and prizes for kids that they can collect and fill their stockings with — and there’s also a food truck rally going on at the same time for families to enjoy a good meal and make good memories.” There will also be a “Gaming Truck” on site that will allow youth to play video games with their friends. In a nod to the beloved Florida Strawberry Festival, Relevant reached out to many of the vendors that frequent the 11-day strawberry extravaganza. Classics like Smitty’s Corn Dogs and Fiske Concessions will be on site as will local favorites like Unami Smoke and Gertrude’s Low

Country Wings Food Truck. The game area and concerts are completely free, so the only things families will have to cover are their meals if they stop by a food truck. However, if you pick up a flyer around town there is a $5 coupon that you can use at the event with any of the food vendors. “We looked and looked for a space to have Christmas is Near, and obviously with the new normal everyone is experiencing, there were changes all around this year,” Wirth said. “A lot of venues are not open because they may be indoors or maybe aren’t having any large-scale events, so we kept asking around and praying about it and we had some members that knew Paul Davis at the festival, and we decided to ask if this was something they would consider allowing us to have on their property. We met with Paul and he said that they don’t traditionally rent out the festival grounds. The only time recently they’ve done that is for Franklin Graham and I joked that our church was far from that caliber. But I think we all agreed that with everything going on right now, people are just looking for hope. This has been a year that has not been filled with hope and I hope because of the gift of Christmas that this service, this event, will help restore some of that hope in people.” Because the event is being held in the pandemic, Wirth said the festival grounds became a perfect location as there was ample room for people to spread out and still enjoy the festivities. There will be hand washing and hand sanitizing stations all over the grounds as well as signs that encourage social distancing and mask wearing. Wirth said they are following the CDC guidelines and are thankful they were allowed to have such a great venue to hold their event.

The event itself will begin at 6 p.m. on Dec. 23 with the kids’ activities kicking off right away and the food trucks opening for business. There is a pre-show at 7 p.m. with a band that will play Christmas songs and a candlelight service — the full service — will follow. The Christmas Concert will begin at 8 p.m. The children’s activities will be held right in front of the Astin Farms pavilion. You can park in front of the building right off of Reynolds and Oak streets and see the children’s art from where you park. The food vendors mimic the setup at the festival and will be across the road by the grandstands. The concerts and service will take place inside and there will be a large area for people to spread out and distance while still worshiping and celebrating the season. Wirth said the reception to Relevant bringing the event to town has been incredible. Relevant entered partnerships with City Pointe Church and GraceWay Church and will unite Christians throughout the community on this special evening. “I live in Eastern Hillsborough County and I’m at Krazy Kup every single week studying, so I feel like I’m a native in Eastern Hillsborough County,” Wirth said. “So I just said, ‘What about the festival grounds? And we met with Paul and his team of people and they were just so wonderful to work with… we have people that drive from all over to our church. They come from Plant City, Lakeland, even as far as Auburndale, so this feels like we are kind of stepping into our backyard for an evening of celebration. Doing it at the festival grounds was the best place we could do it at because one, people know the festival and two, people love the festival. We are just excited to move to a different area and see what God does.”

Photos courtesy of Relevant Church

For more information visit relevantchurch.com/cin/ or follow @RelevantTampa on Facebook or Instagram. IF YOU GO When: 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 23. Where: Florida Strawberry Festival fairgrounds, 303 BerryFest Place Family Activities: 6 to 8 p.m. Christmas Concert: 8 to 9:30 p.m. Cost: Free

COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

This week on Cops Corner:

PLANT CITY

Observer

Plant City Police served an arrest warrant and investigated stolen furniture, a stolen out-of-state tag, a car burglary and more. NOVEMBER 25

a motorcycle got angry with her, stopped his vehicle at the above listed intersection, yelled at her and hit her passenger side mirror with his hand, breaking it off. The complainant signed a waiver of prosecution.

WORK FOR IT 900 block of Monroe Street Multiple charges: Officers went to a residence to apprehend a female subject with a warrant for her arrest out of Hillsborough County for drug offenses. The subject hid in her bathroom and an officer had to force entry into the room to be able to apprehend her. She was taken to Orient Road Jail and was charged with resisting arrest without violence.

NOVEMBER 26 SNEAKING INTO THE CLUB 1310 block of East Cherry Street Theft: This complainant stated his neighbor told him an unknown female subject entered his mail box and stole mail around 11:30 p.m. Nov. 25. The complainant checked the USPS Mail Delivery app and found that the stolen item was a Sam’s Club credit card that was marked as delivered by USPS but missing from his mailbox. He canceled the credit card and signed a waiver of prosecution.

SHOPPING SPREE 1410 block of East Baker Street Fraud: This complainant stated an unknown person opened a credit card in his name and spent $6,037 on Oct. 13. MOVING MADNESS 620 block of South Collins Street Burglary: This complainant stated an unknown subject cut the locks of two moving truck and stole $4,000 worth of moving equipment.

PERSON OF INTEREST 2000 block of Sammonds Road Warrant arrest: Officers arrested a man with a pair of outstanding warrants: one with the U.S. Marshals Office for a weapons charge, one for felony possession of a controlled substance out of Pasco County. He was taken to Orient Road Jail without incident.

ROAD RAGE Turkey Creek Road/Highway 574 Criminal mischief: This complainant stated a male subject on

Photo: iStock

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

NOVEMBER 28

NOVEMBER 29

TWO FOR ONE DEAL 500 block of West Ball Street Vehicle burglary: Two complainants around the area of the 500 block of West Ball Street reported their vehicles were burglarized overnight. One complainant reported the theft of miscellaneous cards and the other reported his wallet was stolen.

HIDE AND SEEK 1200 block of North Wheeler Street Multiple charges: Officers investigating a disturbance call learned one of the suspects had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for driving with a suspended license. They went to his home, announced themselves and tried to get him to surrender. The subject instead hid behind a couch in the carport. He was arrested and taken to Orient Road Jail without incident. THE OL’ SWITCHEROO 2000 block of South Frontage Road Vehicle and tag theft: This complainant, who had stayed at the Comfort Inn and was in the process of leaving, stated someone stole the out-of-state tag from his Dodge Ram pickup truck and replaced it with a Florida tag. A short time later, a new 2021 Dodge Ram was found at the same location and officers confirmed it was stolen.

BARGAIN BIN 2800 block of James L. Redman Parkway Vehicle burglary: This complainant stated unknown subject(s) stole several miscellaneous tools from his truck while it was parked at Lowe’s and he was inside the store. REDECORATING 900 block of West Baker Street Residential burglary: This complainant stated unknown subject(s) stole items from her porch overnight. The list of stolen items includes a 10x10 canopy bed, barstools, an outdoor heater, a bookshelf and two folding tables.

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PUBLIC HEARING ON VARREA MODIFICATIONS Next week’s city commission meeting will put a spotlight on modifications to the Varrea Development District. FROM PAGE 1

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Currently, the Varrea Planned Development District is approved as an approximately 1,008-acre large-scale mixed-use development located entirely within the area encompassed by the Northeast Plant City Area Master Plan. This development is currently approved for 2,640 single and multi-family dwelling units, 345,000 square feet of commercial and 50,000 square feet of office uses “to be developed within the requirements of a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND).” The public hearing, which will be held during the commission meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, will first have a presentation from the applicant proposing five modifications to the PD. After the applicant presents, the public will have the chance to chime in with thoughts, support or concerns. The modifications, according to the City of Plant City, are as follows: To modify the development pattern from the TND standards and develop the PD under our PD standards while utilizing the reduced setbacks opportunity available to those developments larger than 350 acres that provide at least 30% open space with 10% of the open space being usable open space. To change the roadway layout and access points to accommodate the new proposed development pattern. To expand the Mixed Use Area 1 (northeast area of PD) as per proposed PC/CPA 20-03 Comprehensive Plan Amendment. To add a proposed school site to the plan. To propose the smallest single family detached lot be 40 feet wide, but placing a

limit on the number of 40 foot wide lots to 582 which is 30% of the proposed maximum of 1,940 single family detached and attached units. Unlike the North Park Isle hearing, which took place a little more than two weeks ago, these proposed changes do not address the number of residential units or the nonresidential square footage that is currently approved. If you wish to attend the public hearing in person, you may do so by heading to the City Commission Chamber of the Nettie Berry Draughon Municipal Building, 302 W. Reynolds St., at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14. Once the hearing is over, commissioners will consider whether to approve the ordinance. Keep in mind physical attendance to the meeting is limited due to COVID-19 precautions and social distancing guidelines. Public seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Everyone attending the meeting must sign in, answer questions regarding potential exposure to COVID-19 within the past 14 days, submit to a temperature screening and must wear a face covering or other cloth or material covering the nose and mouth. They must also comply with social distancing guidelines once within the building. If you do not comply, you may be removed from the meeting and anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be asked to leave. However, you can still watch the public hearing from the safety of your own home by streaming the entire city commission meeting at the City of Plant City Government’s YouTube page.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

THANKSGIVING SPREAD BEGINS TO TRICKLE INTO COVID DATA We are starting to see the effect the Thanksgiving holiday had on the spread of COVID-19 throughout the country. Now it’s time to brace for Christmas. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

In Florida alone there were 7,985 coronavirus cases and 98 deaths added Tuesday, which raised the state total to 1,073,770 infections and 19,627 deaths. With the data from the Florida Department of Health, it shows the state has reported approximately 9,372 cases and 102 deaths per day this week. Because of that, Florida still has the third-highest number of cases in the country since the start of the pandemic. Texas has the second-highest with 1.2 million cases and California has had the most with more than 1.3 million cases recorded. Locally, the numbers continue to vary by county. Hillsborough still has the highest number of total cases at 62,149 cases and 975 deaths. Then there is a large gap followed by Pinellas coming in as the second-highest with 35,505 cases and 943 deaths. Next is Polk with 29,734 cases and 709 deaths. Manatee currently has a total of 18,008 cases and 396 deaths. Pasco has 16,543 cases and 309 deaths. There is another large gap with Hernando coming in as the next-highest with 5,531 cases and 230 deaths. Citrus has had the lowest total so far with 5,217 cases and 187 deaths. In Tampa Bay as a whole there were 1,769 coronavirus cases and 21 deaths reported Tuesday. Of those, Pinellas County had nine deaths, Polk County had five deaths, Pasco County had three deaths and Hillsborough and Citrus counties had two deaths each. Neither Manatee nor Hernando counties had any new deaths reported. To put that in perspective, Tuesday’s numbers showed there were 4,560 people

in the state hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19. Of those, 919 were in Tampa Bay, where only 21 percent of hospital beds and 15 percent of ICU beds are currently available. As a whole, the uptick in numbers is reflected across the nation. According to the COVID Tracking Project, the U.S. is now averaging nearly 200,000 confirmed cases a day over the course of the last week. More than 2,200 people a day have died during this time period. Many other states are also seeing a substantial jump. Georgia’s COVID-19 tally nearly doubled in December from November. Alabama nearly doubled as well, as its authorities — who reported an average of 14,000 new cases a week through the second half of November — announced the first week of December had more than 22,000 new cases. The recent focus of many officials has been to warn the public to avoid traveling and gathering in large groups for the holidays while also delving deeper into the proposed timeline of the vaccines that are on the horizon. Many are reminding people that no vaccine will be available by Christmas, so choosing to gather or venture into large groups is a risk that may result in infection. There is no safe way to travel in a pandemic — there are merely “safer” options. While Florida may not have any regulations in place to keep its residents safe, many other states do. So if you plan to travel, make sure you know what is required of you before you attempt to enter that state.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE

Last Friday’s Christmas Parade was unique, but had something for everyone to enjoy. FROM PAGE 1 Photos by Breanne Williams

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

As of Tuesday, more than 30,000 people had tuned in to watch the livestream and there were hundreds of shares and comments. Some floats were decked to the nines in holiday lights while others brought some entertainment via live music, dancing and even a karate presentation. The highlight, inevitably, was announced well before the big man himself arrived as watchers blocks away cheered at the top of their lungs at the sight of jolly old Saint Nick and his jovial bride. As the flying reindeer pulled the miraculous duo through the city children and adults alike set their stresses of the past never-ending year aside and basked in the holiday magic. Santa — or perhaps Mr. Snow Miser? — was even kind enough to give attendees slightly chilly weather. It was a true Christmas miracle for the Sunshine State.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

The 22nd annual tree lightning ceremony was held Steam Cleaned Dec. 3 in McCall Park. 3 Rooms $85 JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Lights of Love, the first of Plant City’s two major annual Christmas traditions, brought the holiday’s spirit back downtown Dec. 3 and got the area ready for the next day’s Christmas Parade. The ceremony looked a little different than usual: attendees were asked to prac-

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tice social distancing and wear masks, and Waterperformance Extraction 24-Hr Service Carpet Dyeing & Repairs the usual musical by |First Baptist Church of Plantwww.AllSaintscc.com City was limited to two performers onstage. Other than that, the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation’s big night brought back the same good vibes Plant City residents have enjoyed for the last 22 years.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

CHRISTMAS SEEKING CHRISTMAS CHEER

Christmas is only two weeks away and events are picking up steam around town. With the holidays right around the corner, families are searching for the perfect events to get into the Christmas spirit. However, 2020 is a year unlike any other and many traditional events have either been cancelled for good or will feature alterations to accommodate CDC guidelines and keep guests safe. If you want to get some unique holiday shopping in, take in some Christmas lights or even go on a holiday run, the following events are sure to help fill your days with yuletide cheer. The majority of the events listed were sent to the Observer and then compiled into a holiday calendar.

FRIDAY, DEC. 11 MEET SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS

Mr. and Mrs. Claus are heading to Slabach & Co., 110 E. Keysville Road, to join in the fun at the Community Market. There will be Christmas-themed photo ops, craft vendors, food trucks, children’s activities and even some snow. All activities will be held outdoors. Visit the event’s Facebook page for a full list of dates.

THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

First Baptist Church of Plant City is hosting a drive-in Christmas light show nightly through Jan. 2. If you want to attend simply drive up for the show, which runs from 6 to 10 p.m. and is approximately 30 minutes long. For more information, visit FBCPC.om/ light.

SATURDAY, DEC. 12 FACEBOOK LIVE SATURDAY BUILD

Brick City Bricks, 107 E. Reynolds St., is hosting a holiday-themed LEGO Breakfast Build at 10 a.m. on Dec. 12. This build will be for a fun Christmas ornament. Pick up your build by Dec. 11 in-store. The cost of the build is $10.

CHRISTMAS MOVIE NIGHT “OUTDOORS”

Graceway Church of Plant City, 3106 S. Wiggins Road, is inviting families out to enjoy some of the most beloved Christmas classics including, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” starting at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 12. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and enjoy the popcorn and drinks provided by the church. Get there early to get a spot on the back lot. For more information, visit graceway365.com.

SUNDAY, DEC. 13 KEEL FARMS HOLIDAY MARKET

If you’re looking for a way to shop local and still find unique and well-crafted Christmas gifts, come on out to Keel & Curley Winery,

5202 Thonotosassa Road, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 13. There will be a slew of local artists and small businesses on site including Two Blondes Boutique, Timber Shack Woodworks, Dreaming Garden Designs, Smokey’s Lifestyle Cigars, Anne’s Wreaths, Keep Calm + Nail It with Carmen, Lula’s Bath and Bombs, Polkadot Pink and more. The market is free to attend and is a #supportlocal craft fair.

TUESDAY, DEC. 15 TOPICS ON TAP: HOLIDAY MINGLE

Plant City Main Street is having a holiday themed Topics on Tap at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 15 at The Mercantile, 208 S. Collins St. Rather than diving into a downtown centric topic this month’s event will be a strictly social holiday celebration. Wear your best ugly holiday sweater and enjoy the beautiful downtown. Appetizers and drinks will be provided by Plant City Main Street. The event is free to attend and COVID-19 safety precautions will be in place.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT RUN

The Plant City Running Club is hosting a Christmas Light Run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 15. This fun run will be along a route through downtown Plant City so that those who participate can take in all of the Christmas light displays. The Running Club is asking for attendees to wear holiday gear and lights as well. The group will meet at McCall Park, 100 N. Collins St., will run the route and end back up at McCall Park. This is just a fun run and a social event, so no sign-ups are needed. Just bring your running shoes and show up for a fun evening.

THURSDAY, DEC. 17 CHRISTMAS MOVIE TRIVIA NIGHT

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Industry, 119 S. Collins St., is hosting a holiday-themed trivia night. Come on out to take part in a Christmas movie trivia contest. One round will be at 6:30 p.m. and the other will be at 7:30 p.m. Use your Christmas knowledge to the best of your ability and see if you can walk away victorious.

SATURDAY, DEC. 19 CHRISTMAS WITH VALLEY’S END

Come out to Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., to listen to Valley’s End from 7 to 8:33 p.m. on Dec. 19. It’s an annual tradition at Krazy Kup.

PLANT PLANT CITY CITY OBSERVER OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER DECEMBER 10, 10, 2020 2020

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DOMESTIC MAIL

For Mexico: Priority Mail Express International Service: Dec. 14 Global Express Guaranteed Service: Dec. 22

For contiguous United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii): USPS Retail Ground Service: Dec. 15 First-Class Mail Service: Dec. 18 Priority Mail Service: Dec. 19 Priority Mail Express Service: Dec. 23 For Alaska: First-Class Mail Service: Dec. 18 Priority Mail Service: Dec. 19 Priority Mail Express Service: Dec. 21 For Hawaii: First-Class Mail Service: Dec. 15 Priority Mail Service: Dec. 15 Priority Mail Express Service: Dec. 21 INTERNATIONAL MAIL For Africa: Global Express Guaranteed Service: Dec. 19 For Asia/Pacific Rim: Priority Mail Express International Service: Dec. 14 Global Express Guaranteed Service: Dec. 19 For Australia/New Zealand: Priority Mail Express International Service: Dec. 14 Global Express Guaranteed Service: Dec. 17 For Canada: Priority Mail Express International Service: Dec. 14 Global Express Guaranteed Service: Dec. 22 For Caribbean: Priority Mail Express International Service: Dec. 14 Global Express Guaranteed Service: Dec. 22 For Central and South America: Global Express Guaranteed Service: Dec. 17

For Middle East: Priority Mail Express International Service: Dec. 14 Global Express Guaranteed Service: Dec. 19 MILITARY MAIL Addressed to APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 090-092: First-Class Mail Service: Dec. 11 Priority Mail Service: Dec. 11 Priority Mail Express Military Service: Dec. 18 Addressed to APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 094-099: First-Class Mail Service: Dec. 11 Priority Mail Service: Dec. 11 Priority Mail Express Military Service: Dec. 18 Addressed to APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 340: First-Class Mail Service: Dec. 11 Priority Mail Service: Dec. 11 Priority Mail Express Military Service: Dec. 18 Addressed to APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 962-966: First-Class Mail Service: Dec. 11 Priority Mail Service: Dec. 11 Priority Mail Express Military Service: Dec. 18

9 9

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

22 Annual Lights of Love nd

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Give the gift of love this holiday season by donating a tree light in memory or in honor of someone special. The Lights of Love tree is located in McCall Park in downtown Plant City and will be lit through the holiday season. All donations are tax deductible and will benefit the many community services provided by South Florida Baptist Hospital. For more information, sponsorship opportunities or to purchase a light ($25–$100): (813) 757-8478 SFBHFoundation.org

20-1308798-1220

LIGHTS OF LOVE MAJOR SPONSORS Publix Super Markets Charities Terry and Peggy Crum

TREE SPONSOR

Jack and Carolyn McMullen

TOP STAR SPONSORS

BayCare Health System Judy Bray City of Plant City Susan L. Doan First Baptist Church Plant City The Kerr Family Bill and Diane Morrow Verner Foundation, Inc. (John and Sally Verner) Al and Norma Whitaker

PATRON SPONSORS

Wendy Brown Coleman and Sue Davis Mary Ann Hall Jarrett – Scott Ford Sylvia Knox Dale and Sheila Lewis Dean and Nancy Nourie Paul’s Hand Lettering Service Jack and Debi Peacock Ann Venning Helen Wilson Wish Farms

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

All Florida Mechanical Services, Inc. Robert and Sheila Ambrose David and Diane Brewington Mary C. Codd Edwards Platt Meyer, PA Yvonne M. Fry Brenda J. Futch Billy and Jackie Hall Jr. Dub and Pec McGinnes Oasis Auto Bath Bruce and Margaret Rodwell Mike and Diane Sparkman Union Contractors Association Don E. Walden Jr. Selinda Walden Walden Lake Car Wash & Service Center Fred Williams

PlantCityObserver.com

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: STREAMING INTO THE FUTURE: FIRST EFFORTS INTO A LIVE PARADE There was no decision on whether I’d watch the first “live stream” of the 2020 Christmas parade in Plant City. I knew I’d be viewing it from the comfort of my home, sitting on a large recliner facing the 4K television that I selected to watch it on. My popcorn was ready. It was different than the days of my youth, where I was more often a participant than a spectator. Where were the floats that were pulled by both vintage and shiny new tractors, representing Plant City and it’s agricultural roots? You know we have all bragged at some point, that we’re from “The Winter Strawberry Capital of the World,” or as Kayleigh McEnany likes to put it, “The Strawberry Capital of the World” — omitting our seasonal reference. Where was the Raider Marching Band? Seeing my old Alma Mater and any uniform revisions was my most anticipated entrant. Hoping they would all be wearing the same COVID-19 masks in school colors would have just knocked it out of the park! No band. What a disappointment. Marching to the cadence of the drums would have sufficed since I realize it would be difficult to play most instruments while wearing a mask. We did get the ROTC, and I personally think the band marches in better formation, all while playing an instrument and reading music from their lyres. The Facebook comments could be useful during gaps in the parade since they were entertaining to most. Censoring for unnecessary profanity is a sad realization. I was appalled, but even more embarrassed since I had invited friends in New Mexico and Delaware to watch the parade with me. Yes, nothing like taunting Florida’s wonderful weather that evening. It was a good effort by the Chamber of Commerce and I hope they continue to grow the idea. I may be not be willing to drive down to the parade route and hunt for parking and a spot to sit, but I will eagerly anticipate curling up on the sofa for future parades. I just need to remember more butter for the popcorn next time.

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—Stephanie Hrenchir

DECEMBER 10, 2020

SPORTS

Todd Miller has been a crucial part of the Plant City High School basketball team’s gameplan in 2020. See Page 13

RETURN OF THE ‘RINGS’

Quick Hits

The United Youth Football League’s annual national championship tournament is back at Ellis-Methvin Park this week.

File photo

DOLPHINS TEAMS LOOKING TO PRESERVE PERFECT TCYFCC SEASONS Several Plant City Dolphins teams are heading into the weekend looking to make the playoffs with unblemished regularseason records. The Mighty Mites, Pee Wees, Midgets and Junior Varsity Dolphins all have 5-0 records and will face the Polk City Jaguars at home Saturday to try and go undefeated in 2020. The Jaguars teams in those four divisions have respective overall records of 2-3-0, 3-2-0, 2-3-0 and 1-4-0, and only the Pee Wee Jaguars finished Dec. 5 with a win over the North Tampa Titans. It’s especially notable for the Dolphins’ Midgets team, which is going for its 50th consecutive TCYFCC regular-season win and its eighth consecutive shutout win in league play. That team is also competing in the UYFL national championships with players split up between the 9U and 10U All-American Division 2 brackets. Kickoff times for all TCYFCC regularseason games and playoff games are 9 a.m. for Mighty Mites, 11 a.m. for Pee Wees, 1 p.m. for Midgets, 3 p.m. for JV and 5 p.m. for Varsity. Playoff matchups have not yet been posted to the TCYFCC website, but this year’s locations have been. The first round will be held Jan. 9, 2021 with the Brandon Broncos, Seffner Seahawks, Mulberry Panthers and Lakeland Eagles hosting. The second round will be held Jan. 16, 2021 with the Jaguars and Dover Patriots hosting. The Superbowl is scheduled for Jan. 23 with the East Bay Buccaneers hosting. The TCYFCC Cheer-Offs will take place before then, with the Pinecrest Pilots set to host on Dec. 19. Visit tcyfcc.org for more information.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

COVID-19 couldn’t stop one of the biggest youth sports tournaments Plant City usually hosts from coming back in 2020. The annual United Youth Football League “Run for the Rings,” a national championship football tournament with nearly 200 teams from all over the country competing in 21 divisions, came back to Ellis-Methvin Park on Dec. 6 and will continue through Friday’s slate of championship games. This year marks the 10th in which Plant City has hosted the UYFL’s biggest tournament and the sixth in which the action has been hosted at Ellis-Methvin. The Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex hosted all of the games prior to 2016, when the tournament acted as a test run of sorts for the EllisMethvin fields (which were completed shortly afterward with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 15, 2016). Games are played on seven fields at Ellis-Methvin — six of which are adjacent to one another — and there is also a big

stage area where championship winners receive trophies, rings and more bling when they win. The Plant City Dolphins, as always, have entered the tournament and fielded five teams in the 8U All-American Division 2, 9U All-American Division 2, 10U All-American Division 2, 6U All-Star and 15U All-Star brackets. Visit unitedyfl.com to purchase tickets. Brackets are viewable online as always, but the UYFL has switched to TourneyMachine for a more user-friendly experience. You can now select certain teams to “follow” throughout the tournament, meaning you no longer have to search extensively for results every time you want to check on a team. Brackets are viewable at https://www.tourneymachine.com/public/mobile/WebApp/ index.aspx?IDTournament=h201912151 849510978da41366c85840#. Semifinal games will be held all day today and championship games will be held all day tomorrow. The UYFL’s annual Cheer, Dance and Step National Championships will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Photos by Justin Kline

To purchase tickets for this year’s United Youth Football League national championship tournament, visit unitedyfl.com. Spectators are encouraged to wear face coverings on the tournament grounds and practice social distancing by staying six feet apart from others whenever possible.

PREP SCOREBOARD BOYS BASKETBALL

Plant City 66, Strawberry Crest 52

DEC. 2 Durant 76, Sickles 62 Plant City 64, Lennard 40 Strawberry Crest 67, Middleton 61

GIRLS BASKETBALL

DEC. 4 Riverview 64, Strawberry Crest 55 DEC. 8 Durant 84, Freedom 55

DEC. 2 Durant 64, Sickles 14 Lennard 45, Plant City 37 Middleton 55, Strawberry Crest 25 DEC. 4 Riverview 57, Strawberry Crest 15

DEC. 8 Plant City 50, Strawberry Crest 38

BOYS SOCCER DEC. 3 Durant 2, Plant 1 DEC. 4 Plant City 9, Spoto 0 Strawberry Crest 2, Freedom 2

DEC. 7 Plant City 2, Steinbrenner 1 DEC. 8 Sickles 4, Durant 1 Plant City 7, Tampa Bay Tech 0 Strawberry Crest 3, Bloomingdale 2

GIRLS SOCCER DEC. 1 Durant 2, Bloomingdale 2

Plant City 1, Riverview 1 Strawberry Crest 8, Hillsborough 0 DEC. 4 Plant City 8, Spoto 0 Strawberry Crest 8, Freedom 0 DEC. 8 Plant City 0, Tampa Bay Tech 0 Strawberry Crest 3, Bloomingdale 2

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

PlantCityObserver.com

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

After starting the 2020-21 season with a 49-36 loss at Wharton on Dec. 1, Plant City High School’s boys basketball team was able to bounce back with a big 64-40 home win over Lennard the next evening. One of the keys to the Raiders’ success was senior forward Todd Miller, who scored 19 points on 64 percent shooting, grabbed nine rebounds and recorded seven steals and a block. Against Wharton, Miller finished with 11 points, five rebounds and two steals. Miller also played defensive back for the PCHS football team, and in 2020 he led all Raiders with 111 total tackles (66 solo, 45 assisted) and two forced fumbles and tied for the lead with two interceptions.

and score. I was in the gym shooting with the shooting machine after football season, I came in and was putting up shots.

FULL INTERVIEW ON PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM.

How long have you been playing each sport? I’ve been playing football since I was about 5 years old. Basketball, I started in middle school.

You just had a couple of big games to start the season. How do you feel about the way things have started out this season? I feel pretty comfortable about the team. I think we can make it far and go to states. Me, as a player, I’m beginning to get better. Last year I didn’t really shoot the ball that much, so this year I feel more confident in myself. What did you work on in the offseason that helped you get more confident? I’m feeling more confident shooting and passing. Last year I mostly did layups. This year I’m able to put the ball on the floor

Which game are you most looking forward to this season? The Crest game (Tuesday night; a 66-52 win for PCHS) and the Durant game. I’m looking forward to the rivalry games. Which game that you’ve played in are you most proud of? I’d say the Lennard game because we played as a team, as a whole. Do you play any sports besides football and basketball? I might run track this year. After basketball season, I’m considering it.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

FOCUS ON FITNESS

REALISTIC GOAL SETTING:

HOW TO SET REALISTIC GOALS DURING THE BUSIEST SEASONS OF LIFE

Setting yourself up for success doesn’t have to be such a daunting task. All you have to do is be S.M.A.R.T. This time of year, we usually set unrealistic goals and expectations for ourselves. We are busy with family, friends, vacations and the holiday season. We should be setting ourselves up for success, but instead we tend to set ourselves up for failure with goals that are too vague with unachievable timeframes: work out every day for one hour, keep to your regular diet, get eight to 10 hours of sleep… the list goes on. During end-of-the-year celebrations and busy seasons of our lives, we need to think realistically about what is achievable. The very definition of a goal is “the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.” So why would we have goals that are not helping us achieve what we truly desire? The new year is approaching quickly, so I encourage you to refine your goals and make them S.M.A.R.T. Goals can be healthy if implemented correctly and using S.M.A.R.T. goals is a great way to start. S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and TimeBased. Specific: You should be as clear and concise as possible. Write down what you are specifically trying to achieve and stay away from broad and general terms. This will help you narrow your goal so you figure out how to achieve it.

M ea s u ra b l e : What exactly are you going to use to measure your success? Think of tangible ways to help keep track of your progress. For example, if your goal is to ride 100 miles on your bike in one month, you should schedule it out on a calendar and take into account the days you may take off. Achievable: You should work toward a goal that is challenging but possible. Make sure you can achieve these goals within the time frame you set. Similar to our previous example, if you know you have a week-long trip coming up and do not take that into account when setting your 100-mile biking timeline, you should rethink and reschedule it. Relevant: The goal you set should make sense and be relevant to what you are doing in life. It should align with your values, current goals and interests. If it doesn’t excite you,

maybe you should rework or reconsider it all together. Time-Based: If you are setting a deadline, it should make sense with the progress track you set and should fit in your timeframe. Set a firm but realistic deadline. All these guidelines should come together to make a goal that exhilarates you and pushes you to better your life mentally, physically and spiritually. Here are two important questions to ask yourself for any goal: what is its purpose and will it help me get to where I want to be? If you are anything like me, you get tired of setting three to four goals a year and only completing one because you didn’t set S.M.A.R.T. goals. This year, I challenge you to set one goal for yourself and complete it to its fullest. The Plant City Family YMCA can help you. We are committed to providing the cleanest wellness center for you to reenergize your fitness routines and a safe environment for your kids to re-engage in activities like sports and swim lessons. Our friendly, welcoming team is ready to help you reconnect with friends. And if you join by January 18, you can take advantage of a $0 join fee. Check out www.tampaymca.org and see how the Y can help you restart strong in 2021.

Your brighter future

starts at

Online. In person. On your schedule.

At the end of the day we are all human and should give ourselves grace. There are seasons in our lives where setting goals is necessary, but there are other times where rest is imperative to our health and wellbeing. Give yourself a head start this year by setting a goal you know you can achieve. You’ve got this.

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

HCC. HCC subscribes to equity, access, diversity and inclusion. HCC is committed to keeping you safe in the nest.

Now is the time

to invest in yourself.

hccfl.edu/registernow

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

REAL ESTATE

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

NOVEMBER 2020 REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Local November 2020 sales and trend information courtesy of The Crawford Group.

NOVEMBER 2020 SALES SNAPSHOT The following properties were a sample listed as sold on the Greater Tampa Realtors Association MLS in November 2020. The home at 909 E. Alsobrook St. sold November 12 for $80,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,150 square feet of living area. The home at 714 E. Dr Martin Luther King Blvd. sold November 18 for $148,000. Built in 1900, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,269 square feet of living area. The home at 1207 S. Tyler St. sold November 23 for $194,000. Built in 1964, it has 4 bedrooms, two baths and 1,541 square feet of living area. The home at 4405 Country Hills Blvd.

sold November 30 for $200,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,316 square feet of living area. The home at 1469 Walden Oak Place sold November 12 for $225,000. Built in 1991, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,460 square feet of living area.

POPPELL INSURANCE

The home at 3320 Azalea Blossom Drive sold November 30 for $230,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,583 square feet of living area.

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The home at 4609 Cooper Road sold November 20 for $255,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,701 square feet of living area.

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sold November 30 for $285,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, two and a half baths and 2,505 square feet of living area. The home at 3002 Young Road sold November 27 for $300,000. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,468 square feet of living area. The home at 1206 W. Trapnell Road sold November 27 for $310,000. Built in 1968, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,643 square feet of living area. The home at 2922 Spring Hammock Drive sold November 9 for $335,000. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, two and a half baths and 2,364 square feet of living area. The home at 3056 Sutton Woods Drive sold November 20 for $440,000. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,233 square feet of living area. The home at 6109 W. Knights Griffin Road sold November 3 for $622,000. Built in 1986, it has five bedrooms, two and a half baths and 3,340 square feet of living area.

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The home at 2802 Spring Vista Court sold November 3 for $269,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,815 square feet of living area. The home at 3138 S. Northview Road

Over 50 Years Serving the Plant City Area

Maryland Ave.

The home at 1016 Ashentree Drive sold November 30 for $240,188. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, two and a half baths and 2,328 square feet of living area.

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Last month, 92 properties sold in the Plant City area — an increase from November 2019, during which 76 properties were sold. The average sale price increased to $261,300 from $235,539, as did the average sale price per square foot ($141.34 in 2020, $129.11 in 2019). On a year-to-year basis, 2020’s total sales have now surpassed the 2019 totals by nine units. The average sale price saw a 9.1 percent increase, going up to $244,072, and the average sale price per square foot increased 9.3 percent to $133.59. While a more productive 2020 is a good thing, Mitchell Crawford, of the Crawford Group, said there is a concern with available inventory that needs to be addressed before prices stop trending in the right direction. “Only 79 (properties) are available to sell,” Crawford said. “The available inventory is still at a critical low level. As a realtor, I cannot stress enough the urgency for increased supply. The demand is still here, but we have been experiencing more properties not appraising at contract prices. This is a slight concern that the market may need to pause on price increases. The holiday season is upon us, but it’s also a time when the most serious buyers are out looking. If you are looking to buy or sell a property, please seek out an experienced and seasoned real estate professional to assist you in this transaction.”

Lakeland

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

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We asked Facebook: What is your favorite family Christmas tradition? “Making Christmas cookies with my kids. Every year for the past 15.” — Jessica LeMire “We - the husband, my mom, myself and 2 or 3 grand daughters goes to Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell for the last 9 yrs. Taking pictures of soldiers, that has passed away and for some reason due to traveling or age love ones are not able to visit them at Christmas.. Wreaths Across America lays wreaths and the next day - we come in and take pictures.. Which, we honor them by mentioning their names, and we leave coins on the headstone to let everyone know that they were loved.. (the last 3 years we are there also for my dad). This is our Tradition at Christmas.” — Brenda Gonzalez Owens

“Making Christmas Cookies and driving around with hot chocolate looking at Christmas lights.” — Jennifer Bookmiller “Making breakfast pie on Christmas morning.” — Rebecca Johnston Phillips “I have two, hard to decide the favorite. I love to cook breakfast for 2-3-10 whatever. Also love all the baked goodies my sister brings me....cookies and pies.” — Dennis Carroll “Christmas Eve with the whole family. All the food! Laughs! And a visit from Santa! I sure do miss it!! I loved hosting!!!” — Kristi Carroll

“Going to see Christmas lights.” — Arienne Plyler Middlebrooks “Being together is very special.” — Cindy Snyder Bonnett “Being with my family” — Barbara Skaggs Ward “Christmas Parade” — Donna Keeler Elliott “Christmas Lane for the last million years!” — Mindy Williams Sariano

iStock

each other is what

community

is all| THURSDAY, about.DECEMBER 10, 2020

Mary E. Mitchell, 85, of Lithia, born on April 26, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan, entered into the presence of the Lord on November 25, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

James ‘Jimmy’ Edward Lewis

Linda Grace Berry

Linda Grace Berry, 73, of Plant City, born on June 24, 1947, enJames “Jimmy” Edward Lewis, 74, tered into eternal rest on Decemof Plant City, born on January 20, ber 5, 2020. Expressions of condolence 1946, entered into eternal rest on at HopewellFuneral.com. December 3, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com. HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Cathy Olliff Cathy Olliff, 66, of Winter Haven, born on April 9, 1953 in Jacksonville, Florida, entered into eternal rest on March 9, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Leeta Adean Harrison Leeta Adean Harrison, 92, of Lake Wales, born on September 1, 1928 in Quitman, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on November 30, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Paul Olliff Paul Olliff, 73, of Winter Haven, born on October 31, 1947 in Statesboro, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on November 22, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Delmer Monroe Knight, 67, of Plant City, born on September 9, 1953 in Plant City, entered into eternal rest on November 30, 2020. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Joseph “Richard” Varnadoe, 91, of Fort McCoy, born on January 25, 1929 in Lumber City, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on December 6, 2020. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Raul Rodriguez Jr. Raul Rodriguez Jr., 27, of Plant City, born on September 12, 1993 in Tampa, entered into eternal rest on November 25, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Delmer Monroe Knight

Joseph ‘Richard’ Varnadoe

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Wilma Thompson Wilma Thompson, 91, of Plant City, passed away on December 1, 2020. Graveside services were held December 4, 2020 at Springhead Cemetery. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

Helen Bass

dedicated to helping families create a W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community Charleswe’re was born on September unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. As your Dignity Memorial 9, 1970.celebrates the life it represents. Helen Bass, 79, of Plant City, professionals, > 100% Service Guarantee Fond > National Plan Transferability memories and exprespassed away on December > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® sions of sympathy may be left at 2, 2020. Services will be held R www.WellsMemorial.com for the privately. Proudly supportingEmlyn the Plant City Strawberry Festival. family. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care. ®

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

Henry Nelson Cole, 92, of Michigan, passed away on Sunday, Nowe’re dedicated to helping families create a W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community vember 29, 2020. Henry was born unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. celebrates the life it represents. As your Dignity Memorial professionals, on October 2, 1928. Christopher “Bubby” Hibbard, > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability Fond memories and expressions 36, of Plant City, passed away Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® > Bereavement of sympathy may be left at www. on December 6, 2020. The famR WellsMemorial.com for the Cole ily will receive friends Friday, DeProudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival. family. cember 18, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd, Plant City, FL 33563. Funeral WELLSMEMORIAL.COM services will follow at 11:00 AM. Masks are required. Wells MeMorial & event Center PlanT CiTy Online condolences may Janice Rhoades be left for the family at www. 813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com haught.care. Janice Rhoades, 86, of Plant City, passed away on Sunday, Decemwe’re dedicated to helping families create a W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community ber 6, 2020. Janice was born on unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. celebrates life it represents. As your Dignity Memorial professionals, December 17,the 1933. > 100% Service GuaranteeFond > National Plan Transferability memories and expresHAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® sions of sympathy may be left at R for the Charles A. ‘Chuck’Proudly supportingwww.WellsMemorial.com the Plant Cityfamily. Strawberry Festival. Rhoades M2313_4832_Wells_PNT_Comm_7-25x9-75_C.indd 1

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Charles A. “Chuck” Emlyn, 50, of Weeki Wachee, passed away on Tuesday, December 2, 2020.

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Joan Shannon Barrentine

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

Joan Shannon Barrentine, 79, of Seffner, passed from this world on Monday, November 30, 2020. She was surrounded by her daughter and son, who she loved dearly, and God’s love. Joan was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and aunt. Born on October 24, 1941 in New York, New York, she was the oldest child of William V. and Emely Bleier Shannon. She attended public school in New York City before the family moved to Crystal Springs, Florida and she attended Zephyrhills High School (Class of 1960). It was in Crystal Springs that she met the love of her life, Willard, and they were married in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Joan was a charter student at the University of South Florida and a proud graduate of their Charter Class (1964) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies Education. As a lifelong learner, she also received a Master’s Degree in Education and an Education Specialist Degree from the University of South Florida. Her love of USF was instilled in her two children, Patricia and Patrick, both graduates of USF. After beginning her teaching career at Lacoochee Elementary School, she transferred to Hillsborough County Public Schools where she taught Social Studies for over 40 years (Tomlin Jr. High School, Armwood High School). She was a proud member of the charter faculty at Armwood High School where she served as Social Studies Department

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BEST BET FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 TIM BURTON TRIVIA NIGHT

TRIVIA NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. Are you a Tim Burton fan? Head to the loft at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., for Tim Burton Trivia Night. Full audience participation, all ages welcome, prizes will be awarded and it’s free to play.

Chair until she retired in June 2009. Her life’s passion was bringing history to life for her thousands of students and hoping that they would gain the love of history that was instilled in her by a teacher early in life. Joan was one of a few teachers involved in bringing the Cracker Country exhibit to the Florida State Fair and for many years led her students in the historical reenactment of life as Florida Crackers. Her commitment to her students and her dedication to teaching led her to gain the high standard of National Board Certification. She was most proud of being a National Board Certified Teacher after so many years of teaching and mentored many other teachers seeking their National Board certification before her retirement. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Willard Barrentine, and her parents. Joan is survived by her daughter Patricia Barrentine Guay (Michael) of Rockville, MD; son, Patrick Barrentine (Debra) of Seffner, FL; grandchildren, Cody Barrentine and Aubrey Barrentine of Seffner; sisters, Eileen Deem of Cortlandt Manor, NY and Kathleen Shannon of Zephyrhills, FL; and brother, William V. Shannon, Jr. of Zephyrhills, FL. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00a.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4450 County Road 579, Seffner, Florida followed by interment at Oakside Cemetery in Zephyrhills, Florida. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HillsboroMemorial.com for the Barrentine family.

ONGOING THE WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS & SANTA’S VILLAGE

The fifth annual Wonderland of Lights event offers a non-contact, drive-through experience every week until Dec. 27. The light show is the main attraction from Monday through Wednesday. From Thursday through Sunday, attendees can also hang out at Santa’s Village to see Santa Claus himself. Also on the schedule are several family-friendly acts like Nerdy Noah’s Comedy Show (Dec. 10-13) and the duo of Dennis Lee and Stephanie Ann (Dec. 24-27). Tickets are $15 per car Monday through Wednesday and $25 per car Thursday through Sunday. For more information about the event, visit thewonderlandoflights.com.

SLABACH & CO. WINTER WONDERLAND

5 to 8 p.m. Slabach & Co. Farmers Market, 110 E. Keysville Road, is kicking off its Winter Wonderland festivities. Visit the market on the following days for food, music and fun: Dec. 11-12, Dec. 17-19, Jan. 1-2 and Jan. 8-9.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS 7:30 to 9 a.m. Join the Plant City Toastmasters

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

SEED LIBRARY OPEN AT PCC COMMUNITY GARDEN

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12

9 a.m. Choose or donate heirloom seeds at the Seed Library in the Plant City Commons Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St. This helps keep diversity in the local food system. The library is open on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. Call (813) 435-8111 for more information.

THE WRITERS’ LOFT

OPEN MIC NIGHT

9 a.m. Visit the loft at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., on the second Saturday of every month for the Writers’ Loft. Poets, writers, artists, musicians and more creative types who work in all genres at all skill and experience levels are welcome. Admission is $5 and a free drink is included.

VOLUNTEER DAY AT PCC COMMUNITY GARDEN

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

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Federal, state and local opportunities are constantly changing. If you’ve served any time in the military, retired nor non retention, and would like to review your benefits, please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday. Walk-ins welcomed or call 813704-5800 to set a specific time. Masks are required and temperatures will be taken at the door.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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FORECAST

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

THURSDAY, DEC. 10 High: 73 Low: 49 Chance of rain: 5%

FRIDAY, DEC. 11 High: 74 Low: 55 Chance of rain: 5%

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Dec. 10

7:09a

5:33p

Friday, Dec. 11

7:10a

5:33p

Saturday, Dec. 12

7:10a

5:34p

Sunday, Dec. 13

7:11a

5:34p

Monday, Dec. 14

7:12a

5:34p

Tuesday, Dec. 15

7:12a

5:35p

Wednesday, Dec. 16

7:13a

5:35p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, DEC. 12 High: 79 Low: 60 Chance of rain: 20%

SUNDAY, DEC. 13 High: 81 Low: 61 Chance of rain: 15% “I’m driving down the road when I see the sky turn magical… Jeep and I pulled over as traffic blew by us,” Shirley Steele wrote on Instagram (@beachkowgirl) with the #iloveplantcity hashtag. “Doesn’t matter because some things are so pretty you have to stop and look at the pics.”

ONLINE

TOMATOES

Shipping point: Central Florida $11.95

ACROSS 1 Mid-size Nissan 7 Ammo sold in rolls 11 By way of 14 Like many arcade games 15 Helter-skelter 16 Mantra syllables 17 What Dr. Frankenstein kept at his bar? 19 Fiddle player of rhyme 20 North-of-the-border gas 21 Zany trio member 22 “See if __” 24 Sass from a therapist? 28 “SNL” castmate of Gilda and Jane

31 It “hath charms to soothe a savage breast” 32 Oak fruit 33 Marine mammal group 34 Bed foundation? 37 Specimen for 23-Down 38 Uncle Buck, perhaps? 42 Broadcasting pioneer 43 Religious offshoot 45 Meddle 46 City near the Golden Spike 48 Veronica of “Hill Street Blues” 50 Spurred on 52 Dracula’s haul in the poker game?

55 Orchestras tune to them 56 One of Venus de Milo’s two that are conspicuous for their absence 57 Drink brand with a lizard logo 61 Leave in ruins 62 Big cat’s belly? 66 Take advantage of 67 Parrot 68 Tater Tots maker 69 Sniggler’s quarry 70 It may be cracked open 71 Sweat inducer DOWN 1 Highest point

2 Restrooms for blokes 3 Metal containers 4 To such an extent 5 Bon __ 6 So-called missing links 7 Checked out before a heist 8 GP’s gp. 9 D.C. figure 10 Knitter’s supply 11 They help one speak one’s mind 12 Japanese porcelain 13 __ in the right direction 18 Scoundrel 23 Forensic TV episodes 25 Melon feature 26 Reassurance after a fall 27 A4 automaker 28 Youths 29 Teen malady 30 Black Flag product 33 Humanities subj. 35 Cold drink brand 36 Come down 39 Letters near zero 40 Creator of Perry and Della 41 Kindle rival 44 Scotch roll 47 Hangman player, e.g. 49 Took for a ride 50 First razor with a pivoting head 51 Force (through) 52 Popularity 53 Treat badly 54 Flavor 58 Andy’s catfishing partner 59 Beefcake features 60 Flight deck data, briefly 63 Prefix with conscious 64 “I see it now!” 65 R&B group __ Hill

Dec. 13 New

Dec. 19 First

Dec. 29 Full

Dec. 10 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Nov. 30

0.50

Tuesday, Dec. 1 0.00 Wednesday, Dec. 2

0.00

Thursday, Dec. 3 0.00 Friday, Dec. 4

0.02

Saturday, Dec. 5 0.00 Sunday, Dec. 6

0.24

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 59.07 in.

2020 0.24 in.

2019 39.96 in.

2019 0.13 in.

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

PlantCityObserver.com