12.13.18 PLCO

PLANT CITY

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 6, NO. 24

FREE

Commission roundup

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Families camp out for festival SEE PAGE 5

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

During Monday night’s commission meeting, a ceremony for Ashley Moody was planned for Dec. 18, code enforcement addressed growing complaints regarding commercial vehicles in residential areas and the city said farewell to its current auditorium. SEE PAGE 7

Santa kicks off PC Christmas

YOUR TOWN

Courtesy of Pam McGregor

Legion prepares for holidays

Courtesy of Instagramers of Plant City

Santa Claus flipped a switch at the end of the event to illuminate the downtown light displays.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The 20th annual Lights of Love event was held Dec. 6 in downtown Plant City.

VIEW FULL PHOTO GALLERY ONLINE

F

or 20 years Plant City has come together to kick off the holiday season with the annual Lights of Love event at McCall Park.

Choirs from First Baptist Church of Plant City sing holiday songs and city officials reflect on the importance of the season. Hundreds gather in the park weaving in and out of the large Christmas light displays as they anxiously await the arrival of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus who flip a switch to illuminate the thousands of Christmas lights throughout downtown.

“For me — and I think many others — this event kicks off the Christmas season,” Mayor Rick Lott said.

The event is always free and this year featured photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen and the East Hillsborough Art Guild’s Art Show and Sale. Throughout the event Plant City Dolphins Pee Wee Cheerleaders sold Christmas bulb necklaces and headbands and many showed up in their festive apparel.

One of the snazziest dressers was inarguably Lott. He wore a red and green mistletoe suit jacket along with a red and green Christmas tie in honor of the event.

The lights for the tree were sold to local families and businesses in honor or in memory of loved ones. All of the proceeds from the evening went to the South Flor-

ida Baptist Hospital Foundation, which uses the funds to go toward the services and programs offered by the hospital.

Karen Kerr, president of South Florida Baptist Hospital, said the event was a “hallmark moment” for Plant City. She said it was hard to find a similar event anywhere nearby and praised Plant City on coming together every year to pull it off.

After Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer officially wrapped up the countdown and lit the decorations everyone in attendance joined together for a rousing chorus of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

PC top U.S. destination Breanne Williams

There are 34 students set to come in 2019 to participate in the program.

Students with Educational First voted Plant City as the best place in the country to visit at the annual ceremony in November.

SEE PAGE 6

The American Legion Post 26 in Plant City is once again preparing for the holiday season with its unique memorial display. The Christmas tree is decked to the nines and a silhouette of a soldier kneeling before a marker for a fallen comrade is on full display before the tree.

The legion also has a Prisoner of War and a Missing in Action table next to the tree to honor those who may be lost, but are far from forgotten. In honor of the many veterans in the area, the Legion also had a special appearance by Santa last weekend.appearance by Santa last weekend.

Breanne Williams

A festive hero Don Rainard has influenced lives in Plant City for years.

Some may recognize him for his work with the city, but for many he’s known for all the years he has donned a red suit and hat and waved to children during the annual Plant City Christmas Parade.

He was honored Monday night at the city commission meeting with a special plaque, a Christmas Parade t-shirt and poinsettias. The committee also thanked him for all he’s done and several commissioners joined in highlighting the many city projects that were born due to his steadfast nature and optimistic spirit.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

NEWS BRIEFS

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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The Christmas display at the Paddocks entrance won Walden Lake's grand prize.

Walden Lake Christmas contest

ney Swartman and coach/advisor Susan Mayo. The Agriculture Communication team of Ress, Kelly, Shreve and Swartman won first place in their contest at the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo and Prescott placed third overall in the National Extemporaneous Public Speaking event.

Swartman was also named third high individual and Kelly was named eighth high individual.

The winners of Walden Lake’s annual neighborhood Christmas lighting contest have been released.

TRADITIONAL 1st: Clubhouse Woods 2nd: Silverbrooke 3rd: Polo Place

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One Church One Child of Florida is looking for people in Plant City who want to help kids in need.

The group will host a public informational meeting at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 804 W. Renfro St., at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Attendees will learn what it takes to become adoptive and foster parents, mentors, church partners or foster care volunteers. One Church One Child has been a statewide program in Florida since 1988 and is dedicated to finding homes and help for children in the foster care system.

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STAYING

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

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safe this holiday season Traffic is up, police have increased their patrols and there are some safety tips everyone can follow to stay safe this holiday season.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

I

t may be the most wonderful time of the year, but all of that festive cheer can come at a cost.

Plant City Police Department is on high alert to ensure local residents stay safe this holiday season. PCPD Spokesperson Al Van Duyne said the patrol captains and Chief Duncan encourage the officers to be as visible as possible this season. Everyone from traffic officers to patrol officers and even detectives are doing extra patrols in shopping plazas and neighborhoods to deter wrongdoing.

The officers spend slightly less time focused on traffic to ensure they are being visible in town, but it’s all based on the call volume PCPD receives. Taking the time to practice simple safety techniques could make the difference between a merry and disastrous holiday.

“It seems like every year there’s something new we have to contend with,” Van Duyne said. “Most of the information are things people know, but I think they forget.

Plant City is a great town, it’s a relatively safe town and people sometimes get too comfortable and forget to take necessary precautions.”

He said each holiday season they see a slight uptick in crimes, somewhere between 3% and 5%, but that it varies from year to year.

The majority of the holiday woes come in the form of break-ins to cars and garages. Homes tend to be one of the lesser issues, but if not properly secured, can become easy targets.

In an echo of a sentiment that has been repeated numerous

File Photo

Any tip could help PCPD “crack a case,” so if you see something suspicious, call it in.

times by local law enforcement, locking vehicles is key to preventing theft. Van Duyne said in many of the densely populated parking lots like at malls or shopping plazas, there are too many people around for a thief to take the time to break a window or use a slim jim to unlock a door.

If they walk by and notice a vehicle is unlocked, however, they can quickly remove any items in sight without raising alarms. PCPD recommends hiding any belongings you may have purchased at a prior location either in the trunk or the front floorboard of the car.

If you have a hatchback consider using a cover to keep stored items from view. As tempting as it may be to do all of your shopping in one day, that could spell disaster if you’re picking up large items.

Time is of the essence and Van Duyne said any expensive or physically massive gifts should be taken home immediately follow-

Breanne Williams

When doing holiday shopping, PCPD recommends parking in busy lots and shopping with a friend.

ing purchase rather than left in plain view in the vehicle.

Personal safety also comes into play as hordes of people flock to finish their last minute shopping.

So much of it revolves around being aware of your surroundings. Van Duyne said no one type of person is targeted more than others, but those who are bogged down with gifts or distracted make easy victims.

Shop with a buddy and park near visible cameras or in busy parking lots. Avoid “recluse spots” and don’t shop with large purses. Wrist wallets or cross body bags with strong straps and hooks are the best as they don’t get in the way.

If you do shop alone carry mace or pepper spray and stay in groups as much as you can. He recommends wearing comfortable clothes and secure footwear in the event the worst case scenario ensues and you get involved in a “tussle.” While he can’t tell people what to do he said no item of monetary value is worth a life. He recommends letting them take the items and then as they flee whip out your phone and film their getaway. Make an effort to remember their description and then call the police.

Holiday traffic is one of the worst safety concerns. Just this weekend there were 26 crashes between Friday and Sunday in Plant City. People rush, they run red lights, they’re on their phone and don’t see the slowing vehicles ahead of them. It’s chaos and Van Duyne said it only get’s worse the closer we get to Christmas.

“Get your holiday shopping done as soon as possible,” he said. “Drive with the mindset that people are going to make mistakes. Give yourself a little more following distance, don’t take off as soon as the light turns green, slow down. Sure Plant City has a 40,000 plus population, but we see more traffic because we have roads like I-4 and (US) 92. Of every 10 crashes, seven to eight are careless driving.”

Once you’re home he said always make sure the garage is closed and locked. No matter how safe you feel in Plant City it’s important to take time to make sure you and your family are safe.

He said some of these criminals are coming from Polk County and Brandon. Plant City is in the middle of a lot of busy areas and people come to drive through neighborhoods and see what they can find.

When homes are broken into it is normally because of two easily preventable things. Either a door connecting to an unsecured garage was left unlocked or a sliding glass door was not properly fastened. Throughout the course of the year, he said PCPD often deals with instances where families leave side doors unlocked so children can get in easily when they come home from school.

Instead, buy the kid a spare key.

It can save the entire family thousands in lost goods.

Around the holidays, many people with large bay windows will leave the curtains open to show off their trees and holiday decor. While it definitely adds to the holiday aesthetic, it also allows criminals to see first-hand the layout and prospective goodies of your home.

The locks on sliding doors are flimsy at best. If yours comes with a chain, lock it. Otherwise, purchase a wedge or make your own from a cut broom handle or plank of wood to place in the track of the door. It’s a cheap but simple way to ensure it isn’t opened in the dead of night.

If you can afford it, invest in an alarm system and activate it every single time you leave the house. Take photos of every holiday decoration in your yard, write down the make, model and serial number of any large ticket items you purchase as gifts or already have in your home. That way, if you are unfortunate enough to become a victim of theft you can go to officers with the exact description of what is gone. If “a 48-inch Roku TV” is all they have to go off of odds are you aren’t getting it back.

“Sometimes the small tips added together is what helps us ‘crack a case,’” Van Duyne said.

“What often happens is we will pull someone over for a routine traffic stop — say they have a headlight out or are speeding — and we’ll notice something suspicious like a bunch of decorations piled in their truck bed or that the vehicle matches a description we have from someone that called in a tip. Or if I don’t have anything to detain them that day, but then two days later you call in saying the decorations I saw are missing, we now have a lead.”

PCPD is upping its patrol this holiday season to deter thefts in shopping plazas and neighborhoods throughout Plant City.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

HOLLENKAMP TAPPED FOR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

PLANT CITY

Observer “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

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver. com

Jay Hollenkamp was selected Monday evening to represent Plant City on Hillsborough County’s Charter Surtax for Transportation Improvements Independent Oversight Committee.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

C

Editorial Designer / Juan Alvarez

Courtesy of Victoria Saunders

missioners. With a background in,” Hollenkamp said. “I wanted in law as well as co-managing to start getting as broad an underCocktail Caviar, a company start- standing as possible. Not just for ed by his brother, Hollenkamp has this potential position, but genspent years putting his business erally in turns of Plant City and and law degrees to use. its future longterm I thought it He has been immersing himself would be helpful to have a workin the city’s politics and roots for ing understanding.” years. He said he wanted to meet He made it his mission to meet with commissioners for quite with every city commissioner and some time but was waiting for the said their opinions were frank, appropriate moment. He began thoughtful and honest. Some attending every commission were supportive. Some were not. meeting, poured into local groups Those sentiments were shared dedicated toward the betterment Monday during the conversation of downtown, lives downtown at the dais prior to a vote. and purchased a building in the Commissioners Bill Dodson heart of historic downtown. and Mary Mathis were quick to “I’m now a business owner,” lob their support toward HolHollenkamp said. “We employ lenkamp. Before the other comdowntown, we work down- missioners even had the chance This week’s Celebrity Cipher town, we’re soon to have a secto share theiranswers comments Dodson ond business downtown andSolution: we made a nomination to move to a Puzzle One live downtown, by we I mean my for vote.

Mathis “Never do things money.

It’sseconded always the motion brother and I. I was a little slow stating she was impressed with the things you do for love that turn out at reaching out to the commis- both his persistence in reachthe best.”

– Eric his Idleinterest in sioners becausetoI pay wanted them ing her to discuss

ity leaders have chosen Jay Hollenkamp to represent Plant City on Hillsborough County’s Charter Surtax for Transportation Improvements Independent Oversight Committee.

Mayor Rick Lott was tasked with the job of finding a representative for the city and he chose to extend the duty to his fellow commissioners. The committee is being formed due to an amendment to the County Charter to include a surtax to fund transportation improvements throughout Hillsborough County by the passing of “All for Transportation” during the midterm elections. The committee will oversee the distribution of the 1% surtax proceeds.

“I have talked to quite a few people,” Lott said. “Every single person I spoke with was defi- to see that I wasPuzzle fully invested in the position and the amount of Two Solution: nitely qualified. We have strong the prosperity and future of Plant research he completed “Sometimes the cold wind blows a chill in such a leadership here in Plant City. City.” short time on the issues. in my soul / Some are diamonds, One person, though, that I’d like When Lott approached the days Vice Mayor Nate Kilton voiced some days are stone.”

– Neil Diamond to bring up for consideration is group following a commission his hesitation with the nomiJay Hollenkamp. He’s part of the meeting asking if anyone would nation. While he said he liked new, young group that is wanting be interested in throwing hat Sudoku and supported Hollenkamp and Thistheir week’s answers to get involved in the city and one in the ring, Hollenkamp was the admired his passion for downof the things they have a passion immediate nomination. He began town, he believed they should for is transportation. The leader diving into as much research on consider looking at someone with of that group is Jay.” local transportation as he could “more tenure and experience” Lott referenced Hollenkamp’s find. considering the importance of dedicated spirit and impressive “Public transit is very nuanced the role. Despite his hesitations, resume before opening the con- and it’s something that is, from he agreed to support the group’s This week’s Ciphermyanswers versation up to Celebrity his fellow comimpression, difficult to dabble decision.

Those hesitations were echoed in Commissioner Mike Sparkman. To him, the job was too important to put in the hands of someone with “so little experience.” Motioning to his fellow commissioners he listed the years of intensive background each had prior to pursing a political role.

“I felt like this job was a big jump for a person to make and also this is a political job whether you like it or not and we need to have somebody that’s got some political background that can go to this board and be able to stand up for Plant City,” Sparkman said. “I admire Jay tremendously, we had a great conversation and hopefully I’ve made a real great friend and somebody I can support and watch grow in our community… I think it’s too much to ask Jay to take this important role at this time and stage. He needs to be proven and to prove himself to the citizens of Plant City and he also needs to grow into Plant City, which I’m sure he’s going to do and he’s going to do great. But I think it’s a mistake.”

Hollenkamp said he respected all of the commissioner’s opinions and was looking forward to fighting for Plant City while serving. He said the plan is to continue to grow his knowledge, to learn from other counties and cities that have successfully passed similar referendums and to find the best way to appropriate the funds.

Puzzle One Solution: “Never do things for money. It’s always “I’m now a business owner. We employ downtown, we work downtown, we’re soon to have a second business downtown and we live the things you doI for love turn downtown.

By ‘we’ mean mythat brother andout I. I was a little slow at reaching out to the commissioners because I wanted them to see that I was tofully payinvested the best.”

– EricofIdle in the prosperity and future Plant City.” — Jay Hollenkamp Puzzle Two Solution: “Sometimes the cold wind blows a chill in my soul / Some days are diamonds, some days are stone.” – Neil Diamond Thisweek’s week’s Sudoku answers This Sudoku answers

Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver. com

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Thisweek’s week’sCrossword Crossword answers This

This week’s Celebrity CipherCipher answers This week’s Celebrity answers Puzzle One Solution: “Never do things for money. It’s always the things you do for love that turn out to pay the best.”

– Eric Idle Puzzle Two Solution: “Sometimes the cold wind blows a chill in my soul / Some days are diamonds, some days are stone.” – Neil Diamond

This week’s Sudoku answers

1970 Main St. • Sarasota, FL 34236 941•366•3468 Publishers of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota Observer, Siesta Key Observer, Palm Coast Observer, Plant City Observer, Ormond Beach Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Windermere Observer, Winter Park Observer Business Observer, Jacksonville Financial News & Daily Record.

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2018 2018

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

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Festival fanatics camp out for concert tickets

Breanne Williams

Bentley Rae Roberts, Cindy Bentley-Roberts, Deanna Mather and John Mather.

The Florida Strawberry Festival is known for many things, including its impressive lineup every year for its concert series. This year, one family camped out for five days to ensure it got great seats.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

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lack Friday shoppers have nothing on the dedication of Florida Strawberry Festival fans. Despite frigid temperatures early last week, one family began camping out early Dec. 2 to be first in line when the ticket office opened at 8 a.m. Dec. 6.

The grandstands are filled every year with thousands of concertgoers who pour in to watch some of their favorite musical acts for an affordable price. Stephanie Spangler and mom Elizabeth Roberts have attended the shows with their family since Spangler was a child. This year was one of the coldest on record during the week of the ticket sales, but

cerned something has happened to them.

It may be a strange tradition, but Roberts said seeing the same faces every year as they battle the weather and catch up on all that’s happened in the prior year makes the experience a family reunion of sorts. It’s something they cherish and she said she doubts they’ll stop anytime soon.

This year the festival has a lineup that includes legends like Steven Tyler, Alabama, Martina McBride, Styx and Kool & the Gang. Festival favorites like Willie Nelson and The Oak Ridge Boys are also pulling big crowds.

Tag-teaming the endeavor, Spangler and Roberts set up their chairs and a handful of miscellaneous items and then took turns in shifts to guard the chairs. Roberts spent the night the first night then Spangler switched spots.

This repeated with a handful of mutual visits where they

the duo braved the chill to get the perfect seats.

“It’s just a tradition at this point,” Spangler said. “We’ve been getting tickets since I was little and it’s been, well I know it’s been way more than 13 years that we’ve been camping out.”

According to Spangler and Roberts, the avid festival concert-goers have formed a community on the bare concrete in front of the ticket office. The same handful of families always make the front of the line, taking turns on who beats the others for the first spot.

The festival workers always pop in to “check on the ticket ladies,” Spangler said. They’ve come to expect several of the families and when they aren’t there they genuinely are con-

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of the roughest they’ve had to sit through though and they all wore thick clothing and brought heavy blankets to get through the night.

When asked if they truly thought this would score better tickets than they could get in the online queue the group shrugged and said it “was about more than just getting good seats.”

When the ticket window opened bright and early Spangler and Roberts were able to score front row tickets to the many shows they hoped to see in 2019, including Old Dominion, Chris Janson and the Chicks with Hits concert.

Their fellow camp buddies also were successful in purchasing the tickets of their dreams.

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spent time “hanging out” together at the makeshift camp until early Wednesday morning when both committed to the long-haul.

Deanna Mather and husband John Mather drove down from Cape Coral to be at the front of the line. They were hoping to nab seats to the Willie Nelson, The Letterman and The Oak Ridge Boys shows.

Deanna Mather said her 67-year-old cousin was coming to the festival for the very first time this year and they wanted to ensure she had fantastic seats for the shows.

Cindy Bentley-Roberts and Bentley Rae Roberts were also some of the handful of attendees to show up for the campout.

They’ve been coming for years and said they look forward to catching up with their “festival family” as they all wait together in the temperamental Florida weather.

They said this year was one

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

PC top U.S. destination Students with Educational First voted Plant City as the best place in the country to visit at the annual ceremony in November.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Courtesy of Sharon Ours

During the day the students attend class at Independence Academy.

I

n the hearts of dozens of international students, Plant City is the best place in the country to visit.

Exchange students with Educational First, a non-profit homestay program that has arranged group travel for more than 140,000 international students since 1979, voted Plant City as the number one destination for EF tours in the entire United States in 2018.

Program Leader Sharon Ours has been working with the Lakeland branch of the program for years. Last year, she asked EF if she could break off and create a Plant City branch to allow students to fully experience her home-town, which she feels is one of the greatest cities in the world.

“Plant City is such a unique town like I said (at the city commission meeting), I was born and raised here, for me there is no other place like Plant City,” Ours said.

For 17 days, more than 30 students bonded with their host families and then went on educational adventures around town.

During the day the students studied under two teachers from Cork Elementary at Independence Academy and then were whisked away to a field trip with Ours.

Community members like Sue Harrell offered presentations on Plant City’s culture. Harrell discussed the Florida Strawberry Grower’s Association and the strawberry industry, Stephanie Conrad gave a presentation on the local beef industry and the students headed to the 1914 High School Community Center where they learned about local history and then participated in a rock hunt.

When the children arrive they are given a five-day feedback survey where they are asked about how they felt about their reception to town, their teachers, program leader and host family. Then they are given another survey when they leave on simi-

lar topics. Those are combined with their test scores, which shows their educational improvement on the provided lessons over the course of the 17 days, to create an overall score.

The city with the highest score is awarded destination of the year. Ours said when they were at the national conference in November she was utterly stunned when Plant City’s name was called as the recipient.

Having just branched out from the Lakeland group she wasn’t expecting to have made such an impact on the first go-around.

She joked that California was a “tough one to compete against,” but the unique hospitality found only in Plant City she believes really set them apart. She said it all comes down to people and the unconditional love the children were met with at every turn let them know that Plant City genuinely cares.

“I’m very passionate about this because I think we can make such an impact,” Ours said. “These kids are age 9 to 13. You know a lot of times people have their own set impression of what a particular country is and what they’re all about and you get a different impression when you open up your mind and you interact with someone from a different country.

It’s an amazing opportunity. I’ve learned Chinese words, I’ve learned about their culture… you learn a lot about people and they learn a lot about us.”

Ours is searching for a handful of host families to round out the upcoming group. She is also hoping local businesses will be interested in partnering with EF and helping out local families. Last year Fred’s gave a meal ticket to all of the participating families and she said it was amazing to watch the students try out southern cooking for the very first time.

Needless to say, fried chicken was a big hit with the group.

Anyone interested in learning more can contact Ours at 813-7630856. The next group of students will be in town from July 11 to July 28, 2019.

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The annual Plant City Christmas Parade was held Friday night drawing thousands of attendees to downtown Plant City.

Bryan Elementary School built a festive boat for its annual float.

At the end of the parade were Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

Marching bands from local schools participated in the parade. Many wore Santa hats or had lights on their instruments.

THE 2018 WINNERS Best Overall Unit Hillsborough County Public Schools Transportation These young railroad fanatics rode the parade route in a custom made train for the Robert W. Willaford. Railroad Museum.

BREANNE WILLIAMS

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STAFF WRITER

One of the largest events of the year draws thousands of festive attendees to downtown Plant City as they eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus.

The annual Plant City Christmas Parade was held Friday night and 80 floats and groups marched from Collins and Alsobrook Streets, traveling north on Collins through downtown, turned right onto Reynolds Street and ended at the courthouse.

People began placing their chairs at their preferred spot days before the event and came hours early to camp out for a front row seat.

Frank Labarbera was the grand marshall this year. Labarbera is one of the original Plant City Christmas Parade organizers and has served behind the scenes for years.

Four guest judges came from out of town to evaluate the “Best High School Entry,” “Best Marching Unit,” “Best Church Entry,” “Best Business Entry” and the “Best Overall Entry.”

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Everyone from PCPD to local churches and the Strawberry Queen and Court were present for the event and cheers rang out up and down the streets as children attempted to catch the tossed beads and candy.

When Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus made their appearance local children let out a squeal as they yelled to catch the attention of jolly St. Nick.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

7

COMMISSION ROUNDUP During Monday night’s commission meeting, a ceremony for Ashley Moody was planned for Dec. 18, code enforcement addressed growing complaints regarding commercial vehicles in residential areas and the city said farewell to its current auditorium.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

T

his was the last time attendees to the city commission meetings will sit in the long-outdated Sadye Gibbs Martin Auditorium in City Hall.

There was only one meeting held in December and a makeover is set to begin Monday for a major overhaul for the room. The city is spending no more than $160,000 to purchase a new media system for the auditorium since the equipment hasn’t been updated since April 2000.

“This overhaul will take more than two weeks to complete, so really this was the only time of the year to do this without interrupting a commission meeting,” City Manager Bill McDaniel said.

The city previously mentioned it has been having difficulty entwining new technology with the old equipment. The plan is to have a new overhead projector that can be raised and lowered at will, new microphones and recording equipment, two new 65-inch 4k monitors to replace the small ones that currently hang in the room and two media stations that will allow news media to connect their equipment directly to the audio system to record the conversations at the dais.

The podium will be replaced with a more electronic device friendly model and the city clerk will have an updated control center. One of the noticeable improvements also includes the new dais, which will have moni-

The auditorium is receiving a makeover in the next few weeks and will have a new dais, monitors and televisions.

tors fastened below the top of the bench. This will allow a less intrusive view for the public and commissioners.

Commissioners also held a public hearing on amending a section of the city code to redefine what a commercial motor vehicle is since code enforcement said it has been receiving several complaints about pickup trucks with commercial marking being parked in residential zoning districts.

Code Enforcement Manager Tray Towles presented the proposed change, saying the vote would prohibit any vehicle with a “Gross Vehicle Weight Rating exceeding 10,001 pounds or any Class Three or above vehicle as defined by the Federal Highway Administration” to park in residentially zoned areas.

Under the new definition, pickup trucks would not be prohib-

ited, so code enforcement would not have to get involved in every case. Individual HOA’s could forbid pickup trucks with logos or vehicles class two or below, but then they would be held responsible for enforcing their policy on the violating vehicles.

“This is more about protecting than prohibiting,” Towles said.

“The spirit of this ordinance is to prevent the parking of large prohibited vehicles.”

All code enforcement needs to investigate a potentially violating vehicle or situation is to receive a complaint from a citizen or an HOA. If the vehicle in question is in violation of the newly defined ordinance, code enforcement will issue a warning. From there, if the owner of the vehicle refuses to comply, they will begin enforcing the code.

McDaniel also announced the city was holding an official dedi-

cation ceremony for the signs it had purchased in honor of Plant City native Ashley Moody being elected as Attorney General.

The ceremony will be at 12 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Sunrise Park, 1203 E. Baker St. Using in-house printing equipment, the city paid for and produced three signs that will be erected in three locations throughout Plant City that are near key entrances to the town.

McDaniel said they are also working with the Federal Department of Transportation to get permission to put up more along a state road.

Following commission was a Community Redevelopment Agency meeting in which commissioners voted to purchase property from First Baptist Church of Plant City for $225,000, plus closing costs.

The lot is located at the Northeast Corner of Wheeler and Her-

ring streets and McDaniel said it has been using the lot frequently for parking for community events.

Purchasing the property ensured that the church would not sell it to someone that would then prohibit the city from utilizing the space.

McDaniel said he fully realized the loss at stake when attending the Veterans Day event at Memorial Park and then heading to Pioneer Day at 1914. The lot was overflowing with vehicles and after reflecting on all the events the city uses it for he decided to bring it before commissioners.

The purchase was unanimously approved and Commissioner Bill Dodson said he had been in communication with the church and they were excited the city was buying the property and continuing to use it to benefit the public.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

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When the artificial tree and boxes of ornaments return to their corner in the garage for the majority of the year, they collect a considerable amount of dust. Reviving the decorations means resurrecting the dust that has settled and wedged its way into each corner for the past eleven months.

Swirling dust travels to the nose, resulting in bouts of sneezing and distressed breathing.

If you think using a real Christmas tree during the holidays saves you from allergens, think again!

Live Christmas trees are cut in advance and stored in moist environments before they are displayed for purchase. Mold loves moisture, and these trees have a naturally high moisture content.

You may not buy this decaying tree for weeks, making Christmas trees the perfect breeding ground for mold growth. Asthma can be triggered by exposure to mold spores as well as sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes or watery eyes, dry or scaly skin and shortness of breath.

The holidays are not only an excuse to celebrate but also an excuse to eat. Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas are often celebrated away from home, which

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makes dealing with a food allergy quite challenging.

Common food allergies are triggered by eggs, nuts, milk and shellfish, which can be found in traditional holiday foods such as cookies, drinks, sauces, dressings, pies and casseroles. If you experience a tingling or itching mouth, hives, trouble breathing, diarrhea, or swelling of the lips, tongue, throat or face after eating, you may have a food allergy that should be brought to a doctor’s attention.

To avoid a holiday season full of sneezing and wheezing, move spring cleaning up a few months on your to-do list. Spray down your Christmas tree, artificial or real, with pressurized water to eradicate mold spores and residual dust. Let the tree dry naturally and thoroughly to avoid further mold growth. Keep real trees in the home for a maximum of four to seven days and consider running an air purifier.

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SPORTS

Sidelines SCORES ROUNDUP

The following area scores were available at press time.

BOYS BASKETBALL Dec. 5 Robinson (H) 74, Durant 63 Plant City (H) 55, East Bay 43 Strawberry Crest 69, Lennard (H) 62 (2OT) Dec. 6 Durant 80, Strawberry Crest (H) 75 Dec. 7 Plant City 72, Lennard (H) 42 Dec. 11 Durant (H) 54, Bloomingdale 46 Strawberry Crest 63, Plant City (H) 60 (OT) GIRLS BASKETBALL Justin Kline

Dec. 5 Robinson (H) 63, Durant 24 East Bay 56, Plant City (H) 28 Strawberry Crest 57, Lennard (H) 51 Dec. 6 Strawberry Crest (H) 52, Durant 16 Dec. 7 Lennard (H) 51, Plant City 35 Dec. 11 Bloomingdale 43, Durant (H) 39 Strawberry Crest 70, Plant City (H) 27

The Oxford Circle Raiders are based out of Philadelphia and were the only 8W team with a first-round bye.

DOLPHINS FALL, 12-0, IN UYFL 8W FINALE Plant City played hard but came up short to the Oxford Circle Raiders on Dec. 7.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

BOYS SOCCER Dec. 5 Plant City (H) 7, King 1 Dec. 7 Plant City 2, Riverview (H) 0 Durant (H) 0, Strawberry Crest 0 Dec. 11 Plant City 8, East Bay (H) 0 Riverview (H) 1, Durant 1 Newsome (H) 1, Strawberry Crest 1 GIRLS SOCCER Dec. 5 Plant City (H) 3, King 0 Dec. 7 Riverview (H) 1, Plant City 0 Durant (H) 2, Strawberry Crest 0 Dec. 11 Plant City 3, East Bay (H) 0 Durant 2, Riverview (H) 1 Newsome (H) 4, Strawberry Crest 0

T

he Plant City Dolphins’ latest run for the ring came to an unfortunate end on Dec. 7.

After putting up back-toback shutout wins in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of the United Youth Football League 8 Weighted national championship tournament, the Dolphins were bested by the Oxford Circle Raiders in a 12-0 game.

Neither team could put any points on the board in the first

half, but the Raiders opened up the scoring on their first drive of the third quarter. They broke off a pair of big runs to pick up crucial first downs and punched in their first touchdown with 5:28 left in the quarter. The Raiders couldn’t convert the extra point attempt and committed a penalty that gave Plant City great field position on the kickoff and the Dolphins were able to drain the clock as they drove into OCR territory.

But an interception at the Raiders’ 20-yard line early in the fourth quarter eventually led to

Justin Kline

The Plant City Dolphins 8 Weighted team made it to the championship round.

Oxford Circle’s next touchdown, a 51-yard dash into the end zone, and another missed extra point attempt set the score at 12-0.

Plant City threw another interception on its next drive, this time with 1:40 left in the game, and the Raiders were able to run the clock out to seal the win.

The 8W Dolphins were the only Plant City team to make it to that Friday’s series of championship games.

Justin Kline

The Dolphins got some motivation from their coaches after the end of the first half.

ELKS SOCCER SHOOT SENDING FIVE TO STATES JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Plant City-area kids are shining on the soccer pitch.

F

ive Plant City youths are Umatilla bound after scoring big in the Elks Soccer Shoot regional tournament.

Ismael Gonzales, Ashley Jeronimo, Jahir Villasenor, Kiana Kropp and Angel Guerra were all on-target at the Dec. 8 regional tournament, held in Ormond Beach, and qualified to move

on to the Jan. 5, 2019, state level competition. It was an especially good day for Gonzales, whose 51 points scored were the most by any competitor at the event.

The Elks Soccer Shoot, which began in 1997, is a test of competitors’ accuracy as measured by their ability to shoot soccer balls into spaces marked by a grid placed over a net. This

year’s tournament saw more than 100 kids from the area come out to test their skills at the local level and included a new U-16 Girls age group.

“We won nine out of the 10 age brackets at districts and sent seven over to regionals…

SEE KLINE, PAGE 10

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

|

FOCUS ON FITNESS

What is Tabata?

Tabata is one of the quickest ways to boost metabolism and burn fat.

Y

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

ou may have heard the term “Tabata” before.

I am often asked by my HIIT class participants what exactly a Tabata is, where it came from and what the benefits are.

Tabata is a form of HIIT (high intensity interval training) that can increase your aerobic and anaerobic capacity, increase metabolism and shed fat in a short amount of time. It got its name from the person who created it: Dr. Izumi Tabata, a Japanese doctor and researcher who conducted interval training studies, specifically 20-second bursts of high intensity with shorter periods of rest.

In recent years, it’s grown in popularity because it saves time. One round of Tabata lasts only four minutes. It is eight 20-second intervals of all-out, high-intensity work followed by 10 seconds of rest. Four minutes may not sound like much, but it should be the most uncomfortable four minutes of your life.

When done right, many people say they “feel like they are going to die.”

One of the things to consider before adding Tabata to your workout routine includes risk

ANGELA FULGIERI

ELKS SOCCER FROM PAGE 9

of injury. Many high-intensity exercises tend to be high-impact, so be sure that you’ve warmed up adequately before beginning any Tabata session. If you are not yet fit enough to get through it, work yourself up to the intensity and duration by modifying the exercises and/or increasing rest time.

Tabata or HIIT classes are offered in most gyms, but you do not need to join a class to add this type of training to your workout. You don’t even need to use equipment and can do it anywhere. Download a Tabata app and use that to track your intervals. A Tabata run workout, for example, will help you to build speed by sprinting for 20 seconds and resting for 10 or choose two or four exercises such as push-ups, burpees, mountain climbers, lunges, jump-rope etc. and do them one after another for eight 20-second intervals. If you have access to equipment, you can even incorporate resistance with weights, bands, balls or kettlebells. Choose exercises that incorporate various muscle groups to get the most out of your workout and rest for one full minute before doing a second round of Tabata.

out of the seven we sent over, five won their age group,” Edgemon said.

Unfortunately for top performers at the district level, conflicts of interest with club team games and one ACL tear meant some couldn’t compete at districts or regionals to potentially move on to the state level. But Plant City’s nine qualifiers for regionals more than doubles last year’s group of four who moved on to that level and Edgemon and the Elks are hopeful it’s a sign of good things to come in the future as far as turnout is concerned.

Should Gonzales, Jeronimo, Villasenor, Kropp and Guerra succeed in Umatilla, they’ll move on to the southeast regional level in Valdosta, Georgia in 2019. There is no further competition for them after Valdosta, even if they win, so the group hopes to make every shot count in January.

DISTRICT WINNERS U-8 Girls - Maite Gonzalez U-8 Boys - Gianni Bueno U-10 Girls - Sherlyn Martinez U-12 Girls - Diana Pena U-12 Boys - Ismael Gonzales U-14 Girls - Ashley Jeronimo U-14 Boys - Jahir Villasenor U-16 Girls - Kiana Kropp U-16 Boys - Angel Guerra

REGIONAL WINNERS U-12 Boys - Ismael Gonzales U-14 Girls - Ashley Jeronimo U-14 Boys - Jahir Villasenor U-16 Girls - Kiana Kropp U-16 Boys - Angel Guerra

Angela Fulgieri is the Wellness Experience Director at the Plant City YMCA. Contact her at observerfitness@gmail.com.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued in Plant City for the month of October 2018, in order of dollar amounts.

real estate transactions BRISTOL PARK

The home at 3716 McElveen Ave. sold Nov. 2, for $290,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,056 square feet of living area.

HILLSBOROUGH

The home at 1307 E. Spencer St. sold Nov. 13, for $195,00.

Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,348 square feet of living area.

The home at 1403 E. Laura St. sold Nov. 2, for $12,900. Built in 1929, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,212 square feet of living area.

The home at 708 Herring St. sold Nov. 26, for $195,500.

Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,191 square feet of living area.

The home at 4804 Horton Road sold Nov. 6, for $175,000.

Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,272 square feet of living area.

WALDEN LAKE

The home at 3051 Sutton Woods Drive sold Nov. 6, for $355,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,434 square feet of living area.

REAL ESTATE

November 2018

11

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

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November 2018 sales information was obtained from the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser. Permit information was obtained from the City of Plant City.

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252Y5eYaerasrsofofEExxppeerrieiennccee RESRIEDSEINDTENIATLIA&L & OMM ERECRICAIALL COCM

468318-1 468318-1

Be Welcomedp. ered.

Be Pam self Be Your

GOT PESTS?

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Always Accepting New Clientele

10 years Experience

Tony 813.404.7819

The only bug you should have in your home or business is the one in our logo!

• Roach & Ant Control • German Roaches HOME PROTECTION • Bees • Ground Hornets PEST CONTROL • Fleas & Ticks • Quarterly & Semi-Annual Service

• VOP • Drug Possession • All Misdemeanor and Felony Cases criminaldefenseattorneytampa.com

Chris 813.417.6849

Leak & Re-Roofing Specialists – WE FIX LEAKS NO ONE ELSE CAN! & Re-Roofing Specialists – WE FIX LEAKSNO NOONE ONE ELSE ELSE CAN! CAN! LeakLeak & Re-Roofing Specialists – WE FIX LEAKS Free Estimates • Financing Available 24-Hour Emergency 24-HourService Emergency Service

Buddy & Crystal Cheaves, Owners 3301 Lampp Rd., Plant City, Fl 33565 Lic # CCC1325993 • Bonded & Insured

813-982-0218 813-982-0218 813-982-0218

24-Hour Emergency Service

Buddy & Crystal Cheaves, Owners

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The struggle between fashion and function is officially declared a tie!

Never before have eyeglass frames been offered in so many stylish choices. Yet, you’ll be amazed at how many options are at your fingertips to help you see well and protect your vision!

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813.754.3593 2002 S. Alexander St. Plant City, FL 33563

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www.drgaffney.com

Ask s abouu ta % Dis1c0 ount

GARAGE DOOR REPAIR & SERVICE

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Dr. Jeremy H. Gaffney O.D. Dr. Barry M. Gaffney, O.D. PA Dr. Daniel G. Gaffney O.D.

www.BuddysRoofing.com www.BuddysRoofing.com www.BuddysRoofing.com

Buddy Crystal Cheaves, Owners Lic & # CCC1325993 • Bonded & Insured Lic # CCC1325993 • Bonded & Insured

12

AROUND TOWN

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

We asked: What was your favorite Christmas gift?

“As a kid I hated getting clothes for Christmas. As an adult, so much better.”

“My wife gave me a Dr. J autographed jersey from his ABA days.”

“This Christmas I get my first grandson. He’s due on Christmas Day.”

“My ukulele.”

“Probably a bike. I’m more of an outdoors person.”

— Austin Kelley, 22

— Allen Berrebbi, 54

— Angela Ardrey, 52

— Juliann Patrick, 15

— Haylee Christopher, 16

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4x6

UNDER AROUND TOWN HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME & MEMORIAL GARDENS 175692

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR 289701-1

OMG IT’S WEDNESDAY!

P R O P E R T Y M A N AG E M E N T C O M M E R C I A L R E N TA L S R E S I D E N T I A L R E N TA L S

PLANT CITY FARM AND FLEA MARKET Highway 39 North at Sam Allen Road—1 mi. N. of I-4 Exit 21

WEDNESDAY FLEA MARKET OVER 40 ACRES . . . MORE THAN 500 VENDORS

OP EN

PM 7A M T O 1 708 W. SAM ALLEN RD. 1 MILE NORTH OF I-4 EXIT 21

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LIKE KMART WITHOUT A ROOF!

PLENTY OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

WWW.PLANTCITYMARKET.COM

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

Monserrate Lozada-Mercado

Roy E. Taylor Sr., 69, of Lakeland, born on Jan. 16, 1949 in Plant City, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 4, 2018.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Monserrate Lozada-Mercado, 62, of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, born on Oct. 9, 1956, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 3, 2018.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELL

FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS

www.HopewellFuneraI.com FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971

HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS

www.HopewellFuneraI.com

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

www.HopewellFuneraI.com

239042

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Richard ‘Duke’ Allen Wilson Sr.

Roseella Prince, 62, of Dover, born on June 21, 1956 in Columbus, Indiana, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 4, 2018.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

www.HopewellFuneraI.com

FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971

Roseella Prince

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

HOPEWELL HOPEWELL

FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Goldia Johnson Goldia Johnson, 93, of Plant City, Florida, formerly of Vicco, Kentucky, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 7, 2018.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Richard “Duke” Allen Wilson Sr., 90, passed into the arms of Jesus, early Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 at St. Dominic’s Memorial Hospital in Jackson, MS. A Memorial Service was held at Chancellor Funeral Home in Florence on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018.

Online guestbook may be signed at www.chancellorfuneralhome.com.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

OBITUARIES

Roy E. Taylor Sr.

|

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971

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William Burl Free Sr. William Burl Free Sr., 79, of Plant City, born in Marianna on Jan. 2, 1939, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 6, 2018.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS

www.HopewellFuneraI.com

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971

Florist

PLA NT CIT Y

Observer RS. YOUR NEIGHBO RHOOD. YOU. YOUR NEIGHBO

FREE

•

Plant City’s Ironman SEE PAGE 10

29, 2018 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER

we wait City, but as evidenced in Now many changes ahead for Plant as There are the city is at a slight impasse Monday night’s commission meeting moving forward. SEE PAGE 8 it gathers more information before

YOUR TOWN

HIGGINBOTHAM

BIDS HILLSBOROUGH

COUNTY FAREWELL

Courtesy of PCPD

Twenty years of service

LIKE US

Plant City Times and Observer

Sgt. Signe Polk retired on Nov. 21 from Plant City Police of Department after 20 years service to Plant City.

Chief Ed Duncan presented her with a plaque during a special ceremony. The plaque recognized her time at the office from July 20, 2018.

1998 to Nov. 21, The department said Polk will be greatly missed and the that her contributions to police department will be “felt long into the future.”

the Board of County Commissioners

for years, acting as a voice

A

STAFF WRITER

Board of County Al Higginbotham served on the a decade. Now Commissioners for more than to start he’s hanging up his hat and preparing life. the next chapter of his adventurous

SEE PAGE 3

three focused his entire career on to the issues: bringing civility back and board, focusing on the budget issues. working on environmental im“I didn’t know if I had left an difference pact, if I had really made a until my farewell,” Higginbotham of level a brought I think said. “I fought honesty to the table, I really board. the on civility to have some

Youth Parade accepting applications File photo

There was no shortage of floats and vehicles.

creativity with the 2018 crop

of

116 North Collins Street Plant City, FL 33563 ph: (813) 567-5735 allabloomtampa.com

Historic Downtown

for local residents.

fter 12 years of service Comis missioner Al Higginbotham officially hanging up his hat. retired The Plant City native officially stage for a last week and is setting the new chapter in his life. the Higginbotham’s tenure on Board of County Commissioners only his brought years of wins to not He hometown but the entire county.

BREANNE WILLIAMS

@PlantObserver and @PCTOSports

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Courtesy of Deanna Hurley

Al Higginbotham served with

FOLLOW US

is on its The 2019 Strawberry Youth Parade and the grand way. Applications are now open marshal has been unveiled.

SEE PAGE 5

Courtesy of Julian Torres

Shop Small Saturday the Small businesses across country participated in Shop Small Saturday on Nov. 24.

Stores and restaurants throughout Plant City joined in the event, offering special deals and photo opportunities for the community members that made it a mission to spend their holidays shopping locally.

The Torres family went to Valerie’s Attic and the State Theare Antiques for the special shopping holiday.

YOUR COMMUNITY FUNERAL HOME AND CEMETERY. FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM 6005 S County Road 39 Plant City, FL 33567

(813) 737-3128 info@hopewellfuneral.com 287881-1

VOLUME 6, NO. 22

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, DEC. 13

YOUR CALENDAR

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

CHRISTMAS LANE 6 to 10 p.m. Christmas Lane features a winter wonderland full of lights, nightly entertainment, fair rides and a living nativity. There is also a “letters to Santa” station, face painting and LEGO in the KidZOne. Children age three years old and under are free, ages 4 to 12 years old are $3 and 13 or older $5.

ONE CHURCH ONE CHILD COMMUNITY INFORMATION FORUM 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 804 W. Renfro St. There will be detailed information on how to adopt, foster or mentor a child, how churches can get involved and the volunteering options with One Church One Child. Complimentary refreshments provided.

SATURDAY, DEC. 15

Call 813-597-3294 for more information.

FRIDAY, DEC. 14

CANDLELIGHT TOUR 5 to 8 p.m. A Candlelight Tour is being held in the historic district by the EHHS. Online reservations are preferred and there will only be advanced ticket sales. Head to ehhsoc.org for more information or email info@ehhsoc.org.

SANTA AT THE DEPOT 5 to 9 p.m. Santa at the Depot featuring one-of-a-kind Santa in a caboose photos. Photo-op is until 8 p.m. and while the event is free, they ask participants to bring a toy to donate to a local family in need. The museum will also be hosting an open house at the same time until 9 p.m.

“UH-OH HERE COMES CHRISTMAS” 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. “Uh-Oh Here Comes Christmas” production at Plant City Entertainment includes 15 holiday stories that examine the struggle many of us face to find the spirit of the holidays. Tickets are $10 at the door.

“MOTOWN JAZZY CHRISTMAS” 7 p.m. at the Bealsville Recreation Center, 5009 Nesmith Road. Hosted by the Bealsville Community Group. Tickets are $25 and doors open at 7 p.m.

Come dressed to the nines and contact Gerald Wasi at 813-7164554 or Rodney Mackey at 813966-6084 for tickets.

BEST BET WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19

CHRISTMAS LIP SYNC BATTLE 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Christmas Lip Sync Battle at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. is free to attend and $5 to perform. Message your name, song title and artist to Krazy Kup on Facebook to sign up.

E U L A WE V YOUR 288243-1

A! C M Y y l i m a F City t n a l P e h t t a 1507 YMCA Place, Plant City | 813 757 6677 | tampaymca.org

Strawberry Classic Feature OF THE MONTH

12/10/2018

73DD785E5CD1488BA86E0A72628664D5.jpg

Celebrating 48 Years of

12/10/2018

8AD5C6D4F89A4CECAD43268700EEC59F.jpg

One Generation at a time

30-50% OFF

A Gift for

You

Hours: Tues. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m

You will be able to view this car at the

Plant City Strawberry Classic Cruise-In

& Diamonds

1514 S. Alexander St. • S# 108, Plant City, FL

December 15, 2018 • 3:00-8:00 p.m.

Facebook.com/PlantCityCarShow Union Station Depot • 102 N. Palmer Street, Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 754-3707

291250-1

ou

Y

Owners- Charlie & Krista Conover Sun City Center, Florida The selection for this month’s Feature Car of the Month is a very rare 1948 Plymouth P-15 Convertible.

According to Charlie “Chrysler Corporation did not build Dodge or Plymouth Convertibles in 1946, 1947 or 1948. They shipped 2 Door Business Coupes to body shops and contracted them modify them into Convertibles! There are less than 200 PlymouthP-15 Convertibles in the world!!

Charlie first spotted the car at the NSRA Street Rod Nationals in 2011. The car was owned by a guy in Ocala, FL and Charlie made contact with him and made a deal to purchase the car. The car was originally restored in Tennessee and as is usually the case , no matter the condition of the car, the new owner always want to continue to make modifications and upgrades to meet his requirements and tastes.

The drivetrain is equipped with a 350 cubic inch Chevrolet small block with 325 Horsepower. The transmission is a Turbo 350 automatic. The 9 inch rear end is from a Ford F-150 truck with 11inch drum brakes and Posies leaf springs. The front suspension is a Mustang II with coil springs and 11 inch disc brakes. Those wide white whitewall tires on the red Steel wheels really finish off the traditional look of this gorgeous car!!

Since purchasing the car Charlie has replaced almost all of the power equipment including power windows, power door locks, power brakes. He also installed a new two layer power convertible top and Vintage air conditioning. Power seats are from a Chrysler Sebring Convertible.

Charlie says the car can cruise all day long on the interstate at 70 to 80 mile per hour and is really fun to drive!! https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxvzMBkWVsSSJLZzfsPlQBjJlZdF?projector=1 1/1 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxvzMBkWVsSSJLZzfsPlQBjJlZdF?projector=1 This beautiful Red Plymouth Convertible will be on display at our Special Christmas Show- AAA Strawberry Classis Cruise-In this Saturday from 3:00 till 8:00 PM at McCall Park in Plant City.

There will be over 600 Classics, Hot Rods and Muscle Cars also on display and Trophies will be presented to AAA Award of Excellence winners at 5:30 PM!!! See you there!!!

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to:

Strawberry Classic Cruise-in Feature Car of the Month--December 2018 1948 Plymouth Custom Deluxe Convertible

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FORECAST THURSDAY, DEC. 13

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

Mark Nelson spotted a woodpecker “hard at work” and caught the moment on his phone. Nelson wins this week’s I Love Plant City photo contest.

High: 74 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 20%

FRIDAY, DEC. 14 High: 78 Low: 64 Chance of rain: 90%

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Dec. 13

7:10a

5:34p

Friday, Dec. 14

7:11a

5:34p

Saturday, Dec. 15

7:12a

5:34p

Sunday, Dec. 16

7:12a

5:35p

Monday, Dec. 17

7:13a

5:35p

Tuesday, Dec. 18

7:13a

5:36p

Wednesday, Dec. 19

7:14a

5:36p

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

15

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

|

SATURDAY, DEC. 15 Jan. 5 New

SUNDAY, DEC. 16

Monday, Dec. 3

High: 70 Low: 48 Chance of rain: 10%

Tuesday, Dec. 4 0.02

TOMATOES

Courtesy of Mark Nelson

ONLINE

High: 72 Low: 55 Chance of rain: 50%

Follow us on social media: @PCObserver on Instgram, @PlantObserver on Twitter and Plant City Observer on Facebook.

Shipping point: Central Florida $15.95 to $17.95

Dec. 22 Full

Jan. 10 First

Jan. 1 Last

0.01

Wednesday, Dec. 5

0.00

Thursday, Dec. 6 0.00 Friday, Dec. 7

0.00

Saturday, Dec. 8 0.00 0.54

Sunday, Dec. 9 YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2018 24.33 in.

2018 0.57 in.

2017 29.98 in.

2017 0.08 in.

Your One Stop Shop For All Parties, Events & Reunions!

292668-1

CROSSWORD

©2018 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

1 Gasp like a pup 5 Pink-slip 9 Hindi courtesy title 13 Geologic layers 19 Geometry calculation 20 Prefix in the farming industry 21 Party times, often 22 Already selected 23 Person like you 24 Polygraph failer 25 Choice rating 26 Gave a speech 27 The forest during hibernation season?

31 Catches via rope 32 Type of welder 33 Society ball rookie, for short 34 Apt. sections 37 Skip over intentionally 40 Type of pig 44 Work with much effort 45 Unfair hunting weapon?

51 Web-hopper’s landing 52 Come closer to 53 Make shrink, as light 54 Idyllic spring setting 55 Figurative expression 57 TV series genre 60 Daffy Duck, for one 62 Freedom from activity

64 Kinks song 66 Prefix for new 67 Dosage amt., sometimes 70 Military unit formed in a cave?

76 Serious bag checking org.

77 Mr. Eisenhower, informally 78 Word that returns 79 Swinelike beasts 80 Birds with blue eggs 83 Group convened via pope 86 Sire 87 Moving circularly

122 Be paid from work 123 Myanmar currency unit 124 Roman love poet 125 “Where’s Eugene?” answer 126 Lose control via brakes 127 Implore 128 A ___ pittance 129 Many four-door cars 130 “Guarding ___” (1994 movie) 131 It requires tidying 132 Pennsylvania school (with 99-Down)

50 “What did I tell you?”

51 Walk proudly 56 Suffix with Japan 58 Dust speck 59 “Smart” guys 61 Ocean kin 63 Like only some mushrooms 65 Like old fireplaces 67 DC Comics supervillain 68 Speech from a blowhard 69 Bothersome insects, e.g.

71 Enjoy Vail 72 Bowler’s target, sometimes DOWN 73 Really stupid mistake 1 Pontiff-related 74 ___ Four (the Beatles) 2 Sports venue 75 Elaborate musical 3 Exigencies production 4 Some sweet pastries 80 Spanish rivers 5 Non-P.C. stock mover 81 Dinner crumb 6 Opposin’ 82 Cul-de-___ (some dead 7 Creature that sidles ends) 8 Divided peninsula 9 Young’un fit for this puzzle 84 Bo Derek thriller 85 Stylish gown maker 10 Say with confidence 87 Memo beginner, some11 “Stand By Me” singer times ___ King 88 Come to a halt 12 Manipulative type 89 Despicable 13 Biscuitlike cake 91 Box score stat 14 Hurt rhythmically 93 UAE members 15 Horse type 96 Horror film feature 16 Body in a huge belt 97 Kenny “Babyface” ___ 17 Simple shirt 98 Period of many ages 18 Word that connects (var.)

28 Part of 15-Down 99 See 132-Across 29 Mythical craft of Jason 104 Gibson garnish 30 Dutch cheese 90 Golf scoring standard 105 “Good Times” surname 35 “The Adventures of ___ 92 One Great lake 107 Caulk kin and Otis” 94 Bucks’ mates 109 Heavy explosive device 36 Large amount 95 Ursine bomb droppers?

38 Like a windshield need- 110 Not even once 100 Socked digits 111 Type of farm or section ing scraping 101 Like an 11-yard kick, 112 Elizabeth of cosmetics 39 Drop of sadness e.g.

114 Korbut of gymnastics 41 Roadside bomb inits.

102 75-Down song fame 42 Spad or brad 103 Be selective 115 Bird’s birthplace 43 Ferret relative 104 Above, for poets 116 Snatch or grab 44 Peter the Great was one 106 Sound heard while 117 Part of the human eye 45 Police warners getting milk 118 Stringed instrument 46 Place of bliss 108 Neighbor of Uganda of old 47 Transplant ferns 113 Fighter using its claws 119 Pup’s tail movements 48 Start of some music only?

120 A couple in Mexico syllables 120 “The Blue ___” (1946 121 You ___ here 49 U-turn from export flick)

BEAR-LY MAKING IT by Timothy B. Parker

LL Wiiiams & Karen Davis OWNERS OF FELTON'S

CELEBRITY CIPHER

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“JZNZA OW LSKJXV DWA UWJZC. KL’V BIPBCV LSZ LSKJXV CWM OW DWA IWNZ LSBL LMAJ WML LW TBC LSZ FZVL.”

– ZAKR KOIZ

“LPGWKXGWL KYW ZPEM OXIM CEPOL J ZYXEE XI GU LPBE / LPGW MJUL JAW MXJGPIML, LPGW MJUL JAW LKPIW.”

– IWXE MXJGPIM

Puzzle Two Clue: I equals N

617 N. Maryland Ave. • Plant City 813-752-1548

Puzzle One Clue: T equals P

Choice Meats • Meat Bundles • Specialty Meats • Produce • Smoke House • Groceries

©2018 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

©2018 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

12-13-18

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

When you’re pregnant, there are so many questions.

WHERE TO HAVE YOUR BABY shouldn’t be one of them.

Which car seat? What stroller? And oh, the discussions

extraordinary level of care during labor and delivery,

about the name. With so many questions surrounding

in a comfortable, spacious room. If you’re expecting,

a new baby, we want to give you one definitive and

or thinking about having a baby, come in and see for

easy answer. The hospital you choose. At BayCare’s

yourself. Take a tour of South Florida Baptist Hospital

South Florida Baptist Hospital, we have exceptional

and sign up for one of our free prenatal classes.

doctors and nurses to give you and your new baby an

Visit SouthFloridaBaptistMaternity.org to register.

OUR MATERNITY CENTERS:

Mease Countryside Hospital • Morton Plant Hospital • St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital • St. Joseph’s Hospital-North St. Joseph’s Hospital-South • South Florida Baptist Hospital • Winter Haven Women’s Hospital SOUTHFLORIDABAPTISTMATERNITY.ORG 18-589030-1118

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