12.23.16 PCTO by Plant City Observer

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

Three times the brotherhood.

SEE PAGE 12

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 4, NO. 24

FREE

Savory Sweet &

Known for fresh, made-from-scratch desserts, Tani’s For Dessert is now offering cheese and charcuterie to customers.

EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

henever possible, Tani Sum-

•

FRIDAY,DECEMBER 23, 2016

YOUR TOWN City creates welcome kit for residents The City of Plant City has created a welcome kit for residents that gives an overview of the town’s culture, landmarks and government operations. The welcome kit includes a list of public safety and development services, as well as overviews of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and Plant City Main Street. Contact information for the city commissioners and various city departments is also included in the kit. The welcome kit can be viewed on the City of Plant City’s website at PlantCityGov. com.

mers likes to do

things herself.

There’s proof of that throughout the dining room of Tani’s For Dessert, the restaurant Tani Summers runs with her hus-

City announces Midtown redevelopment

band, Lloyd. Christmas decorations adorn the walls. In the corner, three mannequins dressed as carolers are placed next to a Christmas tree. Tani Summers made the carolers out of PVC pipe. “We go the extra mile on everything we do here,” Tani Summers said. But her real labor of love takes place in the restaurant’s kitchen. Everything served at Tani’s For Dessert and the Summers’ adjacent storefront, Buttercream Bake Shoppe, is made from scratch. Homemade pie crusts. Cakes and cookies baked and decorated daily. With a menu that includes everything from bread pudding and crepes to tiramisu and cheesecake, the Summers’ focus has always been on desserts — just desserts. And while desserts still reign supreme, the Summers have decided to add a cherry on top to to a sweet tooth’s dream menu. Customers can now order wine and customizable cheese and charcuterie dishes to enjoy with dessert. The Summers hope that the addition will bring in new clients to the dessert shop, which Lloyd Summers calls “the best kept secret in Plant City.”

SEE TANI’S PAGE 5

Emily Topper

Lloyd and Tani Summers opened Tani’s For Dessert and Buttercream Bake Shoppe two years ago. They now offer cheese and charcuterie.

Lights of Love fundraiser yields $31,000 The funds will go toward further enhancements at the hospital’s heart and vascular center, which can now treat patients actively having a heart attack. EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

On Dec. 1, the holiday season kicked off in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World with the 18th annual Lights of Love celebration, organized by the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation. Complete with live music and pictures with Santa Claus, the event

attracts families into Historic Downtown every year — and raises money for a hearty cause. The South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation has announced that this year’s event raised $31,000. In addition to selling lights in honor of a loved one, the foundation was able to raise money through photos with Santa, glow stick sales and concessions at Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen. Out of the $31,000, a total of $1,500 was raised the night of the event. “We get a lot of community support,” Jana Butler, executive director of the foundation, said. “We couldn’t do it without the City of Plant City. It’s a great partnership. We really appreciate the support of Plant City. This keeps us up to date in our medical treatments.” SEE LIGHTS PAGE 5

File photo. About $1,500 was raised the night of the event, Thursday, Dec. 1.

The City of Plant City is planning to move forward with Midtown’s redevelopment in 2017. The City announced Friday, Dec. 16, that a request for qualifications has been issued by the Community Redevelopment Agency. Interested developers will be required to attend a pre-proposal meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, at City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds St. The City has invested over $4.5 million for infrastructure and land preparation. “Our location, strong workforce and growing community are the perfect combination for new development and amenities,” Mayor Rick Lott said. “Our city is open for business.” Jake Austin, president of the Plant City Economic Development Corp., agreed. “With corporate relocations and expansions on the rise, we are experiencing positive momentum in the greater Plant City area,” Austin said. “Our community leaders have created an environment ready to respond and support a project like Midtown. There is high demand for this mixeduse model in our community, as more people are looking for a lifestyle that will allow them to live, work and play in an integrated space.” The City has made Midtown a top priority for 2017. At the City Commission meeting Monday, Dec. 12, the city commission’s top legislative funding request was for the redevelopment of Collins Street, totaling $1,825,000. Developers attending the RFQ meeting will be able to submit questions until 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. Those seeking more information about the RFQ process are encouraged to contact Procurement Manager Wiley Storey at wstorey@plantcitygov.com.

WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND Check out photos from this year’s Christmas Trail. SEE PAGE 7 AND ONLINE AT PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM.

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016

WEEK OF DECEMBER 23, 2016

New Year’s Cheese Wayback Burgers is preparing to kick off 2017 with cheese — lots of it. On Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, Wayback Burgers will offer a buy one, get one free AM Cheeeesy breakfast sandwich. The breakfast sandwich includes slices of American cheese, crispy bacon and eggs inside of a toasted bun. The offer is available all day at participating restaurant locations nationwide. Wayback Burgers in Plant City is located in Lake Walden Square, 200 W. Alexander St.

Holiday garbage and recycling collection schedule The City of Plant City will not be collecting residential garbage on Friday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 26, or Monday, Jan. 2. Collection will occur on the next regularly scheduled service day. Residential recycling that is collected on Monday, Dec. 26, will be collected on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Residential recycling that is collected on Monday, Jan. 2, will be collected on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Commercial garbage and recycling will be collected on the holidays per the normal schedule. Any questions about solid waste services can be directed to the City of Plant City at (813) 659-4222.

“Our ultimate goal is for people to find faith in Christ and join our church. We are a group of believers, and we hope that outsiders would become part of our family.” —Daniel Helms, singles and young professionals pastor at First Baptist Church of Plant City. SEE PAGE 3.

THERE’S A GLOW W alden Lake residents

decorated

the entrances to their

neighborhoods as part of the annual Walden Lake Christmas Lighting Contest just in time for the holidays. The winning displays were chosen in three categories Sunday, Dec. 11. The event is organized annually by Mary Jane Wagoner. Wagoner, a

THE WINNERS GRAND PRIZE The Paddocks

See more photos from the event at PlantCityObserver.com

WHAT’S HAPPENING

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

TRADITIONAL THEME First Place: Emerald Forest Second Place: Clubhouse Woods Third Place: Wedgewood WHIMSICAL THEME First Place: Fairway Estates Second Place: Silver Lake Third Place: Silverstone

ILLUMINATION THEME First Place: SilverBrooke Second Place: Laurel Lake Third Place: Charleston Woods

Photos by Emily Topper

ONLINE

The Paddocks won the grand prize award.

Walden Lake resident, does not participate in the judging and instead chooses a volunteer panel of non-Walden Lake residents to judge. This year’s judges included Christine Kelley, Debra Bryant and Muriel Cook. — EMILY TOPPER

Above: Lighted displays include Christmas and winter themes. Right: A lighted Santa was a friendly addition.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016

Two ministries at First Baptist Church of Plant City are helping singles connect through faith.

Photos by Emily Topper

Pastor Daniel Helms preached to members of First Baptist Church of Plant City’s Young Professionals Ministry.

EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

Pastor Daniel Helms has two goals for First Baptist Church of Plant City’s Young Professionals and Single Adults ministries. The first, he said, is for ministry members to grow and mature in their relationship with the Lord. “We want to point people to the church,” Helms said. The second is to connect ministry members with each other in both friendships and romantic relationships. In a digital age where companies like Tinder — a dating app with 50 million users worldwide, according to Business Insider — have taken over, Helms is focused on creating connections the old-fashioned way: Face to face. CONNECTED BY FAITH

Helms joined the First Baptist team in February 2015, subsequently forming two ministries for single adults in the church. The first, Young Professionals, is geared toward connecting adults between the ages of 23 and 35. The other ministry, Single Adults, is aimed toward older generations. With a goal of leading individuals toward Jesus Christ, Helms said, the ministry seeks to connect people between the ages of 35 and 55 who have been divorced, separated or who have never married. The Single Adults ministry meets Sundays at 9 a.m. “I thought that we needed to start a home group,” Helms said. He noticed that many of the church’s young adults were active in the church through assisting with childcare or Sunday School, but that they did not have their own group to

Lauren Morris, Allison Singleton and Emily Godheim are all members of the ministry.

worship with. “We went from two to eight members in the first week,” Helms said. “And it’s just been growing ever since.” Nearly two years later, the Young Professionals ministry has grown to about 25 people. The group meets Sunday nights at the home of Helms and his wife, Audrey. The weekly ministry kicks off with a 40-minute Bible study before breaking apart for games and relationship building. Often, both ministries will combine for trips to theme parks or volunteering. While the members of the Young Professionals group fit the age of online dating users — 27% of 18 to 24-year-olds and 22% of 25 to 34-year-olds used dating apps in 2015, according to Pew Research Center — popular apps like Tinder don’t

always take into account a user’s faith, values or goals. Matching with a fellow user is typically based on two users “liking” one another. And while Helms isn’t opposed to members of the ministry using the app, the goal of Young Professionals is to form connections based on common interests and shared faith. “In church culture ... a lot of (single) people are on dating apps but they don’t like to admit it,” Helms said. “We’re not opposed to it, but we advise that they be careful with it. We try to say, ‘Keep using the dating app, but seek out good people.’ I know God does cool things through those dating apps, but some of our people have had bad things happen.” FAITH AND FRIENDSHIP

In the Young Professionals ministry, Helms added, members know

that they’re connecting with people who are likely looking for something similar — friendships or a long-term relationship. Earlier this year, a couple that met through the ministry celebrated their engagement, a first for the club. Members of the club agree that they seek friendship and shared connections, rather than relying on an app to help them connect with people. Meagan Rickman, 27, joined the club about one year ago. As a mother, she attended the Single Adults class but found that she was on the younger side. She later joined Young Professionals. “I like the people,” Rickman said. “They’re nice, there’s no pressure. I wasn’t really seeking anything ... I wanted something else to do.” It’s a similar story for other members of the ministry, including Kayla Clenney, 28, and Stephen Taylor, 25. “I like that he (Helms) doesn’t discourage dating, but it’s more about just making connections and building a community,” Clenney said. “It’s like a support group. That’s what I appreciate about it.” Taylor joined the group in January, after looking for a similar group to join and finding out about Young Professionals through Helms. “I really liked it,” he said. “It was different. I like that it was a friendship-based group. I never thought about doing dating apps. I didn’t want to put myself out there like that.” “Our ultimate goal is for people to find faith in Christ and join our church,” Helms said. “We are a group of believers, and we hope that outsiders would become part of our family.”

The Plant City Photo Archives and History Center is recording the Florida Strawberry Festival’s history in a new way.

MANAGING EDITOR

Emily Topper

Executive Director Gil Gott and Administrative Assistant Kimberly Hamilton record the interviews.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING Check out the Strawberry Legacies oral history program at the Photo Archives and History Center. Where: 106 S. Evers St., Plant City Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday Call: (813) 754-1578 Visit: PlantCityPhotoArchives.org

Once the cameras start rolling, it doesn’t take long for the memories to come to life. The Plant City Photo Archives and History Center began preserving photographs that captured the past of the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World in 2000, later expanding to include written articles and documents. Now, video recordings are being added to the mix. With funding from the Florida Humanities Council, the center has been able to obtain video recording and lighting equipment. This fall, the center began conducting video interviews as part of the center’s new program, ‘Strawberry Legacies: Field to Festival.’ The video interviews take place with Plant City residents who have had major involvements with the Florida Strawberry Festival. “It’s wonderful,” Gil Gott, execu-

ADULT SINGLES MINISTRY Ages: 35 to 55 When: 9 a.m., Sundays YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MINISTRY Ages: 23 to 35 When: 6 p.m., Sundays CONTACT PASTOR DANIEL HELMS Call/Text: (813) 943-8894 Email: DHelms@fbcpc.com

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

STUDIO 106 EMILY TOPPER

IF YOU JOIN

tive director of the Photo Archives, said. “To get them recorded is of great historical significance.” Gott is currently working on a book about the history of the festival with Lauren McNair, the festival’s public relations and media representative. The book, tentatively titled The Florida Strawberry Festival: A Brief History, is set to be published in February 2017. Gott and McNair have divided the content by decades. The book is set to include information on former queens and charter members. But though the festival has an extensive history that spans over 80 years, finding some information proved to be a challenge. “There was some sparsity of information for some years,” Gott said. “That made it quite apparent that we need to capture as much as we can from the people who have been in it.” Thus, the oral history project was born. Gott and Kim Hamilton, the center’s administrative assistant, have

set up a video recording space at the archives. Dubbed Studio 106, interviews conducted in the space include recordings with B.M. Mac Smith and Al Berry, two former festival presidents. Sandee Sytsma, daughter of the late strawberry grower Roy Parke, also has been interviewed. Today, Sytsma serves as the festival’s vice president. While the interviews are beneficial to Gott and McNair as they finalize the festival history book, all interviews will be available for Plant City residents to enjoy at the center. Gott is planning to continue the program for as long as people can add to the festival’s history. “Oral histories are just great,” he said. “You’ve got to capture these things. You won’t find it written down anywhere. Once it’s gone, you just can’t make it up. It’s more a chronicling of their memories. Most people are just very humorous.” Those interested in having a personal copy of the oral histories must pay for the cost of production of a DVD. The festival oral histories will be available for viewing from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center, 106 S. Evers St. Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016

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he Plant City Elks Lodge thanked first responders with home-cooked meals Friday, Dec. 16. Officers from the Plant City Police Department were honored with a lunch Dec. 16, followed by an awards ceremony. Awards were given out for service years, as well as Rookie of the Year and Officer of the Year awards. A dinner and ceremony followed in the evening for the firefighters of Plant City Fire Rescue. In addition to service awards, a Firefighter of the Year award also was presented. The ceremonies were held at the Plant City Elks Lodge, 1501 N. Alexander St. — EMILY TOPPER AND JUSTIN KLINE

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Officer Priscilla Clark started the shoe drive in December after seeing many people in need who needed new shoes.

The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Plant City Police Department.

DEC. 9

CHEESEBURGERS AND COUNTERFEITS 2400 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Counterfeit money: Officer met with complainant, who stated he had received a counterfeit $10 bill in his change after buying fast food at 11 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8. The bill was impounded and placed in PCPD evidence. IN A HURRY 900 block of South Broad Street. Vehicle burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated she noticed one of the doors of her 2011 Buick LeSabre was ajar and found that unknown suspect(s) had stolen some loose change. The burglary occurred between 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, and 12:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9.

Merry Christmas!

MAJOR KEY 1200 block of Townsgate Court. Criminal mischief: Officer responded to an altercation between

two male subjects. One subject stated that the driver’s side of his car had been keyed, causing over $1,000 in damage. The other subject was arrested.

DEC. 10

A STONE’S THROW AWAY 4310 block of Highway 574. Criminal mischief: Officer met with complainants, who stated unknown suspect(s) threw a rock through the back window of their mobile home between 8 and 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9. DRINKS ON THE HOUSE 1700 block of East Baker Street. Counterfeit money: Officer met with complainant, who stated a customer at a liquor store had attempted to use a counterfeit $100 bill to pay for alcohol.

DEC. 11

SHORT-TERM PARKING 1300 block of Mendonsa Road. Found bicycle: Officers met with complainant, who stated unknown subject(s) had left a blue Next brand men’s bicycle in his yard. The bike was taken to PCPD headquarters for safekeeping.

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SCROOGE 4600 block of Country Hills Court. Theft: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) had stolen Christmas decorations, valued at $80. Complainant declined to pursue charges and signed a waiver of prosecution.

DEC. 13

CLEANED OUT 1100 block of East Calhoun Street. Vehicle burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) entered his Jeep through a window that he might have left unsecured and stole several items. The suspect(s) stole a red Milwaukee hammer drill, a blue Makita impact drill and its box, a chipping hammer with a black box, a portable Bluetooth speaker, a black Nike sweater and a black Strada shirt. The items were valued together at $1,100. IN AND OUT 3020 block of Forest Hammock Drive. Burglary, stolen vehicle: Officers met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) entered his home, which was unlocked with the garage door open, and stole a purse, a 2015 Toyota Tundra pickup truck and its keys, and a 9mm handgun. Tampa PD recovered the truck and gun later.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FROM TANI’S PAGE 1

TANI’S FOR DESSERT/ BUTTERCREAM BAKE SHOPPE Where: 2804 James L. Redman Parkway, Suites 106 and 107

Merry Christmas Santa can make it

HAPPEN!!

Bring the Bling!!! Emily Topper

CHEESE AND CHARCUTERIE Perfect to pair with wine or dessert, Tani’s For Dessert is now offering cheese and charcuterie to customers. With dips, nuts and olives included, customers can pick a variety of meats and cheeses and platter sizes: Combo of three: $15 Combo of five: $21 Combo of seven: $29

covered football she made out of Rice Krispies, and the cake that looked like a replica of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. Race car cakes, guitar cakes, fish-shaped cakes, tiered wedding cakes. But the baking business grew faster than Tani Summers had expected. She found herself having to turn down order requests. “She wanted a bakery,” Lloyd Summers said. “She’s very talented. I told her that if I could sell my business, it would become a possibility. The next day I was talking to a customer and he offered to buy it.” Plant City residents for 23 years, the Summers wanted to stay close to home when they opened their restaurant. The Villages off of James L. Redman Parkway offered a New Orleansstyle feel that the couple liked. In addition to selling cakes and pies by the slice, the shop also serves up baked goods for bridal and baby showers and parties. Classic dishes, including cheesecake and tiramisu also are available. “We want to let people know what we’ve got here in Plant City,” Lloyd Summers said.

FROM LIGHTS PAGE 1

within 90 minutes of a patient receiving emergency care. Prior to the hospital’s lab enhancements and addition of a second suite, patients who were admitted to the hospital that were suffering from cardiac arrest had to be transferred to a location where they could be treated. “Our cath lab (catheterization laboratory) can now take care of patients that are actively having a heart attack,” Butler said. “Patients can be treated here and won’t have to be transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.” “Patients would be given a stent and flown to St. Joe’s Hospital,” Beth Tancredo, the hospital’s director of operations, said. “Now, if the paramedics determine that a patient is having a heart attack, they can be brought here.” “Our whole goal is to have advanced health care in Plant City,” Butler said. Further funds raised from the Lights of Love event will go toward the hospital’s Wellness on Wheels and Ladies’ Night Out programs.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER Locally owned by Ed Verner, Karen Berry, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Times & Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC, a jointventure of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.

Chocolate cake and other sweets are a staple at Tani’s. Now, cheese and charcuterie will be offered to customers.

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Tani Summers’ love of baking was passed down by her mother. Growing up, Tani Summers said her family didn’t go out to eat often. When they did, her mother would always ask about a restaurant’s pie options: Is it homemade pie crust? If it wasn’t, Tani Summers recalled, her mother wouldn’t order it. “Now that I’m older, I understand why,” Tani Summers said. The Tani’s For Dessert kitchen always starts from scratch. From frostings and flavors to the cake top figurines Tani Summers places on her creations, homemade is a guarantee. “We’re always looking for good bakers,” Tani Summers said. “Finding help is very, very hard.” When Tani Summers’ daughter got married in 2007, she pitched in by making cakes for the bridal and groom’s parties. She also made cookie favors, which were a huge hit. “I just came up with them,” she said. “That led into it. People absolutely loved them.” Before having a storefront, Tani Summers sold cookies out of her home to friends, family and a few customers. Two years later, after multiple requests, she began making cakes under the name Exclusively Yours Cakes and Cookies. Simple two-layer cakes weren’t on the menu. There was the chocolate-

Prior to the event, the foundation sends out mail pieces to 10,000 homes in Plant City highlighting the fundraiser. Donations range anywhere from $25 to $5,000. Butler estimates that the event had about 500 guests this year. Butler works with South Florida Baptist Hospital President Karen Kerr to determine the hospital’s needs. Last year, funds from Lights of Love were used to increase the number of beds in the hospital’s intensive care unit. This year, the foundation is putting the funds toward enhanced heart and vascular services, which have recently expanded at the hospital. A second suite is now being used to treat patients suffering from cardiac arrest through STEMI services, an enhancement the hospital didn’t have before. The launch of the STEMI program treats heart attacks caused by a prolonged blockage of a heart’s blood supply. Treatment includes a percutaneous coronary intervention, known as a PCI, which must be done

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday through Saturday Call: (813) 704-5947 Facebook: Tani’s For Dessert

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

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Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays. It provides free home delivery to several neighborhoods in Plant City. The Plant City Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

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How long have you been here? Lloyd Summers estimates that he hears that question at least once per day. Located near RAOK Boutique in The Villages off of James L. Redman Parkway, Tani’s For Dessert first opened in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World two years ago. The dessert-only restaurant has had no trouble attracting people from throughout Florida. Customers frequently include visitors from Orlando, Clearwater and nearby Lakeland and Tampa. But customers in Plant City, Lloyd Summers said, are sometimes harder to come by. “Once people find us, they love us,” he said. “We’re one of Tampa Bay’s only dessert-only restaurants. The problem is, we can’t reach Plant City.” While customers frequently stop in for a sweet treat after dinner or a late snack, attracting dessert aficionados to the restaurant during lunchtime has proved a challenge. By adding cheese and charcuterie, the couple is hoping to attract customers who may have been unaware of the restaurant in the past. “Everybody’s really liking it so far,” Lloyd Summers said. “The cheese and charcuterie includes dips, nuts, crackers and olives. Customers can pick which cheeses and meats they want, and it goes a long way.” Customers can pick the size of the platter they want, as well. Meat and cheese options vary, and customers are able to choose between trays of three, five and seven different options. Though the charcuterie options are gaining interest, dessert continues to be the restaurant’s main entree.

SEND US YOUR NEWS We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via: Email: Emily Topper, etopper@ PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Times & Observer, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103, Plant City, FL 33563

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Observer

Publisher / Karen Berry, kdberry@inthefieldmagazine.com Interim Managing Editor / Emily Topper, etopper@ PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline, jkline@ PlantCityObserver.com Editorial Designer / C.J. Major, cmajor@yourobserver.com Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor of In the Field / Sarah Holt, sarah@ inthefieldmagazine.com

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

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016

WINTER WHEELS

We asked: What do you want Santa Claus to bring you for Christmas?

very year, Santa Sled Fest helps hundreds of Plant City families in need. This year’s fest, held Saturday, Dec. 17, was hosted by the Des Aimé Social Club of Florida Inc. and Plant City Black Heritage Celebration Inc. The groups gave away 80 bicycles, as well as numerous toys, clothing and food items at Samuel Cooper Park, 900 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. — JUSTIN KLINE

Emily Topper

Photos by

Lauren Bearden, co-owner of CrossFit Plant City, will be offering a six-week F.I.X. challenge to CrossFitters.

“A 2017 Honda Civic.” — Piper Meeks, 8

GET YOUR

F.I.X. ON CrossFit Plant City is offering a six-week challenge centered around interval training and mobility.

“Ultimate soothing spa. It’s Orbeez. It feels so tickly on your feet.” — Syrena Peterkin, 8

“Zoomer kitty.” — Jacquelin Rayo, 8

“Zoomer hedgiez.” — Peyton McNab, 8

EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR

It’s the season of giving — and eating. But once the holidays are over, CrossFit Plant City will be ready to help residents of the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World reach their fitness goals in the new year. CrossFit Plant City is now taking sign-ups for a six-week challenge of FUNctional Intense X-Training Group Classes, also known as F.I.X. classes. The beginner-friendly program is designed to build foundational strength with body weight movements, interval training and mobility. The program also includes a twoweek meal plan and a grocery trip. “It’s six weeks of coach-led workouts and instruction,” Lauren Bearden, co-owner of CrossFit Plant City, said. The business will be celebrating its third anniversary in January. “You can become a master of your own body.” The program is designed to be enticing to beginners who may have had concerns about trying a CrossFit program in the past. “People are curious,” Bearden said. “Maybe they’ve heard some scary stories. This program has the learning elements and techniques needed. There’s no barbell work. It’s about stable shoulders and a strong core, and using legs and hips for power. The program is to help people feel much more comfortable while building up

Justin Kline

Left: Among the highlights of the giveaway crop were 80 bicycles. Below: Kids got to enjoy a play area with bounce houses and a big slide. Bottom: The event provided food for 200 families.

SIGN UP Three-Day Package: $200 plus tax; includes a healthy eating seminar, grocery store field trip, two-week meal plan and three F.I.X. workouts per week for six weeks. Five-Day Package: $250 plus tax; includes a healthy eating seminar, grocery store field trip, three-week meal plan and five F.I.X. workouts per week for six weeks. Address: 1402 Mercantile Court, Plant City. Call: (813) 752-9260 Visit: CrossFitPlantCity.com

their confidence and fitness level.” Prior to beginning the challenge, participants can set up appointments and consultations with coaches to go over their goals and take down their weights and measurements. Nutrition seminars will be included in the program. Workout days will alternate between interval training and strength days. Though the program is designed for beginners, people of any fitness level can try the challenge. “Active CrossFitters can do it as a rest day or a supplemental workout,” Bearden said. The classes will be taught in groups, and members can enroll in either three or five workouts per week. “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Bearden said. “We really have such a great group of supportive, positive people.” Once the six-week challenge is over, participants will be able to continue taking a F.I.X.-type of class, or enroll in a different workout routine. “We’re going to keep a F.I.X.-type of class going,” Bearden said. “There will be an ongoing program. People can stay in, or transfer to something else. This is a supportive environment that holds people accountable to their goals.” Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

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YOUR NEIGHBORS

Left: The trail follows the story of Huey, a lost lamb who has to find his way home in time for Christmas. Above: Finn, Callum, Paul and Janice Lancaster.

Photos by Emily Topper

Families took photos in front of the 25-foot Christmas tree located in front of the trail.

lant City residents found the holiday spirit Sunday, Dec. 18, at The Christmas Trail. The free event, organized by Zach Glaros and his family, is open to the public again from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, through Friday, Dec. 23, at 2837 S. Frontage Road. The attraction features a Christmas-themed walking trail, a snowball corral for children and food and drink vendors. Children can take photos with Christmas characters and write letters to Santa Claus.

A 25-foot Christmas tree made of rope lights greets visitors at the entrance to the Christmas Trail.

Mikayla Hall and Sharon Flowers.

Above: Sierra Wood and Kenny Criger. Right: Zach Glaros, Syra Glaros and Dillon Patrick.

ONLINE

See more photos from the event at PlantCityObserver.com

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; EMILY TOPPER

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016

SENIOR OF THE MONTH: PAULINE HASKINS

Celebrating A Century

Emily Topper

mas and Thanksgiving family gatherings, and we always had get-togethers on birthdays.” Though many of her family members have moved away from the Sunshine State, the family will be gather again on Jan. 7 for her birthday party — a centennial milestone.

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Pauline Haskins with her daughter, Gale. Pauline Haskins’ family will come together for her 100th birthday party.

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

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Pauline Haskins also enjoyed traveling with her family. “We used to go to North Carolina in the summertime,” she said. “We would drive through the mountains.” Together, the couple had three daughters: Gale, Ann and Faye. “They were good girls,” Pauline Haskins said. “I never had any trouble with them.” Throughout her life, family has remained a top priority. She has four grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren. “I love them all,” Pauline Haskins said. “My grandchildren are just like my own.” She looks forward to the holidays because they include family gettogethers. Throughout her life, she has enjoyed cooking for her family — especially chicken and dumplings and coconut cake. “That was my husband’s favorite,” she said. “We’ve always had Christ-

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1917: the year she was born 17: the age she was when she was baptized 17: the number of great-grandchildren she has 2017: the year she turns 100

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These days, Pauline Haskins has a lot to look forward to. Besides Christmas, which is one of her favorite holidays, the first month of 2017 marks a major life milestone: her 100th birthday. The Stone Ledge Manor resident will celebrate triple digits on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. In 100 years, the Madison native has seen it all. Born in 1917, Pauline Haskins rode to school in a wagon before cars became the norm. She’s lived to travel in a car, a plane and see the birth of her eighth great-greatgrandchild. The third born of eight children, Pauline Haskins is the last one living of her seven siblings. “I didn’t think I’d be here this long,” she said. “I’ve had pneumonia three times. The Lord will take me when He’s ready.” Baptized at 17, Pauline Haskins remains deeply rooted in faith. She continues to attend church services. The daughter of a farmer, she was raised on hard work. For fun, she and her siblings would challenge each other to dares. “As a teenager, I played with

For Pauline Haskins, 17 has always been a big number.

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MANAGING EDITOR

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EMILY TOPPER

my brothers in the fields,” Pauline Haskins said. “There was a stump out there and they said I wouldn’t jump off of it. I did, but I bit a hole in my tongue. If my brothers dared me to do (something), I’d do it.” Pauline Haskins relocated to Lakeland as a young adult, where she worked as a nanny and a housekeeper. It was in Lakeland where she met her husband, Jack, who worked for the railroad. “He stopped in and spoke to us while I was working,” Pauline Haskins said. “But he didn’t come back for two weeks, so I figured that was it.” He finally did come back, and asked her on a date. “I was very surprised,” she said. “We went with each other for a full year before we were married. He was a gentleman.” Jack Haskins took his future wife out on dates once per week. “We went dancing,” Pauline Haskins said. “I was raised on a farm and we didn’t go to dances. (Jack) was a perfect dancer.” The two were married in 1940 and spent 49 years together before Jack Haskins’ death in 1990. During their marriage, Pauline Haskins worked as a dietician at Mango Baptist School where she planned and cooked meals for the school. When she wasn’t caring for her family, she enjoyed caring for begonias and rose bushes in her garden. Though she lived throughout Florida for most of her life in Madison, Jacksonville, Tampa and Seffner,

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Pauline Haskins, a resident of Stone Ledge Manor in Thonotosassa, turns 100 next month.

1005 SOUTH ALEXANDER STREET PLANT CITY, FL 33563 PHONE: (813) 759-9526 FAX: (813) 759-9481

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016

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esidents of Stone Ledge Manor in Thonotosassa enjoyed cookies with St. Nick Saturday, Dec. 17. The assisted living facility decked the halls with Grinch-themed Christmas gear and served up a variety of cookies and cupcakes. Residents listened to Christmas carolers from First Baptist Church of Dover while visiting with family members and Santa Claus himself.

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Above: John and Teresa Archer with Ina Peterson and Bobby Johnson. Right: Residents enjoyed a Grinchmasthemed event. Below: Linda Barnhill, Skeeter Barnhill, Philep Pittman, Daisey Pittman and Marcello Pittman.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016

FRIDAY, DEC. 23

CHRISTMAS LANE 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, through Sunday, Dec. 25, at the Charlie Grimes Family Agricultural Center, 2508 W. Oak Ave. Cost is $5 for adults; $3 for children ages 4 to 12; free for children under 3.

SATURDAY, DEC. 24

CITY POINTE CHURCH CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, at City Pointe Church, 1206 N. Park Road in the John R. Trinkle Center at Hillsborough Community College. Call (813) 441-6693 FIRST BAPTIST DOVER CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, at First Baptist Church of Dover, 3223 Gallagher Road, Dover. Call (813) 719-2273. HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH CANDLELIGHT SERVICE 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 24, at Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Park Road. A Spanish service will be held at 4 p.m. Call (813) 752-4622. GRACEPOINT PLANT CITY CANDLELIGHT SERVICE 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, at GracePoint Church, 1107 Charlie Griffin Road. Call (813) 759-9383.

SUNDAY, DEC. 25

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH CHRISTMAS WORSHIP 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 25, at Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Park Road. Call (813) 752-4622. HOPEWELL BAPTIST CHURCH CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SERVICE 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 25, at Hopewell Baptist Church, 6001 S. County Road 39. Call (813) 7373053. SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 25, at Shi-

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 4

loh Baptist Church, 1104 Cason St. Call (813) 752-8345.

VOICES OF MOBILE AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DOVER 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, at First Baptist Church of Dover, 3223 Gallagher Road, Dover. Call (813) 719-2273.

SATURDAY, DEC. 31

IRISH NEW YEAR AND NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION Begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub, 1701 S. Alexander St. A family-friendly toast kicks off at 7 p.m., followed by an adult dance party at 9 p.m and a champagne toast at midnight. Includes a balloon drop for both events. Call (813) 764-8818.

SATURDAY, JAN. 7

2017 JUNIOR ROYALTY PAGEANT 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at the Charlie Grimes Agricultural Center, 2508 W. Oak Ave. Tickets are $10 per person.

ONGOING

A NEW YEAR’S EVE 2017 CELEBRATION Begins at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at the 1916 Irish Pub, 2309 W. Thonotosassa Road. Kick off 2017 with free drinks. RSVP for a table. Call (813) 756-6504.

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS CLUB #4051 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Thursdays at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 S. Evers St., Plant City. New members welcome.

ACOUSTIC HAPPY HOUR 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. BINGO 6:30 p.m. Saturdays, at American Legion Post 26, 2207 W. Baker St. There is a full kitchen.

BEST BET FIRST BAPTIST PLANT CITY CANDLELIGHT SERVICE 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, at First Baptist Church of Plant City, 503 N. Palmer St. A Spanish service will follow at 7 p.m. Call (813) 752-4104.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC 6:33 to 8:33 p.m. Thursdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220. THE CLASSROOM GALLERY 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. Art is on display by members of the East Hillsborough Art Guild.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

JOHN OWENS “JACK” WIMBERLY SR. John Owens “Jack” Wimberly Sr., 75, died Dec. 2, 2016. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sharon; daughter, Beth Hesseltine (Nathan); son, John Wimberly Jr. (Beth); grandchildren, Laurel and Nathan Hesseltine Jr. and Reagan, Reese and John Wimberly III. A funeral service was held Dec. 10, at Valrico Church of Christ in Valrico. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

CINDY CHOQUETTE Cindy Choquette, 74, of Plant City, died Dec. 9, 2016, due to complications of throat cancer. She was born Jan. 14, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, the only child of Walter and Irene Johnson. She grew up in Detroit and graduated from Pershing High School in 1960. She went on to Detroit’s Deaconess School of Nursing and graduated as a registered nurse. Her career began at Ypsilanti State Hospital and she eventually moved to Ford Motor Company, where she spent 23 years. She retired as a corporate occupational nurse in 1997. After her retirement, she moved to Plant City and spent time traveling with her husband, Don. She loved the Caribbean and loved visiting islands. Her favorite was Aruba. She inherited a love of fine china from her mother and accumulated a collection of tea cups from around the world. She never met a cat or dog she didn’t love, and opened her heart and home to many strays over the years. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Don Choquette; son, Jeffrey Whitehead (Samantha); son, Gregory Whitehead; stepdaughters, Tressa Ferris (Don) and Robin Slatick (Jim); stepsons, Tim Choquette (Judy) and Torrey Choquette; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Irene Johnson; and stepson, Todd Choquette. A memorial service will be held in the spring in Clinton, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Deaconess Nursing Scholarships, at Deaconess-Healthcare.com. Memorial contributions also may

be made to the American Cancer Society at Cancer.org, or to the Humane Society at HumaneSociety.org. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

PRISCILLA (CHASE) ELZ Priscilla (Chase) Elz, 83, died Oct. 24, 2016, in Milford, New Hampshire, at her home. Born Dec. 6, 1932 in Watertown Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Clara (Hill) Chase. One of five children, she enjoyed an active and full childhood. She graduated from Watertown High School and then attended the Chandler School in Boston to study secretarial work and office management. She always put family first and was blessed to have loving relationships with her family throughout her lifetime. She met her husband, Richard Elz, at Northeastern University. Richard often shared the story of how he made up excuses to visit the dean’s office where she worked until he finally asked her for a date. They were engaged just months after their first date and enjoyed 59 years of marriage. The couple raised four daughters in White Plains, New York. She was a caring and devoted mother and wife, a nurturer who asked for nothing in return. She loved family gatherings whether at the dining or picnic table, on the lake or around the camp fire. She made every holiday celebration special with traditions that will be continued by her daughters’ families for years. Summers were spent in Belgrade Lakes, Maine, where family and friends were always welcome. She made visitors feel at home as the perfect host in seemingly effortless fashion. Her calming love and grace will carry on in the family lake house forever. The couple spent their retirement years in Plant City, Florida, golfing and cruising with close friends who became extended family. Her letters and calls to friends and family would always include “some Florida sun sent your way.” Her last three years were spent at Ledgewood Bay in Milford, New Hampshire. She continued to nurture and care for those around her

even as she needed care. Known as “Sweet Priscilla” throughout her life, she will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Abbott, Judy Loubier, Cindy Rivota and Kathy Cosimano; sons-in-law; her treasured 14 grandchildren; one great granddaughter; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family thanks the caregivers of Ledgewood Bay for the loving care and kindness provided. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance, 137 Main St., PO Box 250, Belgrade Lakes, Maine 04918.

HETTIE SAWYER Hettie Sawyer, 89, of Plant City, died Dec. 12, 2016. A native of Plant City, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Lura Doke Richardson. She was a member of Springhead Baptist Church. She retired from Owens Glass Company after 26 years of service. She loved to quilt and she was proud of her threetime Florida Strawberry Festival Grand Champion Guava Jelly. She is survived by her children, Richard Sawyer (June), Jeffery Sawyer (Carol), Carol Fritz and Larry Dunn (Ann); eight grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ike Sawyer; children, Janet E. Dunn and Terry L. Sawyer; and sister, Margaret E. Burnett. A funeral service was held Dec. 16, at Haught Funeral Home in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome. com.

RALPH E. “GENE” SHOPE Ralph E. “Gene” Shope, 82, of Plant City, died Nov. 16, 2016. He was born May 9, 1934, in Vonore, Tennessee. He was a retired master sergeant with the United States Air Force and vice president of installment loans with the First Florida Bank in Plant City. He was a team member at Pasco Motors, Bell Chevrolet and Hopewell Funeral

Home and Memorial Gardens in Plant City. He lived his life for God, family and country. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lynn Shope; daughters, Sherry Baldwin (Tom) and Tammy Harrington (Steve); grandchildren, Melissa “Missy” Connell (Mike) and Alexandria, Madison and Olivia Harrington; great-grandchildren, McKenzie Griffin, Shawn Maddox and Murphy Connell; siblings, Doyle Shope (Mary) and Nina Lee; and many loving nieces, nephews, family and friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Melinda Shope; and grandson, Patrick Harrington. A celebration of life was held Nov. 21, at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City. Committal with military honors followed at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell. Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the United Food Bank of Plant City, 702 E. Alsobrook St., #H, Plant City, Florida 33563. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

MARK ERNEST SMITH Mark Ernest Smith, 54, of Plant City, died Dec. 14, 2016. Born in Lakeland, he was the son of Douglas and Doris Smith Martin. He is survived by his loving family. Services will be private. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome. com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016

fishing and hunting. She is survived by her husband of 75 years, Edison Smith; children, Donald Smith (Betty), of Turkey Creek, Linda Green (Charles), of Plant City, Lula Smith (Buddy), of Keysville and Carolyn Shields (Herman), of Dover; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. A celebration of life was held Dec. 16, at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City. Committal followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens, Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

JOAN R. HOWE Joan R. Howe, 76, died Dec. 16, 2016. She was born Sept. 21, 1940 in St. Petersburg to Fordham and Birdie Beatrice Ruttan. She grew up in Middleburg. She was devoted to her friends and family and cherished the times spent with all. She is survived by her husband, Jerry Howe, sons, Michael Howe (Vanessa) and Davis Howe; daughters, Debbie Jackson (Ronald) and Catherine Costanza (Richard); 14 grandchildren; one great grandchild; and two great grandchildren on the way. A funeral service was held Dec. 22, at Hardage-Gaiddens Holly Hill Funeral Home in Middleburg. Interment followed at Holly Hill Memorial Park. Online condolences may be made at HollyHillFunerals.com.

ODESSA SMITH Odessa Smith, 92, of Plant City, died Dec. 13, 2016. She was born in Pinecrest on April 23, 1924. She loved her family and she enjoyed family gatherings,

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DECEMBER 23, 2016

SPORTS

“My goal is to win districts, and go to states … go as far as we can. We’ve got a lot of good players.” —Jair Garcia helps Plant City soccer play well. SEE PAGE 14

Brothers Corey, Xavier and Justyn King moved from around the state to Plant City to be able to play sports together.

Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

Prep sports getting back into swing

ocal prep sports have been on break for a week, and are set to return in the new year. When can fans expect to get back in the bleachers? BOYS BASKETBALL Tuesday, Jan. 3: Newsome at Plant City, 6:30 p.m.; Hillsborough at Strawberry Crest, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4: Plant City at Durant, 6:30 p.m. What to watch for: The Wednesday, Jan. 4, matchup between Plant City and Durant will feature two of the top scorers in the area. Durant is led by senior Tyler White, who averages 23.6 points per game, and Plant City senior Tarik McKelphin is right behind him with an average of 22.2 points per game.

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? JUSTIN KLINE

Sports bring siblings together Justin Kline has seen how athletics boost family bonds in the Plant City area.

ne of the many things I’ve learned in my line of work is how influential something as basic as playing sports together can be for siblings. I can’t say I know from experience, though. Mine are both much older than me, and only my stepbrother — the oldest — was a good athlete. Whenever I played sports, it was most often with friends and classmates. It’s fun, but not the same. So, I enjoy hearing about what makes the on-field bond between brothers and sisters tick. No amount of team-building exercises can recreate the kind of chemistry you have with someone you’ve spent all or most of your life with. You can hang out with your best friend most days of the week, but it’s not the same as living together under one roof and growing up with the same experiences. Sometimes, I do wish I was older, or that my stepbrother was younger, so that we could have played sports together. In that sense, I might be a little bit envious of some of the athletes I regularly cover here in Plant City. At Plant City High School, you’ve got families like the Kings — whom are featured in this week’s Sports section — and the Wards, who have played organized sports together since as far back as they were Turkey Creek Trojans. The Haley family has been a Durant wrestling mainstay for many years, and the football team can claim at least a few sets of brothers, such as the Myers, Novos and Rentzes. Strawberry Crest’s girls basketball team is led by the SEE KLINE PAGE 13

Justin Kline

Corey, Xavier and Justyn King have lived and played sports together since 2012.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

here’s nothing the King brothers enjoy more than playing sports together. Corey, Xavier and Justyn King are three of Plant City High School’s top athletes, playing key roles on the football, basketball and track teams. Whatever they do, on or off the court, they prefer to do it together. It’s a luxury they didn’t have until just four years ago. Before then, the brothers were living in different parts of the state. “When we all were in middle school, we were all separated,” Corey King Jr. says. “Me and Justyn were with our mom, Zay was with his mom.” Living in Tallahassee, Corey and

BOYS SOCCER Tuesday, Jan. 3: Steinbrenner at Durant, 8 p.m.; Plant City at Armwood, 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6: Riverview at Strawberry Crest, 8 p.m. What to watch for: At press time, the Plant City Raiders had yet to lose a game. Soccer fans that like to see goals should check the Raiders out, as junior Eric “Peanut” Ugarte got off to a red-hot start this season. Ugarte, a past Athlete of the Week selection, had 10 goals and four assists (24 points) in the team’s first six games — five wins and one draw.

Justyn King couldn’t play sports with Xavier, who lived in Tampa, very often. The brothers kept in touch, talking frequently, but it wasn’t the same. The Kings wanted to live together so that they could play sports and enjoy their brotherhood. The opportunity to do so came up around 2012, when they considered moving in with their father — Corey King Sr. — in Plant City. After giving it much thought, the brothers decided to go for it. “My eighth grade year, Justyn’s sixth grade year and Zay’s seventh grade year, we just came together and were like, ‘OK, let’s move in with our dad and be in the same spot,’” Corey King Jr. says. “We said, ‘Let’s just play sports and see how everything goes.” That year, the brothers got to reunite on the Turkey Creek Trojans’ playing field. All three suited up for football, and got the full support of their father. “I remember my first touchdown for the Trojans,” Xavier King says. “He SEE THREE KINGS PAGE 13

Ellis-Methvin Park completed Fourteen years and $9.5 million later, Ellis-Methvin Park is complete and was celebrated Thursday, Dec. 15. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The 2016 UYFL National Championships did more than just bring more football to Plant City this month: it was also a confirmation. Now, the City of Plant City knows that Ellis-Methvin Park is finally complete and ready for anything. The City, along with its recreation and parks department and the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the park’s soccer fields on Thursday, Dec. 15. The ceremony gave Plant Citians a chance to see many of

the park’s features in action, from the soccer fields to the playground area, and to celebrate an evening 14 years in the making. “If you ever want to see what $9.5 million looks like, just take a look around,” Mayor Rick Lott said. “I think you’ll see that it was money well-spent.” Ellis-Methvin Park is the largest of Plant City’s three primary parks, which include Mike E. Sansone Park and the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex. Together, the parks total 150 acres of land. Formerly a privately-owned orange grove, the park was acquired from Dr. Roy Ellis in 2002 for $1.4 million. Development of infrastructure and land preparations began in 2003, and some soccer fields, a walking trail and parking areas, among other amenities, were ready to go in 2005. Since SEE PARK PAGE 14

GIRLS BASKETBALL Tuesday, Jan. 3: Newsome at Plant City, 8 p.m.; Hillsborough at SCHS, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4: Plant City at Durant, 8 p.m. What to watch for: Once again, the Wednesday, Jan. 4, game should be a fun one. This matchup is important for district seeding, as Durant is currently in second place with Plant City right behind it. Both teams trail Strawberry Crest, which will face a Hillsborough team that was winless at press time. It also features five Plant City Times & Observer Athlete of the Week selections: three Lady Cougars and two Lady Raiders.

GIRLS SOCCER Tuesday, Jan. 3: Steinbrenner at Durant, 6 p.m.; Plant City at Armwood, 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6: Riverview at Strawberry Crest, 6 p.m. What to watch for: Plant City’s scoring attack is, with Newsome, the most potent in the district. The Lady Raiders offense, led by senior Drew Knotts, is outscoring opponents, 15-5. While the team’s game at Armwood will not affect its district standing, it will help shake off some of the holiday rust before a crucial home match against Newsome at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6.

FOCUS ON FITNESS DR. JENNIFER CLOSSHEY THANKS HER READERS.

PAGE 13

Justin Kline

The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and many other Plant City-area groups attended the park’s ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Dec. 15.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FOCUS ON FITNESS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016

JENNIFER E. CLOSSHEY, PH.D.

Holiday greetings Dec 22 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.75) and wishes Jennifer Closshey appreciates the support her column has gotten from regular readers and the Plant City community.

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nother year has flown by. Hopefully, we are all wiser and better prepared for tomorrow. It was just a little over a year ago that I started sharing specific facts and ideas to improve health and lifestyle choices. Researching and preparing the Focus on Fitness column has positively impacted my life. Most significantly, I have been blessed by the community’s support and their questions and comments. Take the high school students who wanted to learn about food choices to improve their sports activities. Student-athletes have stopped me on the walking trail to get hints about foods to support energy for their long days of practice after school. Slow-burning carbohydrates and foods with a low glycemic index added hours to their energy levels. Seniors in the grocery store have

inquired about supplements to help soothe muscle cramps and nightly leg pain. I reminded them of the Friday, April 29, column on the benefits of magnesium and its significance toward heart health. Magnesium and potassium are essential minerals needed for proper circulatory system function. You can eat a banana for potassium and try walnuts for magnesium. Or, you can ensure you’re getting a measured, balanced intake of both magnesium and potassium by using a reputable supplement every day. Working adults have inquired about lower back pain, exercise shortcuts and how to avoid injury when active. Most of my columns have been written as a result of readers’ various questions. Remember, you can go online at PlantCityObserver.com to review previous articles. It does my heart good to hear neighbors say they faithfully read Focus on Fitness every time it runs in the Plant City Times & Observer. I feel my efforts to bring good science and solid research into our community counts, as we can all benefit from making healthy lifestyle choices.

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I want to say, thank you all for the feedback, and please keep it coming. My goal is to share recent scientific research that identifies easy ways in which we all can improve our health. My long-term goal is for Plant City to be the healthiest community in the world. Even setting a world-class goal is achievable. You truly have the power to make this happen, using your choices to better your health and put Plant City on the map. In doing so, you may find that life is more enjoyable when you’re taking care of your body. I want to thank you all for letting me be a part of your life. While my goal has been to help others through my work, I have been blessed, as well. Happy Holidays. Enjoy your family and friends. Take care of yourself, and model for others good choices in all aspects of your life.

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Xavier and Justyn King have played for the Raiders together for two years.

FROM THREE KINGS PAGE 12

Justyn King says. Things are going well for the Kings. Corey is getting ready for track season and is in the process of choosing a college football program to commit to before National Signing Day. Xavier and Justyn are enjoying a good season with the Raiders basketball team, which sports a 5-1 record. And they know that, no matter what, they have an unbreakable support system should anything ever go wrong. “You seem to be stronger when you’ve got a brother or somebody that you can fall back on if you’re down,” Xavier King says. “Not a lot of boys in Plant City got another father figure or brother they can fall back on. If I’m down, I can fall back on Corey or Justyn and know that they’ve got my back.” Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

Justin Kline

If I do bad stuff, they’ll keep my head up and tell me what positive things to do on and off the court.”

This week’s Cryptoquiz answers 1) Matches, 2) Visions, 3) Star, 4) Grandmother, 5) Death The Little Match Girl Dec 22 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.75) This week’s Sudoku answers

The King brothers may say that they’re each other’s biggest fans. But there’s one person who can challenge for that title: their father, Corey King Sr., is a fixture at Raiders games. “Anybody can spot him at a

FROM KLINE PAGE 12

Trigg twins, who have learned much from playing with their older sister, Maiya, and the Blackmon twins played key roles for the football team in 2015. There are many more sibling duos and trios that I’ve talked to in the past, too. They say they just have this innate knowledge of what the other sibling is capable of and what they’re going to do, and that playing with the other sibling is more productive at times than if the person was playing with a classmate or non-relative. Corey King throwing passes to Xavier King worked this year because it’s

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— Justyn King, the youngest King brother, on the advice his older brothers have given him. All three brothers play sports together.

worked since the Turkey Creek days. Ayanna and Briana Trigg setting each other up on the basketball court works because they play with and against each other in practice nearly every day. I may not know what that’s like from experience, but I do know that you won’t get that kind of connection doing anything else. I hope that, as we hit the Christmastime break period, these athletes take some time to reflect on how good they have it, being able to do something they love every day with their siblings. Tell them you love them, and that you appreciate what they do to help you be a better ath-

custom hats won’t stay on his head. It’s safe to say that he’s on another level, as fans may see at Raider home games. “I’m not gonna be by him because he’s tripping, sometimes,” Corey King Jr. says. “He’s moving all around … he gets serious.”

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lete and teammate. Go outside and have some fun doing what you all do best. I can almost guarantee you’ll have more fun than I’ll have on my parents’ couch, watching the Buffalo Bills find a way to lose to my least favorite team in sports, the Miami Dolphins.

Justin Kline is the associate editor and sports editor at the Plant City Times & Observer. Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

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basketball or football game,” Corey King Jr. says. “He’s either got a customized hat or a customized shirt. He’s got my name, Justyn’s name, Zay’s name — all of our names on it.” Corey King Sr. gets loud for his sons, often moving and jumping around so much that those

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met me on the field. It was a penalty. They were like, ‘You can’t do that!’ He ran through the cheerleaders to meet me on the field for the touchdown. I was just looking like, ‘Dang, you beat me down there!” As good as the Trojans days were, the brothers say things improved once they got to Plant City. “When we got in high school, that’s when it started popping,” Corey King Jr. says. “When Zay and Justyn came, it was better.” Corey and Xavier stuck with football, becoming a vital part of the Raiders’ offense: Corey played quarterback through 2016, his senior year, and Xavier starts at wide receiver. Justyn focused on basketball, which Xavier also plays, and is averaging 15.7 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. The youngest King brother says he’s learned valuable lessons from his older brothers. “If I do bad stuff, they’ll keep my head up and tell me what positive things to do on and off the court,”

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Jennifer E. Closshey, Ph.D., is a doctor of integrative health based out of Plant City. Contact her at JenniferClosshey@gmail.com.

2016

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

Jair Garcia

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Plant City’s boys soccer team won five of its first six games, and played to a draw in the other one. While the Raiders get their goals from other sources, head coach Caleb Roberts calls Jair Garcia an “engine that makes the team go.” Garcia, a sophomore, also plays for Mayor Rick Lott’s Tampa Dynamo FC team, and played in Europe in July. Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.

switch from Crest to Plant City go? Very good. Everybody really helped me out. Everyone’s been a really good friend to me.

How do you feel about your role with the team? This is a really good school. Playing for this team has really given me a lot of friendship here. It feels really good, playing on a team with great players.

What are the differences between Mexican and American soccer? Here, all the guys are taller and stronger. There, everyone is aggressive, but they are small. There’s a lot of skill. Guys here are athletic. It’s more disciplined here. Passing the ball, getting off the ball — it’s more disciplined.

How long have you been with the team? Just this year. What brought you to the team? I moved out here. I used to play at Strawberry Crest.

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How long have you been playing soccer? Since I was 9 years old. What do you like about soccer? It’s a lot of companionship. It’s very competitive. I just love the sport.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done on a soccer field? A bicycle kick in a semifinal game two years ago. Where were you playing a few years ago? I was in Mexico. I came here three years ago.

If you could play for any team in the world, what would it be? Atlético Madrid or F.C. Barcelona.

Do you play any other sports? Sometimes, I go to the park and play volleyball and basketball with my cousins. But most of the time, I play soccer. Is there any sport you’ve never tried, but want to? Tennis. What’s your favorite subject in school? I like world history and English. What do you want to do after you graduate? Play for a college, maybe USF. Do you hope to go pro one day, or do you have other goals? My plan is to go pro. What would you buy with $1 billion? A house, and a car for my family. What advice would you give to someone new to soccer? Work hard every time you’re on the field. Don’t be selfish. Trust your teammates. What’s the most important advice anyone’s given you about playing soccer? Work hard.

It’s not always easy to switch schools and teams. How did your

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then, the park has added the Plant City Tennis Center, six additional soccer fields, a playground, four baseball and softball fields, a concession area and more. A large part of the $9.5 million total came from federal, state and county grants applied for by the City, which totaled $3,260,611. Lott highlighted the park’s versatility and noted that Plant City parks host events 42 weeks out of the year. “Our parks help us improve our quality of life and support the econ-

omy,” he said. For the ceremony, the City invited several groups expected to use EllisMethvin’s facilities frequently. The Plant City FC Lancers and FC Plant City soccer programs were represented, with the Lancers holding practice and scrimmages afterward for the public to see. The Plant City Dolphins and Colts football organizations got shout-outs, as both are expected to use the soccer fields for pigskin purposes, and Plant City Little League was also invited to check out the diamonds. Just before the ribbon was cut,

City Manager Mike Herr made sure to thank director Jack Holland and the rest of the recreation and parks department team for 14 years of hard work. “We are truly blessed, in city government, to have the men and women that we do and the talent that we have … they know how to take care of parks,” Herr said. “They know how to do it.” Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

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2016

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Helping today’s farmers is

Tom Pospichal Mosaic Agricultural Operations, Florida

As the global population increases, so does the demand for affordable food. Essential crop nutrients, like phosphate produced in Florida, help farmers put more food on the table using less land. Our connection to farming is rooted here, too. Our team manages approximately 6,000 acres of Florida citrus and thousands more acres of post-mined land for cattle grazing, row crops, sod and tree farms. We are honored to be stewards of our agricultural lands in Florida and proud that our fellow employees produce crop nutrients for farmers all over the world. We help the world grow the food it needs.

mosaicco.com/florida 223774

225301

866-308-3271