Plant City Times &
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015
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Residents pack the paper to explore the globe in 2015.
Santa boards a train to greet kids on the nice list.
Families get free gifts at holiday events.
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REMEMBER THE FALLEN
by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Veterans’ graves get wreaths American Legion Auxiliary Unit 26 is making sure that local heroes are remembered during Christmastime.
+ Olivia Brosky honored The Plant City Civitan Club announced Olivia Brosky as the grand marshal of the Strawberry Festival Youth Parade. Brosky is a Plant City High School senior and is the daughter of Carl and Patti Brosky. She is a College Board AP scholar and a member of National Honor Society, Interact, drama club, PCHS Leadership Team and FFA. Her leadership roles include being a 2015 Rotary Club S4TL delegate, reporter for senior executive council and a Raider Invasion crew leader. She was also a 2016 Calendar Girl and won the Optimist Club Outstanding Youth Award. Olivia plans to complete her associate’s degree at Hillsborough County Community College and then transfer to Florida Southern College to major in pre-law. She hopes to pursue a career as a criminal defense attorney.
+ Highland presents gifts Highland Packaging Solutions has once again provided gifts to children in need this holiday season. Highland Packaging Solutions supports the King Cottage at Florida Baptist Children’s Home in Lakeland. The King Cottage is an emergency shelter where kids are placed temporarily until their home situation improves, they get placed with other family members or a permanent spot opens up for them at the children’s home. The King Cottage takes children as young as 6 years old, up to 21. Each year, staff stuffs croker sacks with gifts for the children who are currently at King Cottage. The croker sacks are decorated by employees and submitted for a contest. Police Chief Ed Duncan and Fire Chief Dan Azzariti judged this year’s contest Dec. 11. The winner was Lisa Belvin.
Members of Plant City’s American Legion Auxiliary Unit 26 loaded two pickup trucks of Christmas wreaths at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, For months, members raised money to place 395 Christmas wreaths, each with a ribbon, on the grave of every United States military veteran in Memorial Park Cemetery in Plant City. This is the first year that the unit has placed wreaths on local graves. While raising money for Wreaths Across America, an organization that
“I love it. It’s for a cause that means more to my heart than anything else.” — Penny Forbes, unit vice president places wreaths on the graves of veterans at national cemeteries, members decided they wanted a way to honor their own hometown heroes. The organization raised $2,400 for wreaths and ribbons. Pam McGregor, president of the unit, is determined to make the event an annual tra-
dition for the organization. “We will do it each year,” McGregor said. “If it’s the last penny in my pocket, we will do it.” For McGregor, the gesture has deeper meaning. Both Pam McGregor’s hus-
SEE WREATHS / PAGE 4
Emily Topper
The auxiliary unit placed 395 wreaths with ribbons on the graves of every veteran in Memorial Park Cemetery.
THE NEXT STEP
A HAND UP by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Marion Smith retires The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce President announced her plans to retire Thursday, Dec. 17.
Emily Topper
Blanca Rodriguez, seated, with other members of her ministry: Humberto Perez, Jose Miranda, Julia Cadeza, Edith Pastora and Miguel Hernandez. They will hand out gifts to the needy, along with Christmas dinner.
THE ULTIMATE GIFT T Blanca Rodriguez won’t let anyone be left out on Christmas.
wo days before Thanksgiving, Blanca Rodriguez, the pastor of Ministerio Voces Angelicales, moved into her new home on Lavender Jewel Court in Plant City. Now, at Christmastime, Rodriguez has made progress unpacking — the daunting task that comes with moving into any new place. But there is one box in Rodriguez’s living room that isn’t hers. In the corner, she and the other members of her ministry have filled a
box with wrapped presents, which will be handed out to Plant City’s homeless on Christmas Day. As part of Ministerio Voces Angelicales, which in English translates to Angelical Voices Ministry, Rodriguez and her team volunteer to serve meals every third Saturday at the Winter Visitor Center on Dort Street. There, the homeless are fed daily as part of the Friends in the Park program. The ministry has been volunteering with the program for about three years.
“Usually on this holiday, we expect more than usual,” Rodriguez said. “We have food for about 100. I think it’s going to be a good experience.” Though the ministry has served dinner to the homeless on Christmas Day in the past, this year it decided to bring as much Christmas cheer as it can to the center with activities, gifts and surprises. This is the first year that the ministry has been able to
CHRISTMAS MEAL FOR THOSE IN NEED When: 12 p.m. Friday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day Where: Winter Visitor Center, 301 N. Dort St. Cost: Free
ABOUT THE MINISTRY Ministerio Voces Angelicales Where: 106 E. Reynolds St., Plant City Call: (813) 7071111 Email: ministerio vocesangelicales@ live.com
SEE SMITH / PAGE 4
SEE MINISTRY / PAGE 4
INDEX Calendar........................2
In May 2001, Marion Smith took over as interim president for the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce until the board could find a permanent candidate for the position. But Smith, a 1980 graduate of the University of Florida, stuck around. For the next 15 years, she worked tire- Marion Smith lessly and has been at diligently as the chamber the chamber’s for 15 years. president. On Thursday, Dec. 17, Smith announced at a board of directors meeting her plans to retire on May 27, 2016. “It’s time, it really is,” Smith said. “May will be 15 years, and I think it’s time that I step aside.” Though Smith’s official retirement isn’t until May, one of the chamber’s biggest tasks lies ahead: finding her a replacement to fill her 15-year legacy. Born in Naples, Italy, Smith’s family moved to Plant City before her first birthday. After receiving her business degree, she returned to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World to work in her family’s automobile business. Smith attended the National Automobile Dealer As-
Vol. 3, No. 20 | One section Crossword....................15
Obituaries....................11
Sports..........................13
Weather.......................16
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