PLANT CITY TIMES &
Observer
Reviewing the year in Plant City sports.
SEE PAGE 12.
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 5, NO. 26
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017
Your Stories. Our Photos The Plant City Times & Observer shares its favorite moments from last year. SEE PAGE 3
THE NEW
Former patrons are trying to keep one of Plant City’s legendary eateries alive with a new downtown shop.
NORMA’S Photos by Daniel Figueroa IV
Above: The new Norma’s is located in the heart of downtown Plant City. Right: Leo Mesquita left his corporate job and moved to Plant City on a month’s notice for the opportunity to run Norma’s with high school friend Andy Nassar and father-in-law Scott Snapp.
DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER
Home can be a lot of different things to a lot of different people. For Scott Snapp, home was often a quick run from the airport to grab a Cuban at Norma’s Ybor City Cuban Sandwich Shop after one of his frequent business trips. He made that run for the last time the day Norma’s closed suddenly and without warning in March. Snapp, a lifelong Plant City resident, was devastated, but unwilling to lose his home. He opened Norma’s Plant City Cuban Sandwich Shop with son-inlaw Leo Mesquita Nov. 18, but not before the former Norma’s owner, Candace Haywood, showed the owners and kitchen manager Andy Nassar her storied preparations for the iconic Tampa sandwich and sides that made her shop a Plant City institution. They even use the same bread, which is where it all starts, Snapp said. “I’m a native of Plant City. I’ve lived there all my life. I love my little town, but I’m not there very much because of my travel schedule,” Snapp said. “I’m in the catastrophe business (Snapp has worked with Progressive Insurance responding to natural disasters for nearly 29 years). My job is stressful. For me to be able to come home and get that taste of home meant the world to me.” The name might be slightly different, but the food is mostly the same. “I didn’t realize how much I actually missed their Cubans until I just had one,” Susan Venning said on her first visit to the new Norma’s. Keeping the familial atmosphere and familiar tastes was one of the main priorities in opening the shop, Mesquita said. It was all about keeping the tradition established by Haywood and her family alive. “We wanted to keep the Norma’s name and the recipes,” Mesquita said. “Candy has been extremely nice and blessed us and this idea. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her teaching us in the kitchen.” The first month has been more successful than either Mesquita or Snapp thought it’d be. They still haven’t had their grand opening, which is slated to happen in January. The family got to work on the shop, located on Collins Street in Plant City’s Historic Downtown district, in August, while Mesquita was preparing for his wedding. SEE NORMA’S PAGE 2
Astin family annexes into Plant City The City Commission recently approved the annexation of more than 160 acres of land owned by the Astin family into city limits. DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER
A
stin is a name synonymous with Plant City and its status as a leader in winter strawberry production across the country. And now, thanks to a unanimous vote by the City Commission, the Astin family has helped Plant City grow to the south by more than 162 acres. On Dec. 11, the Commission approved the voluntary annexation of eight parcels of land owned by members of the Astin family south of Johnson Road and east of Sam Astin Road, according to city records. The voluntary annexation is seen by some as an inevitably and a trend that could continue in the longterm as more East Hillsborough landowners request to become a part of the city. Traditionally, unincorporated coun-
ty areas were de facto holding zones, regulating lands as cities expanded to meet them.Over time, many county governments have grown to become their own jurisdictions and service providers. In Plant City and many other municipalities, newly annexed land must be connected to existing city land in order to be incorporated. “If you look a this philosophically, all of eastern Hillsborough, way down the road, are lands that are more compatible to be a part of the city,” Phil Waldron said. “They have all the infrastructure in place. Long term, it’s better to be a part of the city. If I was closer, I’d annex into the city tomorrow.” Waldron, of Waldron Consulting Services, oversees projects involving
YOUR TOWN
annexations and land use and zoning designations. He is handling the annexation for the Astin family and, according to city documents, has been involved in at least nine Plant City zoning projects in the last three years. With the county seat of Hillsborough located in downtown Tampa, Waldron said it makes more sense for the family to have its lands incorporated into the city limits where it can take advantage of city utilities and municipal services. County services have to come too far and are more used to handling city-oriented issues. Plant City leaders, Waldron said, know the areas surrounding the SEE ASTIN PAGE 2
Courtesy of Karen Elizabeth.
The Plant City Commons Community Gardens transforms the botanical gardens into a winter wonderland for its annual Holiday Stroll.
Strolling through lights The Plant City Commons Community Garden held its annual “Holiday Garden Stroll” this week. The Botanical Treasure Gardens, 2001 E Cherry Street, is found across from the Plant City HCC Campus and is home to the Community Garden. Each year, the group decorates the garden with twinkling lights and festive decor, offering a unique and fun-filled evening. The event opened Dec. 20 and ran through Dec. 27. It had a special meet-and-greet with Santa, children’s crafting, hot chocolate and cookies.
Breanne Williams
Tuesdays at the Archives hosted a holiday-themed wine and beer tasting for its final event of 2017.
Most wine-derful time of the year The Photo Archives offered a Holiday Wine and Craft Beer Tasting event for a holiday themed Tuesdays at the Archives. There was a sampling of holiday wines and craft beers from Keel & Curley, Two Henry Brewing Company, Coppertail and more. The free event offered other refreshments such as cheese, hors d’oeuvres and different holiday themed items. Next month, Tuesdays at the Archives will present a free trivia night with the theme, “So You Think You Know Plant City?”
I LOVE PLANT CITY
The year’s best photo submissions. SEE PAGE 15