2.10.22 PLCO by Plant City Observer

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VOLUME 6, NO. 182

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

PC ONLINE SYSTEM HERE, ANTICIPATING DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT NEW PORTAL FOR PERMITTING IS SET AND RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE IN THE WORKS

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

ONLINE CITY PORTAL

The City of Plant City recently rolled out a new software system that allows applying for permits to be done remotely. MainStar is an online portal that grants convenient access to business related to engineering as well as building and zoning with the click of a button.

The California-based company not only offers permit application, but users can schedule inspections, track permit status, and upload documents to and from the portal. Kent Andrel is the director of the Plant City Information Technology Department. He and his team have overseen the new implementation. “This will allow portal users to select any type of permit or application they would like to apply for,” he said. “It’ll also allow portal users to make payments for permits.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

FUN FESTIVAL BLOCKS OFF

EVERS STREET

THE EVENING ON EVERS EVENT CROWDED THE DOWNTOWN STREET BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

While Evers Street in downtown Plant City was quiet for the most part, there was a small section of the corridor that was alive with music, lights, chattering among crowds, and the aroma of food, on Saturday, Feb. 5. It was all a part of the 2022 Food for All: An Evening on Evers festival, which was sponsored by Wish Farms. The event was a fundraiser for the United Food Bank of Plant City to continue its mission in providing meals to the disadvantaged. The festivities were confined from Evers Street’s intersections with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and J. Arden Mays Boulevard. Tables were situated along the road for folks to eat the various foods prepared and socialize with live music playing.

One block on Evers Street was packed with people who came out to enjoy festivities at the Evening on Evers event. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

NEWS BRIEFS

Photo courtesy of the Florida Strawberry Festival

Strawberry Festival to raffle off 2022 Chevrolet Corvette The Strawberry Festival will raffle ff a brand-new, 2022 Chevrolet Corvette on Sunday, March 13 at 5 p.m. The raffle wil take place at Stingray Chevrolet’s display on the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds. "Susan and I are so excited to kick off the 13th Annual Stingray Chevrolet New Vehicle Raffle," Stingray Chevrolet Owner Steve Hurley said in a press release. "This year we are once again taking the raffl to a whole new level by donating a brand

new 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible. The new metallic color is the perfect shade of red to honor the Florida Strawberry Festival theme." Tickets can be purchased for $5 each and will be available until Friday, March 11th at 3 p.m. online at www.fl trawberryfestival. com or 6 p.m. in person at the Stingray Chevrolet dealership in Plant City, 2002 N. Frontage Rd. Tickets will also be available for sale all 11 days of the Festival at the Stingray Chevrolet vehicle display on event grounds, running until 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 13. Participants can purchase a maximum of 50 tickets per person and do not have to be present at the raffle o win. All proceeds from the raffle will benefit

Unity in the Community, a Plant City-based nonprofit o ganization that contributes to local youth organizations and groups who provide assistance to underprivileged families. The Corvette is valued at $73,675, features a 490 horsepower 6.2LV8 engine, an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, rear park assist, HD rear vision camera, valet mode, all-season performance tires and a power retractable hardtop convertible roof. The vehicle also includes an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth technology, voice recognition, 10-speaker Bose Premium audio system, theft deterrent system, low profile ear spoiler and front splitter, carbon flash me allic-painted outside mirrors

and spoiler, carbon flash ainted nacelles and roof panel,19-inch front and 20-inch rear 5-open spoke aluminum carbon flash painted black wheels and a jet black Muhlan leather interior. “As always, all proceeds benefit Plant City’s Unity in the Community, an allvolunteer board which provides funding for over 30 different charitable organizations in and around the Plant City area,” Hurley. said. “We look forward to another great year for the Florida Strawberry Festival and can’t wait to see who will win the brand new 2022 Corvette Convertible!”

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

EXPLORING CAREERS PLANT CITY Students from Plant City high schools tour HAS TO OFFER potential jobs

Students from the Durant, Strawberry Crest, and Plant City high schools, along with those from Simmons Career Acceleration Academy, attended a field trip o learn about job opportunities after graduation. In between trips, they met at the Plant City Stadium for lunch and learned about Plant City department jobs, on Thursday, Feb. 3.

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

While there are those who take the college route to transition into a career, others may want to jump right into one, and those options were explored during the Future Career Academy field trip, on Thursday, Feb. 3. Students from the Durant, Plant City, and Strawberry Crest high schools as well as the Simmons Career Acceleration Academy, spent the day touring and learning about various Plant City establishments. It was an effort to show students on the verge of graduation that their town has much to offer with prosperous jobs that don’t require a college or technical school diploma. Out of 10 businesses, groups from each school were assigned to visit three. Those businesses included: Star Distribution, NuCycle, Palm Harbor Homes, Hillsborough Title, the Ace Distribution Center, CITY Furniture, Stingray Chevrolet, Wish Farms, Patterson Companies, and Advanced Work Vans. Jake Austin is the president and CEO of the Plant City Economic Development Corporation (EDC). The EDC partners with the Future Career Academy, and other entities, to put together these yearly field trips. Austin was one of many chaperones who tagged along with students, offering words of wisdom. He was with students from the Simmons Academy, and they had three businesses to visit – the Stingray Chevrolet car dealership being the first. On the way to their destination, Austin pointed out the bus windows to different establishments and described their functions so the kids could keep those on their radar. “Both parents and kids have no idea what’s in their own backyard,” he said. “[It’s] just getting people out of this mindset [that] you absolutely have to go to college to be successful. It’s just not true.” He added that there are opportunities to prosper at a place like Stingray Chevrolet. At an entry level position, employees can make $12 or $13 an hour with the potential of being promoted in-house and transferring to different departments. The dealership can hold approximately 1,000 vehicles and can sell upwards of 300 new vehicles per month. Stingray Chevrolet also has notoriety outside of Florida, as it is No. 7 in Corvette sales and is the 22nd largest dealership in the country. Justin Lawson is a service director at the dealership and gave the high school kids a tour of the two-story facility. “We had somebody in the body shop that started by cleaning floors, emptying trash, moved his way up, and he had about five promotions within five to six years, and is making $100,000 [annually,]” Lawson said. Depending on the department, an employee may see a substantial growth in income in a shorter period of time. Austin noted that it’s common for someone in the sales department to reach a six-figure income within a year. Students got to see the daily routines of other departments including parts, the body shop, and the accounting office. However, employees see first-hand that Stingray Chevrolet isn’t just in the business of selling vehicles, but in the business of doing charity work as well. Last December, the dealership teamed up with the Plant City Kiwanis Club and the

Plant City High School Key Club in distributing 3,500 toys to Hillsborough County Elementary School students. That same month, it donated a car to a woman who had little to no transportation in getting to work. During this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival, Stingray will have a Corvette ready to give away during a raffle drawing. “It’s fun,” Lawson said. “You get to come to work each day and not just have to sit at a desk and do a job, but you get to have fun.” Students also learned that being an insurance agent has its perks – especially at Network Transaction Solutions. This agency falls under the umbrella of the Florida Agency Network. It offers title insurance which protects new homeowners from any financial burdens when purchasing new property. Andrea Somers is the operations manager at Network Transaction Solutions, who took the time to speak with the kids. “What we’re doing when we issue title insurance, is we’ve done all that research on this property,” Somers said. “We’ve made sure that if that owner who had it before, [and] didn’t pay their taxes, are taking care of it. We also want to make sure the person who’s selling it to you owns it.” Applicants must have at least a high school diploma or GED, but no prior work history is required. The agency also does a background check to make sure that the applicant did not commit any felonies. Somers said that she’s more interested in a face-to-face interview. By doing so, she can tell if the applicant is interested in the position based on their attitude and how they dress. She went on to say, “If somebody is doing really well and we’re super impressed, we won’t wait a year to give you a raise, we bring you and say ‘we want to keep you. We’re going to give you more money to stay.’” And not all transactions are done in person. Sometimes business deals are finalized over Zoom calls. At an entry level position, employees can make $12 to $13 per hour. After 90 days, they undergo a review and have the opportunity to receive monthly bouses, with the potential of making a six-figure salary down the line. Employees also receive benefits such as a 401k and health insurance. “We like to have fun, but we work very hard too,” Somers said. “We’re team-oriented. We’re not going to leave one team member behind who’s hanging while the rest of us go home.” Hillsborough Title also is under the Florida Agency Network umbrella. This is where closing the deals occurs. The customer service representative is an entry level position. The job description is not only acting as a receptionist, but taking contracts and deposits, and filing them. A customer service representative can climb up the ladder, becoming a notary, signing documents, and closing real estate deals. For those looking for a more blue-collar, industrial field, a tour around the newly-built ACE Distribution Center may have sparked an interest. It was the final destination for the Simmons students. Spanning over 700,000 square feet, the facility houses many tools and power

Students from the Simmons Career Acceleration Academy took a tour of Plant City’s Stingray Chevrolet dealership. They were among students from Plant City high schools who had the opportunity to explore potential career paths.

On the field f the Plant City Stadium, high school students got the chance to see city vehicles up close from various city departments.

At the Plant City Stadium, various college and academy stands offered students information on those institutions.

equipment that are shipped out to its various department stores. Employees are trained on site, start at $15 per hour and don’t need to have prior experience. Some of the job descriptions include transporting heavy equipment with the use of a forklift, stocking shelves, keeping track of inventory, and loading trucks. Workers receive a 401k, as well as health and dental insurance. For those who go to school while working there, they can take part in the tuition reimbursement program, which helps students pay for their schooling. Between tours, students went to the Plant City Stadium for lunch and were also met by many in the community that filled the bleachers. Plant City City Manager Bill McDaniel presented different Plant City departments, so the students could get an idea of what is required for each position. One by one, representatives from departments came to the stage to give a

detailed description of what it is they do and offer their personal success stories. Plant City’s Parks and Recreation, Police, Technology, U tilities Maintenance, Fire Rescue, Engineering, Solid Waste, and Streets and Stormwater departments were all in attendance. On the field, departments rolled out their city trucks, SUVs, cars, and equipment, allowing students to check out each and ask questions. They had the opportunity to learn about different institutions at tables representing Hillsborough Community College, Apprentice Florida, and Altierus Career College, among others. “There are so many great career paths available to you right here in the Plant City area,” McDaniel said. “You can stay right here in your hometown and build a successful future.”

COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

PLANT CITY

This week on Cops Corner: Plant

Observer

City Police investigate a fraudulent home rental, a costly dog walk and nearly $1,000 in stolen gas.

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

istock

Sports Writer / Taylor Jenkins tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com

JAN. 28

JAN. 29

LOCK UP

ON A SHORT LEASH

1200 block of Chestnut Ct. Vehicle burglary: Officers met with the victim in reference to the burglary of his black Chevrolet Silverado that was left unlocked, resulting in the theft of his wallet.

1400 block of Plantation Cr. Residential burglary: Officers made contact with the victim who advised them that an unknown suspect had entered his unlocked apartment and stole multiple items while the victim was walking his dog.

WINDOW SHOPPING 900 block of W. Alsobrook St. Residential burglary: Officers responded to the listed location and met with the victim who reported that three Jeld-Wen brand windows, valued at $675, were stolen from his residence some time between Jan. 25 and Jan. 28.

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com

LONG LIST

LIGHTS OUT N. Turkey Creek Rd. / Country Hills Blvd. Drug investigation: Officers observed a car pass without a passenger side headline. After a traffic top was conducted, the suspect was charged with possession of a fi earm in a commission of a felony and felony possession of marijuana. The suspect was then transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

1900 block of S. Alexander St. Drug investigation: While responding to a traffic ash, officers discovered that the driver of one of the vehicles had fled on oot. The suspect was then taken into custody for driving with a suspended or revoked license, habitual offender, and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage. The suspect was additionally charged with felon in possession of ammunition, trafficking and ssession of drug paraphernalia. BAD CALL 2300 block of James L. Redman Pkwy. Fraud: Officers made contact with the on-shift manager at a business at the listed location, who advised them that the business had lost $1,725 due to a phone scam.

JAN. 30 HOME-A-LOANED 4400 block of Reynolds Ridge Ct. Fraud: Officers made contact with the victim who alerted them that she had rented a home that was advertised on Facebook rental properties, only to discover that it was fraudulent.

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TO ADVERTISE Call (813) 704-6850

Advertising / Richard Brame richard@plantcityobserver.com

JAN. 31 BANK ROLLED 2900 block of James L. Redman Pkwy. Fraud: Officers met with the victim who advised them that her bank account had an unauthorized withdrawal of $2,000.

Advertising / Karen Berry kberry@plantcityobserver.com

The Plant City Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. The Plant City Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100B. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

FEB. 1 YOU’LL NEVER CATCH ME, COPPER 2500 block of Walden Woods Dr. Buglary/theft/criminal mischief: Officers met with an AT&T cell technician who stated that someone had entered the fenced property and removed copper wires and a copper bus bar, belonging to AT&T, from the cell tower.

FEB. 2

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: Sarah Holt, SHolt@ PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100B, Plant City, FL 33563

GAS GUZZLER 2000 block of N. Wheeler St. Theft: Officers met with an employee at the listed location who advised them that $922.50 worth of gas had been stolen on Feb. 1.

FEB. 3 MAIL CALL 1900 block of Wood Ct. Theft: Officers met with the owner who stated that mail had been taken from the company mailbox.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

NEW TECH SERVICES REMOTELY

DOWNTOWN TO COME ALIVE WITH NEW HOMES, BUSINESSES

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

A new commercial and residential development is still in the works to be built at the location of the former post office on Reynolds Street. However, the Plant City Development Group LLC, which oversees the project, is still searching for more adequate parking space for future residents.

When an application is submitted, its designated department will review it to make sure that the information is correct, and that any required documents are included. If any information is not included or needs to be changed, the applicant will be notified by email about what needs to be addressed. The Plant City City Commission had initially approved its installment to the city’s website in October 2018. However, training and on-site assistance were stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the software now available, property owners, contractors, and agents, among others, can skip traveling directly to city departments for these services. Creating a profile and logging on are free, and users can check any notifications that have been sent to them. “Once logged in, the user has the opportunity to click on ‘My Profile,’ which will show the user’s account information and any credentials that apply to that user,” Andrel explained. One feature that does not require log in, is a map of Plant City. Red dots indicate where different properties are located and describes whether it falls under opera-

tions such as engineering, planning or code enforcement. The online portal can be accessed by visiting the Building, Engineering, or Planning and Zoning Department pages on the City of Plant City website: PlantCityGov. com. It can also be found by visiting: https:// H8.MainStar.co/PlantCityPortal/#/. Mixed-use development Plant City City Manager Bill McDaniel is in continuous negotiations with the Plant City Development Group LLC on constructing a commercial-residential development. It will be situated on the former post office property off Reynolds Street and across from city hall in downtown Plant City. As it currently stands, the five-floor structure will have 123 apartment units, with the option of one, two or three-bedroom units. The apartments will range from 700 square feet to 1,440 square feet, depending on the number of rooms. Rent for a one bedroom is approximately $1,750. A two bedroom is $1,950, and a three bedroom is $2,250. However, the monthly costs are subject to change.

The first floor, spanning 4,736 square feet, will be for commercial use and will be accommodated with at least one restaurant. The 3,000 square-foot rooftop will also provide a social atmosphere as it will hold a bar and grill. Other amenities include a pool on the second floor, a gym, cabanas, and conference rooms. There are plans to make the development similar to 1940s and 1950s architecture. This includes a clock tower, brick façade, arched windows, and cast-iron overhangs. “We’re doing a first-floor parking level, it’s not structured parking,” said Sandy Marks of Plant City Development Group LLC. “There’s 91 spaces beneath the building.” However, Plant City Development would like to acquire additional property to build parking spaces. The company has requested to lease the vacant lot at 404 W. Mahoney St., from the city, for $2,000 a month. It also is willing to fund repaving the land into a parking lot and adding a landscape buffer. Marks estimates that it might be enough land for 22 parking spaces. What’s more, the company wants to partner with the city to lease all 28 parking

spaces on Northwest Drane Street, with a lease of $600 a month. He stated that, “We’re talking to the city about possibly leasing 22 additional parking spaces for residential tenants. We’re in negotiations with two to three individuals that have lots that could lead to anywhere between 20 and 30 additional spaces. We’re striving to get closer to 180. That’s our goal.” The city commission praised the proposed project and passed it by a vote of 5-0. The Plant City Development Group LLC. will go before the commission at a later date to seek approval for its financing plan. This also comes as City Manager Bill McDaniel has been authorized to secure the purchase of a parcel of land. The land is located at the southwest corner of South Wheeler Street and West Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. This property could potentially be used as a parking lot as well. This purchase would be for $350,000, plus closing costs. The city has until March 15 to move forward.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

FESTIVITIES LIVEN UP EVERS STREET NIGHT ON EVERS WAS BUZZING WITH FUN BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

Norma’s Plant City sandwich shop also catered dishes as well. “Historic Downtown is a special place – all the brick buildings and brick streets.” Mark Mroczkowski said. “ It’s a different venue every year, which is always interesting.” Although he didn’t try all the food, one dish he said he enjoyed was the jambalaya. Strings of lights from above decorated the scenery, and on both sides of the street, numerous establishments were open, serving as social spots. Among those were the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center, Tipsy Bookworm, Three Hands Mead, Roots Tap Room and Wine Bar, and Marzucco Real Estate PC. Attendees had the opportunity not to leave empty-handed as there was a raffle drawing. Mroczkowski was one of the selected few who received a wine basket. James Boyd and his family went home with a board covered with gift cards for different businesses including Chick-fil-A, Starbucks and Amazon. All the gift cards together amounted to $1,700. And Lane Wetherington, who hosts the annual Christmas Lane event, walked away with a gift basket.

James Boyd helped his daughter Christina, and wife Caroline Good friends Lori DeMello (left) and Susan Collins enjoy a night out during the Evening on Evers event.

to hold up their board filled with gift ertifi ates that amounts Leslie Davis showed off the gift asket that she won during a raffle.

to $1,700. It was part of a raffle held during the vent.

One block on Evers Street was packed with people who came out to enjoy festiviMany came out to enjoy the festivities during the Evening on Evers event.

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ties. It was for the Evening on Evers event..

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LIVE DRAMA COMES TO PLANT CITY PC theater will host an Arthur Miller production

Courtesy of Plant City Entertainment The “All My Sons” live drama show by famous playwright, Arthur Miller, will begin on Friday, Feb. 18 at the Plant City Entertainment theater.

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

All My Sons, a live performance from famous playwright Arthur Miller, will soon make its way to Plant City, starting on Friday, Feb. 18. Based on a true story, the drama tells of Joe Keller, a successful businessman living with his wife Kate, and their son Chris in a suburban American neighborhood. The family is grief-stricken by the loss of Keller’s other son, Larry, who went missing during World War II. However, a lie unravels about what happened in Joe’s factory in the autumn of 1943. The show will take place at the Plant City Entertainment theater at 101 N. Thomas St., in Plant City. On Feb. 18, 19, 25 and 26, the play will begin at 8 p.m. but doors will open at 6:30 p.m. On Feb. 20 and 27, there will be a matinee at 2 p.m. and doors will open at 12:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Shear Expressions hair salon, 1514 S. Alexander St., in Plant City. Tickets may also be purchased at the door or online at www.PlantCityEntertainment.com. There will be an opening night special, offering two tickets for $30. For those ages 18 to 59, tickets will be $20. Tickets will be $18 for those age 60 and up, as well as students under age 18. For Plant City Entertainment members, tickets will be $15. Tickets will cost $15 each for groups of 10 or more, and group tickets are only available at Shear Expressions. For more information, visit www. PlantCityEntertainment.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

PC WOMAN AND SON SURVIVE CAR-TRAIN COLLISION Jackie Baird explains her harrowing experience of her car getting hit by train BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

On Friday, Jan. 28, Jackie Baird was going about her usual morning routine when in the blink of an eye, she and her son Mikey had a near death experience in Plant City. She was taking her son to school and during a conversation, she briefly turned her eyes toward him as she was nearing the train tracks at Sammonds Road and Alexander Street. It was happenstance that a train was moving head on toward her Jeep Compass. “He asked me a question…I looked at him and at the same time I looked back [at] the arm at the tracks. “It slammed down on my windshield and pinned me. I tried to go in reverse – it wouldn’t move. I tried to go in drive – it wouldn’t move, and my engine was on.” Her front wheels and bumper were already over the tracks when the crossing gate came down. Baird recounted hitting her brakes and barely having time to react when she saw the train coming from her right- hand side. She went on to state, “My first thought when I realized it was going to hit us…I told my son ‘hang on’ because I didn’t want to scare him, but I honestly thought we were done.” The train only made impact with the front bumper, forcing the car to shift

left, and immediately the airbags were deployed. Baird made an attempt to get out of the car and pull Mikey out on the passenger side. Because the airbags were obstructing their view, they didn’t realize that the car was on fire. Two men who saw the fire came running toward the car and alerted Baird about the fire under the hood. She said, “I don’t know who the two gentlemen were, but I do owe them a big thank you because if it hadn’t been for them, we would still be in the car, and we could have gotten burned more from the fire.” Baird and her son were transported to the hospital for examination. Both had suffered minor burns and bruises, she said. Baird was going to call her mother but left her phone in the car and had to ask the hospital for her mother who was her emergency contact. Once Baird was able to get in touch with her father, both he and her mother rushed to their daughter and grandson’s side as quickly as possible. When she and Mikey were later discharged and went back home, she downloaded the KiK app on her tablet to message her friends about the incident. Some were able to immediately head to her house and offer support. She was baffled about how it could have happened.

Photo courtesy of Jackie Baird

“I grew up here, so I know how the trains are,” Baird said. “I know usually the times the trains come through here.” For two days she stayed away from Facebook because she didn’t want to see photos of the wreck. That following Sunday, she and her family went through the burned car to see what she could salvage. She found some of her possessions that were still intact, including her bible. She was able to find her phone after hearing the alarm go off. Its case was melted to the dashboard but the phone itself had barely been damaged. She noted that she sustained more injuries than her son but is recuperating. “My pain is getting lighter and lighter every day,” Baird said. “My chest still hurts. If I cough or I sneeze, my chest hurts like crazy.” Her emotional and psychological pain has still been lingering. Her uncle was killed in 2018 by a train. He was a tow truck driver just like her father and he attempted to remove a car that had stalled on the tracks. As a result, his truck became stalled and he didn’t survive the impact of an oncoming train. Baird said she was concerned about her father. His brother died from a train accident and his daughter and grandson almost died by one. She has had nightmares, reliving the accident and has felt a sense of guilt for her son almost dying. He too has felt guilty for asking his mother a question and her shifting her eyes briefly off the road. Baird has reassured him that he didn’t do anything wrong.

She noted that right before the accident, she didn’t hear the bell when the gate was about to go downward, or when the train horn was going off. She suffers from dissociative amnesia, where she has no recollection of important events, and has been seeing a therapist. Now she sees her same therapist for this new incident and has encouraged her son to use therapy as well. She has several tattoos on her body that all are symbolic and she plans on getting a new one. It will be 20-sided dice and a baby dragon as she is a fan of Dungeons and Dragons as well as Harry Potter. The pain that comes along with the process of getting inked, alleviates tension, Baird said. The advice she has for others is, “Don’t take the small things for granted and make sure that every day your family and friends know that you care about them.”

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

SPORTS

DURANT WINS DISTRICT

CHAMPIONSHIP

Durant’s girls basketball raced past rival Newsome for their first district championship since 2017.

Quick Hits PLANT CITY, STRAWBERRY CREST CHEER HEADED TO NATIONALS After both teams claimed state championship victorys at the FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading State Championships last week, Strawberry Crest and Plant City’s cheer teams will both be headed to the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando this weekend for the Universal Cheerleaders Association’s National High School Cheerleading Championship. Strawberry Crest won their fi st national title at the competition in 2020.

DURANT HOCKEY QUALIFIES FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT Durant advanced to the Lightning High School Hockey League semifinals whe e they fell in a 2-1 contest to Newsome this past weekend. The team then announced on Wednesday that they have qualified or the Statewide Amateur Hockey of Florida High School Tier II State Championship Tournament for the third consecutive year. That tournament will begin on Feb. 25.

DURANT’S AUSTIN WHITE SETS SCHOOL RECORD

Durant basketball’s sophomore guard has broken the record for 3-pointers in a season. The previous record stood at 99, with White entering Tuesday’s district quarterfinal with 110. White’s mark leads the state, as well as his average of 4.8 3-point shots made per game.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

On the heels of an 18-4 regular season – led by coaches Al and Constance Mitchell – Durant’s girls basketball team sprung into the 7A District 7 tournament as the bracket’s top seed. “This group is one of our more talented teams, skillwise,” coach Al Mitchell said. “They play as a unit, as a complete team, unselfish and very conscious of each other. They love to move the ball, they love to score, they rebound well, they defend well. No. 1 in the state in scoring, No. 9 in steals, they kicked butt this year. This was a good squad.” The team’s success largely came on the back of their four star juniors, Maggie Lauber, Miani Mejia, Ki’Ajanae Gordon and Sophia Flair. All four girls averaged over 13 points per game this season, with Lauber leading the way with 17.5 points per game in addition to a team-high 3.6 assists per game. Flair’s 13.5 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game left her just shy of averaging a double-double for the year. “These are my sisters,” Lauber said about the group. “We’ve grown up together since the summer of freshman year, I love them all. The way they work, they don’t give up, they don’t put their heads down, I love them.” With their No. 1 seeding, the Cougars earned a bye through the quarterfinal round, matching up with fourth seed Lakewood Ranch. With a district championship appearance on the line, Durant cruised past Lakewood Ranch, coming away with a 69-49 victory. The charge was led by a pair of stellar double-double

performances from Mejia and Flair. Mejia finished the contest with a team-high 23 points on 53 percent shooting from the field with a staggering 17 total rebounds, but Flair wasn’t far behind with 21 points and 14 rebounds of her own. Fellow junior Maggie Lauber also finished the game with double digit scoring, racking up 13 points on 75 percent shooting, while senior Kendra Davis added 10 rebounds. Heading into the district final, it was yet another installment of the alwaysexciting Durant/Newsome rivalry. Just a week after Newsome had eliminated both Durant’s boys and girls soccer teams from their own respective district tournaments, Durant’s girls basketball team was able to exact revenge and claim the team’s first district title since 2016-2017 with a thrilling 55-52 win. “It was a lot closer than we would have liked, but Newsome is an awesome team. They’re a great team,” Al Mitchell said. “Every year when we play Newsome, every game, they always give us a tough battle. No matter how good we are during the season, Newsome is always right there with us.” “It’s been like this for the entire time that we’ve been coaching at Durant,” Constance Mitchell added. “I think it’s more mental than anything but it’s always been a struggle. Thank God we pulled it out this time.” Durant started fast, opening the contest on a 9-2 run before Newsome charged back with a 12-point run of their own en route to a 16-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter Durant caught fire. A pair of

3-pointers from Davis and Mejia highlighted the run as the Cougars jumped out a seven-point lead in the period before ultimately taking a 25-22 lead into halftime. The third quarter was a battle, with Newsome finding opportunity after opportunity to narrowly pull ahead while Durant clawed away to constantly keep pace with the Wolves’ scoring efforts. At the end of the third, Newsome had regained their advantage and found themselves with a 38-35 lead, just eight minutes away from securing the upset. Davis opened the quarter with a huge 3-pointer to tie the game at 38-38 and two free throws from Mejia on the following possession took the lead back. As the fourth wore on, Durant looked as though they would finally pull away, building a 48-42 advantage before Newsome answered with a seven-point run and a 49-42 lead. Tied 52-52 with 12.7 seconds remaining in the contest, Davis was fouled and sent to the line with a district champion-

ship hanging in the balance. After converting one of her two free throws for a slim, one-point lead, Durant was able to find one more crucial defensive stop before two more free throws from Lauber secured the 55-52 win. Lauber finished the game with 13 points, just behind Mejia’s team-high 17. “Tonight was absolutely crazy and I couldn’t have done it without my team,” Lauber said. “They definitely had my back, I had their back, the bench had our back by cheering and hyping us up, I couldn’t ask for a better team. I love all of my girls so much and I’m just so amazed, so proud of this season and how hard we’ve worked.” Durant will kick off their regional tournament as the fourth seed, hosting five seed Riverview Sarasota on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

Taylor Jenkins is the Sports Writer at the Plant City Observer. Email: tjenkins@ plantcityobserver.com.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

DISTRICT TOURNAMENTS GET ROLLING FOR MORE PLANT CITY AREA TEAMS

Plant City, Durant and Strawberry Crest opened their district tournaments this week. TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

With Durant’s girls already preparing for the regional tournament, the boys teams from Plant City, Strawberry Crest and Durant all kicked off their district tournament play this week. Coming off of a 14-11 regular season, Strawberry Crest entered the 6A District 10 playoffs as the fourth seed and hosted 4-19 Armwoood in their district quarterfinal on Monday. In their two regular season matchups, Crest was able to find victories over the Hawks without much trouble, winning 88-41 on Dec. 1 and 70-49 on Jan. 21. On Monday night the Chargers were able to escape with their third victory over Armwood on the year, keeping their season alive with a 62-51 win. After a slow start to the contest, with neither team converting a field goal in the game’s first two minutes, the pace picked up as both teams exchanged scores in a close first quarter. After being knotted at 7-7, Crest was able to pull ahead and hold on to an 18-14 lead heading into the second before a run from Armwood to start the period brought it level again at 20-20. Trailing 22-20, Armwood’s Tim Bailey hit a three to retake the lead. After a bucket in transition from Crest, Armwood answered with another three from Alonzo Lane for the 25-24 advantage. At the end of the first half, both teams were locked up at 28-28. In the third quarter Crest began to pull away. A 3-pointer from Jordan Lewis put Strawberry Crest up 39-34 for their largest lead of the night to that point, but the gap only continued to grow. Outscoring the Hawks 16-6 in the third, the Chargers took a double digit lead into the fourth quarter at 44-34. Armwood was able to hit a few crucial buckets in game’s final minutes, keeping

it perhaps too close for comfort in Crest’s eyes, but the Chargers were able to hold on and advance to the semifinal against Wharton. Lewis led the way for Crest with a teamhigh 19 points and eight rebounds, followed by Tyriq Ghent with 14 points and Jasiah Taylor with 10. The following night, Crest took on Wharton where the Chargers weren’t able to overcome the top seed Wildcats for the upset. Entering the night with a record of 21-2, Wharton came away with the 72-62 victory over the Chargers to end Crest’s district run. Across town on Tuesday, Durant entered the 7A District 7 quarterfinal as the fourth seed at 10-13, hosting 2-15 Riverview and grinding out the 64-51 victory. Despite the sub-.500 record, six of the Cougars’ losses came by four points or fewer, a ray of hope for a team that hopes to make some noise in the tournament. “I really think that those single-digit losses, all of those close battles, really got us ready for this time,” head coach Jake Baer said. “I really think that that’s going to help us come along where we don’t end up in the loss column anymore. Those games help learn how to handle those situations toward the end of the game and hopefully even avoid them altogether.” Durant took control of their contest against Riverview early, going up 11-5 at the end of the first quarter and taking a 27-20 lead into the half. The Cougars got even hotter from the field in the third, outscoring the Sharks 17-10 in the period to take a commanding 44-30 lead into the fourth quarter en route to their ultimate 64-51 victory. Durant faced top seed Newsome in the district semifinal on Wednesday “We’re excited,” Baer said before the game. “That’s who we wanted to play, we’re ready to get after it. They’re tough,

they’ve had our number the past two games but the old adage is that it’s tough to beat a team three times. So we’re ready to go out there and give it our best.” Plant City fell 67-48 to Alonso in the Western Conference Finals on Friday, but their 18-5 regular season record was good enough to clinch the 7A District 7 tournament’s second seed and a bye through the quarterfinals. The Raiders hosted third seed Lakewood Ranch in the district semifinal on Wednesday. While Plant City and Durant both played their district semifinal games prior to publishing, the contests came after the Plant City Observer had gone to press on Wednesday evening. Continued tournament coverage will be provided.

Taylor Jenkins is the Sports Writer at the Plant City Observer. Email: tjenkins@ plantcityobserver.com.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

REAL ESTATE

January 2022 Real Estate Transactions

Local January 2022 sales and trend information courtesy of The Crawford Group. Has the real estate market reached its pinnacle value? Is there a market bubble going to burst? I would say no, not anytime in the foreseeable future. Let’s look at some historical numbers. The real estate market last peaked back in 2006 under a very different market environment. The financial indu try had some crazy lending practices while appraisers basically rubber-stamped approval on those transactions. 2006 year-to-date numbers had the median home price of $195,000 or $133 per square foot. The lending interest rates were in the 6-7% range and it took, on average, 125 days to close while we had eight to nine months of inventory supply. We then had the financial collapse of the markets. Over the next fi e years the market lost about 56 percent in value. 2011 was considered the bottom of the market. The median home price had declined to $94,000 or $59 per square foot. Interest rates were in the 4.5 to fi e percent range and it took, on average, 170 days to close. At times we had over 18 months’ worth of inventory supplies. Since then, the mortgage and appraisal industries have revamped their procedures setting tighter protections for all parties involved although interest rates declined to the low-to-mid threes percentage rates, providing incentive to the buyer’s purchasing power. We finished 021 up almost 190 percent in value compared to the bottom of 2011. The median home price was $275,000 or $171 per square foot, but if we look at the numbers compared to the height of 2006, we have only increased in value about 29%. The average days on market

declined to 53 days. The market is sound and in good shape. There are not any red fla s blaring. Interest rates may be on the rise, but even with the anticipated rate increases from the FED we are lower than the previous peak rates of 2006. Probably the most supporting attribute to this market sustaining and increasing value is the inventory supply. We are currently maintaining less than one month’s supply of homes and buyers are still seeking homes to purchase. So, I still affirm that the ma et will continue to increase in value through 2022 and maybe 2023. As for the January 2022 numbers, the Plant City area had 75 properties sold with 48 of those properties fetching more than $250,000. The median home price was $300,000 or $178.57 per square foot. The average days on market was 16.7. As always, if you are in the market to buy or sell your home … seek out an experienced professional realtor to assist you in this transaction process. There are too many pitfalls to go it alone without representation. If you have any questions, please reach out.

The home at 2005 Cedar Run Dr sold Jan 24 for $177,000. Built in 1984, it has 2 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1180 square feet of living area.

The home 2610 Southern Oaks PL sold Jan 24 for $325,000. Built in 1990, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 2050 square feet of living area.

The home at 1006 N Palm Dr sold Jan 14 for $201,000. Built in 1955, it has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath and 800 square feet of living area.

The home at 3476 Silver Meadow Way sold Jan 18 for $350,000. Built in 1994, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1871 square feet of living area.

The home at 1305 N Barnes St sold Jan 3 for $215,000. Built in 1977 it has 3 bedrooms, 1 bath and 1092 square feet of living area.

The home at 3302 Milton PL sold Jan 10 for $389,591. Built in 1994, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1864 square feet of living area.

The home at 1008 W Terrence sold Jan 10 for $225,000. Built in 1953, it has 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bath and 1434 square feet of living area.

The home at 4605 Bugg Rd sold Jan 5 for $415,000. Built in 1972, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and 2347 square feet of living area.

The home at 1601 Paddock Dr sold Jan 3 for $240,000. Built in 1989, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1669 square feet of living area.

The home at 701 Kilgore Rd sold Jan 14 for $442,500. Built in 2014, it has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and 2500 square feet of living area.

The home at 401 W Tever St sold Jan 14 for $260,000. Built in 1919, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1200 square feet of living area.

The home at 3308 Cummings PL sold Jan 14 for $480,000. Built in 1996, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and 2507 square feet of living area.

SALES SNAPSHOT

The home at 2303 E Trappnell Rd sold Jan 12 for $290,000. Built in 2012, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1456 square feet of living area.

The home at 170 Sparkman Rd sold Jan 14 for $563,900. Built in 1968, it has 2 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1576 square feet of living area.

The home at 4304 Old Mulberry Rd sold Jan 4 for $300,000. Built in 1928, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 2748 square feet of living area.

The home at 3721 Midway Rd sold Jan 31 for $619,000. Built in 2001, it has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 3088 square feet of living area.

The following properties were a sample listed as sold on the Greater Tampa Realtors Association MLS in Jan. 2021. The home at 2001 W Ball St sold Jan 7 for $130,000. Built in 1992, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1144 square feet of living area.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

289704-1

Here’s what Plant City is saying about our latest articles. Plant City, Strawberry Crest cheer teams bring home state championships

“Congratulations, wishing them the best!” - Donna Davis Jones

“So proud of these athletes and their hard work and dedication. They represent Plant City well!” - Tricia Shinneman

“We really don’t need a brewery, we already have enough drunks in Plant City!” - Felicia Bethune Williams

“Small town folks with Huge hearts and a competitive drive!” - Alex Burgos

“This will be good for downtown Plant City and I love the patriotism that goes with it. I won’t get to enjoy much of it or some of the other business growth because we’ll be relocating to Oklahoma in roughly seven months. But when we come back to visit it will be nice to see. As far as all the warehouses and houses being built on agricultural land, I’m not in agreement with all that. But for our downtown area and the business districts, it’s good to see growth like this.” - Bryan Mattair

“Proud of all these amazing athletes!” - Jamie Newman New brewery ready to set its roots in Plant City “As a 26 year Marine vet and a Plant City resident, this is a dream come true!” - Brandon Shearer

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Maria Gloria Resendez, 91, of Dover, Fla., born on Aug. 26, 1930, in Tamaulipas, Mexico entered into eternal rest on Jan. 31, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com.

John A. McElroy John A. McElroy, 88, of Plant City, Fla., born in Plymouth, Penn. on July 10, 1933, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 1, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Tiffany ‘Tiff’ Gilbert Tiffany “Tiff” Gilbert, 45, of Valrico, Fla., born in Lakeland on March 13, 1976, entered into eternal rest on Jan. 26, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com.

Sandi Capps Sandi Capps, 66, of Wimauma, Fla., born in Bradenton on July 17, 1955, entered into eternal rest on Jan. 29, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com

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Patti Allen Patti Allen, 66, of Lithia, Fla., born in Tampa on Dec. 4, 1955, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 5, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com.

Tammie Gail Lanier Tammie Gail Lanier, 59, of Lithia, Fla., born in Plant City on Feb. 16, 1962, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 4, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com.

Paula Elaine Anderson

Martha Laura Blas Martinez

Paula Elaine Anderson, 49, of Thonotosassa, Fla., born in Youngstown, Ohio on Feb. 18, 1972, entered into eternal rest on Jan. 25, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com

Martha Laura Blas Martinez, 39, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Feb. 2, 2022. The family will receive friends Feb. 11, 2022 from 10 to 11 a.m. at San Juan Diego Mission, 3238 San Jose Mission Dr, Dover, FL 33527. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Neoma Jean Kimmel

Pamela Judy Johnston, 53, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Jan. 28, 2022. Neoma Jean KimShe was the daughter mel, 83, of Tampa, of the late David and Judy Fla., passed away Eastman Coon, mother still on Feb. 7, 2022. survives. The family will Survivors include her receive friends Feb. birthmother Sue Hipsag, 12,2022 from 10 to daughters, Judy Johnston, 11 a.m. at Haught Jennifer Johnston, brother Funeral Home Chapel, 708 HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM Glenn Eastman, grandW. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. daughter Addison Snapp. Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. Jacqueline Pamela loved to refinish Funeral services will follow furniture, reading books, at 11 a.m. Hayden crosswords, singing. She Online condolences may HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM cherished her dogs Bella be left for the family at Ray and Luke. Pamela was www.haught.care. Jacqueline Hayden, 41, Ronald Aaron the number one sales asof Balm, Fla., born in Creve sociate at Geico. Coeur, Mo. on Sept. 5, 1980, Futch The family will receive entered into eternal rest on Ronald Aaron Futch, 79, friends Feb. 10, 2022 from Jan. 28, 2022. of Plant City, Fla., passed 10 to 11 a.m. at Haught FuExpressions of condolence away on Feb. 8, 2022. HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM neral Home Chapel, 708 W. at HopewellFuneral.com. The family will receive Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. friends Feb. 11, 2022 from Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. 10 to 11 a.m. at Haught FuFuneral services will follow neral Home Chapel, 708 W. HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at 11a.m. ALL OBITUARIES ARE Online condolences may Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. SUBMITTED AND be left for the family at Funeral services will follow Robert Eric EDITED BY FAMILIES www.haughtfuneralhome. at 11 a.m. OR FUNERAL HOMES Singletary com Online condolences may be left for the family at Robert Eric Singletary, haught.care. 67, of Seffne , Fla., born in Aurora, Colo. on Aug. 2, HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM 1954, entered into rest on Feb. 5, 2022. HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Pamela Judy Johnston

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

OBITUARIES

Maria Gloria Resendez

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

Eva Marie Christie Taylor

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022 O’Brien and Sheila Shultz. Eva was a great fishe woman. When she had to give it up, she moved to Lake Walk In Water to be near both her brother, Robert, and the water. She loved them both; both gave her solace. A Celebration of Life will be held on Feb. 12, 2022 at 12 p.m. on the shores of the lake she loved, offici ed by Rita Christie.

Edna Mae (Bumgarner) Barron

Eva Marie Christie Taylor Edna Mae (Bumgarner) passed away on Jan. 31, Barron, 61, of Plant City, 2022. Formerly a Plant City Fla., passed away on Jan. resident for many years, she 25, 2022.She is preceded in lived in Lake Wales at the death by her father, Ernest time of her death. Daniel Bumgarner, her mothBorn in Lacoochee, Fla., er, Ruth Georgia Bumgarner, Jan. 12, 1949. Eva was the her brothers, Vernon (Joe) only daughter of six children Bryant, Harold Bumgarner, born to Kirby ‘Buck’ Christie James (Jim) Bumgarner, and Martha Lane Christie of and her sister, Sharon Plant City; she was also the Belcher. She is survived by youngest. her sisters, Freda Howell, Preceded in death by her Diane Martin, Brenda Jones, parents, her brother Marvin and Martha Bumgarner. She Christie, her spouse Charles was loved by her family very W Taylor, she is survived by much and will be missed by their two children Barbara so many. Ann ‘Barbie’ Wynne (Kelly), Charles ‘Chuck’ Taylor (Candy), and grandchildren: Kris- Colin Albert tina Rayl, Keith Wynne, Kara Knight Taylor as well as great-grandchildren: Jordan, Tristen and Colin Albert Knight, 88, Nick Rayl. Also surviving of Lakeland, Fla., passed are four brothers: Robert away on Feb. (Donna), Wesley (Sandra), 5, 2022. Services will be Willis (Carol), Tommy (Ruby) held at a later date. and many much-loved nieces Online condolences may and nephews. be left for the family at Eva also leaves behaught.care. hind what she called her ‘Sisters In Her Heart’: Rita Christie, wife of Marvin; MarHAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM tha Taylor Pitts; Nell Taylor

YOUR CALENDAR

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

OBITUARIES

BEST BET SATURDAY, FEB. 12 PLANT CITY BLACK HERITAGE JAZZ FESTIVAL 12 to 6 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. Coinciding with Black Histoy Month, the Plant City Black Heritage Jazz Festival provides an opportunity for those within Plant City and the surrounding communities to honor the rich cultural history of African Americans both nationally and, as important, locally. Attendance is free for all and will feature food and live music.

THURSDAY, FEB. 10

SATURDAY, FEB. 12

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

OPEN MIC NIGHT

7:30 to 9 a.m. Join the Plant City Toastmasters for breakfast, laughs, and fun; there’s no better way to start your Thursday mornings. Bring a chair and a mask. The Toastmasters also offer Zoom meetings for those who can’t make it in person. Visit the Facebook page, facebook.com/ PlantCityToastmasters, for meeting locations and information.

FRIDAY, FEB. 11 MOVIE TRIVIA NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E J. Arden Mays Blvd. February’s Movie Trivia Night theme is Romantic Comedies. Bring your friends and family to grab a cup of coffee and head up to the loft to show off our movie knowledge, or just to cheer on your loved ones with a chance to win a prize. As always, the event is family-friendly and free.

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Open Mic Night is back at Krazy Kup. Join them for a fun night where you get to be the star of the show. Come out, strut your stuff and sh w everyone what you’ve got.

SUNDAY, FEB. 13 PLANT CITY BLACK HERITAGE GOSPEL CONCERT

4 p.m. at 604 W. Ball St. In addition to Saturday’s festivities, Mt. Olive Baptist Church will host a Black Heritage Gospel Concert starting at 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 16 FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Federal, state and local opportunities are constantly changing. If you’ve served any time in the military, retired or non-retention, and would like to review your benefi s please take

advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday. Walk-ins are welcomed, or call 813706-5800 to set a specific time.

SUNSET SOUNDS

6 to 8 p.m. at 5202 Thonotosassa Rd. Sunset Sounds is a summer music series featuring acoustic music from local artists. Head over to Keel & Curley Winery every Wednesday evening to enjoy music, food, drinks and sunshine on their patio for meeting locations and information.

FRIDAY FEB. 18 RETRO MOVIE NIGHT

7 to 8:30 at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Head to the loft at Krazy Kup on the third Friday of each month for Retro Movie Night. Bring the family, grab a treat from downstairs, relax and watch a new movie selection each month. February’s movie will be Pokemon: The First Movie

SATURDAY, FEB. 19 STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN 3 to 6:30 at 102 N. Palmer St. The Plant City Classic Cruise-In is back on Saturday, Feb. 19., rain or shine. Cars and trucks manufactured in or before 1996 can register for free starting at 3 p.m. Live music will be provided by DJ John Paul Gasca.

FRIDAY, FEB. 25 LAST FRIDAY IN DOWNTOWN 5 to 9 p.m. at McCall Park, 100 N. Collins St. The Last Friday in Downtown Food Truck Rally is held with a new theme each month. There will be live music, market vendors and food trucks. The event is family and pet friendly and all are recommended to bring chairs and blankets. This month’s theme will be Pokemon in Downtown.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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FORECAST

Send your photo submissions to staff writer Taylor Jenkins at tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com or hashtag #iloveplantcity on Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature.

THURSDAY, FEB 10 High: 70 Low: 45 Chance of rain: 6%

FRIDAY, FEB 11 High: 75 Low: 54 Chance of rain: 5%

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

SUNRISE/SUNSET Sunrise Sunset Thursday, Feb 10

7:09a

6:16p

Friday, Feb 11

7:08a

6:16p

Saturday, Feb 12

7:08a

6:17p

Sunday, Feb 13

7:07a

6:18p

Monday, Feb 14

7:06a

6:18p

Tuesday, Feb 15

7:05a

6:19p

Wednesday, Feb 16

7:05a

6:20p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, FEB 12 High: 79 Low: 58 Chance of rain: 15%

SUNDAY, FEB 13 High: 65 Low: 43 Chance of rain: 47%

MONDAY, FEB 14 Mandi Bybee was born and raised in Plant City and loves seeing all of the sandhill cranes that wander throughout the area.

ONLINE

High: 62 Low: 41 Chance of rain: 1%

Across 1 Where to find an O 6 “The Magic School Bus” network 9 Retro finis 14 Implement associated with its own age 16 Impulse conductors 17 They may work on profil s 19 Jerks that surprise you 20 Lacto-__ vegetarian 21 Fade 22 Prince __ Khan 23 Austin festival, briefl 24 Recent delivery 25 Sushi bar order 26 Consort of Shiva

28 Diwali garment 31 Strip often twisted 34 Stellar spectacles 37 Cause of a faux pas, perhaps 39 Singer Adkins known by her fi st name 40 Draft portmanteau 41 Parks of Alabama 43 __ slicker 44 Possessive pronoun 45 Body with arms, usually 47 Riga resident 49 “Henry & June” diarist 50 Additional characters, in gamerspeak 52 Chi preceder 53 Would consider, after

“is” 56 Seatbelt campaign slogan 59 Variety show 60 Together 61 Hostile force 62 Org. concerned with secrets 63 Sculptor’s subject Down 1 Org. with red, white and blue trucks 2 Pre-sign sign 3 Acting incentive 4 Not sitting well? 5 Wave generator? 6 Hawaiian fare

7 What might cause you to forget your lines? 8 Some Eastern Europeans 9 Couldn’t stand, maybe 10 Turnoff 11 One who’s typically up 12 Opener 13 It can be fi ed 15 Univ. helpers 18 Tiffs 23 Move like a cat burglar 25 __ breve 26 Jeans parts 27 Radio host Shapiro 29 Sore 30 Oblong tomato 32 1952 Winter Olympics host 33 Really liked something, man 35 Priests, at times 36 They’re usually toward the front of an orch. 38 “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” title: Abbr. 42 Some choir members 45 Stravinsky’s “Le __ du printemps” 46 Talk show host who voices the adult Dory in “Finding Dory” 48 Eschew the diner, maybe 49 Wafer giant 51 Foul fil 53 Nebraska native 54 Pub order 55 Gustav Mahler’s composer brother 57 Decoding need 58 Red Seal record label company

Mar. 2 New

Mar. 10 First

Feb. 16 Full

Feb. 23 Last

RAINFALL LAST WEEK:

MONTH TO DATE:

0.98 in.

YEAR TO DATE:

FEB. AVERAGE:

2.86 in.

2.82 in.

STRAWBERRIES Shipping point: Central Florida $18.00-$36.00

Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

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