2.25.21 PLCO

Plant City Observer

y Observer

YO UR HOMETOW N. YO UR NEWSPAP ER .

VOLUME 6, NO. 134

YOUR HOMETOWN. YOUR NEWSPAPER

FREE • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

. YO UR NEWS PAP ER .

CITY EXAMINES POSITION WITH REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL City commissioners spent part of Monday’s meeting discussing a bill in the Florida Senate that aims to eliminate the statutory authorization for Regional Planning Councils.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

What started out as a quick agenda item during Monday evening’s commission meeting soon evolved into a lengthy discussion on the city’s future with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

Commissioners had been asked to oppose the “elimination of statutory authorization for Region-

al Planning Councils in the State of Florida as proposed in Senate Bill 62.” Said bill, if passed, would remove the authorization and all references to the Regional Planning Councils from the Florida Statutes.

This would essentially eliminate the many services provided by the councils to the residents of Florida.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

‘PEE WEE’ CALLINS RELEASING NEW MUSIC FRIDAY

The Plant City pastor’s new single, “Till the World,” drops tomorrow to bring something uplifting to your music library.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

NEWS BRIEFS

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New state requirement for driver license re-testing in effect Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy C. Millan announced last week that Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle (FLHSMV) implemented a procedural change for driver license re-resting with motorists whose licenses have been expired for a year or more.

Drivers will be required to complete written and vision exams in order to obtain their license again. Millan said this includes drivers who meet the following criteria: • Drivers who have completed the written exam but did not obtain their license within one year of their written exam pass date • Drivers who downgraded from a Class E license to an ID card, and their driver license has been expired for a year or more • Drivers who did not apply to renew their license within the one-year delinquent renewal period

Courtesy of Plant City Parks and Recreation Department

• Drivers applying for a Florida license whose out-of-state license has been expired for a year or more “I encourage Hillsborough County drivers to renew their driver license in a timely manner,” Millan said in a press release. “Customers who need to be re-tested should schedule a written test appointment online through our website at hillstax.org.”

Hillsborough County Tax Collector offices are currently open only to those who have scheduled appointments. Visit hillstax.org to schedule an appointment or get more information.

Turbo Link, International, cost $78,500.

The new cage facility measures 41 feet by 72 feet and “offers more space for baseball and softball players to warm up and work on their batting skills.”

Mike Sansone Park is the home of Plant City Little League and also hosts numerous baseball and softball events each year, such as GSA Baseball tournaments and the NCBA/NCSA Spring Training Showcases.

Batting cage installed at Mike Sansone Park

The Florida Strawberry Festival’s Fine Arts Show has been modified for the upcoming 2021 event.

The show has changed course due to “unforeseen circumstances,” according to a press release, so it will now showcase the winners from the East Hillsborough County School District Area 6 Art Competition.

The show will display the top entries from local students age 6-17 throughout the 11 days of the festival and winners for “Best in

The Plant City Parks and Recreation Department announced last week the completion and installation of a lighted three-tunnel batting cage at Mike Sansone Park, 1702 N. Park Road.

The department said the project, completed under budget by Clearwater-based

Florida Strawberry Festival art show altered

Show” and “Strawberry Theme” categories will be awarded.

“Since my first year as chairman of the Fine Arts Show in 1993, I have seen an increase in the number of artists participating,” East Hillsborough Art Guild President Karen Crumley said in a press release. “This year will be a new experience working with Hillsborough County Schools and their art teachers, and we are excited to share their hard work.”

Artists who are not competing in the Area 6 Art Competition but planned to submit entries for this year’s Fine Arts Show are asked to not bring their art for entry in the festival’s show. No entries outside of the Area 6 competition will be accepted for this year’s show. Crumley said the East Hillsborough Art Guild expects the 2022 show to get back to normal, so artists who would have competed this year can get a head start on next year’s show with the early reservations on EHAGfinearts.org. Entry forms and rules for the 2022 show will be available Nov. 1.

Contact ehag.pc@gmail.com for more information.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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ARTS COUNCIL HOSTS SCULPTURE TOUR Members of the community walked around downtown Plant City on Sunday to learn more about the J. Seward Johnson sculptures installed this year.

Photos by Justin Kline

LOCATIONS 1. “No Hands” — Bruton Memorial Library, north side 2. “Allow Me” — City Hall, south entrance 3. “Nice to See You” — Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce 4. “Big Sister” — South Collins Street/Northwest Drane Street 5. “Cat Nap” — Plant City Photo Archives and History Center 6. “Forever Marilyn” — McCall Park (South Collins Street) 7. “Wine, Food and Thou” — East Reynolds Street/South Collins Street 8. “Sidewalk Concert” — North Palmer Street (The Corner Store) 9. “Embracing Peace” — Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum 10. “No Way” — Village Green Park (next to fountain)

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Arts Council of Plant City was finally able to give its annual tour of this year’s J. Seward Johnson Sculpture Exhibit on Sunday, highlighting the artist’s ultrarealistic work as it’s displayed downtown.

Johnson’s sculptures come to town around December every year to bring some more fun to the downtown district for a few months. It’s an exercise in stilllife art that captures many slices of life. Historically significant photographs like the V-J Day kiss in Times Square or Marilyn Monroe’s iconic “flying skirt” moment from the 1955 film “The Seven-

Year Itch” have been recreated to give passersby three-dimensional experiences. Most sculptures depict everyday people in everyday situations, whether it be a pair of children playing near Drane Street, a woman strolling past Tennessee Jane along Reynolds Street after a shopping trip, a window washer cleaning the front of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce or a businessman taking a nap on a bench installed in front of the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center.

The man on the bench, in particular, has drawn a lot of attention from passersby — many of whom failed to realize it was a sculpture, not a real person, and have left food, water and blankets on site for him.

This is the eighth year in which the sculptures have been displayed around Plant City. The annual exhibit is sponsored by the Arts Council, Unity in the Community, the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center and the City of Plant City.

Gil Gott, of the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center, led the tour group all over downtown and gave attendees a wealth of information about even the smallest details in each sculpture. The group left each sculpture with the knowledge of everything from the backstory of that V-J Day scene to how much it would cost to buy some of the clothing or accessories the sculptures wore.

Many people couldn’t pass on a fun photo op with the sculp-

tures. Several were rewarded for their creativity. The Arts Council’s Snap a Selfie contest tasked people with getting as creative as possible in taking selfies with the statues and the winning photos were posted to the group’s Facebook page. The top three finishers were Nicole and Chris Girard, Michelle Middleton and Molly Fain & Family, respectively. Each winner received a prize pack with goodies and gift cards from local businesses like Roots Tap Room and Wine Bar, Tub Treats, Krazy Kup and Walden Lake Car Wash.

All winners were also invited to join the group for the walking tour.

This year’s crop of 10 sculptures was installed Dec. 7, 2020 and will remain on display through March 15.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

COPS CORNER

FEBRUARY 12

CHARGED WITH THEFT

GOTCHA

BATTERY BLUES

2200 block of North Park Road Theft: This complainant stated two micro USB charging cables, each valued at $16.99, were stolen from a Circle K store.

1420 block of South Collins Street Warrant arrest: Officers conducted a traffic stop on a white Chevrolet Malibu seen committing a traffic violation. The driver was found to have an active warrant out of Hillsborough County for dealing in stolen property, grand theft of the third degree and giving false information on a pawn broker form. The driver was arrested and taken to Orient Road Jail without incident.

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

800 block of West Dr. MLK Boulevard Vehicle burglary: Hood’s Towing reported that someone stole a battery from a blue 1995 Ford F-150 truck.

FEBRUARY 13

NOT A COINCIDENCE 700 block of Kingsley Circle Business burglary, grand theft, criminal mischief: This complainant, a manager of Tru Green, stated multiple vehicles had their catalytic converters cut off.

FEBRUARY 14 LOST AND FOUND Multiple locations Stolen/recovered vehicle: A complainant reported a white 2002 Dodge Ram was stolen from a fenced-in parking area on the 600 block of West Dr. MLK Blvd. on Feb. 12. The truck was found and recovered two days later in the area of North Frontage Road and Procchi Drive.

FAR FROM SUBTLE 1210 block of Goldfinch Drive Multiple charges: PCPD dispatch received a call about a subject firing gunshots into an apartment door at Townsgate Apartment Complex. A male subject was arrested for possession of ammunition (as a felon), discharging the firearm and for violating probation.

BEER RUN 1720 block of James L. Redman Parkway Petit theft: An unknown male subject stole two cases of Busch Light beer from RaceTrac. The cases were valued together at $29.98.

FEBRUARY 16 UNPLEASANT SURPRISE 2700 block of Thonotosassa Road Criminal mischief: This complainant stated she left work and got to her vehicle to find its tires were slashed.

PORCH PIRATE

FEBRUARY 15

700 block of North Collins Street Theft: This complainant reported someone stole a package from the front porch of their residence.

LONG TIME COMING

FEBRUARY 17

1200 block of West Baker Street Found stolen firearm: Someone found and turned in a firearm that was reported stolen to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 23, 1990.

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE 1510 block of South Alexander Street Criminal mischief: This complainant stated he parked his truck at a gas pump and went inside the

store for a short time, then found one of his tires was punctured.

MEN WILL BE MEN 1800 block of West Baker Street Battery: This complainant stated he was pushed by a known male subject several times while the two were arguing about a woman.

The complainant declined to press charges and signed a waiver of prosecution.

THAT WAS FAST

PLANT CITY

Observer Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com

1200 block of Townsgate Court Residential burglary: This complainant stated several items from her home, including her debit card, were missing and that someone used her card at the nearby RaceTrac on Thonotosassa Road shortly after her discovery.

Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com

FEBRUARY 18

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EASY TARGET 2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway Vehicle burglary: This complainant stated he left his vehicle unlocked with the windows down while shopping at Walmart. While in the store, an unknown subject entered the vehicle and stole a Bluetooth speaker.

Advertising / Richard Brame richard@plantcityobserver.com Advertising / Karen Berry kberry@plantcityobserver.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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PLANT CITY REFLECTS ON POSITION WITH REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL

A bill in the Florida Senate that aims to eliminate the statutory authorization for Regional Planning Councils has led to conversations on the value of the organizations throughout the state. Commissioners weighed in on the topic Monday evening. FROM PAGE 1

File photo

Commissioner Bill Dodson has been Plant City’s representative for the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council for 19 years.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

It appeared to be a simple request, but it instead sparked an in-depth conversation on the very value of the planning councils after Commissioner Mike Sparkman said he wasn’t going to support the opposition to eliminate the councils’ authorization.

“I still today believe that they should take away funding for the Regional Planning Councils,” Sparkman said. “I don’t see what advantage it is into the cities. I don’t know that we’ve hardly ever used it and I think it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars. So I would not vote to oppose the elimination of the Regional Planning Councils.”

Commissioner Bill Dodson, who has served as the representative from Plant City for 19 years, voiced his objection to that claim and said he believes the councils serve several purposes for the state.

The TBRPC provides “a forum to foster communication, coordination, and collaboration in identifying and addressing issues and needs regionally.” It brings together governments in hopes of coordinating an overarching plan for the community’s future. It was established in 1962 after representatives from St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa decided it was high time there was regional coordination. It is one of 10 regional planning councils in Florida.

The council discusses items like the Future of the Region: A Strategic Regional

Policy Plan for the Tampa Bay Region. It also discusses issues like water quality, environmental management, emergency preparedness planning and review of transportation plans.

TBRPC has representatives from its six counties: Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas. The other municipal members are from Bradenton, Clearwater, Dade City, Dunedin, Gulfport, Largo, Madeira Beach, New Port Richey, Oldsmar, Palmetto, Pinellas Park, Plant City, Safety Harbor, Seminole, South Pasadena, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, Temple Terrace and Treasure Island. This represents twothirds of the council’s membership. The governor appoints additional members and there are also four “ex-officio members representing the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection and Enterprise Florida.”

Dodson said that when Rick Scott was Governor of Florida, he removed funding from the state for the regional councils.

Now they are independently funded and rely on fees from members as well as contracts for projects they are a part of to stay in operation. City Manager Bill McDaniel confirmed Plant City pays $2,000 a year to be a member of the council.

Dodson took a moment to reflect on the funding that used to be available and explained to commissioners how the budget worked currently for the councils.

“They get an equal amount of funding, as remarkable as it may seem, by contracts through the state of Florida that call upon them to do work on behalf of the state of Florida,” Dodson said. “It’s interesting that there’s no funding from the state, yet the state calls on the Regional Planning Councils to do work on their behalf.”

Sparkman agreed that Dodson was right on the work the council does, but he said he believes the organization should be privatized instead of being supported by the cities and counties, which use taxpayer dollars to participate in the councils.

“Now that we have more government, we have better government, we have more efficient government and we have more technology now in the world than we’ve ever had before, this is a redundancy and a waste of taxpayer dollars,” Sparkman said.

“I would not support this.”

Bill 62 was filed on Jan. 5 and is currently in Judiciary. Mayor Rick Lott asked Dodson if the other cities and counties had supported the resolution to oppose the bill.

Dodson said they had, so Lott presented a harsh reality to the commission.

If Plant City didn’t oppose Bill 62, it would be the only city thus far to do so.

Vice Mayor Nate Kilton said he believes councils and boards like these open the door to better collaboration between cities and municipalities. Connections are made that should not be taken lightly. Lott agreed and said it would be a risk to not fall in line with the other cities.

“You know, I think that this is a board that it’s really up to the state of Florida to decide whether it continues or not,” Lott said. “If the board stays intact I would hate for us to not have a seat at the table. I think that in every organization we have out there, even in some of these boards, they don’t have a huge impact in Plant City but it allows us to be able to work with our counterparts and other municipalities in other counties and build those relationships like you’re talking about, Vice Mayor. So if we do need to work on regional aspects, we have the ability to have a commonality there and a respect for one another where we can find common ground. I totally understand where you’re coming from, Commissioner Sparkman, on this, 100 percent. This is a state decision, but I find it to be a little bit uncomfortable if we voted not to at least, like all the other cities have already put their support in for this resolution, and then if it doesn’t go away we are the lone wolf that said, ‘We don’t want to be a part of this organization.’ I don’t think that puts us in a very good light.”

The commissioners agreed to support the resolution to voice their opposition to the elimination of statutory authorization for Regional Planning Councils 4-1, with Sparkman dissenting.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

ONLY JUICE

One of Plant City’s newest businesses brings freshly squeezed, all-natural juices to your doorstep.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Making healthy dietary choices just got easier — and tastier — in Plant City.

It’s hard to beat freshly squeezed juice when you want a drink you can feel good about, something loaded with vitamins and nutrients to help your body stay on top of its game.

And if you don’t want to go to the trouble of finding fresh ingredients to blend yourself, Only Juice has you covered.

Only Juice was launched in January by Plant City residents Tamar Bettis, Kayvious Campbell and Roderick Henderson, who all wanted to create something healthy, delicious and sustainable. It’s a labor of love that has taken off in the last month and quickly become a popular option for those in and around the Plant City area.

“Especially with the pandemic, the average person is thinking about what they’re putting into their body a little more, trying to be more healthy,” Henderson said.

“We’re trying to make our community more healthy.”

Henderson was making his own juices at home late last year and saw potential to take it further with Bettis and Campbell, whom he connected with the idea. Bettis, a Plant City High School classmate of Henderson’s, always wanted to open her own juice bar and give

back to the community through her business. Campbell, the “mad scientist” behind the recipes, already enjoyed mixing drinks for their friends in his free time and took the creative side of the business to the next level. Once Bettis and Campbell finally linked up, it was a home run.

“We’re both very passionate people,” Campbell said. “Tamar’s passionate about providing a service that’s affordable to people, but you can still get your health benefits. It’s accessible and affordable.

I like being creative and coming up with recipes. It just kind of clicked.”

What you see in the ingredients section is exactly what you’re getting. Only Juice uses nothing but fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs in all of its products. The ingredients are locally sourced from Plant City-area farmers markets in order to support the local economy, and the group worked out of The Corner Store on East Reynolds Street when it started making juice together.

With help from Henderson’s Innovative Academy, which helps young adults with disabilities and at-risk students find and train for career opportunities, the group gathers ingredients and presses all of the juice twice a week. The juice orders are then delivered to customers as soon as possible. Most of the sales are in the Plant City area, though Only Juice will deliver to Lakeland, Tampa and Hillsborough and Polk counties at large.

“We do the juice on Monday and try not to keep them too long,” Bettis said. “Then we juice again Thursday. We try to keep our juices fresh and get them to our customers as soon as we can.”

Customers can choose from 10 flavors of juice with prices ranging from $3 per four-ounce bottle to $5 per 10-ounce bottle. There’s also the option to get a $25 sample pack of all 10 flavors in four-ounce bottles if you’re feeling indecisive (or if you’re just that thirsty). Some of Only Juice’s most popular flavors include “CAP,” which is a blend of carrot, apple and ginger, the “Vitamin C” mix of strawberry, apple, ginger and cherry and “Sunshine Sunrise,” a blend of grapefruit, strawberry, orange and lemon.

You’ll also find juices using ingredients like ginger, lemon, mint, blueberry, raspberry, cherry, turmeric, cucumber, pineapple and beets.

Photos courtesy of Today With Rae

You can order online for delivery at onlyjuice.co. Only Juice is also currently on Instagram at @onlyjuicefl.

Instagram (@onlyjuicefl)

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

‘PEE WEE’ CALLINS DEBUTS NEW SINGLE

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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“Till the World” will be released tomorrow on all major music streaming platforms.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

After the giant mess that was 2020, it would be nice for 2021 to bring us all some joy.

That’s Calvin “Pee Wee” Callins’ latest mission of music. Callins, a longtime gospel artist and pastor at Greater New Hope Anointed Ministries, knows people could use something to uplift their spirits and feel good — and he knows how he can help. His latest song, titled “Till the World,” was written to be just what people need to start 2021 off right.

“With so much going on in 2020 with COVID and the different racial stuff, you see the tension in America… you can just feel it,” Callins said. “We were losing the sense of who we are and being there for one another. My belief and the way I was brought up is that love can conquer anything.”

This labor of love stems from an idea Callins had as far back as 1996, when he put his own spin on Diana Ross’s classic “What the World Needs Now.” It was fitting to Callins 25 years later because, with so much tension in America and the rest of the world being the defining factor of 2020, the world could really use some more love, sweet love. So he linked up with local Grammy-winning producer Cliff Brown and Tampa rapper Doechii to help him reach the masses through music.

“I just wanted to write something to get a message out through music,” Callins said. “Not everybody wants to hear a

sermon, different speeches or lectures — I wanted to say something through music, something that could make us think and make us want to feel good and dance.

When I was thinking about it, I was thinking about what producer I could use. Cliff just popped up in my mind, I gave him a call and we were meeting within hours to talk about the song. We put a team together.”

Brown, co-producer Shorne Callahan and Doechii had much of the song already worked out before Callins came aboard.

Brown said they originally worked on it for a compilation record and, like Callins, had the intention of using the song as a vehicle for positive energy.

“When COVID first hit, it not only was COVID going on but also there were political tensions,” Brown said. “We just wanted to be a source of light instead of using our energy to expose the negative. We wanted to say no matter what’s happening around us right now, we want our music to be a source of hope. Music is a bridge that can bring people together.”

When Callins approached Brown with the idea of releasing a single, Brown said he knew the pastor’s powerful voice would be a perfect fit and the final piece of that puzzle.

“She wrote the majority of the song and painted the picture that I wanted to get across,” Callins said.

Till the World, released on Five5 Records, will be available tomorrow on all streaming platforms.

Courtesy photo

Cliff Brown produced the single and designed the art.

File photo

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

DOCTOR’S NOTE:

NEXT WEEK!

CELEBRATE WORLD HEARING DAY ON MARCH 3RD

To celebrate and recognize World Hearing Day on March 3rd, Florida E.N.T. & Allergy is encouraging everyone to keep their hearing healthy.

LOWER THE VOLUME WHEN LISTENING TO MUSIC: Listening to loud music through headphones can be detrimental to your hearing health. Make sure to keep the volume at a comfortable range, and take breaks often. The louder your music is, the more often you should take a break from listening.

WEAR HEARING PROTECTION: Earplugs and/or earmuffs should be worn when you know you will be exposed to loud noises. Both of these can reduce noises up to 30 decibels.

AVOID CLEANING OR SCRATCHING YOUR EARS WITH SMALL OBJECTS: Although products such as cotton swabs can be an easy, fast way to clean your ears, they do more harm than good. These small objects can damage your eardrum if pushed in too far.

STAY AWAY FROM THE LOUDEST SOUND SOURCE: Some activities make it impossible not to be around loud

noises. In these cases, ensure that you are as far as possible from the sound source, such as speakers, to diminish the chances of hearing loss.

EXERCISE REGULARLY: Exercising is very beneficial to hearing health. It keeps blood circulating throughout the body, including the ears.

GET YOUR HEARING TESTED: Having your hearing checked regularly can help you catch any underlying symptoms that you didn’t notice before turned into a larger issue. Audiologists are specially trained to evaluate, diagnose and treat hearing loss.

If you’re having trouble hearing, you’re not alone! It is estimated that one in five people in the United States suffers from some form of hearing loss. The Florida Center for Hearing Health is a specialized division of Florida E.N.T. & Allergy that focuses solely on hearing health, and their specially trained doctors of audiology are available to discuss any hearing-related needs.

LOOK FOR THE 2021 STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL GUIDE! JUSTIN KLINE

SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please call 813-879-8045 or visit Florida E.N.T. & Allergy online at www.FloridaENTandAllergy.com.

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ST PERFORMANCE TRIM HAS AN ‘EDGE’ OVER ITS RIVALS

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

CUTEST CRITTER

Do you want Plant City to see how cute your favorite pets are? Send your pictures to Staff Writer Breanne Williams at bwilliams@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

EDGE ST Tires: P265/40R21 Wheelbase: 112.2 inches Length: 188.8 inches Tow capacity: 3,500 pounds Fuel capacity: 18.5 gallons City: 19 mpg Highway: 26 mpg Base price: $43,265 Price as tested: $51,195 Web site: www.ford.com Courtesy of Nitish S. Rele

NITISH S. RELE

The first utility from Ford Performance, the Edge ST, entered the market in 2019.

Though the midsize crossover segment is packed with tough competition such as the solid Toyota Highlander, Nissan Murano and Chevy Equinox, the appealing five-passenger Edge has always stood its ground. The ST trim reinforced its established roots.

Under the hood sits a 2.7-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine cranking out 335 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 380 pounds-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. That’s zero to 60 mph in just under six seconds for an SUV weighing 4,525 pounds. EcoBoost is essentially twin turbochargers and a smaller-displacement engine working in tandem with gasoline direct injection to produce a powerful but fuel-efficient

engine. Coupled to the power train is an eight-speed automatic gear box with steering-wheel paddle shifters. Allwheel drive is standard in the ST trim.

Guiding the sprightly SUV is an electric power-assist steering while the specially tuned suspension is handled up front by a MacPherson strut and an integral-link with coil springs in the rear.

Conveying a revamped, brawny appearance — and understandably so — is a black wide-mesh grille with LED signature headlights, body-color door handles and dual exhaust tips. Take a seat behind the firm steering wheel and you find yourself staring at a speedometer flanked by two LCD screens. ST badging on the steering wheel and seat backs (as well as on the exterior) is an instant giveaway that this is a performance-oriented ride.

Sync3, which accesses audio, telephone, navigation controls via a voice command, eight-inch touchscreen tap or button click, is simple to use. The center console features a practical rotary gear shift dial. Other comforts include dual auto A/C, 10-way power front seats, aluminum sport pedals, 60/40 easy-fold rear bench, overhead sun glass holder and push-button start.

The standard Ford CoPilot360 bundles together driver-assist safety features such as blind spot monitor, cross-traffic alert, pre-collision and lane-keep aid with auto emergency brake, auto high beams and rearview camera. Also included are dual front and side airbags, front knee airbags, side curtain airbag, four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic stability and traction control, front and rear threepoint seatbelts, tire pressure monitor and daytime running lights.

As noted, the midsize crossovers are battling hard in a crowded field. But this Ford with its vigor, thanks to a forceful engine, sharp appearance, fun-to-drive character and spaciousness, has an ‘Edge’ over its competition — with performance, to boot!

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PLANT CITY Baker St. olds

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CHOICE MEATS • PRODUCE • GROCERIES

WALKER PLAZA 617 N. Maryland Ave., Plant City (813) 752-1548

Park Rd.

Felton’s Market

Maryland Ave.

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Mon-Sat 7am - 9pm | Sundays 7am - 8pm At Felton’s we offer a complete line of fresh meat and produce. You’ll find only the best quality meats at bargain prices. Whether it be that special occasion dinner, or you are planning a large party, call or stop by today. No matter what your needs, Felton’s is sure to have the finest, most tender meat and tasty produce anywhere.

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Fi re, S m o k e, S o o t Wate r R e m ova l / D e h u m i d i f i c at i o n M o l d R e m e d i at i o n Ai r D u c t C l e a n i n g D i s i n fe c t a nt / B i o h a z a rd C l e a n i n g

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Lakeland

LITTLE BIT Little Bit, Viola Pilgrim Waburton’s cat, waited patiently for Santa at Christmas in her cute little house.

9

FEBRUARY 25, 2021

SPORTS

DESPITE LIGHTNING CUP LOSS, DURANT HOCKEY RIDING HIGH The best season in the Cougars’ short history is still ongoing with the 2021 SAHOF State Championships coming up in March.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Quick Hits

Photos courtesy of Scott Lehtola

WRESTLING DISTRICTS Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest wrestlers competed in FHSAA district tournament action last week and several walked away with top-five finishes.

Crest had two district champions in Jake McDarby (145 pounds) and Sebastian Fernandez (285 pounds). Durant’s Austin Bovee won the 195-pound championship.

3A-DISTRICT 5 (PCHS) 106: Benjamin Best, second place 113: Jeremiah Smith, second place 120: Judah Bendorf, fourth place 126: Jacob Cappella, fourth place 132: Lane Best, second place 138: Colin Johnson, second place 145: Josiah Anderson, fifth place 160: David Davenport, second place 170: Elijah Vongdachan, fourth place 182: Malachi Powell, fourth place 195: Matthew Bollinger, fourth place 285: Nelson Cortes, fifth place

3A-DISTRICT 6 (DHS, SCHS) 106: Josiah Ortiz (SCHS), second place 113: Aaron Clark (DHS), fourth place 120: Frank Font (SCHS), third place 126: Chris Perez (DHS), second place 132: Dakota Quintana (SCHS), fifth place 138: Andrew Raab (SCHS), fifth place 145: Jake McDarby (SCHS), first place; Sean Pikulski (DHS), fifth place 152: Devin Blunt (SCHS), third place 160: Zander Spurway (SCHS), third place; Damarion James (DHS), fifth place 170: Lex Strickland (SCHS), second place 195: Austin Bovee (DHS), first place 220: Trystan Allison (DHS), second place; Tucker Cooper (SCHS), fourth place 285: Sebastian Fernandez (SCHS), first place; Caden Miller (DHS), fifth place

Expectations for the 2020-21 Lightning High School Hockey League season were high in the Durant clubhouse, and for good reason. The program headed into its fourth year of existence missing only two of last year’s seniors, returning 10 seniors for this season and, most importantly, knowing what it takes to get to the championship level.

The 2019-20 season saw the Cougars not only make it to the second round of the LHSHL playoffs, but also make the cut for the Statewide Amateur Hockey of Florida (SAHOF) State High School Championships in Estero. With so many pieces coming back for this season, head coach Todd Comunale and his staff knew this team had the potential to do something special.

“Our three goals at the beginning of the year were to win the Modin division, which we did, to play for Lightning Cup championship, which we did, and then to make the final game at the state tournament in March,” Comunale said.

Durant’s depth and experience proved to be a huge advantage this season. The Cougars went 21-4 overall and

excelled in league play with a team that proved to be strong in all areas of the game.

The offense is led by senior captain Jordan Putnam, whose 49 points are tied for second (with Palm Harbor forward Richard Biszant) among all LHSHL players. His 29 goals are second-most in the league and his 20 assists are tied for third-most (with East Lake forward Daniil Bogdanov). A breakout 30-point season (19 goals, 11 assists) from junior Josh McKeen also helped tremendously.

Durant got five seniors back on defense and their leadership, Comunale said, was crucial to the team’s success.

Lockdown defense from stalwarts like Michael Romeo and Xander Wise made life much easier for the one-two punch of Ryan Putnam and Will Chabalowski in net. This dynamic duo emerged as one of the league’s best last season and stayed hot in 2021: they combined for an 18-2 overall record and four shutouts (three for Chabalowski, a past Plant City Observer Athlete of the Week).

Though skating director Jen Kious left after four years of being one of the team’s

most invaluable resources, much of the coaching staff stuck around this season and Comunale said that continuity was another big reason for the team’s success. Jamie Gorham, Clint Walden and Mike Cappiello have all been with the team for its entire lifespan and JV coach Steve Butler’s two years with that program has helped players like Robert Noble and Colin Smargon make huge strides up into the varsity roster and become impact players.

The Cougars never scored fewer than three goals per game in regular-season league play, handily won the Modin Division and beat perennial LHSHL playoff contender Manatee for the first time ever.

Durant got a first-round bye in the LHSHL playoffs and took on rival Newsome in the second round on Feb. 5.

Newsome rallied back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period to force overtime, then both teams went to the shootout. Comunale chose to have Durant shoot second and — by his own admission — that may have put a lot of stress on the Cougars. When the Wolves scored in the top of the fifth frame, the Cougars had no choice but to score on their next two attempts. Dante Denney tied the shootout at 1-1, Ryan Putnam made a huge save on Newsome’s next attempt and Noble buried the game-winner up high to send the Durant bench into “bedlam.”

“It was something I hope these kids remember for the rest of their lives,” Comunale said.

Durant played Manatee again in the league semifinal and had a much easier time, picking up a 6-2 win to face 2019-20 champ Seminole in the title game.

Seminole took a 2-0 lead into the third period and then extended it to a 3-0 lead just 46 seconds in, but Durant began to mount a comeback. Jordan Putnam scored on the power play at 4:34 in the period to end the drought and McKeen scored at even strength three minutes later to keep the Cougars within one goal of the Sharks. But the Cougars couldn’t keep the scoring burst up and the Sharks put the game away with Carsan Cabral-Downes’ empty-net insurance goal at 13:39.

“There’s 18 other teams in the league that would gladly trade places with us,” Comunale said. “We should be proud of the season we put together and it’s still going.”

Despite the loss in the Lightning Cup championship, two of Durant’s goals were achieved and the third is still on the board. The Cougars are going back to the SAHOF State Championships from March 12-14. The tournament will once again be played at Hertz Arena in Estero, home of the Florida Everblades.

Visit sahofhockey.org/ ssc for more information.

SCOREBOARD BOYS BASKETBALL

BOYS SOCCER

BASEBALL

FEB. 12 Riverview Sarasota 80, Durant 63 Kathleen 75, Plant City 72

FEB. 17 Plant City 2, Melbourne 1

FEB. 16 Strawberry Crest 4, Lennard 3 (eight innings)

FEB. 18 Alonso 62, Durant 55 Plant City 78, Hillsborough 71 FEB. 23 Kathleen 66, Plant City 63

FEB. 20 Viera 2, Plant City 0

GIRLS SOCCER FEB. 16 Martin County 2, Strawberry Crest 1

FEB. 17 Plant City 7, Riverview 3

FEB. 22 Durant 3, Lennard 1 FEB. 23 Strawberry Crest 2, Leto 0

FEB. 18 Strawberry Crest 2, Robinson 1 FEB. 19 Lennard 6, Plant City 4

SOFTBALL

FEB. 18 Durant 11, Freedom 0 Strawberry Crest 4, Robinson 1

FEB. 20 Strawberry Crest 16, King 0

FEB. 16 Strawberry Crest 12, Lennard 0

FEB. 22 Strawberry Crest 16, Plant City 0

FEB. 19 Plant City 2, Lennard 0

FEB. 17 Riverview 11, Plant City 2

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

11

BING ROOMING HOUSE MUSEUM ADDS TO SPORTS HALL OF FAME Local karate competitor “Rhino” Mike Thomas is the newest inductee of the museum’s growing hall of fame for local athletes.

Courtesy of William Thomas Jr.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

One of Plant City’s most inspiring examples of chasing after your dreams, of doing whatever it takes to become what you’ve long wanted to be, is now going to live on for decades to come.

The Bing Rooming House Museum grew its burgeoning Sports Hall of Fame by one with the recent induction of “Rhino” Mike Thomas, whose karate prowess has led to a successful competitive career on the national and international levels in the last few years.

“What stuck out to us was his style, him matching his style and competing with others from international arenas,” William Thomas Jr., of the Bing Rooming House Museum, said. “He faced international fighters in the majority of his competitions and was able to do very well. He placed first in a number of those competitions… to be able to effectively match your style and compete internationally, I think that says a little more and that’s one of the things that piqued our interest when we were talking to him.”

Becoming a professional martial artist was a dream Thomas had since his childhood, but a childhood spent moving around Florida and Georgia followed by teenage years spent working to financially support his family meant he didn’t have the chance to start learning until he was an adult. Thomas began training with Chris Welbon Karate Clubs in 2013 and later furthered his training with Rudy Rogers at Rogers’ “Open-Air Dojo” on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Thomas found

a way to balance a full-time work schedule with several jobs with his intensive training, earned his black belt in 2018 and has won dozens of tournaments in just a few years of competition.

Thomas donated several medals and his first pair of sparring gloves to the hall of fame. He said the opportunity to get inducted meant a lot to him, especially because it’s something his family can be proud of even long after he’s gone.

“It’s gonna be good for my kids,” Thomas said. “And my grandkids, one day they can come see that because my name will be there forever. They can see my accomplishments. My great grandchildren can say I was inducted into the Bing House Hall of Fame. It’s a great opportunity.”

The man they call “Rhino” for his consistent, forward-moving attack is now the third member of the museum’s hall of fame.

The first person enshrined in the hall was Chevelle Hallback, who donated a pair of her gloves after the February 2020 “Conversation with a Champion” event at the museum in which the boxing world champ spoke candidly about her life and career in the ring. That technically came before the Bing House Sports Hall of Fame was officially created, but starting with Hallback was an easy call for William Thomas Jr., who has curated the museum’s hall of fame.

Then came Plant City High School basketball legend Ginger Bennett Forté, who was posthumously inducted following the June 11, 2020 “Ginger Forté Day” ceremony outside the museum in which a custom-

ized No. 23 jersey and several photos were donated to the museum by family, friends and members of the Ginger’s Jewelz group.

The hall of fame is for Plant City-area athletes, coaches, trainers and those who made successful sports careers possible.

People from all walks of life will be considered, but Thomas Jr. said each candidate will be “vetted heavily” before they’re voted on.

Thomas Jr., a devoted sports fan and self-described “memorabilia junkie,” said the goal is to soon induct multiple athletes per year and grow the exhibit as much as possible with the support of the community. The exhibit is located on the second floor of the museum and Thomas Jr. said he hopes to one day see it use the entirety of the second-floor space and take induction ceremonies to the next level.

“It’s thrilling, to me, to be able to show our young people how we have started and where we’re going, knowing that it doesn’t end here,” Thomas Jr. said. “What we do today is history tomorrow. It’s not necessarily about what those have done in the past. It’s about setting the trend now and having something to have a conversation about in 10 years. I really stress that to our young folks.”

The Bing Rooming House Museum Sports Hall of Fame is open to the public for tours when booked in advance. If you wish to check it out or even nominate some people for those involved with the hall of fame to consider for induction, call 813704-5800.

File photo

12

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

289704-1

We asked Facebook:

The Bing Rooming House Museum is building up its Sports Hall of Fame exhibit for local legends of the playing fields and beyond. Which Plant City-area athletes of the past should be considered to go in the hall of fame one day?

“The Derrick Gainer played for the Cowboys.” — Hugo Martinez

Sports/Associate Editor Justin Kline’s pick:

“Kenny Rogers would be a good one. Kenny Kelly would also be a good selection.” — David Mattair Jr.

“It’s really hard to top Brooke Bennett’s resumé in or out of the swimming pool. She’s got three Olympic gold medals to her name (one in Atlanta 1996, two in Sydney 2000) for the 400 and 800 freestyle events and her 800 time in Sydney set what was then a new Olympic record. She was only a junior at Durant when she won that first gold medal in Atlanta. That’s absolutely my top choice.

“The Broadnax Boys” — Michelle Turgeau Williamson “Horace Broadnax” — Bud Olliff “Nick Fabrizio” — Dallas Cline “Kellyanne Hurst and Kacie Booth” — Diana Corzine “Brilynn Hallman” — Olivia Charron

A few honorable mentions that come to mind are Russell Evans, Arthur Cox, Ryan Raburn, Ashley Blessin, Omar Castro, Aliyah Gregory and Cornelius Wiggins. I know there are plenty more local legends who could make the cut, too — ­­ there is and has been so much athletic talent in this town, it’s ridiculous.”

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

Tracy Dale Dixon

Jane Phillips, 83, of Plant City, born on January 17, 1938, entered into eternal rest on February 15, 2021.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Tracy Dale Dixon, 47, of Plant City, born in Lakeland on September 24, 1973, entered into eternal rest on February 19, 2021.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Quinton Walter Cook Quinton Walter Cook, 81, of Lithia, born in Alafia on October 15, 1939, entered into eternal rest on February 17, 2021.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Paul Michael Tirado Colon

Paul Michael Tirado Colon, 24, of Zephyrhills, passed away on February 15, 2021. Funeral services were held February 22, 2021 at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563.

Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Julio Ortiz Diaz

Julio Ortiz Diaz, 75, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, born on February 23, 1945 in Guayama, Puerto Rico, entered into eternal rest on February 13, 2021, in Riverview.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Lawrence ‘Larry’ Nenno Lawrence “Larry” Nenno, 89, of Plant City and Olean, New York, passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his loved ones on February 7, 2021. The family will receive friends and family February 27, 2021 from 3 to 4 PM at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. Funeral services will follow at 4PM. Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

Carl Jon Harvey

Carl Jon Harvey, 65, of Plant City, passed away on February 21, 2021. Carl retired from the United States Air Force as a medic. The family will receive friends March 1, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W Dr MLK Jr Blvd, Plant City, FL 33563.

Memorial services will follow at 11:00 AM. Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Juan Magana De La Rosa Juan Magana De La Rosa, 70, of Plant City, passed away on February 21, 2021. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM February 25 at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. A Funeral Mass will take place at 11 AM February 26 at St. Clement Catholic Church, 1104 N. Alexander St., Plant City, FL 33563.

Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

Francisco Lozoya Francisco Lozoya, 71, of Plant City, passed away on February 19, 2021. The family will receive friends Friday, February 26, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 PM. Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

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

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OBITUARIES

Jane Phillips

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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YOUR CALENDAR

OBITUARIES

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

Arlene Harmon Arlene Harmon, 87, of Lakeland, Florida, went to be with Jesus on 2-20-21.

She is survived by her sister Marsha Raider of Bangor, Michigan; her brother Dwight Meachum of Hartford, Michigan; sons Robert Harmon (Donna) of Plant City, FL. and James Harmon of Lakeland, FL.; grandchildren Sherry Harmon (Jimmy) and Bobby Harmon (Jeni) of Plant City FL.; great-grandchildren September, Tyler, Ashlyn, Taryn, Jalin and Justyce; and great-great grandchildren Janelee, Braxton and Branson.

Her positive outlook on life will be missed by all.

Taking care of each other is what

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BEST BET FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 LAST FRIDAY IN DOWNTOWN 5 to 9 p.m. Join Plant City Main Street downtown for a Pokémon-themed evening full of family fun.

In addition to eight food trucks, vendors and all the Pokémon-themed goodies you can get at participating businesses (you’ve gotta catch ‘em all), Aspire Plant City is sponsoring a free screening of Pokémon: The First Movie in McCall Park. If you miss out on Friday, don’t worry: many of the vendors will still have their themed goods available (while supplies last) the following day, as Feb. 27 is the official Pokémon Day.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25 PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS 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.

BATON TWIRLING CLASSES Plant City Recreation presents Baton Twirling Classes at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. Classes are held every Thursday. Beginner classes are from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Intermediate classes are from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Your first class will be free. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Barbara Patrick at 813-6264554.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 PLANT CITY CHURCH OF GOD STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CAR SHOW 7 to 10 p.m. at Plant City Church of God, 2103 Mud Lake Road. Come out to this free event and view all the trucks, Jeeps and classic cars. Food trucks on-site include Smitty’s Corn Dogs and Umami Smoke.

Come and show off your truck, Jeep or classic car and compete for one of the following awards: Overall Truck, Overall Jeep, Overall Classic Car, Stereo, Engine Rev and Best of Event. T-shirts are available for pre-order when you register.

Register today at plantcitycog. churchcenter.com/registrations/events/69332.

BLUEGRASS NIGHT WITH DUCK WALLOW LANE 7 to 8:30 p.m. Krazy Kup, 101 E.

WELLSMEMORIAL.COM

J. Arden Mays Blvd., will host its monthly Bluegrass Night event featuring Duck Wallow Lane.

Tickets are $15 per person and available either in-store or on Eventbrite. Seating is limited.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 KOMEDY NIGHT 7 to 8:30 p.m. Donnie Stopa will come back to the loft at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., for an evening of side-splitting comedy hosted by Jojo with special guest Sean Harper.

Tickets are $10 per person and available either in-store or on Eventbrite. Seating is limited.

PLANT CITY SOCIAL DANCE 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Strawberry Square Dance Center, 4401 Promenade Blvd. Plant City Social Dance will have dances every Saturday night in the month of February at the Strawberry Square Dance Center. From 6 to 6:30 p.m., there will be ballroom music for ballroom dancers. The regular dance goes from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The cost to dance is $7 per person and attendance is limited to 50 people with reservations. Call DJ Ken Miller at 863-409-7714 to reserve your spot and visit djkenmiller.com to look at sample playlists and get more information.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3 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 benefits, please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday. Walk-ins welcomed or call 813-704-5800 to set a specific time. Masks are required and temperatures will be taken at the door.

SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS WITH ESTRANGED FAMILY 6:30 to 8 p.m. at GracePoint Church, 1107 Charlie Griffin Road. Join other parents who are estranged from their adult children. PEAK (Parents of Estranged Adult Kids) group provides a safe place to listen, share and support others going through the hurt of adult family abandonment. Meetings will include group discussions, selfcare and positive influenced activities to help cope with the situation. Meetings are the first Wednesday of each month. For more information, visit peaksupportgroup.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 4 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL OPENING DAY 10 a.m. It’s that time of year again! The Florida Strawberry Festival’s gates open to the public the morning of March 4 and this year’s event — themed “All Aboard!” will go full steam ahead through March 14. Visit flstrawberryfestival.com or pick up a copy of the Plant City Observer’s 2021 Florida Strawberry Festival Preview on March 4 for more information.

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS 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.

BATON TWIRLING CLASSES Plant City Recreation presents Baton Twirling Classes at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. Classes are held every Thursday. Beginner

classes are from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Intermediate classes are from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Your first class will be free. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Barbara Patrick at 813-6264554.

SATURDAY, MARCH 6 BLUEGRASS JAM 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This is an open invitation for local bluegrass musicians and fans to come to the Krazy Kup Loft, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., and jam, clap hands, stomp feet, and enjoy. They host a Bluegrass Jam the first Saturday of every month.

PLANT CITY SOCIAL DANCE 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Strawberry Square Dance Center, 4401 Promenade Blvd. Plant City Social Dance will have dances every Saturday night in the month of March at the Strawberry Square Dance Center.

From 6 to 6:30 p.m., there will be ballroom music for ballroom dancers. The regular dance goes from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The cost to dance is $7 per person and attendance is limited to 50 people with reservations.

Call DJ Ken Miller at 863-4097714 to reserve your spot and visit djkenmiller.com to look at sample playlists and get more information.

MONDAY, MARCH 8 2021 STRAWBERRY PARADE 1 p.m. The Florida Strawberry Festival’s biggest parade returns like never before, as the Grand Parade and Youth Parades have merged for the 2021 festival season. The parade will begin in downtown Plant City heading westbound on Reynolds Street and is expected to pass the festival grounds around 2 p.m.

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

THURSDAY, FEB. 25 High: 81 Low: 54 Chance of rain: 4%

FRIDAY, FEB. 26 High: 86 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 5%

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Feb. 25

6:56a

6:26p

Friday, Feb. 26

6:55a

6:27p

Saturday, Feb. 27

6:54a

6:28p

Sunday, Feb. 28

6:53a

6:28p

Monday, March 1

6:52a

6:29p

Tuesday, March 2

6:51a

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Wednesday, March 3

6:50a

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MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, FEB. 27 High: 90 Low: 67 Chance of rain: 9%

SUNDAY, FEB. 28 High: 91 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 9%

MONDAY, MARCH 1 “Our neighbor’s pink Tabebuia tree is in full beautiful bloom,” Kimberly Hatley wrote. “I look forward to this stunning display every year.”

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Across 1 Hardly a routine favor 7 Rubs out 15 Project that led to the first moonwalk 16 “And how!”

17 Rounds of shots 18 Meditation goal 19 Money in music 20 “__: a Dog”: 1962 film based on a 1919 novel 21 Fruit with a Medjool variety 22 Fathers and sons 23 Portable Asian dwellings 25 “Live at Red Rocks” musician John 26 Fathers and sons, say

27 Tiny resistance unit 29 Petrol measure 31 Start of a Seuss classic 36 Galleria degli Uffizi city 37 Range in which 7 is neutral 38 “Swords into plowshares” prophet 39 Had difficulty 40 Maker of many jets 42 Fields of cookies 43 __ entry 47 Plant that has become invasive in much of the Eastern U.S. 48 One acting badly 49 “Swan Lake” maiden 51 Vitamin bottle abbr.

52 Marathoners’ sources of energy 54 Telemarketing tactic 56 “Scream” scream 57 Rule that keeps you from spelling weirdly?

58 With great intensity 59 Colonists 60 Dr. Scholl’s product Down 1 Stalwart political group 2 Apples since 2012 3 The best of times 4 Harmonica-playing chipmunk 5 Gin flavoring 6 Ring decisions

7 Off-the-wall 8 No longer fazed by 9 Time meas.

10 VA concern 11 Mount an attack on 12 Kiwi-shaped 13 Bashes 14 Just baked, say 20 Riches 23 1994 co-Nobelist with Yasser and Shimon 24 Fluffy toy 26 Ex-U.N. chief Annan 27 “Anaconda” rapper Nicki 28 Kenyan tribe 30 Worn welcome symbol 32 Game show VIPs 33 Enclave in Italy 34 Warning signal 35 High-tech capacity units 37 Pie sometimes topped with pineapple 39 Gatherings before snaps 41 Salon device 43 Day of films 44 Brick of the Southwest 45 High land 46 Up in the air 48 Long-eared critters 50 Biol. branch 52 “Big Brother” host Julie __ Moonves 53 Terrier breed from Scotland 55 “What __ the odds?!”

56 Go downhill fast

15

Mar. 12 New

Mar. 17 First

Mar. 27 Full

Mar. 8 Last

RAINFALL LAST WEEK:

MONTH TO DATE:

0.23 in.

3.32 in.

YEAR TO DATE:

FEB. AVERAGE:

04.46 in.

2.82 in.

STRAWBERRIES Shipping point: Central Florida $10-$16

Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

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16

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

PlantCityObserver.com