PLANT CITY TIMES &
Observer
National Signing Day ceremonies.
SEE PAGE 12
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 5, NO. 32
FREE
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2018
Tri-Wizard Trivia Insufferable know-it-alls unite for Harry Potter night of fun.
YOUR TOWN
Courtesy of Starr Anderson
Library honors dedicated volunteers Bruton Memorial Library volunteers were honored at the bi-annual appreciation breakfast last week. Certificates of appreciation were given out during breakfast. Freda Sallee received the “Outstanding Volunteer” award for her many years of working in the used book store. Dodie White received “Volunteer of the Year 2017” for directing and managing the hugely successful Mystery Dinner Theater fundraiser. The dinner is one of the largest fundraisers for the library. White has also served on the Friends of the Library Board of Directors. Those interested in helping even a few hours each week should contact Felecia Broome at 813-757-9215 or stop by the library for more information.
WHERE HAVE ALL THE FARMERS GONE?
Courtesy of Erika Morua
Induction of dedicated Junior Woman’s Club members The GFWC Plant City Junior Woman’s Club held its annual installation and awards ceremony, welcoming three new members to the group. The women were moved to full-member status after volunteering their time and efforts to the annual Shoe Project, the Empty Bowls Project, Baby Parade, Little Miss Plant City contest, Pig Jam and more. The GFWC Plant City Junior Woman’s Club has immersed itself in the local community, aiding with nonprofits and civic organizations. The group also adopted the Shoe Project, which provides shoes to underprivileged children in the school district. In 2017, the club hosted its inaugural 5K Reindeer Run to raise funds for the project. At the ceremony, Alex Rae Rhoades received the “2017 Junior of the Year Award,” Nia Ramo won the “2017 President’s Award” and Jenny Caravajal received the “2017 Provisional of the Year Award.”
Daniel Figueroa IV
Dennis Carlton Jr. stands in front of strawberry fields he leases to growers. Carlton and other area farmers are hoping to ensure that as Plant City grows, it holds on to its agricultural roots.
In Plant City, a town built on agriculture, some are concerned over the future of farming in and around the growing city. DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER
The land of Oak Ridge Fish Hatchery pushes up against some of Plant City’s northernmost boundaries in the city’s wooded northeast quadrant. The land there is still quiet and expansive. The density of subdivisions and industrial expansion hasn’t reached that part of the city. However, plans are already in place to change that, and farmers, like Oak Ridge’s David Drawdy, are trying to keep hold of Plant City’s agricultural identity as the city moves toward its 2040 comprehensive plan. “Twenty years ago, there were a little over 300 fish farms between Hillsborough and Polk County,” Drawdy said. “Now there are about 70. The price of land got high and some of the old-timers sold to the developers.” According to the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, tropical fish farms like Oak Ridge, along with ornamental horticulture and strawberries, are some of the largest agricultural industries throughout Hillsborough County. Abutting the Oak Ridge land is city property designated for the upcoming North Park Isles development, a planned community of more than 1,000 homes. Drawdy said he’s concerned over the density of the development. A canal that would drain water from the development runs along his property and flooding already threatens the ponds that are the lifeblood of his land, without any homes built. “Our concern is, when they put 1,000 homes in, where’s that water going to go?” he said. According to the adopted Imagine 2040: Plant City Comprehensive Plan, the goal for Plant City in the coming decades is “embracing the future while preserving our past.” The plan also states that “most lands within the municipality that are in agricultural uses are expected to transition to other uses within the planning horizon year of 2040.” Though the city was named to honor Henry Plant and its railroad routes, it grew to pride itself on being the “Winter Strawberry Capital of the World,” the headquarters of Florida’s nearly $1 billion strawberry industry. SEE FARMERS PAGE 5
Library adds new programs for youth The library is rolling out the red carpet on new programs to encourage youth to become engaged in reading. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Bruton Memorial Library’s new youth centered programs aim to foster a lifelong relationship with the young readers. John Russell, youth services librarian, said the programs help ensure the library is engaging with all age groups and effectively sparks readers’ creativity. “We try to show the library is rel-
evant to them and their interests,” Russell said. “It will be there for them for the rest of their lives. We’re doing our programing for teens but we’re also engaging them in other areas they may need help in. Whether it’s something for college, a job search, resume help, these teens are just a few years away from going to college, from starting their career and we want them to know we’re here.” SEE LIBRARY PAGE 5
Courtesy of John Russell
A highly attended escape room at Bruton pitted teens against the clock.