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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

BACK TO SQUARE ONE FOR MIDTOWN

After months of negotiations, the agreement with 2XS Development, LLC regarding the Midtown District development has officially come to an abrupt end. SEE PAGE 3

FARE THEE WELL,

BERRY FEST Courtesy of Marsha Passmore

Once again, the annual Florida Strawberry Festival has come to a close.

PHOTOS ON PAGE 9

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

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Justin Kline

U.S. Ag Secretary visits Florida Strawberry Festival Sonny Perdue, the United States Secretary of Agriculture, visited the Florida Strawberry Festival on March 6 for a luncheon, a roundtable discussion with local strawberry growers and a quick tour.

Perdue was joined by Representative Ross Spano (FL-15) and Representative Greg Pence (IN-6) of Indiana. He was asked about topics like the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, H-2A-related losses and immigration issues, school lunch options and more. The hottest topic of the day was about negative effects imports from central Mexico have had on Florida’s berry market, which has led local growers to feel they operate at a disadvantage despite being based in the United States.

“If we can hear these things, if I can hear them, I can take them back and it empowers us to go back to our colleagues both in

Congress and in the administration and advocate for those policies that make sense for you all,” Perdue said.

After finishing the roundtable discussion and posing for photos with many who attended the luncheon, Spano and Florida Strawberry Festival directors led Perdue and his group on a quick tour of the festival grounds. Perdue visited the Florida Strawberry Growers Association’s display and sat on their iconic porch. He chowed down on a strawberry shortcake from St. Clement and got one of their signature stickers to wear at his next few stops for the day. He visited some of the FFA booths to talk to students and teachers and pose for photos, then visited the Smithfield Entertainment Tent and chatted with members of Transforming Life Church before leaving Plant City around 12:30 p.m.

Perdue said the USDA will host a public hearing regarding USMCA seasonal provisions in Plant City on April 7 at a location and time to be determined, though he won’t be there.

Courtesy of Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA

Curtis wins local YMCA Volunteer of the Year award Plant City Family YMCA volunteer Bruce Curtis was presented with the local branch’s 2020 Volunteer of the Year award at the March 5 Community Impact Dinner.

“The primary reason is that I strongly believe in what the YMCA represents to the local communities,” Curtis said. “Having prior memberships in other health clubs, I felt these organizations were self-centered and not really interested in helping the

community. As an active member of our Y, I strive to be an extension of the staff and be an ambassador helping to serve the needs of the Plant City members and community.”

The Plant City Y and all other branches of the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA network honor their Volunteer of the Year selections at the annual dinner in Tampa.

At this year’s dinner, Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Eakins received the Tampa Metropolitan network’s Community Impact Award and Bob Sierra won the Red Triangle Award for leadership, service and dedication to the YMCA mission.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

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BACK TO

SQUARE ONE FOR MIDTOWN

Planned development of the midtown district is on hold now that developer 2XS has dissolved, but the City of Plant City hasn’t given up hope on the project.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Midtown is officially back to square one.

For the past several months, everyone in the city held their breath as they waited to see what 2XS Development, LLC would bring to the table in its plans to finally bring Midtown to life. The company was even granted an extension last month to finalize its initial development plan.

Then, less than two weeks ago, the city was sent some unexpected news: 2XS faced its own upheaval.

“Essentially what happened was 2XS split,” City Manger Bill McDaniel said.

“They notified me that they were dissolving their partnership.”

2XS was owned by Sam Bauer and Steven Katz. According to McDaniel, the duo decided to go their separate ways and thus the city had no choice but to terminate its agreement. The way the contract was written, the city promised to work with 2XS under the control of both Bauer and Katz.

A split makes the contract null and void.

McDaniel said both Bauer and Katz have reached out to him and verbally acknowledged they would like to continue with Midtown on their own. However, the city cannot simply pick one and continue going forward.

So McDaniel is now in the process of finalizing the new RFP, which he anticipates going live either the end of this week or the beginning of next.

“You’re disappointed, but you’re not defeated,” McDaniel said. “If you put this to scale, this is a $100 million deal and you have to expect some hurdles along the way. We are so much further down the road than we ever have been before. Our development agreement is very strong and we have learned so much along the way. When you think about it, this puts us in a great position. Now we can go back and tighten up the RFP.”

With the many changes that have come to the city over the course of the past year, McDaniel said he believes that puts them in a better position this time around than they were in before. The refined RFP will reflect that attitude. One of the alterations to the RFP is that there will be no vision concept included in the write-up.

Though McDaniel said the vision concept was initially there to show one example of what developers could bring to the table, he now realizes it was more limiting than inspiring. He said he really wants to see the developer’s vision, not an imitation of one example the city brought to the table.

If someone hoping to apply wants more guidance or clarification on what the city wants to see, McDaniel said they will be more than happy to educate them on the overarching vision for the city but he wants those who submit proposals to do so with their own creativity shining through.

Technically, the RFP is written so that if there is not a developer that wants to come in and tackle the entire 16-acre project, they can do one section and another developer can be awarded the opportunity to handle another section. It’s not the city’s first choice, McDaniel said, but they’re open to it if it’s best for the district.

“I still would love someone to do the whole thing, but even people that want to do the entire area will phase it anyway,” McDaniel said. “No one wants to do all 16 acres at one time. That’s how we end up down the road with a minimum development agreement. We have to find that magic number that will have enough minimum development to justify us handing over the land. Then they will have to finish the rest to support what they did in the first phase.”

The RFP must be out for a minimum of 30 days. Then the responses will be evaluated and will go to the CRA for review. The firm the CRA is most comfortable with will be chosen to take the city into attempt number four for bringing Midtown to life.

Despite the fact that the first three times

ended with failures to launch, McDaniel said the city is not disheartened. He said they’ve put too much time and effort into the project to simply walk away.

“We’re going to keep doing this until we get the right developer,” McDaniel said.

“And in retrospect, I’m happy that this happened at the stage it happened at rather than for us to have pushed it and realized much further down the road that we had the wrong developer, or that there were external problems. I’m over disappointment and have moved on to optimism.”

If both Bauer and Katz do honor their verbal agreement and submit bids for the new RFP, there is a chance some time can be shaved off in the long run as the city starts getting everything in place to finally put a shovel in the ground. McDaniel said Bauer and Katz have agreed to work within the original development agreement, which

could shave off months of back-and-forth if one of those two firms is selected by the CRA as the best fit for future development.

While there is always the chance they may not respond or may not stick to the verbal commitment, it could put the city well ahead the fourth time around if those stars do align.

“Our city, and specifically this Midtown development project, have a much higher profile now than they did when we first began this process,” McDaniel said. “It’s almost weird to say, but if you’re going to have to start over, there really isn’t a better time to do that than now.”

File photo

Steven Katz, Bill McDaniel, Sam Bauer and Ken Buchman.

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COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

PLANT CITY

Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigated indecent exposure, a stolen wheel hub assembly, a broken window,

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

stolen mail and more.

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com

FEB. 29 MAILBOX MOOCHER 1100 block of McDavid Avenue Fraud: This complainant responded to Plant City Police Department and said an unknown suspect took a money order in the amount of $216.94 from his mailbox in January of 2020 and had it cashed in Plant City.

AUTOMOTIVE TELLER MACHINE 2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway Vehicle burglary/criminal mischief: This complaint reported that an unknown suspect entered his vehicle by force at approximately 9:30 a.m. by damaging the key hole on the driver door. They then removed $700 in cash from the vehicle console.

DOES ‘DELIVERY INSURANCE’ COVER THAT? 1500 block of Plantation Grove Court Vehicle theft: Officers responded to the theft of a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver’s vehicle.

Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez

KEEP YOUR COOL, MAN 4500 block of Reynolds Creek Avenue Theft (Waiver): This complaint reported that an unknown suspect stole an Igloo cooler from his yard at approximately 1:30 p.m. The complainant stated he just wanted to document the incident and signed a waiver of prosecution.

LET ME IN 2300 block of James L. Redman Parkway Criminal mischief: Officers responded to an alarm call at the above listed location. Upon the officers’ arrival, they discovered the front glass door of the business was shattered.

MARCH 1

Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

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MARCH 3 DINE AND DASH 800 block of South Collins Street Theft: Four unknown subjects consumed $45.84 worth of food at IHOP and then fled the scene without rendering payment.

MARCH 4

CONTACT US

MARCH 5

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, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103.

ALTI-MATUM 400 block of Seminole Lake Boulevard Criminal mischief: This victim found a window to her residence and passenger side window to her white 2013 Nissan Altima broken.

If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

IN PLAIN SIGHT DISTURBING IMAGE 4600 block of Summerwind Court 900 block of E. Dr. King Boulevard Vehicle burglary: This complainExposure of sexual organs: Offiant reported that at an unknown cers responded to the above listed time during the evening hours location in reference to a report of of Feb. 29, an unknown suspect a man exposing himself to people.

Editedentered

by David Steinberg March his unlocked vehicle and 13, 2020 removed a front wheel hub as50 sembly *Mind for a 2012 Dodge 11 Oregon 45 Japanese Journey.Trail realm wrestling style ItFlayer’s was valued at $160. cry, perhaps

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

DEAN’S RIDE PEDALS TO THE STARTING LINE

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

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The eighth annual Dean’s Ride will be held at 7:30 a.m. this Saturday.

File photos

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Once a year, a massive group of local bike enthusiasts gathers at the Plant City Hillsborough Community College campus to go on a ride unlike any other.

Dean’s Ride was created to honor local legend Dean Snyder’s dedication to strength and honor as well as his love of biking and commitment to a healthy lifestyle. The event began in 2013 with approximately 125 local riders, including its namesake, who was battling esophageal cancer at the time but still loved hitting the open road on his bike.

Now, years after Dean Snyder passed, the ride has grown into of the community’s most cherished events.

Proceeds from the event, which is produced by the Plant City YMCA, support the Y’s LiveStrong Program, which pays for gym memberships and personal trainers for those who have battled or been directly affected by someone’s battle with cancer.

“Like with most events, it’s for a worthy cause, raising money for the Y’s LiveStrong Program,” Bruce Curtis, chair of the event’s board, said. “That’s one of the bigger appeals, and I think also for any event nowadays, people ask you out the gate, ‘What are you supporting?’ We couldn’t be prouder of our cause. That was really Dean Snyder’s vision to begin with. We are keeping that legacy going.”

The event is also in conjunction with the City of Plant City’s annual Bike with the Mayor ride, so approximately 175 riders are expected to come out that morning for the two events.

“Obviously Dean was such a big part of the community that a lot of the people that come out come in honor of him, but it’s more than that,” Brandon Snyder, Dean Snyder’s son, said. “We are such a tightknit community that everyone knows someone that has been touched by cancer at some point. Everyone has felt that hurt and that struggle, so this is a cause that means a lot to everyone in town.”

The event evolves every year. This year, there was a shift for the first time to focus on even safer routes, which has pulled in more cycling clubs for the ride. One day, Brandon Snyder said he hopes to see the ride turn in to an actual “full-blown race.”

At the end of the day, the ride is all about raising money for the YMCA so as long as they continue to help the LiveStrong Program, he’ll always consider it a success.

The route this year will highlight Plant City’s ag roots and will go along working strawberry fields and scenic countryside.

Unlike in prior years where many of the routes stayed south of I-4, this year the routes shifted to north of I-4 and hug a variety of local farms.

The ride starts and finishes at the HCC Trinkle Center, 1206 Park Road, and will kick off at 7:30 a.m. You can register at RegisterDeansRide.com and can choose to ride in one of four cycling distances: a 100k/62-mile metric century, 75k/46-mile half-century, a 60k/39-mile half-metric century or a 30k/19-mile quarter-metric century. The 46-mile ride is a new addition and Curtis said they’ve already had many people sign up for that route.

The board starts planning for the ride every September and spends the next six to seven months making sure everything is

ready to go when the riders start pedaling across the start line. Curtis said the group gets an amazing amount of support from companies in Plant City and Lakeland and that its network of sponsors grows every year.

One of the benefits of the group’s dedicated board is that it actively seeks input from the riders every year. The feedback they hear the most is the overwhelming thanks from the participants for the Iron Pigs motorcycle club that acts as route escorts for those who ride.

“They follow the riders and kind of keep traffic at bay for a little bit,” Curtis said.

“The Iron Pigs are very much a key part of this event and it’s the feedback we continue to receive the most every year.”

Registration opens around the new year for each spring ride. Following the event is a massive party featuring lunch, music and craft beer. This year, the Plant City Brew Club, a group of home brewers in the area,

will provide craft beer that its members have created for the event. It’s the first time that’s been incorporated into the afterparty and Curtis said it should be a great addition to the festivities.

The weather is expected to be ideal for riding with temperatures remaining in the low 60s in the early morning and warming up later that afternoon, long after the riders should have returned. The group is will also have an early rider check-in for anyone wants to pick their packet up and get all the ride information at Keel Farms, 5210 Thonotosassa Road, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday night.

“Just be fully aware of your environment where you are riding. Safety always comes first and foremost with any event,” Curtis said. “And bring a helmet, that’s the one thing we require.”

File photo

The Iron Pigs motorcycle club escort Dean’s Ride participants every year to keep them safer as they travel along their desired routes.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

MAN ARRESTED FOR AGGRAVATED STALKING AND CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

While PCPD originally arrested Shawn Gilliam for an injunction violation, a spontaneous statement made by Gilliam on the way to jail led to new charges.

STAFF WRITER

Plant City Police arrested a man on March 6 on two charges of aggravated stalking and cruelty to animals resulting in the death of an animal.

The victim originally sought an injunction against Shawn Gilliam, 35, in January of this year, according to a report from Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The injunction was later served. Gilliam was not to have any contact with the victim and was told he could not violate the injunction through an “intentional unlawful threat, word or act to do violence to Petitioner (Victim).” However, despite the injunction, the victim received a string of text messages from an unknown number from someone who was threatening to hurt her.

In one of the texts, the sender said he would kill her if she “betrayed him.”

Another again referenced killing her so she wouldn’t make court and thus the injunction would “drop,” according to the HCSO report. The verbiage of the messages led the victim to believe they came from Gilliam, so she informed Plant City Police Department he may have violated the injunction.

The HCSO report said Gilliam is currently homeless and still resides in Plant City.

Sgt. Al Van Duyne, spokesman for PCPD, said after one of the PCPD officers arrested Gilliam for the injunction violation and began transporting him to Orient Road Jail, things took a turn.

“While he was being transported to jail in the back of a police car, he made some spontaneous statements that centered around dogs and killing dogs,” Van Duyne said. “After these statements were made he was turned over to Orient Road Jail and was booked on that initial charge, but then based on his spontaneous statements, contact had been made with a female victim of the injunction and the presumed owner of the dogs.”

The victim informed the police that on Dec. 26, 2019 she returned home to find her dog, which had been in good health, lying motionless on the floor with his eyes open.

The dog was dead and, due to its prior good health, that discovery was very unexpected.

Gilliam revealed in a video recording filmed on March 2 he aimed to retaliate against the victim by poisoning her dogs, according to HCSO. The report said Gilliam told them he accomplished the task by feeding the dogs five chocolate bars, which resulted in the death of one of them. He called the dogs “barking little suckers.”

“The victim showed law enforcement this video that had been recorded in March and he was recognized in the video,” Van Duyne said. “Things were said in that recording that led us to believe that we knew who he was in the video, and who the victim was by things that were said specifically. He made several statements that he did it, why he did it and he described the method in which he attempted to cause the dogs harm.”

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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HCC GETS FOLIAGE MAKEOVER

Volunteers gathered early Saturday morning to plant more than 60 native trees at the HCC Plant City Campus as part of the wetland and stormwater enhancement project.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Last July, the community gathered at the Plant City Commons Community Garden and Botanical Treasure Garden to bear witness to the unveiling of a small, but monumental treasure nestled away among the trees.

A small trickle in the overgrowth was discovered to be one of the many headwaters that contribute to the Tampa Bay Watershed, thanks to the efforts from employees with the City of Plant City and members of the garden.

The recognition of that waterway is continuing to grow. On March 7, a group of enthusiastic volunteers gathered at Hillsborough Community College across the street from the garden and donned work gloves, rubber boots and heavy jackets to combat the brisk breeze.

The group, armed with shovels and pitchforks, was there to plant a variety of trees and remove

pesky plants along the creek that flows out of the Botanical Treasure Gardens’ wetland through the campus and on toward Tampa Bay. “We’re here this morning to remove invasive plants and to plant native wetland trees along the creek that takes a 49-mile journey to Tampa Bay,” William Moriaty, president of Tampa Bay Reforestation and Environmental Effort, Inc., said. “Be very slow and deliberate, and let’s do our best to make an impact with the time we have today.”

Before the group set off, Moriaty took a moment to give a history lesson of the area and had a humorous Q&A with the attendees. Those who answered correctly were awarded native wild flower seed packets, and the hardest question came with the grand prize of a stuffed penguin named Dreamy Huggins.

The group was quizzed on who Plant City was named after, what the mascot of HCC was, how long the trek from the Botanical

Gardens to Tampa Bay was for the water stream, what mode of transportation Henry B. Plant brought to central Florida and what Plant’s middle name was.

The group then watched as Moriaty demonstrated how to properly plant the trees throughout the area.

The work zones were split into four sections with various degrees of difficulty. One was of a low level and simply required the planting of a few trees and small plants. The second was the most difficult and heavily focused on removing invasive plants as well as some tree planting, including the planting of a bald cypress.

On the other side of the school was the third zone, which was an upland planting area where 12 trees and 30 small saw palmettos were put into the ground. The fourth area was around the retention pond in the back of the campus and 37 trees were slotted to be added to the location.

From there, the groups split up and the volunteers began fill-

ing water cans, digging holes and getting the roots of the trees perfectly aligned in the holes.

Wheelbarrows filled with invasive plants that had been meticulously removed were carted back and forth to a dumpster on site, and before long the area looked spick and span.

Funding for the trees to be planted came from a donation to the Tampa Bay Reforestation and Environmental Effort, Inc.

by C & S Wholesale Grocers, who have a major distribution center along Jim Johnson Road in Plant City. Moriaty also took a moment to thank Dr. Martyn Clay, campus president of HCC, Dr. Peter Sleszynski, an Environmental Science instructor at HCC, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Karen Elizabeth president of the Plant City Commons Community Garden and Botanical Treasure Garden, Sharen Spires with the City of Plant City and Tree Inc.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

FOOTSTEPS OF FAITH: FESTIVALS AND FAITH The fun of the Florida Strawberry Festival can also be found in faith and celebrated at any church you choose to attend.

DR. DANIEL MIDDLEBROOKS

The lights, the sounds, the rides, the food and the fun are all the celebratory characteristics of our own Florida Strawberry Festival. During those 11 fully-stacked, action-packed days, the howling hordes of families, friends and visitors walk through the vendor-lined buildings and avenues buying everything from hats to water hoses, dresses to desserts and creative items that only incredible minds can dream up.

Yet, when the last concert is performed, the final drawing of the ever-elusive Stingray Corvette is announced and the final rush to get the last funnel cake (the guava was my favorite, or was it the red velvet?), what happens the next day? The fun is over, and now the massive clean-up has begun.

The weeks prior to the festival are with putting up tents and bleachers, and cleaning areas for all the arriving vendors. However, on Monday, March 9, the mad dashing golf carts and speedy supply trucks now move at an “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing” speed.

Is that not what normally happens to us after great times of excitement and memorable experiences?

The thrill of the “high” of adventure now meets the “low” of the reality of normal

life. It is often like the Tower of Terror ride that lifts you up to the highest peak of the park, only to drop you suddenly to the level parts of the ground. You not only lose your stomach, you can also lose your joy. That is, unless your joy is not based on the circumstances in your life, but a confidence you have for life.

So where do you find that confidence?

For me, it is found in a deeper celebration that goes on, not for 11 days, but every day.

It is a festival of faith that constantly surrounds me with a great cloud of witnesses that cheer me on when the weight of the workday takes it toll. It is the roll call of ready hands that help me when the project becomes too big to manage and the expectations become too great to handle alone.

It is the endless supply of spiritual vendors that provide for my needs with creative ideas that come from the throne of grace.

It is the ever-roving, ever-watching warriors of light that walk with me to make me feel safe and secure in a dark and uncertain world. It is the momentum-building music that quickens my step and lengthens my stride to find the cadence of compassion, the song of sympathy and the brass band of blessings.

Does that seem like a festival you would love to attend? If the answer is yes, then I

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have great news for you. Every weekend, and often during the middle of the week, you can find the lights, the sounds, the food, the fun, the rides (if you park a ways out) and the faith in the many churches that fill our great little community of Plant City and the surrounding Hillsborough County.

Just as there are a multitude of sights to see at our Florida Strawberry Festival that draw people from all over, there are plenty of spiritual churches of faith that touch every denomination and every need and, most importantly, create a family reunion of faith that grows love and grace and confidence. From the First Baptists to the First Responders, from the Cowboys with horses to the Free Riders with their “Hogs,” from the small fellowships to the medium to the mega, these weekly occurring celebrations of Christ bring the lows of life to the level ground of the cross.

Cleaning up after a major event is never fun. Neither is cleaning up after a bad decision or life mistake. That is why God has His houses all around that help us to move from the dirge of despair to singing the songs of salvation once again, no matter if it is a hymn, a modern praise or contemporary chorus.

If you like Southern Gospel music, you can toe tap to the best of it (yes, it is a

shameless plug) at 6 p.m. this Saturday night at First Call, 1510 Cre Road, Dover.

Remember, the more you attend a church, the more everyone will begin to feel like family. After 85 years of the Florida Strawberry Festival, they all feel like family. After thousands of years of the church, it should be more. So, which “festival of faith” do you plan to attend this week?

I have a suggestion, but that would be another shameless plug.

Dr. Daniel Middlebrooks is the Senior Chaplain of First Call Church and the CEO/President of Chaplaincy Care, Inc.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

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ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER ‘PERFECT VISION’ AT THE FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

When more than 500,000 people flock to Plant City, locals and visitors alike pause for 11 days to pay homage to the beloved strawberry.

At the Florida Strawberry Festival, people laughed and cried on high-flying rides and more food was consumed than is safe to think about. As the Observer staff ran around the midway and in and out of tents covering eating contests, shows and competitions, we were able to do one thing we cherish above all else: we got to know you.

We met families that travel down from Canada every year to visit their loved ones and attend the festival at least three times. We spent time with volunteers who have been working in one capacity or another with the festival since they were in high school — and are now volunteering with their grandchildren. We met retired farmers who shared their knowledge with curious youth and explained the impact of the strawberry industry on the community. When admiring the steers near the ag side of the festival, we got to chat with local FFA students and listen to their dreams of carrying on family traditions and innovating the industry they love. We watched as people who had never been to the festival or even Plant City were welcomed with open arms by ambassadors and personally escorted to the areas they were searching for, then smiled as a former strawberry queen leaned over and pointed out the stand for her favorite festival snack to a group of excited young attendees and their parents.

If the Florida Strawberry Festival was run like any typical fair, there wouldn’t be anything to set it apart. It’s the soul, the hometown character that runs through the roots of the event, that has solidified its place not only in the hearts of Plant Citians, but in international travelers alike.

When it finally arrives, it’s a whirlwind of action.

But every year, no matter how tired we are, we’re always sad to see it go. ’Til next year.

MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 10

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

MORE ‘VISIONS’ FROM THE 2020 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

2020 Florida Strawberry Festival Winners

MOSAIC YOUTH STEER SHOW

Third: McKenzie Hollie

Overall Grand Champion: Riley Buttorff Overall Reserve Grand Champion: Mariah Austin

JUNIOR First: Bella Ballard Second: Lillie Meyers Third: Tucker Conrad

LIGHTWEIGHT Grand Champion: Ava Hasting Reserve Grand Champion: Kenley Connell

MOSAIC YOUTH SWINE SHOW

MIDDLEWEIGHT Grand Champion: Ramsey Bowers Reserve Grand Champion: Shalee Conrad HEAVYWEIGHT Grand Champion: Riley Buttorff Reserve Grand Champion: Mariah Austin CLASS PLACINGS Class 1 First: Kenley Connell Second: Cassidy Eramo Third: James Cooper Class 2 First: Shelby Allen Second: Isabella Weaver Third: Chase Campbell Class 3 First: Ava Hasting Second: Raegan Hyder Third: Anne-Marie IampieriMcGinnis

Grand Champion: Dakota Grigson Reserve Grand Champion: Avery Ashley CLASS PLACINGS Class 1 First: Cameryn Smith Second: Cody Rice Third: James-Stewart Haynes Class 2 First: Bennie Rice Second: Callie Smith Third: Nicholas Retter Class 3 First: John-Wayne Haynes Second: Emily Little Third: Annslea Woody Class 4 First: Cooper Davis Second: Kyndell Drawdy Third: Sydney Watson Class 5 First: Dakota Grigson Second: Joel Bender Third: Gehrig Graham

Class 4 First: Ramsey Bowers Second: Shalee Conrad Third: Gerald Williams

Class 6 First: Avery Ashley Second: Tucker Conrad Third: Alyssa Chancey

Class 5 First: Blake Zajac Second: Naomi Donnell Third: Jackie Marvin

Class 7 First: Emily Franson Second: Brylynn Newsome Third: Justin Boyette

Class 6 First: Halie Guthrie Second: Bailey Brock Third: Marissa Zolna

Class 8 First: Milee Hasting Second: Kortney Whitmer Third: Tytan Gill

Class 7 First: Shylen Denmark Second: Gabrielle Howell Third: Brenna Sturgis

Class 9 First: Justin Zinke Second: Shad Stevens Third: Cameron Ipock

Class 8 First: Colten Drawdy Second: Logan Scott Third: Erin Morrissey

SWINE SHOWMANSHIP COMPETITION

Class 9 First: Riley Buttorff Second: Noah Hamrick Third: Emma Futch Class 10 First: Mariah Austin Second: Morgan Walls Third: Jaycee Flowers BEEF BREED SHOWMANSHIP CONTEST SENIOR First: Jayce Ware Second: Case Watson Third: Peyton Chandley INTERMEDIATE First: Shalee Conrad Second: Jayden Mathena

SENIOR DIVISION First: Avery Ashley Second: Dakota Grigson Third: Drew Blanton INTERMEDIATE DIVISION First: Milee Hasting Second: Blake Chancey Third: Abigail Mullis JUNIOR DIVISION First: Brielee Bedenbaugh Second: Jessie Parker Third: Tucker Conrad RABBIT AND POULTRY YOUTH POULTRY SHOW Grand Champion: Brielle Bolger Reserve Grand Champion: Aubree Palmer Best Opposite Sex Exhibition: Aubree Palmer

Best Opposite Sex Production: Kenzie Vazquez

YOUTH RABBIT SHOW Grand Champion: Connor Kennedy Reserve Grand Champion: Amanda Calkins Best Opposite Sex Fancy Exhibition: Marissa Johnson Best Opposite Sex Commercial Exhibition: Kayla Peacock HORTICULTURE SHOW ADULT GARDENERS Best in Show: Kristie Brewington Best in Show Hanging: Ludo VanDenBogaert Bromeliad: Jan Griffin Cactus: Melissa Dias Dish Garden: Christy Linke Orchid: Sue Dennis Succulent: Jan Griffin Awards of Merit: Jan Griffin, Mary Collins INTERMEDIATE GARDENERS Best in Show: Sawyer Bridges Dish Garden: Sawyer Bridges Cactus: Sawyer Bridges Succulent: Kate Baer Awards of Merit: Sawyer Bridges, Colby Brewington, Madison James JUNIOR GARDENERS Best in Show: Jacob Bueno Best in Show Hanging Basket: Nicholas Ennis Bromeliad: Gabriel Rodriguez Dish Garden: Dylan Brewington Cactus: Dylan Brewington Succulent: Annie Hull Award of Merit: Melanie Moctezung, Diana Santos, Peyton Hall YOUTH PLANT SHOW Grand Champion: Colton Taylor Reserve Grand Champion: Madelein Rossbrough Woody Ornamentals: Samuel Shiver Foliage: Owen Baylor Hanging Baskets: Madison Brewer Liners: Alex Griffin Miscellaneous: Avery Palmer Size No. 1: Dallas Edward Size No. 3: Erin Scott Size No. 7: Jacob Farnsworth Awards of Distinction: Alexis Swantek, Nicholas Retter, Kyndall Bass BABY CONTEST DECORATED DIAPER Florida Strawberry Festival Theme: Emerson Elizabeth Lorraine Gaede Farm Animal: Millie Wren Marie Elliott

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

10 to 13 Months: Sadie Ann Lane 14 to 18 Months: Paisley Marie Nichols

Wearing Apparel Sewn Grand Champions: Rachel Maddux, Sue Scott, Vonceal Kuble, Wanda Cox

MOST HANDSOME BOY 6 to 9 Months: Lucas Sage Lamela 10 to 13 Months: Waylon Thomas Rainey 16 to 18 Months: Elias Miguel Martinez

Non-Sewn Wearing Apparel Grand Champions: Mary Spence, Judy Hoover

DIAPER DERBY 6 to 8 Months: Roman Lee Jonathan Minuto 9 to 12 Months: Waylon Thomas Rainey

Needlepoint, Needlework and Plastic Canvas Grand Champions: Sharon Andrew, Mary Browers, Shirley Hammock

EATING CONTESTS Amish Doughnut: Team PAUL Strawberry Spaghetti: Cortney Greeson Mashed Potato Pie: Jeff Perkins Strawberry Shortcake: Chris Pozeznic Super Mega Corn Dog: John Morrow ADULT STRAWBERRY STEMMING Winner: Diana Anderson YOUTH STRAWBERRY STEMMING Fifth and Sixth Grade: Alexys Schleeter Third and Fourth Grade: Jill Burklew First and Second Grade: Callaway Burklew Kindergarten: Chase Brinton FFA EXHIBIT WINNERS First: Mulrennan FFA Second: Tomlin FFA Third: Durant FFA Fourth: Turkey Creek FFA Awards of Distinction: Brandon FFA, Plant City FFA and Marshall FFA REGULAR EXHBIT WINNERS Arts/Crafts: The Glass Strawberry Commercial Exhibits : L’Paige Cosmetics Outside Concessions: Spivey’s (Armory Back) Educational Exhibits: School District of Hillsborough County Civic Clubs Category: St. Clement’s “Make Your Own Shortcake”

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Photo Scrapbooking Grand Champions: Judy Shively, Gina Recio, Cathie McKenzie

Knitting, Crocheting, Tatting and Bobbin Lace Grand Champions: Regenna Griffin, Joanne Moore, Dolly Rowe, Marlene Jordan Jewelry Grand Champion: Linda Stephens Toys and Dolls Grand Champions: Yvonne McGill, Mary Spence Paper Crafts Grand Champions: Evelyn Florinchi, Wendy Hansen, Jill Zakaroff, Stephanie Stuart Vinyl Division Grand Champions: Sarah Walker, Dawn Weber Woodworking Division Grand Champions: Deborah Pierson Food Preservation Grand Champions: Colleen Ross, Edna Asher, Carlie Thigpenn, Virginia Aldridge, Dovie Delapaz Baking Grand Champions: Deanna Martiniuk, Heather Howell, Carol O’Donnell, Steve Delph Cake Decorating Grand Champions: Deanna Martiniuk, Heather Howell, Kelly Burton, Megan Malin PHOTOGRAPHY Best in Show: Marian Kingry Animal Category: Frank Starmer Black and White Category: Chris Martin Human Category: Deborah Moore Miscellaneous Category: Deborah Moore Places Category: Leonard Martin

FEATURES Biggest Eyes: Lily Grace Angelina Perry Chubbiest Cheeks: Everly Parker Shroyer Most Hair: Ower Enoc Gonzalez Baldest Head: Emerson Elizabeth Lorraine Gaede

Agriculture Exhibits: Parkesdale Farms

Plants Category: Abraham Schoenig

NEIGHBORHOOD VILLAGE Quilting Division Grand Champions: Marianne Stanton, Ruth Mahoney, Claudia Ingram, Ellen Lanouette, Lindsey Givens

Theme Category: Jennifer Hoffman

PRETTIEST GIRL 6 to 9 Months: Korie Emersyn Garvey

Home Decoration Division Grand Champions: Jerri Heer, Denise Shannon, Kelly Freeman

Youth Category Age 14 to 18: Juliette Young

Youth Category Age 8 to 13: Brock Snyder

MARCH 12, 2020

SPORTS Quick Hits AREA PARKS HOSTING EVENTS

This weekend, GSA Baseball will host its Spring Break Classic tournament, which will use fields at Ellis-Methvin Park, the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex and Snowden Park, from Saturday through Sunday. Games start between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The National Club Baseball Association and National Club Softball Association’s Spring Training Showcase tournaments are ongoing at Mike Sansone Park and the MLK ball field. More than 70 college club teams from around the country will come through town. Visit ncbaspringtraining. weebly.com/ for baseball schedules, team information and more, and visit ncsaspringtraining.weebly.com/ for softball schedules, team information and more.

Next weekend, Florida Premier League will host a youth soccer showcase at Ellis-Methvin Park on March 21 and 22 with start times between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

This tournament is for boys teams in U15 through U19 age groups. The league play will come back to the park on March 28 and 29 for girls teams.

USSSA Baseball will host the War on I-4 tournament at the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex, Mike Sansone Park, Ellis-Methvin Park, Snowden Park and the MLK complex field on March 21 and 22, with games starting between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. both days.

DURANT SOFTBALL RETIRES BELL’S JERSEY NUMBER Durant’s softball team celebrated more than just a 3-0 win over Bloomingdale on March 5.

The Cougars retired former captain Shannon Bell’s jersey number that evening. Bell, who wore no. 2 for Durant, played in the outfield on the school’s varsity team for four years and graduated as one of the best players in program history.

Bell finished with a career batting average of .327 with 112 hits, 77 RBI, 83 runs scored, 28 doubles, six triples, 14 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 108 games played. She also recorded a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in her senior season.

Bell was a member of four of the best teams Durant has ever fielded and helped the team win the 8A state championship in 2012. Those teams also reached the regional semifinals twice (2011 and 2013) and the regional championship game once (2014). After high school, where she also played volleyball, Bell played softball for Hillsborough Community College and Florida Southern College.

LOCAL WRESTLERS AT STATES Durant’s Hendon Haley and Strawberry Crest’s Jarrett Affronti both competed in the FHSAA 3A state wrestling championships in Kissimmee over the weekend.

Affronti competed in the 132-pound bracket and won his first match against Lake Mary’s Alex Vazquez, but Olympic Heights’ Cole Bosch sent him to the third-place bracket in the next match. Affronti went on to face Trenton Johnson of Manatee High School and lost by fall, ending his run.

Haley wrestled at 138 pounds and lost by decision to Cypress Bay’s Edward Punzalan, but then beat Olympic Heights’ Pedro Azevedo by decision in the thirdplace bracket. Unfortunately for Haley, he lost by decision to Wellington’s Jesse Weinberg in the next match.

Jackson Knotts is the second-ranked javelin thrower in Class 4A. See Page 13

AREA BASEBALL TEAMS READY FOR

SALADINO TOURNAMENT

The legendary high school baseball tournament starts Saturday and continues through Wednesday, March 18.

Courtesy of Heather Hanks

Plant City High School won last year’s Saladino Tournament.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Plant City-area teams had a strong showing in the 2019 Saladino Tournament, and now they’re hoping to do it again in the upcoming 40th annual tourney.

Much like the eventual 8A state championship game, the 2019 Saladino finale was an all-area matchup featuring Plant City High School. The Raiders’ Saladino opponent was Durant, however, as eventual state runner-up Strawberry Crest made it to the tourney quarterfinal but then got eliminated by the Cougars in a 4-3 thriller. Plant City beat Durant, 4-1, but the one-hit, 10-strikeout gem of a complete game by pitcher Jarod Wingo was later forfeit by order of the FHSAA as the Raiders were found to have gone over the mandatory pitch count for 16-yearolds in that game. The Raiders were, however, able to keep their Saladino championship standing as the tournament chose to continue recognizing the win.

The Raiders have a very real chance at winning the whole thing once again in 2020. Plant City is still going strong this season with a 7-1 record, bouncing back from a 6-3 loss at Bloomingdale by picking up four consecutive wins over tough opponents: Crest (3-2 in eight innings Feb. 25), Armwood (3-0 on Feb. 27), Leto (3-1 on March 3) and Durant (8-0 on Tuesday. Wingo, who made the official 2019 All-Tournament Team, currently has an 0.68 ERA and 39 strikeouts (against just one walk) through 20.2 innings pitched. Also returning to the tournament is Pop Cuesta award-winner Mario Williams, who finished the 2019 tourney with a perfect fielding percentage and has improved noticeably in the

batter’s box (.316 avg., .480 OBP, five RBI, three doubles, one home run, seven runs scored). Only time will tell if Plant City can get back to the championship round, but the talent and performance level is there.

Durant may not have started the season well, posting back-to-back losses to Plant and Sickles, but the Cougars have since found their groove and have been playing mostly great baseball lately. The team ripped off four consecutive wins after the Feb. 20 loss at Sickles, outscoring opponents 23-3 including shutouts of fellow Gold Division members Newsome (6-0 Feb. 27) and Bloomingdale (3-0 March 5). Junior Austin Sewell is having an excellent season with a .471 batting average, five runs scored, four RBI, two doubles and two triples . What will really help Durant make a run is its pitching staff, which collectively has a 1.52 ERA and is led by one of the county’s better one-two punches in junior starters Alex Canney (0.76 ERA, 21 K, 18.1 IP) and Sean Hermann (1.09 ERA, 19 K, nine hits, one walk, 19.1 IP). A 7-0 loss to Plant City in March 2019 didn’t affect the Cougars in the tournament at all, so no one should be surprised if they can claw their way back to the end of the tourney once again.

Crest has also been rock solid in 2020 and has followed up its last loss (the Feb. 25 Plant City game) with five consecutive wins. The Chargers blew out Riverview (8-3 Feb. 27) and Freedom (12-2 Feb. 28), picked up a 2-0 win over Armwood at home on March 3, won their March 7 Saturday morning showdown with Sickles, 5-4, with a late rally that saw Crest seal the deal with a three-run seventh inning and most recently put up 11 runs in Tuesday’s shutout win over Tampa Bay Tech. This Chargers team is well-rounded for the most part, but its baserunning

FOCUS ON FITNESS: BALANCE AND BREATHING I recently had the pleasure of chatting with a unique group of women who attend SilverSneakers® Yoga (chair yoga) three times per week at the YMCA. They tell me the classes have helped most with their balance and breathing. If you get them talking, though, they will tell you they have gained so much more from the classes than they ever expected.

has been excellent in 2020. Crest has swiped 36 bases this season (almost twice as many as area runner-up Plant City), with speedsters Colby Fanning (10 stolen bases) and Alex Mussenden (eight stolen bases) leading the way, though eight Chargers have gotten on that part of the stat sheet thus far. Fanning and Mussenden are reaching base in more than 43 percent of their plate appearances, and sophomore Anthony Grasso (seven stolen bases, .333 batting average, team-high seven RBI) has also stepped up on this junior-heavy team. If the Chargers can keep getting on base at this rate in the Saladino tourney, they can do some serious damage in the bracket.

Durant, Plant City and Crest are all together in the Gold Division, the tournament’s top level of competition. If Saturday’s games go well, Plant City and Crest could face each other as early as the March 16 quarterfinal round. Durant, which is now in the same section of the bracket as Plant City and Crest, could play an area team in the March 17 semifinal round.

Brandon, Jefferson, King and Lennard are all still hosting the tournament games. Crest and Plant City will both play at King on Saturday: Crest starts with a 4 p.m. game against Newsome and Plant City follows with a 7 p.m. game against Gaither. Durant and Steinbrenner will play at King at 7 p.m. that evening. Game times are subject to change and the tournament will post updates should that be the case.

Visit tonysaladinobaseballtournament. com for more information about the tournament and for GameChanger game links. Real-time updates and coverage throughout the tourney will be provided by 813Preps.com, the tournament’s official media partner.

Senior citizens can benefit greatly from adding yoga and breathing exercises to their repertoire.

Despite all the advances in technology and the ability to communicate via FaceTime and through social media, almost half of adults reportedly feel lonely all or most of the time. For seniors, loneliness affects their mental and emotional health, and can even be detrimental to their physical health.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

SPONSORED BY SPORT CLIPS

Jackson BALANCE AND BREATHING Knotts FROM PAGE 12 The group I talked with meets for exercise, but also enjoys each other’s company. They have become good friends and a support group for each other. The overall health benefits they have gained far exceed the physical ones. That is what makes this group so special. Ranging from 74 to 86 years young, these new friends all come from different places, have varied opinions, religions, backgrounds and lifestyles. One of the things they do have in common is that they were all professional women who missed the camaraderie they had at work.

They have found that camaraderie at the YMCA, where they also found their mutual love for yoga.

They enjoy seeing each other at the Y so much, they arrive early just to sit and talk first. Adrila Parghi was the first to suggest they get together outside of the Y and go to lunch. The group has grown to as many as seven who dine together and they never visit the same place twice.

Each of them came to the YMCA for different reasons. Mary Ferguson joined in 2001 and started swimming after recovering from an injury. Parghi started coming in 2003. She began taking SilverSneakers® classes and enjoyed volunteering for the YMCA, raising funds for its Annual Campaign.

Christine Lemmert became a Y member at her daughter’s suggestion when she moved here from Key West.

“It (the YMCA) has changed my life,” Lemmert said. “I have more friends here now than I have in my hometown.”

Joyce Cecchi is a graduate of the YMCA LiveStrong Program, which is a free 12-week program for cancer survivors and their families.

“I had a pacemaker put in a month ago, and was in the ICU for seven days,” Cecchi said. “These ladies kept me alive and the yoga kept me breathing. I come out feeling better.”

Lee Mayer retired in 2010 and, shortly after, started falling at home. After a couple of falls, a neighbor, much older than she, told her she needed to do yoga.

“If she (her neighbor) could do it,” Mayer said, “so can I!” They met in SilverSneakers® Chair Yoga and they all testify that regular attendance in the class has done wonders for their physical health. Ferguson attests the breathing exercises help with anxiety and stress, and Mayer confirms it helps her sleep better.

“We have a bond,” Mayer said. “We want to be healthy. We want to be happy and we want to be with our family as long as we can.”

SilverSneakers® and other Active Older Adult classes at the YMCA are geared specifically for older members who are young at heart. The programs, classes and events touch on spirit, mind and body. Many insurance companies cover these classes and activities as an insurance benefit for group retirees and Medicare plan holders. Inquire at your nearest Y to see if you or someone you know qualifies for SilverSneakers®.

Angela Fulgieri is a Program Director for the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA. Write her at observerfitness@ gmail.com.

OMG IT’S WEDNESDAY! PLANT CITY FARM AND FLEA MARKET Highway 39 North at Sam Allen Road—1 mi. N. of I-4 Exit 21

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at JKline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.

Plant City High School’s Jackson Knotts is probably better-known for his long snapping prowess on the football field, for which Rubio Long Snapping ranked him eighth among juniors in its nationwide network. But he’s also making a name for himself in a sport that’s totally new to him this year. Though he only recently picked up a javelin, Knotts seems to have figured it out quickly and is now ranked No. 2 overall among FHSAA Class 4A throwers.

Katherine Ruppert picked it up really quickly last year and now you’re also a top-three thrower in the state.

What is it about the PCHS program that’s working so well in this event, even though it’s still very new to the state?

Well there’s no doubt that there’s a lot of athleticism in Plant City, but Coach (Brian) Brubaker’s also a very good coach. He’s really well-respected on the west coast of Florida. He did it in college. At one point he was top 100 in the world for javelin, so he knows what he’s doing and he gives good instruction.

What made you want to try javelin?

I’m not the fastest in the world. I wanted to pole vault but I wasn’t very good at it. I’ve always been able to throw, I’ve played sports all my life, so I was like, “Well, let’s try javelin.” (Brubaker) taught me some technique and I invested myself in it… I just kept working at it and the results showed.

Definitely a little different from long snapping.

Oh yeah, but it’s still the same principle, you know? The discipline, the precision,

really it’s just focusing on technique more than strength. Both sports are like that.

Long snapping doesn’t get a whole lot of attention compared to most other positions. What made you want to do it?

Long snapping is year-round. It’s a lot of work, a lot of technique. It’s different every single time and that’s why I like it. There’s no attention unless you have a bad snap, because then everyone knows who you are because you messed up the game, so the goal is not to be known. I like knowing I went to a game, I did really good and we won the game or possibly benefitted from me snapping. You have to work in the wind, keep track of who’s around you and what area of the field you’re on, how fast you have to go. There’s different components of what you have to do every single time. I mean, my routine is the same every time but there’s little things. Maybe this foot doesn’t slide back as far. That comes with reps and doing it a lot.

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

FOCUS ON FITNESS:

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

289704-1

We asked: What would you like to see come to the Florida Strawberry Festival next year?

“Authors who come in to read books to children, or somebody from the community can “Bigger Amish doughnuts.” bring their favorite children’s — Meghan Weber book.” — Penny Cheshier

“More bands, another show between 3:30 and 7:30 shows.”

— Jarod Barrett

“More vegan options. Vegan strawberry shortcake if they don’t have it already.”

— Fabiola Lara

“More cops and less traffic, especially at Branch Forbes and 92. It’s a nightmare. They need to have a police officer there to direct traffic.”

— A.T. Wadi

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

REAL ESTATE

PlantCityObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2020 REAL ESTATE The Plant City-area real estate market saw slight growth from February 2019.

Last month, 71 singlefamily homes sold with an average sale price of $215,333 and a median of $194,900. Compared to last February, that represents a 1.4 percent increase in sales (vs. 70 homes sold in 2019) and

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

a 4.4 percent increase in average sale price (vs. $206,227 in 2019), but also a 1.3 percent decline in median (vs. $197,495 in 2019).

Homes in February 2020 did, however, sell for an average price of $124 per square foot (versus $115 per square foot in February 2019). The highest home sale price

15

for February 2020 was $489,000 for the home at 801 S. Wiggins Road.

Seven parcels of vacant land were sold both last month and in February 2019.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

Local February 2020 sales and trend information courtesy of The Crawford Group. Permit information was obtained from the City of Plant City.

These are the largest building permits issued in Plant City for the month of February 2020, in order of dollar amounts.

287682-1

Address

Permit

Amount

1301 S. Frontage Road

Occupancy

$13,605,000

1908 Industrial Park Drive

Commercial alteration

$2,600,000

4003 Amberjack Blvd.

Roof

$1,160,486

2851 Thonotosassa Road

Recreation

$524,000

3304 Sydney Road

Demo

$350,000

1908 Industrial Park Drive

Electric/alteration

$338,199

3602 Fancy Farms Road

Commercial alteration

$312,000

3602 Fancy Farms Road

Electric

$267,900

809 S. Woodrow Wilson St.

Electric/alteration

$249,500

1621 S. County Line Road

Occupancy

$245,000

2706 Turkey Creek Road

Roof

$242,113

4181 Rice Road

Electric/alteration

$209,410

2501 Paul Buchman Highway

Electric

$200,905

3003 Daniels Road

Alteration

$186,564

301 N. Alexander St.

Commercial alteration

$174,000

1406 E. Renfro St.

Occupancy

$160,000

3775 Fancy Farms Road

Plumbing

$156,610

602 Arbequina Court

Single family detached

$156,300

2262 Pixie Way

Plumbing

$142,200

1213 Wild Daisy Drive

Occupancy

$140,000

1313 E. Young St.

Occupancy

$140,000

1702 Teakwood Drive

Occupancy

$135,980

1704 Teakwood Drive

Occupancy

$135,980

1616 Teakwood Drive

Occupancy

$133,915

2299 E. U.S. Highway 92

Roof

$114,761

1710 N. Park Road

Mechanical/HVAC

$112,000

3002 Sydney Road

Industrial building

$100,000

1004 E. Ohio St.

Single family detached

$95,000

CRAWFORD & ASSOCIATES CRAWFORD & ASSOCIATES

Outstanding Agents.

Outstan Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results.

Outstanding Agents.

Outstanding Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results. R CRAWFORD & ASSOCIATES

CRAWFORD & ASSOCIATES

(813)967-0168 or (813)305-1616

2803-4 James L. Redman Parkway, Plant City Florida 33566 (813)967-0168 or (813)305-161 (813)967-0168 or (813)305-1616 (813)967-0168 or (813)305-1616 (813) 967-0168 (813) 549-9412 Office: (813) 305-1616 | Fax: (813) 754-8099 Email: Malissa.Crawford@Gmail.com

James L.Plant Redman Parkway, Plant 33566 City Flor 2803-4James James2803-4 L. Redman Parkway, City Florida 33566 2803-4 L. Redman Parkway, Plant City Florida Office: (813) 305-1616 |Office: Fax: (813)(813) 754-8099 Email: Malissa.Crawford@Gmail.com RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE 305-1616 | Fax: (813) 754-8099 Email: Malissa.Crawford@

288047-1

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Office: (813) 305-1616 | Fax: (813) 754-8099 Email: Malissa.Crawford@Gmail.com

OBITUARIES

16

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 12 , 2020

Luz D. Romo

Gary Hatcher

Luz D. Romo, 73, of Plant City, born May 16, 1946 in Mexico, entered into eternal rest on March 3, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Gary Hatcher, 60, of Tampa, born June 11, 1959 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on March 2, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Betty J. Wise

Betty J. Wise, nee Long, 75, of Plant City, formerly of Seattle, Washington and Washington, D.C., born on March 7, 1944 in Plant City, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 29, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Annie Faye Golden Annie Faye Golden, 92, of Plant City, born Dec. 13, 1927 in Glenwood, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on March 4, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Lloyd Somerlott

Franklin Alfred Smith Sr. Franklin Alfred Smith Sr., 73, of Brandon, born on Aug. 8, 1946 in Tampa, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 29, 2020.

Expressions of Condolences at HopewellFuneral.com.

John ‘Jack’ J. Henn

John “Jack” J. Henn, 84, of Plant City, formerly of Selden, New York, born on Feb. 23, 1936 in Queens, New York, entered into eternal rest on March 6, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Ronald “Ronnie” Lloyd Somerlott, 56, of Plant City, born on Dec. 27, Dwayne 1963 in Columbus, Ohio, entered Ellis Bowman into eternal rest on March 4, 2020.

Dwayne Ellis Bowman, 52, of Expressions of condolence at Plant City, formerly of Columbus, HopewellFuneral.com.

Georgia, born on Sept. 18, 1967 in Jacksonville, entered into eternal rest on March 6, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Alberto ‘Rayo’ Leon Mundo Alberto “Rayo” Leon Mundo, 87, of Plant City, born on April 8, 1933 in San Miguel Tecomatlan, Guerrero, Mexico, entered into eternal rest on March 7, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Tom S. Creel Jr

Tom S. Creel Jr, 71, of Plant City, Florida, born in Tampa, on September 22, 1948, entered into eternal rest on March 07, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Michelle Sara Crockett Michelle Sara Crockett, 62, of Plant City, passed away on March 2, 2020.

Services will be held privately.

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

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Jason M. Honneffer Jason M. Honneffer, 36, of Mulberry, born Jan. 16, 1984 in Plant City, entered into eternal rest on March 6, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Robert Joseph Banken

Robert Joseph Banken, 81, of Plant City, passed away on March 9, 2020.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church, 1104 North Alexander Street, Plant City, FL 33563.

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

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

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

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

John ‘Johnny’ Matthew Baskin

and opened Baskin & Associates, a bookkeeping, accounting and tax practice. After sixteen years working as an accountant, John “Johnny” Matthew Baskin, Juanita Cecelia James, 84, of he moved on to teach account80, died peacefully on Feb. 11, Americus, Georgia, died Wednes2020, after a six-month battle with ing. day, March 4, 2020 at Phoebe John spent over 25 years ALS. Sumter Medical Center. teaching accounting with most He is survived by his longtime A native of Atlanta, she was born of those years at Tampa Colcompanion, Renee Carey; his Nov. 7, 1935, the daughter of the brother, Neal Baskin; his daughter, lege. As a devoted and empathic late Herbert and Clara Sessions.

Mrs. James was of the Episcopa- P.D. Menzel; his son, Mark Baskin; teacher, he encouraged his students to persevere and commit lian faith and was a member of the and three granddaughters.

An avid golfer and licensed pilot, to earning their degrees.

Order of the Eastern Star. She was Please join us to celebrate John was born in Birmingham, an avid reader and loved books John’s life on Sunday, April 5 AL. He spent most of his years and movies. Mrs. James grew up from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at in Plant City and the Tampa Bay in York Maine and graduated from area. After graduating from Plant the Westin Tampa Waterside HoYork High School.

She married Walter Edward Rob- City High School, he attended the tel located at 725 S. Harbour Island Blvd. in Tampa. The celebraUniversity of Tennessee where he erson and had four children and later married Lowell Darwin James earned a B.S. in Business Adminis- tion will be held in the Waterside tration. With a continuing passion room on the second floor. and had her fifth child.

For more information please Services will be private and held for education, he earned two more degrees later in his life: a Master of email careyrm@aol.com or call at a later date.

727-244-5775.

Education, and an M.B.A. The family suggests memorial Independent and hard working, contributions be made to American Macular Degeneration Founda- John served three years in the U.S. Army and seven years in the U.S. tion, PO Box 515, Northampton, Army Reserve Special Forces as a MA, 01061-0515.

Green Beret. He began his civilian Mrs. James is survived by four career as a train master in Illinois. daughters, Kathryn Rooks of He then moved back to Plant City Americus, Jennifer Harden of Panama City, FL., Sarah Larsen of Panama City, FL., and Janice Gould of Rochester, NH.; a son, Mark E. Roberson of Americus; a brotherin-law, Robert E. Culton of Plant City, FL., nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND She was preceded in death EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL by a sister, Sally S. Culton and a brother, Donald Sessions.

HOMES You may sign the online guest book and share your own personal thoughts and memories by visiting www.greghancockfuneralchapel. com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE Did you take the Observer with you on vacation?

Send your pictures to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

ISRAEL AND THE WEST BANK: Members of First United Methodist Church of Plant City joined First United Methodist Church of Vero Beach, Georgianna United Methodist Church and Ponte Vedra United Methodist Church on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Some of the sites they visited included Caesarea, Nazareth, Galilee, the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem.

17

OBITUARIES

Juanita Cecelia James

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YOUR CALENDAR

18

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

BEST BET SATURDAY, MARCH 14 DEAN’S RIDE

7:30 to 1:30 p.m. The 2020 Dean’s Ride is produced by the Plant City YMCA and supports the Y’s LiveStrong program for their members and the local community. The annual event consists of four cycling distances. Riders will be able to enjoy the scenic Plant City countryside and smell the sweet scent of the strawberry fields. The start/ finish of this event will be at the Hillsborough Community College Trinkle Center at 1206 Park Rd. in Plant City.

Register and find more information at registerdeansride.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

MONDAY, MARCH 16

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

4TH ANNUAL BIKE WITH THE MAYOR

PLANT CITY DAYBREAK ROTARY CLUB

7:30 to 9 a.m. Plant City Toastmasters meets every Thursday morning at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St.

MAHJONG CLASS

2 to 4 p.m. Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., hosts a Mahjong Class on Thursdays. Whether you’re a first-time player or a seasoned expert, join them every week to play American Mahjong.

BIRTH EXPERIENCE CLASS

6 to 8 p.m. South Florida Baptist Hospital is offering a Birth Experience Class. This class covers various aspects of labor and delivery, such as labor signs, breathing techniques, pain control options and hospital policies. Participants may bring one guest to classes. Please bring a notepad to take notes. Snacks will be provided.

The class is held in ICU Conference Room, 2-South. Registration is free, but required.

Call 1-855-269-4777.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13 DUPLICATE BRIDGE

1 p.m. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 302 Carey St., is now hosting a weekly Duplicate Bridge game, the most widely used variation of contract bridge in club and tournament play. Contact Walt Arnold at 813-752-1602 for more information.

AMVETS POST 44 FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS

6 p.m. The AmVets Post 44, 5521 FL-60, Plant City, FL 33567, is hosting a weekly dinner on Friday nights. The second Friday of every month is a menu of baked chicken and sides for $8. For more information visit amvetspost44.org.

SEVENTY 7

6:30 p.m. Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., will host Seventy7 in an evening of worship. A love offering will be collected.

7:30 a.m. Come to John R. Trinkle Cetner at HCC, 1206 N. Park Road. The annual event is 3.5 miles. Bring your own bike and helmet and ride with Mayor Rick Lott through Plant City. Meet up at 6:30 a.m. and the event starts at 7:30 a.m.

YOGA ON THE FARM

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Come on out to Roos and Coos Farm, 2125 Lanier Road, for a special charity event to benefit The Kangaroo Sanctuary in Australia. The Koa Yoga Studio is partnering with Roos and Coos Farm to raise money for the Kangaroos who have been displaced by the Australian wildfires. All donations will go to The Kangaroo Sanctuary in Australia. Check out their cause kangaroosanctuary.com. Koa will lead a 60-minute all-levels flow on the farm with kangaroos on site. Feel free to enjoy a tour of the farm after practice. Any and all donations are appreciated. No need to register, just show up with your mat.

PLANT CITY SOCIAL DANCE

6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Plant City Social Dance will have dance at Strawberry Square Dance Center. This dance will be social dancing with a 3,000 square-foot floating wood floor to dance on. Social dancing includes slow dances, waltzes, line dances, cha-cha and rumbas, two-step and country slow, swing, free style and some Latin dances. Cost is $6. Visit strawberrysquaredancing.com for more information.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

8:30 p.m. Join Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., for its Krazy fun open mic night. The event is open to everyone — they want to hear what you’ve got. Signups for Open Mic happen the night of (around 8 p.m.), so just come on by and rock the mic.

7 to 8 a.m. The Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club holds a meeting every Monday morning. Now the group will be meeting in the Community Meeting Room of the Plant City Family YMCA, 1507 YMCA Place.

Guests are welcome.

CRAFTERNOON: SPRING BREAK

4 p.m. Elementary students and their families are invited to Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., to create a fun spring break themed craft to bring home with them. For elementary students and their families.

PAWS FOR READING WITH TANNER THE THERAPY DOG

6 p.m. Come on out to Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., to read with Tanner the Therapy Dog. Tanner enjoys listening to students read to him on the couch in the children’s area. Reading with Tanner can help children improve reading, communication skills, and build confidence. Tanner is an Australian Shepherd Reading Therapy Dog certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. For children of all ages.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17 SHUFFLEBOARD CLUB

9 a.m. Come on out to the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St., each Tuesday to play Shuffleboard. You’ll be an expert in no time. The club is hosted by Anita Balch and she can be contacted at 808-722-5821 for more information.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18

TOD

4 p.m. Bonnie the Therapy Dog will be at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Bonnie loves to snuggle up with anyone who wants to share a book and rub her back. You can find her on the couch in the children’s area. Reading with Bonnie can help children improve reading, communication skills, and build confidence. Bonnie is a Shih Tzu Reading Therapy Dog certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. For children of all ages.

THURSDAY, MARCH 19 PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

7:30 to 9 a.m. Plant City Toastmasters meets every Thursday morning at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St.

MAHJONG CLASS

2 to 4 p.m. Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., hosts a Mahjong Class on Thursdays. Whether you’re a first-time player or a seasoned expert, join them every week to play American Mahjong.

BREASTFEEDING AND NEWBORN CARE CLASS

6 to 8 p.m. South Florida Baptist Hospital is offering a Breastfeeding and Newborn Care Class. This class covers several aspects of newborn care, such as breastfeeding, bathing, diapering and safety risks. Participants may bring one guest to classes. Please bring a notepad to take notes. Snacks will be provided. The class is held in ICU Conference Room, 2-South.

Registration is free, but required. Call 1-855-269-4777.

BREAKFAST AND BUILD

10 a.m. Brick City Bricks, 107 E. Reynolds St., is hosting a special Spring Break Breakfast and Build. For $10, all who attend will receive the build, doughnuts and drinks. Message Brick City on Facebook to register your spot.

WHEN SCHOOL’S OUT

UP N G I S AY!

PAWS FOR READING WITH BONNIE THE THERAPY DOG

FUN IS IN!

Bring your kids to the Plant City YMCA on most school holidays* for an exciting, enriching experience while you’re at work or out and about!

PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA 1507 YMCA Pl., Plant City | 813 757 6677 | tampaymca.org

SPRING BREAK

IS AROUND THE CORNER!

*See website for available dates.

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg March 12, 2020 PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

FORECAST THURSDAY, MARCH 12 High: 86 Low: 60 Chance of rain: 10%

FRIDAY, MARCH 13 High: 88 Low: 62 Chance of rain: 10%

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

19

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Mar. 12

7:41a

7:36p

Friday, Mar. 13

7:40a

7:36p

Saturday, Mar. 14

7:39a

7:37p

Sunday, Mar. 15

7:37a

7:37p

Monday, Mar. 16

7:36a

7:38p

Tuesday, Mar. 17

7:35a

7:38p

Wednesday, Mar. 18

7:34a

7:39p

WEATHER

39 H, to Helen ACROSS 50 Powder type 10 Kind of farm 41 Like a slow 1 Word before in healthy for children pace “plane” or smoothies 11 Lamb 42 Preppy shirt “projection” 54 Fair-haired Chop’s 47 Dirty mess 7 Apple variety person Lewis 49 “That Don’t 11 to get 58 Currency Mountain SendWhere your photo submissions to Associate Editor12 Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com Impress a facial in Iran lions or hashtag Instagramorfor @igersplantcity to feature.

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57 Hon Russia 67 Boys’ school 33 Fabric 60 Wavy math 23 Stinky where measures: function animal “Chariots Abbr.

63 Hair salon 26 Abhor of Fire” 35 Not bumpy arrangement 28 Coloradowas filmed 37 ___ change 64 Intersected to-New 68 One who (garage job) 65 Fuss Mexico marks your 38 Coloradodirection words? to-Manitoba 30 P, to 69 Trinidad ___ dir.

Penelope Tobago 31 Youngest 70 Tony winner PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER March girl Daly 34 Warm and ThisGroups raccoon in Kimberly71 Hatley’s back yard was so thirsty, he didn’t even mind drinking water three cozy fromof a bird bath.

36 Without a DOWN us on social media: @PCObserver on Instgram, ON L I N E Follow partner 1 Make sense @PlantObserver on Twitter and Plant City Observer 40 Make one’s 2 Look after on3Facebook. objection Drug test? official 4 Rags’ 43 Last-place counterpart finisher, e.g.

5 Champs44 It has no Elysees, rs yea arms or e.g.: Abbr. s 32 s e back 6 Was in n Busin 45 “Spectre” charge ofI star 7 Shoots the Seydoux breeze 46 Puppy’s bite 8 Steer 3/11 © 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal 48 Songs clear of www.upuzzles.com for one 9 More relaxed

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, MARCH 14 High: 90 Low: 64 Chance of rain:10%

SUNDAY, MARCH 15 High: 91 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 10%

STRAWBERRY Shipping point: Central Florida $12.90-$14.90

Mar. 23 New

Mar. 28 First

Apr. 7 Full

Mar. 19 Last

RAINFALL Monday, March 2

0.00

Tuesday, March 3 0.00 Wednesday, March 4

0.00

Thursday, March 5 0.01 Friday, March 6

0.00

Saturday, March 7 0.00 Sunday, March 8

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 02.47 in.

2020 0.01 in.

2019 03.22 in.

2019 0.42 in.

GOLD & SILVER

Diamonds & Precious Gems,

3/12

285826 287516-1

813.754.2360 | 1705 Jim Redman Pkwy. Plant City, 33563

High Time by Annemarie Brethauer

ACROSS 1 Word before “plane” or “projection” 7 Apple variety 11 Where to get a facial 14 Reach by reasoning 15 Big name in beauty 16 Busy place’s buzz 17 Melted the frost from 18 Place to train recruits 20 The Beehive State 21 “No returns” warning 22 Region in Russia 23 Stinky animal 26 Abhor 28 Colorado-to-New Mexico direction 30 P, to Penelope

31 Youngest March girl 34 Groups of three 36 Without a partner 40 Make one’s objection official 43 Last-place finisher, e.g.

44 It has no arms or back 45 “Spectre” star Seydoux 46 Puppy’s bite 48 Songs for one 50 Powder type in healthy smoothies 54 Fair-haired person 58 Currency in Iran 59 Dorothy or Lillian of old films 61 Wheel shaft 62 Social activity on the

slopes ... or a hint to the starts of 18-, 23-, 40- and 54-Across 64 Capital of the Philippines 66 Poor grade 67 Boys’ school where “Chariots of Fire” was filmed 68 One who marks your words?

69 Trinidad ___ Tobago 70 Tony winner Daly 71 Warm and cozy DOWN 1 Make sense 2 Look after 3 Drug test?

4 Rags’ counterpart 5 Champs-Elysees, e.g.: Abbr.

6 Was in charge of 7 Shoots the breeze 8 Steer clear of 9 More relaxed 10 Kind of farm for children 11 Lamb Chop’s Lewis 12 Mountain lions 13 More than enough 19 Small dome 21 Web sites?

24 Exclusive group 25 Air of mystery 27 Ankle-deep, say 29 Owl sounds 31 Nothing but 32 (That was some good cud!)

33 Fabric measures: Abbr.

35 Not bumpy 37 ___ change (garage job) 38 Colorado-to-Manitoba dir.

39 H, to Helen 41 Like a slow pace 42 Preppy shirt 47 Dirty mess 49 “That Don’t Impress Me Much” singer Twain 50 Hermes rival 51 Become yellow, like a banana 52 Propelled a rowboat 53 D6 camera brand 55 Flight attendants point them out 56 Dole out 57 Hon 60 Wavy math function 63 Hair salon arrangement 64 Intersected 65 Fuss

20

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020

PlantCityObserver.com

If you need a heart procedure, making an appointment with BayCare is standard procedure.

From the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and heart rhythm disorders to emergency heart attack care, South Florida Baptist Hospital is your BayCare hospital in Plant City. We use advanced technology like state-ofthe-art imaging and noninvasive diagnostic tests. And we always provide the high level of personal care that BayCare is renowned for. If your primary care doctor suggests you see a cardiologist, we can refer you: (844) 344-1952 or KnowYourHeart.org.

In Tampa Bay, BayCare hospitals are selected most often for people needing cardiac care.

Based on an aggregated number of adults who needed to be admitted to hospitals due to cardiovascular problems as reported by the state of Florida that lived in the four-county area of Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk from April 1, 2018, through March 31, 2019.

20-1020260-0120