3.17.22 PLCO by Plant City Observer

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VOLUME 6, NO. 188

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

RECENT CITY COMMISSION ROUNDUP BRIEF SUMMARIZATION OF ACCOLADES GIVEN AND PROJECT UPDATES BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

The most recent City Commission meeting was held this past Monday. Here is a roundup of what was discussed. Proclamation for Jack Holland The newly appointed Assistant City Manager Jack Holland received a proclamation from the city commission for his service to the city.

This comes as Holland received the 2022 Citizen of the Year award. “For many years, I’ve been at that luncheon representing the Optimist Club and probably three to four times actually reading the names of recipients that were in the audience,” he said. “[I] never dreamed that my name might be on that list someday, so I’m very humbled and honored.” An excerpt of the proclamation reads: “In addition to his work with the city, Jack Holland has maintained his dedica-

tion to building a strong community through his involvement with local organizations including the Optimist Club of Plant City, the Plant City Area Soccer Club Lancers, the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, the Friends of Recreation and Parks Corporation, the Alliance for Lupus Research, the Plant City YMCA, and the Plant City High School Business Advisory Board.” Holland has served the City of Plant City since 1977 working as an athletic director, program

director, and as director of the Parks and Recreation Club. “It’s quite an honor when one of your own is selected as Citizen of the Year,” said Plant City

City Manager Bill McDaniel. “My heart-felt congratulations to Jack.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

2022 STRAWBERRY FEST A SUCCESS

THIS YEAR’S FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL HAD A LARGE TURNOUT

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

The 2022 Florida Strawberry Festival turned out to be a big success in many ways. The festival grounds was barely recognizable as it was filled with over 80 rides, games, and attractions. There was approximately 543,129 visitors, a substantial increase from last year’s attendance. “It’s a massive undertaking to get people in and out,” said Paul Davis, president of the Florida Strawberry Festival.

On the premises, there was the strong aroma of food offered at stands and food trucks. Establishments that sold buttermilk corn dogs saw no shortage in their lines, and of course those offering strawberry shortcake had customers waiting patiently. In fact, the fruit-filled pastry officially became the Florida state dessert, on Monday, March 7. Gov. Ron DeSantis chose the Strawberry Festival as the perfect location to sign it into law. The TECO Expo Hall as well as the Stadium Exhibit Hall had both new and returning vendors

with a vast array of products to purchase. This year’s festival was the best for vendors as many ran out of food and had to restock as quickly as possible. Whether it was the Amish donuts, strawberry shortcake, or mashed potatoes, there were a number of eating contests where contestants stuffed their mouths with food to ultimately win a trophy. And just like many visitors, many of the shop owners came to the festival not only from around the state, but from around the country and abroad.

With almost 40 music artists in the genres of country, rock, hip hop, R&B and Latin, patrons had many shows they could choose to attend. Whether at the Wish Farms Soundstage, the Publix Showcase Tent, or the Entenmann’s Strawberry Tent, there were live performances offered for each of the 11 festival days. And the concerts put on by Sam Hunt and Lauren Daigle were both sold out. The steer, swine and plant shows collected a record-breaking $1.3 million, which will be

distributed among the youth of 4-H and the Future Farmers of America program, Davis said. And the anticipation for the raffle drawing came to a close when Stacey Spivey was named the winner of a red 2022 Corvette convertible. Many are anxiously waiting to see what next year’s Florida Strawberry Festival has to offer.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

NEWS BRIEFS

Parks & Rec to host 33rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt The City-Wide Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by the Plant City Parks & Recreation Department, is set to be held on Saturday, April 6 at the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex, 2402 E. Cherry Street. The event is free for all to attend and the hunt is open to kids aged three to 11 years old, further broken down into four age groups each with their own “nest.” In addition to the egg hunt itself, other activities that include infla ables, air brushing, a trackless train and balloon art will also be available to kids with the purchase of a $5 bunny band, opening at the conclusion of the egg hunt and remaining open until 12 p.m. Hidden amongst the sea of Easter eggs will be two golden eggs in each nest

that finde s can turn in for a large Easter basket after the hunt. The Egg Hunt is for children only with no adults allowed in the nest, only youth participants and event staff that will ensu e every child receives some eggs. In partnership with the Parks & Rec Department, the Plant City Optimist Club will be in attendance providing a free hot dog and drink for all youths up to 12 years old.

Teens fleeing police in vehicle kill Plant City woman A vehicle of juveniles who led police on a high-speed chase resulted in the death of a woman in Plant City.

The pursuit came after authorities located a stolen Nissan vehicle at the intersection of 26th Street and Chelsea Avenue in Tampa on Saturday, March 12. It occurred around 10:45 p.m. and officers attempted a traffic top when the driver took off. The vehicle headed eastbound on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. towards Plant City. The driver turned southbound on Turkey Creek Road and slammed into a Honda sedan at Trapnell Road, sending the vehicle into a telephone pole. The three occupants in the Honda were taken to the hospital where a 44-year-old female passenger had succumbed to her injuries and died. The male suspects in the Nissan were a 12 year old, two 14 year olds, and a 15 year old. Two were taken to the hospital with injuries.

The other two victims in the Honda were a 24-year-old female who is in critical condition and a 30-year-old male in stable condition. Two of the teens were arrested just fi e days prior to incident for the exact same crime – stealing and burglarizing a vehicle. Both had been placed on home detention. A third teen had been arrested in January for similar charges. Two are currently on home detention from previous burglary. All have pending charges based on the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office investigation. None are in custody.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH MUSICAL LINEUP 2022 STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL ONCE AGAIN OFFERED FANS’ FAVORITE ARTISTS BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

The Florida Strawberry Festival wouldn’t have been complete without the musical performances that amplify the fairgrounds and add to the festive mood. It was a contrast from last year’s festival which was missing concerts that visitors anticipate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether performing on the soundstage or in the tents, this year’s artist lineup brought a variety of genres to the stages including rock, R&B, Latin, and country. Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra, The Beach Boys, Boyz II Men, Kirstie Kraus, and SickHot were some of almost 40 musical acts that performed at this year’s festival.

GENE WATSON One notable country artist that graced the Wish Farms Soundstage was Gene Watson, whose show was on Friday, March 11. Within his 60-year career, he has put out 34 albums, 72 records that were on the charts, and has had six No.1 hits. On stage, Watson was entertaining the crowd by making jokes with his band members in between songs. Edward and Helen McNabb were several out of many to visit Florida. In fact, they’re from Ontario, Canada and one of the main things that drew them to the festival was to see Watson perform, they said. They are fans not only of the country singer, but of the Strawberry Festival which they have been attending for about 20 years. Rob Murray said he was thrilled to see Watson live and to sing is favorite song “Fourteen Carat Mind.” Murray has attended the festival for 35 of his 36 years, and it never gets old, said the Plant City resident. “It shows how the city itself is growing and how people are noticing this little town between Tampa and Orlando,” he said. “It used to be off the ma …It’s growing and becoming more well known and kind of putting us out there.” He anticipates next year’s artists, which may be more of his favorite ones. “I look forward to the country concerts every year,” Murray said. “I’m waiting anxiously in November when they release the lineup.” Harold Stall and his wife too, are from Ontario and couldn’t wait to get away from the cold weather and listen to Watson sing. “It’s been a while since I’ve been here and what draws me down is the concerts,” he said. “We spend our time in Florida during the winter, so when we hear a good country concert…I like to see some of the displays.”

KAZUAL For patrons who enjoy listening to smooth R&B, then the Entenmann’s Strawberry Tent was a great spot to hear the group Kazual. The quartet is made up of Dmac, Ejae, Playboi, and Lil Gabe. They’ve performed over 150 shows in the past year and had a spot on the NBC show “America’s Got Talent.” They took the audience back in time to the 1980s by playing hits like “Celebration” by the group Kool and the Gang. Then they sang hits from the early 1990s and early 2000s such as “Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe, and “Let Me Love You” by Mario. The reception was positive during their 11-day performances, they said.

“It’s been wonderful,” Playboi said. “They show us a lot of love and support…We’re like family here, so we want to keep this going annually.” The group initially met the Florida Strawberry Festival President Paul Davis in Las Vegas and he asked them to perform at the festival. The diversity and the different demographics among their audience is what they love most about attending the annual event. And their roots played a signifi ant role in them forming the group. “We have a church background,” Dmac said. “We grew up up around music, so music was our life. When we were young, we started the group. We just love doing music and music is inside of us.” THE BELLAMY BROTHERS Plant City’s own Chaplain Daniel Middlebrooks was all smiles when he exited the GT Grandstands, having seen the Bellamy Brothers perform live at the festival. They sang their hits at the Wish Farms Soundstage on the last day of the festival, Sunday, March 13. “We have music that’s just fun and it’s fun not just because of the lyrics, it’s fun because it gets everybody singing,” Middlebrooks said. Howard and David Bellamy have been performing for over 40 years.

They started off emb acing pop music and in the 1980s began to venture into the world of country music. They gained prominence with their hit song “Spiders and Snakes” which helped them sell over 3 million copies. Middlebrooks said his favorite song that he finally h ard them perform was “Redneck Girl.” “When they sing and draw you in, and they encourage you, and they walk with you, and they’re still doing music as seasoned as they are,” he said, “why wouldn’t people come out and be a part of those who are not icons, but those who become family members.” NELLY It was a packed stadium with concertgoers who came out to see hip-hop, R&B and country singer, Nelly. He is a three-time Grammy Award-winning artist, with the No.1 on the chart single “Dilemma.” The crowd sang along and danced as he performed his hits such as “E.I.,” “Ride Wit Me,” and “Shake Your Tailfeather,” on Saturday, March 12. Elena Adang said she came out that evening only to see him perform. “I’ve been a Nelly fan since day one,” she said. “I was very happy to hear “Grillz” because I can rap all the lyrics, but I was also very excited to hear “Country Grammar.” Alex Rae Rhoades and Drew Herrera came together for the show. “I made sure to get my tickets the day they went on sale,” Rhoades said. Herrera likes that Nelly doesn’t confine him elf to just one genre but branches out. “My favorite is that he mixes with country music,” she said. “In college I loved his music and I still do.” The two ladies were among many in the crowd who worked their way up to the stage during the closing songs. It was an eventful Strawberry Festival that had what seemed like endless choices of music to listen to for 11 days. Those who attend the festival next year may see some of their reoccurring or newly performing artists come on stage.

COPS CORNER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

PLANT CITY

This week on Cops Corner: Plant

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City Police investigate a shattered door, missing candy and a fraudulent lease agreement. istock

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MARCH 4

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GRAND SLAM

900 block of W. Saunders St. Fraud: Officer met with the victim who advised them that she had signed a residential lease, along with providing a $2,200 cash deposit, only to discover that the offer was fraudulent.

800 block of S. Collins St. Criminal mischief: Officers responded to a restaurant at the listed location in reference to one of the front glass entrance doors being shattered.

MARCH 5 SWEET TOOTH 1400 block of S. Evers St. Theft: Officers met with the manager of a business at the listed location who discovered that the coin-operated candy machine was broken and its contents were gone.

VIDEO PROOF 4300 block of W. Hwy 574 Battery w/ waiver: Officers met with an individual who called the police to report a battery by another employee. After watching the video surveillance footage, it was determined that the second individual was actually the victim and was defending himself. The individual then signed a waiver of prosecution.

ESCALATING CIRCUMSTANCES 2600 block of James L. Redman Pkwy Drug investigation: Officers responded to the business at the listed location in reference to a theft. The suspect was then charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance and transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

MARCH 8 WINDOW SHOPPING

BIG HAUL 2000 block of N. Frontage Rd. Vehicle theft:Officers met with an employee of a business at the listed location who advised them that a 2021 4WD Dodge Ram 1500 TRX, valued at $101,000, was stolen. CLEAN PLATE 1800 block of James L. Redman Pkwy. Stolen tag: Officers responded to the listed location and met with the victim who stated that his license plate was stolen.

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1200 block of W. Baker St. Vehicle burglary: Officers met with the victim who stated that his vehicle window had been broken, resulting in the theft of tools.

To contact us, send your information via: Email: Sarah Holt, SHolt@ PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100B, Plant City, FL 33563

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

COMMISSION MEETING REPORT AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS OFFERED AT RECENT MEETING Photo courtesy of Yvonne Fry

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

PROCLAMATION FOR FINANCE DEPARTMENT

The Plant City Finance Department also received a proclamation as Government Finance Professionals Week occurs from March 14 to March 18. Diane Reichard, CFO of the Plant City Finance Department was present to accept the award. Also present were five of the 26 staff members including Procurement Manager Robert Rosenstein, U tility Billing Manager Denise McDaniel, Accounting Clerk Misty Jimenez, and Budget Manager Lauren Shatto. Also, for the sixth consecutive year, the department has earned the Distinctive Budget Presenta-

tion award by the Government Finance Officers Association. “To recognize our finance team for their work tonight – just another outstanding recognition for the day to day work done by one of the teams in our city organization,” McDaniel said. PRESENTING PLAQUE TO CITY COMMISSION

Sharon Moody, founder of the Plant City Black Heritage Celebration Inc. showed her thanks to the city commission for its assistance with the 19th Annual Black Heritage Festival, held from Feb. 11 to Feb. 13. “I would like to thank the City of Plant City for being a big supporter of Plant City Black Heri-

tage [Celebration Inc.], celebrating Black History Month,” she said. With that, she presented a plaque to the city for its backing. AUDIT ANALYSIS

The Mauldin and Jenkins, LLC. accounting firm conducted and provided an audit report for the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, 2021. The tests done for the city’s internal controls and compliance with laws showed no findings or deficiencies of any kind. The city received and expended $4.6 million in federal awards this year, said Wade Sansbury, a partner at Mauldin and Jenkins, LLC. The firm also performed single

audit procedures for the CARES Act CRF Program which showed no issues. The City of Plant City also increased its overall net position by $16 million for the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, 2021. This changed the city’s net position to a total of $278.4 million. LIBRARY OUTDOOR AMENITIES

Director Paul Shaver of Bruton Memorial Library updated the city commission about the finishing product of the Imagination Garden at the back of the library. The once unused land on the property was first excavated last November to build the new garden.

The Marcus Waller Fountain and creek bed installation has a statue of a boy pumping water from a well and is accompanied by his dog. With the use of a water wheel, the statue does run water down a man-made path with pebbles. Across from the Marcus Waller Fountain is the Ring Around the Rosie statue which depict three girls holding hands and swaying around. Plants now line the trail and walkway across the back of the library, and there is a privacy fence that has been put up. There’s also signage and a wooden bench to swing on.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

CBD SHOP RECOGNIZED BY CHAMBER YOUR CBD STORE IN PLANT CITY HAS GAINED RECOGNITION FOR PRODUCTS BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

In dealing with the aches and pains that take a toll on the body, many have turned to Your CBD Store, which offers hemp as an alternative remedy. Its consistent clientele base has brought it more recognition, and now it has earned the title of Small Business of the Month for March from the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce. The hemp plant falls under the umbrella of cannabis, just like marijuana does. It is widely used as a holistic treatment for various ailments. Both the hemp and marijuana plants contain the compounds delt-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, and cannabidiol (CBD). Marijuana contains a high level of THC and a low level of CBD, while hemp contains a high level of CBD and a low level of THC. THC causes an individual to experience a high. This has put a negative stigma on marijuana, so much so, that it remains illegal on the federal level. However, certain states have relaxed their laws, allowing its legalization for medicinal use and recreational use as well in some states. CBD, however, does not produce that same feeling of euphoria, according to the U .S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp in all 50 states as it was no longer defined as a controlled substance. Tim Bosko is the owner of the Your CBD Store branch in Plant City. Since the passage of the law, he and other shop owners who sell hemp products still try to dispel the notion that the plant is illegal. “There’s a lot of misconceptions out there,” he said. “We find it very important to empower our consumers with transparency, with knowing exactly what they’re getting in the product, where it’s coming from, how it gets there, what it does, and educating them about everything CBD.” Your CBD Store was first established in Bradenton during 2018. It was conceptualized by Rachael Quinn who was battling Crohn’s Disease. She credited CBD for helping to regain her health. With the success of her Bradenton store, she and her husband Marcus started their

own name brand products called SunMed. Since it opened four years ago, Your CBD Store has expanded with branches all throughout the country, including in Plant City. There is no medical card or medical recommendation needed for hemp products as it is not regulated by the FDA. However, there is one caveat – the THC level in the hemp cannot exceed 0.3%. Labs test how much THC there is and there are processes that can be performed to lower the level. Full spectrum can extract the substance so there is 0.3% or less in the hemp plant, while broad spectrum extracts THC all together. In the Your CBD Store, the barcode on any item can be scanned using a phone, which will display not only any THC levels, but also chemicals and minerals that may be found in the product. The shop’s SunMed name brand products are holistic and therapeutic, relieving stress, anxiety, arthritis, headaches, burns, bites, insomnia, and inflammation, Bosko said. It offers CBD items in the form of ointments, bath bombs, lotion, cream, gummies, and other candy as well as cartridges for the hemp. The edibles usually take about half an hour to an hour to take effect, and lasts about six to eight hours, Bosko said. And some people get creative, using it in salad dressing, dips, smoothies, or tea. “It’s organic, it’s natural, so there’s a lot of positive benefits to it,” he added. “There’s no caffeine, no sugars, therefore there’s no crash, there’s no upper.” There are even items for pets such as steak and bacon bites, jerky sticks, and ointments that come in different flavors such as bacon and peanut butter. While the age range of customers vary, there are certain groups who Bosko sees more of and have become his regulars. “It’s usually 60 to 80 for the most part,” he said. “That’s our biggest demographic, but we still do have some from 18 to 40.”

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While his Plant City customers have no problem receiving his service, there are others who have condemned him. “I’ve been kicked out of places, I’ve been cussed at, I’ve been looked at as the devil,” Bosko said. “But it’s helped so many other people when they realize what it is when I educate them about it. That’s my job, to educate them. Let them know that this is not illegal. There’s nothing anti-religious about this.”

Tim Bosko is the owner of the Your CBD Store in Plant City. The establishment was named as the Small Business of the Month in March, by the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

Member FDIC

DOCTOR’S NOTE: SPRING AHEAD WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HEARING BEHIND

Happy New Year from The Bank of Tampa.

Wishing you a prosperous 2022! At The Bank of Tampa, the relationships we have with our clients and communities go far beyond transactional banking—we stand by them every step of the way, during the good times and the uncertain ones. Each person, business, and situation is unique. You deserve personalized service. You deserve a relationship. And we are in the relationship business.

Spring is here, which means our clocks spring forward and we say ‘hello’ to warmer days ahead! Birds and crickets chirping in the hours of dawn and bees buzzing on flower beds sound the signal of spring. Enjoy the sounds of nature all spring long by monitoring your hearing health. Now is the best time to obtain a baseline hearing exam and familiarize yourself with common signs and symptoms of hearing loss. Hearing loss is challenging as it is not something we can see. Hearing loss typically develops due to a combination of noise exposure and aging. Symptoms of hearing loss include:

Hearing people incorrectly Having a preference for conversations in a quiet setting Feeling easily distracted and/or unable to focus in noisy settings

But what happens when you have a hearing exam and are told your hearing is normal but you are experiencing the symptoms listed above? The cause may be Hidden Hearing Loss (HHL). HHL is caused by a problem transmitting the sound signal between the inner ear and auditory nerve. This results in difficulty understanding conversations, especially in the presence of background noise. There is no established set of guidelines to diagnose HHL, but it can be revealed with additional testing performed by an Audiologist. Treatment includes improving the signal-to-noise ratio, which can be accomplished by the use of Assistive Listening Devices and/or state-of-the-art hearing aids which have advanced features to reduce background noise and improve speech understanding. Research is ongoing regarding hidden hearing loss, but it may be more common than originally thought. In a study of more than 100,000 patient records over a 16-year period, 10% of patients who visited an audiology clinic received normal audiograms, despite hearing complaints. We encourage all of our patients to have a baseline hearing exam completed

to know their hearing status. Enjoy the spring season with your loved ones and connect with the relaxing and soothing sounds of nature without the burden of uncertainty of hearing loss. 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. The physicians of Florida E.N.T. & Allergy have served the Tampa Bay community for over 45 years. Their board-certified physicians and doctors of audiology have completed extensive education and clinical training as well as specialized training in their area(s) of expertise. From pediatric allergies to fitting hearing aids, their caring and experienced providers specialize in ear, nose and throat care for the entire family using comprehensive, cutting edge technologies.

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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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

Living at Home for Those with Parkinson’s PC agency offers advice for those living at home with Parkinson’s disease BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

Each year, approximately 60,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and with that news comes life altering decisions. Donna Williams is a registered nurse and the administrator for the Right at Home agency, which serves Eastern Hillsborough County and Polk County. The agency sends certified nu sing assistants (CNA) and home health aides (HHA) to provide personal care for those with disorders or disabilities. This also includes those living with Parkinson’s disease – a chronic progressive brain disorder that causes uncontrollable body movements, muscle stiffn ss, and trouble maintaining balance. It is a form of dementia. “When Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed in a loved one, early planning is important,” Williams said. “While some people with Parkinson’s will experience only minor motor disruptions, others will eventually need full-time care support.” About 10% of her overall clientele in Plant City have Parkinson’s, she stated. There are a number of prominent figu es who have lived with, or currently live with Parkinson’s. Actor Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with the disease when he was 29 years old.

As years went on it began to progress to the point where it loosened his muscles, causing involuntary movements. Professional boxer Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 42 when his speech started to slur. However, unlike Fox, his condition left him with little to no voluntary muscle movement. Both still needed personal care to live with the disease. Parkinson’s is diagnosed based on a person’s health history and a physical examination, Williams said. Blood tests and other laboratory tests are only useful when ruling out other conditions. Diagnosis is usually confirmed when a patient experiences improvement after taking medications prescribed specifi ally for the disease, according to the National Institutes of Health. Aside from medication, other treatment includes surgically implanted deep brain stimulators to improve symptoms; physical, occupational, and speech therapy; and changes in the patient’s diet and exercise. As the disease progresses, moving into an assisted living facility is at times the best choice, Williams said. However, there are those who prefer to remain in their home, that of a loved one,

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or any familiar and comfortable surroundings. “Before making that decision, family should assess the suitability of the home,” Williams added. “Is single-story living possible? Could modifi ations make the home more accessible? Modifi ations range from simple and inexpensive – for example a raised toilet seat and handrails, to more extensive remodeling, such as enlarged doorways, a walk-in shower and safer flooring ” As Parkinson’s progresses, patients will also need assistance with eating and drinking. She also believes that in Plant City, most patients live not at home, but in assisted living facilities. But since the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, family members have been hesitant to put their loved ones in these type of homes. The Right at Home agency offers both home health care as well as home care. With home health care, a patient who is released from the hospital has the option of going home or going to an assisted living facility, depending on whether the patient has someone to care for them at home. If kept at home, nurses can come by to make medical assessments for the patient and their surroundings.

With home care, CNAs and HHAs will provide more personal accommodations such as bathing, preparing meals and cleaning the home. The duties of agency caregivers include: • Taking the patient to and from the physician or therapist • Picking up medication prescriptions and setting medication reminders • Hands-on assistance in walking and transferring in and out of car, bed, chair or bathroom • Dressing, grooming, and doing laundry • Offer companionship and socialize • Assisting and supervising with exercises This assistance can relieve family from those duties so they can rest. “When you go out to do the assessment or to visit the family to see what’s going on,” Williams said, “you see the stress [on] their faces.” Williams understands the toll on family caregivers who do their best to provide for their loved ones with Parkinson’s, and encourages them to bring in outside caregivers for the support.

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Plant City High School alumni get groovy at multi-class 70’s Reunion Party Before each reunion for PCHS’s Class of 1977, they’ve started a new tradition that brings more graduates together. TAYLOR JENKINS STAFF WRITER

Plant City High School’s Class of 1977 comes together every fi e years for a reunion, allowing alumni to come back to Plant City — if they aren’t still in the area already — to see old friends and share stories of the good old days. But Saundra Roach and her team had an idea prior to their last reunion in 2017, opening the door for more than just the class of ’77 to come back and celebrate… a multi-class party that includes several other Plant City classes from the 70’s, held the night before the class of 1977’s official eunion. Following such a great response in 2017, the party will be held later this month prior to the 2022 Class Reunion. “As we get older and our classes kind of shrink in size, especially after COVID and everything else, we feel like it’s kind of a joyful occasion for us,” Roach said. “Let’s have some fun, let’s catch up and let’s party a little bit.” The fi st 70’s party was held in 2017 and had roughly 150 attendees, however Roach expects even more to be in attendance this year. Assisted by her team of 15 or so volunteers, along with donations from sponsors, the group was able to rent out a space

at the Hilton Garden Inn at the Lakeland Lindor Airport and additionally raise several thousands of dollars worth of appetizers and drinks for party-goers. Many of the sponsors are local business owners and fellow graduates of Plant City High School. To add to the fun, they encouraged graduates to dress in the classic 70’s attire which many opted to take part in. The event will take place on Friday, March 25 at 3839 Don Emerson Drive, beginning at 6 p.m. Admission is free of charge thanks to all of the event’s sponsors and appetizers will be available while they last. Additionally, a cash bar will be there with drinks for purchase as well. If you’re a Plant City High School graduate from the 70’s and would like to attend this year’s party, it’s not too late! If you haven’t already RSVP’d through your class Facebook page, please do so by emailing PlantCityClassOf77@gmail.com including your class year and the name of any additional guest that you would like to bring. “I think mortality and the fact that we’re getting older and that we’ve lost a lot of people from our class… I just think life becomes a

little more important and joy needs to happen,” Roach said. SOME OF THE LOCAL PLANT CITY SPONSORS INCLUDE: • Jim Zinner PE LLC Civil Engineering Services • Scott A McElveen Inc. • Mathis Farms Inc. • Delfino Mar eting • Johnson Excavation and JES Abatement • Area Litho Inc. • PCHS Classes of 1974, 1975 and 1976 • PCHS 1977 Reunion Team • Guardian Ad Litem • Florida Strawberry Growers Association • Cross Pest Control • Gulf Electric

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

SPORTS

STRAWBERRY CREST SHINES IN SALADINO TOURNAMENT

The Chargers powered past two local rivels on their way to the tournament semifina s. TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

Plant City area baseball leapt into the Saladino Tournament this spring break, an annual spring showcase for Hillsborough County’s high school teams, with Strawberry Crest battling to wins over both Plant City and Durant en route to an appearance in the semifinals. Despite coming out on top of the two hard-fought wins that it took to reach the semifinals, the Chargers eventually faltered as they were unable to overcome a talented Plant team, falling 6-1 on Tuesday. Strawberry Crest entered the tournament with a 5-2 record. After dropping their second loss of the season in a 6-4 contest against Hillsborough on March 8, the Chargers bounced back with a high-scoring, extra-inning win over Alonso on March 10. The 14-13 final was led by red-hot senior Ethan Pues, crushing a third inning grand slam to mark his second consecutive contest with a home run while driving in a monstrous six RBIs. Plant City, on the other hand, had been chal-

lenged just once all season – coming in a 5-4 comeback win over defending 6A State Champion Bloomingdale – as they entered the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record and just one earned run allowed from their stellar pitching staff on the year. It was a premier matchup of pitchers last Saturday as junior Luke Richardson took the mound for Crest, facing Plant City junior Adan Longoria. After a scoreless first, Crest struck in the bottom of the second inning. After junior Damien Bennett reached base on a hit by pitch with one out, sophomore Akhil Nimmala reached with a base hit. Brandon Watts drew a walk to load the bases and Longoria responded with a big strikeout to get Plant City just one out away from escaping the early jam. But leadoff hitter Eli Vickers came up huge for the Chargers, smacking a bases-clearing triple down the right field line to give Crest a 3-0 lead, their only runs scored on the evening. From that point on the pressure sat on the shoulders of the Chargers’ defense and the right arm of Richardson, and they both responded.

Richardson pitched six strong innings, allowing just one earned run on a two-out RBI single in the sixth from the Raiders’ sophomore Chase Mobley before fellow junior Alex Philpott entered the game and tossed a perfect seventh inning to shut the door on their first game of the tournament. “Anybody who was here saw how well Luke pitched,” Strawberry Crest head coach Eric Beattie said. “He got into a little bit of trouble there a couple of times but he did a really good job of keeping his composure and making his pitches when he needed to. Offensively, we had some runners on base there in the third inning when Eli came up and, as he’s done a few times before this season, he had a big swing and that’s all it took.” Richardson has been a rock for the Chargers since making his way into the starting rotation this season, putting together an earned run average of just 1.59 behind strong outings in wins over Osceola, Chamberlain and Plant City. “The first two innings, with runners on, I was mainly just focusing on getting outs and getting through that lineup to keep the energy up for at bats,” Rich-

ardson said. “Then in the second inning we have bases loaded, Eli comes up and gets that two-out triple, it was absolutely huge. That was a great piece of hitting by him and it was basically trying to keep them at zero after that, trying to let the defense do their job and just do my job as a pitcher. After a narrow victory over the Raiders, where they difference in the game truly came on one swing of the bat from Vickers, the Chargers bounced back on Monday as they headed across town to face Durant. The Cougars entered the Saladino Tournament at 4-2 on the heels of back-to-back losses, including a narrow 5-4 final against Bloomingdale and a surprising 5-0 loss at the hands of then 1-4 Jefferson the week before. Prior to their matchup against Strawberry Crest however, Durant bounced back in a big way with a 10-0 win over Leto to kick off their own tournament play. In the second local Plant City area rivalry matchup of the tournament, Durant senior Torin Byrnes took the mound to face Crest’s Zack Redner.

In the top of the first, Crest wasted no time jumping out in front early. After reaching base on a hit by pitch, Vickers stole second and was moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt from Ray Allen Vasquez before coming around to score on a single to left from Pues. After Pues moved over to second base on a stolen bag of his own, Redner helped out his own cause before even getting a chance to take the mound with an RBI single. And in a blink, Crest held a 2-0 lead. Durant would prove far from discouraged though as they punched back in the bottom half of the frame. Sophomore Nick April-Gath got the ball rolling as he led off the inning with a bunt single and moved over to second as Aiden Welsh reached on a hit by pitch the next at bat. Junior Dylan LaPointe stepped up next and roped an RBI single, putting Durant’s first run on the board and leaving runners at first and third,

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

LOCAL PREPS SCOREBOARD Durant Softball: 3/12 - 3/15

Plant City Softball: 3/4 - 3/11

STEINBRENNER . . . . . . . . . 6 DURANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

PLANT CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 SPOTO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

STRAWBERRY CREST . . . . . . 10 WHARTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

STRAWBERRY CREST . . . . . . 13 PLANT CITY . . . . . . . . . . . 3

CALVARY CHRISTIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 DURANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 LAND O’ LAKES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 DURANT . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 GEORGE JENKINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 DURANT . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Strawberry Crest Softball: 3/10 - 3/11

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

STRAWBERRY CREST FALLS IN SEMIFINAL GAME DESPITE STRONG RUN THROUGH TOURNAMENT

The Chargers faced the Jesuit Tigers on Wednesday for third place. TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

still with no outs in the inning. A sacrifi e bunt from Oscar Fernandez left runners at second and third. Redner was able to get a strikeout to pull Crest just one out from closing the inning with minimal damage but a ground ball to the right side from Noah Morales found its way through the infield and drove home two more runs, giving the Cougars a 3-2 lead. In the top of the second, Brandon Watts reached base safely by way of an error with one out and Nimmala put two runners in scoring position with a double to the right field gap. A ground out to second base scored Watts to knot the game up at 3-3 and an error on the next play not only allowed the go-ahead run to score, but allowed the inning to continue and Vickers to reach second safely before coming around to score on a single from Vasquez, extending the Crest lead to 5-3.

After the second, both pitchers settled in and found their groove for a majority of what remained in the contest. In the fourth, Durant cut the Crest lead to just one. Sophomore Ryan Santana reached on a one-out single before moving to second via a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Devin Suero put down a slow roller in the infield, using his speed to beat the play and force an errant throw to first, scoring Santana and bringing the score to 5-4. Durant threatened again in the bottom of the fifth when their first two runners of the inning reached safely, but Redner stood tall inducing a double play and a fly ball from the next two hitters. In the sixth, Crest tacked on one more insurance run with a little bit of luck on their side. After a single from Philpott, he was moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. After taking an aggressive secondary lead on a ball in the dirt, the throw from Durant’s catcher got past the Cougars’ middle infielders and

into center field, allowing Philpott to come all the way around to score from second. With a 6-4 lead, Crest was able to hang on to their second consecutive win in tournament play. Redner would ultimately go 6.2 innings, handing the ball off to Philpott who entered with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the go-ahead run at the plate and got a one-pitch fly ball out for his second save in as many games. With another win, the Chargers advanced to the tournament semifinals where they faced the rolling Plant Panthers on Tuesday, fresh off of a 9-0 victory over Alonso and an 11-2 victory over Wharton. But despite their two strong contests to start the week, Strawberry Crest fell behind early and were unable to claw their way out of the deficit. Plant scored one run in the top of the first on Tuesday to take the first lead of the ball game and Crest answered back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning as Philpott singled to

right, scoring Vickers. But Plant kept pushing, adding another run in the second and another run in the third to build a 3-1 lead that would ultimately be enough to claim victory. The game remained scoreless from that point on until Plant came alive in the top of the seventh, tacking on three more runs as they cruised to a 6-1 victory and a spot in the Saladino Tournament championship. With Sickles advancing to the finals from the other side of the bracket, the Chargers faced Jesuit on Wednesday in the tournament’s third place game. After their loss to Crest, Plant City returned to action on Monday where they went to extra innings against Leto, ultimately losing 2-1 in nine innings. And on Tuesday they got back into the win column against Alonso with a 9-8 victory. On Wednesday, Plant City got another shot as Bloomingdale, a rematch from their third

game of the season. On Tuesday, Durant took on Wharton where they fell in yet another narrow contest by a final score of 4-3. And on Wednesday they finished their tournament with a game against Steinbrenner. After spring break ends, all three teams will be back to regular season action on Tuesday, March 22 as Durant heads to East Bay, Strawberry Crest heads to Freedom and Plant City hosts Spoto. While all three teams played on Wednesday, the conclusion of their contests came after the Plant City Observer was sent to press. Further coverage will be provided.

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

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

PlantCityObserver.com

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

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We asked Plant City: Who put on the best concert at this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival? “Kenzie Wheeler for sure! Cole Swindell was good too.” - Nicole Quagliani-Bass

“Sam Hunt with a special appearance from the Gronk!” Aimme Larkin Meiers

“Boys ll Men and Nelly were awesome!” - Allison Glover

“Sammy Hagar and Tesla!” Bonnie Benge-Weicht

“Sammy Hagar and Jake Owen were both amazing.” - Tom Anderson

“Boys II Men and/or Sam Hunt!” - Terrie Sanders Cameron

“Lauren Daigle and Nelly, both performed amazing. Will buy tickets again if they come back. Best festival yet for us.” - Jessica Taylor

“Lauren Daigle by far over everyone.” - Laurie Reidinger-Hofts

“Kenzie Wheeler, thankful for you and being a hometown guy.” - Sally Shearin Brown

“Beach Boys!” - Katherine Warren

“Sammy Hagar & The Circle.” - Tom E. Mitchell

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

Mary Doyen

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

J. Joyce Brooker J. Joyce Brooker, 88, HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM of Plant City, Fla., born in Clarington, Penn., on May 10, Abigail B. 1933, entered into eternal Greisz-Stone rest on March 6, 2022. Expressions of condolence Abigail B. Greisz-Stone, at HopewellFuneral.com. 44, of Plant City, Fla., born Oct. 6, 1977 in Catonsville, Md., entered into eternal rest on March 11, 2022. Expressions of condolence HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM at HopewellFuneral.com.

John Howle

John Howle, 75, of Lithia, Fla., born in Calhoun County, Miss., on Dec. 3, 1946, entered into eternal rest on March 8, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Mildred E. Boschke Mildred E. Boschke, 90, of Lithia, Fla., born in Mayo on May 21, 1931, entered into eternal rest on March 12, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Janice D. Hart Janice D. Hart, 85, of Plant City, Fla., born in Louisville, Ky. on Jan. 19, 1937, entered into eternal rest on March 11, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com.

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Deloris Pugh Lucas

Deloris Pugh Lucas, 76, of Plant City, born on June 23, 1945, entered into eternal rest on March 10, 2022. She was preceded in death by husband, Harvey Lucas; son, Daryl Lucas; parents, Frank and Aggie Pugh; and siblings, Edna R. Pugh, Dorothy Taylor, Dallas Pugh, and Delma Pugh. She is survived by daughter, Sharron Scales (Larry); grandchildren, Cody, and Delaina; sisters, Doris Robbins (Dave), and Diane Ellison; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 19 at 4 p.m. at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 South County Road 39, Plant City, where the family will receive friends beginning at 3 p.m. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com.

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Viola Karen Lupien

Robert Leon Rowland, 67, of Plant City, Fla., passed Viola Karen LuFrank M. Quaglia Jr. away on March 12, 2022. pien, 103, of Plant passed away on Feb. 11, The family will receive City, Fla., passed 2022, at South Florida friends March 17, 2022 Baptist Hospital. Frank was away on Thursday, we’re dedicated to helping families create a Feb. 3, 2022. Viola ’ R E P R Oat U D Haught TO S E RV E our community from 6 to 7W Ep.m. born May 20, 1948. unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. Funeral Home 708 was born Sept. 16, memories and the life it represents. As your Chapel, Dignity Memorial professionals, Fondcelebrates W. Dr. Martin Luther King Guarantee Jr. expressions 1918. ofTransferability sympathy > 100% Service > NationalW Plan dedicated to helping families create a E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community Compassion Helpline® care since 1896. we’re > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. Fondunique memories may be shared at www. celebrates the life it represents. Memorial professionals, A Graveside Service will and expressions WellsMemorial.com for the R As your Dignity > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability > The Compassion > Bereavement Proudly supportingQuaglia the Plant Cityfamily. Strawberry Festival. Travel Assistance take place March 18, 2022, of sympathy may Helpline® 10 a.m. at Springhead CembeR shared at www. etery 4700 County Line Rd for the Proudly supportingWellsMemorial.com the Plant City Strawberry Festival. Lakeland FL 33811. Lupien family. Online condolences may WELLSMEMORIAL.COM be left for the family at Wells MeMorial & event Center haught.care. WELLSMEMORIAL.COM PlanT CiTy

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Pam Keene Allen, 71, of Winter Haven, Fla., born in Plant City on Aug. 20, 1950, entered into eternal rest on March 9, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral. com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

OBITUARIES

Mary Doyen, 89, of Lithia, Fla., born in Huron Township, Mich., on July 11, 1932, entered into eternal rest on March 4, 2022. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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MONDAY, MARCH 21 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 302 7:30 to 9 p.m. at 303 N. and meaningful memorial that truly ron. All tremendous artists withMcCoy, personal, compassionate celebrates the life it represents. As your Dignity Memorial professionals, in their own right, several Plant City, Fla. passed away expressions of sympathy S. Maryland Ave. DJ Ken Evers St. The Plant City > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability Bluegrass greats will come may be >shared at www. on Sunday, Jan.> Bereavement 30, 2022.Travel Assistance will be hosting a new Community Chorale is PLANT CITY GARDEN The Compassion Helpline® we’re dedicated to helping10, families create a WellsMemorial.com for the S E RV E our community together at Krazy Cup for a Betty was born April 1939. morning dance this month excited to announce their CLUB MEETING unique and meaningful memorial that truly assionate care since 1896. R the life it represents. morial professionals,Fondcelebrates huge night of great music. 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is all about.

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 High: 82 Low: 58 Chance of rain: 13%

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 High: 89 Low: 66 Chance of rain: 15%

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

SUNRISE/SUNSET Sunrise Sunset Thursday, March 17

7:35a

7:38p

Friday, March 18

7:34a

7:38p

Saturday, March 19

7:33a

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Sunday, March 20

7:32a

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Monday, March 21

7:31a

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Tuesday, March 22

7:30a

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Wednesday, March 23

7:29a

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MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 High: 87 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 9%

SUNDAY, MARCH 20 High: 81 Low: 55 Chance of rain: 22%

MONDAY, MARCH 21 Freddie Mullis sent us this picture of a vibrant morning sky over Plant City.

ONLINE

High: 83 Low: 61 Chance of rain: 3%

Across 1 Tripoli’s country 6 College grad 10 Kill, as a dragon 14 Thorny plant 15 Latina toon explorer 16 Scrabble piece 17 If Nicholson sang, danced and acted, he might be called __ 20 GQ or Cosmo 21 Photographed 22 Inhumane 27 Salty drops 31 Big name in PCs 32 __ pork: Chinese dish with pancakes 35 “High” afternoon meal

36 Forbidden 38 Series of missed calls 40 If Robinson left En Vogue to sing in Jerry Garcia’s group, she might be called __ 43 Dog food seller 44 Crop up 46 Soul, to Sartre 47 Polar parka 50 Passionate about 51 Winona of “Stranger Things” 53 Brings good luck to 55 Taunt 58 Drone or worker 59 If Tomlin came from San Fernando, she might be

called __ 67 Trim, as a photo 68 Dry forecast 69 Religious doctrine 70 Credit card balance, say 71 Benchmarks: Abbr. 72 Jerk or twitch Down 1 JFK’s successor 2 Nest egg initials 3 Flickable lighter 4 Go on and on 5 Kitchen allure 6 Samuel Barber’s “__ for Strings” 7 Cyberchortle 8 Web addresses

9 Subject with numbers 10 Georgia or Washington 11 Pot cover 12 It may be blonde or pale 13 “Roundabout” rockers with a positive name 18 Word before hand or land 19 Capitol feature 22 Cave hanger 23 Plato’s school, with “the” 24 Paid back, as a purchase incentive 25 Tweezer targets 26 Whirlybirds 28 Realizes, as a goal 29 Entertains with a bedtime story 30 Give in to gravity 33 Recital rebuke 34 Flower bed tool 37 Province on four Great Lakes 39 Spooky 41 Bass ending 42 Pendulum direction? 43 Links standard 45 Seemingly forever 48 Orange-yellow gemstones 49 Ukraine’s capital 52 The Nile runs through it 54 Detectives’ aids 56 Bosom buds, in texts 57 Nouveau-Mexique, par exemple 59 TV screen type 60 Fury 61 Easy throw 62 Laid low 63 Cut (off) 64 JFK alternative 65 Maximum borders? 66 Oft-candied veggie

April 1 New

April 9 First

March 18 Full

Mar. 25 Last

RAINFALL LAST WEEK:

MONTH TO DATE:

1.72 in.

1.83 in.

YEAR TO DATE:

MARCH AVERAGE:

4.99 in.

2.78 in.

STRAWBERRIES Shipping point: Central Florida $6.90-$20.00

Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

Great health care is closer than you think. South Florida Baptist Hospital is more than just a small community hospital. We’ve got a wide array of specialty care and surgical services that you don’t have to travel far to get. Our surgeons are experts in minimally invasive robotic surgical procedures that provide lots of benefits, including shorter hospital stays, decreased blood loss and smaller incisions that reduce the risk of infection. Plus, faster recovery times that mean you can get back to your normal activities sooner. You’ll find comprehensive orthopedic care—whether you’re an athlete who needs sports medicine services or you’re someone who needs a total joint replacement. Our all-inclusive gynecology program offers high-quality care to the women and mothers in our community with a variety of women’s care services. We’ve even been designated as a Center of Excellence for our weight loss surgery program, meeting nationally recognized standards and providing outstanding care to our patients. And all of this extraordinary care exists right here in Plant City. Learn more: SouthFloridaBaptistSurgery.org

21-1493769-0521

PlantCityObserver.com