3.2.23 PLCO

PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL REZONING PASSES IN SPLIT VOTE BY CITY COMMISSION

LAND GETS REZONED FOR INDUSTRIAL USES.

Area residents that showed up at this week’s commission meeting to express their opposition to a proposed rezoning near their rural land didn’t leave Plant City’s City

Commission meeting happy. In a split 3 - 2 vote, the Commission approved the Knox family’s request to rezone 42.62 acres of land from Hillsborough County Agricultural Single Family-1 to Plant City Industrial, making way for a

542,358 square-foot distribution warehouse along the west side of South County Line Road, east of South Wiggins Road and south of Medulla Road.

Mayor Nate Kilton and commissioners William Dodson and

favor of the rezoning. Commissioners Michael

and Jason Jones opposed the request.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

STRAWBERRY GRANDE PARADE PARADE ROUTE

MONDAY, MARCH 6 1:00PM

THE PARADE WILL MOVE NORTH ALONG EVERS STREET, THEN WEST ON REYNOLDS STREET BEFORE IT PASSES THE FESTIVAL GROUNDS. PLEASE NOTE THAT ROADS WILL BE CLOSED ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE IN STAGES

Mary Mathis voted in

Sparkman

Worried about fitting an appointment into your busy schedule? Our Plant City location makes booking visits easy for the whole family.

Need an appointment soon? We are accepting new patients and offer same-day appointments.

To make an appointment, please call:

• 863.284.5000 for Primary Care or Pediatrics

• 863.284.5115 for Rheumatology

Three local students participated in the annual Plant City Optimist Club Oratorical Contest on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023 at the City of Plant City Parks & Recreation Department administrative conference room.

The theme of this year’s contest was “Discovering the Optimism within Me”. The students presented their four to fie minute orations in front of an audience of nearly 30 people, including their family and guests as well as contest judges, club members and their families. Students must be under the age of 19 as of last October 1 to qualify for the competition.

“It is difficultor these young people to stand before an audience and give their speeches. The competition helps them improve their public speaking skills which will benefit them in their futue careers” Optimist Club President Pat Stottlemyer said.

The results of the 2023 combined gender event are:

1st Place: Kenley Connell (Plant City High School)

2nd Place: Kyleigh Elliott (Foundation Christian Academy, Valrico)

3rd Place: Ellie Mueller (Plant High School, Tampa)

“I talked about key factors in my life where I chose to be optimistic,” Connell said. “My family loves McDonald's Coke and I spoke about the importance of seeing your glass as half-full. I'm a senior and looking to find cholarships to pay for college and hope I can win scholarship money at the next level of competition.”

The top two finishes advance from the Club level to the Zone 6 Competition against Lakeland’s and Winter Haven’s top two finishes on March 27 at 6:00 pm at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. The top two there go on to the North Florida District’s Southwest Regional Contest for the Tampa Bay area on April 15 at 1:00 pm at the Plant City Parks & Recreation Department administrative conference room.

Regional winners advance to the North Florida District Finals April 29 in Bushnell where a $2,500 college scholarship will be awarded to the District Champion, a $1,500 scholarship for 2nd place and a $1,000 scholarship for 3rd place. The higher scoring District Champion will be eligible to attend the 7th Annual World Championships in St Louis, Mo. July 20-21, 2023 representing the North Florida District.

A Plant City club representative has won the North Florida District finals ompetition and received the college scholarship nine times since 2001, most recently won by Katelyn Yarbrough in 2017.

First conducted by Optimist International in 1928, this is longest running and second-most popular Optimist International program, with over 2,000 clubs participating each year. Optimist International (www. optimist.org) is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with over 80,000 adult and youth members in over 2,500 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and throughout the world. Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimists conduct over 65,000 positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year and spending over $78 million on their communities annually.

PARKS & REC’S ANNUAL YOUTH FISHING DERBY UPCOMING

Registration is also now open for Parks & Rec’s annual Youth Fishing Derby, taking place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on March 11. The event is open to all kids from the ages of fie to 15, with pre-registration open from now until March 10 and registration on the day of the event available from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. The event will take place at the back parking lot at Plant City Stadium and all anglers are encouraged to bring their own pole, the bait of their choice and a fiegallon bucket to transport their fish o the weight station. Prizes will be awarded for the top catfish and ass overall, along with awards for the largest weight and most fish caught by each age group. For more information, email recinfo@plantcitygov.com or call 813-659-4255.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS

College scholarships are available for Hillsborough County Students. To qualify for up to $5,000 in available scholarships, students must fit the ollowing criteria:

• Be a Hillsborough County Resident

• Have a minimum 2.0 GPA

• Have a household income at, or below, 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines

Applications are due by Friday, March 24, 2023. For more information, call 813-2725220 or visit www.HCFLGov.net/Eduation.

Kenley Connell, Kyleigh Elliott and Ellie Mueller receive their awards. Photo courtesy of the Optimist Club of Plant City

PLANT CITY STUDENT WINS OPTIMIST ORATORICAL CONTEST

WHAT KILLED UNIRRIGATED PASTURELANDS

There is a predictable disconnect growing between the rural residents of Plant City and the possible future uses of the lands that surround them. Like most everybody who enjoys a 1-5 acre rural homestead just outside of town, I too have enjoyed those days of old when driving to downtown to work meant ambling along two lane flatops and passing farm animals at pasture, row farming, or citrus. Many now complain as such lands are uprooted and converted to their maximum allowable density of new housing; they hate to see the vistas they have enjoyed being bulldozed and forever transformed into tiny chunks occupied by thousands of voters where in the past there were perhaps four.

The problem with complaining about it now is the futility of it. Trying to save unirrigated pastureland in Hillsborough County Florida by eliminating the value of the underlying land and stifling is development because you like looking at agriculture instead, is like trying to restart the movement of a stopped train by pressing on it with your pinky finer. The engine that once drove it has died, and for generation upon generation needless weight and brakes were applied to it in multiple forms while the protections meant to preserve its motion have been removed until the inevitable end of “no momentum” remains.

Some of those weights and brakes were:

• National trade deals that don’t fairly protect local or regional production against foreign competition that employ slave labor, child labor, unrestrained pesticide use, nor do they pay for any of the burdens of taxation to supply their citizenry with education, health care, worker assistance when injured or unemployed, roads that function, and the list goes on in every way that a s**thole country differs from agriculture in a western civilization nation like the USA. Or did you think it makes economic sense that oranges can be grown and shipped 2,400 miles to get here for less than it takes to grow them here?

• Real estate taxation rising on agriculture lands while their income was falling – violating the original greenbelt valuation concepts and intentions.

• Estate taxation valuations based on land development potential rather than farming income, making family farm transitions to children or heirs unsustainable when grandpa dies.

• Greenbelt departments needlessly harassing small to midsized landowners with requirements to prove that their small family cattle pastures adjoining their homes were indeed agriculture, followed by overtaxing them (many FFA family pastures to the rear or front of old homesteads used to be greenbelted without commercial lease agreements being in place – back in the day if there were enough cows on the land then it was greenbelt… period.). Now one has to prove it is a commercial agriculture venture (one geared to making a profit whee such is now impossible) or the tax man who likely thinks hamburger comes from Publix.

• Roadways bisecting large pasture operations via imminent domain that might compensate an owner for the “acreage” but totally ignore how two 5,000 acre pasture ranches separated by a four lane highway are not the same as one 10,000 acre pasture ranch not so split. So, what’s my point? Well, fistly it would be to remind the ‘pull the ladder up behind me’ planner bureaucrats that expecting that transition into residential or commercial uses and away from agriculture can be halted by strangulating development is a waste of time and counterproductive. When local people who used to farm embrace reasonable development of their surroundings when the death knoll sounds for their unirrigated pasturelands, yet while remaining active in the area and not relocating, it should be ENCOURAGED, why? Because if you don’t the land will go into fie sales or foreclosure before being bought up by an even less loyal giant corporation with expensive lawyers and more engineers than are in our entire City employ. And what they will do is worse than what a local would have facilitated. “Oh, but we need experts from out of town who know what they are doing,” some say. Those who bought from a bankrupt will rape and pillage and never support a single donation to the little league or hospital, spending their profis instead on lawyers and bribes to misguided environmentalists who penalize unauthorized relocation of a gopher turtle, but will accept ten grand for someone to steamroll one.

WE NEED BOTH INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

Secondly, I would remind myself and us all of how if all we build are houses, but not commercial and industrial sites, we will become a community of commuters who live in a town that metaphorically has fewer and fewer locomotive engines and more and more train cars that will slow until they eventually stop. Truck routes should be ac-

commodating truck businesses and, like many, I used to think them a bad neighbor to be resisted, yet their impact is less than high density residential, especially when it comes to schools, traffic, and municipal water and sewer. Worth what ya pay for it, but I hope some out there will be like me in admitting how half a dozen years ago I was wrong; I was wrong when I thought I should be sad for Carl Grooms for selling his Rice Road strawberry fields but keeping his house there which would soon be surrounded by a large trucking center. I worried that the traffic an new neighbors would be unpleasant for the man if/when he recalled living next to his beloved farm. I was wrong to think a trucking center would be a worse neighbor than some highly dense subdivision filled with people who lie here but work somewhere else. Looking back on it I realize the only thing worse for him to be surrounded by than a trucking center now would be most any high density residential subdivision designed and built by giant corporations from far away. He was right and I was wrong. I’m glad he was able to sell well and that the product he facilitated creates less traffic, school system burden, drama, and/or political upset and upheaval than most any giant bedroom community subdivision I’ve encountered.

CSX TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCES RAILROAD CROSSING CLOSURES FOR MAINTENANCE

Follow posted detour routes around these closures.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

A new round of progressive railroad crossing repairs scheduled by CSX Transportation will slow traffic in parts of Hillsborough County starting March 8 and ending around March 20. With several of these repairs being made in Plant City, efforts were made to eliminate conflicts with traffic caused by visitors of the Florida Strawberry Festival.

The first closure in Plant City will occur on East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on March 14, Sydney Dover Road on March 15, South Jerry Smith Road and several private roads on March 16, Turkey Creek Road on March 17, Waller Street, South Wheeler Street, South Evers Street and South Collins Street on March 19 and North Frontage Road

and Terrace Drive on March 20. Each closure is expected to last approximately two to five days to complete from the start date unless unforeseen circumstances arise. Teams will perform maintenance on the track from midnight until 10:30 a.m. Contractors, however, will continue to work throughout the day to resurface/repave crossings as they’re completed.

“Drivers should follow the posted detour routes around these closures,” said Assistant City Manager Jack Holland. “As with any schedule, these dates may vary due to weather or mechanical issues.”

While city officials regret any disruptions caused by CSX closures, longstanding statutes provide CSX authority to close roads crossing their rail lines. Plant City recognizes these repairs are necessary and will make for better and safer driving conditions when finished.

The Millennial Summit, sponsored by Building Strong Families, Inc. and G.R.O.W. Plant City, will be held Sa., March

ED VERNER

Ed Verner

PLANT

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

MAJOR MODIFICATION FOR WALDEN LAKE FOLLOWING THE PLANNING BOARD’S MEETING

I am writing regarding the proposed Major Modifiation for Walden Lake following the Planning Board’s meeting held this past Wednesday and PCO’s article in this week’s edition covering that meeting. I want to express my thanks to the Planning Board members, this important work comes with signifiant responsibility, commands extensive time and the service is without compensation; Board members – thank you. I have lived in Walden Lake since 1995 and find Plant Ciy in general and Walden Lake in particular to be a wonderful place to live, work and enjoy family life.

After calling the meeting to order, Board Chair Art Wood sparked discussion, and stated that he would hold his specific thoughs for the end but wanted to hear from the board members. The members each had considerable comments thanking the petitioner for their cooperation, and some stated they had not seen another that was so willing to change plans based on criticism, objection or denials of their proposal. I found this praise a little odd, but later Mr. Wood’s comments were more in line with my thoughts. He mentioned that one could never know what the petitioner was thinking, but the chain of events looked somewhat like a ploy with the initial proposal including commercial, apartment and density that should never have been proposed. Concessions made from that unrealistic starting point are not really concessions, they are moves toward what one may have prayed they could get from the onset, hoping that their ploy of the initial “pie in the sky” would make the revision with their “concessions” more palatable. He further stated that the current proposal is still not appropriate and his astute observations merit focus and consideration. Walden Lake has over 2,200 homes, of which some 200 may be considered villa or townhome, so roughly 10% is other than detached single family. Mr. Wood also observed that the as built clusters of villa or townhome were all strategically placed with direct access to Timberlane Drive, the main road thru Walden Lake, which prevented that density from creating adverse impact on other less dense, detached single family areas. He then discussed how the current proposal for 550 homes has 72% villa or townhome, and the placement of the dense areas is off f current side streets that serve the planned and built detached single-family areas. Mr. Wood further discussed how this proposal with its density and placement is completely opposite of how Walden Lake was planned and built.

If any modifiation is approved which would allow for additional building in Walden Lake, it should be at least a reflection f the

community as it was planned and built. The ratio of detached single family, villa, town home must be at least in line with Walden Lake as built but may even be less dense to make it work with the challenges of access, egress, privacy and congestion, all of which really support safety. Lot sizes, widths, setbacks, street widths and absence of cul-de sac ends to large areas must be in line with the planned and built community as it exists.

Other comments of the board members referenced some concern that Walden Lake was not “working with” the petitioner to collaborate or build more support. Proper response to this requires some consideration of how Walden Lake was planned and built, the administrative structure for that and how some discussions to date were attempted. Walden Lake is a Deed Restricted Community which operates in a two-tier system. The Walden Lake Community Association, called “the master association” and the local HOA, named for each of the clusters or sub neighborhoods. All are members of the WLCA, and the WLCA Board with its annual dues takes care of most issues, including common area maintenance, trails, park, guard shacks, etc. WLCA is what has been referred to as “the HOA” for the overall community. WLCA manages its business as required and enabled in the WLCA documents, this does not give the WLCA Board any representative authority for the WLCA members, residents, for anything other than care for the WLCA property. That is to say that WLCA may not express any opinion on matters perceived as authority for the community or residents collectively. Years ago, a prior WLCA Board portended to be representing Walden Lake and residents. In one City Commission meeting, a commissioner politely pushed back, reminding the WLCA Board member that they had no representative authority.

Given the petitioners’ scheme proposing apartments, commercial and extensive density then falling back to still inappropriate density its easy to see why so many citizens of Plant City and residents of Walden Lake have organized resistance to the ill-conceived proposed major modifiation. The current proposal should be considered a failed fist effort, not praised as friendly concessions and changes.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Norton, Clubhouse Woods Resident

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LOCAL RESIDENTS EXPRESS DISTRESS AT CITY COMMISSION MEETING OVER REZONING

ADJACENT PROPERTY ON COUNTY LINE ROAD REZONED FOR INDUSTRIAL USES.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

“I’m very troubled with the residential next to this,” said Sparkman. “It’s in their backyard.”

Mark and Shawnia Kummelman are two of the homeowners that live on Mcelveen Avenue whose property abuts the site. They showed up to express their concerns about the rezoning request. “Our home is our safe haven after a long day’s work where we enjoy our rural quiet country living,” said Mark Kummelman. “This investment was one of the largest decisions we’ve ever made and now you’ve annexed a piece of property into Plant City to build a warehouse that’s going to be squeezed between homes and a couple of churches.”

Kummelman expressed his opinion that the rezoning is not compatible with the city’s comprehensive plan. “There’s nothing whatsoever that makes this warehouse fitwithin our residential properties.”

His comments were met with loud clapping by other residents that opposed the project.

While the dissimilarity between residential and industrial zoning was a main concern from residents, Planning & Zoning Coordinator Robyn Baker said buffering can make incompatible uses compatible.

The property owner proposed a 100-foot building setback from the

property line, an 8’ opaque fence, truck staging on the north and west side of the site and landscape buffer to include medium to large trees spaced an average of 40’ apart to mitigate any negative impacts from daily activities to the homes. “These are things we looked at to make these two unlike uses compatible,” said Baker. “The purpose of landscaping and fences is to cut down on noise and traffic.”

Other positive aspects of the plan included access to the site only from South County Line Road (no access off outh Wiggins Road), the site is located along a major transportation corridor (County Line Road is a four-lane divided highway) where industrial development is encouraged and the project enhances economic development within the city.

The project’s positive aspects weren’t enough to deter neighbors from expressing their objections, sometimes loudly. Kilton, on two occasions, had to remind some members of the audience who were speaking out of turn that distractors would be removed from the chambers.

“These are never easy decisions for us, balancing the needs of the community with our commercial needs,” said Kilton. “It’s a difficul situation because we’re seeing this in other situations where it’s impacted people but I believe it’s consistent with our needs.”

CITY OF PLANT CITY’S FINANCE DEPARTMENT EARNS

BUDGET BADGE OF HONOR

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DIANE REICHARD AND HER TEAM WORK HARD TO KEEP THE CITY’S BUDGET BALANCED.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

For the seventh consecutive year, the City of Plant City’s Finance Department has received top honors for its budget. The office has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its fical year 2022-2023 budget from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), which works to advance excellence in government finane. It was also awarded the Certifiate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for it annual comprehensive financial eport for the fical year ended Sept., 30, 2021.

In order to receive the prestigious award, the city has to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. Budget review guidelines are designed to assess how well the budget document serves as: 1) a policy document, 2) a financial plan 3) an operations guide and 4) a communications guide.

“Financial management is an essential element of city services,” said City Manager Bill McDaniel. “We’re managing tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer funds and we have to maintain integrity of those systems.”

The key financial trategist for the city’s $96.4 million budget is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Diane Reichard, a certified public acountant who earned a Master’s degree in Accounting from University of South Florida. She’s also a Certified Gvernment Finance Officer (CGFO) and Certified ublic Finance Officer(CPFO).

Reichard has worked for several city governments since her career began in 1986, including Leesburg, Ocala, Temple Terrace and Plant City. “I’ve always worked for cities so coming to Plant City seven and a half years ago was a natural fi,” said Reichard.

She and her staff ork with the City Manager to forecast the revenues the city will receive and the expenditures the city will incur each fical year. The resulting official document is kwn as the Municipal Budget and serves as a plan for how the money that comes into the City of Plant City will be spent to operate and maintain the city.

“It’s always challenging because there’s always more needs than money,” she said. “We can think of 101 things we’d like to do but we have to be realistic about what we can accomplish in a fical year.”

Sometimes unexpected expenses require attention after the budget’s been approved. At Monday’s city commission meeting, they adopted an amendment to this fical year’s Capital Improvement Budget to appropriate funds for Water Treatment Plant 5. The Procurement Department published Invitation to Bid for the project on Sept. 14, 2022. Five bids were received with the lowest bid, from KAT Construction, totaling $9.53 million, a larger sum than budgeted, thanks to record inflation and supply chain issues. Even though the City had been setting funding aside since 2012 to pay for the project, the total saved for the project was $6.545 million. Working with McDaniel, Reichard made budget adjustments to make the project financially viabl.

“We’re glad she’s on our staff and undestands how these monies can be moved from one bucket to the next to take care of immediate needs,” said McDaniel.

Reichard is definiely an expert at planning, organizing and directing budgeting, accounting, auditing and financial eporting functions. “Nobody gets as excited as I do when it comes to money,” she joked. All kidding aside, she said the City is in great financial shap.

City of Plant City’s budget can be viewed at www. plantcitygov.com/finane.

City of plant city chief financial fficer helps keep the city’s budget balanced.

TITI AND TITO: Michelle Webb sent us this photo of her pups Titi and Tito enjoying the beautiful weather in Dover.

LOCAL STUDENTS WIN 2023 SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS

THE ARTISTS WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT AN AWARDS CEREMONY MARCH 9 AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Sixteen local high school students are being recognized for their submissions to the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The students join a legacy of celebrated authors and artists including Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates and Andy Warhol, all of whom received recognition in the Awards when they were teens.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s largest, longest-running scholarship and recognition pro-

gram for teenage artists and writers. Established in 1923, it’s celebrated teenagers for their unique vision and voice in 28 categories, including architecture, painting, flash fiction, poetry, printmaking, video game design and more. This year, 1,288 student submissions were reviewed and the regional judges had the tough task of narrowing them down to 275 art awards and 87 writing awards, including 81 Gold Awards, 86 Silver Key Awards and 195 Honorable Mentions. Award recipients will be recognized at an awards ceremony on March 9 at Blake High School.

GOLD KEY AWARD WINNERS INCLUDE:

„ Amariah Cruz, The Drought, Film & Animation, Durant High

„ Evelyn Perez-Granados, The garden of life, Drawing & Illustration, Strawberry Crest High

„ Erison Vail, A child’s eye, Drawing & Illustration, Strawberry Crest High

„ Jamie Lu, To: Maria Cacao, Short Story, Strawberry Crest High

SILVER KEY AWARD WINNER INCLUDES:

„ Leonardo Velazquez, Work Title, Film & Animation, Durant High

HONORABLE MENTION AWARD WINNERS INCLUDE:

„ Amelia Bitting Mirrorball, Drawing & Illustration, After a Long Day, Art Portfolio, Strawberry Crest High

„ Brooke Barnes, Fish in the Sea, Film & Animation, Durant High

„ Kennedie Clinton, Mon Kussey vs Waffles, Film & Animation, Durant High

„ Ahana Ellasetty, Shallow Breathing, Digital Art, People, Mixed Media, Strawberry Crest High

„ Skye Diaz, Love, Drawing & Illustration, Durant High

„ Havyn Hines, Losing Innocence to the Cynics, Drawing & Illustration, Strawberry Crest High

„ Jazmin Hernandez, Getting Ready, Film & Animation, Durant High

„ Briseida Islas-Rubio, So what am I?, Drawing & Illustration, Strawberry Crest High

„ Natasha Jurman, Time’s Passing, Drawing & Illustration, Strawberry Crest High

„ Alayna Penrod, Blur, Photography, Strawberry Crest High

„ Douglas Villatoro, Lost Brother, Film & Animation, Durant High

Cruz’, Perez-Granados’, Vail’s, and Lu’s works will be submitted to the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and will have the opportunity to compete at the national level and be recognized during a ceremony at Carnegie hall in New York City in June.

“We are proud to partner with the district to showcase the talents of our young artists and writers and give them a platform to express their creativity on a local and national scale,” said Hillsborough Educa-

tion Foundation CEO Kim Jowell. “It is important to celebrate their work that embodies critical, analytical and conceptual thinking and develops skills that will assist them throughout their education and career.”

The work of these young artists and writers will be on display at the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery on The University of Tampa campus from March 8 - 18. The exhibition is open to the public between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Tuesdays - Fridays and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Saturdays.

STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH STUDENT EVELYN PEREZ-GRANADOS EARNED A GOLD KEY AWARD FOR HER DRAWING, THE GARDEN OF LIFE.

STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH STUDENT ERISON VAIL EARNED A GOLD KEY AWARD FOR HIS DRAWING, A CHILD’S EYE.

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK: MEET THE WOMEN HELPING BUILD SOUTH FLORIDA BAPTIST HOSPITAL

Alex DeYoung wanted to grow up in her father’s footsteps. Her dad’s a contractor and, like him, she loved the construction industry. He encouraged her to pursue her dreams and become an engineer, a field dominaed by men.

“In my graduating class at Florida State University there were about four women out of about 50,” she recalled. “In general in the construction industry there’s not many women.”

Barton Malow Assistant Project Manager, Julia Davis, knew she wanted to put her talents to work in the industry since she was a little girl. “I was always building things with Legos or erector sets,” she said. After earning a degree in mechanical systems design from Penn State, she realized she was not satisfied with a dsk job. “Being at

the construction site and seeing what’s on paper becoming three-dimensional is fascinating for me,” she said.

DeYoung and Davis are both working the project to build the new South Florida Baptist Hospital. “This project is really special to me because it’s the fist hospital I’ve been able to see built from the ground up,” said Davis. “I spent my days making sure my scopes are going correctly per the documents.”

Though more women like DeYoung and Davis are joining the construction industry than ever before, they still make up a very small portion of the workforce. According to The National Association of Women in Construction, only 10.9% of the construction workforce is made up of women.

In addition to DeYoung and Davis, other women helping to build the new South Florida Baptist Hospital include Project Engineer La’Toya Tyson, Virtual Design + Construction Manager Lis Lay and Senior Cost Analyst Olga Dunham, all employees of project contractor Barton Malow. These and other women are being recognized during the fist full week of March, when Women in Construction (WIC) Week is held nationwide to celebrate and honor the role of women in the construction industry.

“Inclusivity and diversity in the workforce is a growing goal for Barton Malow Builders,” said Barton Malow Senior Director Matt Wood. “Women in the construction industry was almost unheard of when I started in this business 35 years ago but now they’re some of our most valuable team members.”

Other women who’ve been instrumental to the project’s success are South Florida Baptist Hospital President Karen Kerr and Director of Operations Beth Tancredo. “It’s great we’re partnering with Barton Malow and they’re focused on diversity in the workplace but really focusing on women,” said Kerr. “These ladies play a big part in this project and it’s great to be able to celebrate these women who’re having a positive impact in the construction industry.”

The original South Florida Baptist Hospital opened in 1953 and has undergone 12 major additions, renovations and expansions since then. The new 420,000 square-foot hospital will feature 146 private rooms (with room to expand if necessary), 26 ICU beds, a 30-bed emergency department, four interventional/cardiac Cath suites and an eight bed surgery center. An 85,000 square-foot medical office building will include physician offices, outpatient laboratory, imaging, rehabilitation, wound care, infusion services and administrative offices.

The $326 million project, which broke ground in August 2021, is scheduled to open this fall.

“When this project is completed we look forward to providing great healthcare to our community for years to come,” said Kerr.

For more information, visit www.baycare.org.

SPORTS PLANT CITY ESCAPES WITH EXCITING WIN OVER NEWSOME

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

After opening their season with a 7-4 win over Freedom last Tuesday, Plant City made their way to Newsome on Friday as they searched for a 2-0 start to the year.

As is the norm for the Raiders’ Friday matchups, junior starter Chase Mobley would take the mound for Plant City, but not before they would have an opportunity to swing the bats in the top of the first. After a strikeout put one quick out on the board for Plant City, junior Colin Pellicer got out in front with a 2-1 count before going the other way with a hard line drive to right field that managed to get past the Wolves’ right fielder, rolling all the way to the fence as Pellicer made his way all the way to third on the play. With the early go-ahead run just 90 feet away, Newsome’s infield crept in before senior Zane Wright rolled a ground ball to shortstop. As Pellicer broke on contact, the throw came home but wasn’t in time as Plant City took a 1-0 lead and Wright reached first safely. And, in another fortunate mistake in favor of the Raiders, an ensuing pickoff attempt to first was thrown low, getting past the first baseman and bouncing to the fence as Wright was able to advance to third on another error from the Wolves’ defense. A strikeout gave Newsome two outs in the inning, one good pitch away from escaping the jam with just one run allowed, but a passed ball allowed Wright to come home and Plant City immediately held a 2-0 lead as they made their way onto the field for the bottom of the frame.

Early in the inning Mobley was seemingly cruising, starting the contest with a four-pitch strikeout on an elevated fastball before drawing a weak fly out to shortstop for the second out of the inning, but backto-back base hits had Newsome threatening and a passed ball moved runners up to second and third. A walk loaded the bases and another subsequent walk allowed Newsome’s first run to come across, cutting the Raiders’ lead to 2-1, but Mobley would escape the inning with only one run allowed as the following hitter ended the inning with a flyout to center.

And in the second, Plant City wasted no time adding on to their lead. After a long first at bat, Mobley continued to battle before blasting a leadoff double to right center. A ground out to short gave the Wolves’ their first out but the slow roller allowed Mobley

to advance to third. A four-pitch walk put senior Ray Cowen aboard and another long at bat to Deven Gonzalez resulted in a full count hit by pitch, loading the bases with one out as Pellicer once again stepped into the box with a huge opportunity to extend the Raiders’ lead. And with the chance in front of him, Pellicer didn’t let the moment go to waste as he roped a bases-clearing double down the left field line to give the Raiders a 5-1 lead in the second.

“We actually got out of our game,” head coach Mike Fryrear said. “We usually like to bunt and move guys over and we started to clog up the bases with some of our bigger guys. We had some clutch hits early but they also sort of gave us the game a little bit early too. We were taking until we got a strike and sometimes we were striking out without even putting the bat on the ball, but if we put the bat on the ball and put pressure on teams, we’re going to be really deadly.”

Heading into the bottom of the frame after a long top half of the inning, Mobley offered a walk to open the inning. A slow ground ball to first in the next at bat resulted in a miscommunication for the Raiders’ defense, not only allowing both runners to reach safely, but allowing them to advance to second and third with no outs. But despite the dangerous start to the inning for Newsome, Mobley responded strong as he struck the next batter out on a hard breaking ball in the dirt before responding with another strikeout on a power fastball. The next batter was intentionally walked to load the bases and Mobley immediately got ahead of the following hitter, drawing a fly out to center in a 1-2 count to retire the side.

In the top of the third, Plant City was held off the scoreboard for the first time in the contest as their three hitters were retired in order and senior Logan Figga entered the game to pitch in relief for the Raiders.

A trio of walks to start the bottom half gave the Wolves’ their third bases loaded opportunity in as many innings, this time coming with no outs. A sac fly cut the Raiders’ lead to 5-2 and Pellicer continued his big night by gunning down a runner at third on Newsome’s double steal attempt for the second out.

“Without his double we don’t win the game,” Fryrear said about Pellicer. “He’s a high-energy guy and we’ve been working really, really hard on his catching too, he may not be the best in the county but he

competes and that’s what I love about the guy. We worked on that at practice because we’ve been struggling to throw guys out so every day we’ve been doing our drills, trying to make it more game-like, and it paid off.”

Another walk put runners at first and second for the Wolves, but a strikeout from Figga ended the threat.

The Raiders were once again retired in order in the top of the fourth and senior Tanner Rollyson took the mound in relief, working his way through the inning with just one baserunner allowed via a one-out walk, but Newsome rallied the following inning to draw even. After a single opened the bottom of the fifth, a soft hit to right field put runners on second and third as the Raiders’ defense was shaded left, opening up the opportunity for a standup double on the opposite field hit. A strikeout notched the first out of the inning but a balk allowed the run from third to score, cutting the Wolves’ deficit to just 5-3 as the trail runner moved to third. A line out to right marked the second out of the inning, but once again Newsome came up big as their next two hitters flipped a double down the left field line and roped an RBI line drive single to left center to knot the contest up at 5-5. Wright was then brought in from the bullpen and immediately brought Newsome’s big inning to a close with by inducing a fly out to center, but the damage had been done.

And while the Raiders had little to show offensively since their productive first and second innings, junior Wellington Hehn got Plant City back on track in the top of the sixth with a leadoff base hit, advancing to second quickly as a throw behind him at first from the Newsome catcher was low and slipped past the first baseman and into right field. Senior Wyatt Fordham then fell into a 2-2 count before punching a base hit to right, giving Plant City runners on first and third, followed by a sac fly to center from Cowen to push the Raiders back out in front 6-5.

Wright remained on the mound in the bottom of the sixth, striking out the first two batters before conceding a base hit to right field, but didn’t allow the Wolves to take advantage as a fly ball to shortstop moved the contest to the seventh. The Raiders were unable to add any insurance in the top half of the seventh and Wright once again emerged from the dugout looking to seal the Plant City victory and move them to 2-0 on the year. After the leadoff hitter reached

base on a hit by pitch, Wright quickly fielded the ensuing bunt attempt and notched the first out of the inning as the runner moved to second. Once again, Newome laid down another bunt and once again, Wright made the play. With two outs and the tying run just 90 feet away at third, Wright took the count to 2-2 before getting the final out by way of a swinging strikeout to clinch the thrilling 6-5 victory.

“Wright is mid-to-upper-80’s and we know he can do it,” Fryrear said. “The thing is, he catches too, but I think we’ve found our closer and he’s going to do that job every year. He’s athletic on the mound, fielding those bunts, I don’t know if any other guy fields those bunts besides maybe Mobley. He fields his position, he threw strikes, he didn’t walk guys and that’s half the battle right there.”

Plant City dropped their first game of the season on Tuesday in a 6-4 loss against Lennard, but will look to get back into the win column as they host cross-town rival Strawberry Crest on Friday. For the Chargers, they will also enter the contest at 2-1 following wins over King and Middleton after opening the season with a 2-0 loss at Sickles.

“It felt like, as a coach, that I had to coach almost pitch,” Fryrear said. “It was unbelievable. I haven’t had to coach like that for a very long time. I usually like to just let the players play but even when we were up it felt like we were behind. We hit the ball tonight but we also struck out nine times. We didn’t play our best ball tonight and that’s saying something to beat a really, really good team like Newsome. They’re going to win a lot of games this year so to beat a team like that when you’re not even playing your best?

Mobley didn’t have his best stuff, Tanner was sore, Figga never walks guys, so it was just one of those innings but we battled. All that conditioning that we do in the fall and all the mental preparation we do, it’s about who’s going to be the tougher guys. We battled every inning and every pitch and that’s what it’s going to take to win ballgames this year.”

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

The Raiders came away with a 6-5 win over the Wolves to move to 2-0 on the year.

DURANT CRUISES PAST SPOTO

After opening the season with a 4-2 loss against a strong Plant team, Durant baseball notched their first win of the season with a 13-0 victory over Brandon last Thursday. On Tuesday, they moved to 2-1 with a 6-0 shutout win over Spoto.

Junior Nick April-Gath got the start for the Cougars as he took the mound in the top of the first, making quick work of Spoto’s first three hitters as he induced two soft ground outs and a fly out to open the contest and bring Durant in for the bottom of the frame. While the Cougars were held without a baserunner in their first at bat, April-Gath once again worked through the second without trouble as he started the inning with a pair of ground outs before notching his first strikeout of the contest.

one of his own, a single to left field, driving home Rowland and giving Durant a 1-0 lead. With runners once again at first and third, junior Tyler MacPherson rolled a ground ball to shortstop — what initially looked like it would result in an inning-ending double play — but the throw to first pulled the first baseman off the bag allowing a second run to come across to score.

By the third, April-Gath was in rhythm and cruising on the mound as he struck out the side to end his night. The Cougars were held scoreless in the bottom of the frame and Durant turned to sophomore Jack Brooks in the fourth, striking out the side himself.

In the bottom of the fourth Rowland once again came up with another big at bat as he launched a triple into the right center gap, driven home on a sac fly from Ortiz on the next pitch to give Durant a 3-0 lead. Brooks allowed two baserunners in the top of the fifth but worked out of the jam easily with a

baseman, allowing him to trot home with ease. Brooks allowed a leadoff single in the sixth, followed by a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs, but he once again battled back by inducing a flyout to center and another inning-ending double play.

Durant tacked on two more in the bottom of the frame as Oderio reached on a walk and eventually came all the way around to score on an error in the outfield from Spoto, followed by an RBI single from MacPherson. And in the seventh, Durant turned to another sophomore in Lonnie Coburn to close the contest, throwing a perfect inning with three strikeouts to seal the 6-0 victory for the Cougars.

While Spoto was able to string a few hits together here and there, they were never much of a threat for the Cougars, allowing Durant to get their bats going before a major matchup against Gaither on Thursday.

“Any time you play against (Gaither head coach Nelson North) he’s prepared, so it’s going to be a tough one,” Durant head coach Butch Valdes said. “It’s a good test, especially getting ready for Plant City after them, then going right into Sickles and the

Saladino Tournament, so this is where everything starts rolling. Spoto was decent, they swung the bat well, so it was a nice warm up.”

But arguably more importantly than getting the offense in form was the way the Cougars were able to utilize their pitching in the matchup, turning to April-Gath and a pair of sophomores in Brooks and Coburn for a scoreless contest that in-turn allows them to enter Thursday’s cross-county game with Rowland, senior Preston Rogers and senior Gavin Florio — the Cougars’ top three arms — all well-rested.

“That’s what we’ve been counting on,” Valdes said. “We’re deep on the pitching staff so games like these are important where we can get with those guys, they can throw and keep us in the game, we can score a few runs. It’s huge to have all three of the horses ready to go on Thursday.”

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

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR

“Does the footlong corn dog count?

If not, then Willie Nelson.” - Ashley Saunders

“CeCe and For King and Country!”Karen Cullins

“None, I was very disappointed in the lineup this year.” - Leslie Carlisle

“Neal McCoy.” - Michelle Austin

“Willie Nelson and Lynyrd Skynyrd.”James Alexander

“For King & Country!” - Stepheny Scott Silverling

“Aaron Tippin, Sammy Kershaw and Collin Raye.” - Betty Messick

“Sara Evans and Chris Young.” - Jody O’Steen

“Christopher Bridges, aka Ludacris.”Valerie Rush

“Skynyrd.” - Richard Magann

“Walker Hayes.” - Pamela Riner

“Josh Turner!” - Pat Walkowiak

“Ludacris!” - Amanda Hartnett-Knol

We asked Plant City: What Headline Entertainment are you most excited to see at the Florida Strawberry Festival this year?

Shirley Hope

Shirley Hope, 83, of Plant City, born on Jan. 27, 1940, in Ala., entered into eternal rest on Feb. 20, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Terrell Burner Crosby

Terrell Burner Crosby, 71, of Plant City, born on May 11, 1951, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 23, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Doris Ann White

Doris Ann White (Drawdy) 80, of Lithia, Fla., born on Aug. 28, 1942 in Anderson, S.C., entered into eternal rest on Feb. 25, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

BEST BET

MONDAY, MARCH 6

STRAWBERRY GRAND PARADE

1 p.m. in downtown Plant City. The Florida Strawberry Grand Parade is back for 2023, led by Grand Marshal Paul Davis. The parade route will head north on Evers St., west on Reynolds St. and come to an end at the Strawberry Festival Grounds.

THURSDAY, MARCH 2 - MARCH 12

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

10 a.m. at 303 Berryfest Pl. The Florida Strawberry Festival will kick off on Mach 2, with gates opening at 10 a.m.and the Midway opening at noon. With $2 off f the gate admission of $10 for patrons 60 years or older, the festival’s fist day will feature events like the Deep Fried Strawberry Shortcake on a Stick Relay, a senior citizens drawing and Rekindled Bits of Grass performing at the Publix Showcase Tent.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

BLUEGRASS JAM!

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. This is an open invitation for local Bluegrass musicians and fans to

come to the Krazy Kup loft and jam, clap hands, stomp feet and enjoy! Krazy Kup holds their Bluegrass JAM on the fist Saturday of every month.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8

FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY

VETERANS

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Federal, state and local opportunities are constantly changing. If you’ve served any time in the military, retired or non-retention, and would like to review your benefis please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday. Walk-ins welcomed or call 813-704-5800 to set a specific tim.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

OPEN MIC NIGHT

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN

3 to 6:30 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. The Plant City Strawberry Classic CruiseIn is back on Saturday, March 18, rain or shine. Cars and trucks of all makes, models and years can register for free starting at 3 p.m. Live music by DJ John Paul Gasca.

MONDAY, MARCH 20

PLANT CITY GARDEN CLUB

MEETING

9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 303 N. Evers St. The Plant City Garden Club will host their monthly meeting at the First United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall. There will be a coffee meet and greet at 9:30, followed by a general meeting at 10. March’s meeting will feature guest speakers from the Plant City Solid Waste Department, discussing recycling do's and don'ts. For more information, contact Christy Linke by email at clinke3173@aol.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 26

UNITED FOOD BANK SNEAK PEAK EVENT

2 to 4 p.m. at 702 E. Alsobrook St. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the United Food Bank of Plant City’s Sneak Peak Event that was originally scheduled for Sunday, March 19 has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. The event will feature an opportunity to get a fist look at the Food Bank’s brand new building, along with hors d’oeurvres served and public remarks at 3 p.m. RSVP is required prior to attending the event, and it can be done by calling 813763-4660 or 813-245-2244.

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

LAST FRIDAY IN DOWNTOWN

5 to 9 p.m. at 110 N. Collins St. The Last Friday in Downtown Food Truck Rally is held with a new theme each month. There will be live music, an expanded exhibitor market, a bounce house, a scavenger hunt, food trucks and more. The event is family and pet friendly and all are recommended to bring chairs and blankets. March’s Last Friday theme will be Easter!

To have your event included in our calendar, visit the calendar section of our website at www.PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 2

High: 84 Low: 62 Chance of rain: 9%

FRIDAY, MARCH 3

ONLINE Follow us on social media: @PCObserver on Instagram, @PlantObserver on Twitter and Plant City Observer on Facebook.

FORECAST WEATHER

High: 84 Low: 67 Chance of rain: 10%

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

High: 83 Low: 63 Chance of rain: 24% SUNDAY, MARCH 5

82

61

of rain: 21% MONDAY, MARCH 6

83

SUNRISE/SUNSET

9%

MOON PHASES

(C) 2022 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

STRAWBERRY

Richard Kessler caught this photo of a lounging bull as he watched the trafficoll by on Midway Road in Plant City.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture