4.12.18 PLCO

Page 1

PLANT CITY

Observer

Learn about the field of athletic training. PAGE 7

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 5, NO. 41

FREE

FOOD WAR ON I-4

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018

YOUR TOWN

A food truck battle partnered with Discovery Quest for a fun-filled weekend. See Page 4.

Generations of

triumph Courtesy of Emily Hurlburt

Day 4: Emily Hurlburt with Juana and her family in Pasakquim.

Using Smart Snacks to change lives Students at Bryan Elementary raised money for familes in Guatemala.

Courtsey Photo

Dancing in the Dark Prom season is upon us and we want to add some extra pizzazz to your memorable night! We’re partnering with Krazy Kup for a prom night photo contest for Strawberry Crest, Plant City and Durant High Schools. We know you’ve danced yourself into exhaustion so submit some photos of your big night and you can win Plant City’s award winning coffee. Snap a photo of you and your friends at the dance, eating dinner in your fanciest outfits or even getting ready and you could win a gift card to Krazy Kup. Tag your photo on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #pcoprom to enter. The winner will be announced in the newspaper and gift cards can be picked up at the Plant City Observer.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A group of fifth graders at Bryan Elementary are reshaping lives across the globe. Students in Karen Beck’s gifted class created a Smart Snack that they sell at school each Friday. The snack mix is comprised of corn flakes, banana chips, pretzels, dark chocolate chips and a sourced “interesting fact” for $1.25. It helped provide families in Guatemala with a life-altering gift. Emily Hurlburt, a former student of Beck, went on a trip to Guatemala with her global leadership class from Hillsborough Community College to build stoves among different villages with Masons on a Mission. Each stove costs $150 to build and she reached out to her former teachers for assistance prior to going. Beck said when her students found out about Hurlburt’s goal they decided to adopt her as their project and donated the proceeds from their Smart Snack to buy a stove. “The purpose of this project was to teach us how to run a business, use social skills and handle money,” Madison Roney, one SEE SNACKS PAGE 5

Breanne Williams

Railfest Month

Breanne Williams

The cloggers range from 4 years old to 47 years old and constantly dominate at competitions.

Plant City’s Clogging Connection has been making waves across the nation for nearly 32 years.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

For nearly 32 years a hidden gem in Plant City has been drawing participants from across the state as it quietly and consistently brought home hundreds of awards and recognition. Clogging Connection was started in August 1986 by Deborah Conn and her son Jamie Conn. As the years passed several generations of the Conns have practiced their moves on the studio floor along with talented dancers from across the state of Florida. “We call ourselves the ‘Island of Misfit Toys,’” Jamie Conn, direc-

tor of Clogging Connection, said. “Anyone is welcome to join us. We have fun and that’s what I’ve always told them, if you are passionate and having a good time you will be successful. If you’re not enjoying it, don’t do it.” The competition team is free for anyone to join, all they need to do is pay for the costume and competition fees. It has built its foundation on being the place to call home for those who otherwise may never have found their niche. All ages can participate and currently there are approximately 30 team members ranging from SEE CLOGGING PAGE 5

The Railfest committee received one of the highest honors around Monday evening at the Plant City City Commission Meeting when Mayor Rick Lott proclaimed April 2018 will officially be known as Railfest Month. Lott said the railroad has been a part of Plant City life since the 1880s and played a key role in shaping the town. The Union Station Depot became an active passenger train stop in 1909 and was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Because of all of the work the museum does for the community and due to the magnitude of the annual event he encouraged all citizens and visitors to attend Railfest and stop by the depot and viewing platform.


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4.12.18 PLCO by Plant City Observer - Issuu