4.6.23 PLCO

UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS SHOW

SPARKMAN WINS ANOTHER TERM

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

All the votes have now been counted and incumbent city commissioner Michael S. Sparkman won another term Tuesday, according to unofficialesults released by the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Election Craig Latimer, with all precincts reporting. Sparkman, with 55.62% of the vote (985 votes) beat out challenger and political newcomer Jeremy Griner who received 44.38% of the vote (786

votes). While Sparkman had a lead in the polls with Vote by Mail and Early Ballots (Sparkman’s 730 to Griner’s 486), Election Day voters favored Griner (300) over Sparkman (255) but that late-surge wasn’t enough to propel him to the win.

There are 22,261 registered voters in Plant City. In this week’s election, 1,774 voters cast a ballot, a dismal 7.97% voter turnout. In accordance with Florida statute, the fist unofficialeturns will be reported and certified onApril 6 at 5 p.m., after provisional ballots and Vote By Mail cure affivits have been reviewed

PLANT CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT’S TWO NEW K-9S COMPLETE TRAINING AND GET TO WORK

Who let the dogs out? The Plant City Police Department…because its newest canines, Dex and Odin, have completed a 480-hour training program offered by the Hillsborough County Sheriff ’s Office and, along with their handlers, are patrolling the city’s streets to keep residents safe.

The new K-9’s are Odin, a German shepherd whose handler is Officer Quentin Garrell and Dex, a Belgian Malinois and German shepherd mix, whose handlers is Officer Michael Zaccaro, who’s been an officer for 14 years.

Dex is Zaccaro’s second K-9. His retired dog, Leto, who he got in 2015 and retired last year, lives in a kennel on his property.

In training, the dogs bonded with their handlers as they learned how to perform basic commands like “sitz” (German for sit) and “platz” (German for down) along with various situational responses, including tracking humans through smell, knowing how to respond when under fie and detecting narcotics, including methamphetamine, cocaine and heroine.

“We started out by building a bond with the dog and learning basic obedience skills,” said Zaccaro. “The dog has to learn to do what you tell it to do so there’s a lot of knowledge that goes into training them.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

and any additional votes tabulated. Although the greater percentage of voters cast their ballots before election day, hundreds trickled into City Hall to vote in-person, including Plant City residents Matt Wendt and Debbie Gray.

Wendt, who’s lived in Plant City for 44 years, tries to vote in every election. “If you don’t like the ways things are you can’t complain if you don’t take the time to go vote and express your feelings,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

SPECIAL MEETING SCHEDULED TO DISCUSS FATE OF 1914 PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY CENTER

The City Commission will hold a Special Meeting on Mon., April 24 at 5 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall, located at 302 West Reynolds Street. The purpose of the meeting, which is open to the public, is to discuss the status of the city-owned 1914 Plant City High School Community Center.

The historic three-story brick structure located at 605 North Collins Street, was built in 1914 for $40,000. It served as Plant

City High School from 1914 to 1955 and later became Tomlin Junior High School. The school was deeded to the City of Plant City in 1975. The building hasn’t changed much from its original structure, save for necessary repairs and maintenance work and the addition of an elevator in 2000.

The building is currently being occupied by the East Hillsborough Historical Society (EHHS), which was established in 1974 with the mission of preserving Plant City’s history.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

NEWLY TRAINED K-9S DEX AND ODIN ARE WORKING WITH THEIR HANDLERS TO KEEP PLANT CITY’S STREETS SAFE.

Photos courtesy of Theresa Sessions

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Officer Quentin Garrell with K9 Odin.

RUFF RIDERS AT GRACE MANOR

Teddy bears aren’t just for kids, as the residents of Grace Manor can attest. Members of the Rough Riders visited the assisted living facility to distribute dozens of teddy bears that brought smiles to residents’ faces. The Rough Riders pay homage to the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, formed for the purpose of creating and perpetuating a living memorial to the unique accomplishment of President Theodore Roosevelt and the members of the 1st Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, known as “The Rough Riders.” To learn how you can support the Rough Riders through the donation of new, unused teddy bears or to request a Teddy Bear Run call (813) 248-1898 or email the request to office@ tamparoughriders.org

WHEELCHAIRS 4 KIDS

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

Members of Turkey Creek Masonic Lodge No. 248 presented 13-year-old Katelyn with her fist power wheelchair, the Air Hawk, one of the lightest and most compact power chairs on the market. Katelyn has spina bifida and ues arm crutches but she has had more than 30 surgeries and needed a power chair to help her keep up with her peers.

APRIL IS WATER CONSERVATION MONTH

The Southwest Florida Management District’s Governing Board declared April, historically one of the driest months of the year, Water Conservation Month at its March meeting. Lower your monthly water bill and do you part of save hundreds of gallons of water by:

* Only running your washing machine and dishwasher when they are full.

* Use the shortest washing cycle for lightly soiled loads; normal and permanentpress wash cycles use more water.

* Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water.

* Scrape, don’t rinse, your dishes before loading the dishwasher.

* Install high-efficiey shower heads, faucets and toilets.

* Check your home’s irrigation system for leaks.

* Turn off our irrigation system and only water as needed.

* Don’t leave sprinklers unattended. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn sprinklers off

* Use a hose with a shut-off nzzle when washing the car.

* Consider installing a rain barrel with a drip irrigation system for watering your landscaping. Rainwater is free and better for your plants because it doesn’t contain hard minerals.

* Use your water meter to check for leaks. Turn off all aucets and water-using appliances and make sure no one uses water during the testing period. Wait for the hot water and ice cube makers to refill and for regeneration of water softeners. Go to your water meter and record the current reading. Wait 30 minutes, using no water during this period. Read the meter again. If the reading has changed, you have a leak. For more information about water conservation, visit www.watermaters.org/ conservation.

When Plant City Warrior 9U baseball player Eli Littrell walked up to the plate for his fist at-bat during a tournament on April 1, he was expecting to hear his name called out by a male announcer followed by his walk-up song “Not Today Satan.” Instead, he heard his mom announce his name and the song from the movie Sing, “Oh, My Gosh”, a remake of the Sir-Mix-a-Lot hit “Baby Got Back.” His bat hit the plate and he busted up laughing. “He was the fist batter so all the other players knew what was coming,” said mom Becca Littrell.

As each batter walked up to the plate, songs like “My Milkshake”, “Pretty Girls Walk”, “I Feel Like a Woman” and “Don’t You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me” blared over the loudspeaker, much to the chagrin of the players.

The music worked magic, though. “The funny thing is that every single player got a hit and made it on base except for one player who got hit by a ball but still got on base,” said Littrell. “I joked that maybe we should do this more often.”

While the sound of bats hitting balls was magical, what happened after the game was equally as astounding. One of the parents, Jacob Duncan, posted the video to TikTok. By the following morning, it had a million views. On Monday, Sports Center and ESPN contacted them for permission to post the video on their Instagram page. As of Wednesday, it had more than eight million views.

SEWARD

Have

Passmore.

A PLANT CITY APRIL FOOL’S DAY TRICK GOES VIRAL

JOHNSON’S SCULPTURES SAY GOODBYE

Abraham Lincoln tipped his hat to the City of Plant City as he rode through the streets of Plant City to the Train Depot, where he and the other Seward Johnson sculptures that’ve graced our city streets for four months will return to New Jersey. “The Arts Council is always so excited when we know the sculptures are arriving and the day they leave, it’s as if the party is over,” said Arts Council President Marsha Passmore.

no fear, Plant City residents. “They’ll be back before you know it to be enjoyed,” said

Plant City’s Telecommunicators Are Heroes in Headsets

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Think a career in law enforcement is exclusive to police or fiefighers?

Think again. There’s an alternative.

Sitting in a dimly-lit room nestled in the center of Plant City Police Department (PCPD) headquarters, telecommunicators sit in front of multiple computer monitors, donned in headsets, and answer emergency and non-emergency calls for service, protected from natures’ elements.

The center is staffed 24/7 by fie fulltime employees. It’s in desperate need of telecommunicators. The center is so understaffed, the supervisor is also working a phone shift.

Police Chief James Bradford said telecommunicators are critical team members for public safety response. “The 911 operators and dispatchers (telecommunicators) are the fist people to answer the telephone and gather pertinent information about an emergency,” he said. “An experienced, well-trained telecommunicator can gather so much important information that can help fist responders form an early understanding as to what is actually happening at an emergency scene.”

Telecommunicator III Sarah Collins has been working with PCPD since 2010. “My father was a fiefigher so I’ve always kind of been around fist responders my entire life,” she said.

When she fist applied for the position, she didn’t really understand what the job entailed but once she saw the comms center, she was hooked. “I walked through the comms center and knew it was going to be something I would enjoy,” she said. “I love a challenge and like to solve puzzles and that’s what it seemed like, listening to people that called in, figuring out what they needed and sending them the right help.”

Collins, who quickly learned the ropes during the required training period, works a 12-hour shift, alternating between 36 and 48-hour workweeks. She is paid weekly. No two shifts are the same. Telecommunicators dispatch police, fie and medical units but they also answer normal calls on the non-emergency line. One caller might want to leave a message for a detective. The next might need a fiefigher. The next might be someone who found a loved one deceased. “We stay on the line and are a calming presence until someone can get to them,” said Collins.

Particularly difficultor her are the medical calls when a child is having a seizure. “My own son is an epileptic and I’ve been through what those parents are going through so they get me more emotional than others because it hits so close to home,” she said.

Collins said being able to multitask is critical to the job. “You have to be able to make split decisions in less than a second and they can be life or death decisions,” she said. Communication skills are also important. “I’ve learned how to really listen to people and how to ask questions in a way that the caller understands what information I’m trying to get and making them feel comfortable with providing that information,” she said. Patience also helps. “Even in simple calls, if someone is really agitated and calling me names, I can keep my cool,” she said.

There is satisfaction in doing the job well, said Collins. “We’re the fist fist responders and without us police, fie and medical wouldn’t know where to go,” she said. “We’re a team here, and there’s a lot

K9s Dex and Odin and Their Handlers Keep Plant City’s Residents Safe

MICHELLE CACERES

During the first day of training, Zaccaro noticed differences between Dex and Leto. “I could show Leto how to do something one time and he’d learn it,” he said. “Dex is more hard-headed and he was slower to learn but as an experienced handler I knew to be patient.”

Leto was also slower and methodical while Dex is quicker. Dex also had a stronger toy drive. He bit Zaccaro on the first training day. “It was an accident, he bit my hand because I had the toy in my hand and was a little too slow for him,” he said. “He likes to play a lot more and he’s quicker when you show him a toy, he’s also an excellent tracker.”

Pleasantly for Zaccaro, Dex is not as vocal. “When he’s riding with me in the car he doesn’t bark, Leto barked constantly for eight years, he was very protective of the car,” he said.

Unlike traditional police vehicles, Zacarro’s SUV has a padded backseat complete with water bowl and a heat alarm installed to monitor the vehicle’s interior temperature.

Stuffed in the door’s pockets is a leash and a rubber ball so the officer can give the dog a pee and play break during downtime.

Zaccaro, Garrell and the two other canine units patrol all of Plant City’s streets. Being a canine officer means needing to use deductive reasoning to know when to use the dog and when to keep him in the car. “Prior to arriving at a scene you have to decide whether you’re going to take him out of the vehicle or not,” said Zaccaro.

After Zaccaro finishes his shift, he takes Dex home. After a long day riding in the car, he’s ready to get some much-needed time-off.

“When we get home I park, open the door and he goes straight to his pen to lie down,” he said.

After a good night’s sleep, Dex and his handler are ready for another day on the job. “I’m confident in Dex,” said Zaccaro, who can’t imagine working in another department. “I love dogs and get so much enjoyment out of this, it’s is the best job here.”

to learn but it’s a rewarding place to work.”

Applicants must be graduates of an accredited high school or possess an acceptable equivalency diploma and have one year of experience in general clerical work

or telephone operaiton. Pay rates starts at $18.04 per hour. The position requires availability for all shifts 365 days a year. For more information about the position call (813) 659-4235.

Telecommunicators are the first firstesponders and Plant City needs more of them.

STAFF WRITER

The two newly-trained K9s join two other canine units already patrolling the city’s streets.

Officer Michael Zaccaro with his K9 Dex.

COPS CORNER

This week on Cops Corner, Plant City Police investigate: An attempted scam, burglarized vehicles and a mutual altercation.

MARCH 24

TRY AS YOU MIGHT

500 block of W. Ball St.

Vehicle burglary: An officer met with the victim at the listed location in reference to an attempted theft of his vehicle.

SCAM I AM

4700 block of Westwind Dr.

Fraud: An officer met with the victim at the listed location in reference to a home rental scam.

MARCH 25

UNLOCKED AND LOADED

900 block of E. Laura St.

Vehicle burglary: An officer met with the victims at the listed loca-

tion who both stated that someone entered their truck last night without permission and stole a wallet.

STICKY FINGERS

1800 block of James L. Redman

Pkwy

Theft: An officer met with the store manager of a business at the listed location who reported a theft from the business.

FIGHT NIGHT

2400 block of E. Cherry St. Simple battery: An officer met with two individuals at the listed location whom both advised that they were in a verbal altercation that turned into a figh. The individual that was struck fist stated that he did not want to press charges and signed a waiver of prosecution. The officer was further advised by a Plant City

employee that he wanted both individuals trespassed for fighting Both individuals were subsequently advised and a trespass warning was completed before leaving without further altercation.

MARCH 26

MAKING A SCENE

E. Park Rd. / Jim Johnson Rd. DUI refusal / NVDL: An officer responded to the area at the listed location in reference to an individual driving recklessly and throwing beer cans out of the window. One individual was subsequently arrested for DUI refusal and driving without a valid driver’s license.

BYE-CYCLE

1000 block of Fairwinds Cir. Bicycle theft: An officer met with the complainant at the listed loca-

tion who stated that their child’s bicycle was missing.

MARCH 27

YOU GOTTA GO

700 block of W. Reynolds St. Trespass after warning: Officers responded to the residence at the listed location and made contact with an individual that was previously advised of a trespass warning on March 4. The individual was subsequently arrested for trespass after warning and transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

MOVING TARGETS

2900 block of Laurel Meadow Ct. Vehicle burglary: An officer responded to the residence at the listed location and learned that multiple unlocked vehicles in the area were entered.

PLANT CITY

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UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS SHOW SPARKMAN WINS ANOTHER TERM

Gray also considers voting a civic responsibility. “These are the people that run our town and they need to know what the people want,” she said. After the results came in, Sparkman gathered with a large group of supporters at his home. “It’s been a long journey and I’ve been very successful in doing a lot of good for our community and hope to continue that,” said Sparkman. “Plant City’s citizens can depend on me doing the right thing on their behalf.”

This win marks Sparkman’s tenth term. He will be recognized by the Florida League of Cities next month for 30 years of service as a commissioner for the City of Plant City.

For Griner, who celebrated the end of the election with his supporters at Root’s, it isn’t the end. As a fist-time candidate, he plans to take the lessons he’s learned.

“It’s been an amazing experience and grass-roots campaign thanks to my wife and all my supporters,” he said. “I want to congratulate Mike Sparkman, he’s done an amazing job for such a long time and I know he’ll continue to work hard for the city.”

When asked about his plans for the future, Griner was resolute. “Plant City hasn’t seen the last of me,” he said.

Sparkman will be sworn in at the June 12th commission meeting at City Hall. For more information about the election results visit www. votehillsborough.gov.

MICHELLE CACERES

STAFF WRITER

NEW LIFE FOR OLD CHURCH BUILDING

NEW HOPE AT THE CORNERSTONE CHURCH BUILDING TO BE CONVERTED TO MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT.

The vacant church at 315 North Collins Street is about to get new life. Principle Capital, Inc. has submitted an application to the city to convert the historic building into Cornerstone Luxury Living, a 25-unit residential apartment complex with commercial space on the fist floo.

Principle Capital director of operations Thom Buck, a longtime Plant City resident and the company’s president, Indira Sears, who lives in Brandon, was looking for a project closer to home. “Plant City has a historic charm to it and that drew my wife and family here and we’ve literally fallen in love with it,” said Buck.

When they started looking at real estate, the New Hope building was for sale and it instantly appealed to Buck. Although they knew the project would be monumental in scope, they fell in love with the people who owned the church and were sympathetic to their plight, having lost much of its congregation during the COVID pandemic. Principle Capital purchased the 15,441 square-foot brick building, constructed in 1922, in November for $1.784 million.

“This project is the one we’re the most excited about because we’re able to save this building,” said Buck, a longtime Plant City resident. “We were really seeking out a challenging project that wasn’t just a ‘tear it down and replace it with something’ project, we wanted a historical building that we could preserve.”

Initial plans call for 10 commercial tenant spaces, ranging in size from 453 square-feet to 631 square-feet on the fist-floor (in the buildin’s basement, a rare find in Florida) with tudio and onebedroom apartments on the second and third floos.

“Our vision for the commercial space is similar to Armature Works in Tampa but on a smaller scale,” he said. “We’ve already been approached by owners of high-end barbershops and several eateries, some that are in Armature Works, who are interested in this project.”

The residences will be upscale apartments with high-end finishins. Even though the building’s interior will feature modern finishs and state-of-the-art technology, the building’s exterior will maintain it’s old-world charm. Plans include repairing, resealing and repainting the brick. Modern building code requires windows that open so the stained glass

windows with Biblical depictions will be removed and repurposed, possibly for local churches. Some stained glass will be kept in specific windws and new modern windows that meet residential apartment code but have stained glass characteristics will be installed.

“Once it’s finished it will look lie it did in it’s heyday on the outside but then inside you’ll be transmitted into the future,” said Buck. “The hundred-year old building will still be relevant to the community.”

He hopes the project will continue to revitalize the downtown area. “What causes a small town to die has nothing to do with retail development and everything to do with if there’s residential there,” he said.

“Go to any small town and if you put large malls and Walmarts on the outskirts of town, its downtown businesses aren’t able to generate revenue after the sun goes down.”

Buck said the key to long-term survival for small towns is building more residential units to support the downtown districts.

“If you do, businesses will come and stay because after 5 p.m. there’s till people downtown,” he said.

The construction company working on the project is Plant City-based Harpro.

“Anytime we do a project in the United States we try to use local vendors as much as possible and Harpro is located in downtown Plant City and has plenty of experience,” said Buck.

Building plans have been submitted to Plant City’s Development Review Committee (DRC) for approval. Buck hopes the project will be completed within the next 16 to 18 months but the building itself will ultimately determine the timeline. “It’s a 100-year old building and we won’t have a full grasp of what it needs until we complete the interior demolition, which we’re hoping to begin in the next 30 - 45 days,” he said.

Harpro owner and contractor Jeff Bessey is up to the task. “We have to do things gingerly because there are a lot of historical items in the building and we’re trying to preserve and repurpose everything we can,” he said. “I’m really fond of trying to keep character to the structure.”

Buck is thankful for city officia, including the city manager, who’ve been responsive and supportive of the project.

“They’ve been so gracious with their time and we hope we’re going to do justice to the building,” he said.

MICHELLE CACERES

STAFF WRITER

CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS SEEK VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE ON BOARDS

GET INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT BY BECOMING A VOTING BOARD MEMBER.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

The City of Plant City and Hillsborough County is looking for community members to volunteer on a committee or board. Volunteers play a key role in providing advice and feedback to elected officials o a variety of issues.

While the benefis of serving aren’t monetary, participating on a committee provides a unique opportunity to lend your voice and expertise to help shape decisions and services that impact the community, expand your network and meet new people and gain a broader understanding of how municipal government works.

“I think Plant City’s citizens should get involved,” said city manager Bill McDaniel. “We create and have these opportunities for citizens to get involved in their local government and what better way to learn about your government than to serve on one of these boards.” McDaniel is also thankful for the citizens who’ve consistently served as long-term board members. “Boards are important to our operation as a city government,” he said.

While some Boards require specialized experience, others just require a willing heart and mind.

Applications can be obtained by contacting the City Clerk’s office at 813-6594200 Ext. 4118 or by sending an email to CityClerk@plantcitygov.com.

Current openings include:

Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council: The Council’s primary mission is to support and facilitate a uniform historical marker program throughout the County. Board members serve three-year terms.

Code Enforcement Board: This Board

hears and decides alleged violations of all codes and ordinances in the city. Members serve three-year terms and must reside within city limits. Board meets the second Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m. in City Commission chambers.

Hillsborough County commissioners (BOCC) are seeking residents to serve on several County citizen advisory boards and councils. Residents interested in seeking appointment must reside in and be registered voters in Hillsborough County. Some positions require specific xperience in a related-field These are voluntary positions; members serve without compensation. Applicants may apply to more than one board but may only serve on one board at a time unless specifially approved by the BOCC.

All applicants must submit a completed Questionnaire for County Appointments and a Standards of Conduct form, which must be completed in their entirety, signed and dated. Forms and information about each position are available on the County’s website at www.HCFLGov.net. The application is due by close of business on April 27. Appointments will be scheduled for a meeting of the BOCC in May or June.

Building Board of Adjustment, Appeals and Examiners: One position is vacant with a term of four years. Board meets bi-monthly.

CareerSource Tampa Bay: Thirteen terms are expiring. Consideration for appointment will be given to representatives from the following categories: Business (8 positions), Workforce (4 positions) Education and Training (1 position). Board meets quarterly on the third Thursday at 9 a.m.

Code Enforcement Board: Three member positions and two alternate member positions are vacant. Terms are for three years. Board meets monthly.

County Internal Audit Committee: One

position is vacant. Term is for two years. Committee meets quarterly.

Cross Connection and Backflw Control Board: Two new positions have been added. Terms are four years. Committee meets quarterly on the second Monday at 1 p.m.

Electrical Board of Adjustment, Appeals and Examiners: One position is vacant. Term is for two years. Board meets quarterly.

Health Care Advisory Board: One position is vacant. Term is four years. Board meets monthly on the third Thursday at 3 p.m.

Health Council of West Central Florida, Inc.: Three positions are vacant. Terms are for two years. Board meets the second Thursday, every other month, at 3:30 p.m.

Historic Preservation Challenge Grant Program Grant Review Committee: One position is vacant and two terms will expire. Terms are for two years. Committee meets annually in June.

Historic Resources Review Board: One position is vacant and one term has expired. Board meetings monthly on the the third Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Hospital Authority: Four terms will expire. Terms are four years. Board meets quarterly.

Land Use Appeals Board: Two alternate positions are vacant and one member term will expire. Terms are for three years. Board meets monthly on the fist Friday at 1:30 p.m.

Mechanical Board of Adjustment, Appeals and Examiners: Three positions are vacant. Member terms are four years. Board meets quarterly.

Plumbing & Gas Board of Adjustment, Appeals and Examiners: One position is vacant. Term is for two years.

Board meets quarterly.

Tampa Sports Authority: Two terms will expire. Terms are for four years. Board meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Value Adjustment Board:One term will expire. Term is for one year. Must own a homesteaded property in Hillsborough County. Board meets fie to seven times per year.

WARMER WEATHER MEANS WANDERING WILDLIFE

SPRING BRINGS MORE ACTIVITY FROM FLORIDA’S WILDLIFE.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Spring is here and local wildlife species have taken note. As Florida’s temperatures rise, many native wildlife species become more active for migration, breeding, feeding and nesting. This increased level of wildlife activity means that people could be more likely to encounter wildlife and should take precautions to avoid disrupting these natural behaviors and prevent conflics with wildlife.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has offered the following tips on how to enjoy and help conserve Florida wildlife during spring:

BATS – Spring is when bats start to give birth and raise their young. Bat maternity season starts April 15 and runs through Aug. 15. During this time, it is illegal to block bats from their roosts. If bats are excluded during maternity season, flightlss baby bats can be trapped inside the structure and die. Now is the time to do final spring checks of your home for any entry points, ensure that no bats are present and make any necessary repairs. If bats are found, take steps to properly install a bat exclusion device before bat maternity season begins. Exclusion devices, which allow bats to exit a structure but block them

from returning to roosts, are the only legal and appropriate method to remove bats from your home or building.

ALLIGATORS- Warmer temperatures means alligators are more active and visible. While serious injuries caused by alligators are rare, keep a safe distance if you see an alligator and never feed one, swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours (alligators are most active between dusk and dawn), keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge and call FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR if you believe an alligator poses a threat to people, pets or property and the FWC will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation.

BEARS - As spring temperatures warm, bears become more active, increasing the opportunities for potential conflics with people. During this time of year, females are teaching their cubs what to eat and the skills necessary to survive. Help make sure that garbage, pet food or bird seed in your yard is not part of that learning experience by removing attractants from your property. If bears can’t find ood sources in your yard or neighborhood, they will move on.

GOPHER TORTOISES - Spring days are a good time to spot a gopher tortoise, as Florida’s only native tortoise becomes more active, foraging for food and searching for a mate. If you see gopher tortoises or their half-moon shaped burrow entrances, it is best to leave them alone. You can help a gopher tortoise cross a road by picking it up and placing it in a safe location along the roadside in the direction it was heading. But only do this if it is safe for you to do so and remember the tortoise is a land animal, so never attempt to put it into water.

INJURED AND ORPHANED WILDLIFE - If you find a aby animal, it is best to leave it alone. Young animals are rarely orphaned; a parent may be nearby searching for food.

You can report common wildlife you think could be injured or orphaned to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

SNAKES – Keep an eye out for snakes in your yard or when hiking, as they could be encountered more as the weather warms. What should you do if you come upon a native snake? Just give them space. Snakes don't purposefully position themselves to frighten people and usually try to avoid encounters.

For more information on wildlife, visit www.fwc.com. If you witness someone committing a wildlife violation, please contact the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline: 888-404-FWCC (3922) or text 847411 (Tip411) with keyword “FWC” and information about the violation.

CUTEST CRITTER

Do you want Plant City to see how cute your favorite pets are? Send your pictures to Staff Writer Taylor Jenkins at tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

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

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE

Did you take the Observer with you on vacation? Send your pictures to Associate Editor Taylor Jenkins at tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

INDIA: Mike Tatum took his copy of the Observer to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on his trip through India. Here he is with the Plant City Observer and his driver RJ at a restaurant in Delhi.

PLUG-IN HYBRID S60 A PATH TOWARD ALL-ELECTRIC FOR VOLVO

By 2025, Volvo aims to sell 1.2 million cars globally. And come 2030, the onceSwedish carmaker plans to go fully electric. Toward that goal, the 2023 S60 is a promising start, one must say. A powerful rear electric motor and an 18.8 lithium-

ion battery can take the sedan 41 miles before the gasoline engine kicks in. On a 120-volt household outlet, charge time is eight hours while 240-volt will take just five hours.

Under the hood of the midsize luxury sedan, a hot-seller for Volvo, is a 2.0-liter inline-4 turbocharged power train blast-

Member FDIC

ing off a massive 455 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 523 pounds-feet of torque @ 3000 rpm. The 8-speed auto gearbox in the all-wheel-drive vehicle is sprightly in any untoward situation. And the startstop feature (auto engine stop when the vehicle halts) ensures substantial savings in fuel and weight.

You get the look, the sinister look, if you choose the Black Edition! Up front, high-gloss black accents deck up the grille, Volvo emblem, and badging, as well as wheels, window trim and mirror caps. Same goes for the rear Volvo wordmark, model name, trunk lid and darkened tail pipes. The extravagant cabin conveys an upmarket aura with a 12.3-inch digital driver display decked in shimmer graphite aluminum inlays. There is ample freedom for 6-footers in the 60/40 rear seat. Volvo Sensus infotainment (new for 2023 are Google Assistant and Google Maps), with a distinct vertical 9-inch display touch screen, is essentially made up of four tiles: navigation, media, phone and userdefined. Activate one and watch it expand while keeping the other tiles visible for future use. The surface and detail of the crystal gear shifter has been meticulously treated. Standard treats include charcoal Nappa leather seats, two-zone auto a/c, heated power front seats, air purifier, head-up display, and a leather-wrapped dashboard.

Renowned for safety, Volvo continues the tradition with dual front and side airbags, driver knee airbag, side curtain airbag, four-wheel antilock brakes, three-point seatbelts for all, side impact protection system, dynamic stability and traction control, blind spot monitor and cross traffic alert, lane departure warning/assist, adaptive cruise control, 360 surround-view camera, collision avoid mitigation/detection, tire pressure moni-

toring system and daytime running lights. Sure, it is a hybrid but don’t for a minute believe that your jaunt to the neighborhood store or on the highway will be sluggish. Resting on 19-inch diamond-cut wheels, the S60 can take off 0 to 60 mph in a mere 4.3 seconds and reach top speed of 113 mph. Apart from remarkably quick burst of speed and razor-sharp handling/ balance, the ride features high-tech luxury items. And who can beat Volvo in safety?

S60 RECHARGE AW (BLACK EDITION)

Wheelbase: 113.1 inches

Length: 188.1 inches

Height: 56.6 inches

Width: 75.4 inches

Suspension: double wishbone front, multilink rear

Steering: electric power

Weight: 4,452 pounds

Fuel capacity: 15.9 gallons

Electricity+gas: 74 MPGe

Gas only: 31 mpg combined

Base price: $57,950

Price as tested: $63,690

Web site: www.volvo.com

Nitish S. Rele operates motoringtampabay. com and Khaas Baat, and was an automotive editor/columnist for the Tampa Tribune. Email him at motoringtampabay@gmail.com.

SPORTS

DURANT BASEBALL BOUNCES BACK WITH WIN OVER BLOOMINGDALE

After a loss to Newsome ended the Cougars’ six-game winning streak, they responded with a 3-2 over Bloomingdale.

After losing 4-0 to Sickles to open Saladino Tournament play on March 11, Durant baseball rattled off a six-game win streak in which they outscored their opponents 40-10 and toppled strong opponents in Jefferson, Lennard and cross-town rival Strawberry Crest along the way. The win streak came to an end last Tuesday as the Cougars fell in a 9-4 contest to Newsome, but they bounced right back with a 3-2 win over Bloomingdale on Tuesday night and moved to 12-3 on the season.

After a long at bat from Durant leadoff hitter Nick April-Gath opened the contest, resulting in a fly out to second base for the first out of the inning, the Cougars jumped out to an early lead as senior catcher Dylan LaPointe crushed the second pitch he saw deep to right center and into the trees beyond the Bloomingdale fence, giving Durant a 1-0 lead in the first. Despite the big fly, the Cougars were unable to get anything else rolling in the top of the first but headed into the bottom of the frame on top.

As Durant took the field, it was Gavin Florio on the mound for the Cougars. With just one earned run allowed over his last 15.2 innings entering the night, Florio kept right on rolling with a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the first.

Blaine Rowland led off for Durant in the top of the second, reaching on an infield

single to open the inning. After a fly out to center marked the first out, Rowland then advanced to second on a pickoff move that skipped past the Bloomgindale first baseman and to third on a deep fly out to right, but wouldn’t come around to score as a ground out ended the threat. And in the bottom of the second, Bloomingdale punched back. After Florio fell behind 2-0 to the Bloomingdale cleanup hitter, the next pitch was taken deep for a home run to left that tied the contest at 1-1. But despite the leadoff trouble, Florio would get a pair of flyouts from the next two hitters he faced, concede a walk and end the inning by inducing a ground out to short.

LaPointe would reach scoring position in the top of the third with a two-out double down the right field line — his second extra base hit in two at bats — but didn’t move any further.

Florio allowed two runners in the bottom of the third but was able to work through the inning without any damage done. Durant was held down without trouble in the top of the fourth and Florio worked through the bottom half with ease, sitting down all three Bloomingdale hitters he faced with a pair of strikeouts.

Durant then retook the lead in the top of the fifth. After senior third baseman Aidan Welsh led off the frame with a single to right, he moved into scoring position on a wild pitch one pitch later. Junior Devin Suero

then rolled over a slow ground ball to third base, beating the throw to first and setting up runners at first and third with no outs. April-Gath then grounded out to short and Suero’s speed allowed him to advance safely to second as Welsh scored from third, giving the Cougars a 2-1 lead. LaPoint reached on a hit by pitch and junior Noah Morales put another run on the board with an RBI base hit to left, driving home Suero and extending the Durant lead to 3-1.

Florio worked through the fifth and sixth without trouble and looked to finish the complete game effort as he took the mound for the bottom of the seventh — Bloomingdale’s last chance to close the 3-1 gap — but despite the stellar outing, a leadoff walk and a double to left center spelled the end of his night as Rowland entered the contest in relief, facing runners on second and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly from the first hitter Rowland face allowed the runner to score from third and the trail runner to advance to third, narrowing the gap to 3-2 and putting the game-tying run just 90 feet away with one out in the inning. After taking the next hitter to a full count, Rowland was able to get the second out of the seventh on a check swing strikeout before slamming the door with a deep fly ball to straightaway center field — tracked down by Suero for the final out.

Florio’s final line featured six innings pitched, three hits allowed, three walks,

two earned runs and five strikeouts — now sporting an earned run average of just 2.04, an opposing batting average of .198 and notching 25 strikeouts over 24 innings. With strong nights at the plate, LaPointe now sits with a 10 runs batted in while leading the Cougars in batting average at .467, home runs with four, doubles with four and hits with 21. Morales’ RBI single brought his total to a team-high 15 runs batted in. Behind LaPointe, Rowland’s batting average also sits above the .400 mark at .425 with 17 hits on the year.

Durant will return home on Thursday as they host 2-11 East Bay.

Across town, Plant City notched their fourth win over their past seven contests with a 9-2 win over Riverview on Monday but fell to 6-9 on the season with a 3-1 loss against Lakeland Christian on Tuesday. And Strawberry Crest improved to 9-6 on the year with a 4-2 win over Wharton on Tuesday.

PLANT CITY SPRINTER BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD

Junior Trae’Veon Smith took gold while setting

After a season in which Plant City’s Track and Field team boasted 14 district championships, 23 regional qualifiers, and three state qualifiers in both the boys and girls 400 meter relay teams and Kaden Mizell in javelin, the Raiders’ team entered 2023 looking fairly different after a wave of seniors graduated last spring — specifically on the boys’ side.

But despite inexperience, Plant City continues to impress as their boys team finished fourth and their girls team finished fifth in their most recent meet — the George Steinbrenner Invitational.

“When you lose that many seniors and studs, it’s kind of hard to get back to where you were to a degree,” head coach Drew Martucci said. “But from a different standpoint, we’re almost a stronger team this year based on depth in each event — anywhere from distance events all the way to throws right now. We’re adding two pole vaulters that have scored tons of points for us this year and that’s something that we didn’t have last year. When you put all of that together, we were top-four at Steinbrenner out of a 30-team invite and that’s with a couple of injuries. They’ve really exceeded my expectations this year.”

On the boys side, one of the Raiders most impressive performers this season has come in the form of junior Trae’Veon Smith. In his first year on the track team, Smith broke through this past weekend as

a

new school record in the 100-meters with a time of 10.53 seconds.

he won gold in the 100-meters and silver in the 200-meters and set a new Plant City school record with his time of 10.53 seconds in the 100-meters.

“It felt good,” Smith said. “People that I’ve never even seen before were coming up to me and thanking me, it felt good. It even felt totally different when I ran it because the week before I was working on my blocks, I didn’t even really know how to come out of my blocks and power out of them, but I’ve been working on them, I did that and everything felt different… and I still think I can be 10 times better, way better. I know how to come out of my blocks now, I know how to use my power coming out so who knows what the future holds, maybe I can break another record. The goal right now is to break the 200 meter record. I’m not going to overhype myself, I’m ranked third right now in the 100 meter and I’m ok with that, but when the time comes for me to race those other two we’ll see what happens. But my goal now, it’s to break the 200 record.”

Along with Smith, fellow junior Jason Davis notched a top-five finish in the 200 meter. Additionally, Smith, Davis, Alejandro Trejo and Roderick Jackson finished fourth in the 4x100 meter relay, then Smith, Manuel Nava, Jordan Futch and Chase Dexter finished fifth in the 4x400 meter relay. Rounding out the day for the Raiders’ boys, Jordan Futch finished third in the triple jump, Javan Futch finished fourth in discus and 12th in shot put, Ni’jah Drawdy finished 10th in both the discus and shot put, Noah Defrancesco finished sixth in the 800 meters, Eli Dawson

finished seventh in the high jump and Christian White finished ninth in the pole vault.

But on the girls side of the team, things are a bit more familiar, highlighted by a 4x100 relay team — composed of Makenzie Holmes, Jalayah Shaw, Makayla Holmes and Erica Holloman — that won districts and qualified for states in 2022 before all returning to Plant City together in 2023. The unit says that they’re more comfortable with each other in their second year running together.

“We all hold each other accountable,” Shaw said. “So it’s like, when we make a mistake we know that we can tell each other, ‘come on, push through it.’ I feel like we’re able to push each other harder to get where we want.”

“I feel like our chemistry as a team has grown stronger,” Holloman continued. “Looking back at last year, since it was our first time together, it doesn’t even compare to this year. This year is totally different, it’s way better.”

This past weekend, the relay team took first place in the 4x100 but has loftier goals for their year as playoffs approach. As state qualifiers in 2022, the goal for 2023 is to have their place on the podium.

“Even though we did well last year, I feel like we can still do better as a team, we still have times that we need to break,” Makayla Holmes said. “We know that we can still do better, so we’re going to push ourselves to our limits.”

On top of the girls’ finish in the 4x100 relay last weekend, Makayla Holmes fin-

ished second in the long jump, seventh in the 200 meters and 10th in the 100 meters, Makenzie Holmes finished third in the long jump, fourth in the triple jump and eighth in the 200 meters, Holloman finished fourth in the 200 meters and fifth in the 100 meters and junior Jazlyn Torres took sixth in the discus.

“There’s been a lot of pleasant surprises,” Martucci said. “We didn’t really have those high expectations starting over from scratch on the boys side really, with the exception of four or five returners that scored some points last year, but they’ve really come out of the woodwork. With the girls, those expectations were always there for the season. We’ve had some hiccups along the way, we’re experiencing some injuries that have been nagging, but they’re coming along.”

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

TAYLOR JENKINS

SPORTS WRITER

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

DURANT FLAG FOOTBALL SEES UNDEFEATED RUN END AGAINST LENNARD

After starting their 2023 season with a 7-0 record, outscoring their opponents 23046 throughout the seven-game win streak, Durant flag football lost their first game of the season in a 20-12 final against Lennard on Monday.

After Durant’s junior varsity lost their first contest of the season earlier in the night as well, moving to 6-1-1 with a quiet 13-0 loss to the Longhorns, the Cougars’ varsity squad took the field. Opening the game on offense, Durant wasted no time putting six on the board as senior Ki’ajanae Gordon took the first snap of the game at quarterback, finding fellow senior Maggie Lauber deep down the right sideline for the long touchdown pass. While Lauber was unable to connect with her intended receiver on the extra point attempt, the Cougars had built a 6-0 lead in the blink of an eye.

On Lennard’s first offensive possession they marched right down the field themselves with two consecutive first down

completions to move into Durant territory. A short completion on the ensuing first down followed by an incomplete pass on second left the Longhorns facing third down, but a short completion put them within a yard of the first down marker and a run to the right side gave them a new set of downs at the nine-yard line. Lennard scored on the next play but also couldn’t convert on the extra point attempt of their own and the contest was knotted at 6-6.

A pair of incompletions opened the Cougars’ next drive but Lauber was able to pick up a first down herself on third, rolling out of the pocket and racing past the first down marker. On the next play, Lauber found freshman Layla White for the completion before White flipped a lateral to freshman Jordan Smith who raced up the right sideline for a first down at midfield. A pair of completions and a penalty on Lennard then moved Durant up to the Longhorns’ 20-yard line — one-yard shy of a first. A completion to Gordon put the Cougars at the 11 and one

play later Durant struck again as Lauber found senior Emma Harnage in the end zone for six on the first play of the second quarter. The Cougars were once again stopped on the extra point attempt but were back out in front 12-6.

And as quickly as Lennard’s next possession began, it was brought to an end as a pass up the left sideline was tipped by Gordon and intercepted by Lauber before being returned to the Longhorns’ 32-yard line. But despite plus field position, the Cougars’ would be unable to take advantage after moving inside the Lennard 20 before unsuccessfully converting on the eventual fourth down and turning the ball over on downs. With one more opportunity to get on the board before halftime, Lennard flew down the field and ultimately found the end zone before converting the first successful extra point attempt of the contest to take a 13-12 lead into the break.

In the second half Durant was unable to turn their chances into points, forcing a turn-

over on downs on Lennard’s first possession of the third quarter but giving possession right back with a quick interception. The Longhorns extended their lead with a long touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, taking a 20-12 lead, and were able to hold off the Cougars’ late comeback attempt to hand Durant their first loss of the season.

At 7-1 on the year and still 3-0 in district play, the Cougars remain atop the 2A District 6 standings as the playoffs move closer. With one final regular season game remaining, Durant will return to action next week as they head to East Bay for a matchup with the 7-6 Indians on Thursday.

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

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

After a 7-0 start to the year, the Cougars fell to the Longhorns for their first oss of the year on Monday.

“Jurassic Park. A Goofy Movie. Midnight in Paris.” - Ashley Saunders

“My top fie are: Labyrinth, Princess Bride, The Neverending Story, The Goonies, The Breakfast Club.” - Julie Talley Bearry

“The Sting. Spy Games. Dirty Dancing. The Breakfast Club.” - Karen Major

“Dirty Dancing.” - Melanie Smith

“JAWS!” - Jennifer Betancourt

“The Sandlot” - Vic Hamilton

“The Shawshank Redemption, Cast Away, Crimson Tide.” - Ali Haider Nazir

“Billy Jack, Act of Valor, Saving Private Ryan.” - Bob Norton

“Urban Cowboy, Grease, Employee of

the Month.” - Bud Oliff

“Rocky 1-4.” - Vincent Tony

“E.T. and Pretty Woman.” - Linda Pettinger Bevis

“Princess Bride and Labyrinth.” - Bill Garoutte

“Anne of Green Gables.” - Evelyn Alderman

“Home Alone.” - Courtney Williams

“Steel Magnolias, Bridges Over Madison County.” - Vickie Davis-Herrington

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” - Jeff Wallnofer

“Fried Green Tomatoes.” - Ashley A. Barnes

“Armageddon.” - Lisa Westmiller Johnson

“Double Indemnity and Laura.” - Stacy Sydenham

Family

e Bank of Tampa

Complete Care

HCC Plant City Campus

Hillsborough Title, Inc.

Oasis Auto Bath

Pediatric Care - Dr. John Aime

Plant City Black Heritage

Plant City Photo Archives, Inc.

Prosser Verner Foundation, Inc.

Walden Lake Car Wash

Sourini Painting, Inc.

Door Prizes/Donations

Aspire ASR Sta ng

e Bank of Tampa

Beef O’Brady’s

Berkshire & Hathaway Home Services

Bruton’s Cigar Shop

Busy Bee Laser

Chick- l-A Plant City

Citizen’s Trust Bank

e Club at Eaglebrooke

Courtney Paat - State Farm Farm Credit

Fazoli’s

Golf Etc.

Kiwanis Club of Plant City

Ling Realty

Minuteman Press

MLM Custom

Patterson Companies

Pepin Distributing Company

Publix Super Markets

QGS Development

Quality Turf

Rita Sta ng

Roche Surety, Inc.

South Florida Baptist Hospital

Stahl & Associates Insurance

Strong Tower Insurance

Your CDB Store

PlantCityObserver.com

Sue Bales

Sue Bales, 77, of Mulberry, born on July 21, 1945, in Blountsville, Ala., entered into eternal rest on March 26, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Clayton Earl Yates

Clayton Earl Yates, 69, was born in Plant City, Fla., on July 29, 1953, and entered into eternal rest on March 28, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Josephine Parker Amburgy

Josephine Parker Amburgy, 93, of Plant City, born on May 11, 1929, in Caretta, W.V., entered into eternal rest on March 28, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Doris Jean Matthews

Doris Jean Matthews, 77, of Plant City, born on Oct. 29 1945, in Zephyrhills, entered into eternal rest on March 29, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Telatha Howard

Telatha Howard, 87, of Plant City, born on Feb. 24, 1936, in Bushnell, entered into eternal rest on March 29, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Melissa J. Bretz

Melissa J. Bretz, 56, of Plant City, born on Feb. 15, 1967, entered into eternal rest on March 30, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

William Cecil Everidge

Sr

William Cecil Everidge Sr., 95, a native of Plant City born on Oct. 16, 1927, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

William George ‘Bill’ Hayden, M.D.

Hayden, William George, M.D. “Bill”, 84, of Lutz, Fla., born on Nov. 20, 1938, in Owensboro, Ky., passed peacefully at his home with his loving family beside him on Saturday, April 1st, 2023, following a year of declining health. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com

M2313_4832_Wells_PNT_Comm_7-25x9-75_C.indd 1

BEST BET

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

34TH ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 2602 E. Cherry St. The City of Plant City will host their 34th Annual Easter Egg Hunt, featuring bunny photos, inflaables train rides and more with the purchase of a $5 Bunny Band. All children from three to 11 are welcome to participate and must bring their own basket. Additionally, a free hot dog and drink will be provided for all kids.

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

SPECIAL BLUEGRASS NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Grammy-Winner Clay Hess will join Florida’s own Jon Garon on the Krazy Kup stage. Clay played with with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Sierra Hull and Highway 111 and regularly picks with Ron Block and many other renowned artists. He is considered among the country’s elite of flat pick guiarists. Jon, who is a finerpicking specialist, has shared the stage with Vassar Clements, Jack Lawrence, Richard Smith and many others. Together, Clay and Jon have played many years together at a number of venues around the country. Admission is $15 and tickets can be purchased on www.eventbrite.com. Seating is limited.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

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.

MONDAY, APRIL 10

PLANT CITY GARDEN CLUB MEETING AND WORKSHOP

9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 5539 County Rd 579. The Plant City Garden Club will host their monthly meeting at the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden. There will be a coffee meet and greet at 9:30, followed by a general meeting and workshop at 10. April’s meeting will include a Microirrigation with Patio Container Workshop. The cost of the workshop is $5 if you want a micro-irrigation kit, however you may attend without purchasing a kit. Registration is only required if you are purchasing a kit — one per household — and you must be registered by April 5. You can register at: www.apr10patiomicroirrigationprivate. eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Sally Murphy by email at sally. murphy6@aol.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12

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 advan-

tage 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.

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN

3 to 6:30 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. The Plant City Strawberry Classic Cruise-In is back on Saturday, April 15, 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.

EARTH, WIND AND GARDEN

“FRIENDS” TRIVIA NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E J. Arden Mays Blvd. Bring your friends and family to grab a cup of coffee and head up to the loft to show off our knowledge, or just to cheer on your loved ones, with a chance to win a prize at this month’s Friends-themed Trivia Night. Teams of up to four people will compete for the chance to claim the title of Friends expert, with registration costing $5 per team.

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2001 E. Cherry St. The Plant City Garden Club will hold their annual Earth Day celebration, Earth, Wind and Garden, at the Plant City Common Gardens on the south side of Plant City’s HCC Campus. The event is free for all to attend and will feature vendors, music, food, workshops, children’s activities, garden tours, a plant sale and more. For more information, contact plantcitygarden@ gmail.com

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

PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA

1507 YMCA Pl., Plant City | 813 757 6677

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.

FORECAST

MOON PHASES

Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

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

Jessica Sandin took this photo of the sun setting over a strawberry field in Plant Ciy.

STRAWBERRY