5.14.20 PLCO

Plant City Observer

y Observer

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VOLUME 6, NO. 96

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CITY ENTERS NEXT PHASE OF MCINTOSH PARK EXPANSION City commissioners voted on seven resolutions regarding the McIntosh Preserve. The hope is for the project to be completed in 2022.

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

McIntosh Park is one step closer to becoming one of the best nature parks in the state following a vote by city commissioners on Monday to enact the next phase in expanding and upgrading the facility.

In 1998, Mike Sparkman, who was mayor at the time, played a key role in securing the McIntosh parcel for the city. The

Florida Communities Trust and the Hillsborough County Environmental Land Acquisition and Protection Program spent $1.1 million to acquire the property and then it was owned and operated by the City of Plant City.

From there, the dream began to take the shape of turning the massive property into an asset for the city.

SEE PAGE 6

PCHS BASEBALL SENDS SENIORS OFF WITH PARADE A massive line of cars cruised through Walden Lake on May 6 to celebrate the eldest Raiders.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

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Plant City resident shoots man in front yard A conversation turned deadly the evening of May 9 after Alex Antunez used an AR-15 style rifle to shoot a man in his front yard.

According to Plant City Police Department, Antunez, 26, was standing outside of his home near the 100 block of South Forest Street having a conversation with two other men. Suddenly Antunez walked away and went back inside his home, leaving the other two men outside drinking beer. PCPD said a short time later he emerged from his home carrying a black AR-15 style rifle in his hands. He pointed the rifle at one of the men at close range and shot him multiple times.

Then he turned the gun toward the other man, but according to PCPD no shots were fired at this person. Instead, Antunez fired the rife elsewhere and some of the rounds entered and damaged an occupied home on the 1300 block of East Church Street.

The homeowner reported the damage to the police.

The man who was not shot left the area on foot and later told police he was “afraid of being shot by Antunez,” according to the report by PCPD. Antunez left the scene in a red Chevrolet Cruze that belonged to his wife.

The report was shared with local law enforcement agencies and Florida Highway Patrol found Antunez in Polk County.

Warrants for Antunez were obtained by the Plant City Police Department that charged him with Murder in the Second Degree, Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Felon in Possession of Ammunition and Shooting at, within or into a Building.

Antunez is currently at the Polk County jail and is awaiting extradition to Hillsborough County. Police have not yet confirmed the identity of the victim and next of kin notification for the victim’s family is pending.

Vote by Mail requests coming soon Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer said residents can soon expect to receive Vote by Mail ballot information for the upcoming elections.

His office sent mailers out Monday and has also partnered with Tampa-area restaurants to help spread the word.

“Vote by Mail is really the way to go in 2020,” Latimer said in a press release.

“Getting that request in now gives peace of mind to voters looking for a healthy, safe way to vote in August and November. It’s a simple message — we deliver! We’ll deliver the election to you. It just makes sense to remind people of the convenience of Vote

by Mail when they’re ordering delivery or picking up a to-go order.”

The mailers will tell you the three ways by which you can request mail-in ballots.

You’ll be able to make the request online, by phone or by mailing an enclosed form back to Latimer’s office. Vote by Mail ballots can be mailed back with no postage necessary, dropped off at any Early Voting site during that period or dropped off at the four county Supervisor of Elections offices.

Florida’s Primary Election Day is Aug. 18 and the General Election will be held Nov. 3. Vote by Mail ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on either Election Day. Visit VoteHillsborough.org for more information.

CareerSource Tampa Bay reopening offices If you need to use the resources of CareerSource Tampa Bay and don’t have easy access to a computer, you’re about to be in luck.

The Tampa Center location, 9215 N. Florida Ave. Suite 101, Tampa, will be reopened effective 8 a.m. May 19 with limited services, CSTB announced Tuesday.

The center will reopen in phases and this first phase is geared to help people who do not have regular computer access or who have limited computer skills. The Resource Room will be open to help with basic reemployment assistance services, job search registration or assistance and access to

computers, printers and faxing services.

CSTB staff will have some ability to help people file for Reemployment Claim Assistance, which is typically done at the DEO unemployment office. A one-hour time limit will be in effect for Resource Room usage.

Customers are encouraged to wear face masks on site and must sanitize their hands upon entry. Anyone displaying COVID-19 symptoms will be denied entry.

“We have been working diligently and taken much thought and consideration into this next step of reopening our facilities,” CEO John Flanagan said. “We do want to make sure that we are available to assist our customers and that we’re doing everything we can to help during this crisis in a safe and smart manner.”

Praise in the Park gets a new date Krazy Kup announced last week its Praise in the Park event now has a return date.

The coffeehouse’s annual faith-focused festival, which brings in numerous Christian bands and musicians for a day full of live music and family fun, is now scheduled for Oct. 10. Last year’s event ran all afternoon and evening, from 3 to 9 p.m.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

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A NEW TWIST

ON TEACHER APPRECIATION

Plant City-area schools have been organizing drive-through events to celebrate their teachers lately.

Justin Kline

Above: PCHS students made signs to support their teachers. Right: PCHS staff fed teachers and wished them well.

JUSTIN KLINE AND BREANNE WILLIAMS

As tough as it’s been for local students to transition to e-learning from home, teachers have also had a hard time adapting to work in the time of COVID-19 and not seeing their kids in person anymore.

Area schools know how hard their teachers have been working to keep molding young minds to do great things, so they’ve been showing their appreciation the best way they know how.

Drive-through events are becoming a phenomenon for everything from birthday parties to goodbyes, as they offer a safe solution to the problem of getting together to celebrate something when we’re all supposed to be standing no closer than six feet apart. Plant City schools’ teacher appreciation events have clearly been inspired by these drive-throughs because the spirit’s the same even if the methods are different.

Two examples of area schools throwing drive-through parties for their teachers came on May 7.

Early in the afternoon, Trapnell Elementary School’s faculty threw an island-themed drive-through teacher appreciation celebration at its bus ramp.

All Trapnell teachers who drove up to the school that day got to chat with principal Krissy Perkins and AP Cortney Hastings, were given goodies and got to chow down on free Kona Ice in any flavor they wanted.

The goodie bags contained thank-you

cards, $30 Amazon gift cards and candy, and the “COVID jars” were filled with hand lotion, lip balm, gloves, Listerine strips, bath bombs and inspirational quotes.

“Everybody at home, we wanted to see them face-to-face and give them a little bit of our love and appreciation for what they do every day,” Perkins said. “It has not been easy. We serve a population that is very needy emotionally, socially, financially and academically, and it’s been difficult for our staff because they’re always here to provide those needs for our kids. Not being able to see the kids to give them advice, give them hugs — it’s taken a toll. So today, we’re just honoring all of those staff members for what they do every single day and letting them know it’s gonna be OK.” Later that afternoon, Robinson Elementary School said goodbye to one of its most beloved teachers.

Armetta Jackson has been with the Hillsborough County School District for 44 years and no one would have anticipated her final year with her students and coworkers would be so rapidly and severely disrupted. Robinson had a choice: let Jackson slip away into the night quietly and unnoticed, or host a massive farewell that abided by social distancing while still making her feel appreciated. It’s no surprise they chose the latter.

It was a stage fit for royalty. Staff at Robinson crafted a staging area with a pink backdrop and two prominent chairs of honor. Jackson started the event sitting in her throne, but she didn’t stay there very

Observer staff

Above: Trapnell Elementary staff pose with goodie bags and “COVID jars” for teachers.

Others: Robinson Elementary threw a big party for Armetta Jackson.

long. A parade in her honor slowly weaved its way toward the front of the school and she jumped up to wave and share loving messages with everyone who drove by.

As a surprise for Jackson, the school had her son, who is a deputy for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, lead the parade. After sharing his admiration for his mother, he drove toward the exit and directed traffic so cars could come and go without an issue.

At 5 p.m., the line of cars wrapped through the Robinson parking lot. Some of the more emotional drivers even looped around for round two and got back into the steady stream. Each car would drive up and students, staff, family, friends and even a dog would lean out the windows to shout their praise and sentimental words toward Jackson.

Nearly every car came with flowers and gifts and handmade signs were taped to the front and sides of many of the vehicles that drove through. You could practically feel the community spirit radiating from Jackson and her entourage.

Students shared how much they missed her, coworkers reminisced with some of their favorite stories from over the years and several brought inside jokes to the event. When a staff member drove up with her new baby Jackson was the first to lean toward the window and ask how they were doing. Other staff quickly swarmed the car, peering through the glass and cooing over the small passenger.

Confetti was thrown, music was blared and tears were shed. It was an unconven-

tional sendoff, but one Jackson will surely never forget.

On Tuesday morning, Plant City High School teachers who drove up to the bus ramp got a ton of reminders of how much their school loves them.

PCHS set up several tents along its front sidewalk to give teachers their own goodie bags with hand sanitizer, coupons for local businesses and more, free lunch from Norma’s Plant City Cuban Sandwich Shop, snack bags from RaceTrac with chips, drinks and PayDay candy bars and cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes provided by the school’s PTA. The five teachers who are retiring at the end of the school year were seated in one of the last tents, giving drivers the chance to chat with them before they end their careers, and the last station let the drivers turn in their letters to the seniors. Students from the school also came out to the bus ramp with signs in hand to cheer their favorite teachers on.

“We’ve been planning this for several weeks and we knew Teacher Appreciation Week was last week, but our teachers had to come in last week to clean out their rooms and we didn’t want them to have to work during Teacher Appreciation,” principal Susan Sullivan said. “It worked out really well. It seems like the teachers are loving it.”

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

Wish Farms ‘Buys local, spreads happiness’

PLANT CITY

Observer

Wish Farms recently completed a giveback campaign that promoted local businesses while simultaneously supporting children in need.

BREANNE WILLIAMS OBSERVER STAFF

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com

The 10 winners selected by the company are all based in Florida. Wish Farms said they have all been adversely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Wish Farms helped both local businesses and children in need with its recent “Buy Local. Spread Happiness” campaign.

The company, which grows strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, started the giveback campaign on Instagram. It encouraged users to nominate their favorite local businesses by tagging them in comments on a variety of posts by Wish Farms. Each THE WINNERS WERE: nomination automatically added the business to a random raffle drawing and The Corner Store (Plant City) 10 winners were selected.

Krazy Kup (Plant City) The campaign ran on social media RAOK Boutique (Plant City) from April 20 to April 30 and reached Tub Treats (Plant City) nearly 13,000 users. Once the 10 winners Stein & Vine (Brandon) were drawn, Wish Farms then purchased Smartbox Company (Jacksonville) $500 gift cards from each winner and Born and Bread (Lakeland) donated those gift cards to One More Black and Brew (Lakeland) Child, a “non-profit organization that Gourmet Goodies (Winter Haven) provides shelter, services and supplies to Carrollwood Florist (Tampa) children and families in need.”

One More Child does everything from “We hope it helped raise awareness providing clean diapers and food to chilabout giving back in this uncertain time,” dren to offering safe havens for abused Clark said. “Wish Farms is dedicated to children or provide foster and adoptive our brand promise and will always look homes to children in crisis. A faith-based for creative ways to lift up those around establishment it opened its first orphanus.” age in 1904 and focuses now on providWish Farms was founded in 1922 and ing “Christian homes and services to is now a fourth-generation, family operchildren and families in need across the ated business. state and around the globe.”

“Nationally recognized for innovation, “This was a special campaign for us Wish Farms utilizes patented traceability that truly ran full circle,” Wish Farms technology to ensure quality and safety Marketing Coordinator Hailey Clark said. by tying consumer feedback to specific “It feels good to have found a way that Edited Steinberg Mayday’s 15, harvest,” 2020 a information from each we can both support the businesses we by David news release said. love and spread happiness by donating 47 Mattress 11 Shake44 ACROSS to those who need it most in our community.” maker speare’s river 1 Cotton

Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

TO ADVERTISE Call (813) 704-6850

Advertising / Richard Brame richard@plantcityobserver.com Advertising / Karen Berry kberry@plantcityobserver.com

CONTACT US

The Plant City Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. The Plant City Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100B. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

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Universal Crossword

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

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RETURNING TO YOUR ROOTS

It’s not too late to start your summer garden. If you’ve ever considered growing your own food, now’s the perfect moment to see if you’ve got a green thumb.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

One of the many trends to take off, thanks to prolonged isolation, has brought folks around the world back to their roots.

People are learning to make bread.

They’re taking up baking and needlepoint.

Woodworking projects are on the rise and art supplies are sold out nearly everywhere you turn. Part of this cultural renaissance has led people back to the soil and gardens are becoming a hot commodity once more.

The Plant City Commons Community Garden, one of the greatest hidden gems in town, has seen an uptick in memberships as more residents have an itch to get planting.

Adjacent to HCC off of Park Road, the garden has something for everyone. You can isolate while soaking in nature by strolling among its many trails. You can go bird watching or survey the unique plant life in the area. And you can become a member of PCCCG and get a plot of your own.

“We have room to build more and we operate now with the mindset of if you come, we will build it for you,” Community Gardens President Karen Elizabeth said. “We just filled two plots and built them, and we have plans now for 10 more.

I still have the space for 30 more beds. Anyone is welcome to get a tour and get some information anytime they want. Lately I’ve been here pretty much every morning and

I’m always there on Saturday mornings, so those interested are welcome to swing by.”

The benefits of gardening are endless.

An unexpected result from spending time cultivating plants is it can actually improve your health. A 2013 study in the American Journal of Public Health found those who participated in a community gardening program had a much lower BMI (body mass index) than their otherwise similar neighbors. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommend gardening for 30 to 45 minutes to help lower blood pressure.

Though a few of the plots at the garden have flowers planted, the majority are filled with fruits, vegetables and herbs. Those who grow them tend to incorporate them into their meals and thus eat healthier than if they had gone to the grocery store, as they are less likely to pick up the same quantity of produce.

Gardening has also been directly tied to stress relief. A variety of case studies have indicated those who garden benefit from having a sense of control over this little slice of life. They spend time with their minds turned off helping their plants flourish in fresh air and a calming setting.

While all of these advantages are available if you create a small garden at home, Elizabeth touched on one of the most underrated benefits of participating in a community garden instead.

“What’s great is, even if you’re just getting started and you really don’t know what you’re doing, there’s always other people

around tending their own plots that you can talk to,” Elizabeth said. “Everyone has their own tips or tricks and advice. You’ll never really be on your own because you’ll be surrounded by people that have been doing this for years and they’ll all happily help if you come to them for advice. It’s in the name, really. We’re a community garden, so we have that sense of community here.”

PCCCG memberships operate via the calendar year and are $35 annually. That fee includes your bed — which is approximately 35 square feet — soil and irrigation. The irrigation means those with busy schedules don’t have to stress about getting out to their plot every single day. They come when they’re free and their plants are fine.

The garden also has aquaponics and hydroponic programs at the location and plans to have demonstrations once things return back to normal.

Elizabeth said for those who want to start a summer garden of their own, Florida’s climate is something to heavily consider when you pick out plants. Okra, black

eyed peas, sweet potatoes, basil, rosemary and peppers all do well in the heat. Even if you’re new to gardening, she recommends you give it a go.

“I think part of that is it’s just naturally exciting to see nature at work and to be a part of that process,” Elizabeth said.

“Having flowers is one thing, but walking out and finding a new cucumber growing and things of that nature is pretty exciting to people. I think we want to nurture something. I think it’s just a natural human response to want to be caring for something that’s kind of vulnerable like our food.

There’s also something important that happens when you get connected to the earth. You feel that moment. Your whole mood changes. And you get that for free.

You get a packet of seeds and plant them and care for them and before you know it you’re picking the things they’ve grown. Its something that once you start, you’ll probably never stop. You’ll be surprised at how much you love it.”

If you want to get involved with the garden stop by and visit or call or text Elizabeth at 813-435-8111.

You can also email her at 12circle8@gmail.com.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

CITY ENTERS NEXT PHASE OF MCINTOSH PARK EXPANSION Seven resolutions regarding the McIntosh Preserve were voted on in the most recent city commission meeting.

FROM PAGE 1 BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Since 2004, approximately 120 acres of the site have been used as stormwater treatment from the City of Plant City’s canal system via an agreement with SWFWMD. In 2015, the site was opened to the public and the 363 acres became a passive recreational park. There are some rudimentary trails cut into the grass at the location and the city has $600,000 dedicated to providing additional park features.

“This is such a complex and impactful project,” City Manager Bill McDaniel said.

“We have a 360-acre natural preserve that belongs to the public, so we are trying to find the best way to be able to develop it and amenitize it to the point that citizens get the best product possible. We want them to have a slice of the Florida wilderness and natural habitat while also preserving it and making it accessible. It’s also ideally situated because of where it’s at and what it is to have a positive and significant impact on our water management strategies for decades to come.”

Essentially, the plan is to use a large portion of the park for water management and then transform the rest into a nature lover’s oasis. Walking trails, an observation tower, educational signage and lots of amenities are in the conceptual plan. McDaniel said the hope is the park can become one of the best nature preserves in the state and draw visitors from all over to Plant City. The expansion will have two miles of pedestrian trails, an elevated wildlife observation tower and parking improvements. There will also be wider family-friendly trails to offer the quickest route to the observation tower.

Following Monday evening’s vote, McDaniel now can execute a 50 percent Cost Share Cooperative Funding Agreement with SWFWMD to get a design plan rolling and for the McIntosh Indirect Potable Reuse Project. The overall cost of the IPR feasibility study and pilot project is

$600,000, which will be co-funded with SWFWMD. In total, commissioners voted on seven resolutions relating to the park.

According to the City of Plant City, the overall cost for the initial phase of the wetland expansion project, which consists of the development of the 30 percent design plans, is broken up into two portions.

The cost of the engineering services for the 30 percent wetland expansion project is $609,350 and the cost for a third-party review of the consultant’s work, a SWFWMD requirement, is $65,000, resulting in a total project cost of $674,350.

The City received $350,000 through the Florida Legislative Appropriation process (LPA0039) towards the total project cost of $674,350. The city and SWFWMD will share the remaining cost of $324,350. The city will therefore pay $162,175 for this portion of the project.

The plan is for McIntosh to act as the method of developing an integrated water management solution for the city. The park will act as stormwater treatment, mitigate localized flooding, bring a balance to the water supply and have a natural habitat preserve for the public to enjoy. By expanding the wetlands and improving the hydrology of the area the stormwater that is routed offline in the southeastern corner will be treated and reduce 3,000 pounds of nitrogen and 1,500 pounds of phosphorus from the Hillsborough River, according to the city. The city will also have the ability to hydrate the wetland with reclaimed water during dry periods to keep the wetland species that call the area home healthy.

There are three phases planned to finalize the project with the last phase not beginning until the end of 2021. The city is currently in Phase IIA and Phase IIB. “These are not the steps that get us to the end,” McDaniel said. “Let’s say we broke it up into 10 big steps. We are at step two, maybe step three. But we are moving forward.”

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

7

ANSWERING THE CALL:

ERIN SMUDE

Smude recently spent 21 days in New York City, working as a crisis nurse to help treat COVID-19 patients in one of the hardest-hit regions of the United States.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

You don’t have to look very hard to find COVID-19 horror stories these days. Erin Smude had heard many of them before she went to Kings County Community Hospital in New York City last month, and she expected the worst.

Instead, she found reasons to stay positive.

“I was fortunate to not be on a unit with a lot of critical COVID patients, so I got to see a lot of them progress, get better and go home,” Smude said. “You don’t get to hear about that a lot on the news — patients going home. The strength those patients had was very heartwarming.”

That’s what the Plant City resident has focused on since she got there and started chronicling some of her experiences on social media for her followers. Smude believes there’s not enough positivity being spread in the news cycle and hopes her experience can help ease some people’s fears.

She decided to try and get a crisis gig in New York after having her hours cut at her job in Florida which, luckily for her, only reduced her hours and didn’t lay her off. With time on her hands and sick people in need of treatment, she said she would have felt “wrong to sit at home while there’s a need”

and linked up with a staffing company. Two days later, she and 399 other nurses were deployed to New York.

She quickly learned that everything she’d learned about nursing was about to be thrown out the window when she arrived at the hospital on April 10.

“I was petrified,” Smude said. “I was so scared when I got there. It was really scary when I got to the hospital. We did a very quick orientation. Typically you go into a job and get oriented for five or six weeks.

We got an eight-hour orientation and then we were thrown into it. I had no idea what to imagine. I heard all these horror stories.”

Nursing in a crisis, she said, is nothing like what she does in her regular job.

“I had to kind of go against everything I was trained to do, with certain supplies and resources not being there and, at times, not being able to give my patients everything I felt I would have given them,” Smude said. “I had to make sure they were breathing, had the right oxygen… the conditions were not what I was used to and that was very hard for me to deal with at first. People had to keep reminding me it was different.”

Her main goal was to do whatever she could under the conditions she and her coworkers were in to treat her patients.

By the end of her stint, she felt that mission was accomplished. A strong support system went a long way for her to be able to do so.

“My first day on my unit, I was petrified and one of the other nurses that had been there a few weeks, he put my mind at ease and showed me the ropes,” Smude said. “He said ‘this is a crisis, you just do the best you can.’ The bond we formed toward the end of my assignment there was wonderful. I met the most incredible people from all over the country. That was inspiring.”

Smude’s non-critical unit was fortunate enough to not have a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), which eased her mind. She said it was hard at times to be the only person some patients would see on any given day thanks in part to strict visitation restrictions, which is something she won’t forget.

“There are patients I cared for that I will never forget,” she said. “They’re in my heart. I feel like that’s gonna impact me. As a nurse, I’ve always been very caring and I did everything that I could for my patients.

I definitely will keep this in my mind when I’m caring for patients, when I’m caring for patients that don’t have loved ones or a support system. Up there, you were their family. You were their person. For some of my patients, I was the person they saw every single day… I’m gonna try to be their biggest fan and their biggest support system. When visitor restrictions are lifted some people still won’t have that support system, so I’ll try to still be there and be their ‘family’ if that’s what they need.”

Smude said seeing people get better over time and eventually get discharged was uplifting. In one case, she said a pair of COVID-19 patients who shared a room bonded during their stay, became “best friends,” got discharged on the same day and even shared a cab ride home.

“They were a success story,” Smude said. “People are getting better. It just takes time. There’s not a for sure treatment for this. Doctors and nurses are doing the best they can with the knowledge and resources they have and how the patients present themselves when they come in.”

Smude’s time at the hospital ended May 1 and she returned to Plant City shortly afterward with a fresh perspective on her nursing career.

“It definitely made me appreciate what I have as a nurse in non-pandemic times,” Smude said. “Everything I had to do up there went against everything that I knew. I have a lot of appreciation for my resources and the people I work with.”

Have you or someone you know left Plant City to treat COVID-19 cases in New York City or other heavily affected parts of the country? If so, the Plant City Observer would like to tell your story. Email Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

Looking for an escape?

Pick up the sticks Video games are a great way to give yourself a distraction during stressful times of self-isolation.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

I’m no stranger to a good book, movie or TV show. But whenever I’ve needed to take a break from the real world, nothing in my life has ever done the job quite like video games.

I have nothing bad to say about all of the other mediums I just mentioned. It’s just that with video games, I can get everything that’s good about them with the added bonus of having some control over the outcome. I can play through someone’s story on my own terms and see it through from beginning to end more like I’m in the character’s shoes instead of being a fly on the wall.

Even if you’d rather not play through a huge story mode, you and anyone you live with (or play online with) can still get a lot out of a good game and come together when we’re all supposed to be socially distancing.

I’ve been gaming for nearly as long as I can remember and still carve out time for them between my work and fitness schedules. I’ve been doing this long enough to know, or at least believe, that everyone out there has a game waiting for them whether they know it or not. Do you say you hate video games and think they’re a waste of time, especially for kids? You just haven’t found your game yet, but it’s out there. Sometimes it even works like a wizard’s wand in the Harry Potter series: the game chooses you.

There’s no time like the present to pick up the sticks and distract yourself in a way that’s a little more engaging than binging a TV show. Here’s what I recommend for anyone in any situation.

A cheaper Animal Crossing alternative for everyone, Stardew Valley, is one of my favorite games of the last 10 years. It doesn’t hold your hand very much — which is on purpose, as the point of the early game is that you’re learning how to run your own farm as someone with no experience — but as time goes on, it opens up into so much more than just a farming simulator. It’s really four or five games in one, and you can play with a friend, too. This one’s on all consoles and PC, but it’s a perfect match for the Switch.

If you want a great story mode to sink time into, go for Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It got rave reviews and set a new high bar for a series that was already wellknown for featuring some of the best games ever made (shout-out to Ocarina of Time, which I will never get tired of playing). You also can’t go wrong with Super Mario Odyssey, a clever twist on the Mario universe that drew heavily from the excellent Super Mario 64 and got creative with his iconic cap, which can now be used to let Mario control enemies to help him navigate the game’s kingdoms.

And if you want party games, some of the best around are on Switch. I’ve had so much fun with Mario Kart 8 since it came out and the Deluxe version was even better.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate breathed new life into the series and has a massive roster where nearly all of the fighters — all video game characters, most of them pretty well-known — feel unique. The Mario Party series has always been great family fun and Rocket League, another game that’s also available on any console, fits in perfectly as a 3-on-3 soccer game that doesn’t take itself too seriously but is challenging enough to feel rewarding when you play it well.

PLAYSTATION 4

NINTENDO SWITCH If you’ve got a Nintendo Switch, you’re in good hands.

Nobody’s got a more kid-friendly lineup than Nintendo does. It also helps that their games, which you will never find on other consoles, are generally really good. If you don’t have one, here’s good news: it’s by far the cheapest.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons, one of the Switch’s newest releases, has generated a ton of buzz since launch and for good reason. The Animal Crossing series is all about life simulation in a fun, cartoony world. You’re building a home, getting acquainted with townsfolk and eventually even growing the community by building more yourself and, in the case of the newest game, claiming an island for yourself and your neighbors while making it the best place to live that you can. The level of customization is extremely deep and it’s easy to get lost in the familyfriendly universe no matter how old you are.

PlayStation 4’s lineup is better for older, more mature gamers. In my opinion, it’s also the best console out there in terms of quality exclusives. For all of Sony’s faults, locking down great games you can only play on their console is something they did extremely well.

The two games I think every PS4 owner should have are exclusives. Horizon Zero Dawn, a role-playing game set in the distant future but inspired by the distant past, puts you in control of one of gaming’s coolest women as you traverse dangerous lands and hunt down mechanical monsters while trying to save the world from a mysterious threat to all human life. I’ve never played anything quite like it, but it’s got a great adventurer’s spirit much like those classic Zelda games.

Also keep an eye out for Spider-Man. I’m a little biased here because Spider-Man was always my favorite superhero. You know how kids want to be astronauts or doctors or pro athletes when they grow up? I wanted to be him and becoming a journalist with a camera was my way of doing that. Anyway, there are a ton of superhero games out there and not all of them are good. In fact, a lot of them are quite bad. But this one not only did everything in its power to make you feel like you’re doing whatever a spider can, it also put together a brand-new story featur-

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ing a new Sinister Six lineup that would have made for an awesome comic series. Pick it up, swing around a realistic Manhattan skyline, fight some crime, save New York and thank me later.

I also recommend all of the Uncharted games for anyone who was ever into the Indiana Jones movies. You won’t get closer to that big-budget 1980s or 1990s action adventure movie feel than this series, which puts you in the shoes of a notorious treasure hunter traveling the world looking for ancient wealth while solving puzzles.

There’s also nowhere else to play officially licensed Major League Baseball simulators, so you PS4 owners are lucky enough to get The Show every year. The Last of Us, an emotionally draining zombie apocalypse story that did the Walking Dead better than the Walking Dead itself, and the newest God of War game that puts a surprisingly solid fatherhood story at the forefront of a quest heavy in Norse mythology, are also great pickups for anyone age 18 and up.

XBOX ONE, AND GAMES FOR EVERYONE Compared to the previous two consoles, Microsoft has failed miserably when it comes to exclusive games. I say that as someone who owns an Xbox One and loves it.

You’re just straight up not buying this console for games you can’t play on anything else. So, I’m mostly going to use this space to recommend games that can be played on any console.

But before I get started there, I have to say one thing Xbox One did get very right is the online multiplayer experience. It’s as user-friendly as you can get, now has options that let you find solo gamers or groups of gamers to help you accomplish a goal in a multiplayer game and, best of all, allows you to “share” most digital downloads with one friend. I have that arrangement with one of my buddies where we basically split the games we want to play — if we both want the newest Madden NFL and NHL games, he buys Madden, I buy “Chel” and we’re able to play both later that day because they appear on both of

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family and discover your true purpose in life. You can also command your own warship, hunt down mercenaries before they get to you and become the greatest arena fighter in the known world. I’ve always found the ongoing AC storyline (which is to say, all of the modern era stuff) to be overwrought and just there for filler, so I enjoyed that this game barely dwells on any of it. You can just enjoy the ride with a brand new character in a brand new storyline.

Switch owners will have to look for a Japanese copy if they want to play it, though.

Lastly, there’s Red Dead Redemption II (18+), which is my favorite video game of all time. This one’s centered around a gang of outlaws trying to outrun the death of the Wild West at the hands of industrialization. To go a little deeper, Arthur Morgan is a trusted, loyal lieutenant who sees their way of life unraveling and, depending on how you play the character, either tries to help others or help himself stay alive and thrive against mounting tensions and pressure from the Pinkerton Detective Agency. This game wants you to take things slow and appreciate your surroundings, hop on your horse and ride around, camp in the wilderness, hunt and fish, scour every corner of the map for secrets and get immersed in the world as much as it wants you to play through a great Western story with plenty of robbing, shooting and rustling to be done.

Though there is a “II” in the title, the game is actually a prequel and you don’t have to know anything about the series to jump in. In fact, if you didn’t play the first game and are starting here, I’m pretty jealous. If you have the time and patience for a long, slow burn of a campaign and enjoy Westerns, you have to play this game. It’s not available on Switch, however.

I’m not so good for PC gaming recommendations, unfortunately. Console gaming always appealed to me more.

But you can find many of the titles I mentioned above on PC or Mac, so this is still not a bad place to start.

If you’re a big believer in “they don’t make ‘em like they used to,” there are plenty of old consoles, games and accessories available for you on the retro market. Do you miss the 16-bit days of Super Nintendo and A Link to the Past? Was GoldenEye 64 your jam? Do you wish you could wreck your older brother with Bryan Fury in a semifriendly game of Tekken again? You’re not out of luck and, fortunately for those of you who aren’t flush with cash, you can find a lot of bargains out there. My PlayStation 2 will turn 20 this year and as long as it’s still running, I’m still going to use it.

No matter what your taste in entertainment is, there’s a video game out there somewhere that you’ll enjoy. You just have to find it. Why not power up now?

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our consoles. It’s a fantastic way to save money. It’s also the best bet for gamers with limited mobility. The Xbox Adaptive Controller, designed by a gamer who was paralyzed from the chest down, works wonders for people living with paralysis, cerebral palsy and other conditions that affect motor skills to the point where using a traditional controller is extremely difficult. You can buy the controller and other accessories that can work with it on xbox.com.

Stay connected with your friends and family outside your home with online multiplayer. Start a franchise together in one of the sports games like Madden, NHL, NBA Live or 2K, PES or even FIFA, a game that’s both very good and has probably caused more people to break their controllers than anything else ever released. I know of households where FIFA is banned because people got too salty and broke something. Tread carefully for your sanity’s sake.

Battle royale games are hot right now, too. That’s where 100 to 150 players drop into a map and only one player (or group) is left standing by the end of the match, which is brought along not only by player-versus-player eliminations, but also by some kind of storm or gas cloud or whatever that gradually encloses the map until there’s just a tiny circle left and nowhere for the final few players to hide. The good news is that many of them are free to play, which means you don’t have to buy anything if you don’t want to. That’s the case for Fortnite, which your kids are probably obsessed with, and Call of Duty Warzone (18+), which has been well worth eating up half of my hard drive space for. If you have kids who play these free-toplay titles with available microtransactions, though, watch your credit card like a hawk. Fortnite has caused a lot of parents to lose a lot of money because kids didn’t see the problem with paying $15 a pop for cosmetics like character outfits.

Kids can’t go wrong with many of the LEGO video games, but I’ve always enjoyed their Marvel Super Heroes series the most. I wouldn’t call any of them challenging, but they’re very lighthearted with goofy stories and dialogue, and they have all the heroes kids want and then some. If you want a multiplayer experience with your family, my recommendation is anything in the Overcooked! series. One to four players take control of line cooks in a kitchen setting that gets more and more chaotic as time goes on. You’re working together to get your orders done within a set time limit and, with kitchen environments constantly changing, it requires a lot of coordination with the people next to you.

For my last birthday, I was surprised with Untitled Goose Game. It puts you in control of a goose in a sleepy English town and your goal is to cause as much mischief as possible against the most soothing soundtrack of any

video game. Peace was never an option with the goose on the loose. Trust me, I am fully aware of how stupid this game sounds. But then you’ll pop your head out of a bush, press one button to honk and another to spread your wings to look intimidating, and you might get hooked right then. It just works.

Microsoft has made a lot of ultra-realistic simulation games. The Flight Simulator series is one of its most popular. I’m just not one to hop into a virtual cockpit and fly across Europe with no action. I want dogfights and sorties. So, if you’ve ever watched Top Gun and wanted to be a hotshot fighter pilot, go get Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. I’m not very far into the game right now, but weaving through the skies over fictional countries in an F-14D Super Tomcat, scoring hits on enemy fighters and pulling up into the clouds to shake off incoming missiles, is so cool.

I asked staff writer and hardcore Star Wars enthusiast Breanne Williams to jump in here for this next recommendation.

“Anyone who’s been gaming knows that entertainment giants may drive sales initially, but if it doesn’t live up to expectations the following disappears faster than when Frodo slipped on his golden ring. Star Wars is one of the greatest media franchises ever made, however, it doesn’t have a flourishing track record when it comes to games. Sure, the Battlefront games are classics in their own rights, but the latest drama surrounding Star Wars Battlefront II left such a sour taste in consumers’ mouths that many swore off the universe for good.

Last November, the Force chose a new padawan. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is set five years after the events in Episode III. Order 66 wiped out the Jedi and the Republic fell. The Empire is flexing its muscle and the handful of survivors are scattered and suffering. We meet up with padawan Cal Kestis. Long story short, this compassionate and guilt-ridden young dude is whisked away from where he was hiding onto a quest to restore the Jedi Order. You see the Star Wars universe in a new light and explore worlds like never before. You’re accompanied by BD-1, a droid that can and will thaw the coldest of hearts. While you’re playing in a world you’ve been obsessed with your whole life, you’re also struggling with real emotional, moral and philosophical dilemmas. Oh, and you get to chuck a lightsaber at Darth Vader. It’s not a long game — I literally finished in two very intense game-filled days — but its gorgeous and deep enough to leave a lasting impact. It’s available on most consoles (but not the Switch), so go download it immediately if you’re a Star Wars fan.”

If you’d like to dive into a world where you’ll sink in at least 60 hours, here are four things you can get on Xbox and most any other console.

If you’re new to role playing games and want something with a difficulty you can adjust that never feels like it’s trying to rush you to get things done, get Skyrim (18+). It’s a great entry point with a fantasy setting revolving around a civil war, dragons coming back and a lot of guilds your character can join that arguably have better storylines than the main quest. I have bought this game for every console I’ve owned on which it’s been released and will probably keep buying it if they keep porting it to newer ones. The benefit for Xbox owners is a mods marketplace that’s much, much bigger than the other consoles’ because Microsoft actually caters to the PC modders who also own an Xbox. My favorite was a mod that turned all of the dragons into the Macho Man Randy Savage and replaced their roars with sound bites from his wrestling promos.

If you want something a little more recent than a game that’s nearly 10 years old, consider the following. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (18+), which came out in 2015, is still an incredible achievement in both game design and storytelling and inspired almost every RPG that’s come after it. It’s great for people who loved Game of Thrones’ storytelling when it was actually good. You’re a monster slayer for hire with an extremely dry, sarcastic sense of humor who gets wrapped up in a quest to save the world while searching for his missing daughter, who might be the savior the world needs. Nearly every choice you make will come back to you in some way, for better or worse. Though it’s the third game in the series, you don’t need to have played the previous two games, read the books or watched the Netflix show to jump in. Everything you need to know is accessible at any time through databases in the game’s pause menu.

Anyone into Greek mythology will love Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (18+), which is both the least traditional game in the AC series and also the best. You play as either Kassandra (strongly recommended) or Alexios in a sprawling quest that will take you all over the Greek isles — yes, all of them — as you take down a shadowy cult, save your

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MAY 14, 2020

SPORTS

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? JUSTIN KLINE TRUST ME, THE GYMS CAN WAIT While the idea of going back to the gym is tempting, it’s also not the best idea right now with a novel coronavirus hiding in plain sight.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The funniest thing I’ve seen all week was Monday’s protest at the Clearwater courthouse, in which a small but energetic group of people desperate to get back in the gym wanted to show how badly they need them to work out. How did they do it?

Push-ups and squats outside the building.

FOX Sports’ Adam Amin called it “pumping irony” and I couldn’t agree more. We know from the people who were begging all last month for hair salons and barber shops to reopen that cutting and styling your own hair is extremely difficult and often leads to disaster, and now we know from the people in Clearwater that exercising without a gym is not. They can wait until at least Phase Two of Governor Ron DeSantis’s “Safe.

Smart. Step-by-Step.” reopening plan, and I’m not even sure that’s the right time to try.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but the vast majority of people absolutely do not need a gym to work out. If you need further proof, go back to the videos of that protest and watch all those people working out without a gym. If they really wanted to, they could have gotten a full-body workout with no equipment right there outside the courthouse. Maybe the sidewalk would have gotten a little hot in the sun, but surely there was a shaded area somewhere within viewing distance of anyone in the courthouse where the protestors could have done more push-ups or exercises with skinto-ground contact that wouldn’t have been uncomfortable.

For all the talk about how we can’t let our economy die while we all sit inside and ride this thing out, there really is a way to keep pumping money into the local business of fitness.

Don’t even think about telling me there’s no way to support a gym if it’s not open. If your gym offers the option, please consider keeping your membership payments going if you’re financially able. Whatever you can pay now will help both the gym and its employees in the interim while it’s closed. Down the road, that money could be the difference between it closing by the end of the year or surviving — especially since small business loans haven’t always been enough on their own to help with their bills.

As soon as my gym opens back up, I’m renewing my membership immediately because I want it to be there when it’s safer for people to go back and use like we all did before COVID. It doesn’t matter to me that I’m parting with that money even though I’m not planning on working out in there for a little while, whether it’s by choice or because the state decided they need to close again after a second wave hits.

If you have a trainer you like and they’ll work with you virtually or in person, six feet apart or whatever, keep paying and working with them. If not, maybe pay for sessions in advance — whenever Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan hits, they’ll be ready to work and so will you.

Not all gyms can pay their trainers directly because they’re considered contractors, so there’s no time like the present to help the people who have helped you. It would be great to see gyms that only employ contractors who can’t conduct online classes or make money right now lend a helping hand, which might look like creating a GoFundMe for the trainers they would normally host. This is also where I would advise anyone to be mindful of who’s making a GoFundMe right now: if it’s not the trainers or the gyms themselves doing it, I wouldn’t trust it.

But there’s a very short list of people who absolutely do need a gym right now, and the thing they all have in common is that their professions depend on them being able to move more weight in one go than you can train for with just your own bodyweight and some equipment you don’t need a lot of space to use and store. Breaking this down will only take but a minute.

Certain athletes need a full set of weights to be able to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. Do you throw the shot put or discus? You need a weight room. Depending on which position you play in football — mainly if you’re on either the offensive or defensive lines, but there are others where hitting the weights makes a noticeable difference — you need a weight room. Bodybuilders need a weight room like fish need water.

Basically, if your job requires you to be both bigger and stronger than an average person, you probably need a gym. I hope you either have weights of your own or have a good hook-up, because I feel for you and I know you need that. If you’re not one of these people, you’re fine and you can wait. Smart money says

almost everyone reading this column is able to do what they need to do without having to set foot in a gym.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: it would be almost impossible to keep any fullyfledged public gym as clean as it needs to be during a pandemic. It might work if there’s an attendant at every piece of equipment and they wipe it down completely after each use, but that was never financially feasible for these gyms pre-COVID and it certainly won’t be now.

That’s why the gyms have always asked you to wipe equipment down after each use, and I know for a fact that doesn’t always happen. Since I’ve been in Plant City, I’ve split time between three gyms over almost seven years. They’re all different sizes. They all have different clients. They all have different equipment. None of them have a client base that keeps everything wiped down and clean 100 percent of the time. I’ve been guilty of that before, too. And don’t even get me started on the people who believe they don’t have to wash their hands after using the restroom because they didn’t touch anything. We handwashers all go from station to station either hoping the person before us wasn’t being so gross or lifting in blissful ignorance, then immediately using the available hand sanitizer or washing our hands.

I’ve seen the arguments that gyms need to be open because using them can “help boost your immune system.” While that is true, there are two things to consider. First, you have to consider that because you can work out at home, you don’t have to exercise in a gym to boost your immune system. Second, you have to consider that you’re giving yourself a greater chance at catching a virus with no available vaccine or proven treatment that your body also has no natural defense for, unless maybe you’ve already had it. Your symptoms might not be so bad if you get it, but you also have no way of knowing for sure that you’d only get a cough and a mild headache from it. Being in a gym in its typical state might help you fight off diseases your immune system already knows how to fight, but COVID-19 isn’t one of them yet.

It will be one day, but it’s not today. If you want to take that chance, good luck.

If you know me at all, you know how much I love the gym.

But Phase Two’s current guidelines of operating at 75 percent capacity and “strict social

distancing and sanitation protocols” just don’t do it for me.

Especially the 75 percent part — that seems a little too high for an especially germ-packed environment. We don’t know when Phase Two will begin, of course, since we’re supposed to first wait and see if Phase One has a “successful conclusion,” whenever that deadline is. If Phase Two is going to be anytime in the next month, I think that’s too soon. We need to know for sure that Phase One is working and we’re firmly on a downward slope, then go for the gyms after Phase Two starts and we can see for certain that the infection rate is on a steady decline.

Whether that means we save it for Phase Three or work it into Phase Two late in the game as with the hair joints in Phase One, I believe gyms need to be phased in later in the game as arguably the greatest spreader of germs of anything we’ve lost that people want back right now.

Until then, at least consider doing some research on home workout plans if you want to exercise. There are plenty out there that won’t require equipment, and you’re in even better luck if your personal trainer from your gym has online offerings right now. If you want weights and are fortunate enough to have some money to spend, now’s not a bad time to go in on a bench and/or a dumbbell set if you have somewhere to put them. If money’s tight, you might have to get creative or borrow equipment from a friend. I can vouch for the effectiveness of the home workout plan myself, having been going hard in my living room since mid-March. I miss lifting, but I’m not mad at all about how totally changing my workouts has affected my body.

If you want to go when we get the gyms back, that’s your right as an American and I’m not going to come and stop you.

I’m just of the opinion that we don’t need them back right this second.

Hoping everyone’s clients use common sense to keep a gym clean is nice in theory, but the problem with banking on using common sense as a rule is that people tend not to have as much of it as they’ll tell you they do. Otherwise driving on I-4 wouldn’t be so bad, the Atlanta Falcons wouldn’t have blown the 28-3 Super Bowl lead and the national “Florida Man” news phenomenon wouldn’t exist, to name a few things.

At the very least, I’d rather wait to go in myself until we’re firmly on a down-

ward slope and we can see that hospitals in the area aren’t about to be overwhelmed. I’d feel more comfortable when there’s a legitimate, proven treatment for the virus, and I’d feel even safer with a good vaccine available just like the seasonal flu shots.

We need to support our fitness scene, but we also need more time before we can jump back in at 75 percent capacity.

Call it “living in fear” if you want. You know what will happen if we open everything all the way back up right now? The infection rate will jump up, the state will shut down again and we’ll be right back to where we were two months ago with a stagnant economy and more unemployment. We’re better off with a conservative, slow rollout than going all the way open and pretending nothing bad will happen.

My “fear” is that too many people are going to be too stubborn to see that and then, instead of only shutting down once and transitioning back to normal once, we’re gonna go back to the drawing board and you’re all going to complain about Constitutional rights that aren’t really being violated and maybe even some martial law thrown in for good measure.

Don’t be the reason small businesses have to close twice — a second shutdown might be the killing blow for many of the ones you love.

It’s like treating an illness: you want to finish your entire prescription on a set schedule so there’s no doubt you’re healthy again. You don’t stop taking antibiotics once you think you’re starting to feel better. You don’t take too much medicine at one time because it could be harmful or even lethal to you. We have to keep monitoring this throughout the state and adjust accordingly, just the same as checking back in with your doctor.

We need patience, phasing and, ideally, better relief programs for small businesses and their employees than what we have now. And when it comes to opening the gyms back up, people can definitely exercise more patience than they are now.

Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Observer.

Email: jkline@plantcityobserver. com.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

11

PCHS BASEBALL SENDS SENIORS OFF WITH PARADE

A massive line of cars cruised through Walden Lake on May 6 to celebrate the eldest Raiders.

There’s thanking someone, and then there’s what the community did last week for Plant City High School’s baseball seniors.

Plant Citians decorated dozens of their cars, made signs for their favorite players and assembled at the Walden Lake clubhouse parking lots — almost completely filling them — the evening of May 6 to say goodbye to the most accomplished senior class in program history with a driveby parade. The 10 seniors, accompanied by their families and PCHS staff, stood

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just outside the old polo fields waving at cars as the drivers and passengers waved back, hooting and hollering to show their support for the boys.

Since COVID-19 led to social distancing precautions being taken, events like this have become all the rage. Plant City sent off retired Army colonel Lonnie Davidson two weeks ago in similar fashion, also in Walden Lake, and several area schools have been opening up their bus ramps for drive-through teacher appreciation events. It’s a meaningful gesture of appreciation that, when done properly, is also quite safe for all involved.

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

289704-1

We asked Facebook: Now that hair salons and barber shops were allowed to reopen this week, what should come next and when should it reopen?

“I say, EVERYTHING. And for those who don’t agree can stay at home scared with their face mask and tinfoil hat on and let the rest of Florida be free!”

— Jess Garcia

“I don’t know what should open next, but I think the community should come together and let the grocery stores close for 48 hours to let the employees who have been dealing with the crazy for the past 6 weeks have a mental health break!”

“Sports. Let’s the kids get out and play ball!!”

— Delicia C. Wallnofer

“Disney!!!!!!”

— Paul Parolini

— Karen Hall

“Little league” — Ray McNab

— Joey Lynn

“Bars!!! We don’t have to touch people to serve them drinks and we can use social distancing!”

“Let’s get football ready to start” — Buck Chapman

— Melissa Tollar Smith

“YMCA” — Theresa Leonetti

“Everything” — Edie Telford

“Gyms” — Kim Terrell

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE Did you take the Observer with you on vacation? Send your pictures to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

HAWAII: Scott, Audrey, Stone and Wendy Shelby brought the Observer aboard the USS Missouri Battleship docked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

“Everything, people need to be cautious, but not trapped inside”

“Tattoo shops!”

— Donna Evanicky Hagadone

“Movie theaters” — BrendaDale Jones

“Not gyms. And yes, we should have closed.”

— Jane W. Poppell

“Still waiting for my church” — Jordon Burk

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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13

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

APRIL 2020 REAL ESTATE

OBITUARIES

REAL ESTATE

PlantCityObserver.com

Local April 2020 sales and trend information courtesy of The Crawford Group.

Permit information was obtained from the City of Plant City.

Robert L. Moore

As they did in March, Plant City-area real estate sales dropped sharply since April 2019 while the sale prices increased.

Last month, 68 single-family homes sold with an average sale price of $250,472 ($131.12 per square foot). Compared to last April, that represents a 29 percent decrease in sales (vs. 96 homes sold in 2019) but also an 11 percent

increase in average sale price (vs. $224,280 and $124.79 per square foot in 2019).

Homes in April 2020 that sold in the $200,000 to $250,000 range saw the highest boost in sale price per square foot, jumping to a nearly 24 percent increase compared to April 2019.

Mitchell Crawford, of the Crawford Group, said that while sales from January through

going to compete with multiple contract offer situations, along with higher price points,” Crawford said. “Be prepared and select an experienced Realtor to assist you through this process.”

April have dipped 10.6 percent compared to 2019, property values have increased by 9.6 percent. He said COVID-19 has caused more potential buyers to be cautious, but that too much caution now could lead to higher asking prices later.

“We are approaching the busiest part of the selling/ buying season and if inventory levels do not increase, buyers should be wary they are

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued in Plant City for the month of April 2020, in order of dollar amounts.

Address

Permit

Amount

1911 S. Wiggins Road

Occupancy

$22,399,200

1911 S. Wiggins Road

Electrical

$850,000

4007 Airport Road

Plumbing

$800,000

2202 James L. Redman Parkway

Completion

$772,025

1911 S. Wiggins Road

Accessory structure

$599,250

3775 Fancy Farms Road

Electrical

$596,000

3304 Sydney Road

Completion

$520,000

4611 Lykes Road

Commercial fee

$475,000

2050 N. Shannon Ave

Mechanical/HVAC

$405,879

2051 Walden Woods Drive

Plumbing

$300,000

302 W. Reynolds St.

Roof

$292,818

3775 Fancy Farms Road

Plumbing

$243,200

1911 S. Wiggins Road

Plumbing

$167,000

1911 S. Wiggins Road

Plumbing

$149,000

107 Lake St.

Occupancy

$135,000

1216 W. Alsobrook St.

Single family detached

$120,000

612 Coronet St.

Single family detached

$120,000

1210 W. Alsobrook St.

Single family detached

$120,000

2410 W. Baker St.

Communication tower

$100,000

1 Police Center Drive

Fence

$99,371

Robert L. Moore, 70, of Dover, born on May 23, 1949 in Tampa, entered into eternal rest on May 11, 2020.

He owned and operated Robert L. Moore Fill Dirt and Excavation for over 45 years.

He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Frances P. Moore; children, Melissa L. Evans (Marty), and James D. Moore, both of Dover; grandchildren, Michael Evans (Megan), Marissa Evans, Makayla Evans, and Robert “RJ” Moore; great-granddaughter, Railynn Evans; and siblings, Silvia Hutcherson, Floy Wynn, Anthony W. Moore (Sylvia), and Sue Tweady (Sid).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Dorothy Moore; and siblings, Tommy Moore, Marie Walton, and Margaret Copeland.

A private funeral service will be held at Hopewell Funeral Home, Plant City, with interment in Hopewell Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org,

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Lonnie Davidson Lonnie Davidson, 61, of Plant City, born in Tampa on Oct. 15, 1958, entered into eternal rest on May 7, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Elizabeth Ecker-Anderson Elizabeth Ecker-Anderson, 88, of Polk City, born in Plant City on Dec. 15, 1931, entered into eternal rest on May 9, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

CRAWFORD & ASSOCIATES CRAWFORD & ASSOCIATES

Outstanding Agents.

Outstan Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results.

Outstanding Agents.

Outstanding Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results. R CRAWFORD & ASSOCIATES

CRAWFORD & ASSOCIATES

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

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

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

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RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

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

each other is what

community

14

OBITUARIES

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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is all about.PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

Marion F. Glass

Juan Castillo III

Marion F. Glass, 86, of Plant City, born in Kingston, New York on May 2, 1934, entered into eternal rest on May 4, 2020.

Expressions of condolence of HopewellFuneral. com.

Juan Castillo III, 40, of Plant City, passed away on May 4, 2020.

He is survived by a loving family.

A private graveside service was held privately Monday, May 11, 2020 at 11:30 a.m., the live stream was accessible through the link below.

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

Taking care of Sue White other is what Elba Deyanira each Glendora Glendora Sue White, 78, of Plant

we’re dedicated helping families create a W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community on Oct. 22, 1948 intoBrunswick, Georgia. unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. the life it represents.

As your Dignity Memorial professionals, Servicescelebrates will be held at a later date

community City, entered into rest on Monday, and time.

Florian

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> 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline®

is all about.

Condolence messages may be left for April 20, 2020. She was born in Elba Deyanira Florian, 55, of Rat www.wellsmemorial.com. the family Plant City, passed away on May Orange County, Indiana.

Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

A graveside service will take 10, 2020. to helping families create a W E ’ R E P R O U D TO S E RV E our community place atwe’re 10 dedicated a.m. on June 11, 2020 She is survived by a loving unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. celebratesPark the life Cemetery it represents.

As your Dignity Memorial professionals, at Memorial of family. > 100%privately Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability Plant City.

Services will be >held Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® WELLSMEMORIAL.COM Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 11:00 Condolences may be offered at R a.m., the live stream will be ac- www.wellsmemorial.com.

Wells Jimmy MeMorial & event Center Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

Everett Moore cessible via the link below.

PlanT CiTy 813-752-1111 Online condolences may JimmyWellsMemorial.com Everett Moore, 72, of Plant be left for the family at www.

City, passed away on Thursday May 7, haught.care.

2020. Jimmy was born Dec. 25, 1947 HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM we’re dedicated to helping families create a W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community WELLSMEMORIAL.COM Ruskin.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionatein care since 1896. celebrates the life it represents.

As your Dignity Memorial professionals, Fond memories and expressions Wells MeMorial & event Center Marcelino > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability Charlotte Ann of sympathy be shared at www.

PlanT CiTy The Compassion Helpline® > Bereavement Travel Assistance >may Robert Eugene Santibañez 813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com WellsMemorial.com for the Moore HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM Moore Mroczkowski Jr. family. R Marcelino Santibañez, 70, resiProudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival. dent of Plant City, born on April Robert Eugene Mroczkowski Jr., Charlotte Ann Moore, 79, of Roger Carmody 26, 1950 in Colonia Juarez, Guer62, of Plant City, passed away on Plant City, passed away on rero, Mexico, entered into eternal May 7, 2020.

Wednesday May 6, 2020. CharRoger Carmody, 74, of Lakerest on May 5, 2020.

He is survived by a loving family. land, passed away lotte was 1, families 1940create in a we’reborn dedicatedAug. to helping W E ’ R E P on R O U DSaturday TO S E RV E our community WELLSMEMORIAL.COM unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896.

Expressions of condolence at Services will be held privately Lakeland.

April 18, 2020.As Roger was born celebrates the life it represents. your Dignity Memorial professionals, HopewellFuneral.com.

Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 1:00 memories and expres- Wells MeMorial & event Center Nov. 23, 1945 in Fall> River Mas100% Service Guarantee Fond > National Plan Transferability The Compassionmay Helpline® > Bereavement Travel Assistance Barbara PlanT CiTy Ann Demonia p.m., the live stream will be acces- sachusetts. sions of>sympathy be 813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com sible via the link below. shared at www.WellsMemorial.

He was a veteran of the Barbara Ann Demonia, 77, of ZephR Online condolences may be left United Stated Marines.Proudly supportingcom forCitythe Moore family. yrhills, passed away on Thursday May the Plant Strawberry Festival. we’re dedicated to helping families create1, a W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community for the family at www.haught.care.

Fond memories and expres7, 2020. Barbara was born Sept. unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM celebrates theAlabama. life it represents.

As your Dignity Memorial professionals, sions of sympathy may be 1942 in Cullman, we’re dedicated to helping families create a W E ’ R E P R O U D TO S E RV E our community > 100% Service Guarantee National Plan Transferability unique meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care sinceshared 1896. at and www.wellsmemorial.

Fond> memories and expressions > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® celebrates the life it represents.

As your Dignity Memorial professionals, Karen Register com for the Carmody family. of sympathy may be shared at www.

WELLSMEMORIAL.COM > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability R > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® Dolan WellsMemorial.com for the Demonia Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

Wells MeMorial & event Center family Karen Register Dolan, 72, of Dade HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM R PlanT CiTy City, born in Plant City on May 15, 813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

Gerry Elaine Herrin 1947, entered into eternal rest on May 6, 2020.

Gerry Elaine Herrin, 71, of Plant WELLSMEMORIAL.COM Expressions of condolence at City entered into rest on SunHopewellFuneral.com. day, May 3, 2020.

She was born WELLSMEMORIAL.COM

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10/27/15 10:42 AM

Taking care of each other is what

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Taking care of each other is what

is all about.

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10/27/15 10:42 AM

Taking care of each other is what

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community

is all about.

is all about.

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10/27/15 10:42 AM

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813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com

Wells MeMorial & event Center PlanT CiTy

813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM M2313_4832_Wells_PNT_Comm_7-25x9-75_C.indd 1

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10/27/15 10:42 AM

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

FAMILY. COMMUNITY. COMPASSION. VALUE. FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971 HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

10/27/15 10:42 AM

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg May 14, 2020 PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

5/14

FORECAST THURSDAY, MAY 14 High: 89 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 10%

FRIDAY, MAY 15 High: 86 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 50%

28 Island with a lagoon 30 Game console hidden in “Genesis” 31 Many a CEO’s degree 34 *You might open a window for one 39 Fish never served raw 40 Pen brand 41 Fails to include 42 Massage venues 44 Selena Gomez, for Selenators 45 *Sign flashed at a University of Texas game 50 Tallahassee sch.

53 Woolly pack animal 54 Lard, e.g.

55 “I don’t give ___!”

56 “Same here!”

57 Shots one may take after the starred answers’ starts 59 Wall-climbing plants 60 Subj. for some immigrants 61 Uncouth type 62 Perfect scores for gymnasts 63 “Psst!”

64 Furious with DOWN 1 Pale-looking 2 “Bless you!” elicitor 3 Staple in Chinese cooking 4 Coffeehouse dispensers

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

High: 89 Low: 67 Chance of rain: 30%

SUNDAY, MAY 17 High: 92 Low: 67 Chance of rain: 10%

TOMATOES

Shipping point: Central Florida $27.95

5 Make inquiries 6 Garlicky spread 7 Gin mixer 8 Arizona-to-Kansas dir.

9 Company that owns Blogger 10 ___ art (computer character images) 11 Jam-pack 12 No longer trendy 15 Steep face 17 Like Mr. Clean and Captain Picard 21 Gem State capital 23 ___-control 24 Wide-mouthed jug 26 Polar present producer 28 Leave wide-eyed 29 Start of many titles 30 Org. for Lions and Vikings 31 Postal crime 32 Small amount 33 “___ Poetica” 35 Michelle who led the Let’s Move! campaign 36 Perch or sole 37 Does some lawn repair 38 Grp. with co-pays 42 Roller derby needs 43 Rio Grande feeder 44 Not domestic: Abbr.

45 “I’ve ___!” (“Enough is enough!”)

46 Greek salad tidbit 47 Elect to participate 48 Good to have around 49 Surge on Wall Street 51 Unpaid seasonal deliveryman?

52 Surprising win 55 Taj Express destination 57 “Not a big fan” 58 Deep Blue’s creator

15

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, May 14

6:39a

8:10p

Friday, May 15

6:38a

8:11p

Saturday, May 16

6:37a

8:12p

Sunday, May 17

6:37a

8:12p

Monday, May 18

6:36a

8:13p

Tuesday, May 19

6:36a

8:13p

Wednesday, May 20

6:35a

8:14p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, MAY 16

Golf Goofs by Zhouqin Burnikel

ACROSS 1 ___ New Guinea 6 Had dumplings, say 9 (I’m so shocked!)

13 Some Taiwanese tablets 14 Particle such as H+ 15 ___ Ricans 16 *Seder plate item that isn’t for eating 18 Center of power 19 Cargo measures 20 Comedian Wong 21 Major uncertainties 22 Second person 23 *Realistically representing everyday events 25 Miffed, with “off” 27 Beyonce, to Jay-Z

|

May 22 New

May. 27 First

June 5 Full

May 18 Last

RAINFALL Monday, May 4

0.00

Tuesday, May 5 0.00 Wednesday, May 6

0.00

Thursday, May 7 0.00 Friday, May 8

0.00

Saturday, May 9 0.02 Sunday, May 10

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 08.54 in.

2020 0.03 in.

2019 05.60 in.

2019 0.99 in.

WEATHER

42 Massage 10 ___ art 36 Perch or sole ACROSS venues (computer 37 Does some 1 ___ New 44 Selena character lawn repair Guinea Gomez, for images) 38 Grp. with 6 Had Selenators 11 Jam-pack co-pays dumplings, Sendsay your photo submissions to Associate Editor12 Justin at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com 45 *Sign NoKline longer 42 Roller derby at for a @igersplantcity trendyto feature. needs (I’m so#iloveplantcity onflashed or9hashtag Instagram University of 15 Steep face 43 Rio Grande shocked!)

Texas game 17 Like Mr. feeder 13 Some 50 Tallahassee Clean and 44 Not domestic: Taiwanese sch.

Captain tablets Abbr.

53 Woolly pack Picard 14 Particle such 45 “I’ve ___!” animal 21 Gem State as H+ (“Enough is 54 Lard, e.g. capital 15 ___ Ricans enough!”)

55 “I don’t 23 ___-control 16 *Seder plate 46 Greek salad give ___!”

24 Wideitem that tidbit 56 “Same here!” mouthed jug isn’t for 47 Elect to 57 Shots one 26 Polar present eating participate may take after producer 18 Center of 48 Good to the starred 28 Leave power have around answers’ wide-eyed 19 Cargo 49 Surge on starts 29 Start of measures Wall Street 59 Wall-climbing many titles 20 Comedian 51 Unpaid plants 30 Org. for Lions Wong seasonal 60 Subj. for and Vikings 21 Major deliveryman? some 31 Postal crime uncertainties 52 Surprising win immigrants 32 Small amount 22 Second 55 Taj Express 61 Uncouth 33 “___ Poetica” person destination type 35 Michelle 23 *Realistically 57 “Not a 62 Perfect who led the representing big fan” scores for Let’s Move! everyday 58 Deep Blue’s gymnasts campaign events creator 63 “Psst!”

25 Miffed, 64 Furious with with “off” PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER Brenham and Deacon Hay would love to get back onto the baseball field in uniform again, but DOWN 27 Beyonce, they’ll what they can 1 getPale-looking for now. “Our two boys surely miss their time on the fields playing totake Jay-Z baseball,” mom “Quarantine “Bless you!” hasn’t stopped their sheer love of the game!”

28 Island withLinsey Hay2said. elicitor a lagoon Follow us on social media: @PCObserver on Instgram, ON L I N E @PlantObserver 3 Staple in on Twitter and Plant City Observer 30 Game Chinese console on Facebook. cooking hidden in 4 Coffeehouse “Genesis” dispensers 31 Many a 5 Make CEO’s degree inquiries 34 *You might 6 Garlicky open a spread window 7 Gin mixer for one 8 Arizona-to39 Fish never Kansas dir. served raw 40 Pen brand 9 Company 5/13 © 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal 41 Fails to that owns www.upuzzles.com include Blogger

16

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

PlantCityObserver.com