5.25.23 PLCO

COMMISSION ROUNDUP OF MAY 22 MEETING SINKHOLE REPAIRS AND NEW SOFTWARE DISCUSSED.

The City Commission meeting was jam-packed this week with recognitions, resolutions, budget amendments and quasi-judicial public hearings.

After Reverend Dean Pfeffer of Hope Lutheran Church kicked off the meeing with an invocation, the commission proclaimed May 2023 as “Water Safety/ Drowning Prevention Month in Plant City.”

Public comments from community residents gave several people, especially those living near the large-scale master

planned communities north of I-4, the chance to express their concerns about flooding isues they’re facing as new construction homes are built on land raised by dirt and gravel.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL HOLDS RETIREMENT PARTY FOR OUTGOING PRINCIPAL

SUSAN SULLIVAN

AFTER 41 YEARS IN EDUCATION AND EIGHT YEARS AS PRINCIPAL AT PCHS, SULLIVAN WAS HONORED FOR THE IMPACT SHE’S LEFT ON SO MANY WITHIN THE PLANT CITY COMMUNITY.

Plant City High School held a retirement party for Susan Sullivan on Monday, filling the PCHS mall with hundreds of family members, friends, county employees, fellow faculty members and various members of the Plant City community.

The event was catered by the culinary program at Simmons Career Center and guests were treated to a phenomenal spread before assistant principal for administration Randy Humphrey stepped up to the mic and began welcoming a number of speakers to the podium — starting with former PCHS instructor, Strawberry Crest assistant principal and current Regional Superintendent for Hillsborough County Public Schools, Gary Brady, and followed by a number of friends, family, current and former students and fellow faculty

members. Speakers told stories and gave thanks, sharing memories and painting a picture of the impact that Sullivan has had on themselves and others throughout her life and her career. Plant City Mayor Nate Kilton offered an official oclamation on behalf of himself and the city of Plant City, honoring Sullivan’s 41-year career across Plant City High School and Tomlin Middle School, and PCHS faculty members gifted Sullivan a Carnival Cruise for her and her husband.

At the conclusion of the event, Sullivan took the podium.

“It’s interesting that I’m standing in front of this backdrop because this is what we use at all of our athletic signings. We’ve had a lot this year, we’ve had a lot the past few years and that blesses my heart but

the kids always start by thanking God and I’m going to copy their statement because I serve a great God. He had a plan for me and I’m so thankful that plan included Plant City High School,” Sullivan said. “It’s been a great eight years here this time around, three years the time before, one the fist time that I was here, I’m very grateful… None of the things that I’ve been able to do would have happened without the support of my family. My husband David has been my number one supporter, he goes to everything with me, I had him parking cars with me at Tomlin and he’s done all sorts of crazy things here. I’m very grateful for my sons and their wives and our grandchildren, they always call to check in and see how our teams did and ask how is this, how is that? I had the

opportunity to work with some really great people. Some of the folks challenged me, some of them helped me grow and others just jumped on board with whatever it was I wanted to do, no matter how crazy they were, and I thank you — all my staff from Tomlin and Plant City, thank you for supporting me and always looking for ways to do what’s best for the kids. I’m grateful that I’ve worked in such a great community, I wouldn’t have wanted to work for anywhere else. We say this all the time, Plant City is a great place to live, to work, to play, to raise your family. I truly do believe that and I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to do that.”

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

TAYLOR JENKINS STAFF WRITER

FLORIDA GOVERNOR MAKES FLORIDIANS HAPPY CAMPERS

Florida residents who enjoy camping in the great outdoors will breathe a sigh of relief because it’ll be a little easier to snag a reservation for state park cabins and campsites, thanks to House Bill 109 that was signed into law last week by Governor Ron DeSantis. The act, which takes effect January 1, 2024, allows Florida residents to book a state park cabin or campsite up to 11 months in advance. For nonresidents, reservations can only be made up to 10 months in advance, giving those who call the Sunshine State home the chance to book a cabin or campsite, including sites for RV, tent, boat and equestrian camping, a month earlier than nonresidents. Florida residents booking a state park cabin or campsite more than 10 months in advance must provide his or her valid Florida driver license number or the identifiation number from a Florida identifiation card as proof of Florida residency when making a reservation.

MEDICARE COVERS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

It’s just as important to take care of mental health as it is to take care of physical health. Medicare covers a number of services including outpatient mental health services like depression screening, individual and group psychotherapy and family counseling. These services may be able to be accessed via Telehealth. Talk about concerns with a primary care provider who can refer patients to a mental health professional if needed.

PLANT CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKING TO MAKE ROADWAYS SAFER

The Plant City Police Department (PCPD) is partnering with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District Seven through an Enhanced Law Enforcement Engagement (ELEE) Program. From May through October 2023, PCPD will be expanding officer presence on state roadways with high crash rates and increasing public awareness of the importance of safe driving. Enforcement efforts will focus on intersection violations, lane departure, driving under the influene of drugs or alcohol, speeding, aggressive and distracted driving, work zone violations and move over violations.

“One of PCPD’s main goals is to ensure our citizens and visitors arrive at their destination safely,” said PCPD Captain Al Van Duyne. “By ensuring officer presence on our roadways, and conducting traffic eorcement to educate drivers of the dangers of speeding, aggressive driving or other violations, this helps ensure everyone is safer on our roadways.”

MONSTER JAM ROARS BACK TO TAMPA THIS SUMMER

Tickets for Monster Jam, an unforgettable motorsports experience for fans, go on sale Tuesday, May 30. The event will be held Saturday, August 29 at Amalie Arena and will feature fan favorites like Grave Digger and El Toro Loco as well as newcomer ThunderROARus. Sign up to become a Monster Jam Preferred Customer at MonsterJam.com to get exclusive early access to the pre-sale offer code to purchase advance tickets to get the best seats available before tickets go on sale to the public on May 30.

THE BANK OF TAMPA IN PLANT CITY WELCOME POLLY WIGGINS

Polly Wiggins has been appointed vice president, private relationship manager, at The Bank of Tampa’s Plant City office.

“When you look at Polly’s success and knowledge in the areas of banking and finane, coupled with her deep connections in the Plant City market, she really is the perfect fit for The Bank of Tampa’s culture and relationship-based approach to serving our clients,” said Matt Buzza, Plant City market director at The Bank of Tampa. “With more than 30 years of banking and finane experience directly in Plant City, she will be a wonderful asset to our Plant City banking team as we continue to grow.”

Prior to joining The Bank of Tampa, Wiggins served as a relationship banker at Region’s Bank.

SUMMER STAYCATION SPOTLIGHT

Search For Sharks’ Teeth at Caspersen Beach Park in Venice

LOCAL FLAUTIST MAKES MUSIC IN ITALY

The Plant City High graduate and Stetson University student toured the country with the Stetson Chamber Orchestra.

‘I’m bored’. These two words can elicit anxiety among parents and caregivers as the kids, now out of school for summer vacation. They don’t have to though, thanks to the plethora of indoor and outdoor adventures, at little to no cost, that families can take advantage of within a two hour drive of Plant City. The Plant City Observer will highlight one spot each week.

This week’s spotlight is Caspersen Beach Park, located at 4100 Harbor Drive S. in Venice.

A day at the beach seems like the perfect thing to do on a hot summer day and drive in almost any direction and you’ll find ourself on a sandy beach, the sound of the waves lapping at the shoreline. While all of Florida’s beaches have something to offer beachgoers, Caspersen Beach in the coastal town of Venice, located just an hour and a half away, has a claim to fame that is sure to be entertaining for the young and the young-at-heart.

The beach is known as one of the top spots in the state for finding pehistoric sharks’ teeth.

Thanks to the Peace River Formation that is fairly near the surface at Caspersen Beach Park, the currents erode away the deposits and the teeth get washed

up on the beach (as well as in its offshore waters that attract divers and snorkelers). The best time of day to hunt for the fossils, which are typically darker in color than regular sharks’ teeth, is in the morning before other beachgoers begin their hunt. You don’t need any special equipment to find them but ome people bring a metal sifter with 1/4” holes to wash away the sand from the gravel and shell to better spot the teeth.

“Caspersen Beach is one of the best beaches in the area to find shells and pehistoric sharks’ teeth,” said Visit Sarasota County Vice President Erin Duggan.

Before you go, strip all preconceived notions about what a Florida beach should look like from your mind. At Caspersen Beach Park you won’t find white powdery sand and calm waters. Instead, the sand is darker and rockier. Strong waves, a small slope into the water and rocks that peek out of the water’s surface near the shoreline mean swimmers must be more cautious when taking a plunge. There are no lifeguards on duty.

The park, open daily from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., also features a canoe launch, fishing pier, picnic facilities, a covered playground, restrooms, an outdoor shower and wildlife/birdwatching.

The best part? Entrance to the park is free and so is parking.

For more information about Caspersen Beach Park visit www.scgov.net.

Plant City High School Class of 2020 graduate and Steston University student Zach Frankowiak just returned from a trip to Italy, where he played the flue with the Stetson Chamber Orchestra at historic venues throughout the country.

During their eight-day trip, the orchestra performed Beethoven’s Triple Concerto at the Palladium Theatre in Rome, the Chiesa di Santa Maria Corteolandini in Lucca (outside of Florence) and the Teatro Toniolo in Venice. Along the way, Frankowiak and other orchestra members ate lots of Italian food and toured famous sites such as the Piazza Navona, the Vatican Museum, St. Peter’s Square, the Coliseum and more.

While the sightseeing was spectacular, for Frankowiak, it was all about the music. “Since I’m a performance major any chance I get to perform is the best thing for me because I want to be performing but being able to play music in another country was a big deal,” he said.

During the trip, he observed that Italians have a passion for music. “As we were walking around Venice, they had a lot of live music both indoors and on the street and the style of the music is similar to what you’d expect from Italian operas and the music has a lot of vibrato,” he said. “The culture is so different over there, people had a real respect for what we were doing, when our performance was over people clapped for a really, really long time.”

The acoustics, or the way the sounds carried, in the old stone structures was phenomenal, thanks to the resonance and

reflection ceated by the hard surfaces and soaring ceilings. “I really enjoyed playing in those venues, the sound traveled so far,” he said.

Frankowiak began playing the flue 10 years ago while in middle school. “I went to an all-boys school and there was only one other flue player at the school, so it was a unique instrument in my eyes,” he said.

As he progressed as a musician, he realized that woodwind instruments, including flues, clarinets, oboes and bassoons, bring a cinematic texture to an orchestra, composed primarily of string instruments, like violins, violas, cellos and basses.

“Wind instruments are very soloistic, especially in an orchestra” he said. “All the wind instruments usually have pretty distinct parts.”

At Stetson University, its School of Music students must pass an audition to be admitted into its program. Only the best musicians earn a seat in the Chamber Orchestra, which only seats two flautits. Frankowiak sits in the coveted fist chair.

He’s thankful for many people in his life who’ve helped him pursue his passion for music, including his parents, grandparents, his former band directors Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. DeDon and Dr. Blair and his private music teachers Clay Ellobroek, Robert Neale, Taylor Irelan and Carole Leidi. “They’ve all supported me in my music journey,” he said.

Frankowiak will graduate from Stetson in 2025 with a degree in Performance and afterwards plans on attending grad school.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Photo courtesy of VisitSarasota.com

TWO ARRESTED AFTER PLANT CITY POLICE FIND FIREBOMBS IN HOME

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A Plant City man and women were arrested May 21 following an intentionally-set fie in their home’s garage, according to a press release from Plant City Police Department (PCPD).

Thirty-one-year-old Wade Oliver and 29-year-old Ashleigh Cookson live in the home, located on Michener Place in Walden Lake, with four children, ranging in age from fie months old to nine years old.

Plant City Fire Rescue responded to the home following a 911 call reporting a structure fie, and extinguished the fie. Oliver and Cookson, along with the four children, were transported to an area hospital and were treated for smoke inhalation.

A joint investigation by PCPD and the Florida Department of Financial Service’s Bureau of Fire, Arson & Explosives revealed Oliver intentionally set the fie inside the garage. Detectives also discovered fiebombs, a.k.a. Molotov cocktails, in the home.

Oliver was arrested and charged with two counts of Fire Bombing, Arson of a Dwelling, Child Neglect and Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine). His bond is $23,000. Cookson was charged with one count of Child Neglect and was released Tuesday on a surety bond.

The children were released into the custody of the Hillsborough County Sheriff ’s Office Child Protective Investigations Division. Police are still investigating, according to the release.

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MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

SINKHOLE REPAIR COSTS AMONG ITEMS AT COMMISSION MEETING

City engineer Frank Coughenour shared details about Madrid Engineering Group’s plan to stabilize the Carriage Court sinkhole by subcontracting the work to Earth Tech, LLC, who will complete the work in two sequential phases, which includes pressure grouting the affected area. An estimated 400 to 570 cubic yards of grout are expected to be used. The contractors are prepared to begin work onsite within a week of Notice to Proceed and anticipate completion within 12 days. The total contract amount will not exceed $330,828. The stabilization project is being charged to the city’s Street R & R Fund.

Following a presentation by Innovation and Strategy Manager Lauren Shatto, city commissioners also approved the purchase of OpenGov Reporting and Transparency software from Carahsoft Technology Corp. OpenGov software. The cost to implement and host the software for the fist year is $49,841.80 and then $26,435.32 annually for hosting and support services. Implementation is projected to begin in June 2023 with a “Go Live” date of October 2023. “This software will help us engage in effective communication and will be user-friendly, interactive and dynamic,” said Shatto.

“I think our city is working very hard to try to make information available to our citizens that is concise and digestible,” said Mayor Nate Kilton.

The software will also have an internal component. “It will allow all of our departments to track their budgets in real time and they’ll be able to create dashboards to see how things are trending,” said City Manager Bill McDaniel. “This will be a powerful tool that they don’t have today.”

City Clerk Kerri Miller then discussed two residents, businessman Michael Derrick and First United Methodist Church administrative assistant Cynthia Morselli, who completed applications to replace Ludo Van Den Bogaert, whose term of service on the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council ended in December. “It’s great that we have two applicants wanting to serve in their community,” said Miller. In their applications, both residents expressed the importance of giving back to the community. Morselli said ‘preservation and/or identifiation of local monuments/ sites are essential to the education and promotion of a community’.

After a brief discussion, Morselli was appointed to the board. “I appreciate both of these people for putting their names in and want to publicly thank them for doing that,” said Kilton.

Commissioner Mathis hopes Derrick won’t be deterred by not receiving the appointment. “I hope he’ll apply for another board position when one becomes available,” she said.

SUMMER BREAKSPOT OFFERS MEALS FOR KIDS DURING SUMMER MONTHS

CHILDREN CAN SNAG FREE MEALS AT SEVERAL PLANT CITY LOCATIONS ALL SUMMER LONG.

sandwich on a brioche bun or a cheeseburger with apple slices, baby carrots with ranch dip or Craisins and milk.

Three quasi-judicial public hearings were held and unanimously approved, including:

* A final plat entitledTA Fancy Farms, creating a 34.43 acre, two-lot industrial subdivision on the southeast corner of South Wiggins and Fancy Farms Roads. Construction plans were reviewed and approved for a 298,967 square foot industrial warehouse to be built on the northern parcel and a 101,196 square foot industrial warehouse to be built on the southern parcel.

* A final plat entitled Shannon states, creating a 23-lot single-family residential subdivision on 12.67 acres of property located on the east side of Shannon Avenue. The property owner is providing a 50-foot wide easement on the eastern border of the property for the city’s proposed canal connector bicycle/pedestrian trail.

* An ordinance for a modifiation to the 1,008-acre Varrea Planned Development District to eliminate the requirement to show the school site on the site plan. This issue has been a hotly contested topic, especially at last month’s Planning Board meeting. On a previous site plan, the school location was designated on Charlie Taylor Road. Residents are concerned about the traffic ws and safety concerns after the school’s construction, especially if the site has entry points on one road (Charlie Taylor). However, the School Board signed a purchase and sale agreement this month to purchase property on the corner of Charlie Taylor and Midway Roads for the school site, allowing access from two different roadways. The District is also experimenting with ways to ease traffic flows by creating winding carlines on school property but residents don’t have to worry about those details anytime soon. “This project is not in our fie year plan, it’s probably six to 10 years out,” said Michelle Orton, HCPS General Manager, Growth Management and Planning.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

School may soon be out for summer but that doesn’t mean kids will go hungry thanks to a decades-old program funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), that works closely with states to ensure that children up to age 18 can get the nutrition they need when schools are closed during summer break.

Summer BreakSpot offers no-cost balanced breakfasts and lunches, depending on the site, at several locations in Plant City, including Bryan, Burney, Dover, Nelson, and Springhead Elementary Schools, Turkey Creek and Marshall Middle Schools, Plant City High School and the Plant City YMCA.

During each site’s scheduled mealtimes, children, with or without an adult, can sign in, walk to the cafeteria and get a delicious hot meal. At mobile feeding sites, cold meals are served.

Breakfast menus can consist of Kellogg’s cereals, mini pancakes or a Pillsbury cinnamon bar and juice and milk. Lunches might include a crispy chicken

“This is for everybody, there’s no paperwork to fill ou, no eligibility process,” said Hillsborough County Public Schools General Manager of Student Services Shani Hall. “We encourage all families to come out and participate.”

While available to all, the program aims to serve the county’s most vulnerable youth who rely on free or reduced-price meals during the school year and who may not have access to healthy meals during the summer months. According to Feeding America, one in eight children are at risk for hunger.

“We’re still dealing with so much food insecurity in Hillsborough County, this year hasn’t been easy for anybody because of the economic difficults many families are facing,” said Hall. “It’s important for us to be able to feed children in Hillsborough County while the need is still so great.”

Find a Summer BreakSpot site, along with start dates and hours of operation, in three different ways: via the interactive map on its website, by dialing 2-1-1 or by texting “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

SPORTS

MITCH HARLEY NAMED NEXT HEAD COACH FOR DURANT BASKETBALL

After three years as the junior varsity head coach for Arnold High School in Panama City Beach, Harley is set to take over the Cougars’ program.

Durant High School has officially announced the hiring of Mitch Harvey, the next head coach for the Cougars’ basketball program.

A Hillsborough County product, Harley played his four years of high school basketball at both East Bay High School and Lennard High School before making his way to Florida Gulf Coast University as a walk-on with the Eagles’ program. After being around the program for a year as a player, Harley then transitioned to a managerial position with the introduction of a new coaching staff.

Harley then reconnected with his former coach Danny Gaddis at Lennard, helping lead the Longhorns to a state semifinal appearance in 2014 on the heels of a 25-5

Quick Hits

PLANT CITY LITTLE LEAGUE WRAPS UP SEASON, PREPARES FOR ALL STARS

Plant City Little League held their regular season playoffs last week, with the championships for their Machine Pitch, Minor and Major league age groups being held on Friday. With the regular season now completed, All Star rosters will be revealed this week before district All Star tournaments begin in June.

Stay tuned as the Plant City Observer will provide coverage of Plant City Little League’s All Stars this summer.

record — the best single season in school history. After moving to Panama City Beach, Harley has served as the junior varsity head coach at Arnold High School for the past three years.

Harley will take over a program that finished 12-14 in 2021-2022 and 14-12 in 20222023 under former head coach Jake Baer — who has been announced as the next head coach for Lakewood Ranch High School. After last season came to an end in a 44-40 playoff matchup against rival Plant City, the Cougars lost three of their top five scorers in Xavier Peavy, Abiola Adeyemo and Cam Cotal to graduation but will still have last season’s top scorer in Austin White as he enters his senior season.

“I’m ready to run my own program and I know that Durant is always a competitive program,” Harley said. “I know they acquire some talent and I’m just excited to have the opportunity… I know they have some play-

ers that have departed but they’ve shown toughness in what I’ve seen and I know that Coach Baer did a good job with them. We’re going to pride ourselves on the defensive end, try to create turnovers that lead to easy offense. My teams have always been gritty, tough, in your face defensively and then the offense just kind of takes care of itself. Offensively I think Durant averaged 54 points or so last year and I’d like that to be up to at least the low 70’s, so I’m looking to also bring a little faster pace.”

Born into the game of basketball, Harley is the grandson of Florida Association of Basketball Hall of Fame coach James Harley, who played collegiately at Georgia Southern College and became the head coach of Eckerd College in 1963 when they were still known as Florida Presbyterian College — totaling 547 wins as head coach during his 32-year tenure while also serving as Eckerd’s first Director of Athletics for 39

years until his retirement in 2002. James Harley was subsequently inducted to the Eckerd College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2011.

“I was naturally born into the game of basketball,” Mitch Harley said. “My grandfather is a collegiate Hall of Famer in the state of Florida after he kind of built up Eckerd College’s program. So growing up and watching him coach and run a program, seeing how he did things, was really valuable, especially later on in life now that I’m coaching.”

PLANT CITY TRACK & FIELD TAKES ON STATE MEET

The Raiders made their way to Jacksonville for the FHSAA Class 4A Track & Field State Championships this past weekend.

After Plant City Track & Field saw junior Trae’veon Smith and both their boys and girls 4x100 relay teams qualify at their regional meet, the Raiders made their way to the University of North Florida in Jacksonville this past weekend for the FHSAA Class 4A Track & Field State Championships.

With a time of 21.93 seconds, Smith finished 10th in the state in the 200 meters while the boys 4x100 relay team of Amauri Jackson, Jason Davis, Roderick Jackson

and Smith finished 10th as well with a time of 42.18 seconds.

On the girls side, the 4x100 relay team of Makenzie Holmes, Makayla Holmes, Jalayah Shaw and Erica Holloman finished 11th in the state with a time of 48.31 seconds.

While the Raiders didn’t see any of their athletes make the podium this year, the ability for their Track & Field team to qualify for three events at the state level was an incredible accomplishment considering

how young the team was as a whole — for example, this was Smith’s first season with the Track & Field team as he broke the Plant City High School record in both the 100 meter and 200 meter before qualifying for the state meet in the 200 meter. Additionally, Smith and the entire boys 4x100 relay team will return next year, along with both Makenzie and Makayla Holmes from the girls 4x100 relay team.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

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

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR

“Prime rib, salad with thousand island, yeast rolls with honey butter and sweet tea!” - Diana Webb

“Alice Springs chicken from Outback please.” - Sheryl Irizarry Vitelli

“My homemade salmon rolls with mashed potatoes and white sauce!”

- Sharon Benedix Noyes

“Mama’s fried chicken.” - Peggy Heaton Carr

“Johnson’s BBQ ribeye and fried okra.”

- Stephanie Sullivan

“Thai food!” - Gayle Yanes

“Thanksgiving… is that an option?”

- Thomas Bonner

“The chicken Cobb salad from Chick-FilA.” - Danielle Marie

“Steak and potatoes.” - Janet Crane Davis

“Crab legs, lobster tail and fish” - Abby Marie

“Tacos.” - Shaina Maciejewski

“My own personal steak and ale.” - Joe Bregar

“Spaghetti, sauce and meatballs!” - Ed McNeil

“Anything with potatoes and eggs, thank you very much.” - Cyntthia Johnson

“Probably really good pizza.” - Kristina Marie Gildersleeve

“Eye round roast, mashed potatoes homemade with my gravy and broccoli casserole. Of coarse these are a no no for my diet.” - Jean Hillje-Collins

“Anything from Norma’s!” - Krista Morrison

“Crab legs.” - Heather Eakins

“Mexican food.” - Cynthia Davis Van Camp

“Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, collards and tall salad.” - Judy Martin

“Prime rib, yummy!” - Trisha Barnes

“Pasta.” - Toni Bennett Gould

“Pizza.” - Joyce Provenzano

“Prime rib and potato from Jessie’s Steak House in Brandon.” - Sue Daniels

“Boneless buffalo wings and fries.”

- Teresa Parson

“Any Mexican food.” - Barbara Skaggs Ward

“Pork ribs or fried catfish — ough call.”

- Chris Johns

“Salmon.” - Shelley Inez Bullock

“Chicken wings.” - Rhonda Hynes-Kerns

“Catfish and ollard greens.” - Sally Knight Raburn

“Chicken noodle soup.” - Debi Hatt

“Hamburgers and French fries.”

- Fancie Jenkins

“Double Double from In-N-Out Burger!”

- James Alexander

We asked Plant City: If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

4700 South County Line Road, Lakeland.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com

Jacquelyn

‘Jackie’ N. Hall

Jacquelyn “Jackie” N. Hall, 82, of Plant City, born on Dec. 12, 1940, in Tampa, entered into eternal rest on May 17, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

William ‘Bill’ R. Gay

William “Bill” R. Gay, 68, of Plant City, born on Feb. 7, 1955, in Tampa, entered into eternal rest on May 20, 2023. He was a Veteran of the United States Army, and a member of the American Legion Post 5 Plant City. He enjoyed fising, gardening, and John Deere.

He is survived by wife of 47 years, Wanda Gay; daughter, Tiffany Martin (Frank Curci); grandchildren, Macayla Martin, Wyatt Crenshaw, and Chastity Lawson (Jackie Crenshaw); sister, Martha Thompson; nieces, Jenna Terrell (Clinton), and Julie Joyner (Alan); and bud, Randall Whitaker. He was preceded in death by grandchild, Prestton Gay; brother, Jack Beasley; and nephew, Scott Thompson A graveside service with military honors will be held May 25, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Springhead Cemetery,

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Edgar D. Garnelo Perez

Edgar D. Garnelo Perez, 60, of Plant City, born on Nov. 1, 1962, in Cuidad de Mexico, Dist. Federal, Mexico, entered into eternal rest on May 16, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Francis L. ‘Doc’ Judy

Francis L. “Doc” Judy, 92, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Hospital - South in Riverview, Fla.

For condolences or to share a memory with the family, please visit HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Henry ‘Manny’ Lyndall Jr.

Henry “Manny” Lyndall Jr., 75, passed away on May 16, 2023.

Friends and family will be received on May 26,2023 at Eastside Baptist Church 1318 East Calhoun Street Plant City, Fl. 33563 from 10 to 11 a.m. and a funeral service will follow at 11 a.m.

Anna Mae Overton

Anna Mae Overton, 60, passed away on May 20, 2023. Services will be held privately by the family.

Online condolences can be made at www.haught. care.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Daniel R. Wilson

Daniel R. Wilson, 34, of Plant City, born on Aug. 1, 1988, in Brandon, entered into eternal rest on May 21, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Inez Alderman

Thomas

Inez Alderman Thomas, 87, of Plant City, born on Dec. 30, 1935, entered into eternal rest on May 22, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

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Alice Leila Talbot

Alice Leila Talbot, 94 of Grass Lake, Mich., formerly of Plant City, Fla. and Ann Arbor, Mich., passed away May 18, 2023. Funeral services were May 24, 2023, at Peace Lutheran Church, 8260 Jackson Rd., Ann Arbor, Mich. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at www. stjude.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 26

LAST FRIDAY IN DOWNTOWN

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

SATURDAY, MAY 27

MORGAN BRAKE & DUCK WALLOW LANE

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Duck Wallow Lane is a small-town bluegrass band and Krazy Kup is thrilled to welcome Morgan Brake and the whole band back to their stage for the fourth year in a row. Brake is part of the next generation of up and coming bluegrass musicians that is taking fligh, a talented singer-songwriter that is already making waves in bluegrass and Americana across the county. Fresh off f the band performance at the Florida Bluegrass Summit, this is a show that you surely won’t want to miss. Admission is $15 and tickets can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com.

MONDAY, MAY 29

MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 703 N. Wheeler St. The Plant City Area Democratic Club will host a Memorial Day celebration at the Veterans Monument at Courier Field in Plant City. All are welcome to join as all branches of the United States Military will be represented alongside Strawberry Crest’s JROTC color guard. For more information, contact Brandon Langley at plantcityareadems@ gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31

FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY

VETERANS

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

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

DOWNTOWN DUCK DERBY

11 a.m. at www.facebook.com/wearemainstreetplantcityfl Plant City Main Street will be live streaming their latest Duck Derby on Facebook! Anyone in the United States who wishes to participate can “adopt” a duck for $5 and there is no limit to how many ducks you can adopt. The races

are then streamed live on Plant City Main Streets Facebook page with the owner of the fist place duck winning a $1,000 cash prize. All proceeds from the Downtown Duck Derby will go to Plant City Main Street as they work to revitalize Plant City’s historic downtown. For full details and to officially adoptour duck(s), visit www.plantcitymainstreet.org/downtownduckderby.

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

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.

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

FLAG DAY CEREMONY

BLUEGRASS JAM

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. This is an open invitation for local Bluegrass musicians and fans to come to the Krazy Kup loft and jam, clap hands, stomp feet and enjoy! Krazy Kup holds their Bluegrass JAM on the fist Saturday of every month.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7

SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS WITH ESTRANGED FAMILY

6:30 to 8 p.m. at 1107 Charlie Griffind. Join other parents who are estranged from their adult children. PEAK (Parents of Estranged Adult Kids) group provides a safe place to listen, share and support others going through the hurt of adult family abandonment. Meetings will include group discussions, self-care and positive inflenced activities to help cope with the situation. PEAK is not appropriate for abusive relationships or mental illness. Meetings are the fist Wednesday of each month at GracePoint Church. For more information, visit www.peaksupportgroup.com

1 p.m. 1501 N. Alexander St. The Plant City Elks Lodge 1727 will host a Flag Day Ceremony at their lodge. The event will take attendees through the history of all our nation’s flas. The Lodge will highlight their members who have served as the veterans present the nine historic flas. A box lunch will be provided at the conclusion of the ceremony in exchange for a donation made to the lodge and all are welcome to attend. If you’re planning on attending, please RSVP to Ed Wise by calling 863-370-0772.

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

LOW COUNTRY BOIL

6 to 10 p.m. at 1501 N. Alexander St. The Plant City Elks Lodge 1727 will be hosting a low country boil. Attendance will cost $17 if tickets are purchased before June 10 and $22 if purchased after, all are encouraged to attend. To purchase tickets, call the Elks Lodge at 813-752-2822 any day after 4 p.m.

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

I LOVE PLANT CITY

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

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Cindy McClure caught this photo of a hawk catching some sun at the bird bath in her backyard in Plant City.

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