PLANT CITY
Observer
Karate kids at AAU nationals. SEE PAGE 8.
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 5, NO. 52
FREE
‘A hui hou’
•
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018
YOUR TOWN
Joseph Clemons Jr. was raised in Plant City and became a national hero. To the world he was the brave champion in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. To his family he was “the greatest man alive.” See Page 3.
Creating a virtual community
Justin Kline
Blossoming downtown Thanks to efforts by City Manager Bill McDaniel, the final stages of his downtown refresh project are underway. The streets are all striped and the sidewalks have been restored to their former glory in the means of solid pressure washing and minor repairs. The 19 long-empty planters on Evers Street received new occupants on June 25 with the addition of Coontie Palms, which have palm and fern-like characteristics.
Business owners met to discuss how social media can generate sales and a virtual following. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Utilizing online resources like social media and websites can launch a business to success. Local business owners gathered at Krazy Kup for the June Main Street Hot Coffee Topics meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss online tools to expand sales. Without an online presence, it can be difficult to attract new customers to a brick-and-mortar store. Social media connects communities and allows potential shoppers to take a peek into what is offered at their hometown establishments. Some in Plant City have zero online engagement, relying on
Fighting for water
Courtesy photo
Joseph Clemons Jr. and wife Cecil Clemons. The two lived an adventurous life following retirement.
SEE VIRTUAL PAGE 5
A group of missionaries from St. Clement Catholic Church’s young adult ministry spent a week working with the Good Samaritan Water Project in Vale Fiel, Dominican Republic. The group worked to help bring water to a community, which connected approximately 170 people with running water. Partnering with the villages, the Good Samaritan Water Project helps “open the door to health, education, income and a hopefilled future.” They are planning another trip for 2019.
The Trunzos are at it again The owners of Krazy Kup have announced plans to create a trendy pizzeria in historic downtown. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Courtesy photo
Wenda and Frank Trunzo are starting their next business endeavor.
Historic downtown will soon have a new cornerstone thanks to Frank and Wenda Trunzo. The owners of the beloved Krazy Kup announced on June 21 they have purchased a new building and plan to open a “performance pizzeria.”
The duo will use their unique skills to renovate the building at 201 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., just steps away from their award-winning coffee house. It seems bringing historic buildings back to life will now be part of their legacy. “This will be a metamorphosis, much like Krazy Kup was when we first bought it,” Frank Trunzo said. “It’s a hidden gem. Like Michelangelo said, ‘I have to find what’s inside.’” Years ago when his family was searching for the perfect quaint SEE KRAZY PAGE 4
A STORY FOR THE AGES
Meet heroic Demi Benzel. SEE PAGE 6.