PLANT CITY
Observer
Adopt a furry friend. SEE PAGE 6
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 6, NO. 7
FREE
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018
What’s up with Walden Lake? City commissioners may soon hold Today’s Bank accountable for lack of maintenance. SEE PAGE 7
Political powwow
YOUR TOWN
The Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidate forum Tuesday night.
SEE PAGE 3 Justin Kline
Crossing Collins and Drane Street just got safer.
Safety first Thanks to the City of Plant City, pedestrians now have another crosswalk in historic downtown. Two Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons were installed on Collins and Drane Street. These devices will use LED flashing beacons and pedestrian warning signs to provide a “highvisibility strobe-like warning to drivers.” The city has 10 of the RRFBs in place and, as more funding becomes available, they plan to add more beacons across town.
MAKE meets Ms. Ruby
Revamping the parks The proposed budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year allots more than $1.4 million for local parks. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Several of Plant City’s parks could soon get some much-needed improvements thanks to the city’s proposed budget for the 20182019 fiscal year. With an estimated cost of $1.465 million, the projects will
revamp Ellis-Methvin Park, Snowden Park, Brewer Park and the Tennis Center. “We’re always looking at ways that we can improve our park properties,” Jack Holland, director of the Recreation and Parks Department, said. “Since 2008, 2009, money has been pretty tight with decreased revenues for our general fund, money coming in from property taxes and such, so we really haven’t been able to do a whole lot in the past years since then. Now that the economy is turning a little bit better SEE PARKS, PAGE 4
Breanne Williams
Snowden Park may soon get new lighting along its walking trail thanks to the proposed city budget.
MAKE Plant City, a group of creatives and makers in the local community, held a special evening with legendary folk artist Ms. Ruby Williams. Williams grew up in nearby Bealsville, a community formed by freed slaves in the 1860s. In Plant City, Williams is known as much for her art as she is for her renowned produce stand on State Road 60. On Tuesday night she discussed her art career, the struggles she faced along the way and the love she has for her community. Her art has been displayed in galleries and museums across the country including the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum in Washington D.C.