Plant City Times &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
A PARTNERSHIP WITH
SCHOOLSPIRIT
New work of art donated by former students.
RELAYFORLIFE
REVVED TO GO
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Participants rocked out the 2015 event.
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FREE • FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015
Memorial ride to be held for motocross dad.
by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer OUR TOWN wlca
New Walden Lake leaders elected Dan Orrico and Dave Sollenberger will now serve on the board of directors, and Jan Griffin was reelected.
Courtesy of the The Plant City Photo Archives and History Center
+ Archives ready for intern program
The Plant City Photo Archives and History Center’s intern program is open for applications for the 2015 summer and fall terms. The program is designed to provide students the opportunity to learn museum, archives and history center skills in a real-life setting. The intern program was initiated in 2010 and has provided high school-level students, college undergraduate students and graduate students learning opportunities in institution operations, historical research, library procedures, historical research and writing, and archiving techniques. The program is structured to be flexible in scheduling, and each intern will be monitored by both a mentor and by the organization’s executive director. Programs of work are set out in advance and interns are provided with formats for daily journal entries and checklists. After the completion of the schedule, the intern is presented with an evaluation and a final report. Applications may be submitted for the 2015 summer term until July 3 and up until August 14 for the fall term. Interested students can obtain additional information and an application form by visiting the Photo Archives office or by emailing the executive director at gil@ plantcityphotoarchives. org. The office is open for business Mondays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at 106 S. Evers St. in downtown Plant City. The office telephone number is (813) 7541578 and the website is PlantCityPhotoArchives. org.
OUR TOWN / PAGE 4
, 3&
This week’s winner is
Dan Middlebrooks See his photo on PAGE 15.
At the Walden Lake Community Association’s annual meeting Thursday, April 9, residents voted for Jan Griffin, Dan Orrico and Dave Sollenberger to fill the three open positions on the board of directors. Griffin was reelected. Orrico and Sollenberger will take the
places of Jim Chancey, who resigned last fall, and Bruce Rodwell, who had served on the board for 20 years. Sollenberger was the city manager for Plant City from 2002 to 2010, and again as an interim city manager for six months in 2014. During these times, he led the master plan-
ning for development in the northeast region of the city, streamlined the development review process and focused on neighborhood revitalization efforts. Sollenberger has lived in Walden Lake for 12 years. He ran for the board of directors in last year’s WLCA election,
but he withdrew because he was serving as city manager at the time and wanted to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. “I think that Walden Lake has a lot to offer,” Sollenberger said. “I think it’s a very nice community.” He said he does not think it is a good idea to move forward with the proposed rezoning of
SEE WLCA / PAGE 4
VOTES PER CANDIDATE
Joshua Hall: 67 Blake Meinecke: 73 Robert Rogers: 76 Robert Farkas: 167 Daniel Pinero: 260 Lynn Buehler: 289 Jan Griffin: 293 Dave Sollenberger: 330 Dan Orrico: 356
eco event
AGRICULTURE by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
Community garden hosts first Earth Day festival Garden members expect the festival to become an annual event.
Carl Grooms savored the final berries of the season last week.
Catherine Sinclair
BYE-BYE, BERRIES The 2015 strawberry season has come to a close in Plant City, but it was a unique year impacted by weather and new varieties of fruit.
C
arl Grooms, president of Fancy Farms, says there are only two things a grower can know for sure about each strawberry season: There’s a start, and there’s an end. Every season is unique because of factors such as weath-
er, expenses, and supply and demand. And within any given year, different growers around Plant City can have varying levels of success. Fortunately for Grooms, Fancy Farms was relatively successful this season. “In comparison to the past
four years, this would be considered a better year,” he said. Kenneth Parker, executive director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, said the biggest challenge this year was weather-related —
SEE BERRIES / PAGE 4
For the first time, residents of Plant City have an opportunity to learn how to become more eco-friendly and celebrate the natural resources the world has to offer. The Plant City Commons Community Garden is hosting Earth Day Fest, which is expected to become an annual event. “We always do (an event) in the fall for Food Day, and we decided that we needed an additional fundraiser,” Karen Elizabeth, community garden director, said. “Earth Day seemed like a good fit.” Throughout the day there will be free, half-hour workshops on a variety of topics to help attendees make their lives a little more eco-friendly. Your Green Comfort Zone will be led by Cecilia Yocum, a licensed psychologist with more than 35 years as a mental health professional. The workshop will be an interactive experience, where participants will be asked to consider what extra steps they would be willing to take in order to be more
SEE EARTH DAY / PAGE 4
WRITTEN UP by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
Student wins contest for essay about Tomlin Middle teacher Lisveth Trejo’s essay about her former reading teacher, Theresa Rice, scored highest in the local Barnes and Noble ‘My Favorite Teacher’ contest.
Lisveth Trejo was reading at a second-grade level when she walked into Theresa Rice’s double-intensive eighth-grade reading classroom at Tomlin Middle School. But it turned out to be one of the most transformative years of Trejo’s life,
both academically and personally. So when Trejo found out about Barnes and Noble’s “My Favorite Teacher” essay contest, choosing a subject to write about was easy for her. Her essay was so moving
that she was given the top score among 65 entrants from Hillsborough County, and she will have the opportunity to advance in the contest at the regional and national levels.
SEE ESSAY / PAGE 4
Catherine Sinclair
Theresa Rice was Lisveth Trejo’s eighth-grade reading teacher, tutor and mentor.
INDEX Calendar.......................9
Vol.2,No.29 | Twosections Crossword...................15
Obituaries...................14
Sports...........................5
Weather......................15
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MY VIEW
Queena still serving as a beacon of courage Queena Vuong, known for another favorite, singing dursurviving a brutal attack at the ing a recent visit to SeaWorld, Bloomingdale Library, was she stuck her arms straight out filled with nerves as she waited and her feet snapped out of the in line to meet one of her idols. straps on her wheelchair. Her sister, Anna, said QueeCountry girl shake it for me. na didn’t know what to expect She’s still not talking — yet — from the star. But really, but her therapists and she had no reason to doctors are impressed worry. After all, it was with her recent progjust one princess meetress. ing another. “I would say the first “The first thing Cinfive years were very derella said when we slow but steady,” Anna introduced them, she said last week. “But touched her wheelchair within the last year, and said, ‘I love your year and a half, her carriage,’ “ Anna said. EARNEST progress has taken off.” HOOPER “Queena just lit up like: Talking and eating This is awesome. She “are major milestones, was just so excited.” and I think we’ll get there evenNearly seven years after tually, but the small steps are Queena was assaulted and left really huge, too.” to die April 24, 2008 — two days Just as the therapists marvel after her 18th birthday — she over her progress, we should continues to serve as a beacon marvel over the family’s bravof courage for the community ery. and a symbol of hope as she The trip to Disney in Febmoves toward recovery. ruary, a gift from the ValricoHer family will celebrate her based nonprofit Operation Lobirthday with a pair of fund- tus, represented a rare family raisers Saturday, April 18, in- vacation. And an extra special cluding one at Keel and Curley one for Anna. Winery in Plant City. Operation Lotus founder Queena can now kick a soc- Melanie Brockmeier lived cer ball on command with ei- across the street from the ther foot. Bloomingdale Library when She watches movies, listens Queena was attacked. The to audio books one or two nonprofit, which often aims to hours a night and loves One help people who experienced Direction and Bruno Mars. loss, jumped at the chance to When she heard Luke Bryan, help Queena with a special trip.
One of Queena’s idols is Cinderella. They talked about a therapeutic swim with dolphins, but everybody involved decided it best to give Queena something fun: three days, two nights at Disney with Brockmeier handling all the arrangements, including reservations, accessible room, hospital bed and a Disney VIP photo pass. Brockmeier and Lotus board member Melanie Morrison, executive director of the SouthShore Chamber of Commerce, presented the gift to the family just before Christmas. “Meeting them changed my life,” Brockmeier said. “The smile and excitement on Quee-
Courtesy photo
na’s face as I told her what she was getting was pure joy. “Meeting her mother and sister was profound. They were the true definitions of hero, selfless heroes devoted to Queena. It was simply amazing.” At Disney, Queena spent the day at the Magic Kingdom meeting her favorite characters, including Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse. But Anna also got a special moment. With fireworks reflecting off the Seven Seas Lagoon and the family looking on from the Polynesian, Anna’s
boyfriend, Jonathan Donato, proposed. She said yes, affirming that her own emotional health can’t be neglected. But Anna says her mother finds it more difficult to focus on herself. “She always says you’re not in my shoes so you don’t completely understand,” Anna explained. “She hasn’t been on a vacation by herself. She hasn’t gone on a date. She doesn’t have time and she doesn’t quite have the motivation yet. She’s just so hopeful, and she’s devoted everything she can to Queena.” The trip presented just one more magnanimous gesture from the community that embraced Queena even before her name was known. “When the story first came out everyone was saying it’s just like it happened to my own family, like Queena is my own daughter, my own sister,” Anna explained. “That’s how it’s been for the last seven years. She’s implanted herself in their hearts.” But as much as she has received, she has given back. People who follow her Facebook page and website write to the family that her example has inspired them to bravely face their own demons, be it sexual assault, cancer or some other challenge. “She’s a little ambassador,” Anna says. “Sometimes we
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
The community is invited to Queena’s birthday party fundraiser Saturday, April 18, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, to help celebrate her 25th birthday and the seventh anniversary of her survival. The event includes live music, food, live and silent auctions, raffles and T-shirt sales. An optional winery tour and tasting will be offered at 3 p.m. for $10 with 100 percent of those proceeds benefitting Queena.
wonder, ‘Why did this happen?’ It doesn’t make any sense. “But we try to forget about the ‘why’ and look at the good we are doing and the progress we’ve made. It’s been a tough, emotional journey but it’s been amazing at the same time.” Some days are tougher than others. They endured the trial of her assailant, Kendrick Morris, and saw him sent to prison. Since then, meeting the financial demands of Queena’s health care has been omnipresent. Still, they remain hopeful. “I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next couple of years, something big happens,” Anna said. “All it takes is one small connection in the brain.” Thankfully, Queena has already made one big connection with the community. That’s all I’m saying.
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feeling blue-berry by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
BLACK AND ORANGE by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
Blueberry Fest gears up for its eighth year
The Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival begins Friday, April 24, and runs through Sunday, April 26.
Art teacher Ric Edgemon spent last summer painting a new mural in the cafeteria at Tomlin Middle School.
Catherine Sinclair
Plant City High School Planters host open house for new mural Alumni of Plant City High made a donation to Tomlin Middle School, where PCHS was once located, for a mural in the cafeteria. The community is invited to view the artwork April 24. A new work of art at Tomlin Middle School inspires students to be the best Tigers they can be. The new mural in the cafeteria is thanks to a group of alumni from Plant City High School who wanted to give back to the campus they used to call home. In 2013, Lynda Rogers Fuller, a 1960 graduate of Plant City High School, organized a reunion for alumni who graduated between 1956 and 1972. The event was highly attended, and there was money leftover, even after all of the expenses had been paid. Fuller got the idea to donate the extra sum to Tomlin Middle School, which was previously Plant City High School, the campus where most of these alumni had attended. The Planters donated $1,000 to Tomlin and let Principal Susan Sullivan de-
cide how to use the funds. Sullivan approached Ric Edgemon, who teaches art at Tomlin, and asked him to use the donation to paint a large mural of a tiger in Tomlin’s cafeteria. There was an existing mural in the cafeteria, completed in 2004, but Sullivan wanted to continue improving the room’s aesthetic. Edgemon, who is currently in his fifth year of teaching at Tomlin, spent two weeks during the summer of 2014 painting the new mural. He used digital software to create a montage of the tiger, text and foliage, and then projected his image onto the wall and sketched it out. The mural is high up on the wall, but Edgemon’s mobile scaffold came to the rescue. “It works just right. I’m able to get high enough to get the top without having to stretch
IF YOU GO
MURAL OPEN HOUSE When: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 24 Where: Tomlin Middle School cafeteria, 501 N. Woodrow Wilson St. Details: Everyone is invited, whether or not they are Plant City Planters. There will be light refreshments. too far,” Edgemon said. Edgemon had previously painted six larger murals and a few smaller ones in Tomlin’s media center, featuring scenes that correspond with fantasy, natural science and other genres of the library’s collection. Painting on walls presents its own challenges, compared with Edgemon’s
usual artistic media. “It’s much more difficult to work on a surface that is not smooth,” he said. The Plant City Planters will be hosting an open house for anyone in the community who wishes to see the mural, whether or not he or she has a connection to the alumni group. Pat Ballard is organizing the open house. Though she was a Turkey Creek Gobbler, her husband was a Planter, and she is known for her event planning skills, particularly when it comes to reunions and similar gatherings. “People can come and go as they want to,” Ballard said. “We’d love to have a lot of people show up to see it.” Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.
Fire department receives tech grant • A contract has been approved for the first phase of the South Frontage Road utilities extension project, which will run from Wilder Road to Son Keen Road in order to provide potable water and fire service to the new Lakehouse Luxury Apartments. This phase will cost $894,255. • City manager Mike Herr has been in contact with the Metropolitan Planning Organization in regards to transportation issues in Plant City. Herr’s first priority in this realm is streetscaping and lane reconfiguration on South Collins Street, followed by expanding a section of West Sam Allen Road to four lanes. • Commissioners approved a resolution to grant two easement deeds to Tampa Electric so that power can be provided to Ellis-Methvin Park for field and trail lighting, an irrigation system, and the restrooms. Commissioner Mike Sparkman presented the Future of the Region Award, awarded by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, to board members of the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum for second place in the culture and recreation category.
The updated computer equipment will allow Plant City Fire Rescue to complete reports more efficiently and consistently. Plant City Fire Rescue has received a grant for $20,462.52, which will be used on technological upgrades that will enhance data collection capabilities. The grant came from federal funding appropriated by the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Transportation. Plant City Fire Rescue will use the funds to purchase six new Panasonic laptop computers, one for each of the fire department’s response units. “These computers will allow PCFR personnel to complete both fire and medical response reports in a more timely fashion, collect patient
QUICK PICKS Craft beer enthusiasts and wine snobs alike will have plenty of offerings to taste at the Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival. The Plant City Times & Observer linked up with Keel and Curley and Two Henrys Brewing Company to find the beers and wines that readers should definitely have on their “to-drink” lists.
WINES
governance by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer IN OTHER NEWS
The Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival may not be the only blueberry festival in Florida, but it’s one that hasn’t lost sight of its roots. Held at Keel and Curley Winery for eight years, this Blueberry Festival is all about recognizing the hard work blueberry farmers put in, year in and year out, to produce fresh products. Its centerpiece has always been the blueberry U-pick on the winery grounds, held all day during the three days of the festival. This year, things are looking very good for the U-pick. “Looks like we’re going to be peaking five to seven days before the festival,” Ryan Keel, vice president of the winery, said. “We’re just going to let them ripen all the way through, so that we should have a good crop to support the three-day festival.” Every day of the festival, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., guests can go out in the blueberry fields and pick to their hearts’ content. Golf cart transportation will be available. For those who aren’t interested in the U-pick, there’s plenty more to do. Over 100 vendors will feature their goods on the winery grounds, and there will be plenty of food. The winery’s tasting room will be open, and guests will be able to try some of the latest and greatest Two Henrys Brewing Company concoctions both indoors and outdoors. For the young ones, the Kids
signatures to improve billing processes and install updated versions of the software being utilized, without fear of overwhelming the capabilities of the hardware,” City Manager Mike Herr wrote in his report Monday, April 13. PCFR was awarded a similar grant in 2008. The department’s oldest computers were purchased that year, and the newest computers were purchased in 2011. “As you can imagine, the hardware is well worn and fairly outdated at this point,” Jim Wilson, EMS chief, said. “Our current hardware really has a difficult time keeping up with the demands we con-
stantly place on (it).” The new laptops will have much more memory and faster processors than PCFR’s current computers. Wilson expects the new laptops to arrive at the department and be ready to use in about a month. PCFR will be working with the city’s IT department to purchase the computers and install software. “Because the new computers will have so much more capability, we will be expanding their use for pre-fire planning, mapping and other operational uses that we simply cannot do with the older technology,” Wilson said.
Catherine Sinclair
Sangria A traditional red sangria made of a blend of cabernet and merlot grapes, as well as several other fruits. The aroma is strong, but the taste is light and sweet. Strawberry This white wine is Keel and Curley’s second-best seller. The blend is 80% Riesling grape with some Plant City strawberries added in. The grape aroma is strong, but the strawberry comes through in the taste. Peach A white wine, containing 80% chardonnay grapes and peaches grown on the Keel and Curley farms. The peaches are especially present in the aroma, and the wine itself is sweet.
IF YOU GO
2015 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL
When: Friday, April 24 (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.), Saturday, April 25 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Sunday, April 26 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). U-Pick will be held every day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Keel and Curley Winery, 5202 W. Thonotosassa Rd. Cost: Admission is free; parking is $5 per vehicle. For more information, visit TampaBayBlueberry Festival.com. Zone and bounce house will be a popular area to play in. There also will be plenty of live music on each day of the festival, featuring bands such as Faces South, Just Friends, Skip Frye, Mark Barrios and LuBeck. As always, guests will be able to see the official Blueberry Queen and Court presentation on-site. The Blueberry Festival staff wants to show everyone a good time, no matter their ages or interests. “I think, more than anything, we just try to encourage everybody to still bring their kids out and let them run around the blueberry farm,” Keel says. “That’s what it’s all about.” Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
BEERS Fletcher’s Drool (American wheat ale, 5.7%) Named after the Keel family’s original Mastiff, this ale is much better than actual dog drool. Treated with mandarin oranges and tangerines, this ale has a pleasant aroma and is light enough to be a great summer beer. Strawberry Ginger (Saison, 5.1%) Saisons are growing in popularity in the craft beer community, and Two Henrys’ offering has enough strawberry in it to appease Plant City. The berry takes over the aroma, first taste and aftertaste, while the ginger shows up somewhere in the middle. Good for anyone that enjoys fruity beers. Belleview Biltmore Blueberry Vanilla Wheat (American wheat ale, 5.3%) One of Two Henrys’ flagship brews, this ale is a musttry for the Blueberry Festival. The vanilla and blueberries balance well in the mix and are present throughout the taste. A summer beer that tastes like a fall beer.
Wild Berry Keel and Curley’s topselling wine is a Pinot noir with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries all blended together. No one berry dominates the aroma, and this semisweet wine goes down smoothly.
Roasted Jalapeno Blueberry Porter (Brown porter, 5.5%) This porter debuted at Biertoberfest 2014 and is worth a try for anyone feeling adventurous. The jalapeño aroma and flavor are very much present throughout the brew, but there’s just enough blueberry in the mix to cancel out some of the heat. Great for those winter months when Florida gets cold.
Sweet Blueberry The only wine made with 100% blueberries, all grown on the Keel and Curley farms. This smooth red wine is, somehow, even sweeter than the name suggests.
Runaway Locomotive (Black IPA, 7.3%) It’s an IPA without some of the bite of traditional brews, adding in darker malts for both color and taste. A hoppy, sweet-smelling beer that goes down smooth and could convert some drinkers that don’t normally enjoy IPAs.
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ESSAY / PAGE 1 Spanish was Trejo’s first language. She struggled in school from an early age because she had not be prepared for a fast-pace classroom environment in a language she had not learned at home. Trejo’s siblings were highachievers, but Trejo seemed to be left behind. Her parents’ expectations for her fell. After she got her first referral in fourth grade, she stopped putting in the effort to succeed. “As a result, I was left with no confidence when it came to learning, and this developed into a strong urge to rebel,” Trejo wrote in her essay. “This continued all the way throughout most of middle school, and then one teacher motivated me enough to change all of this.” On Trejo’s first day of eighth grade, Rice told a personal story about a difficult family background that resonated with Trejo. “I didn’t even learn how to read until I was 21, when I
started junior college, so I can relate a lot to the kids coming into the classroom,” Rice said. Throughout the year, Rice tutored Trejo before and after school. But Rice’s guidance extended far past Trejo’s textbooks. “I was able to come to her not only when things got hard school-wise, but also with personal issues,” Trejo wrote. “My classmates and I even began to call her Mama Rice, because she had become a mother figure to us.” By the end of the school year, Trejo had advanced from a level-one FCAT reading score to level four. And this year, Trejo felt confident enough in her abilities to enter a national essay contest. The top five contest entrants in the Tampa Bay area read their essays at Barnes and Noble in Brandon Saturday, April 11. It was the first time Rice had heard Trejo’s entire piece. “Teaching lower-level academic kids, to see them have an academic award is amaz-
PRIZES
Lisveth Trejo and Theresa Rice received Barnes and Noble gift cards and certificates. The five regional essay winners will each receive $500 gift cards. The national winner’s teacher will receive $5,000, as well as $5,000 for his or her school.
ing,” Rice said. “It shows you that what you do really matters.” Trejo is now finishing her freshman year at Plant City High School, and she will be starting dual enrollment at Hillsborough Community College in the fall. She hopes start a career in criminology. “I hope to one day come back to (Rice’s) classroom and tell her I’ve accomplished all my goals,” Trejo said. “Thanks to her, I’m not afraid to try.” Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.
IF YOU GO
EARTH DAY FEST When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25 Where: Plant City Commons Community Garden, 309 N. Carey St., Plant City Admission: Free Workshops: Your Green Comfort Zone (11:30), Simple Solar (12:30), BEE Happy (1:30) and Time Banking (2:30) Sponsorships: Contact Karen Elizabeth at 12circle8@gmail.com or (813) 435-8111.
EARTH DAY / PAGE 1 earth-conscious. “She’ll have some questions ... for instance, where you are right now in being more green — maybe recycling, things of that nature — and then she’s going to put out some challenges,” Elizabeth said. The next workshop, Simple Solar, will be a basic introduction to household solar power. Attendees will learn about ovens, lamps, battery chargers and other items that run on free energy from the sun. These items will not be for sale at Earth Day Fest, but there will be plenty of information available about how to find and purchase them. Community gardener and master beekeeper Nancy Ham will lead a workshop called BEE Happy. She will discuss ways to help backyard bees with food and appropriate plants. The last workshop will be an introduction to Time Banking, led by Marie Nelson of the
WLCA / PAGE 1 The Lakes golf course, because there is no written guarantee that the profits would be reinvested into Walden Lake. “I like to trust people, but on the other hand, if I’m going to trust somebody, I want to have a firm guarantee that I’m going to get from them what they said they were going to give me,” Sollenberger said. “I know a lot of people believe the pitch that has been made. Maybe it’s true, and maybe it’s not — I don’t know. But there’s a big trust factor, and I just
BERRIES / PAGE 1 but not on a local level. “Our biggest hurdle was the Northeast receiving such heavy snow and ice, that it affected our ability to deliver strawberries,” Parker said. “They weren’t really concerned about getting strawberries as much as they were concerned about shoveling out the ice and snow.” Plant City growers who capitalized on their berries early in the season, before the heavy winter weather, tended to have more success this year than those whose plants didn’t produce until later. Locally, it was a mild season. Grooms said he had to “crank up the irrigation” just once to protect the crops. In recent years, some growers have not been able to bring in as much money as they have needed. As a result, the acreage of berries around Plant City declined this year by 1,000 acres. It was the first time in the last 50 years that
WATCH OUT FOR 127
The 127 or “Sweet Sensation” berry is the first variety ever to be patented and trademarked. Industry experts expect it to begin dominating the market in coming years because its fruit is big and extra sweet, and has a comparatively long shelf life.
this happened. “It looks as though there’ll be another decline this coming season, maybe not as extensive of that,” Grooms said. He said the rate of acreage decline largely depends on the availability of steady and reliable laborers. The variety that seemed to dominate the Florida market this season was Radiance. It is a large, sweet berry that fruits early and is easy to pick off of the bush. A downside, however, is that it is highly
susceptible to the pathogen Phytophthora, which stunts growth and causes bitter fruit. But a new variety was introduced this year that Grooms and Parker expect to become dominant next year and possibly beyond: 127, also known as “Sweet Sensation.” It was developed and patented by the University of Florida. “Our consumers want a variety that tastes good with a little bit better shelf life, and certainly 127 fills both of those needs very well,” Parker said. At the end of the strawberry season, berry plants are killed with an herbicide so they are easier to remove from fields. Many of Plant City’s growers have killed this year’s plants. Some growers grow vegetables through the summer, but others don’t return to the fields until next strawberry season. “I think the ... desire for people to eat strawberries has never been higher,” Parker said.
Tampa Time Bank. In the concept of time banking, people subscribe to the time bank and offer their skills to other subscribers. Whenever a subscriber serves another, he or she earns an equal amount of time in the bank, to be redeemed by a subscriber with another skill. “It’s a time exchange and it’s all done evenly,” Elizabeth said. “Whether you’re a plumber or a yard worker, your time is all equal. Being earth-friendly also means helping each other out, as well.” In addition to the workshops, there will be a marketplace of more than 27 vendors, offering everything from decorative gourds, to homemade fudge, to farm-fresh produce. Representatives from Southwest Florida Water Management District will be present at Earth Day Fest. At their booth, visitors can pick up free yard work tools, efficient shower heads and other items for water conservation. The adjacent area will have activities for children, such as coloring books and a meet-and-greet with SWFWMD’s mascot, Officer Snook. Earth Day Fest is a fundraiser for the Plant City Commons Community Garden. One of the garden’s goals is to install some rainwater harvesting equipment. “We want to do several ways of harvesting water ... so people can come by and say, ‘Well, I could do this at my house with a rain barrel,’” Elizabeth said. “It’s pretty simple to do, and it’s just nice to be able to walk up and see something like that.” The garden also hopes to eventually add a butterfly garden and a youth entrepreneurship program, through which
young people can grow produce and sell it at local markets. There would be an opportunity for scouts to earn badges through this program. But it is equally important to the gardeners that Earth Day Fest is a fun way to teach members of the community about environmental issues and ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
“We can move away from some of the big agricultural issues like pesticides and land use ... and people have that opportunity to understand that it’s easy to do, especially when you have folks like us to show you how to do it,” Elizabeth said. Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.
can’t go on trust.” While he was interim city manager, Sollenberger urged the city to publicly post all documentation related to the golf course, so that any rumors or false information would subside. These documents can now be viewed at PlantCityGov.com/index.aspx?nid=956. Orrico is a retired U.S. Army Colonel who specialized in organizational transformation, strategic planning, medical operations and staff development throughout his 30-year military career. He has lived in Walden Lake for more than
10 years, and he earned more votes in the election than any other candidate. “If you want to make change, oftentimes the best way to make change is from within an organization,” Orrico said. “I appreciate the fact that many of the members of the association felt that I had the qualifications and the leadership qualities that were necessary to move the community forward, and I hope to be able to do that with pride and distinction, honesty and integrity.” Orrico also is against the golf course rezoning.
“I think it will destroy the way of life that we’ve all become accustomed to here in Walden Lake,” Orrico said. “It will increase the traffic, it will cause pressure here on our schools, it will add additional wear and tear to our road system that is already deteriorating ... and it will destroy our ecosystem.” The newly elected directors’ first board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, April 20, in the clubhouse meeting room. Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.
Catherine Sinclair
The Plant City Commons Community Garden is located just across the street from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
mention), Tomlin Avery Surrency (honorable mention), Tomlin BOYS Gresham Stephens (first), PCHS Arie Fry (second), PCHS
OUR TOWN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
+ Students advance in speech contest
Eight local students competed in the Optimist Club’s Optimist Oratorical Contest in March, and two advanced to a higher level. The students first competed
March 16 at the Plant City Recreation & Parks Department administrative office. Each student presented a five-minute speech in front of an audience of more than 50 people, including friends, family and club members. The theme was “How My Optimism Will Help Me Press On To ‘Greater Achievements of the Future.’” Members of Plant City
Toastmasters Club judged the speeches in poise, content, delivery and effectiveness. The students were: GIRLS Emma Poole (first), Tomlin Astrid Manzano (second), PCHS Kynewyn Saunders (third), DHS Esmeralda Barrera Nandi (honorable mention), SCHS Katherine Ruppert (honorable
Poole and Stephens advanced to the zone level of competition March 31 in Mulberry. They competed against top finishers from Lakeland and Winter Haven. Both won their categories. They will now advance to the Southwest Regional Contest at the John Germain Tampa Public Library Auditorium at 2 p.m. May 2 where they will compete against the winners from other Tampa Bay area Zone competitions. As part of the North Florida District 3rd Quarter Conference, Regional Contest winners advance to the North Florida District Finals May 16 in Cape Canaveral where a $2,500 college scholarship will be awarded to the top male and top female participant.
Sports
YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jarrett Joyner is a junior pitching machine for Plant City High. 7 SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015
PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM
SIDELINES Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com, or Tweet us at @ PCTOSports.
FOOTBALL
+ Bennett to be honored at gala
The Jeans and Jacket Gala has announced that longtime Plant City Dolphins president Buddy Bennett has posthumously won its Mike Storter Award. “The youth Buddy influenced and touched during his lifetime is too many to count and his legacy continues,” the gala posted to Facebook April 8. “What (a) privilege it is for many to have known and been a part of this man’s life.” The Jeans and Jacket Gala will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at Kathleen’s Garden, 5701 Pless Road. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Youth Alliance. For tickets and more information, call (813) 719-0245 or email peggy@ theyouthalliance.com. Thompson named Gibbs High head coach Plant City High assistant coach John Thompson will lead the St. PetersburgGibbs High football program next season, the school confirms. After two years on the Plant City sideline, Thompson will become the Gladiators’ fifth head coach in eight seasons. He is also in the process of becoming a full-time teacher at the school.
TOURNEY TIME by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
Baseball, softball district tournaments underway It’s time for playoff baseball and softball. What should Plant City-area fans know about their teams for the district tournaments? Baseball and softball — Florida’s king and queen of spring sports — are going into playoff mode. As it’s time for the district tournaments, this is the chance for fans of all three area teams to catch their favorite high schoolers in postseason action. So, what is there to know about these boys and girls?
SOFTBALL
The softball tournament has already begun at Durant High,
and local fans likely won’t want to miss the championship game at 7 p.m. Friday, April 17. The top two seeds in the district, Plant City and Strawberry Crest, have enjoyed successful seasons while dealing with new challenges. The Lady Raiders (14-11; 8-2 district), under first-time head coach Ashley Bullion, haven’t shown a great deal of regression from last year’s district runner-up squad. They weren’t able to match the 17-6 regular-
season record from 2014, but only lost one more district game than that team. And its not-so-secret weapon, sophomore Edmilly Molina, has had a monster season at the plate: a .493 batting average with 30 RBI, 26 runs, six triples, four doubles and two homers, plus eight stolen bases. She leads the team in each of these categories. The Lady Chargers (15-7; 8-2 district) got off to an unusually shaky start, losing six of their
PCHS players look on during a preseason tourney. first seven games. Since then, they’ve won 13 out of 14 contests. Strawberry Crest doesn’t have another Mia Fung or Cacey Simmons-level star on the roster, so it’s safe to say this resurgence has been a total team effort. Eight of the 11 batters with at least 20 at-bats are
File photo
hitting over .300, and the only ones with double-digit RBI totals are juniors Kaylan Kelly (13) and Rebecca Roberts (11). Junior Scottie Todd leads all area pitchers with a 1.66 ERA and 90 strikeouts.
SEE DISTRICTS / PAGE 7
motocross by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
+ SCHS Chargers holding fundraiser
The Strawberry Crest High football team is getting started on one of its early offseason goals: raising some money any way it can. The program is asking friends and families for support. “Running a top-notch program takes a lot of time and energy from coaches, players and families, but none of it is possible without community support,” John Kelly, head coach, said in an email release. “Your donation ensures that our athletes will continue to have the best tools and equipment available to help them perform at the highest level.” The team hopes to raise $6,000 by Friday, May 8, through its Hudl page, ow.ly/ Lzxst.
TRACK & FIELD
+ PCHS sends 12 to regionals
A strong performance at the district championships helped the Plant City High track and field team send 12 to next week’s regionals meet. Both teams recorded topthree finishes in the district tournament, with the Lady Raiders placing second and the boys taking third. Individual Results: Tychina Bush — first place, discus and shot put Kenkari Greene — second place, discus Jackson Hardee — second place, pole vault (tied) Wesley Weaver — third place, triple jump Hannah Stowe — fourth place, 800 open Regionals will be held at Wharton High School, 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, Wednesday, April 22. The start time has yet to be determined.
Justin Kline.
Sabrina and Ryne Stromsnes kept Lane’s old motocross number for Ryne’s bike.
Ride of a Lifetime
Lane Stromsnes loved few things more than hitting the dirt track on his Yamaha dirt bike. So, to honor his memory, his family is hosting one more ride. Just entering the Stromsnes family home it’s hard to miss all the reminders of Lane Stromsnes’ presence. Visible past the dining room table loaded with event flyers and tickets, past the trophy rack underneath the stairs, is the homemade dirt course he used to ride with his son, Ryne, and friends. His bike’s old number, 23, has moved from the Yamaha onto Ryne’s Suzuki, tucked away in
the garage until it’s time to ride again. Stromsnes died in December of a heart attack. Anyone who knew Lane Stromsnes knew how much he loved motocross, so what better way to remember the man than taking the ride of a lifetime? To help his family cover his kids’ school costs, friends of the Stromsnes family created
the Lane Stromsnes Ride of a Lifetime to remember their friend. Sabrina Stromsnes always knew that people liked her late husband, but didn’t expect anything of this magnitude to happen. “I very much appreciate it,” she says.
THE LONG ROAD
Lane and Sabrina met at age 19 and 17, respectively, while
working at a Thriftway grocery store in Brandon. He was a bag boy, she was a cashier. It wasn’t long before they began their 28-year marriage, and Sabrina entered nursing school while Lane took up welding, a career that didn’t last too long. He eventually chose to go through nursing school, too. The Stromsneses moved to
SEE RIDE / PAGE 7
Lane Stromsnes was an avid motocross rider and a nurse.
WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?
Keep chopping, Russell Kemp
One of the last ing a fundraiser for him things you want to that Thursday. I’m told hear about is someone it went very well — one getting diagnosed with of the busiest nights that cancer. It’s one heck of that Beef ‘O’ Brady’s has a battle to fight. ever had. Hearing about I was told last week that success made me that Plant City High feel good about living senior Russell Kemp and working in this JUSTIN was recently diagcommunity. KLINE nosed with it, and that That was the easy his football coaches part. The hardest part and teammates were organizof the road lies just ahead. But
cancer is something that can be beaten. Russell, I’m sure you know that, and are already planning for it. Put up a fight like local softball player Taylor Goethals, who’s battled cancer twice and has always kept her head up. I met her at last year’s car wash fundraiser, as she was just beginning her second go-round with cancer. I was shocked at how upbeat she was. The
nature of the event probably helped her out there, but I never picked up any vibes of weakness from talking to her — just confidence. That’s impressive for anyone dealing with cancer, and even more so for someone who had recently found out that it came roaring back into her body. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that so many people in the Winter Strawberry Capital of
the World have been eager to support her in her latest fight. One of my best friends from Florida Gulf Coast University, Dan, was diagnosed with brain cancer last year, right after he graduated and got a job on the East Coast. He’s probably the most stubborn person I know, for better or worse, and he made it clear right off the bat
SEE KLINE / PAGE 7
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fútbol by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
FYSA State Cup comes to Plant City The Florida Youth Soccer Association State Cup is under way, and the tournament came to Plant City for some of its 32 games. The Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex hosted games Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12. Winners from each age bracket will advance to this weekend’s round of 16 games in Brandon. Left: An Orlando City player looks for a good matchup during a throw-in.
THIS WEEK’S CROSSWORD ANSWERS
THIS WEEK’S CRYPTOQUIZ ANSWERS 1) Stock Ticker 2) Light Bulb 3) Phonography 4) Motion Picture Camera 5) Menlo Park. Thomas Alva Edison
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CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays. It provides free home delivery to several neighborhoods in Plant City. The Plant City Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.
The U18 Braden River Rage Elite girls, wearing burgundy, faced Orlando City Sunday.
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THE OTHER GUYS
Here’s the scoop on the other teams in the baseball tournament: Brandon (14-6; 7-3 district) would be top dog if not for Durant, and boasts a solid group of hitters led by senior Drayden Williams. But the real star of the show is junior ace Antonio Velez, who has earned every bit of his reputation as a strikeout machine. He has 95 this season and will almost certainly eclipse 100 during the tournament. The Eagles swept Strawberry Crest, but split with Plant City and were swept by Durant. Tampa Bay Tech (4-15; 2-8 district) swept East Bay in district play, but were swept by every other team. The Titans have no problem hitting for average. They’re batting .427 as a team, but have issues leaving runners stranded on base. None of the pitchers have an ERA below 2.95 or more than 12 strikeouts. East Bay (3-17; 1-9 district) picked up its lone district win of the season against Plant City, a 7-5 win March 19. No individual statistics are available for the Indians.
DISTRICTS / PAGE 5 The Lady Cougars (7-17; 5-5 district), last year’s underdog success story, have had a down year since winning the championship. The team did
RIDE / PAGE 5 Plant City in 1991, which is when Lane took a sudden interest in motocross. “It was just something he’d never done as a kid and, as he got older, he was like, ‘I want to go back to my childhood’ — that sort of thing,” Sabrina says. Lane took a brief hiatus while in nursing school, but got back into it. He loved to ride 125cc bikes — especially his No. 23 Yamaha — and inspired his son to get into the sport. It had been six or seven years, by Sabrina’s estimation, since Lane last competed in a race, but he still kept in touch with the friends the family made at Dade City Raceway’s dirt track and wherever else he rode. There were several broken bones and other minor injuries, but Lane never roughed himself up beyond repair while riding the dirt bike. He did have high blood pressure, and heart disease in his family history. But no one expected Lane to collapse from a heart attack Dec. 7, 2014, and not come back home. “When you have a sudden death like that, you can not prepare for it,” Sabrina says. “Unbelievably emotional. We’re both nurses. We’ve been in the E.R. forever. We had been doing home health for six or seven months. As nurses, we’re
KLINE / PAGE 5 that he wasn’t going to let it get him down. We were talking about NBA basketball one day when, out of the blue, he said, “By the way, I found out that I have brain cancer.” He was so candid when talking about it that I didn’t even get fearful for him right away. It took a few minutes for me to register how much more serious it was than he made it sound. Dan went through several rounds of chemotherapy in Miami, which were hard on his entire body. But he was able
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manage to split its series with Plant City, but couldn’t overcome matchups with Strawberry Crest or East Bay. There have been a few bright spots, most notably with a pair of junior sluggers: Madison Farrell and Selena Bezares. They have been two of the area’s best players this season. Farrell leads the team with a .500 average, 23 runs and nine doubles, and also has 25 RBI. Bezares leads the team with 26 RBI, and has a .392 average with 17 runs and seven doubles. Both players have hit five home runs and one triple.
BASEBALL
Baseball action begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, at Brandon High School. On April 24, one or more of the Plant Cityarea teams may be competing for the district crown. Durant (15-6; 10-0 district) has been its usual, dominant self in 2015. Perhaps the most frightening stat about this Cougars team is that, even though it took several losses in March, it hasn’t allowed a run in a district game since Feb. 27, a 13-2 win at Strawberry Crest. They scored 26 runs over those six games. The offense may not be as potent as last year’s seniorheavy attack, but solid pitching has kept Durant on top of things in most games. Sophomore Jonah Scolaro (1.40 ERA, 63 K, 8 ER) and senior Bryce Gainer (1.79 ERA, 51 K, 10 ER) anchor a deep rotation with two sub-1.00 ERA relievers in Drew Bradley (0.58) and Zach Barfield (0.91). Strawberry Crest (15-8; 6-4 district) has the second-high-
IF YOU GO
Where: Dade City Raceway, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26 Cost: $10. For more information, including sponsorship details, contact Margaret Boswell at (813) 8174488.
est winning percentage of all district teams, but its 6-4 district record has the team in third place in the standings. This team’s production is right on par with last year’s squad, save for two big stats: the number of stolen bases is down from 67 to 36, and the team ERA has gotten down from 2.12 to 1.79. Much has been written about staff ace Mark Moclair, one of the best pitchers in Hillsborough County, but freshman Damien Torres has also been throwing well. The reliever has a 1.12 ERA with 19 strikeouts, and the Chargers have allowed just seven total runs whenever he’s been out there. Plant City (10-10; 4-6 district) didn’t look so hot in the beginning of the season. But whatever they’ve been doing lately has been working, as the team’s won seven of its last 10 games and three of the last four by no less than four runs. The team couldn’t have picked a better time to tighten up and play good baseball. Senior Connor Slagill, possibly the best batter in the area, leads the team with a .343 average, 20 RBI and five doubles. Sawyer Dawson, who missed a large part of his junior season, has been able to stay healthy and produce with a .333 average, 17 RBI and three doubles. Staff “co-aces” Ryan Boyd and Billy McKay both have ERAs under 1.60, and McKay has established himself as one of the top relievers in the area with his 58 strikeouts over a teamleading 13 appearances. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com. As a community, Margaret was like, ‘We got this for you. We got this.’”
HIT THE DIRT
bad patients. ‘That’s not me. That doesn’t happen’ — that sort of thing.” The turnout for the funeral was bigger than expected. The Stromsneses had to switch to a bigger church to accommodate everyone. Sabrina took a month off of work, and Tampa Bay Emergency Physicians covered her mortgage for four months. Seffner Christian Academy gave Ryne time off, as did USF for daughter, Emily. Then, because the kids still had school costs to cover, the Plant City community stepped up — namely, longtime family friend Margaret Boswell, who organized the Ride of a Lifetime event. “I haven’t needed or wanted for, really, anything.,” Sabrina said. “And this burden, just to get it off my plate, is a big thing.
The Lane Stromsnes Ride of a Lifetime is one-part dirt bike ride, one-part silent auction. Because he loved racing at Dade City Raceway, the venue has agreed to host the event. Some of the items that will be available in the silent auction include artwork, sports memorabilia and tickets, motorcycle accessories, theme park tickets and vacation trips. As far as the sports memorabilia is concerned, fellow motocross enthusiasts should know that world-famous riders Ricky Carmichael and James “Bubba” Stewart have donated some of their own items to be sold in the silent auction. There will also be a 125cc Peace Moto pit bike available. Chief sponsors of the event include Keel and Curley Winery and Gilliam’s Power Sports. The Stromsneses couldn’t be more grateful to see Boswell, the Plant City community and so many others reach out to lend a hand in their time of need. “Just the camaraderie, the giving from everyone to help us get through this is wonderful,” Sabrina says. “I couldn’t have done it without everybody.”
to make it out to Fort Myers in January for a mutual friend’s wedding. “My dialysis lady says I’m allowed to drink liquor now,” he triumphantly announced to a room full of fellow fraternity men. He wrapped up initial chemo a few weeks ago and has to get either radiation treatment or a stem cell transplant sometime soon. We all believed Dan would come out on top of this fight because he never doubted himself — not even once. I got the same feeling about Taylor’s self-confidence when I met
her and, as a football player, I’m sure you’ll be similarly ready to meet whatever challenges you’ll have to face. I believe coach Greg Meyer’s favorite saying, the one I’ve always heard the Raiders’ defensive players say, is something along the lines of, “If that tree doesn’t come down on the first swing, just keep chopping.” This is a big tree for anyone but, as long as you’re willing to use that ax, you can bring it down. Keep chopping, Russell. We’re all in your corner. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM
JARRETT JOYNER During a slow start to the 2015 season, Plant City High baseball coach Mike Fryrear insisted that things would get better once his guys found their rhythm. The boys have won seven of their last 10 games, thanks in part to great pitching from junior Jarrett Joyner who got the win in Plant City’s March 31 win over Brandon — its first in five years. You were on the mound for the win over Brandon. I know that the last win, five years ago, was a little before your time, so what was that win like for you? It was a good experience. I just had to go in there and throw strikes, and do what I had to do to get those outs. What was working for you on the mound in that game? My two-seam fastball. I just broke it inside and got a lot of ground balls. You went up against Antonio Velez, one of the best pitchers in the county, and came out on top. How did you feel about that? Pretty good, pretty good. You guys are on a roll right now — totally different from the beginning of the year, when everyone was slumping. What are you looking forward to, with the district tournament coming up and you all playing well? We’ve just got to go in there, bust our butts and win. How long have you been playing baseball? Let’s see, 10 or 11 years. Where did you get your start? Plant City Little League. I played tee-ball. Do you play any other positions? I’m just a pitcher. I used to play first base, back on the little fields, but now I’m just a pitcher. Do you play any other sports? No, just baseball. Is there a sport you’ve
never tried before, but always wanted to? Golf. I really like golf, but I’m not really that good. How are you doing in school? Pretty good, so far. My grades are pretty decent. What’s your favorite subject? History. I like learning about the Civil War. What’s the best baseball movie of all time? “The Sandlot.” Who’s your MLB team? The Chicago Cubs. I just liked the name when I was a little kid, so I stuck with it. Kind of gutsy to stick with the Cubs, of all teams, for so long. Oh yeah. But they should pick it up this season. Who’s your favorite athlete of all time? Hank Aaron. That’s where I got my number from. One of my old coaches is actually, somewhere in the line, related to him. My favor-
ite pitcher of all time is David Price. Is that who you try to emulate on the mound? I actually got my leg kick from Alex Cobb, sort of like that, but I have pitches that are more like David Price’s. If you could be either rich or famous, what would it be? Rich, because I could become famous with all of my money. If you could play for any pro team, who would it be? Probably the New York Yankees, just because I’d probably get a lot of money from that, and I’d have a lot of cool stuff. If you could meet anyone you’ve always looked up to, who would it be? Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell. I just want to crack some jokes, just hang out and have a little chill day. It would be fun.
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Neighborhood R E A L E S TAT E | P L A N T C I T Y L I F E | O B I T U A R I E S | G A M E S | FA I T H
PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015
Ava Raab was this year’s honorary survivor.
Super-Powered Relay CANCER SUCKS by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor
Staying up all night with blistered feet, Plant City relayers walked to beat cancer April 10 and 11. The annual Relay for Life event was held at the
Plant City High School stadium, bringing out more than 70 teams and 800 participants. The superhero-themed fundraiser had relayers dressed as
their favorite crime ďŹ ghters and included food, a princess makeover booth, Mr. Relay Pageant, a performance by Cliff Brown, of Clemons Road,
The event was for all ages.
The Mr. Relay pageant was brought back by popular demand this year.
Trinity Lester, Shelby Baerwalde, Joshua Baerwalde, Logan Self and Madison Manley
Walkers had a good time around the track. The Strawberry Queen and Court led the first lap.
games and the Luminaria ceremony. In the morning, a 5K was held to raise more money for the American Cancer Society.
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COMMUNITYCALENDAR FRIDAY, APRIL 17
Acoustic Happy Hour — music takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 10, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Christian Contemporary Music — takes place from 6:33 to 8:13 p.m. Friday, April 17, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220. Fish Fry — takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 17, at the Olin S. Wright Masonic Lodge #79, 304 Acacia Drive at Reynolds Street. Enjoy fried fish, fixings, iced tea and dessert for a $10 donation. There will also be a child ID program for children to receive an ID card and CD with the child’s picture, fingerprints and other critical information if the child were to be reported missing.
This is free. (813) 752-8061. Health and Fitness Challenge — takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 17, at Mike Sansone Park, 1702 N. Park Road. Teams will compete in a trike race, football challenge, tug-of-war and more. Los Dos Live! — takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100. NWFT Heritage Banquet — takes place beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, April 17, at Plant City’s Hillsborough Community College campus, 1206 N. Park Road. Contact Nick Ciccarello at (813) 967-3858. Ride of a Lifetime Fundraiser — takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 17, at Dade City Raceway, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City. There will
be motorcycle practice, a silent auction and food. Money raised will go to the family of Lane Stromsnes. He died suddenly in December. Margaret, (813) 817-4488.
SATURDAY, APRIL 18 Little Miss Plant City — takes place beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Plant City High School, 1 Raider Place. $10. Music Lifts Our Heart — takes place Saturday, April 18, at Eastside Baptist Church, 1318 E. Calhoun St. Plant City Community Chorale’s second concert of the season explores human emotion through music. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. (813) 757-0212 or PCCChorale.org. Pregnancy Care Center Walk for Life — takes place beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 18, starting at City Hall 302 W. Reynolds St. The walk leads advocates around downtown to raise awareness for their cause. Skip Frye Blues Live! — takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 7529100. Young Adult Nite — takes place from 7:33 to 10:33 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays
To publicize your event in our Community Calendar, please send by mail: 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563; or by email: ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com. Photos are welcome. Deadline is noon Thursday.
BEST BET Aquafina Pitch, Hit & Run — takes place at from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Mike Sansone Park, 1702 N. Park Road. Hosted by Plant City Little League, this free event is for competitors in four age groups: 7 to 8; 9 to 10; 11 to 12; 13 to 14 (age is determined as of July 17, 2015). Boys and girls compete separately. Skill tests include pitching at a target, hitting off a tee for distance and accuracy, and running for speed. Points will be awarded and the top finishers in each age group will advance to the Sectional competition and possibly beyond. Contact PHR Coordinator Danny Coton at dcoton@ trinkle-law.com or (813) 763-8829 Blvd. Enjoy live music from local artists. (813) 752-1220.
TUESDAY, APRIL 21 The Recovery for Life — takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, at the Lorena Jaeb Rainbow House, 504 N. Palm Drive. It is a 12-step Bible-based program to help free individuals from all forms of addiction. Debbie Ray, (813) 763-1562.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 Cristi Massey Live! — takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100.
New Member Reception — takes place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St. Open Mic Night — takes place beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Plant City Local Harvest Farmers Market — takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at McCall Park, 100 N. Collins St. PCLocalHarvestFarmer sMarket. com.
THURSDAY, APRIL 23 Cornhole Tournament — takes place from 6 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, April 23, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 7529100.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24 Blueberry Festival — takes place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 24, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. Enjoy a U-pick, live music, more than 100 food and raft vendors and a kids area. Free admission. (813) 7529100. Fancy Flea — takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds, 289 Ritter St. Admission is $5. Free parking. (863) 712-3278. Your Passport to Fashion in Grand Paree — takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Plant City’s First Baptist Church, 503 N. Palmer St. Tickets are $20. The fashion show benefits the GFWC Woman’s Club Florida President’s Project, which is Canine Companions for Independence with special emphasis on the Wounded Warriors Initiative and South Eastern Guide Dogs. For more information or to purchase tickets call Karen at (813) 4810419.
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CUTESTCRITTER
ALL IN ONE PET PARLOR Q&A WITH SANDY ELLIOTT
Did you know that every $100 spent at a local, independently-owned store generates $45 of secondary local spending, compared to $14 for a big-box chain? This was first tested in 2003 by the Institute for Local Self Reliance and is nearly identical to later results across multiple Civic Economic studies. The Plant City Times & Observer agrees with buying local. With the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, we’ve launched the Buy Local campaign, encouraging residents to shop local. This week’s Buy Local spotlight is All In One Pet Parlor. We caught up with owner Sandy Elliot to get all the info on this successful business.
C
ourtney Key has pedigreed rabbit babies from her rabbitry, all very sweet and lovable. “They just have faces that you possibly can’t say no to and ready to steal anyone’s heart in no time,” Key said. Turkey Creek Animal Hospital and Animal Wellness Center have partnered to present a weekly Cutest Critter Contest. Entering is simple: Just submit a high-resolution photo (200 dpi or better) and a sentence or two about why your pet is the cutest. Include your name and contact information. Winners will be showcased in the Plant City Times & Observer and will receive a free bag of dental chews to be picked up at Turkey Creek Animal Hospital and Animal Wellness Center. Submit your entries to Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com; subject line: Cutest Critter Contest. Good luck!
How did All In One Pet Parlor first get its start? I started out working at All In One Pet Parlor as a bather and blow dryer. I was a hairdresser of 15 years. I wanted to work a part-time job. Leslie and Scott Hammock took me under their care and taught me everything I know. After three years I was trained on grooming, too. I asked them if they ever wanted to sell the business to give me first dibs, and they did. I’ve built it up quite a bit. What kind of services can All In One Pet Parlor offer the community? We offer baths, hair cuts, color that’s safe for dogs for special occasions. We also do just nails if you don’t need the bath. We are boarding now, and we take great pride in the care and play they need at no extra charge. We also offer a shot clinic once a month for anyone wanting to have their dog or cat vaccinated. Why is All In One Pet Parlor located at its site? We have just moved to a down town space after 15 years across from the post office. We all love our new location and the other businesses have been very welcoming. I feel like my clients have a chance to see more of the shops around town, that they might have not seen. I hope I’m close enough that the other businesses can use my services. What is All In One Pet Parlor’s motto or mission, and why?
I would like everyone to know we are a family shop and take pride in our work and try to keep prices reasonable so they can afford to care for their four-legged children. Can you describe your customers? We always want to treat our clients the way we would want to be treated. Most of my clients, after seeing them a few times, we think of them and their pets as family. We are very thankful to all our extended family. We couldn’t be where we are today without all of you. How many employees do you have? All of the staff at All In One love all animals. Our bather, Nate, is caught frequently singing to the dogs while he’s bathing them. Hilary is our dryer, and she’s sweet and takes pride drying them the right way. She is also a hairdresser and in training to be a
groomer and is a fast learner. Our joke is, “We went to the dogs.” My son and daughter, Joey and Roxanne, have been working here since 2001. Brandy also works with us; she’s like our family too. She was also a hairdresser. I am very proud of everyone who works at our shop and hope to continue to grow for many years to come. I hope to hand it over to my kids one day, but not anytime soon. I love what I do. Are you on social media? Fa c e b o o k . c o m / A l l I nOnePetParlor More information: We are taking new clients, so drop in and check us out. We do all grooming in our front room so you can see what we’re doing. Call us at (813) 719-9760 for an appointment for grooming and baths. Nails are done from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Just walk in and we’ll take care of you.
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OBSERVER OBITUARIES Gloria Boll
Gloria Boll, 72, of Valrico, died April 11, 2015. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Harry; children, Harry Boll Jr. (Vicki), Cindy Morrison (Danny), Sandra Thorn and David Boll (Pam); grandchildren, Dalton, Ryan, Brett, Natalie, Jamie, Rikki, Cynthia, Faith, Autumn and Gilbert; and brother, Elwood Wolf. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Bonnie BlackmanVictory. A celebration of life was held April 15, at Hopewell Funeral Home. Interment at Hopewell Memorial Gardens. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.
Roxie Purnell (Marie) Connelly
Salisbury-Roxie Purnell (Marie) Connelly, 75, died Sunday, March 29, 2015 at her son’s home in Plant City. Born in Bishopville, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late Elisha and Linda (Waples) Purnell. She was a lifelong learner and educator for the Worcester County Public School System for 34 years. She was a dedicated member of St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church in Salisbury, Maryland. Her partnership with the Maryland Food Bank helped to ensure that meals were provided to the hungry. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Lewis M. Connelly; son, Patrick M. (Marie) Connelly Sr.; grandsons, Mark C. (Tiffany), Quentin, Andre and Patrick M. (P.J.) Connelly Jr.; great-granddaughters, Trinity, Taylor and Camryn Connelly; brother, Rev. Dr. Bennie Purnell; sisters, Catherine Armstrong (Edward), Estella Parker (Kenneth), Linda Purnell Cook and Wanda Tucker; brothers-in-law, James Connelly, Rev. Thomas Connelly Jr., Rev. David Connelly (Dorothy) and Ulysses Connelly (Rosalyn); sisters-in-law, Dorothy Smith, Tommisena, Jackie, Louise and Yvonnie Connelly, Debra Snow (Ray) and Beverly Edwards (Harrie); one god-sister; threegoddaughters; and a host of nieces and nephews. A funeral service was held April 11, 2015, at New Dimensions Ministries in Salisbury. Interment at Springhill Memory Gardens in Hebron, Maryland. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Postell’s Mortuary in Orlando, and Jolley Memorial Chapel in Salisbury.
Ida Webb Duckworth
Ida Webb Duckworth, 83, of Plant City, died April 11, 2015. She is survived by her daughters, Ruby Brady (Neal) and JoeAnn Grace (Dennis); grandchildren, Joe Madden
(Mandy), John Niblett (Cimmeron) and Travis Grace (Amber); great-grandchildren, Heather, Justin, Katie, Hunter, Jeremiah, Albany and Grace; and siblings, Jim, Sara, Kermit, Roy, Marvin and Irene. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Tom and Frances; and grandchild, Tia Grace. A celebration of life was held April 16, at Hopewell Funeral Home. Interment at Mt. Enon Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.
Lynda Ruth Rogers Fuller
Lynda Ruth Rogers Fuller, 72, of Plant City, died April 7, 2015. Mrs. Fuller was a graduate of Plant City Senior High School. She enjoyed organizing many activities, including picnics, dinners and reunions for the class of ‘60, as well as the monthly class breakfast. Mrs. Fuller cared for others on a daily basis throughout her career in nursing. Arts and crafts were her hobby, and she loved making flower arrangements and decorating for Christmas. Mrs. Fuller was a proud ancestor of a Hillsborough County pioneer family, and along with several cousins, co-authored the book “Pioneers of Hopewell.” She was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church since childhood. She loved the Plant City community and volunteered for many organizations. She loved attending church, taking family trips to Fernandina Beach, traveling and attending senior aerobic classes. In her spare time, she continued the family’s cattle business. Mrs. Fuller was a beautiful person who will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by daughter, Kathie Jean Fuller (Jeff Traicoff); sons, James, Samuel Russell, Timothy Russell (Penny), and Charles Raymond (LeighAnn); grandchildren, Brooke, Jeremy and Alex Fuller, and Brad and Daniel Cassels; and many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. She was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Samuel A. Fuller; her parents, Mildred Frierson Rogers and Russell Rogers; and grandson, Brett Russell Fuller. A celebration of life was held April 11, at Hopewell Baptist Church. Interment at Old Hopewell Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hopewell Church Old Cemetery, Inc., P.O. Box 5472, Plant City, Florida, 33563. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.
Ralph O’Neal Hendricks
Ralph O’Neal Hendricks, 80, died April 9, 2015, at his home. Mr. Hendricks was born in
Boaz, Alabama, and moved to Plant City in 1957. He married Martha Wilkerson in 1958. He was a Marine Corps veteran and a captain with the Plant City Fire Department. In his spare time, he loved gardening. Surviving family members include sons, CW Edenfield (Lisa), Ralph O’Neal Hendricks Jr., Jay Hendricks (Nancy) and Gordon Wayne Hendricks (Leslie); daughter, Gail Hart (David); brothers, Byron, Bennie and Rayburn; 12 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. Mr. Hedricks was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Martha Hendricks; his parents; and a brother. A funeral service was held April 13, at Wells Memorial, followed by burial and military honors at Shiloh Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.
TJ Kimbrough Jr
TJ Kimbrough Jr., 28, died April 7, 2015, in Tampa. Mr. Kimbrough’s passion in life was cars, but his main love was his daughter. He is survived by daughter, Schuyler Alma Kimbrough; mother, Penny Mendoza (George); dad, David Rhew; father, Troy Kimbrough; brother, Kevin Kimbrough; sisters, Jenny Foreman, Angelina Mendoza and Tiffany Fuller; grandparents, Linda Bynum, James I. Rhew, Ray Rice and Laura Rice; and his girlfriend, Starr Haley. A celebration of life took place April 11, at Wells Memorial Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial. com.
Genevieve Stinson “Jenny” Leitner
Genevieve Stinson “Jenny” Leitner, 89, of Plant City, died April 7, 2015. She was born in South Carolina in 1925, and moved to Plant City in 1944. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Plant City and the Plant City Woman’s Club, and an active volunteer with the Florida Strawberry Festival. She is survived by her son, John P. “Chipper” Leitner III (Fern); daughters, Sandra Smith (Mike) and Karen Anair (Pete); siblings, Betty Dicks (Carl) and Barbara Sera (Ralph); and seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Pete Leitner; and siblings, Inez Wills, J.D., Ralph and Billy Stinson. A celebration of life was held April 9, at First Baptist Church. Interment at Memorial Park. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.
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PLANT CITY
RAIN
(INCHES)
WEATHER
THURS. April 9
0.00
FRI.
TEMPERATURES
April 10
0.00
SAT.
HIGH 89 90 90 85 87 84 88
Friday, April 17 Saturday, April 18 Sunday, April 19 Monday, April 20 Tuesday, April 21 Wednesday, April 22 Thursday, April 23
April 11
0.00
SUN.
April 12
0.66
MON.
April 13
SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
1.26
TUES.
SUNRISE Friday, April 17 7:02 a.m. Saturday, April 18 7:01 a.m. Sunday, April 19 7:00 a.m. Monday, April 20 6:59 a.m. Tuesday, April 21 6:58 a.m. Wednesday, April 22 6:57 a.m. Thursday, April 23 6:56 a.m.
April 14
0.00
WED.
April 15
0.00
APRIL
TO DATE
1.92 (2014: 1.89)
YEAR
TO DATE 8.20 (2014: 6.42)
SUNSET 7:54 p.m. 7:55 p.m. 7:55 p.m. 7:56 p.m. 7:56 p.m. 7:57 p.m. 7:57 p.m.
LOW 68 69 72 70 67 67 67
MOON PHASES
April 18
April 25
BLUEBERRIES
SHIPPING POINT: Orlando
$14 TO $16
May 3
Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture
May 11
Each of the following cryptograms is a clue to the identity of a prolific inventor. Using the hints U=O and F=T, decipher the clues to name the inventor.
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Dan Middlebrooks took this picture on Easter morning at his church, Hopewell Baptist Church. The Plant City Times & Observer and Grimes Hardware have partnered to host the I Love Plant City Photo Contest. Winners will have their photo featured and receive a $15 gift certificate to Grimes Hardware’s Strawberry Town Cafe! To enter, email your photo, along with a caption, to Editor Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com; subject line: I Love Plant City. Winners can pick up their prize at Grimes Hardware.
CROSSWORD MAKING REPAIRS by Emerson Hall
CRYPTOQUIZ
8
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1
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ACROSS 1 Rock concert need 4 Beauty pageant wear 9 Flavorful 14 Baby salamanders 18 Lounge on a train 20 Waste away 21 Universally accepted principle 22 Noisy groundbreaker 24 Having attractive gams 25 Lord’s worker 26 Conclusion starter 27 One of TV’s Ewings 28 Athena’s blood 29 “Desire Under the ___” 30 Calypso offshoot 32 Bon ___ 34 Bringing up the rear 36 Wine cask 37 Faucet 38 Contender to your title 39 In an affable way 41 In-flight info, for short 42 Short and thick, as fingers 44 By word of mouth 45 Not far away 48 School safety exercises 50 Astronomical event 53 “___ do you think you are?” 55 Dangerous time for Caesar 56 Hooter 58 Type of wrench 59 Modest 61 Like good ghost stories 65 A direction 67 Santa ___, Calif. 68 Rarer than rare 69 On the roof of 71 Slippery and frigid 72 Add to a poker pot 73 “That’s ___ my problem” 74 In the manner of 75 Sort 76 Track events 78 Cling 80 False move 82 Pull the plug on 84 Caboose position 86 “Made in the ___” 87 Tested, as a drug 89 Square-shooting 94 From the beginning 95 Faunas’ kin 96 Is crabby? 99 Colt or Glock 101 First ones are special 103 Lennon’s bride 104 Lousy egg? 106 Mont Blanc, e.g. 107 Kermit, for one 108 Persian, e.g. 109 Automobile sticker fig. 110 Melee memento 111 Buddhist sacred spot 113 Team’s pronoun 115 Hemingway’s sobriquet 117 Florida metropolis 118 Felt a longing 119 State issuances
©2015 Universal Uclick
123 Mike holder 124 ‘70s Renault 125 Most powerful 126 Author Roald 127 Utopian places 128 Far East weight units 129 Catch on DOWN 1 Small Java program 2 Some envelope types 3 Replace in the schedule 4 Heavy reading 5 Temporary shelter, taxwise 6 Be decisive 7 Indian yogurt dish 8 Part of a gateway 9 Like some resorts 10 Branch 11 Ceremonial splendor 12 In a perfect way 13 Skin-related 14 Business VIP 15 Parts of the Air Force 16 Dress up 17 Suburb of Atlanta 19 Nuts on wheels
21 Came to rest 23 Certain bones 30 Temperance 31 Vandalized, as a car 33 Work the garden 35 In ___ (working in harmony) 38 J. Edgar Hoover’s org. 39 Prickly, Scottish shrub 40 ___-ran 43 Some conspiracy subjects 46 Flying high 47 Afflict 49 Become more intense 50 Brio 51 Mexican Mrs. 52 Related maternally 53 Ahab or his ship 54 Fruit drink brand 57 Otter’s kin 59 Construct carefully 60 Squeal 62 Backboard attachment 63 Rocks, in a bar 64 Hurricane core 66 More than famished 70 Newspaper pg. 77 Bit of hair
79 Naval base? 81 Bert Bobbsey’s twin 83 Airhead 85 “Belling the Cat” author 88 Decorative pitcher 90 Dark film genre 91 Touring actors 92 Shelter for an airplane 93 Tokyo, formerly 95 Calculated 97 Surrounds with a cover 98 Type of cat 99 Panted 100 Last syllable 102 “Yankee ___ Dandy” 105 “Valse ___” (Sibelius work) 107 Lose color or brightness 109 Mediterranean island country 110 See 60-Down 112 Lemon zest source 114 Side dish with scampi 116 Hushed “Hey, you!” 117 Department store department 120 Moving vehicle? 121 Fury 122 Gen. subordinate
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