Plant City Times &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
FREE
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IN THIS ISSUE
UPCOMING
Jordan Zilbar seeks to break SCHS record.
The Times & Observer honors Plant City’s Wonder Women.
Those looking for a scare will find it at Sir Henry’s Trail.
PAGE 20
PAGES 7-18
PAGES 3
OUR TOWN
GROWTH SPURT by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
First Baptist plans new campus Plant City’s First Baptist Church has held on to property it owns off James L. Redman Parkway with future growth in mind.
+ Couple getting married Lewis and Regina Swinson, of Hazlehurst, Georgia, are happy to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Leah Lynn, to Luke Stephen Parker, son of Kevin and Wendy Parker, of Uvalda, Georgia, and formerly of Plant City. Leah is the granddaughter of the late Tessel and Mildred Mullis, of Alma, Georgia, and the late L. W. (Bill) and Lucy Swinson, of Hazlehurst, Georgia. Luke is the grandson of Betty Jean Smith and the late Jessie C. Smith, Carol and Judy Bassett, and George and Wanda Parker, all of Plant City. The couple will exchange vows in a private ceremony Saturday, Sept. 26, on Lake Oconee. They will live in Savannah, Georgia.
Plant City’s First Baptist Church has submitted plans to the city for a new campus on property it owns off James L. Redman Parkway. The church has owned the 57 acres of land for over 10 years and has been waiting to move its current campus on Palmer Street when it reaches capacity. On an average Sunday, the
church has between 1,400 and 1,500 attendees who participate in two morning worship services, various children’s programs and Bible study groups. The church is nearly at its maximum number. Senior Pastor Dr. Brian Stowe has been at First Baptist for just over a year, but he already sees the need to expand.
“The preschool is about to max out,” Stowe said. Finding church parking is also problematic, since the parking lots closest to the church cannot accommodate the large congregation. Stowe said that members often walk across train tracks to get to the main building. The proposed campus will
be built on 3309 James L. Redman Parkway. The first phase of the building process will be the sanctuary and the attached, two-story building for children and adult classes. Stowe believes that this phase will be the biggest section of the process done at one time. Combined with a commons area, the space will be about 60,000 square feet. The sanctuary will seat about 1,800 people. The current sanctuary can only seat about 1,250
people. A blended worship service and a modern worship service will be held every Sunday. The commons area will be the first thing members see when walking into the building. It will be located just off of the sanctuary. The children’s area will have a slide that runs from the second floor down to the first floor. “The preschool and children’s area will about double
SEE CHURCH / PAGE 4
REACHING FOR GOLD
+ Boy celebrates first birthday William Armistead Humphrey celebrated his first birthday. He was born Sept. 11, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital in Tampa. His first words were “Mama” and “Dada,” and he is now walking. He celebrated his birthday with his sisters, Heidi and Hanah, several cousins and other family members. William is the son of Jonathan and Valrie Humphrey, of Dade City. His grandparents are Don and Mary Humphrey, of Plant City, and Deniece Stanaland and Randy Roadruck, of Lakeland. His great-grandma is Margie Langston, of Plant City.
I PC
This week’s winner is
Abby Baker
Competitors got down and dirty in the Saturday, Sept. 19, Mud Titan off of Pless Road in Plant City. The 5K had 30 obstacles, including an ice pit, blazing fire jump and slides. For more pictures, turn to page 5.
FUR-RAISER by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Vet to host fashion Paladin complaints decrease about the fumigant Paladin in Hillsborough County show for animal rescues Complaints have decreased since 2013 as the application process improves. Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort will host the fifth annual Fashion, Feathers & Fur fundraiser. Who said couture shouldn’t include dog hair? On Saturday, Oct. 10, furry fashionistas will strut across the stage of Plant City’s National Guard Armory in their best threads. No, it isn’t New York Fashion Week. The animals in the show are part of the fifth annual Fashion, Feathers & Fur fundraiser, hosted by Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort. The event raises money for local animal rescue groups, and features adoptable dogs, cats and birds.
Chris Parker
See her photo on PAGE 23.
GROWING SEASON by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
SEE FUR / PAGE 4
Emily Topper
Christy Layton modeled one of the bracelets sold for Fashion, Feathers & Fur. Although sold out, one more bracelet will be available as an auction item at the event.
As summer comes to a close, strawberry season is beginning in Plant City. Most berry growers have just finished one of the early stages of the growing process: applying fumigants. Since 2013, many growers have chosen to use Paladin, a fumigant that is produced by Arkema. The fumigant is based on dimethyl disulfide, instead of methyl bromide. Methyl bromide was used widely as an effective fumigant, until the EPA banned it in 2005 because it had been depleting the ozone layer and polluting the air. Although Paladin is said to be less toxic than other fumigants and is a naturally-occurring com-
COMPLAINT DECREASE According to Jerry Campbell, of the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, the number of residents and the number of households who have complained about Paladin have decreased each year since 2013. 2013: 24 complaints from 23 households 2014: 23 complaints from 13 households 2015 (to date): 16 complaints from 10 households pound, some area residents have associated their illnesses with the fumigant since local growers began using it. Some are also put off my the smell, which has been described as similar to garlic or sulfur. Still, there have been fewer
INDEX Calendar........................2
complaints to Arkema and the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County this year. The EPC has been working with the Florida Department of
SEE PALADIN / PAGE 4 Vol. 3, No. 8 | One section
Crossword....................23
Obituaries....................19
Sports..........................20
Weather.......................23
PlantCityObserver.com
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
COMMUNITYCALENDAR FRIDAY, SEPT. 25 Just Friends! — live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. (813) 752- 9100. The Little Kings — live music begins at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Orange Crush Tailgate Party — takes place from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Plant City High School, 1 Raider Place. Come out and show support for the PCHS Raiders football team with a tailgate party before the game starts at 7:30 p.m. Chick-fil-a sandwiches will be served at each game. Follow Orange Crush on twitter @orangecruch_pc or visit pchsptsa.com. Paint N’ Sip — takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at The Corner Store, 121 E. Reynolds St. Paint a picture on canvas while being guided by an art instructor. Enjoy a glass of wine and refreshments. Tickets can be purchased at SquareUp. com/Market/EatWellOrDie.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 26 CareFest — takes place beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the 1914 Building, 605 N. Collins St. Churches, orga-
nizations, businesses, clubs and individuals will gather to help complete service projects, such as home renovation, for disabled, elderly and sick community members. Contact Karen Collins at (813) 659-4209 or kcollins@plantcitygov.com. Garden Fest and More — takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, 102 N. Palmer St. Enjoy vendors selling bromeliads, native plants and herbs, as well as garden antiques, crafts, garden tools and honey. Daybreak Rotary will be selling food. Call Betty Wise at (813) 716-9494. Michael LuBeck Live! — live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. (813) 752- 9100. Plant City Entertainment Tea Party — takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Plant City Entertainment, 101 N. Thomas St. The cost is $25. For more information contact Marsha at (813) 254-2244 or Dodie at (813) 927-0595. Restless Soul — live music begins at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Spaghetti Dinner — takes place
P R O U D L Y
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.
beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at Cork United Methodist Church, 4815 W. Sam Allen Road. Enjoy spaghetti, garlic toast, salad, drinks and dessert. Donations are accepted for missions. (813) 754-3233. Youth Fishing Derby — takes place from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the pond behind N. Gordon Food Service Drive. Registration is free. (813) 659-4255.
FRIDAY, OCT. 2 Plant City High School Homecoming Game — tailgate takes place beginning at 6 p.m., with the game starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Plant City High School, 1 Raider Place. There will be a thunderstick giveaway. pchsptsa.com. Plant City Social Dance Club — takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at the Florida Guard Armory. 4004 Airport Road. The theme is western. LetsDanceNatureCoast.com.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 27 Sunday Drive in Concert — takes place at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Plant City Community Church of the Nazarene, 2402 Mud Lake Road. A potluck will follow the service. (813) 752-7683.
MONDAY, SEPT. 28 Crafternoon — takes place from 3 to 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Children are invited to stop by the library and make crafts. For grades kindergarten through fifth. (813) 7579215 ext. 24. City Commission Meeting — takes place beginning at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds St. The City Commission will review the FY 2015-16 city budget. Plant City Area Democratic Club — takes place beginning
S E R V I N G
T H E
BEST BET
SATURDAY, OCT. 3
Punt, Pass & Kick Competition — takes place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Otis M. Andres Sports Complex, 2402 E. Cherry St. Winners will be announced at 11 a.m. Free and open to children ages 6 to 15, as of Dec. 31, 2015. Winners advance to the sectional competition in Tampa. Register onsite. (813) 659-4255.
13th Anniversary Bike Fest — takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in Historic Downtown Plant City, 102 N. Palmer St. There will be an eight-class bike show, three motorcycle stunt shows, live music and more. (813) 7543707. Bike Night & Bluegrass — takes place beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at The Corner Store, 121 E. Reynolds St. Good Cookie 5K — takes place beginning at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in Historic Downtown, 102 N. Palmer St. The 5K run benefits childhood cancer charities. There will be raffles, bounce houses and activities for kids. Register at SparklyFlower.com.
at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Alma Gonzalez, executive committee member of the Florida Democratic Party and national committee woman of the Democratic National Committee will speak.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 29 Celebrate National Addiction Recovery Month — takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Krazy Kup, 101
G R E A T E R
E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Event hosted by Recovery for Life Leland Family Ministries. For more information call Debbie at (813) 763-1562.
THURSDAY, OCT. 1 Fresh Market Reopening — takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at McCall Park, 100 N. Collins St. For more information contact Michael Stanley at TheStanleyBakery@gmail.com.
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PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
WLCA by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
WLCA to develop polo field The WLCA would like to turn the empty field into recreation areas. As Plant City continues to grow, the Walden Lake Community Association is determined to keep the community as one of the more desirable locations to live in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. Part of the plan is to build family-friendly recreation areas on the polo field on Griffin Boulevard. This year, the WLCA has budgeted $50,000 for the community’s polo field, a 26-acre lot that is located next to the WLCA community building. At the Monday, Sept. 21, meeting, the WCLA board voted to authorize the polo field commit-
DATES TO KNOW PARK RIBBON CUTTING WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29 WHERE: Walden Lake Park KIDS AND CANINE HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 WHERE: Walden Lake Polo Field, located next to the WLCA community building at 3035 Griffin Blvd. INFO: Face painting, pumpkin decorating, hayrides, bounce houses
tee to get three bids for work to be done on the field. The work includes creating a baseball field, soccer field, exercise stations and an area for sand volleyball, as well as a walking path and parking lot. “We felt it was important to get it done this year,” WLCA President Bob Hunter said, also noting that the improvements made to the polo field will be advantageous to children and will continue to give the community an edge. The bids will be presented at the next WLCA meeting Monday, Oct. 19, and the first phase of the project will be completed by the end of December. The idea of developing the polo field was first proposed by Hunter when he was an associate director in 2013. Residents had asked him for additions, such as a baseball diamond and soccer fields. He even heard a suggestion for turning the polo field into an RV lot. Residents created a Polo Field Use Committee in 2014, but no definite plans came of it because a civil engineer needed to evaluate water sources, elevation and other factors. From about 2004 to 2014, the WLCA has spent more than $100,000 to mow the polo fields.
IN OTHER NEWS On Tuesday, Sept. 22, newly appointed Walden Lake Community Association director Lynn Buehler resigned because of health reasons. Buehler filled the open vacancy left by Vice President Dave Sollenberger, who is moving out of state. The Sept. 21 meeting was Buehler’s first as a board member. The WLCA will be accepting resumes until Thursday, Oct. 15, to fill the open director position. The position will be a board appointment. Applications may be dropped off at the Walden Lake
AIRPORT ROAD SQUATTERS
Also at the Sept. 21 meeting, the WLCA made a decision to clear out a squatters camp on Airport Road. The property, which is between 4 and 5 acres, is owned by Walden Lake. The area is filled with hazardous materials, including needles and trash. About $4,600 will be spent to remove the materials from the area. It will require a hazmat team. “People have been living there,” Hunter said. “The police department has asked us to move as quickly as possible.” In this type of case, city officials evaluate the situation and contact the property owner. The property owner must al-
Community Center office, 3035 Griffin Blvd, or emailed to President Bob Hunter, bobhunter@wlcaboard.com. The WLCA voted to change the hours of Walden Lake’s three employees to 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The day also includes one unpaid hour for lunch. The change affects Marlene Merrin, community administrator; Bette Guarino, administrative assistant; and Larry Truman, maintenance technician. Previously, employees worked from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an hour lunch, clocking seven hours daily. low police to come onto the site and evict the trespassers. Without the property owner’s consent, police and code enforcement employees are unable to take action. This isn’t the first time that Walden Lake has had to remove a homeless camp. Less than a year ago, a similar camp was discovered and cleared out in the woods on Sydney Road. Homeless had been using the area as a camp for about a year. Once the current camp is cleared, Hunter said that WLCA will look to sell the existing land. “It serves no useful purpose to Walden Lake,” he said. Contact Emily Topper at etpper@plantcityobserver.com.
BAD TO THE
BONE For 14 days in October, anyone who dares to drive down South Frontage Road can tour the zombie-speckled path that is Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail.
SPOOKED by Abby Baker | Staff Intern
There are eight different scare zones on Sir Henry’s Trail.
IF YOU GO: WHEN: 7:30 to 10 p.m. (open until 11 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31) Oct. 2 to 4; 9, to 11; 16 to 18; 23 to 25; 30 to 31 WHERE: 2837 S. Frontage Road PRICE: Tickets are $10 per person and $8 for groups with 10 or more. Guests can receive $2 off with the donation of a canned good on opening night. All donations go to the United Food Bank of Plant City. A portions of proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project.
TRAIL OF FEARS SIR HENRY’S GRAVEYARD | The place where Sir Henry and his bride are buried. THE PIRATE SCENE | A sinking pirate ship and maze hold surprises for wanderers. A CABIN IN THE WOODS | A residence where witches are conjuring. THE SWAMP | Hillbilly zombies rule this soggy territory. ABANDONED MINESHAFT | Houses a killer on the loose. THE SCARECROW SCENE | Engulfs visitors in its weedfilled path. CLOWN CIRCUS | It’s the largest maze on the property. FUNERAL | The final scene ties back to Sir Henry and completes the experience with his funeral.
Horror lovers can be spooked by a wicked Halloween attraction that is returning to a remote property off South Frontage Road for the second year in a row. Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail will open Friday, Oct. 2, and its scare zones will be terrorizing the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World every weekend through Halloween. Guests will be able to walk along a dirt path and survive eight scenes of fear, from the undead at a flickering gas pump to a corn maze reminiscent of the Stephen King’s “Children of the Corn.” Creator Zach Glaros said the attraction will be even bigger and more dreadful than last year, and he is expecting around 3,000 guests. “There is a lot of in-yourface stuff,” Glaros said. “It’s really intense this year.” Glaros and his father, Steve Glaros, built the majority of the props and setups for the event. They have been planning and working on it since January. Glaros’s attachment to Halloween started early. His birthday is two days before the holiday. Growing up, he built displays and sported twisted costumes for Halloween before deciding that his passion should be brought onto a larger scale. Thus, Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail was born. This year the trail will be more focused on Sir Henry,
3
NEWS BRIEFS + Loan assistance is coming soon In an effort to help businesses recover from the severe storms and flooding in the Tampa Bay area, Florida’s Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program will be accepting applications through Wednesday, Sept. 30, for loans. Small businesses with two to 100 employees in Hillsborough County affected by flooding from July 25 through Aug. 3 may apply for short-term loans for $1,000 to $25,000. The short-term, interestfree loans help bridge the gap between the time damage is incurred and when a business secures other financial resources, such as profits, payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance. Eligibility and information about the loan process and applications can be found at FloridaDisasterLoan.org. Call (813) 204-9267 for more information.
+ Episode about P.C. murders to air Longtime Plant City residents may remember the murder trial and death row sentence of former church deacon Sam Smithers. He was sentenced in the late 1990s for killing two prostitutes in Plant City. In early 2016, Investigation Discovery will air an episode about Smithers and his case on “Deadly Sins,” Debbie Sullivan, a publicist for Investigation Discovery, said. “It’s been filmed,” Sullivan said. “We were (in Plant City) in early September.” Smithers was convicted for killing Christy Cowan, 24, and Denise Roach, 31, between May 12 and May 28, 1996. He was arrested on May 28, 1996 and sentenced to death in June 1999 on two counts of first-degree murder charges.
+ Walden Woods to build more homes Walden Woods, a D.R. Horton community, has submitted plans to the City of Plant City to change its building plans. The neighborhood of townhouses is reducing its overall project by 112 residential units to accommodate building new single-family units. Originally, it proposed to have 397 townhouses built. It would instead like to build 169 townhouses and 116 single-family units. The new units would be located on Ashentree Drive and Wiltonway Drive. The Planning and Zoning Board will hear the proposed change at its monthly meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8.
+ HCSO detective receives award A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detective received the Life Saving Award for saving a child from a dog attack in Plant City. On Aug. 4, Jeffrey Harris was investigating a theft on Trapnell Road when he noticed a 2-year-old child
in the mouth of a boxer at a nearby residence on Kendrick Court. Harris chased off the dog, and the family of the toddler was immediately notified. Harris accepted his award at a Wednesday, Sept. 16, ceremony held at the Falkenburg Road Jail Assembly Room on Falkenburg Road. Retirees and employees who have been with HCSO for over 30 years were also honored, including Corporal Frank Capitano.
+ P.C. native wins Guy Harvey contest
A motorcycle patrol officer for Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office won a fishing outing with a professional tournament fisherman as part of an online Guy Harvey contest. Originally from Plant City, Larry Davis Jr. now lives in Lakeland. He won a Guy Harvey Outpost Lake Okeechobee fishing adventure and a cache of personalized Guy Harvey merchandise and fishing gear. On Nov. 21, he will join Captain Scott Kerslake for the trip on Lake Okeechobee. “You know, I have been fishing as long as I can remember,” Davis said. “Mostly small lakes and some offshore grouper fishing, but I have never fished Lake Okeechobee. I am really looking forward to this.” Lake Okeechobee, considered the Mother of the Everglades, is known internationally for its largemouth bass fishing. The Big O is the second largest lake in the United States. The drawing, hosted by Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts, also included freshwater lure kits from DOA lures, a custom rod from SaltH2o Customs, Guy Harvey fishing shirts, two personalized Guy Harvey law enforcement mugs and bass fishing decals from Guy Harvey Outpost. Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts is affiliated with artist and wildlife conservationist Guy Harvey. Along with Elite Resorts, Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts is working to rebrand Okee-Tantie Campground and Marina into a Guy Harvey Outpost RV Resort and marina. Comprising over 100 acres overlooking Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, redevelopment plans for Phase I include a new Guy Harvey Outfitter Store with a riverfront tiki bar, 40-slip boat barn and a 10,000-squarefoot waterfront clubhouse featuring the Guy Harvey River Grill and Bar to serve the community, campground and 40 cabins available for overnight lodging. Anticipated reopening is spring 2017.
Photos by Abby Baker
The scarecrow scene has tall weeds to disorient guests. a cane-bearing skeleton created and played by Glaros. The character goes missing after his bride’s death and reappears to torment the living. Sir Henry will be found throughout the the trail. There will also be more actors performing on the trail this year. Twenty-five bloodsplattered volunteers will play various parts, in comparison to last year’s 10. The actors are placed in spots along the path and use shock, as well as performance, to scare their guests. Though the layout of the path is the same as the previous year, all the scenes are revamped with more props and more intense scare tactics. The trail is on about 2 acres and takes about 15 to 20 min-
utes to walk through. “It was so much better than a commercially-run haunted house type of thing,” Hayley Okonski, a guest who attended last year, said. “All you can see are trees and black, and it’s incredibly different from other similar events.” On opening night, anyone who brings a canned good will receive $2 off admission. The food will be donated to the United Food Bank of Plant City. A portion of all proceeds the event receives will go to the Wounded Warrior Project. Last year a percentage of the money was given to the Florida Baptist Children’s Home. “I want to switch it up each year to benefit a different charity,” Glaros said.
PHARMACIST WINS AWARD Chris Williams, of Plant City, was named Pharmacy Times’ Pharmacist of the Year at the 2015 NextGeneration Pharmacist Awards Gala last month at Universal Studios. Williams is a pharmacy advocate for the Manatee County Government Center for Health and Lifestyle
Management. He stood out as a nominee because of the pharmacist-patient relationship he develops. Along with being inspired by his patients, Williams is also inspired by his student interns. He believes the industry should be open to new ideas from young pharmacists and patients.
PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
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The event has been successful in the past, said Dr. Christy Layton, of Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort. The fashion show developed out of a brainstorming session with her practice manager, Adrienne Swisher, over five years ago. The event has raised more than $100,000 for the charities, and this year has more sponsors than ever before. Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort also sold $25 bracelets to raise money for the event. Ninety-five bracelets were sold in three weeks. “We’ve had some tremendous support from the community over the last five years,” said Layton. “It’s grown tremendously.” This year, all of the proceeds raised from the event will be donated to Dogma, Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation, Florida Parrot Rescue, Pennies for Pockets and Second Chance Boxer Rescue & Friends. All of the rescue efforts are based in Hillsborough County. Layton and Swisher typically pick different charities every year. “We’ve vetted them, and we know their rescues personally,” Layton said. Twenty-five animals, about five from each of the charities showcased, will walk in the fashion show. Now healthy or on the way to recovery, many of the animals were once sick, abandoned or both, such as Kota, a pit bull with a heart of gold. Kota was found two weeks ago and rescued by Second Chance Boxer Rescue. She was 25 pounds underweight, could barely walk and was afraid to pass through door frames. She also was anemic and had a heavy intestinal parasite. Kota has already gained 4 pounds and will be one of the stars at the Oct. 10 event. “Most all come in need of being spayed and neutered,” Layton said. “Many have dental diseases. All are fairly expensive, even with heavy discounts.” Kota’s recovery alone may cost anywhere between $3,000 to $5,000. “(The rescues) give you dogs that are healthy,” Layton said. “They do all of this medical stuff before you adopt them. It comes at a cost.” The thousands of dollars
that the rescue groups put in to each animal are part of the reason why Layton and Swisher continue to host the fundraiser every year. It’s also why they are still looking for more sponsors for this year’s event, as well as businesses or individuals to donate in the form of auction items, food or beverages. Layton and Swisher are also hoping some animals will find their forever homes. Adoptions are not finalized at the event because rescues want to make sure the animals are matched with a good fit. After an individual or a family takes interest in an adoptable animal at the fashion show, they must fill out an online application and complete a phone interview. Then they will be paid a home visit. Upon the approval of the home visit, the animal’s adoption will either be finalized or the potential owner will begin fostering the animal. In previous years, between two to eight animals featured in the fashion show get adopted by audience members. For Plant City residents that already have a home full of furry companions, attendance is still encouraged. Besides 100% of ticket sales and other proceeds going toward the rescues, event attendees will enjoy auctions, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and drinks. Tickets for the event are available online until Thursday, Oct. 1, and can be purchased through Paypal. Those who are interested in donating items to the auction can either call Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort or drop off items at the vet hospital. Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver. com.
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selling,” he said. “We’ll use it as long as we have it.” Some congregation members have seen still shots of the new campus, but a virtual tour will officially be unveiled Sunday, Oct. 4. “I believe it will meet the need,” Stowe said. “This church has been willing to do whatever’s needed, even when it goes against preferences.” The plans are currently under review by the city. Stowe hopes that the church will break ground on the project at the end of this year or in early 2016. The building process is expected to take between 14 and 15 months. “We’ve really just intensified work on it this year,” he said. “We’re convinced this is the time for us to move forward on it.” Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
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month while Paladin was being applied to fields near their home. When she came back, she said she had a sore throat within one week. Her 17-year-old daughter is facing health problems as well, such as headaches and nosebleeds. Zentkovich works from home and said that she is subjected to the odor constantly. “It is so intense still at this point and time,” Zentkovich said. But Zentkovich said that her problems with Paladin go beyond the unpleasant odor. “It’s not just the smell,” she said. “It’s what the chemical does to a person’s body. It’s very intense.” Paladin and can be found in common foods, including beer, cheese and garlic, Welker said. He doesn’t think there is a link between illnesses and Paladin. “It’s the exact same chemical,” Welker said. “It’s the exact same compound. I’m just not convinced that their illnesses are at any way linked to Paladin.” Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
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Since the fumigant first began being used in 2013, three improvements have been made in the application process: The films were changed to totally impermeable films in 2014. A strong field presence was established, so that the use of Paladin was monitored in the application process. A spray system was set up that allows the odor to be oxidized.
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in size,” Stowe said. “The commons area will be much larger. One of the things we’ll enjoy most will be a large, open gathering area.” Stowe is unsure of how many phases the building will have. Once the first phase is completed, a larger youth building and administration building will be added. In the future, a small chapel may also be added . Parking will become easier as well. “Once inside, you’re inside,” Stowe said. “Everything will be connected.” As for the Palmer Street building, the church will continue to use it for Bible studies or other meetings as long as they own the building. “If we had an interested buyer … (we would) be open to
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Health and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regarding the use and effects of Paladin. The EPC responds to resident complaints and keeps track of the number of residents who complain, as well as the number of households. This year, the EPC has received 16 complaints from 10 households. In 2013, the first year that the fumigant was used, 24 complaints were received from 23 households. “We’re empathetic and following up on everything we get,” Campbell said. Rob Welker, a market development manager for Paladin said he has received fewer complaints from residents this year than in previous years. He said it could be because of the totally impermeable film growers are using to lock in the smell. Growers began using the film in 2014. “Every year we learn a little bit more,” Welker said. “This year was just a pretty good year for applications.” The summer’s heavy rain storms have also helped with soil moisture, and the fumigant application process is monitored. Any fumigant that comes off of the seals is measured. Once applied, Paladin immediately starts to break down in the soil. “We’re always improving our process,” Welker said. But Dover resident Mary Zentkovich said Paladin is still making her sick. Since 2013, she has been notifying agencies, doctors and growers of health issues that she believes are linked to Paladin. This year, Zentkovich and her daughter relocated for a
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2015
PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
5
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STUCK IN THE MUD by Emily Topper and Abby Baker
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You are invited to attend and participate in the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District Seven, public hearing for a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study on Interstate 4 (I-4) from east of 50th Street to the Polk Parkway in Hillsborough County and Polk County, Florida. This public hearing is being held to allow interested persons the opportunity to provide comments concerning the location, conceptual design, and social, economic, and environmental effects for express toll lanes along 22.1 miles on I-4 from east of 50th Street to the Polk Parkway (SR 570). These new express toll lanes will be built in Hillsborough and Polk counties next to the existing non-toll lanes along I-4. Using a SunPass transponder, drivers can choose to pay a toll in order to use the express lanes and enjoy a quicker commute.
FIND OUT HOW WE CAN FIGHT FOR YOU
Additional information may be found on the Tampa Bay Express website: www.tampabayexpress.com. Your involvement is important to FDOT and to the success of this study. We invite you to share your ideas and comments about the proposed improvements at our upcoming public hearing from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on October 19, 2015, at the TPepin’s Hospitality Centre, 4121 N. 50th Street, Tampa, FL 33610. FDOT representatives will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. to answer questions and discuss the project informally. Draft project documents and other project-related materials will be displayed and a PowerPoint presentation will run continuously during the open house. A court reporter will be available to receive comments in a one-on-one setting.
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At 6:30 p.m., FDOT representatives will begin the formal portion of the hearing, which will provide an opportunity to make formal oral public comments. Following the formal portion of the hearing, the informal open house will resume and continue until 7:30 p.m. You can attend anytime during the two-hour meeting to review project information and talk oneon-one with project team members. FDOT welcomes and appreciates everyone’s participation.
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• Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon Street, Plant City, Florida 33563 (Business hours: Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) • Florida Department of Transportation, District Seven Headquarters, Intermodal Systems Development Department 11201 N. McKinley Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612-6456 (Business hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Draft project documents will also be displayed at the public hearing. Persons wishing to submit written statements or other exhibits, in place of or in addition to oral statements, may do so at the hearing or by sending them to Ming Gao, P.E., Intermodal Systems Development Manager, FDOT District Seven, 11201 N. McKinley Drive, MS 7-500, Tampa, FL, 33612-6456. Email comments to kirk.bogen@dot.state.fl.us or submit comments online at www.tampabayexpress.com. All exhibits or statements must be postmarked or emailed no later than Thursday, October 29, 2015 to become part of the official public hearing record. For more information, please contact Kirk Bogen, Environmental Management Engineer, kirk.bogen@dot.state.fl.us or 813-975-6448. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. If you need special accommodations under the American with Disabilities Act or if you require translation services (free of charge), please contact Lee Royal, Government Liaison Administrator, at 813-975-6427 or lee.royal@ dot.state.fl.us at least seven (7) days before the public hearing.
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
CUTESTCRITTER
T
his is Max. His owners are lucky to have had the honor of rescuing him and making him a part of the family. 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 Hos-
Stephanie Humphrey/Stephanie Humphrey Photography
pital and Animal Wellness Center. Submit your entries to Managing Editor Amber
Continuing a tradition
Jurgensen at ajurgensen@ plantcityobserver.com; subject line: Cutest Critter.
OUR VETERINARIANS UNDERSTAND...
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BEHIND THE SCENES Chattered echoed off the polished floors of Stephanie Humphrey’s Historic Downtown photography studio as I walked inside. The 2015 Wonder Women weren’t shy about getting to know each other. They were confident and curious, two traits that should belong to any of our nominees. Stephanie Humphrey had once again let us use her creative space and her extraordinary talent to capture the inner beauty of our Wonder Women for professional portraits and a group shot. I watched and offered input when asked. But it was Plant City Times & Observer interns Abby Baker and Arden White who did the work. They mingled, with their cameras, among the Wonder Women to get candid shots for a behindthe-scenes look. I hoped they were as inspired as I was by our Wonder Women. This section is to recognize strong women in our community, but it also serves to inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps by following their own dreams.
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One year has gone by a competitive list of over since the Plant City Times & 50 names of those we’ve Observer’s inaugural edition watched make an impact. of “Wonder Women.� Our reporters are at many The special section aims events in Plant City and have to herald women in the Win- seen our Wonder Women at ter Strawberry Capital of the Greater Plant City ChamWorld who are doing ber of Commerce amazing things to events, behind the make their commuloud speaker at local nity a better place to schools, collecting live, work and play. toys for disadvanIn this one year, taged children, menour picks for 2015 toring the Florida have continued to Strawberry Festival stretch the boundarQueen’s Court and ies, color outside the in the halls of South AMBER lines, take risks, love Florida Baptist HosJURGENSEN pital. their neighbors and travel down the road We hope if you see of success. From a crimethem around town, you will fighting police officer to a congratulate them and take jet-setting celebrity chef, we a note from their books to have found the cream of the keep the tradition of success crop, right here in Plant City. alive. We are so proud of all of If you would like to nomiour 2015 Wonder Women for nate a Wonder Woman for their accomplishments and next year’s edition, email dedication to their careers, Editor Amber Jurgensen at volunteer work, family and ajurgensen@plantcityobhometown. The staff at the server.com. Special thanks Plant City Times & Observer to photographer Stephanie brainstormed to create Humphrey.
PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER | 2015
WONDER
WOMEN
JUDI WHITSON • MARION SMITH • DIANE SPARKMAN • DONNA KEEL • KAREN KERR • SUSAN SULLIVAN • SANDEE SYTSMA • SHARON MOODY • WHITNEY MILLER HUMPHREY • PRISCILLA CLARK • PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE HUMPHREY
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
WONDERWOMEN
Priscilla Clark It was an accident when then-teenager Priscilla Clark was put into an ROTC class at her California high school. “I thought, ‘This is the only thing available? Really?’” Clark says. But the structured style of the military corps appealed to Clark, who had a tumultuous family life during the early part of her childhood. She engaged herself in drill team, honor guard and Explorers. The activities were the perfect set up for a future that would take her across the United States to serve as an officer with the Plant City Police Department.
SETTING THE TONE
Clark grew up 30 minutes north of Baja, Mexico, in sunny California, but her early years were marked by clouds. Her biological father was an alcoholic. “We were dirt, dirt poor,” Clark says. “He drank all the money.” Because of his problem, Clark’s mother spent most of her time working to support the family. As the oldest of six siblings, Clark stepped in to take her mother’s place at home. There were many times Clark had to leave school on her lunch break and ride her bike 3 miles to pick up her little sister from her school. Clark would then drop her off at her grandmother’s home and return to her classes. “I was responsible for my
ABOUT PRISCILLA Who is your hero? My children are my heroes. They went through tough times when their father and I divorced, and they came out ahead and successful. Use three words to describe yourself. Giggly (I try to make light of situations), happy and appreciative. Are you an early bird or a night owl? I am not a morning person. At all. At all. My husband is a morning person. I have to force myself to sleep. If I work 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. that’s perfect. What is the weirdest food you’ve tried? Tripe. I was a kid and didn’t know any better. I was running around eating it in a burrito. It was rubbery. I had to pull it with my teeth. What message would you put in a fortune cookie? Live in the moment.
brothers and sisters,” Clark says. “I had to set the tone.” When Clark’s parents divorced and her mother remarried a farmer, things got better. “He saved us,” Clark says. “That’s where we learned to be a family.” The family dynamics were typical of Hispanic tradition.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS? • Work hard. Have a good work ethic. • Prioritize yourself, but still make time to help others. • Take care of oneself. We get so caught up with everything, not just as mothers but as women. We work hard and put ourselves last. It goes against the grain to take care of ourselves first. And that’s OK sometimes.
The boys worked outside and the girls did the housework. So when Clark got involved with ROTC when she was 15 and decided she wanted to go into law enforcement, it was hard for her new dad. “He said, ‘You have no business being a police officer,’” Clark says. But she fell in love with her high school sweetheart at 17, and her dreams of entering the force were put on hold. They married and had three kids. When her youngest was 3, the family moved across the U.S. to Florida, where her husband had gotten a job in Winter Haven. It only took three years in Florida for a familiar interest in law enforcement to come back to her. As her kids entered school, Clark went to work as an emergency dispatcher in Winter Haven. She was also sponsored to go to the academy. Her first beat as a new police officer was with the Lake Wales Police Department. From there she worked for the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. But she missed working for a small department . When a position opened up with the Plant City Police Department, she jumped at the chance.
PAYING IT FORWARD
As the community redevelopment area officer, Clark walks the streets of Historic Downtown Plant City. She stops in shops to check in with storeowners, started a bike registration program for the homeless and helps with the Friends in the Park dinner program, which feeds the homeless and needy every night at the Winter Visitor Center. “I like that I wear several different hats,” Clark says. “I reach out to kids ... I work with the
Stephanie Humphrey/Stephanie Humphrey Photography
homeless. It’s about paying it forward.” She has come to know many of the dinner program patrons by name, and she knows most of their stories. “One guy bikes from Turkey Creek Road,” Clark says. “They’re so sweet. I don’t care what they’ve done in the past. As long as they behave while they’re there.”
They know about her too. When she didn’t show up at the dinners for a couple of days earlier this month, some of the patrons inquired about her absence. They learned she was having surgery and prayed for her. “That touched my heart,” Clark says. “I tell them, ‘I’m like you. Just in uniform.’” — Amber Jurgensen
Congratulations Officer Clark! Chief Duncan, along with the men and women of Plant City Police Department, would like to acknowledge Officer Clark on her selection as a Woman Leader for 2015!
2016 POLICE UNITY TOUR WE RIDE FOR THOSE WHO DIED The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. The secondary purpose is to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum. The Police Unity Tour is a 3 day 250 mile bicycle ride beginning in Portsmouth, Virginia to the Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington D.C. Once again Plant City Police Department will be joining the 2016 Tour with five officers. Each officer is required to raise a minimum of $2,000.00
Donate by visting:
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PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
WONDERWOMEN
Donna Keel Donna Keel isn’t a native of Plant City, but she’s pretty close to one — her family moved to Plant City from Texas when she was a toddler. Since then, Keel has become a familiar face and a friend to all in the community that she calls home. From June until March, Keel’s world is a blur of pageant dresses and meetings. The Strawberry Court coordinator has made a name for herself as a dedicated volunteer at the Florida Strawberry Festival and other organizations across Plant City. “One of my favorite things about Plant City is the smalltown atmosphere,” Keel says.
PLANTED IN PLANT CITY
After graduating from PCHS in 1985, Keel attended Florida Southern College, in Lakeland, where she earned her degree in early childhood education and elementary education. She taught for nine years at local schools. She spent seven years at Walden Lake Elementary and two years at Pinecrest Elementary before leaving to raise her two kids, Justin and Bryson. Keel’s two children have also attended PCHS. Justin, 21, has graduated and is attending the University of Florida. Bryson has just started his junior year at PCHS. As her kids have grown, so has Keel’s involvement in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. Her volunteer efforts, which keep her busy year round, are not lost on her sons. Keel encourages her children to have servants’ hearts. They’ve seen her words in action.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS? • Set clear goals. • Don’t give up, no matter what the day brings. • Be organized.
ABOUT DONNA Who is your hero? There have been many women and men who have influenced my life, so it’s hard to pick just one. But I’m grateful for my parents who have always been very supportive of me. Use three words to describe yourself. Organized, helpful and dedicated. Are you an early bird or a night owl? I am an all-day person. I only need about three to four hours of sleep. I usually go to bed about 1:30 a.m. and get up at 6 a.m. What is the weirdest food you’ve tried? It was some type of raw sushi. It tasted like fishy kale. What message would you put in a fortune cookie? Always strive to be the best you.
FASHION FOR A CAUSE
When Keel walks into a store, she’s not going shopping; she’s going on a mission. After serving as the Florida Strawberry Festival’s Junior Royalty pageant chair for 19 years, Keel is now in her second year as the Strawberry Court coordinator. She was also a member of the Strawberry Court in 1984 and 1985. “The Queen’s Court coordinator takes up a lot of time, but I love it,” Keel says. As coordinator, Keel has no problem finding the perfect ensemble for any of the pageant girls. It’s just one of the many responsibilities that comes with the position. She serves along with co-
chair and longtime friend, Di Lott. “We work very well together,” Keel says. “I depend on Di for a lot of things. She has a lot of good ideas.” Though pageants keep Keel busy from June through March, Keel also volunteers at PCHS swim meets and purchases costumes for the vocal group Next Radical Generation. Her son, Bryson, was part of the original ensemble. Over the years, Keel grew to know the members of the group so well that she could purchase costumes they would like based off of their personalities. “I really should have been a personal shopper,” Keel says, jokingly. Although the original NRG group has retired, Keel still plans to help with the costuming for the newer ensembles. “I like that kind of thing,” she says. “Nobody wears the same thing.” As if she weren’t busy enough, Keel also serves as the co-chair for Plant City High School’s Calendar Girl. The pageant, which is held the first weekend of October, serves as the athletic booster club’s biggest fundraiser for athletic programs. Calendar Girl brought in a record-breaking $23,000 last year. Keel is responsible for putting rehearsals together and organizing judges and venues. For all of her volunteer efforts, Keel says, she is only as good as her team. “I have a great committee,” she says. “I love surrounding myself with good people.” It’s also a way for her to serve the community — something she thinks everyone should do. “You don’t have to overload yourself, but you need to help where you can,” she says. “I enjoy it. I just think it’s important for anyone to volunteer
Stephanie Humphrey/Stephanie Humphrey Photography
and give back. Most Plant City people do a lot of volunteering. That is a benefit of a small town.”
KICKING BACK WITH KEEL
Once Calendar Girl ends, Keel dives headfirst into Strawberry Court meetings during the first week of November. But when she is able to take a moment for herself, she jumps in the car and heads to Anna Ma-
ria Island with her girlfriends. “I love being a part of the girly-girl thing,” Keel says. She also enjoys spending time with her friends and family, especially over a Gators football game. But out of all her community involvement and activities, she says, one job and leadership role stands out as her favorite: being a mom. — Emily Topper
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
WONDERWOMEN
Karen Kerr One of the loudest sounds in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the world is the South Florida Baptist Hospital helicopter racing to and from its pad on the top of the 60-yearold building. The hospital has grown to add such advancements with superb management and continues to under the leadership of its newest president, Karen Kerr. When Kerr was 19, she stuffed her suitcase and moved to Florida. “I moved to Sarasota because I was tired of the winters,” Kerr says. “I needed to find the sunshine.” She didn’t know that she would one day become the president of a hospital. For two years she has run the hospital’s day-to-day operations and successfully expanded the facility to add new technology and centers.
FROM NURSE TO PRESIDENT
Originally from the Buffalo, New York area, it was there that Kerr first discovered her passion for the health field and received her RN degree. She moved to the Sunshine State shortly after. “I packed up all my worldly possessions, which weren’t many at the time, and moved to Sarasota,” Kerr says. “I only knew one person there.” In 1984, Kerr received her bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of South Florida and has worked in hospitals ever since. Kerr began her career as a
TIPS FOR SUCCESS? • Have a passion for what you do. • Have a strong work ethic. • Be resilient, and don’t be afraid of failure.
ABOUT KAREN Who is your hero? My Dad. He was genuine, patient and the hardest working man I knew. Use three words to describe yourself. Independent, optimistic and determined/disciplined. Are you an early bird or a night owl? I’m a night person, but I get up very early every day. At 4 a.m. I wake up and go to the gym, and I go to sleep at about 11:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. What is the weirdest food you’ve tried? Moose. What message would you put in a fortune cookie? Winners expect to win in advance. Life is a selffulfilling prophecy.
bedside nurse in the intensive care unit at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. She worked her way up while receiving a master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern University. Because of her hard work and perseverance, when she came to Plant City in 1990, she received a job that was equivalent to a vice president of nursing. She also served as director of Patient Care Services at South Florida Baptist. “I quickly enjoyed being a part of management,” Kerr says. When the position for president came open after the former president, Steve Nierman, left, Kerr saw her chance. She served as interim president for months before
her trial period was up. In 2014, Kerr was named president. “The hospital has been part of the community for 60 years, and people in the community are involved in the hospital,” Kerr says.
EXPANSION
Considering Kerr runs the only hospital in Plant City, one can imagine that she has her hands full. Despite her busy schedule, she has big plans for the future. “(Our goal) is to allow people to not have to leave Plant City for their medical needs,” Kerr says. Since Kerr was appointed president, the hospital has undergone many renovations and additions. The waiting room was moved and expanded in 2014. It was a project that allowed for more patients to be seen quicker and more comfortably. In 2015 two new operating rooms were added, as well as an intensive care unit. They improved the overall functionality of the hospital. The hospital added a 3D mammography machine, something that women in Plant City previously had to go elsewhere for. Kerr also aims to add OBGYN specialists. Notably, the hospital bought a $2 million da Vinci Robot, a technology that improves patient experience during invasive operations. Robotic surgery is safer than traditionally done surgeries. In all, the hospital’s surgical volume growth has upped 12% and the expansion totals 6,300 square feet.
HER COMMUNITY
Kerr’s passion goes farther than her career. She is active in
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the community she lives in as well. Kerr was president of the Tampa Bay Organization of Nurse Executives, chair of the Plant City Family YMCA, president and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club and even performed in the 2015 dinner mystery theater production in Plant City. Her daughter is one of her
biggest joys and the reason why Kerr directs a gymnastics competition in Orlando every year. In correlation with her healthcare background, Kerr exercises nearly every morning and maintains that her health is a passion. “I say every day, ‘I love what I do,’” Kerr says.” I don’t look at what I do as work.” — Abby Baker
KAREN KERR
to and all of the Women Leaders in Plant City, 2015! Karen has been a member since 1992 and served as president in 2008-2009.
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Daybreak Rotary meets on Mondays at 7:00 AM at South Florida Baptist Hospital
PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
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WONDERWOMEN
Whitney Miller Humphrey Plant City residents might see Whitney Miller Humphrey in the grocery store and think nothing of it. The 28-year-old blends in with the small-town atmosphere, having been raised in an even smaller one. But checking out the cookbook section of the store and seeing her face on some of thecovers would have people doing double-takes. Miller Humphrey, an internationally-known chef, was the first person to win Fox’s MasterChef television show at age 22. She’s got one cookbook, “Modern Hospitality,” under her belt and is in the process of editing a new one, “New Southern Table.” The Poplarville, Mississippi native’s cooking has taken her across the globe, preparing meals for celebrities and charities. “It’s really neat, thinking of where I came from, and I’ve gotten to travel to four different countries the year after I won MasterChef,” Miller Humphrey says. Her life has taken her from a town with one red light to the biggest cities in the world, but she’s now enjoying a new chapter in a town with just a few more red lights.
HOSPITALITY
Poplarville is so small that it “makes Plant City look like Orlando.” The town’s population hovered around 2,800 in 2013. Even so, that one red light has gotten plenty of use. “That was our claim to fame
ABOUT WHITNEY Who is your hero? My great-grandmother. Her name was Mary Strahan. My mom was named after her, and she got a lot of her great qualities. I hope that, one day, people can say I had a lot of those qualities as well. Use three words to describe yourself. Risk-taker, creative and adventurous. Are you an early bird or a night owl? I used to be a night person, and now my husband has us going to bed a lot earlier. I now consider myself a morning person. I go to bed at about 10 p.m. and wake up at 7:30 or 8 a.m. What is the weirdest food you’ve tried? Duck tongue in China. I think I put a mental block about the whole experience. And durian, a fruit, in Malaysia. It tasted like it smelled, and it smelled like a dirty sock. What message would you put in a fortune cookie? Use whatever gift you’ve been given to serve others. — 1 Peter 4:10
after Hurricane Katrina,” Miller Humphrey says. “We had so many people moving in from Louisiana that we had to even-
TIPS FOR SUCCESS? • You have to take risks. You never know if you’re going to achieve something or fail, and you have to know that, sometimes, you are going to fail. • I feel like it helps to be creative. • Be comfortable in front of people. Taking a speaking class or just getting up in front of people and getting over that fear.
tually have a red light, just to contain the traffic.” She learned to cook from her mother and great-grandmother, Mary Strahan, who is her biggest influence. “She taught me about hospitality, and she made me want to be in the kitchen and cook for people,” Miller Humphrey says. “She made them happy, and she just always had something to offer people ... I want to make people that happy through food.” Miller Humphrey originally wanted to be a pastry chef. Her parents gave her kitchen tools for Christmas, including a blowtorch for creme bruleé. She earned a tennis scholarship to play at Pearl River Community College, and graduated with an emphasis in nutrition from the University of Southern Mississippi. Her time at USM, however, took a little longer than expected.
MASTER CHEF
As a senior at USM, Miller Humphrey decided to try out for MasterChef. She got a part and, thanks to her advanced knowledge of desserts, won the competition. Her fame took her to countries such as China, where she cooked for Kenny Loggins. It has also enabled her to work chefs Emeril Lagasse and Guy Fieri. “(Emeril’s) wife’s from Mississippi, and he has several cooking schools there,” Miller Humphrey says. “I’ve worked with him ... and he was gracious enough to write a quote for my second cookbook.” The fame has also enabled her to do plenty of charity work. With former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow’s foundation, Miller Humphrey auctions her cooking services. She also cooked
Stephanie Humphrey/Stephanie Humphrey Photography
for the United Food Bank’s fundraiser dinner, where she met her husband, Ryan Humphrey. Miller Humphrey works with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America to help raise money for research and provides healthy cooking recipes for those who have the disease, such as her father.
ON TOUR
These days, Miller Humphrey is putting the finishing
touches on her latest book. It is rooted in Southern cooking, but Miller Humphrey’s trips to Asia have had an effect on her style. She has targeted a release date of Oct. 27. Miller Humphrey will be on tour this winter. She will make a stop in Plant City Saturday, Nov. 7, at Fringe Boutique. There she will have a book signing and food tasting from 5 to 7 p.m. — Justin Kline
Congratulations q
Whitney Miller q PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER | 2015
WONDER
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
WONDERWOMEN
Sharon Moody If someone in need has ever gotten help from an event in Plant City, there’s a good chance they know Sharon Moody. That’s because Moody, a Plant City native, has spent the past 35 years giving back to the community that first gave her life. From youth sports to the Kiwanis Club, the only way to find out what she’s done — and get a quick answer — is to ask which local groups and causes she hasn’t gotten involved in. “Anywhere that someone asked me to help, I would help,” Moody says. “That’s just how I started out. I’d never turn them down or say no. It just grew from that.”
TREATING OTHERS FAIRLY
Moody was raised in Plant City. Growing up, she dealt with segregation, but she remained positive whenever she could. “I treated people the way I wanted to be treated,” Moody says. “You might have some hard times, back in the day, but things have come a long way.” From 1979 to 1981, Moody worked with Hillsborough County schools as a teacher aide. After that, she went on to work for SunTrust and what is now CenterState Bank. In 1994, she began to work for the state of Florida as a revenue specialist. She later became the director of Boys & Girls Club of Plant City, from 2004 until 2009. Moody has always loved working with children. It influenced her decision to work in schools and the Boys & Girls Club.
ABOUT SHARON Who is your hero? I’d have to say my mother. We were very close before she died, and I miss her. We used to cook things together, do all the holidays. She did a lot of the baking. We’d travel together. She taught me how to be a mother, how to raise your children in the right way.” Use three words to describe yourself. Honest, trustworthy and friendly. Are you an early bird or a night owl? I’m not a morning person. I can get up early if I have to, but I’d rather not. If I’m working, I usually go to bed between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. I wake up around 8 or 9 a.m. What is the weirdest food you’ve tried? I really dislike veal. What message would you put in a fortune cookie? Love, cherish and treat everybody the same.
FOR THE CHILDREN
Thirty-five years ago, Moody took on her first gig as a volunteer: cheerleading coordinator for the Plant City Colts youth football and cheer program. Her children were also a part of the Colts program, and Moody remained with the team until they aged out. Since then, she’s built quite
TIPS FOR SUCCESS? • You’ve got to be persistent. • You’ve got to be committed. Whatever I do, I have to be committed. You can’t stop and do something else. • You have to be focused.
a resumé with youth-centered organizations. She’s been a member of the Kiwanis Club, holding the roles of treasurer, vice president, president, lieutenant governor and, currently, leadership chair. Moody has also served on the Plant City YMCA’s board of directors, and she was a founder and president of the Plant City Junior League Woman’s Club. Closest to her heart is the work she’s doing with the Plant City Black Heritage Celebration group, of which she is also a founder and president. The group’s summer reading program for children is special to her. “I really enjoy that,” Moody says. “We’ve done it for the past five summers. It deals with atrisk youth. We work with them and feed them three times a day. Those might be the only meals they get each day.” The program not only provides meals, it and keeps participants out of trouble and gets them on the right path for when school starts. “We teach them to read, take them on educational field trips and bring in motivational speakers to help them go the right way,” Moody says. “That’s been my heart the past five summers. When they go back to school, they won’t be behind.” For older children, the group also helps out with scholarship money. Moody does whatever she can to help the youths go to college. “These children go on to do big things,” Moody says. “That makes you feel good, that you can help with something like that.”
A SPECIAL GIFT
Moody doesn’t devote all of her time to youths alone.
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She’s on the Christmas Parade, Code Enforcement and Unity in the Community boards. Moody is also a member of the Plant City Greater Chamber of Commerce and the Plant City Coalition of Concerned Citizens. She is currently looking forward to getting the Angel Program running to serve meals to families at Samuel Cooper Park
during the holidays. Somehow, throughout all of her commitments, Moody does find time to eat and sleep. “I just enjoy organizing things and events,” she says. “It’s a gift from God, that I can put things together and make it work. Not everybody can do that — you have to have a gift, and the Lord gave me that gift.” — Justin Kline
THANK YOU SHARON for your wonderful leadership!
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PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
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WONDERWOMEN
Marion Smith These days, Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce President Marion Smith is trying to help the local business scene. She aims to bring businesses to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World and, once they’re rooted, help them grow. The idea of keeping business thriving in a small town in Florida may seem difficult to some. But Smith has had other challenges in her career to prepare her for where she’s at now. She got her start in the male-dominated automotive sales industry and found success.
FORESEEING THE FUTURE
Smith was born in Italy, but lived there for only six months. Her father, Mac, was in the United States Navy at the time, and the family then relocated to Plant City. They ended up staying. “My folks are still in the same house that I grew up in,” Smith says. Her father and grandfather started an American Motors dealership in town, off of what is now James L. Redman Parkway. “You can just see all the changes that have happened,” Smith says. “When my grandfather and my dad picked the property where they built the American Motors franchise, it’s where RaceTrac is now. There was nothing between Alsobrook Street and that piece of property. But I guess they saw that the growth was gonna go that way.” Smith attended the University of Florida to get a degree in
TIPS FOR SUCCESS? • Treat people fairly and equally. • Listen to what people are saying. • Surround yourself with good people.
ABOUT MARION Who is your hero? My parents, Mac and Cookie Smith. Use three words to describe yourself. Friendly, reliable and dependable. Are you an early bird or a night owl? I get a second wind at night. Obviously, I have to be a morning person with the chamber. You could say I’m both. I try to go to bed by 11 p.m., at the latest, and I usually get up at 5 a.m. What is the weirdest food you’ve tried? The thought of eating liver makes me nauseous. What message would you put in a fortune cookie? Be the best that you can be.
criminal justice. But her father doubted she would stick with it. He encouraged her to enroll in business classes. It was then that she first broke into the automotive sales industry, where she remained until 2001.
IN A MAN’S WORLD
After switching majors at UF, Smith started working for an American Motors dealer in Gainesville. She later attended the National Auto Dealers Academy. While there, she realized just how rare women in the industry were. “There were two other ladies in the class, and we’ve remained friends all these years,” she says. When she graduated, in 1982, Smith returned to Plant City to work with her family. She was tasked with starting
finance and insurance departments. Eventually, she moved up to sales. “It was challenging,” Smith says. “You would have the guys coming on the lot, wanting you to explain what an engine was. Well, heck, I didn’t know what it was either. But my dad made the comment to me. He goes, ‘Marion, you don’t need to know all that stuff. The people just want a good deal on a car. You give them the numbers, and that’s all they really want.’ And that was true.” She put the lessons learned to the test and, over time, excelled at her job. The lot became a Chrysler/Plymouth/ Dodge/Jeep dealer when Chrysler bought up several manufacturers, and Smith had a Dodge franchise in her name by 1990. “At that time, you didn’t have many women in the car business,” Smith says. “It was very rare.” She sold the dealership in March of 2001 to transition into her current role.
STILL HERE
Smith first got involved with the chamber in 1989, by volunteering whenever she had time. She scaled back in 1990, to launch her Dodge dealership, but knew that she wanted to return to volunteering. Selling the dealership allowed her to jump in, perhaps in a bigger role than she thought. “The president of the hired staff left the chamber,” Smith says. “Fred Johnson was in charge of the search committee at the time, and he approached me, if I would just fill in until they found a president. I’m still here.” She’s headed the chamber for the last 14 years, currently working with a staff of six employees. Of all the accomplish-
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ments she’s seen in that span, the jump in community involvement is at the top of her list. “When I joined in ’01, there wasn’t a whole lot of volunteer involvement,” she says. “What really made the difference was the board of directors.” She’s currently looking forward to partnering with the Plant City Economic Development Corp., to help businesses
thrive. Smith will stick by the principles she learned from her family and used in the auto sales industry. “Treat everybody as an equal,” she says. “Everybody puts on their pants the same way. It kind of goes back to John 3:16, how would you want to be treated? I’ve found that to be true in the car business, and any business.” — Justin Kline
Congratula s, Marion! tion The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors & Staff proudly recognize you as one of the Plant City Women in Leadership!
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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE WONDER WOMEN 2015!
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
WONDERWOMEN
Diane Sparkman Diane Sparkman is celebrating some major milestones this year. Sparkman, who graduated from Plant City High School in 1965, just attended her 50year class reunion last month. Her husband, City of Plant City Commissioner Mike Sparkman, was by her side. The two met in high school and, this December, they will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. “Respect is key,” Sparkman says of her marriage. “There’s a lot of forgiveness on both sides.” But the most important key to a successful marriage, says Sparkman, is love. And in the Sparkman family, love is never too far away nor too hard to find.
FAMILY FIRST
Sparkman was born and raised in Plant City, and so were her three children: Tom, 46; Chris, 43; and Aimee, 40. “It’s not just another city,” says Sparkman. “You just about know everyone. It’s a nice place to raise kids. Plant City’s got the best people.” All eight of her grandchildren have grown up in Plant City. The entire Sparkman family lives within five miles of each other in Walden Lake. At holiday dinners, which are hosted at Sparkman’s home, a group of 40 is not uncommon. “We don’t like anyone to be by themselves on the holidays,” Sparkman says. “It’s just the love that’s there. We’re fortunate to have them all here.” Sparkman sees her grand-
TIPS FOR SUCCESS? • Hard work. • Hard work (again). • Believe in yourself.
ABOUT DIANE Who is your hero? It’s respect more than a hero. My mother lived to be 93 and taught me a love of family and to keep family close. Family is very important to me, my top priority. Also, my husband — I admire his dedication for the city and love for the city. Are you an early bird or a night owl? We go to bed around 11 p.m., and we’re up by 6 a.m. I’m definitely a morning person. What three words would you use to describe yourself? Kind, understanding and loving. What is the weirdest food you’ve tried? I dislike liver, and I’m not big on caviar. What message would you put in a fortune cookie? Love one another. Tomorrow’s never guaranteed.
kids regularly. “I just don’t want to miss anything about them,” she says. Even with a large family to care for, Sparkman still finds time to serve in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.
STRAWBERRY SERVICE
As a junior in high school, Sparkman was on the Strawberry Court at the Florida Strawberry Festival. She was also a Strawberry Court chaperone for 10 years and used to help with the Strawberry Festival Luncheon on Parade Day. Sparkman continues to plan her years around the festival. She serves alongside her hus-
band on the festival’s media committee. They help plan the festival’s annual media preview party, which yields between 600 and 800 guests. Her favorite part about the festival is how it unites Plant City. “It’s amazing to see the volunteers come together with a smile,” she says. “This is all a hometown festival … everyone is so proud of our city.” The media committee works on decorations and the party theme. It also sends the invitations. “It’s one of the largest events,” Sparkman says. “We’ve had people coming for years.” Sparkman’s volunteering doesn’t end with the festival. She began volunteering with different organizations when her children were in school. She was on the original committee for the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s Margarita Ball and was a former chair of the Diamond & Denim Gala, a fundraising event for the South Florida Baptist Hospital. Sparkman was also the East Hillsborough County coordinator for SERVE, a program that schedules speakers at schools throughout the year. She works in the nursery with her daughter at Plant City’s First Baptist Church, where she has been attending for 50 years.
BREAKING INTO BUSINESS
In the 80s, Sparkman and her family owned Sparky’s, a chain of convenience stores. In 1988, Sparky’s had 44 locations. Sparkman worked at the convenience store. During that time, she also worked as the secretary of chief engineering for a chemical company, a position she held until she had her first child. The convenience stores brought the Sparkman family many travel opportunities. Sparkman has been to Russia,
Stephanie Humphrey/Stephanie Humphrey Photography
Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, Germany and at least half a dozen other countries. Now that her children are grown and the convenience stores have been sold, Sparkman still continues to travel. This year, she will be taking a river cruise to see tulips and windmills in Amsterdam. When she’s not jet setting across the globe, she enjoys playing tennis, bass fishing and
relaxing at the family’s Clermont lake house. “It’s soothing and calming to look out at the water,” she says. “There’s no stress there.” Her favorite activity, of course, is spending time with her grandchildren. “That’s my best volunteering job,” Sparkman says. “Out of all the volunteering work, that’s the best.” — Emily Topper
Congratulations, MiMi! E
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PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
15
WONDERWOMEN
Susan Sullivan When Susan Sullivan walks down the central hallway of Plant City High School during students’ lunch hour, she is quick to greet familiar faces. It’s only been a few months since Sullivan took over as principal, but she speaks to students as though she’s known them for years. For many students, she has. Sullivan was previously principal at Tomlin Middle School. Many of Tomlin’s students go on to attend PCHS. “It will be really cool to hand them their diploma,” she says. Besides graduation, there is another event Sullivan is excited for: the upcoming football game between PCHS and Durant High School, where Sullivan’s sister, Pam Bowden, is the principal. “We support each other’s school, and then we play each other,” Sullivan says. “We’ll be happy for whoever wins. My main hope is that everyone does well.” Still, she would like to win back the Redman trophy, which originated out of a senior football game between Sullivan’s son, Aaron, and Bowden’s son, Chip. The cousins are six weeks apart. Some of her other goals for PCHS are more serious. The Plant City native is working on the district’s new focus of preparing students for life. For Sullivan, the new motto isn’t just about preparing students for the day they graduate — it’s about preparing them for their future and for continued success at home in Plant City.
ABOUT SUSAN Who is your hero? My dad. He was a man of integrity and strong work ethic. He really encouraged us to do whatever we wanted to do. And my mom too. Use three words to describe yourself. People person, competitive, encourager Are you an early bird or a night owl? I wake up at 5:15 a.m. I try to go to bed by 10 p.m. What is the weirdest food you’ve tried? Probably when I was on a trip to Europe, and we had noodles in what they said was a horse meat sauce. What message would you put in a fortune cookie? Work hard, have fun and treasure your family.
ENCOURAGING GROWTH
This year, PCHS has grown to 2,400 students. Sullivan sees the increase as a blessing. “It’s a great problem to have, when you have lots of students who want to be here,” Sullivan says. The administration has seen changes too. Three out of the school’s six administrators are new, including Sullivan. To bring everyone closer together, she held a seminar before the school year began. Through the Strength Finders program, each administrator discovered their personal strengths and the
TIPS FOR SUCCESS? • Focus on your strengths. • Be willing to work hard and model behavior you want. Don’t ask people to do something you don’t want to do. • Be approachable and real.
strengths of their coworkers. “We had just met each other,” Sullivan says. “We really needed to learn a little bit about each other ... The nice thing was we found that we have a nice mix of people with different areas of strength.” One of Sullivan’s main strengths is planning. Most of her family lives in town. They see each other frequently, since many live on the “family compound.” When the family travels, it is Sullivan who makes the reservations and creates the itinerary. Her planning skills were especially helpful this summer. Before the school year began, Sullivan traveled with Tomlin’s Technology Student Association to Dallas, and with Tomlin’s FFA chapter to Orlando. Her son also got married on June 20 at Plant City’s First Baptist Church. As the school year progresses, her organization skills will be put to the test. Her calendar remains packed with activities, including football games and school performances. Even with a busy schedule and a large family, Sullivan still finds time to give back.
THE NEED TO LEAD
Sullivan has a long history of service in the Plant City community. She is a Strawberry Court chaperone for the Florida Strawberry Festival, and this year will help with the dinner that is held on the Monday before the festival begins. She’s also involved with her church, Plant City’s First Baptist. In addition to being a regular attendee, Sullivan is in the choir and a member of the praise team. In the past, she has taught Sunday school. Her emphasis on community service is present at both Tomlin and PCHS. While at Tomlin, students brought in over 13,000
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pounds of food for canned food drives and raised money for Relay for Life. At PCHS, Sullivan plans to continue her involvement with Relay for Life. Sullivan’s mother, Ruby Jean Redman, originally brought the event to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. “It’s very near and dear to my heart,” Sullivan says. “A lot of staff and friends over the years have had cancer. I want to do
my part to help find a cure.” Sullivan leads by example. Through all of her volunteer efforts, she encourages her students to serve. “It’s important for kids to see me,” she says. “I want students to be successful in a lot of different arenas. I want kids to have hope that they can live in Plant City and support their family.” — Emily Topper
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CONGRATULATIONS TO SUSAN SULLIVAN AND ALL OF THE WOMEN LEADERS OF PLANT CITY!
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
WONDERWOMEN
Sandee Sytsma The one thing Sandee Sytsma knew when she was a child was that she wasn’t going to marry a farmer when she grew up. Sytsma is part of the Parke family, known for the agriculture empire it has expanded since her parents, Roy and Helen Parke, moved to Plant City in 1957. Roy was nicknamed the “Strawberry King” of Hillsborough County until his death in 2008, and Sytsma and her siblings grew up working in the fields. Sytsma didn’t enjoy it. “Given a choice between cleaning the house and working in the field, I’d rather clean the house,” Sytsma says. A self-described “prissy” girl, Sytsma liked climate control, the latest fashions and the idea of working as an airline stewardess. The family used to joke she was adopted. “(Mom) used to say, ‘No, we weren’t going to go out and buy more kids,’” she says. Sytsma didn’t follow in her family’s footsteps. They have continued to run the fields and Parkesdale Farm Market. She keeps her hands off the operations. But she didn’t give up on strawberries entirely. She is entrenched in the Florida Strawberry Festival as vice president and a past Strawberry Court coordinator. And she was right about who she would marry. He wasn’t a farmer. He was a football coach. Hank Sytsma was new to town, while Sytsma was
TIPS FOR SUCCESS? • Be true to yourself. • Keep your priorities straight: God, family and country. • Enjoy what you’re doing. Make it fun.
Who is your hero? My mother. She’s an amazing, hardworking, thoughtful, tender-hearted, strong-willed wife, mother and friend. Use three words to describe yourself. Fulfilled, passionate and fun. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Night. I don’t like to get up before 8 a.m. It’s my quiet time. During the festival I have to be up at 4 a.m., so I can do that too. What is the weirdest food you’ve tried? Not being a foodie, probably alligator. What message would you put in a fortune cookie? Don’t take yourself too seriously. You’re not as big of a deal as you think you are. None of us are.
dreaming of leaving it. After a career day at Turkey Creek High School, she knew she wanted to be a stewardess. She picked United Airlines because of the uniforms, not the pay. For her graduation present, she asked for luggage. Her sisters wanted watches. “I couldn’t wait to see the world, to know everybody in it,” Sytsma says. While she waited to attend school she worked for Tampa Electric. It was on her drive to and from work that she noticed a new car rolling past her everyday — a Jaguar Roadster. “And Plant City did not have one of those,” Sytsma says. The driver was Hank, a football coach at Plant City High School.
“He had good legs and a great car,” Sytsma says. “We all had a crush on him.” They began to wave to each other as they drove past. One day, she attended a football practice. He spent the rest of the night paging through the phone book for her number. “When he called me, I thought it was a joke, because I liked to play jokes,” Sytsma says. But the right car pulled up on their first date. Eighteen months later, she got an engagement ring for her birthday. Sandee Systma had lived in two houses her whole life. Hank had immigrated from Holland and moved 17 times. “He said, ‘I don’t care where we live, but I don’t want to move much,’” Sytsma says. They put down their roots in Plant City.
FAMILY TRADITION
Systma has always been involved with the Strawberry Festival. “We used to put a bunch of kids in the back of Dad’s truck because he could park in the gate,” Sytsma says. She’s seen it grow from three days to 11, from wrestling as the Friday night entertainment to the biggest stars in country music. Roy Parke had a vision for festival entertainment. He pushed the board for a larger budget to attract bigger acts. Maybe Sytsma got her penchant for glitz and glamour from her father. “It went far beyond what he thought,” Sytsma says. Sytsma got involved as an associate director of the Florida Strawberry Festival 25 years ago, following the path her father had taken. She picked the committees of most interest
Stephanie Humphrey/Stephanie Humphrey Photography
to her: fashion show, strawberry ball, public relations. For 13 years, she served 65 court members at the Strawberry Court coordinator. Although she thought she would be teaching the court, she also learned a thing or two. “I thought it was just another committee,” Sytsma says. “But it was life changing.” Sytsma stepped down as coordinator last year to serve
in her role as vice president of the festival board. She will be president in 2018 and has some ideas to renovate the Arthur Boring Civic Center into an upscale event center, complete with a chandelier. She also plans to use her father’s gavel when she is president. She might be more similar to her family than they thought. — Amber Jurgensen
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PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
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WONDERWOMEN
Judi Whitson Anyone who talks to Judi Whitson for more than five minutes has a good chance of hearing her elevator pitch. “I teach third graders to legislators,” Whitson says. She greets visitors at her office with a hug or sunny smile, a technique she credits with her rise to the top. Today, she is the executive director of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Federation. The main focus of her job is educating the public about agriculture. “Most kids don’t know where their food comes from,” Whitson says. “Some legislators don’t get it either. They put in guidelines, but they don’t know how it works.” It’s her job to teach them.
A SEARCH FOR PASSION
Every day when Whitson was in high school, she would come home to watch “The Mike Douglas Show,” a daytime talk show that brought prominent guests on to discuss their inspirations. While the program has run its length, Whitson remembers it as her first dose of ambition. “I would sit there and watch thinking, ‘That’s what I want to do. I want to be passionate about something like those people,’” Whitson says. Born in Brooksville, but raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Whitson grew up listening to her family talk about the orange groves they owned. Little did she know she would eventually return to her earthy roots. She didn’t take the traditional
ABOUT JUDI Who is your hero? My daughter. She’s a social worker for children. She’s a pretty amazing person. Use three words to describe yourself? Passionate, loyal and funny. Are you an early bird or a night owl? It depends on what day it is. I’m definitely a morning person because I get more stuff done. I wake up at 6 a.m. and go to bed around 11 p.m. What is the weirdest food you’ve tried? Turtle soup. What message would you put in a fortune cookie? Disappointments are just God’s way of saying, “I’ve got something better.” Be patient, live life and have faith. Yes, I have it on Pinterest.
• You have to think outside of the box.
route to her agricultural career. Whitson worked in fields such as accounting, public relations, banking and real estate before she was offered the job as executive director. “I didn’t know anything about strawberries,” Whitson says. “One of the growers took me out to the field and showed me how to lay plastic.” She gained her current position 25 years ago because of the heavy accounting background and communication skills, yet she didn’t know how much she would teach the community. “I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up,” Whitson says.
• Don’t ever be afraid to ask for help.
A NEW APPROACH
TIPS FOR SUCCESS? • Focus.
A quarter of a decade ago,
before Whitson accepted the job at the Farm Bureau, many people in areas of Hillsborough County knew very little about where their food came from. Whitson recognized the slipping familiarity, and she looked for ways to teach the public beyond posters and flyers. “The old way of doing things is saying, ‘This is what I need to do and bygone it, I’ll do it,’” Whitson said. “If I need to know something or tell someone something I pick up the phone and call them.” In her office, Whitson has a thick binder slung under a chair in her office. “When I started, they gave me that book,” she says. “We didn’t have any programming, so I started calling people and making contacts.” For 30 years, the Hillsborough County school system used to only have the Ag in the Classroom platform, an academic program that taught children the importance of agriculture from behind their desks. Whitson had been a part of the program since it started, but she wanted to teach on a larger scale. The Ag in the Classroom program happened only during the state fair. She also wanted to do more interactive teaching. “It was always not how could we do it, but why can we not do it,” Whitson says. In 1994, Whitson helped grow the AgVentures program, an annual, hands-on field trip that takes third graders to stations around the county and teaches them the reality of agriculture. “When the kids pick a fake orange off our orange trees and then see the real juice, it’s like an ‘oh’ moment for them,” Whitson said. With 7,200 third graders attending the AgVentures event
Stephanie Humphrey/Stephanie Humphrey Photography
a year and about 13,000 total students, the program only reaches half of the population. She is determined to expand it further and put out as much information on agribusiness as possible. Whitson has also started the Ag-Abilities program, a program that helps special needs students participate in FFA events. “The ag industry is so giv-
ing,” Whitson says. Because of her work, she received the 2015 Salute to Ag award for Ag Educator of the Year from the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce. “Those kids are our future voters,” Whitson says. “If they don’t understand and have an appreciation of agriculture then how will we feed a nation?” — Abby Baker
CONGRATULATIONS JUDI! and a sincere “thank you”
JUDI WHITSON has been a “Wonder Woman” for Hillsborough County Farm Bureau for quite some time and we sincerely appreciate all that she has done as our Executive Director. And, that’s a lot. In addition to helping farmers and ranchers in the county, Judi has been instrumental in developing and implementing an educational outreach program that helps to reach more and more students and other residents in the county every year. Agriculture is big business in Florida and here in Hillsborough County. It has significant impact on the economy of the state and Hillsborough County, producing fruits, vegetables, greenhouse and nursery products and putting thousands to work. It’s important for Floridians, both urban and rural, to recognize the value of agriculture and never forget or overlook the abundant supply of food and fiber this industry provides to us. Judi has helped share that information, a very important part of what Farm Bureau does. You’ve no doubt seen the bumper stickers that say, “No Farmers, No Food”. That’s not just a slogan, it’s a fact. It’s also a fact that you don’t have to be a farmer or rancher to be a Farm Bureau member. We would be pleased to have you join the more than 147,000 families here in Florida that comprise Farm Bureau. Visit our website for more information on membership and the benefits that membership brings to your family. That website is www.hcfarmbureau.org.
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By the way, if you join, we’re certain you’ll have an opportunity to meet our “Wonder Woman.”
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Observer
cee Melissa), United States Air Force, McDill AFB, Tampa, and 1st Lt. Corey Haynes (finacee Veronica), United States Army, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Grayson Haynes and Gabriel Haynes; mother-in-law, Phyllis Parrish; sister, Angela Wood (Jash), of Plant City; niece, Aubrey Wood; nephew, Jashua Wood; aunts, Evelyn Brown and Marie Priest; uncles, Rev. J.W. Rayburn (Francis) and Ron Rayburn; and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald Connor and Eileen Rayburn Connor. A celebration of life was held Sept. 19 at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City, where friends and family wore Gator gear. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.
a minister’s wife, and was a well-loved mom, grandma and granny. She was a member of Plant City’s First Baptist Church and was a dedicated servant to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She started teaching at a young age and had over 45 years in children’s ministry. She also served many positions at churches all over Florida as a pianist and organist. She is survived by her son, James (Irene) Ellis; daughters, Wanda (Charlie) Cox and Sharon Lockyer; sister, Mavis Cleveland; brothers, Robert and L.H. (Barbara) McColskey; six grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Margaret Stringfellow McColskey; husbands, Rev. J.W. Ellis (29 years) and Oren Douglas (nine years); and sisters, Naomi McColskey and Willie Mae Adams. A visitation was held on Sept. 17 at Haught Funeral Home in Plant City, followed by a funeral service Sept. 18 at Plant City’s First Baptist Church. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.
Wyona Eudora Douglas
Quentin “Benny” DuBois
Obituaries Lewis Franklin Belof
Lewis Franklin Belof, 80, of Lithia, and formerly of Bloomfield and Pompton Plains, New Jersey, died Sept. 16, 2015. Mr. Belof was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania to the late Adolf and Natalie Belof. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the New Jersey Insititute of Technology and held a master’s of business administration from Rutgers University. He worked as an information systems executive with American Cyanamid (Lederle Labs) for over 30 years. His immense love for his family and his Lord was evident to all. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Wackenhuth Belof. He is survived by his children, Dr. Dawn N. BelofGanter (Frederick), of Tampa, Stephen W. Belof (Suzanne), of Ft. Myers, Dr. Beth J. BelofJasko (Daniel), of Valrico, Dr. Jonathan L. Belof (Margarita), of San Ramon, California, and Dr. Joshua D. Belof (Elizabeth), of Apollo Beach; grandchildren, Isabella Belof, Sarah Belof, Adam Belof, Jaclyn Ganter, Nathaniel Jasko, Elena Be-
lof, Emma Jasko and Hannah Belof; and many other family and friends. A celebration of life was held Sept. 22 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Brandon. A committal followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lifepath Hospice at chaptershealth.org, and/or the Alzheimer’s Association at alz. org. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.
Gregory “Greg” Wayne Connor
Gregory “Greg” Wayne Connor, 52, of Plant City, died Sept. 13, 2015. Mr. Connor was a member of Lebanon Baptist Church in Plant City, and was employed with Chadwell Supply. He loved his family, was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and the Florida Gators, and enjoyed the beach and making beef jerky. He is survived by his wife, Yvette Bazarte Connor; sons, Capt. Lonnie Haynes (fian-
Wyona Eudora Douglas, 93, of Lithia, died Sept. 14, 2015. A native of Tampa, Mrs. Douglas was the daughter of the late Willie and Margaret Stringfellow McColskey. She was a war bride and
Quentin “Benny” DuBois, 73, of Lake Wales, and formerly of Paducah, Kentucky, and Granbury, Texas, died Sept. 12, 2015. Mr. DuBois was born in Springhead, Florida. He grad-
uated with honors in nuclear engineering from the University of South Florida and the University of Florida. He was the past president of the Nuclear Society, mentor with the Junior Achievement Society and a member of the Kappa Alpha Society and the National Rifle Association. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elizabeth “Betty” DuBois; daughter, Alison DuBois Scutte (Al), of Oldsmar; grandchildren, Merritt Horan, Maxwell Plumer, Josie Scutte and Ryan Scutte; sister-in-law, Bonnie DuBois Black; nephew, Wayne; nieces, Terri and Sherri; and dog, Tebow. He was preceded in death by his parents, Q.P. and Pearl DuBois; son, John DuBois; and brother, Ronnie DuBois. A celebration of life was held Sept. 19 at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City. Interment was held at Springhead Cemetery in Lakeland. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, Florida 32778, and/or a COPD charity of choice. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.
Herbert Harrell
Herbert Harrell, 85, of Wimauma, died Sept. 14, 2015. Mr. Harrell was a member of Alafia Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jo Harrell. He is survived by his sons,
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Terry Harrell (Betty Jo), of Wimauma, and Stanley Harrell, of Wimauma; grandson, Timothy Harrell, of Wimauma; and sisters, Ruby Bunkely, of Michigan, Christine Simmons, of Brandon, Lois Futch, of Lakeland, and Odessa Jones (Howard), of Miami. A celebration of life was held Sept. 18 at Alafia Baptist Church in Lithia. Committal followed at Fellowship Cemetery in Wimauma. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.
Gail Guice Nalley
Gail Guice Nalley, 66, of Brandon, died Sept. 14, 2015. Mrs. Nalley was a 1966 graduate of Bartow High School, and she attended Hopewell Baptist Church in Plant City. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, David L. Nalley; children, Ron Sparks (Jennifer), David Sparks (Janis), Michael Nalley, Holly Leach, Connie Nalley and Theresa Honeycutt (Russell); parents, Mellanee and Frank Groome; siblings, Larry Guice, Pam Butts, Terry Groome, Robert Groome and Kevan Groome; 22 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Bobby Guice. A celebration of life was held Sept. 17 at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City. Committal followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.
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Sports
YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Terra Brooks is a volleyball star with 100 kills. 22 SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM
PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
SPECIAL OLYMPICS by Justin Kline | Sports Editor
PCHS baseball lends helping hand Special Olympics of Hillsborough County wanted a handful of baseball players to help with a competition. But the whole team showed up.
Thomas Shervington reached home. ß
WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?
Special Olympics of Hillsborough County has had a good relationship with Plant City High School. The school has always opened its fields and courts for the organization to hold practices and competitions. But SOHC got more than it asked for at the Saturday, Sept. 19, competition, thanks to the Raiders baseball team. SOHC had asked a few players to help with the competition. Instead, the entire team came out to support SOHC by working the competition and serving as umpires.
“We donated hats to them last year, and we’re just trying to give back to the community,” head coach Mike Fryrear says. “It’s going on my fourth year here, and we wanted to give more back.” The baseball team knows firsthand just how involved PCHS is with Special Olympics, and special needs students in general. PCHS is known for its work with these students, most notably in its Raider Buddies program, a club where special needs students team up with other students to do activities
and forge friendships. Typically, the baseball team has always lent a hand whenever asked by giving hats and uniforms to the Special Olympic athletes. But the baseball team decided on its own to do something extra Saturday. “It’s actually the boys — they wanted to come out here and work with Special Olympics,” Fryrear says. “They’ve seen those kids around campus for the last three or four years. It builds team chemistry and cul-
BASEBALL / PAGE 21
Photos by Justin Kline
The entire Plant City High baseball team hosted and helped with the Special Olympics softball competition Saturday, Sept. 19.
SIDELINES
GAME OF THE WEEK by Justin Kline | Sports Editor
Do you have a good Sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com, or Tweet us at @PCTOSports.
Friday night notes What a time to be a Cougar. Durant’s football team is looking like a serious contender for the district title. We got a good idea of what this team can do Friday, Sept. 19, when it hosted the East Bay Indians and took their rivals to the woodshed. At least, they did in the second half. Everything worked for the Cougars in the first half, which ended at 1614 for Durant. Except for the JUSTIN offense. After KLINE running back Jake Harris scored his first touchdown of the evening the unit struggled to get anything going from its second drive onward. Stagnant football is never good football. Luckily for the Cougars, the defense and special teams units didn’t need time to shake off the rust. Two rushing touchdowns were allowed in the half but little else. Defensive back Jaden Garrett capitalized on a safety and scored a touchdown on the return. In the second half, quarterback Carlton Potter did everything he had to do to keep the game in the Cougars’ favor. He drove the Cougars within striking distance, and the running backs rewarded his efforts with three more touchdowns. Harris, Jalen Forté and Cameron Myers each rushed for a touchdown in the half, including big runs from Forté (39 yards) and Myers (48 yards). The score would have been 37-14 if not for some PAT woes. I’ve got to hand it to the program: Durant has had a knack for developing competent running backs, and this year’s group is no different. I’ve already written about Forté, who was named a player to watch in the 2015 Football Guide, but you may not know about Harris. I’ve heard people in and out of the program talk about how talented this athlete is. On Friday, I paid a little more attention than I did the last time I was at the Cougar Den. He’s a well-balanced back with the tools to become a great starter once Forté graduates. Also, keep an eye on Garrett this year. He seems to be
SEE KLINE / PAGE 22
CROSS COUNTRY
+ PCHS runners compete at UF Plant City High took part in the Saturday, Sept. 19, University of Florida Mountain Dew Invitational, which included schools from classes 1A through 4A, as well as collegiate runners. On the boys side, the Raiders placed 25th overall with eight runners. Luke Whitmore had the highest finish of the Raiders, 82nd place, and Noah Booz finished in 91st place. Other runners included Cody Facer (165), Jorge Cardona (194), Wyatt Kroeger (226), Tanner Chamberlain (237), Michael Sun (376) and Garrett Johnson (400). On the girls side, Plant City sent two runners. Hannah Stowe finished 86th overall, and Abby Miller finished at 291.
VOLLEYBALL AREA RECAPS Jordan Zilbar is the only Strawberry Crest player in an Armwood football family.
Justin Kline
TAMPA BAY TECH AT STRAWBERRY CREST:
CHASING CHANEY
Strawberry Crest middle linebacker Jordan Zilbar is chasing the school record of 124 tackles in a season, set in 2013 by Matt Chaney. In 2013, Strawberry Crest linebacker Matt Chaney said that he wanted to end his senior year with at least 100 tackles. He went beyond that number, tallying 124, and set the current school record in the process. Two years later, someone is making a serious bid to get 125. Jordan Zilbar, now a senior, nearly got the record in 2014. This year, with fewer injuries on defense, the middle linebacker is hoping that he’ll be able to hit the mark.
FINDING A FIT
Zilbar, who transferred from Armwood High School before his junior season, was one of the Chargers’ many first-time varsity players last season. It was clear from the onset that he had the talent, but it wasn’t clear where he’d be most effective. “They moved me around and tried to find a good fit for me on the defense,” Zilbar says.
That fit was at middle linebacker, a position often considered to be the “captain” of the defense. Zilbar finished the season with 93 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries while spending much of his time playing as the mike. “I’ve been playing it all my life,” Zilbar says. “It lets me get a full perspective of the field. I have easy access to both sides of the field.” But injuries throughout the defense forced Zilbar to move throughout the unit, including some stints in the defensive backfield — positions where tackles can be hard to come by. “Most people think linebackers are the captain of the defense, but I think safeties are,” Zilbar says. “They have to know what everyone else on the defense is doing, at every position.” While that may be true, Zilbar is considered a captain and leader at middle linebacker. He continues to lead
by example and has racked up several NCAA Division II collegiate offers. With the future looking up for him, Zilbar can just focus on two things: helping Crest get its first win and getting that record.
FRIENDLY COMPETITION
Zilbar is very much familiar with Chaney. Stemming from their youth football days in Brandon, the Chaney and Zilbar families are acquaintances. Chaney and one of Zilbar’s older brothers, Hunter, played together and are friends. “We have a good relationship,” Zilbar says. “I haven’t seen him lately. I always wanted to sit back and talk with him about that (the record), but I haven’t gotten the chance.” Another connection lies with Strawberry Crest head coach John Kelly, who immediately knew that Jordan Zilbar would be a great addition to the team based on
past experience. “I’ve been privileged to coach all three of the brothers at some point of their careers, whether here at Strawberry Crest or, formerly, at Armwood,” Kelly says. “They’re all hard-nosed, tough kids … ‘Yes, sir, no, sir’ kids who will run through a brick wall for you.” To get the record this season, Zilbar will have to boost his current average of nine tackles per game. “I think my chances are pretty good,” Zilbar says.
VS. TAMPA BAY TECH
This week, the Chargers are facing another talented defense. The Tampa Bay Tech Titans (2-2; 1-0 district) are coming to town to kick off a twogame road stretch and are coming off of a 47-18 blowout win against Bloomingdale (0-4; 0-1 district). Head coach Jayson Roberts
SEE GAME / PAGE 21
Durant The Lady Cougars have been on the ups and downs lately, getting swept by Newsome Thursday, Sept. 17, and following up with a 3-0 sweep of Sickles Monday, Sept. 21. Durant will host Strawberry Crest at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 4748 Cougar Path. Plant City Plant City picked up a 3-0 win over Lennard Wednesday, Sept. 16, and did not play again until Thursday, Sept. 24, at Tampa Bay Tech. The Lady Raiders easily handled the Lady Longhorns, 25-11, 25-10, 25-8. Plant City will host East Bay at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 1 Raider Place. Strawberry Crest Strawberry Crest was on a winning streak after the Karl Flammer Ford Invitational tournament. It beat Bloomingdale Wednesday, Sept. 16, by 3-0 and edged out King by 3-2 Monday, Sept. 21. Current Athlete of the Week Terra Brooks finished with 35 kills and 16 blocks between the two matches. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, Crest will travel to Durant, 4748 Cougar Path.
PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Plant City Orange won the tournament Saturday, Sept. 19.
GAME / PAGE 20 has put together a formidable pass rush in 2015. The unit currently boasts 17 sacks, led by sophomore Jonathan King (six) and junior Paul Taylor (4.5). On offense, junior quarterback Trent Wyatt lost the starting job to sophomore Cyrus Wade, who completed five of 10 attempts for 133 yards and two touchdowns in his first start last week. The ground game, led by sophomore running back Levi Jackson’s 222 yards and five touchdowns, has led the way for the offense. Still, the offense has proven that it can make some noise every so often. It scored 41 of its 47 points in the first half of last week’s game, including a 27-point second quarter. Crest (0-4; 0-1 district) is coming off of a 49-6 loss at Plant City (3-1; 1-0 district) last Friday, in which the Chargers gave up five rushing touchdowns and two passing scores.
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PLANT CITY The Raiders’ (3-1; 1-0 district) offense has opened up, averaging 31 points in its three consecutive wins. Star running back Markese Hargrove played through what appeared to be a minor injury in last Friday’s 49-6 blowout, but still scored three touchdowns. This week, they’ll be in Gibsonton to take on an East Bay team reeling from that big loss to Durant. WHERE: East Bay High School, 7710 Old Big Ben Road, Gibsonton WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
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Wednesday Running back Markese Hargrove, who played with a rolled ankle, scored three of them while gaining 80 yards. The Chargers will look to contain Tech’s ground game,
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IN OTHER AREA ACTION: DURANT No area team is hotter than the Cougars (4-0; 1-0 district), who most recently dropped a 34-14 hammer on East Bay (2-2; 0-1 district) to kick off district play. This week, they’ll travel to Ruskin to face Lennard (3-0; 0-0 district). The Longhorns got a bye in Week 2, so this will be their district opener. Someone is leaving the stadium with their first loss of the season Friday. Down the road, this game could set the tone for who wins the district. WHERE: Lennard High School, 2342 Shell Point Road E., Ruskin WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
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ture here in Plant City.� Team captain Billy McKay says that it was definitely worth getting up before 8 a.m. on a Saturday. “My freshman year, I was a part of the Raider Buddies program,� McKay says. “I know a lot of Raider Buddies. I just wanted to come out here and say, ‘hey,’ to them, umpire a couple of games for them and have some fun.� The PCHS players the Special Olympics athletes on the
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softball field for warm-ups, and gave them some playing tips. “Some kids, out here, they’re not as privileged to learn how to actually throw the ball and stuff like that,� McKay says. “We taught them how to throw, catch, field ground balls — stuff like that.� Plant City Orange, Plant City Teal and the Lakeland Eagles played a series of matches. The Orange team came out on top. The Eagles finished in second place and won the final game of the day. Fryrear says that the team’s participation in the competition was a good sign of things to come for the future. Offseason team-building activities, such as working with Special Olympics, brings the players together. “This is the best team chemistry I’ve ever had,� Fryrear says. “Adding this aspect, and more, to it, it’s been unbelievable. These guys are excited to get to the field. Whatever opportunity they have here, like Special Olympics, they want to show up.� Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
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The Plant City baseball team will be fairly busy this weekend, as they’ll be competing in a fall ball tournament at the University of South Florida. The Special Olympics softball program will be preparing for the State Softball Championships, which are set to be held Nov. 13 and 14 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, Orlando.
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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
KLINE / PAGE 20
Now Open!
around the ball and is always good for at a couple of big plays per game. I’ve written that defensive backs like Marchalo Judge and Peyton Collins are the best, most
consistent DBs in the district, but they’re also seniors; Garrett could slide into that tier before next season if he keeps playing well and improving. Entering the heart of district play, all Durant has to do
now is avoid the mid-season slide that nearly screwed up its 2014 season. Can the Cougars keep clawing their way to victory, or is it that much easier said than done? Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
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TERRA BROOKS Strawberry Crest’s three-sport star, Terra Brooks, has over 100 kills, 91 digs and 50 blocks roughly two-thirds of the way through the 2015 season, and has led the Lady Chargers to the top spot in the district. She’s looking to end her high school volleyball career on top, with at least a district title, next month.
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You guys are on top of the district right now. How are you feeling? Being that it’s my senior year, it’s bittersweet. I’m enjoying the season, but it’s going by really fast. I love the game, and I love my team. It’s heartbreaking. I’m gonna play in college, but it’s not the same girls, not the same feeling. What are your college plans? I plan on playing for Alabama A&M University.
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Last year, you all came one game away from winning the district. Is it doable this year? I honestly think that we have a very good chance of winning districts. The team has come together a lot more as the season went on. The first three games were tough — they were tough teams — but, so far, we’re 2-0 in the district and we plan on winning the rest of the games.
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You made first team all-county for volleyball last season. Was that your first time? I got first team for basketball last year, but this was my first time getting it for volleyball.
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In your last Athlete of the Week interview, two years ago, you said that your goal was to be named MVP in every sport that you play. Would you say you’ve reached that goal, or how close have you come? Our coaches don’t really do MVP like that anymore. They like to let every player know that they were an asset to the team. I’m satisfied with everything. I have nothing to complain about.
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What do you plan to major in at Alabama A&M? Physical therapy. I just like to be around sports, being physical. I don’t like sitting behind a desk all day, doing business work — I like interacting.
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There’s been a lot written about you, and what you can do on a court or a track. But what’s something that people don’t really know about you? Most people think I’m mean, but I’m not a mean person. On the court, of course, I’m going to be in a whole different demeanor. Especially when it’s a big competition, and I’m determined to win a game. Off the court, I’m really goofy. I like to laugh, and I like to make people smile. If you could meet anyone you look up to right now, who would it be? Beyoncé. I like to sing, too, but I just hear her story sometimes, the, ‘I went to chase my dreams,’ type of thing. It’s what I’m doing with volleyball. Every entertainer or athlete that has my type of story: everything has to be earned. Anyone that cherishes hard work and effort. You get $1 billion in the bank. What’s the first thing you buy? I’d pay off my mom and dad’s house and cars. They come first, so they could never say I did nothing for them. Do you have any personal goals for this year? To perfect what I do, in any sport. I want to perfect my technique hitting the ball in volleyball, shooting the ball in basketball, or any power moves, and jumping in track. I just want to end my senior year knowing
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What will you miss most about this team? The goofiness, and laughing all the time. Even though that used to be a problem for us — you can’t goof off with a lot of teams all the time. We win together and lose together. We’re all the same. Nobody changes.
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PLANT CITY TIME & OBSERVER
PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
PLANT CITY
RAIN
(INCHES)
WEATHER
THURS.
Sept. 17
0.00
FRI.
TEMPERATURES
0.00
Friday, Sept. 25 Saturday, Sept. 26 Sunday, Sept. 27 Monday, Sept. 28 Tuesday, Sept. 29 Wednesday, Sept. 30 Thursday, Oct. 1
SAT.
Sept. 19
0.00
SUN.
Sept. 20
0.00
MON.
SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sept. 21
0.00
Friday, Sept. 25 Saturday, Sept. 26 Sunday, Sept. 27 Monday, Sept. 28 Tuesday, Sept. 29 Wednesday, Sept. 30 Thursday, Oct. 1
TUES.
Sept. 22
0.00
WED.
Sept. 23
0.00
TO DATE
1.85 (2014: 9.23)
YEAR
HIGH 89 90 90 89 85 85 87
SUNRISE 7:18 a.m. 7:18 a.m. 7:19 a.m. 7:19 a.m. 7:20 a.m. 7:20 a.m. 7:21 a.m.
MOON
SUNSET 7:23 p.m. 7:22 p.m. 7:20 p.m. 7:19 p.m. 7:18 p.m. 7:17 p.m. 7:16 p.m.
OKRA
Oct. 12
Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture
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813-754-0777
2. G L T 3. Q L U Q Q K T Y F Y 4. L U X D 5. P Y M M A Q P A L J
This designer tries to create pieces that are easy to wear:
SUDOKU
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9
4 7
3
2
4
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6
7
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8
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Oct. 20
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Each of the following cryptograms is a clue to the identity of a popular fashion designer. Using the hints Y=O and L=R, decipher the clues to name the designer.
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Do you have a picture that sums up the personality of Plant City? To enter the I Love Plant City photo contest, email your photo and a caption to Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com. Winners will have their picture featured and will receive a special gift.
CAR C AR W WASH ASH
CRYPTOQUIZ
8
Chris wins a free car wash from Octopus Car Wash. He can claim the wash with an ID at Octopus Car Wash, 1503 S. Collins St.
FREE p t Oc o us H S A
5 $17.9
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Chris Parker took this shot under the Friday night lights.
d e t i lim
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4
Sept. 27
SHIPPING POINT: Orlando
TO DATE 37.14 (2014: 43.42)
1
PHASES
Oct. 4
$12.35
2
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1 Hoop alternative 5 Pulsating star 9 Long, slender instrument 13 Partially melted snow 18 Exude, as confidence 19 Kind of column 20 Salon offering 21 Blender button 22 Utilizes a keg 24 Sups 26 Singular performances 27 Campfire whoppers 29 Ending for “Israel” 30 Looked impolitely 32 Reduce, as fears 33 They performed before kings 37 “___ porridge hot ...” 38 A famous bear and a famous catcher 40 Quarterback’s bark 41 Asian weight equal to 1.3 ounces 42 A couple of snare drum sounds 44 Puerto ___ 45 Diluted with white 46 Sicilian peak 47 They’re half the width of 12Down 48 Where to find Tehran 50 Noisy lions 53 Many an heir 54 Light and delicate 57 Winter headgear feature 58 Like a darkened room 60 Feed 61 Historic records 62 Escalator alternative 63 Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar 64 Move in a curved path 65 “My country, ___ of thee ...” 66 Istanbul inhabitant 67 Mel of “Braveheart” 69 --- under (overwhelmed) 71 Writer of improbable situations 74 Hardly a workaholic 75 Fern’s reproductive cells 76 Junior, to Senior 77 Scrabble 10-pointer 78 Prepared, as for a daunting task 80 Bubble source 81 Place on a blacklist 82 Emulates a cartographer 84 Strip of fruit skin 85 Gait rate? 87 Masochist’s match 90 Psych attachment? 91 ___ and outs 92 Athletic tracks 94 First-discovered asteroid 95 Not hidden from view 97 Burrito alternatives 99 Scottish property owners 101 Shutout score, in Britain 102 Settlement near Moscow 103 Language in New Delhi 104 Imbibes heavily 108 Gulps 113 Charity, often 114 “Beetle Bailey” dog
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25 “The Biggest Loser” contestant 28 Candidate who lost 30 It’s inclined to give shelter 31 Admits one was wrong 32 One more time, country-style 33 Minty potable 34 Stays quite thin 35 French impressionist Auguste 36 Italicizes 37 Groom like a bird 1 Garden store offering 39 Kind of hygiene 2 High crag 40 Bother continually 3 Action film firearm 43 Makes a marketing connection 4 Packed the tightest 45 See 45-Across 5 Opposite of everyone 49 Cheerleader’s cheer 6 Request to a teller, sometimes 51 Spouts from a soapbox 7 Struggle for superiority 52 Thread for doctors 8 Kind of paint 55 Clean a blackboard 9 A drama set to music 56 Trials and tribulations 10 Cecil’s cartoon pal 57 “More! More!” 11 Dinner crumbs 12 1/6 inch units used in printing 59 Some undercover cops 61 Mr. Schwarzenegger 13 Barbecue accessories 62 Snail-mail attachments 14 Crescent-shaped space 64 Poplars with fluttering leaves 15 Coffeepot 67 Thingamabobs 16 Catch a glimpse of 68 Form a thought 17 That miss 70 Nuptial knot 19 ___ au Haut, Maine 71 Aircraft-certifying org. 23 Divided Asian nation 115 Cry of exasperation 116 New York canal 117 Serves round after round 118 Antlered animal 119 Solutions for making 80-Across 120 Body shop repair
72 Czarist edicts 73 Landlord’s due 75 Net on a schooner 76 Holiday tune 79 Musical embellishments 80 Healthful retreats 83 Examined quickly 86 Shaped like an egg 88 Amino and boric 89 Mocked 93 Broken-arm holders 96 Rides a 10-speed, say 97 Rich dessert 98 Intense passion 100 Egyptian symbol of life 102 Airport area 103 Work in human resources 104 Banned bug-killer 105 Fish eggs 106 Small hotel 107 Mason’s trough 109 Bit of sun 110 Galena or feldspar 111 Come in first place 112 Center court sight
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PlantCityObserver.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Attend the BayCare Breast Cancer Awareness seminars, led by our expert physicians.
Thursday, October 8, 6pm What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer South Florida Baptist Hospital Community Conference Room 301 N. Alexander St. Plant City
Wednesday, October 21, 6pm Advances in Breast Cancer American Stage Theatre 163 Third St. N., 2nd floor St. Petersburg
Friday, October 23, 12pm
What You Need to Know Tuesday, October 13, 12pm About Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Discussion St. Joseph’s Hospital-North On the RoadPanel Screening Dates and Locations Morton Plant Hospital Garden Classrooms A & B Cheek-Powell Heart and Vascular Pavilion 4211 Van Dyke Road Rooms A & B Lutz 455 Pinellas St. Thursday, October 29, 12pm Clearwater Breast Cancer Detection Tuesday, October 20, 12pm St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital Breast Cancer: Past, Present Classrooms 1 & 2 3030 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Future Tampa St. Joseph’s Hospital-South Franciscan Rooms 1 & 2 6901 Simmons Loop Riverview
■ Free Seminars ■ Free Parking ■ Refreshments Provided
Registration is required: (877) 850-9512 or BayCareEvents.org
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EmbraceYourHealth.com