PLANT CITY TIMES &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 4, NO. 1
All-stars compete in tourney. Sports, page 20 FREE
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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2016
YOUR TOWN Rocking Rotarians Both Rotary Clubs of Plant City held installation dinners for their new officers.
Daybreak
Daybreak Rotary hosted its dinner at the home of George and Cassandra Banning in Walden Lake. Carole Wright was instated at the new president of the club. She has previously served as treasurer. Amber Jurgensen won the Rotarian of the Year award for her work promoting the club through social media, video and the website. Immediate Past President Sharon Philbin welcomed the new president and presented the award.
The historic Alsobrook home was saved from deterioration. It can be yours for $550,000.
Noon
Incoming President Charles Harris and was welcomed by Jeremy Burris, the outgoing president. Burris is credited with leading the club in one of the best fundraising years the club has had. Burris presented Jodi SmithStevens the Rotarian of the Year award. Stevens served as the chair for the 2015 Dancing With The Locals fundraiser.
T
ake a look inside one of Plant City’s most well-known residences, the Alsobrook home. The historic mansion, originally owned by Dr. John Walter Alsobrook, was moved from North Evers Street to North Whitehall Street in the 1969. After switching owners several times, it was abandoned.
Two years ago, when Cenovio Villa, owner of Project Villa LLC, drove by and saw what neighbors dubbed “the haunted house,” he couldn’t help but see its potential. He is responsible for restoring the house to its former glory. WELCOME HOME, PAGES 14-15
Amber Jurgensen
The brick driveway was put in by Cenovio Villa.
Planning Board to vote on Walden Lake rezoning
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIWANIS
Jeffrey Turner, 23, split his time between Plant City and Alaska.
After deciding not to make a recommendation at a June meeting, the planning board is meeting again to vote on the Walden Lake rezone.
EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER
Kiwanis Club celebrates 95 years.
EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER
It’s been almost one month since the City of Plant City’s Planning Board decided not to make a recommendation on the proposed golf course rezoning in the Walden Lake community. The board will revisit the topic at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 14, at the John R. Trinkle Center at Hillsborough Community College. The City of Plant City’s Planning and Zoning Division recommended approval of the proposed rezone, filed by golf course owner Visions Golf, June 10. If ultimately approved by the City Commission, the rezone would allow development of a portion of the golf course’s closed holes. The proposed development includes up to 146 single-family dwelling units, up to 216 multi-family dwelling units and a park. The multi-family units in the complex would be limited to two stories and additionally limited to groupings SEE GOLF PAGE 6
Plant City man dies in Alaskan car crash
SEE PAGE 4
WHO DRIVES ME?
This well-known car returns to Plant City. SEE PAGE 11
Kristen Chasteen Permenter only has two voicemails from her son, Jeffrey Turner. If she was able, she always answered his calls. Like Turner, the voicemails were full of jokes and stories that would make his loved ones smile. ‘Ello, Madre, he said in one voicemail, a mix of accents and languages that emphasized Turner’s humor and a throwback to his stint on the Plant City Entertainment stage in “South Pacific.” “That was two summers ago,” Permenter said. “The guy playing Stewpot got in a motorcycle accident. Jeffrey was the right size for the costume.” Despite his knack for making people laugh and his great voice, Turner wasn’t one for standing in the spotlight on stage. He grew up with a love of sports, playing soccer and flag football, and finding adventures in the wilderness. But if his mother, an actress and director, asked him to perform, he did it without question — from backstage theater tech to filling in a role at SEE TURNER PAGE 6
Courtesy Photo
Jeffrey Turner worked on cold storage docks in Alaska.