08.15.14 Plant City Times & Observer

Plant City Times &

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

A PARTNERSHIP WITH

SPORTS

INSIDE

Three vie for School Board District 4.

The Plant City Community Chorale is looking for new singers in preparation for its 2014 Christmas concert, A Family Christmas Festival.

PCCC invites singers of all musical backgrounds and abilities to join others drawn to inspiring and engaging choral work. The 2014 Christmas Season enrollment begins Monday, Aug. 25.

Members range in age from 25 to 78. Their choral experience and abilities to read music include beginners and very accomplished singers. The group is particularly looking for tenors, baritones and basses.

Singers who are willing to commit to weekly rehearsals and the scheduled performances should come to the first rehearsal at 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 25, at First Presbyterian Church, 404 Reynolds St., Plant City. Thereafter, rehearsals are from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays.

For more information about PCCC, visit pccommun itychorale.com.

Library throws final summertime soiree, lets them eat cake

PAGE 12

PAGE 10

decision by Michael Eng | Executive Editor

Winery rezone approved Hillsborough County commissioners wished the Keel family continued success as they voted 7-0 in favor of a rezone that allows Two Henrys Brewing Company to continue.

+ P.C. Chorale seeks new singers

IN THIS ISSUE

Family comes first for this father-son duo.

PAGE 3

OUR TOWN

FREE • FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014

The butterflies certainly were fluttering in the pit of Joe Keel’s stomach as he sat — front and center — in the Hillsborough County Commission chambers.

On this day, Aug. 12, seven commissioners would determine whether his business, Keel & Curley Winery, could continue as-is. Supportive

neighbors, employees and family members — all donning their “Save the Winery” shirts — flanked Keel in support.

Around him, too, were many neighbors and three Plant City pastors, who had come to fight against the rezoning request that would allow the winery’s newest arm, Two Henrys

Brewing Company, to continue to operate.

Keel came armed with more than 10,000 petition signatures, as well as recommendations for approval from both the Hillsborough County staff and the county Zoning Hearing Master Steve Luce. Still, with an entire family business at stake,

MELODY-MAKERS

by Michael Eng | Executive Editor

somehow, it didn’t seem like enough.

“We all felt pretty good heading into (the meeting), but until all the votes are cast, you can’t assume anything,” Keel said. “We knew we needed four votes. I did not expect to get a unanimous decision.”

But, that’s exactly what happened.

Nine months after a single phone call regarding a noise complaint led county officials to determine Keel &

SEE ZONING / PAGE 4

As autumn draws closer, families around Plant City are excited to prepare for football season. But, for the Antioch Redskins, practices will be different this year. For the first time in the team’s 50-year history, not enough players signed up to play.

However, the board of directors won’t let this shortage become a setback.

Antioch is a member of the Tri-County Youth Football and Cheerleading Conference.

TCYFCC requires 15 players for any participating team as a safety precaution. But, this Krysten Castillo, a senior, had a blast at Plant City High’s 2014 band camp.

Paul Barnhill

See his photo on PAGE 15.

Photos by Michael Eng

March Madness Although school won’t start officially until Aug. 19, hundreds of Plant City-area students already have put in many long days at their respective high schools.

The marching bands at Durant, Plant City and Strawberry

The Bealsville community will host a large yard sale this weekend to benefit new education and recreation programs in the community.

The sale will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 16, at Glover School, 5110 Horton Road.

Items include computers, clothes, school supplies and more.

This week’s winner is

Catherine Sinclair

Antioch will host practices at its field twice a week. Lance Cain and Jayden Cain have been attending the workshops.

Antioch did not have enough players to meet TCYFCC’s requirement, but its leaders still will keep busy this season.

+ Yard sale to benefit Bealsville

, 3&

by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

Redskins call off season

+ Mosaic Co. donates to Red X The American Red Cross received a $100,000 grant from The Mosaic Company to support its “Prepare Florida” campaign to train and empower local communities to better prepare for disasters that Floridians may face.

The grant from Mosaic also will help the Red Cross assist victims of hurricane and fire disasters with health and safety services in Central Florida counties, including Hillsborough.

MAYBE NEXT YEAR

Crest high schools all have been busy preparing for a new season of football games and weekend competitions at their band camps. The musicians all took to the practice fields and black tops to learn new music and drill for the upcoming shows.

triple digits

by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Resident celebrates 100 years Plant City’s Margaret Gargani celebrated the milestone at a surprise party Aug. 6, with friends and family.

FOR MORE PHOTOS, SEE PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM.

Nick Ng came to Strawberry Crest High’s band camp ready to work.

Durant High School will perform a variety of tunes in its 2014 show, including a piece from an opera and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

The fellowship hall on the bottom floor of Plant City Towers was packed on Aug. 6.

Anxious residents and friends and family of Margaret Gargani waited downstairs for her to arrive. They were all part of a surprise party for Gargani’s 100th birthday.

“She’s coming,” said Judy Vogel, Gargani’s youngest daughter. “She’s coming.”

The crowd of mostly women hushed. Only erratic whispers could be heard whistling through teeth.

They continued to wait.

SEE BIRTHDAY / PAGE 5

INDEX Calendar.......................2

SEE ANTIOCH / PAGE 4

Vol. 2, No. 2 | One section Crossword...................15

Obituaries...................11

Sports.........................12

Weather ......................15

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

COMMUNITYCALENDAR FRIDAY, AUG. 15 Black Wax — performance takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

Story Time — takes place from 11 a.m. to noon, Friday Aug. 15, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City.

(813) 752-8700.

Uncork Your Weekend with Michael LuBeck — live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. (813) 752-9100.

SATURDAY, AUG. 16 Family Event — takes place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City. (813) 752-8700.

Uncork Your Weekend with Little Big Show — live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. For more information, call (813) 7529100.

TUESDAY, AUG. 19 Blood Drive — takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. (863) 286-6993.

Evening Book Discussion — meets from 7 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

This month’s book is “The Orchardist” by Amanda Coplin.

(813) 757-9215.

Polk Museum of Art Family Workshop — takes place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City Matt, (863) 688-7743.

GriefShare — session begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Park Road, Plant City.

GriefShare is special seminar and support group for those grieving the loss of someone close. To register or for more information, call Deaconess Lyn Senkarik, (813) 752-4622.

Strawberry Classic Car Show — takes place from 4 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 16, at 102 N. Palmer St. For more, visit plantcity.org.

Ribbon Cutting: Carl Hinson for Circuit Court Judge, Group 8 — takes place from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, at the Greater Plant City Chamber

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: meng@plantcityobserver.com. Photos are welcome. Deadline is noon Thursday.

Baptist Hospital Administrative Conference Room, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. This seminar will include physicians tips for combating issues related to asthma and allergies, along with basic lifestyle management solutions for this common ailment. Seminar is free. A light dinner is included. Registration required; (813) 644-6720 or BayCareEvents.org.

of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St., Plant City. For more, visit plantcity.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 20 Car Seat Safety Class — takes place at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City. (813) 752-8700.

Open Mic Night — begins at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

Plant City Fit Club — meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, at 301 N. Dort St., Plant City. Melissa, (813) 395-3953.

THURSDAY, AUG. 21 Arts and Crafts — takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City.

(813) 752-8700.

Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours — takes place from 5:15 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at 702 E. Alsobrook St., Suite H. Sponsored by the United Food Bank and Services of Plant City.

RSVP by calling (813) 7640625.

THURSDAY, AUG. 28

BEST BET Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” — The Sunshine Theater Company and Plant City Entertainment will present this production at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16; and 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, Saturday, Aug. 16, and Sunday, Aug. 17, at Plant City Entertainment, 101 N.Thomas St., Plant City. Tickets are $10 for members; $12 for seniors, non-members and students; and $14 for general admission. For more information, visit pceshows. com or email Jonathan Douglas at showstoogo@aol.com.

FRIDAY, AUG. 22 Story Time — takes place from 11 a.m. to noon, Friday Aug. 22, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City.

(813) 752-8700.

Plant City. Beginning and intermediate crochet enthusiasts are welcome to attend, but all students must have a crochet hook; the library has a small supply of yarn that may be utilized during the class. (813) 757-9215.

MONDAY, AUG. 25

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27

Crochet Class — takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St.,

Ladies Night Out: Asthma and Allergy Solutions — takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the South Florida

Royal Hills HOA — meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Kristine Wynne, (813) 610-7336.

SATURDAY, AUG. 30 Breastfeeding Class — takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 30, at the South Florida Baptist Hospital Community Conference Room, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. The class will address latching and positioning, benefits of immediate skin-toskin contact, newborn hunger signs, tips for returning to work, breastfeeding lifestyles and when to call a health care provider or lactation consultant for help. Registration required; $20. (813) 644-6720 or BayCareEvents.org.

ª

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

2014 PRIMARY PRIMER

CANDIDATE Q&As Editor’s Note: As the Aug. 26 primary election draws closer, the Plant City Times & Observer will be publishing profiles and Q&As from each of the candidates who will represent Plant City and its constituents. In this edition, we introduce the candidates for Hillsborough County School Board District 4: Terry Kemple, Dee Prether and Melissa Snively.

Responses have been edited according to space, not content. FOR FULL ANSWERS, VISIT PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 4

TERRY KEMPLE What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions?

The biggest challenge is the high number of students who can’t read, write, and/or calculate at grade level.

Solutions: Encourage more parents to be more involved in their children’s education. Focus on basics and eliminate failed programs like Springboard, Voyages Math and now Common Core (aka Florida Standards). Regain, to the greatest extent possible, local decision-making and control. Show teachers they are valued and eliminate morale-killing experiments, such as Empowering Effective Teachers.

What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards?

Common Core came with about 11,000 standards. The state Department of Education added/modified fewer than

100. I believe this was done to provide a rationale for changing the name and thereby, hopefully, blunt the growing wave of opposition to Common Core.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a total rewrite of our education methodology that was developed in Washington, D.C., and has never had a pilot program. That means we’re risking the education of a generation of students on an experiment that is being forced down onto the states by Washington.

We should go back to the Sunshine State Standards. We should develop a new Florida test to evaluate Florida students.

What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board?

My 18 years of experience as a conservative Christian advocate dealing with policy at the governmental level has taught me how the process works and how to work within the system to build consensus and see initiatives get passed.

I have experience in business, management, process analysis and technology.

What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City?

• High turnover of experienced teachers because they don’t want to be intimidated under the “peer review” portion of the Empowering Effective Teachers Initiative and because their hands are being tied by fads like Common Core.

• High turnover of new teachers because the new restrictive methodology they’re forced to use because of Common Core isn’t what they signed on for.

• Students considering calling in bomb threats to be pranks.

• Rats.

The solutions to these problems are the same as mentioned above except that there should be immediate, meaningful discipline for anyone who calls in a false alarm, and a good exterminator needs to be called for the rats.

BIO AGE: 67 FAMILY: Married; five daughters; 18

grandchildren

HOMETOWN: Come from a military

family. First place I lived more than a few years is Brandon EDUCATION: Attended United States Naval Academy & Newark (New Jersey) College of Engineering EXPERIENCE: 18 years as an advocate for parents, children and families with governmental bodies; executive director, Christian Coalition of Florida; executive director, Florida Right to Life; six years, U.S. Naval Reserve FAVORITE AUTHOR AND BOOK: The Bible: I read it every day. Author: God. IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE DEAD OR LIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE? Jesus

Christ — in person WEBSITE: Vote4TerryKemple.com

DEE PRETHER What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions?

Our district is huge. We have 203,000 students, 25,000 employees and a $2.8 billion annual budget. The biggest challenge is truly how to best educate all of our students in preparation for their future successes, as well as the future of the country.

What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards?

I do not support Common Core or the new Florida Standards curriculum.

First, it is politically controversial, which makes it a distraction from the goal of children and education. Second, it is another one-size-fits-all curriculum. A one-size-fits-all curriculum leaves too many of our students bored and others stressed and struggling.

What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board?

Priority: Specifically for the past 13 years, education has been my priority first, because of the needs of my children and then because of my growing concerns and passion for education itself and the role it plays in the individual’s success, as well as the success of our country.

Time: I have the time to devote to Hillsborough County. The duties and responsibilities of the School Board will be my priority every day. I do not have another job or commitments.

Leadership: Excellent leadership training and experience from the U.S. Army and Army Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Business/Operations Management: Managed two small businesses for the Department of Defense in Okinawa, Japan — a marina and a veterinary hospital.

Politics/Government: I have worked for the government as a soldier and as a

civilian, and I know how the government works and should work.

Experience in Education: Certified teacher, previous substitute teacher, classroom and PTA volunteer, my children have used Florida Virtual School, dual enrollment, school choice and home-schooling, and I have been a third-grade reading tutor, and I am a high school mentor.

What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City?

One of the issues for Plant City is the language gap with the migrant workers.

The students must focus on growing their vocabulary and understanding the English language.

I (also) would like to see a broader understanding of the business of agriculture within our schools. Plant City is a huge agriculture center, and we should be teaching the children of Plant City the importance of this business and the role it plays in our world economy.

BIO AGE: 50 FAMILY: Husband, Max; daughter

Madee, 18; son, Thomas, 15 HOMETOWN: Born in Dothan, Ala.; lived in Valrico for 14 years EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in political science with a minor in Army ROTC from the University of Central Florida EXPERIENCE: U.S. Army veteran; certified teacher and previous substitute teacher; managed a marina and operations manager for a veterinary hospital in Okinawa, Japan FAVORITE AUTHOR AND BOOK: No favorites. I am an eclectic reader from the classics to current events.

IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE? Jesus, Confucius, Marco Polo,

Benjamin Franklin and Cary Grant

WEBSITE: tomorrowssuccesses.com

MELISSA SNIVELY What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions?

Providing a safe school environment is one of the most serious challenges facing our district. I would work to have a fully trained resource officer available at each facility, advocate teacher training in emergency procedures, promote the installation of emergency call buttons in each classroom, and above all, make sure that a safety is successfully implemented at each school.

What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards?

I am not in favor of the federal government creating an educational standard. I appreciate what the state Legislature did this year by bringing more control back to the local school boards and

parents as it relates to curriculum, and I will continue to work with state leaders, such as state Rep. Dan Raulerson (who has endorsed me), to achieve a more desirable product. We all know we need rigorous standards for our students and that progress and achievement should be measured. As with any educational program of this nature, however, it is challenging to do with all students, in the same way and at the same time.

What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board?

I believe in the public school system and that, as a school board member, I can have a positive impact on the education we provide our students in Hillsborough County. I would like to bring back a focus on the students, giving them a chance to experience success, not only in the classroom, but in life, preparing them to be independent, productive members of society.

What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City?

Fostering the School Choice program is important for Plant City schools, especially with Lincoln Elementary, which is a magnet school, and Strawberry Crest with its IB program. I want to make sure we are giving these schools the resources they need to communicate their programs to parents, as well as attract and retain students in order to meet program objectives for success.

Also, agricultural and technical education programs need our support for expansion and perpetuation. Plant City High and Tomlin Middle schools have a rich history with agricultural programs and extracurricular student opportunities. These schools and programs need our support to be sure we are allowing our students the opportunity to pursue education necessary for careers in these areas of study.

BIO AGE: 43 FAMILY: Married to David for 15 years;

four children between ages 6 and 13 HOMETOWN: Lake Alfred EDUCATION: University of Florida EXPERIENCE: Has owned a State Farm Insurance Agency in FishHawk Ranch since 2001 FAVORITE AUTHOR AND BOOK: Jim Collins, “Good to Great.” However I’m also a big fan of Brian Tracy, John Maxwell and Earl Nightingale. One book that is consistent regardless of where I am in life is the Bible.

IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE? Jesus,

George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Zig Ziglar, Maya Angelou, Colin Powell, Nancy Reagan WEBSITE: melissaforschoolboard.com

WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Youth CSI program visits crime lab The Plant City program took a field trip to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center.

Mya Woodard gathers around a crime lab window with the rest of her classmates, peering through the diamond-wired glass for a glimpse at a forensic specimen. Two severed hands float in a jar of formaldehyde. They were from a case in the 1970s, used to identify a Jane Doe. When she was put to rest, the hands stayed in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center.

“They were all green and wrinkly,” Mya says after the tour.

Winding through the hallways, the students of the Plant City Youth CSI Program get to see what life in a real crime lab looks like. Along with Mya, 13, her two sisters, Shilea, 16, and Nyasha, 12, and classmates Alan Henderson, 13, and Eddie Williams, 12, the group is impressed.

“It was pretty fun,” Eddie says. “It was interesting.”

Past the main doors, the students spy a sliver of a fault where all evidence is processed and checked out to be analyzed. Across the hall, a demonstrator fires three bullets

into a water tank for testing.

Before they went in for their 90-minute tour, Nyasha was excited to see the fingerprinting process. But, it was the Firearms Section that captivated her. Through another crimelab window, Nyasha watches as the technician places weights on the end of the gun to test how much force it would take for it to go off if it was dropped.

“I liked the gun part,” Nyasha says. “It was cool when she tested it to see if it would shoot.”

And the students aren’t the only one with questions. State

Rep. Dan Raulerson and two of his staffers, Robyn Bryant and Amber Smith, helped organize the trip and attended, as well.

“What kind of evidence occurs the most?” Raulerson asks.

The students lean in for the answer. Spokesperson Tonya Woytek tells them its drugs.

Most of the local FDLE’s cases are drug-related. About 90 a month.

As the tour continues, she tells tells them about DNA. But the students already know some of the information.

“There’s two people that have the same DNA,” Woytek says. “Do you know who?”

“Twins!” Mya says.

They’ve had a great teach-

Amber Jurgensen

Eddie Williams, Alan Henderson, Mya Woodard, Shilea Woodard, William Thomas and Nyasha Woodard er. William Thomas runs the Youth CSI Program. After more than 35 years in law enforcement, Thomas has noticed a disturbing trend. Many of his applicants couldn’t pass their background checks.

“I’m trying to get them inter-

ested in understanding what it is,” Thomas said. “The biggest thing is to let them understand that the things they do today can affect them later.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

ZONING / PAGE 1

ANTIOCH / PAGE 1

Curley was operating outside of its zoning, the County Commission voted 7-0 to approve the rezone request.

Cheers and applause erupted both inside the packed commission chambers, as well as in the county building lobby, which had been set up to accommodate the overflow audience.

“It’s totally overwhelming,” Keel said of the support. “It’s hard to explain. It’s unbelievable that we have had so much support from everybody. …

This was very heartfelt — by all of us in the family, and that includes our employees. We consider them part of our extended family.”

To celebrate, following the meeting, Keel threw a pizza party for his extended family.

The commission’s decision modifies the winery’s existing zoning to allow for the microbrewery. It also allows the winery to use a lot directly to the south of the business for overflow parking.

In their application, the Keels proposed stipulations to address the opposition’s concerns regarding noise and traffic. Beer production will be limited to no more than 250,000 gallons per year, and the Keels no longer will sell beers not manufactured on the premises. The Keels also converted their business to acoustic-only live music (no bass guitar or drums), and all music is routed through a sound limiter. The business also will limit its hours, and music on the outdoor deck will stop by 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and by 8 p.m.

Sundays. The Keels also have limited the scope and duration of its special events. With the exception of the three-day Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival, no festival will last for more than two days. The business also will limit its weddings to no more than four per month.

Residents opposed to the rezoning request — led by Planning Commission member Ray Young — had attempted unsuccessfully to enter additional evidence at the Aug. 12 hearing. By law, only evidence presented at the June 23 zoning hearing was admissible at the final hearing.

Commission Chairman Mark Sharpe reminded the opposition’s speakers, specifically Young, of this law.

“We ask that you not stray from the testimony that you are very well aware of and well-versed of,” Sharpe told Young.

“I’m trying to understand the game rules here,” Young said.

year, there were only 11 who signed up to play for Antioch before the cut-off date.

“We’re just having a shortage of kids,” said Mike Wilkinson, president of the Antioch Redskins. “They’re at that age group when most of them want to play baseball.”

Wilkinson said the numbers had been declining through the past few years.

The boys who had signed up to play had two options: Stay with the team for practices only, or switch to another team. Adam Cain, who coached Antioch for the last two seasons, has been leading the biweekly practices and said eight to 10 boys had been attending.

“We have a lot of kids who have never played sports before, let alone football,” Cain said.

He has decided to lead the players in strength and conditioning exercises before coaching them in complex techniques of the game. They use a variety of equipment, including old tires for plyometrics (jump training) and baseballs. Varsity players from Plant City-area high schools will occasionally visit the workshops to work on technique with the players, as well.

Cain also hopes to host Friday night scrimmages to “have a good old time for the kids.”

Cain said he would get the boys who have stayed involved in arena football. It requires only eight players on the field at a time. The season starts in January and lasts until May, and Cain’s team will play at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Other TCYFCC teams have offered to help out by playing games at Antioch’s field. Antioch still will receive money from concessions and admission at these four games. It can add up to an estimated $2,000 per game. Maintaining an income is necessary for Antioch to stay in the conference and pay its bills, Wilkinson said.

Emily Sikes, vice president of the Antioch Redskins, said she appreciated the support of the conference and its other teams.

“They’re basically donating all of this money so we could move forward,” Sikes said.

“That’s awesome.”

Cain’s workshops are open to any boys who would like to learn to play football or improve their skills. They practice at 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, at Antioch’s field, 8510 Franklin Road, Plant City.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

Michael Eng

Keel & Curley Winery owner Joe Keel, right, said he was overwhelmed by the support his family received.

“The game rules are the law, sir,” Sharpe said. “And you’re aware of them.”

Young argued that the documents from Luce’s June hearing were inaccurate.

“Of the 16 pages from Mr. Luce’s land-use hearing report, (on) almost every page, there are misstatements and untruths, according to county law and our ordinances,” he said. “You cannot, in good conscience, sit here today, not only as the board of county commissioners but also as the environmental protection board, and rule favorably on this event.”

Commissioner Al Higginbotham, who lives about two miles from the winery, made the initial motion for approval.

“It’s been frustrating for my friends, my community and my neighbors,” he said upon making his motion. “As commissioners, we have a very strict and straight line that we have to walk. … It has disappointed me and hurt me deeply, that on both sides — for and against — people asked me to look the other way. … You had faith and confidence in me to take an oath, like my six colleagues up here, and we will continue to do that.

“I have worked very hard to adhere to the facts of this case, which is what we’re required to do, and follow the law and the ordinances, and with that, I’m going to make a motion for approval,” Higginbotham said.

Higginbotham’s colleagues on the County Commission also had strong words of support for the Keel family.

“This applicant has made every attempt to follow the rules — from the original 2005 PD approval to a special-use permit from the county to sell beer and wine for consumption on- and off-premises to a 2COP license, they followed the book, step by step,” Commissioner Ken Hagan said. “In

fact, in September 2013, Hillsborough County staff signed off on a state license for a microbrewery, stating that a craft brewery was allowed in their zoning.

“As a result, the applicant proceeded with site-plan review, permitting, construction and inspections — all done by Hillsborough County,” he said. “Why would the applicant go through all this work and expense to do so?

And moreover, why would Hillsborough County staff allow this project to proceed and go through this entire process, if the rezoning did not allow a microbrewery?

“By approving this request, not only are we addressing a use that staff previously authorized, but we are limiting the scale of uses and adding numerous conditions that will provide significant protections to the community that do not currently exist,” Hagan said.

Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who presented the 2014 Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival proclamation, recognized Keel’s sons, Ryan and Clay, for their contributions to the continued success of agriculture in Hillsborough County.

“I want to commend you for your entrepreneurial spirit and carrying on what your family has done, and learning from your dad, Joe, what the family business has all been about,” he said. “There’s been some misconception that ag might be a dying business and industry here, and that the younger generations aren’t necessarily interested in agriculture. I think you’ve proven them wrong, and I think history books will, perhaps, write that you will be associated with blueberries, blueberry production and its offspring, just like the Dickmans were to the tomato industry in Ruskin.”

Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.

THIS WEEK’S CROSSWORD ANSWERS

THIS WEEK’S CRYPTOGRAM ANSWERS 1. I like a fair number of non-conformists, but the only cause for concern is they are all alike.

2. Fate and kismet don’t rule our futures or our lives. We make our own moves and keep our own counsel. Besides, it’s bad luck to be superstitious.

ª

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

Amber Jurgensen

There were five generations of family members present for Margaret Gargani’s birthday.

BIRTHDAY / PAGE 1 And wait.

Ten minutes passed. Gargani still hadn’t come down from her room upstairs. The ladies started to tease Vogel for the false alarm.

“I don’t know if I have ever seen you ladies this quiet,” Vogel said. “This is the longest they’ve been quiet.”

Meanwhile, Gargani’s other daughter, Marianne Pillarella, was busy trying to talk her mother into attending the weekly Wednesday morning coffee. She usually does.

But today, she was tired. Pillarella’s convincing paid off.

She walked her mother to the room.

It erupted with an applause when the Pennsylvania native appeared in the doorway under a Happy Birthday sign.

One thing was for certain, she didn’t look 100.

What was her secret?

“No drinking, no smoking,” Gargani said.

She sat at a table surrounding by five generations of family members, waiting for the candles to be lit on her cake.

Everyone in the room knew her secret — from Vogel to Gargani’s 9-year-old greatgranddaughter, Emilise Avendano.

But, she also has another tip to a long life — exercise.

Gargani still does chair exercise class every Monday and Friday.

“I like it, because everybody is friendly and you know everybody,” Gargani said.

As one of her grandchildren lit the candle on her cake, her friends and family gathered around her to sing. Not even one line into the song, Gargani blew out her candles. She smiled slyly. At 100, you don’t have time to wait. At 100, you do what you want.

The candle was lit again

FAMILY TREE Margaret Gargani has a large family tree at 100: Five children 14 grandchildren 18 great-grandchildren One great-great-grandchild and the song was sung, a little faster this time. Vogel cut the strawberry-filled cake, while Gargani looked at her greatgreat-grandson, Colby McGraw, sitting in his mother’s lap. He is just 2 months old.

The sight of him brings her back to the happiest moments of her enduring life.

“I think every time one of the babies was born, it meant a lot,” Gargani said. “Every time, I said, ‘Thank you, Jesus.’”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

CUTESTCRITTER

W

inDi Sanchez’s leopard gecko, Haku, is this month’s winner of our Cutest Critter Contest.

“Haku is the cutest critter because she is always winking, smiling and posing, as if she wants her picture taken,” Sanchez says. “Of all my pets, she is, by far, the most photogenic.”

Turkey Creek Animal Hospital and Animal Wellness Center have partnered to present a monthly 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. Photos will be showcased in the Plant City Times & Observer.

Submit your entries to Executive Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver. com; subject line: Cutest Critter Contest. Good luck!

ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

JEAN CAN DO IT by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

Counselor starts cancer campaign in friend’s honor When Diana Johnson discovered her friend and business partner Jean Hehn had cancer, she organized a campaign to raise money for cancer research.

Hearing the news that a loved one has received a cancer diagnosis can be devastating. But, when Diana Johnson learned her friend and business partner, Jean Hehn, had the disease, she did not despair. Instead, she decided to take action and organize a campaign to raise research money in honor of Hehn.

Although she has no family history of the disease, Hehn discovered she had breast cancer in May, after a mammogram she had had a month before. She was on vacation in Alaska when she got the news.

“It was great to have some time away to process all the emotions before coming back home to face treatment and reality,” Hehn said. “I felt very confident that I would beat breast cancer, as I’d seen so many other women bravely face that battle and win.”

Hehn immediately sent a text message to Johnson to tell her about the diagnosis. The two women have been friends for more than a decade. Johnson met Hehn’s daughter, Maggie, in high school, and has been close with the whole Hehn family since then.

“After I graduated with my master’s in 2010, Jean was the

HOW TO HELP

The first shipment of shirts will arrive Aug. 22, but the fundraiser will continue until then.

Proceeds from the purchase of Johnson’s shirts will be donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Inc. To purchase a shirt, make a donation or read more of Jean’s story, visit booster.com/ JeanSlaystheCancerBeasts.

one who encouraged me to do social work,” Johnson said.

“She was telling me about how awesome the field was, and she helped me decide what career path to take.”

Plant City Times & Observer Locally Owned by Ed Verner, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Times & Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC, a joint-venture of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.

110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 704-6850 www.PlantCityObserver.com &RS\ULJKW 3ODQW &LW\ 0HGLD //& $OO 5LJKWV 5HVHUYHG

Hehn offered Johnson a partnership in a private practice, which opened in early 2012.

When Hehn began treatment for breast cancer this summer at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, physicians discovered she also had stage IV pancreatic cancer. To make matters worse, it had metastasized to her lungs.

Hehn was stunned.

“That was quite a larger shock, because of the severity of this type of cancer and, again, no symptoms,” Hehn said.

Hehn’s friends and family demonstrated their support through individual actions, such as painting their toenails purple — the color for pancreatic cancer awareness. But, Johnson wanted to do something to unify the supporters.

She decided to focus on pancreatic cancer instead of breast cancer, because there are fewer efforts to fight this type. She was frustrated that there was not even a screening process for it.

Johnson’s first idea was to design T-shirts. The shirts are purple and feature text saying “Jean can do it,” with a graphic of Rosie the Riveter.

TO ADVERTISE

Call Veronica Prostko, (813) 716-0007, or Joanna Verga, (813) 451-6489.

SEND US YOUR NEWS

We want to hear from you. Let us know about your community events, celebrations and family member achievements.

To contact us, send your information via: Email: Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com.

Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563

Johnson then expanded her campaign through Booster, a website that allows users to organize fundraisers. The money from T-shirt sales will be donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Inc. The campaign was originally set to end Aug. 9, but it was so successful that Johnson decided to continue with a second stage.

“I expected to sell maybe 10 shirts,” Johnson said.

With 16 hours left in the first stage of the campaign she had sold 69. By the next morning, she had sold 82 shirts. Each shirt costs $20, and 100% of the proceeds are donated.

For the second stage of the campaign, Johnson plans to also accept donations for any amount, without the purchase of a shirt, so that even those who do not personally know Jean will be encouraged to participate.

Because of Hehn’s illness, she and Johnson are permanently closing their counseling practice in September.

But, Hehn does not plan to let cancer stop her from doing other things she loves. During the next year, she hopes to travel with her family and spend extra time pursuing her artistic hobbies: painting

CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays.

It provides free home delivery to several neighborhoods in Plant City.

The Plant City Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

Catherine Sinclair

Diana Johnson, above, and Jean Hehn have had a counseling practice together since 2012, but their office will be closing soon because of Hehn’s illness. and photography.

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Johnson said depending on how Hehn is feeling with her chemotherapy treatments at that time, she might organize an awareness event. She also hopes to lead Hehn’s supporters during Relay for Life 2015.

“It’s scary, but if anyone can beat the odds, I think it’s probably Jean,” Johnson said. “Her spirit’s just so calm that she has this confidence about her.

I think she could tackle anything.”

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

BY THE NUMBERS 46,000: The number of U.S. diagnoses per year 39,000: The number of U.S. deaths per year 3: The percentage of all U.S. cancer cases 1.5: The percentage of the average lifetime risk of development 1: The percentage of Stage IV five-year survival rate

SOURCE: cancer.org

Plant City Times &

Observer

General Manager/Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com General Manager/Advertising / Stacey Hudson, shudson@tampabay.com Managing Editor / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writers / Justin Kline, jkline@PlantCityObserver.com; Catherine Sinclair, csinclair@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Executives / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@PlantCityObserver.com; Joanna Verga, jverga@tampabay.com Circulation/Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” — Friedrich Hayek, “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

ª

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

governance by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

Commission uses emergency funds to repair leaking pipes The repairs under Park Road near Interstate 4 are expected to be completed today.

Because of an imminent safety hazard, Plant City commissioners approved the use of emergency funds for repairs to leaking pipes that have caused a depression in the center of Park Road near Interstate 4. Construction should end today.

The Florida Department of Transportation reported the depression to the Plant City utilities department July 23.

After investigating, the utilities department determined that there were two leaks in the sewer system under the road. The pipes had to be replaced immediately to avoid a potential failure of the road.

The city already had contracted Kamminga and Roodvoets Inc., for sewer repairs on Syndney Road. The commission awarded a second contract with Kamminga and Roodvoets Inc., for the Park Road repairs. These two projects are similar and both include removal of old pipes, installation of new pipes, repair of the roadway, maintenance of traffic and by-pass pumping of wastewater.

City Manager Dave Sollenberger and commissioners will use city funds to provide Kamminga and Roodvoets Inc., with $117,797.90, which was available in the budget for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2014.

“There’s always funds set aside in the utilities budget,” Sollenberger said. “You never know when an emergency is going to come up. I talked with both our engineers, and they felt that if this were not corrected, there was a good possibility of a cave-in. We don’t want to risk that.”

The existing pipes under Park Road are made of clay and were installed more than 40 years ago, but their replacements are much more durable.

Members of the construction crew said there had not been any significant disruption to traffic flow, though the left lane of northbound Park Road was closed at the work site.

MIDTOWN

At the Aug. 11 meeting, the commission also approved contracts for construction in Midtown.

PPM Consultants will conduct environmental studies for Midtown properties. These assessments, drawing $51,481 from the Community Redevelopment Agency fund, will inform developers and property owners of contamination at each site or the potential for future contamination.

Four companies submitted bids for landscaping and irrigation, including the installation of a fountain, in Midtown Park. The commission accepted the bid of Tree Farm 2 Inc., at $143,723.50.

Walkways and other concrete construction will be

IN OTHER NEWS

Brooklynn Santos received the proclamation for SMA Awareness Month.

• Mayor Rick Lott proclaimed August as Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month. SMA, a motor neuron disease, is the leading genetic cause of death for children under age 2.

• The commission has approved an agreement with Hillsborough County for upgrades and enhancements to Ellis-Methvin Park, including the addition of lighting. The new lighting grant is for $650,000.

• Michael Cameron was reappointed as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Safety Employees Retirement System.

completed by Antioch Contracting LLC, for $99,454.

The final contract will be for construction of a fountain in Midtown Park. WESCO Foun-

tains, Inc., submitted a quote for this fountain at $129,421, as well as design plans. WESCO Fountains Inc. is the sole vendor available for this design.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

Leaky sanitary sewer pipes caused a depression on Park Road, just south of Interstate 4. Repair work should be completed today.

Photos by Catherine Sinclair

ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

real estate by Michael Eng | Editor

Country home tops July residential transactions A country home in North Plant City topped Plant City real-estate transactions for July.

The home at 2808 Mayday Drive sold July 16, for $389,900. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, two-and-twohalf baths, a pool and 3,592 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $108.55.

BLAIN ACRES

The home at 1004 Barbour Drive sold July 2, for $108,000.

Built in 1961, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,256 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $85.99.

BROOKDALE FARMS

The home at 4407 Bugg Road sold July 28, for $133,000. Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,360 square feet of living area on 1.05 acres. The price per square foot is $97.79.

CHERRY PARK

The home at 1204 N. Maryland Ave. sold July 15, for $51,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1972, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,260 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $40.48.

CONSTELLATION ACRES

The home at 2802 Aquarius Lane sold July 14, for $298,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,632 square feet of living area on 1.58 acres. The price per square foot is $113.22.

COUNTRY HILLS

The home at 4712 Hunts Court sold July 15, for $140,500. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,775 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $79.15.

The home at 306 Mary Beth Place sold July 28, for $127,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,465 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $86.69.

COUNTRY TRAILS

The home at 4403 Charro Lane sold July 15, for $279,900. Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,653 square feet of living area on 1.08 acres. The price per square foot is $105.50.

DEEP ROOTS FARMS

The home at 4012 Tangled Oaks Trail sold July 31, for $329,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 3,081 square feet of living area on 4.74 acres. The price per square foot is $106.78.

DUMONT

The home at 4119 Pippin Road sold July 18, for $154,000. Built in 1991, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,529 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $100.72.

FOUR SEASONS

The home at 1108 Robin Drive sold July 3, for $76,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,072 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $70.90.

GRIMWOLD

The home at 905 N. Burton St. sold July 21, for $46,900 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,287 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $36.44.

HAGGARD SUBDIVISION

The home at 1116 N. Johnson Road sold July 10, for $150,000. Built in 1950, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,335 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $64.24.

HILLSBOROUGH

The home at 2311 W. Knights Griffin Road sold July 24, for $269,900. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,952 square feet of living area on 15.8 acres. The price per square foot is $138.27.

MONTHLY SNAPSHOT Houses Sold: 70 High Sale Price: $389,900 Low Sale Price: $20,500 Average Sale Price: $143,994 Median Sale Price: $133,000 Short Sales: Six REO/Bank Owned: 13 The home at 4120 Swindell Road sold July 31, for $229,500.

Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,088 square feet of living area on 1.96 acres.

The price per square foot is $109.91.

The home at 5544 Glen Harwell Road sold July 14, for $210,000. Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,375 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $88.42.

The home at 5709 Five Acre Road sold July 23, for $175,000. Built in 1974, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,731 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $101.10.

The home at 4116 N. Forbes Road sold July 11, for $150,000 (short sale). Built in 1964, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,304 square feet of living area on 1.17 acres. The price per square foot is $65.10.

The home at 4811 Miley Road sold July 11, for $143,500. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,648 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $87.08.

The home at 3709 C A Bugg Road sold July 8, for $132,000.

Built in 1913, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,752 square feet of living area on 5.7 acres. The price per square foot is $47.97.

The home at 5821 Glen Harwell Road sold July 15, for $136,500. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, oneand-one-half baths and 1,120 square feet of living area on .99 acres. The price per square foot is $121.88.

The manufactured home at 4304 Cooper Road sold July 21, for $118,250 (short sale).

Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,848 square feet of living area on 8.98 acres. The price per square foot is $63.99.

The home at 6311 Bob Head Road sold July 18, for $105,100 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1972, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,676 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $62.71.

The home at 3603 Medulla Road sold July 22, for $96,000.

Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,000 square feet of living area on 1.02 acres. The price per square foot is $96.

The home at 3105 Medulla Road sold July 25, for $92,259 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1967, it has five bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,584 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $35.70.

The manufactured home at 5201 Bruton Road sold July 31, for $70,400. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,064 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $66.17.

The home at 3108 W. Medulla Road sold July 24, for $64,000. Built in 1952, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,354 square feet of living area on 1.24 acres. The price per square foot is $47.27.

The home at 206 Hopewell Manor Road sold July 25, for $58,275 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,400 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $41.62.

The manufactured home at 3329 Denton Road sold July 7, for $58,000. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,288 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $45.03.

The home at 2626 De Montmollin Road sold July 30, for $47,900 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1974, it has two bed-

rooms, one bath and 880 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $54.43.

The home at 2016 Pleasant Acre Drive sold July 16, for $41,000 (short sale). Built in 1960, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,004 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $40.84.

The home at 4122 E. U.S. 92 sold July 7, for $35,000 (short sale). Built in 1924, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,452 square feet of living area on 1.25 acres. The price per square foot is $24.10.

KINGS VILLAGE

The home at 1810 Bond St. sold July 8, for $49,000 (REO/ bank owned). Built in 1974, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,050 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $46.67.

LAKEWOOD PLACE

The home at 1802 W. Charlotte St. sold July 24, for $75,500. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,168 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $64.64.

LAUREL LAKE

The condominium at 2706 Golf Lake Drive, No. 35, sold July 7, for $195,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,657 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $117.68.

MAGNOLIA GREEN

The home at 3711 Crystal Dew St. sold July 22, for $149,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,976 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $75.40.

The home at 3006 Magnolia Meadows Drive sold July 10, for $128,000 (short sale).

Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,790 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $71.51.

MAGNOLIA PARK

The home at 1003 W. Calhoun St. sold July 23, for $125,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,392 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $89.80.

MULRENNAN ESTATES

The home at 1412 Stephens Oak Court sold July 2, for $200,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,157 square feet of living area on 1.03 acres. The price per square foot is $92.72.

OAKVIEW ESTATES

The home at 3104 Jim Johnson Road sold July 7, for $83,500. Built in 1974, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 1,442 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $57.91.

PARK PLACE

The home at 1501 N. Johnson St. sold July 30, for $208,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,656 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $125.60.

PLANT CITY

The home at 806 N. Maryland Ave. sold July 24, for $95,000. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,284 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $73.99.

The home at 3114 Murray Farms Loop sold July 29, for $66,900 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,898 square feet of living area on 1.05 acres. The price per square foot is $35.25.

The home at 507 N. Thomas St. sold July 21, for $49,900.

Built in 1923, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,756 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $28.42.

The home at 1404 E. Calhoun St. sold July 10, for $33,750 (short sale). Built in 1953, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 912 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $37.01.

ª

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

The home at 608 Hillsboro St. sold July 19, for $20,500.

Built in 1951, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 624 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $32.85.

SEMINOLE LAKE ESTATES

The home at 3409 Hickman Ave. sold July 23, for $129,000.

Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,554 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $83.01.

SHANNON TERRACE

The home at 404 Vining St. sold July 17, for $125,000.

Built in 1977, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,546 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $80.85.

SUGAR CREEK

The home at 3815 Sugar Creek Court sold July 3, for $115,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,398 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $82.26.

TERRY PARK EXTENSION

The home at 1104 N. Crystal Terrace sold July 25, for $92,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1964, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,444 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $63.71.

WALDEN LAKE

The home at 2807 Forest Club Drive sold July 9, for $268,000. Built in 1988, it has four bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths, a pool and 2,764 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $96.96.

The home at 2908 Barret Ave. sold July 21, for $270,000.

Built in 1990, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,665 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $101.31.

The home at 2809 Barret Ave. sold July 11, for $250,000.

Built in 1993, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,786 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $89.73.

The home at 3047 Sutton Woods Drive sold July 24, for $233,000. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,982 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $117.56.

The home at 1734 Brookstone Way sold July 23, for $221,600. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,167 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $102.26.

The home at 3448 Silverstone Court sold July 11, for $183,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,860 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $98.39.

The home at 2308 Walden Place S. sold July 15, for $175,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,985 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $88.16.

The home at 4203 Barret Ave. sold July 30, for $162,000.

Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,514 square feet of living

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP area. The price per square foot is $107.

The home at 903 Sandalwood Drive sold July 10, for $162,900. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,848 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $88.15.

The home at 4204 Thackery Way sold July 29, for $145,000.

Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,619 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $89.56.

The home at 1454 Walden Oaks Place sold July 15, for $134,900. Built in 1991, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,359 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $99.26.

The villa at 103 Seville Court N. sold July 22, for $88,000.

Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,329 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $66.22.

WALDEN POINTE

The home at 2206 Via Cortona St. sold July 14, for $224,900. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,259 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $99.60.

WALDEN RESERVE

The home at 3302 Aaron Elias Court sold July 21, for $231,900. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,196 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $105.60.

WALDEN WOODS

The townhome at 1908 Greenwood Valley Drive sold July 16, for $140,550. Built in 2013, it has two bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,521 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $92.41.

The townhome at 2043 Greenwood Valley Drive sold July 3, for $129,900. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,572 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $82.63.

WASHINGTON PARK

The home at 713 N. Warnell St. sold July 28, for $55,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1948, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,398 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $39.34.

WHISPERING WOODS

The home at 2714 Holly Bluff Court sold July 23, for $203,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,701 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $75.16.

The home at 2757 Walden Woods Drive sold July 14, for $214,990. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,392 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $87.79.

WILDER PARK

The home at 2715 Wilder Park Drive sold July 18, for $135,000. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,378 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $97.97.

Michael Eng

The home, which has four bedrooms, two-and-two-half baths, a pool and 3,592 square feet of living area, sold for $389,900.

ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

faith by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Kids go wild at Evangelical Presbyterian Church’s VBS

JUST DESSERTS by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

Evangelical Presbyterian celebrated uniqueness at its annual vacation Bible school earlier this month.

The theme, Weird Animals, taught students that Jesus loves them no matter who they are.

Right; Katie Overbo Below: Amanda Parke and Rachel Lawry were mad scientists.

After the children had decorated their cupcakes, they were allowed to choose a free book to keep. Sarah Long browsed thoughtfully before making her selection.

Library caps off season with cupcake toppers Mozart St. Brun and Joseph Martin Left: To fit in with the animal theme, kids raced on all fours.

Bruton Memorial Library sweetened the summer season July 31, with a cupcakedecorating event.

Children and parents alike enjoyed completing their own confectionary concoctions and, of course, sampling their creations.

BY THE NUMBERS Cupcake flavors: Two Icing colors: Seven Sprinkle varieties: 14 Children present: 49 Cupcakes baked: 96

Grace Wade, 2, enjoyed licking the icing off of her chocolate cupcake before sprinkles were offered.

ª

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

OBSERVEROBITUARIES Sofia Bayo

Sofia Bayo, 94, of Plant City, died Aug. 6, 2014.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ventura Gonzalez.

She is survived by her daughter, Josephine F. Findlay (Alexander); grandson, Daniel M. Interian (Diana), of New Jersey; granddaughter, Sofia Interian; step-grandchildren, Michael Findlay, of New Jersey, and Jeffrey Findlay, of New Jersey; nieces, Vivian Fernandez, Natalie Fernandez and Jessica Parada; and numerous family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Presbyterian Church of Seffner, 1906 Lenna Ave., Seffner.

Online condolences may be made at WeCare.io.

Brenda “Brandy” Baysinger (Loyd)

Brenda “Brandy” Baysinger (Loyd), 56, of Plant City, died July 28, 2014.

She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Ted; parents, Barbara Reed, of Virginia, and Ellis Loyd, of Lakeland; two brothers, James and Jay Allen Roberts; two sisters, Debbie Mitchell and Bonnie Gardner; and her extended family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, and a memorial service will be at 4:30 p.m., at Wells Memorial and Event Center, 1903 W. Reynolds St., Plant City.

Online condolences may be made to the family at wellsme morial.com.

Rebecca Lynn Fuentes

Rebecca Lynn “Becky” Fuentes, 54, of Mulberry, died Aug. 10, 2014.

She retired from the Hillsborough County school system.

She is survived by her son, Steven McGuire (Ashley), of Mulberry; grandchildren, Steven Jr., Makinnah, Tesslynn and Penelope; mother, Priscilla Parks, of Lakeland; brother, Richard Jacobs (Michelle), of Valrico; and dog, Romeo.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 C.R. 39 S., Plant City.

Online condolences may be made to the family at WeCare. io.

five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shiloh Baptist Church Building Fund.

Online condolences may be made to the family at WeCare. io.

Lacey Louise Furney

Mary “Lucille” Mercer

Lacey Louise Furney, 80, of Dover, died Aug. 7, 2014.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Robert L. Furney; daughter, Donna Kahelin (Thom); grandchildren, Aaron, Robbie and Adam; sister, Grace Jordan; and many other family and friends.

A Celebration of Life was held Aug. 11, at Hopewell Funeral Home, Plant City; interment followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens.

Online condolences may be made at WeCare.io.

Steven Alan Knight

Steven Alan Knight, 57, of Plant City, died unexpectedly June 19, 2014, because of undiagnosed heart-health issues.

He was born Jan. 14, 1957, in Tampa, to Connie and Inez Knight, who predeceased him.

Mr. Knight remained a kind and humble soul throughout his life and will be missed dearly.

A memorial service will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 16, at Wells Memorial and Event Center, 1903 W. Reynolds St., Plant City.

Online condolences may be made to the family at wellsmemorial.com.

Cindy Kilgore McGehee

Cindy Kilgore McGehee, 71, of Plant City, died Aug. 10, 2014.

She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church and a former member of Hopewell Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Charles L. McGehee; daughters, Kandie Ferguson (Scott) and Krystal McGehee; grandchildren, Brandie Getchell, Stacie Truitt (A.C.), Devyn Katz (Joshua) and Elissa Ferguson; and

Mary “Lucille” Mercer, 77, of Lakeland, died Aug. 5, 2014.

She was a member of Midway Baptist Church, in Plant City. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a loving sister and a loyal friend who was loved by all. She never met a stranger.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Raymond D. Mercer; children, Ray Jr. (Teresa), Sharon (Mary) and Steve (Diana); grandchildren, Wesley (Crystal), Justin, Mindy, Brent, Mallory and Hali; great-grandchildren, Alex and Landon; and siblings, Bobby (Cheryl), Shirley (Earl), Randy (Kathy), Carol (Brad), Diane (Charles) and Cathy.

She was preceded in death by her best friend Addie, who passed away the day before her.

A graveside service was held Aug. 9, at Hopewell Memorial Gardens, Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at WeCare.io.

Lourdes Vollmer

Lourdes Vollmer, 84, of Plant City, died Aug. 10, 2014, at her home.

Born Aug. 30, 1929, in Bristol, R.I., she was the daughter of the late Placido Correia and Maria Correia. She was the wife of the late Harold Vollmer.

Survivors include sons, Richard Vollmer, Michael Vollmer and David Vollmer; daughter, Debbie (James) Stewart; 14 grandchildren; and 23 greatgrandchildren.

She was also predeceased by son, James Vollmer.

Services are still pending at this time.

Online condolences may be made to the family at haught funeralhome.com.

Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Corey Thornton plays both sides for Trojans. 14 SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

SIDELINES Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

TWIRLING

+ Patriots place at Notre Dame Last month, the Plant City-based Patrick’s Patriots Twirling Corps took its talents to South Bend, Ind., for the America’s Youth on Parade competition. Nine of the 10 girls recorded top 10 finishes in their events.

Winners include: Brittany Nesbitt: first place in Beginner Flag Baton; seventh place in Beginner 2-Baton; eighth place in Beginner Duet with Raelyn Hudson; ninth place in Intermediate Pageant Modeling; and eighth place in Intermediate Pageant Solo Morgan Boykin: third place in Intermediate 2-Baton; and sixth place in Advance Solo Amber Boykin: eighth place in Intermediate X-Strut Raelyn Hudson: fifth place in Beginner 2-Baton; fifth place in Beginner Flag Baton; and eighth place in Beginner Duet with Brittany Nesbitt Kaylee Hudson: third place in Beginner Flag Baton; eighth place in Beginner 2-Baton; and 10th place in Beginner X-Strut Sarah Cameron: eighth place in Intermediate 2-Baton Natalie Bolet: fourth place in Beginner Solo Madison Weiss: sixth place in Beginner Solo; sixth place in Show Twirl; ninth place in 3-Baton Jackie Swartz: eighth place in Novice Solo

FLAG FOOTBALL

+ Plant City to host 48th season Registration has opened for the Plant City Recreation & Parks Department/Optimist Youth Flag Football Program.

All Plant City-area boys and girls, ages 4 to 15 (as of Nov. 1, 2014) are eligible to join. There are no pads, no helmets, no practices, and, technically, no coaches — just good fun and good sportsmanship every Saturday morning at the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex, 2402 E. Cherry St. For more, contact Recreation Youth Athletics Coordinator Danny Smith, (813) 659-4200, Ext. 4313.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014

baseball by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

Florida Baseball Heaven a hotspot for local players Located just off of U.S. 92 and County Line Road, Florida Baseball Heaven has become popular with Plant City ballplayers looking to hone their skills.

For some people, “Baseball Heaven” might be a local park or sandlot that holds a lot of memories. On the silver screen, it might be smack in the middle of Ray Kinsella’s corn field.

But Baseball Heaven is a real place — located in a building that’s nearly nondescript from the outside, nestled in an industrial park full of other warehouses. The inside, though, is a different story.

When Mark Persails retired

from professional baseball in 2007, after an 11-year career as a pitcher, he came to Plant City and began to work on his passion project — a place for young ballplayers to get better at the game while keeping the fun in it. Florida Baseball Heaven, located just inside the Polk County border, became real in 2008.

Now, the operation runs out of the warehouse building. And, the training facility is huge. The

row of batting cages and pitching machines is the first thing one sees when walking through the door, and beyond that is a mock infield where players can work on their defense in a simulated game situation.

In the last six years, the program has come a long way.

FROM THE GROUND UP

Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1994, Persails, a Michigan native, pitched in his home-

Justin Kline

Florida Baseball Heaven has an indoor training facility with batting cages, pitching machines and an infield simulator. town team’s farm system for five seasons before being traded to Houston — for current Tigers manager Brad Ausmus — and playing two seasons in AA ball. He spent four more seasons in other independent

organizations, including stints in other countries, before retiring after having surgery on his arm.

Persails moved to Plant City

SEE BASEBALL / PAGE 13

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

SPECIAL OLYMPICS by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

Girls in football: Why not?

McAlpine, who has autism, dabbled in just about everything he could. Bowling, bocce, basketball, track and field, cycling — you name it, and he’s competed in it. And Kolopajlo, wanting to be there every step of the way, made it a point to get certified to coach every sport his stepson wanted to play. To this day, he’s certified in nine different sports in both Florida and their native state, West Virginia.

“With these Special Olympics athletes, out there, it’s the epitome of what sportsmanship is,” he says.

“Volunteering is an addiction.”

Kolopajlo and McAlpine share a

I went out to the Antioch Redskins’ field on Saturday to catch some of the Turkey Creek Trojans’ home opener action — particularly, the Midgets’ game against the Wesley Chapel Cowboys.

The score was 6-0, in favor of the Cowboys, at halftime, and the Trojan coaches were attempting to fire up the boys with a motivational speech. What really got their JUSTIN attention, KLINE though, was a casual observation.

“They’ve got a girl out there,” one Turkey Creek staffer said to another. “Two girls, actually.”

“You’re kidding,” the other said.

“Nope. Two girls. Look at No. 88, you can see her hair coming out of her helmet.”

Sure enough, I looked through my photos and saw it. I thought it was pretty cool.

Then, the word passed over to the coaches.

“Hey, they’ve got TWO girls out there,” one coach said to the players, some of whom shot quick glances at each other. “Y’all wanna get beat by some girls today?”

Unfortunately, Turkey Creek did lose that game — a 12-0 loss, sealed by a Wesley Chapel touchdown with less than a minute left to play. Technically, they did get beaten by a couple of girls.

There’s no shame in that, though.

We, as a society, are just naturally weirded out by the prospect of girls playing football because it’s such a rugged sport. It’s also the only one where women don’t seem

SEE SUPPORT / PAGE 13

SEE KLINE / PAGE 14

Justin Kline

The softball diamond is a special place for both Josh McAlpine and Dan Kolopajlo, who share a love of baseball.

Support System Dan Kolopajlo and his stepson, Josh McAlpine, cherish the time they spend together on the fields now more than ever. A rare disease nearly killed Dan in 2011.

It’s a Monday evening at the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex, and Josh McAlpine is manning right field, while the Hillsborough County Special Olympics Softball team practices. Running up on any hit that comes his way, McAlpine is working on his throws to the infield as his stepfather, Dan Kolopajlo, yells in encouragement from the dugout.

To the outsider, it looks like just another practice. But this day— and every other day like it since 2012— came dangerously close to not happening.

Kolopajlo was diagnosed in August 2011 with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare heart disease.

It took away his abilities to work, coach and play with his stepson.

But, Josh was ready to do whatever it took to help Dan make it through. It meant sacrificing sports, his favorite things to do, for an entire year.

“Josh handled it pretty well,” Kolopajlo says. “It was upsetting, to him, but he was willing to do it.”

PRESSURES OF MOVING

Their story begins about 25 years ago, when Kolopajlo married McAlpine’s mother, Beth. The 5-year-old boy loved watching sports on television and wanted to play as soon as he possibly could. Three years later, at age 8, he became eligible for Special Olympics sports.

ª

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

BASEBALL / PAGE 12 upon his retirement, rehabbing his shoulder while considering a career in law enforcement. Before he gave that a shot, though, he found himself giving baseball lessons out in Lakeland.

And, he loved it. In 2008, he considered starting his own venture to do so.

“A buddy of mine from North Carolina, he came down here and we started this thing,” Persails says. “It was me, him, a truck and a bucket of balls, and we were going out to little leagues. Building this stuff up.”

With 11 years in the pros, Persails made plenty of connections that have helped him get the program to where it is today.

Some listed coaches include Kenny Kelly, an 11-year veteran of Major League Baseball drafted by the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Sheldon Fulse, who played with the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox organizations. Some coaches, such as Matt Singletary, played for Persails while he coached at Plant City High School.

Since moving into the facility, Florida Baseball Heaven and its corresponding Angels Baseball travel teams have seen plenty of growth.

“Everything’s starting to get pretty dang good,” Persails says.

FULL-STEAM AHEAD

For the upcoming fall season, Persails and Angels Baseball are expecting to field at least 12 total teams, in age groups ranging from nine to 18 years old.

As of press time, the results of the 16- to 18-year-old tryouts weren’t finalized.

In the most recently completed season, many Angels teams did well. Highlights include the 14-year-old team’s strong performance in Perfect Game play — some of the toughest competition in travel ball. Although they didn’t get the tournament win, the Angels did have the satisfaction of routing the No. 1-ranked East Cobb Astros, 13-1, in one game. Those Angels may not have won the tournament, but Persails and his coaches didn’t mind — the boys gave it their best ef-

SUPPORT / PAGE 12 love of Pittsburgh sports, especially the Steelers and Pirates.

Baseball is Kolopajlo’s true love.

He played catcher, like his favorite player, Manny Sanguillen. And McAlpine, who wears No. 22 for Andrew McCutchen, has become quite adept at memorizing statistics and any other aspects of the game that he can.

After Kolopajlo got a job offer in 2010 in Florida, the family relocated to Plant City that September and got involved with Hillsborough County Special Olympics right away. The program had been great to the family, which helped ease the transition to Plant City where they had no other family members and knew nobody in the beginning.

That made things difficult almost a year later, when Kolopajlo couldn’t figure out why he was quickly getting exhausted.

DODGING A BULLET

“It started in April,” Kolopajlo says. “I started getting short of breath, and I had to find out why I couldn’t breathe while walking normally.”

He, his wife and his doctors spent the next several months scrambling for answers. Before then, he had shown no signs of heart disease. It seemed as though his condition just crept into his body one night, breaking and entering into his heart while he was asleep. Through the end of August, it only got worse.

“You see these squares,” Kolopajlo says, while walking along the tiled entrance path to the softball fields. “That August, I could walk maybe three of those. And then, I’d be out of breath.”

On Aug. 28, 2011, the doctors finally figured out what was wrong with him. He had contracted a heart disease called pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The disease is extremely rare — especially in Kolopajlo’s case. It hit him without warning. People like Kolopajlo do catch this disease idiopathically, without symptoms, each year. But, according to him, it’s only about 150 people.

Justin Kline

Florida Baseball Heaven boasts a large indoor training facility.

ABOUT FBH According to Mark Persails, the program has seen more than 100 of its players go on to play baseball in college, and 12 who have been involved with the program in some way, including Lakeland native and Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale.

To be a part of the program, athletes must either attend one of the scheduled pre-season tryouts for their age group or complete a private workout with Persails and other coaches.

For more information, call (863) 644-0500 or visit BaseballHeavenPC. com. fort, which is all that matters.

“I don’t care about team accomplishments,” Persails says.

“I just care about the kids getting better. ... It’s not just about baseball; it’s about developing character.”

Persails recalls that the best coaches he’d ever played for cared about him and his teammates beyond the field. The best coaches, he says, “care about you as a human being.”

The coaches all take this to heart, even if they reference it in a way that’ll go over their players’ heads.

“It’s like ‘Cheers,’” Persails says, before breaking into song. “‘Everybody knows your name ...’”

Even more troubling were his chances to live, at first.

“The doctor said that, if I didn’t get on medicine right then, I had less than a 2% chance of living for six more months,” Kolopajlo says. “It hit us hard.”

He got on medicine at just the right time, but even that was an uphill climb. The first round of drugs disagreed with Kolopajlo’s body, giving him a harsh case of insomnia.

“I was awake for 27 hours straight, at one point,” he says.

So, doctors put him on a different drug, requiring a 24/7 intravenous infusion. That one worked better. In his first walking test, before this medicine, he was able to walk 200 feet in six minutes. Two days after the infusion, he was able to do 400 feet in that time.

There was still a long way to go, though. He had to get treatments done in Sarasota and Pittsburgh and could not work or do much physical activity.

“I couldn’t lift more than 10 pounds,” Kolopajlo says. “I couldn’t even lift a gallon of milk.”

Which is where McAlpine comes in.

TAKING IT IN STRIDE

McAlpine, who had just gotten his job at Publix that October, knew he needed to be there for Kolopajlo whenever he could.

“It was pretty hard,” McAlpine says. “I definitely missed playing sports.”

Among the sports that he had to give up was basketball — his best and favorite sport.

But, McAlpine didn’t let it get to him. He took on many of the responsibilities around the house: doing the laundry and dishes, cleaning the place, getting and unloading the groceries, and anything else that was asked for him whenever he wasn’t at Publix.

He made himself available at at all times.

“It was incredibly helpful,” Kolopajlo says.

To this day, McAlpine still takes care of those duties around the house. Kolopajlo, after plenty of medicine and testing, can now walk 1,500 feet in six minutes and is far

For the staff, it’s also about remembering why they and their players took up baseball in the first place: to have fun.

The fact that baseball is essentially a kid’s game hasn’t been lost there and, according to players and parents, that’s a big draw.

“They don’t take the fun out of the game,” Plant City High School junior Billy McKay says.

“They don’t treat it like a job.”

McKay, who figures to be a key part of the Raiders’ 2014 rotation, returned to Florida Baseball Heaven this year, after spending time in a different travel ball organization.

“I came back for the people, the surroundings, the fun,” he says. “It’s a great atmosphere.

No bad attitudes.”

He and several other Raiders are a part of the program.

Athletes from other Plant City area schools, like Strawberry Crest hurler and former Plant City Times & Observer Athlete of the Week Mark Moclair also are a part of the program.

These kids are having fun and, even though racking up team accomplishments isn’t at the top of the priorities list, they’re playing well. Persails and his coaches are pleased with the results and hope to keep this train rolling in the right direction — and getting as much out of the kids as possible.

“I tell our guys, ‘They might kick our butts, but they won’t take our will,’” Persails says. “I stole that from TV.” Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

WHAT IS PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION?

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, this disease is marked by increased blood pressure in one’s pulmonary arteries, which leads to shortness of breath, pain, exhaustion and a rapid heartbeat.

The pulmonary arteries are the arteries that transfer blood from the heart to the lungs. PAH makes this process incredibly difficult.

At the moment, there is no cure. It can be contained, however, and treatments can at least slow the disease’s progression.

Normally, PAH is associated with other diseases, including HIV, sickle cell disease and congenital heart disease, but idiopathic cases— like Dan Kolopajlo’s— show up unannounced.

According to the American Lung Association, PAH affects anywhere from 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 1 million people.

more upbeat. He needs a new throwing shoulder, which could come as early as November if everything checks out, and wants nothing more than to be able to get out on the field with his stepson again.

“I just want to have a more normal range of motion,” he says. “I will work to get as close as possible. It’s frustrating to not be able to toss the ball.”

As frustrating as that may be, he’s grateful to be able to get out to the fields and watch his stepson play. And, as big a help as the medicine was, having McAlpine step up to the challenge was just as important.

“I was OK with that,” McAlpine says. “It just came naturally.”

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

KLINE / FROM 12

“A must-have, one-of-a-kind resource for networking, marketing & research in Southwest Florida.”

to have a way to play and take it somewhere, the way that they do on the college, professional and Olympic levels with America’s other three Big Four sports.

Unless, of course, you count the Lingerie Football League as a serious profession, on the same level (so, probably not).

It’s not totally unprecedented, even in Florida. Just two years ago, out on the East Coast, South Plantation High School’s third-string quarterback was making national news for being the first girl to ever play quarterback at a Florida high school.

Erin DiMeglio, then a senior, got some playing time and

earned a $20,000 college scholarship from Foot Locker at the end of the year. She planned to use at the University of Central Florida.

She may not have been able to see much time as a quarterback beyond the high school level, standing at 5-foot-6, but she erased many doubts about a girl’s ability to play high school football in Florida, one of the biggest football hotbeds in the country.

Even at the collegiate level, the ladies are getting closer to breaking into the scene.

Mo Isom came really close to making the Louisiana State University football team in 2012, which would have made her the sport’s first-ever

female player. She had the leg to do it but, as head coach Les Miles told Yahoo! Sports, “It’s one of those spots you really can’t put a person that cannot tackle.”

Never mind the fact that plenty of college and NFL kickers can’t tackle, either.

If they could all tackle well, then maybe Auburn wouldn’t have won last year’s Iron Bowl en route to the BCS National Championship Game.

Slowly but surely, I believe we’re heading in a direction that will see more girls take up the sport of football from a young age and play with the boys. Maybe it won’t be long before the phrase “you got beat by a girl” becomes a relic of the past.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

COREY THORNTON The Turkey Creek Trojans JV team picked up right where it left off, handling the Wesley Chapel Cowboys Aug. 9, in a 21-6 win that was called early because of lightning.

According to coach Dub Atkins, Corey Thornton was an impact player on both sides of the ball, moving the rock downfield and keeping the Wesley Chapel offense honest with his play at linebacker.

T S A O C F UL

G

What’s your role on this Trojans team?

I play running back, and I think they’re going to move me to safety, but I play outside linebacker.

and I was like, ‘I’m gonna get the Falcons for the first time.’ And I actually beat him, so I was like, ‘You know what? The Falcons are my new team.’

You guys did well on Saturday. Tell me about the game.

I ran the ball a couple times, got a couple yards, made some tackles, but I think I could have done better in that game. ... At first, it was, like, an easy game. But, after the delay, they went back out there, and they had more energy than us. They came out with a harder fight. But, we held them off.

What about NBA? I like the New York Knicks. I love Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith: They’re two of my favorite players.

You play running back and linebacker right now, but which do you prefer?

I like offense, I like defense, but I like laying the hit more than getting hit. So, I’d say linebacker.

20

What are you hoping to do this season?

I’m hoping to go undefeated and win the Superbowl. Same thing as last year.

How long have you been playing with Turkey Creek football?

I’ve been playing with the Trojans since Midgets, so it’s been three years.

A ranking of the Top 500 Gulf Coast companies by revenue

What other sports do you play?

I play basketball and football. I like football better. It’s a more physical sport.

Three versions - have your list, your way.

What else do you like to do for fun?

I like playing games, like a normal kid. I like video games, watching TV, going out to places.

Don’t wait - order today!

Visit

BusinessObserverFL.com

Video games?

I play Madden, NBA, Call of Duty, stuff like that.

Who’s your team in Madden?

My teams are the Falcons and the Seahawks. One time, I was at a friend’s house, and we were playing,

Print: $29.95 Mailing List Only: $79.95 With this option, get an Excel file to easily import the list of 500 companies and their contact information, including company name and address.

*Complete Version: $149.95

Receive the print edition of the book as well as an Excel version of the complete list of top 500 companies. This includes valuable contact information such as the companies’ mailing address, phone, fax, website, year founded, CEO names, ages and their revenues for 2013 and 2012.

TH8677

*BEST DEAL!

A Better View of Business BusinessObserverFL.com

What are your favorite movies?

I don’t really know. I like action movies and sports movies.

What’s your favorite sports movie, then?

“All Things Fall Apart.” It’s got that rapper, 50 Cent. He was the running back, and he was gonna go to college, but then he found out he had a tumor.

What about TV? I like ESPN, SportsCenter, stuff like that. And, I also like watching cartoons.

Favorite food?

I’d say my favorite food is macaroni. Mac and cheese.

Favorite books?

My favorite book, I’d say, is the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series.

You said football is your favorite sport.

What’s your favorite team, outside of Madden?

My favorite team is the New York Giants. I’m from here, but I was raised in New York and came back here.

So, what football team would you want to play for, if you had the chance?

I honestly always wanted to play for the Giants. I would probably play safety or running back.

If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be?

Lightning speed, like the Flash.

ª

0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª!5'534ª ª

PLANT CITY

RAIN

(INCHES) Aug. 7

0.04

FRI.

TEMPERATURES

Aug. 8

0.46

SAT.

Fri., Aug. 15 Sat., Aug. 16 Sun., Aug. 17 Mon., Aug. 18 Tues., Aug. 19 Wed., Aug. 20 Thurs., Aug. 21

Aug. 9

0.02

SUN.

Aug. 10

0.26

MON. 0.03

TUES.

Aug. 12

0.06

WED.

Aug. 13

0.00

AUGUST TO DATE

1.00 (2013: 2.35)

YEAR

TO DATE 20.44 (2013: 28.84)

, 3&

WEATHER

THURS.

Aug. 11

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

HIGH 85 90 91 92 93 93 93

SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES Fri., Aug. 15 Sat., Aug. 16 Sun., Aug. 17 Mon., Aug. 18 Tues., Aug. 19 Wed., Aug. 20 Thurs., Aug. 21

SUNRISE 6:58 a.m.

6:59 a.m.

6:59 a.m.

7 a.m.

7 a.m.

7:01 a.m.

7:01 a.m.

SUNSET 8:08 p.m.

8:07 p.m.

8:06 p.m.

8:05 p.m.

8:04 p.m.

8:03 p.m.

8:02 p.m.

LOW 74 73 74 74 74 75 74

Paul Barnhill sent us this “mirror-image” shot. “Happy Friday, from Walden Place,” he says.

The Plant City Times & Observer and Grimes Hardware have partnered to host the I Love Plant City Photo Contest.

Winners will have their photo featured and receive a $15 gift certificate to Grimes Hardware’s Strawberry Town Cafe! To enter, email your photo, along with a caption, to Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com; subject line: I Love Plant City. Winners can pick up their prize at Grimes Hardware.

MOON PHASES

Aug. 10

Aug. 17

OKRA SHIPPING POINT: ORLANDO SIZE 1/2 bushel ctns

LOW $10.35

HIGH $10.85

Aug. 25

Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture Aug. 3

TWO GUYS WALK INTO A …

By Rob Lee | Edited by Timothy E. Parker

ACROSS 1 Kidney-shaped nut 7 1970s sitcom title role 14 Beach building 20 Elaborately designed 21 One swimming in place 22 Not digital, as a watch 23 Withstand hardship 24 The scholarly world 25 Take big steps 26 Sedative-hypnotic drug 28 It’s held during Oktoberfest 30 Natural necklace 31 ATM number 32 Ponselle or Bonheur 34 Places for the pampered 38 Nine-day devotion 41 Fit with a toupee 42 Like Pisa’s most famous landmark 43 Blasting homers 46 Like some muffins 47 Must, informally 48 Flew in place, as a helicopter 49 Time for a break 50 Bricklayer’s material 51 Hardened (to) 52 West Point frosh 53 Allocate 54 Serpentine fish 55 Dudley or Demi 56 Arm bones 57 Not exciting 59 In a brutal manner 62 Corp. section 66 Away from others 68 Doesn’t spend 69 “Well, ___-di-dah ...”

70 People in haunted houses, perhaps

Thickets Tow truck dispatcher Diva Maria Jai alai ball Like some yak herders Arab leader (var.)

Nutmeg coverings Places for relief pitchers Emerald’s mineral Mark over a vowel U.S. paper money word Drunkards ___-de-camp Whitney or Lilly “... boy ___ girl?”

Decree Candidate in 2008 and 2012 Piddling Eight-line poem Cameron smash-hit film Entertain big-time Tinged with gold Assess again Steep cliffs Added to one’s knowledge base Like Rapunzel’s head

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 27 29 32 33 35 36 37 39 40 41

DOWN 1 Salad style 2 “He’s ___ nowhere man” (Beatles lyric) 3 Part of a drum kit 4 Sign of things to come 5 Pins and needles holder 6 Expressed joy, in a way 7 Unable to look away 8 Secrets 9 Undiluted at the bar 10 Direction at a scene’s end 11 Copland’s “Symphonic ___”

53 55

73 75 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 93 96 101 104 107 108 109 110 111 112 113

SUDOKU PACIFIC Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

42 43 44 45 46 49 50 52

56 58 59 60 61 63 64 65

Dream phenom French or Italian, e.g.

Check out before a heist Debate side Appeared at county fairs Muhammad in the ring Affirmative action Become mature Turn upside down Child’s game Fasten again, as sneakers Country singer Buck NFL tight end Dennis Church feature Type of naked Cruel boss Locked horns Familiar red-white-andblue symbol Athenian marketplace Drew back, like a startled horse Not the gregarious type Soft palate feature “Fidelio,” e.g.

Dinner’s often on him Numerous Baltimore or San Francisco Some building additions Where to find Utopia Planitia Applications Brittle, transparent candy This puzzle has several Brewery fixtures Part of the eye containing the iris Really delight Missionary’s target If-___ (computer routines)

© 2013 Universal Uclick

67 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77

Cultured gem Strikebreakers Bit part Advance warning Wrapped in a waxy cloth It may be pitted ___ the lily (overembellish) Possessed of the requisite skills Morally depraved

79 80 83 85 86 91 92 94 95 96

Either of two skull bones Forum garb Like some birthday cards Undergraduate degrees Cylindrical with tapered ends Hotel postings Gather for oneself Seaweed variety Aphrodite’s consort South African colonist

97 98 99 100 101 102 103 105

He played Hawkeye Go-___ (small racer) ___ and done with Culturally pretentious Ms. alternative Continental trade org.

Palindromic title Have second thoughts about 106 Sr.’s nest egg

C RY P T O G R A M S 1 . Q P Q I M W K W Q V H O R G M V T K H T H - LT H K T V R Q Z F Z , G O F F C M T H P D LW O Z M K T V LT H L M V H Q Z F C M D W V M W P P W P Q I M .

2 . X Q Z U Q J R E N F B U Z R M J ’ Z W L I U M LW X L Z LW U F M W M LW I N S U F. D U B Q E U M LW M D J B M S U F Q J R E U U K M LW M D J T M L J F U I .

G U F N R U F, N Z ’ F G Q R I LT E Z M G U F L K U W F Z N Z N M L F.

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

0,!.4 #)49 4)-%3 /"3%26%2 &2)$!9 !5'534