1.7.21 PLCO

Plant City Observer

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VOLUME 6, NO. 128

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MEET CHIEF BRADFORD BREANNE WILLIAMS

PCPD’s new Chief of Police, STAFF WRITER James Bradford, hopes City’s new Chief of Police has spent his to increase transparency, Plant first month on the job getting to know the continue to build a bridge community and learning the nuances of PCPD. between the department James Bradford was hired mid-November to fill the role of chief following Chief Ed Dunand the community and can’s announcement that he planned to retire leave a legacy of “leading at the end of 2020. There were more than 80 from the front” during his applicants for the position and after it was narrowed down to four, the city hosted a pubtime at the helm. lic meet-and-greet with each candidate. City

Manager Bill McDaniel made his decision a few days later.

Bradford has been the chief full-time for two weeks now and spent the prior two weeks in a transition period where Chief Duncan helped ease him into the role. Bradford’s investiture ceremony was on Dec. 14 outside City Hall around the flag pole.

Now that he’s fully in the role, Bradford said his goal is to spend the first 60 to 90 days assessing where the department is so he can develop a detailed plan of where and how he hopes it can evolve and grow.

FREE • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

GREEN THUMBS, SILVER AWARDS

Members of Girl Scouts Troop 30889 completed their Silver Award projects at the Plant City Commons Community Gardens. The public is encouraged to check it out.

SEE PAGES 8 AND 9

NEWS BRIEFS

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

Man barricades himself in Sparkman Road home

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office shut down the section of Sparkman Road between Jap Tucker and Clemons roads the morning of Dec. 28 when a male subject barricaded himself inside a home in the area.

Police responded to the residence, located at the 1900 block of Sparkman Road, at 7:55 a.m. and evacuated residents in the area from their homes.

HCSO said the subject forced his way inside the residence and began acting erratically. An individual who was inside the residence at the time was able to get out safely. The subject barricaded himself in the home and fired several shots at deputies from within. Deputies did not return fire. They witnessed smoke coming from within the home at approximately 10:30 a.m. and heard one gunshot a few minutes later. They unsuccessfully attempted to make contact with the subject for several hours and found a deceased subject inside the home at 2:45 p.m.

“Our deputies worked tirelessly for hours to try and bring this incident to a peaceful resolution,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a press release. “I want to thank Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and the Plant City Police Department for their assistance during our investigation.”

United Food Bank of Plant City reports collection total from Hope Lutheran holiday food drive Thanks in part to Hope Lutheran Church, many Plant City families in need were able to put food on the table during the holiday season.

The church announced Tuesday that the United Food Bank of Plant City calculated a total of 925 pounds of donated food items received during the church’s annual

job-connection/ or TampaSummerJobs. com. There will be a Youth Information Session Zoom meeting at 4 p.m. Friday (register online at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=qrsxu9 5ab&oeidk=a07ehhtnfpmf31f754e) and a Business Coffee Talk Zoom meeting at 9 a.m. Jan. 13 (register online at http:// events.constantcontact.com/register/eve nt?llr=qrsxu95ab&oeidk=a07ehhtp0us2a 98c114).

Courtesy of Hope Lutheran Church

Hope Lutheran bringing back GriefShare classes

Season of Advent event, a drive sponsored

by Hope’s Missions and Outreach Ministry team that ran from Nov. 29, 2020 through Christmas. Members of Hope’s congregation received sacks, grocery lists of nonperishable items needed by the food bank and Advent devotionals to use throughout the season. Members were asked to fill the sacks and return them to the church by Christmas. Then the sacks are given to the food bank for distribution to the Plant City community.

“Hope’s members look forward to opportunities to serve our community in this way,” Rev. Dean Pfeffer said in a press release. “We know there are many people in our community, especially during this pandemic, living with food insecurities and anything we at Hope can do to fill an empty bowl is truly the living out of our faith in a very simple and practical way.”

Application window for CareerSource Summer Job Connection open Local youths can get a head start on finding a summer job now that the application window for CareerSource Tampa

Bay’s Summer Job Connection 2021 has opened.

Hillsborough County youths age 16-24 can apply from now through March 12 to participate in the third annual event, which “will expand its opportunities to 1,000 youth through part-time paid workexperience, virtual career exploration and our new youth leadership academy for youth that meet eligibility requirements.”

Opportunities available include a six-week internship that pays $12 per hour for 24 total hours per week, a four-week online career exploration program and a six-week Youth Leadership Academy program.

Those who complete the module will have a chance to earn $1,000 to $1,500. There will also be a mandatory one-day Youth Summit in June that will be offered both in-person and virtually.

CareerSource Tampa Bay said in a press release up to 1,000 youths will be hired this summer to help 200 local businesses in fields like manufacturing and construction, hospitality and tourism, transportation, logistics, retail, financial shared services, healthcare and information technology.

The full program runs from June 14 to July 23. To apply or get more information, visit either CareerSourceTB.com/summer-

Hope Lutheran Church announced Tuesday its 13-week GriefShare sessions are returning starting Jan. 19.

The church, 2001 N. Park Road, hosts this seminar and support group for those grieving after the death of their loved ones.

GriefShare is broken up into identical weekly morning (10:30 a.m.) and evening (6:30 p.m.) sessions and includes a video seminar and group discussions. Both daily sessions are held every Tuesday.

“This group is sponsored by people who understand what you are experiencing and want to offer you comfort and encouragement during this difficult time,” Hope Lutheran Church Senior Pastor Rev. Dean Pfeffer Sr. said. “During the small group discussion time, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with others who have experienced a recent loss, simply silently observe the class, learn about others’ experiences and share your own. Participants will find that there is healing from grief and your mourning can become joy again. Hope’s GriefShare leaders are ready and standing by to help lead you from mourning to joy. Don’t delay your journey any longer, get started on that journey today.”

GriefShare has been adapted to better fit within COVID-19 safety recommendations, so masks and social distancing will be mandatory for all participants. To register and get more information, call 813-752-4622.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

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JAMES BRADFORD TAKES THE HELM AT PCPD Bradford has served full-time as Chief of Police for the past two weeks, following a two-week transition period where outgoing Chief Ed Duncan prepped him for the job. Bradford now hopes to help Plant City Police Department evolve. FROM PAGE 1 BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

“Chief Duncan did an incredible job bringing this department further along the path of being a professional organization that anyone would be proud to work at,” Bradford said. “Under his leadership he boosted morale, he furthered the accreditation of the department and he made sure that there was a solid bridge between the community and its officers. I’m blessed to have been given a well-run department — you don’t see that everywhere — so my focus is going to be to maintain the level of excellence that is currently in place and then look for improvements as time goes by to make it even better.”

During his 31-year career in law enforcement, Bradford said he has worked in a wide variety of positions ranging from patrol to investigations to eventually being over major crimes. Because of that, he believes he will be able to bring an all-encompassing outlook to the department. But he’s also aware that there is much to learn.

TRANSITION

A large reason why Duncan chose to retire last year was because several of the command staff at PCPD plan to retire soon.

He wanted the new chief to have the opportunity to learn from the decades of experience each of those officers has to share.

Bradford said the command staff quickly took him under their wings and he has been honored to learn from them. In his opinion, the “what” and “how” of their choices and actions is important but the “why” is where he learns the most. In some instances, he said he has to change his perspective — which largely is based on his years with HCSO — on how the department is run, how the city is run and how the community functions as a whole.

The command staff has been his “bedrock” and he said they have all taken the time to share their knowledge and experiences with him, which he feels will only help further his foundation as he begins this career.

“Since my arrival on day one, hour one, minute one, I was wel-

comed with open arms,” Bradford said. “This department, they’ve accepted me as one of their own since the beginning. And I think the community knows the level of quality that this department has on every level. It’s good to know that every man and woman at PCPD, whether they are sworn officers or staff another department, they are all dedicated to providing the best service.”

While he transitions to the role as chief, he added that he knows the department is transitioning to adapt to his style of leadership as well. He’s had several meetings with the staff on nearly all levels of the department to share his expectations. There has been a layer of ease in that journey, though, because he believes he and Chief Duncan’s expectations and goals were very similar.

COMMUNITY PRESENCE

One of the major focuses he has for the department is to increase its community presence. That means he won’t sit behind his desk all day long. He intends to be visible in the community and get to know the residents that call this city home. He has already begun reaching out to organizations like the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club to get on their schedules to speak with members and further his community connections.

In a perfect world, Bradford said, he would have liked to have had a large open house for the public to come get to know him and share their thoughts on Plant City and PCPD. However, due to COVID-19, any large gathering will have to wait. He added they were looking for an alternative to accomplish the same goal without putting anyone at risk.

However, he said he hopes to make sure the public knows his phone line is always open.

ACCOMMODATING FOR GROWTH

Plant City is growing at a rapid rate. With all the new residential communities, new business sectors and the industrial boom, there will soon be a massive spike in population for the city.

However, the number of officers with PCPD has remained relatively stagnant over the last few decades.

Bradford said the city’s tagline, “Preserving the past and embracing the future,” sums up the mindset he has for the department. He wants his department to maintain a healthy and open relationship with the community to keep that small-town charm while also being aware of the present challenges like the massive growth on the horizon.

It comes down to a twopronged approach, Bradford said.

First there is the practical/physical approach and then there is the organizational approach.

The practical/physical prong is simple: the department needs more staff. It’s a concern Duncan had. It’s a concern McDaniel is aware of. And it’s a concern that has already been the foundation of many conversations these first few weeks of Bradford’s reign.

He said that he trusts McDaniel’s vision for the city and believes the issue is on the city manager’s radar. In the meantime, Bradford said it is important the department work smarter and not harder.

Observations, suggestions and ideas typically come from the command staff down to the squads. However, that conversation needs to flow both ways as some of the younger members of the department may see things the rest of the staff do not.

When population grows, calls for service, traffic and the overall quality of life are going to rise

quickly. People tend to look to the police to manage the influx of residents and all of the problems that come with it.

The organizational prong will rely heavily on a strong and open line of communication throughout the department. There will also need to be a conscious and deliberate assessment of the entire staff for signs of burnout.

Bradford said he will make that a priority because he believes there are things the department as a whole can do, once those signs are identified, to rebalance the workload and make sure everyone performs at the highest level.

TRANSPARENCY

The national dialogue surrounding the police all points back to two themes: transparency and accountability. Bradford said PCPD has a reputation for being transparent and he hopes to further that reputation under his leadership.

The body camera pilot program is in the works now and Bradford said they are entering the second evaluation period. HCSO was testing and evaluating cameras while Bradford was still with the department. He said he plans to take what he learned from that process and apply it to the conversation PCPD and the city will have to find the best fit here.

Bradford simply said, “I think it’s a good thing” and that he is looking forward to hearing the

feedback of those testing the proposed equipment now.

He also believes PCPD could improve its social media presence and has plans in the work on how to better utilize their platforms.

The goal is to increase that bridge between the community and PCPD by making sure the public knows what is going on around town. If there’s an accident or if a train breaks down, posting to social media quickly spreads the word. Bradford also wants to use the platform to give a “behind the badge” look at some of PCPD’s officers.

LEGACY

When all is said and done, Bradford hopes he is remembered for “leading from the front.” He wants to use his time as chief to maintain the example set before his as well as improve on the working conditions for his officers. He said police work is really all he’s ever known and he hopes that he can continue to make PCPD the best place to work for those who feel this is their calling.

Bradford said he wants to make sure he is known for being a chief who is easy to reach and takes every concern — no matter how great or small — seriously. His phone is always on and he said he is looking forward to get to know even more about what makes Plant City special.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY

Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigated stolen cat litter, $14,000 Stolen,

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

a fraudulent trailer sale ad,

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com

a stolen purse and more.

Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com

Photo: iStock

Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com

DECEMBER 19

STOP RIGHT MEOW

DECEMBER 22

UNHAPPY HONDA DAYS

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

1400 block of South Collins Street Theft: An officer responded to a report of stolen cat litter.

CHIPPING AWAY 1 Police Place Fraud: This complainant stated an unknown suspect withdrew more than $14,000 from her Chime app over the prior few months.

4610 block of Crimson Court Fraud: This complainant stated she attempted to buy a Honda Accord online and the seller requested payment via Google Play gift cards. She sent $1,800 and then realized it was a scam.

DECEMBER 28

DECEMBER 31

TRAILER TROUBLE

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

1600 block of West Baker Street Fraud (attempted): The park manager of Floral Village Mobile Home Park was notified of a fraudulent advertisement for a trailer for sale.

2800 block of James L. Redman Parkway Vehicle burglary: This complainant stated someone entered her vehicle and stole her purse while she was returning a shopping cart after shopping.

2900 block of James L. Redman Parkway Warrant: While working a traffic crash in the Lowe’s parking lot, an officer grew suspicious of a vehicle and its occupants. The officer alerted some other officers and they stopped the vehicle in the Sonic parking lot. They learned a passenger of the suspicious vehicle had an active warrant out of Hillsborough County for petit theft. She was also in possession of methamphetamine. The passenger was arrested and taken to Orient Road Jail.

DECEMBER 20 SLEEPING IT OFF 2100 block of West Baker Street Warrant: Officers responded to a report of two women “passed out” in a white Toyota parked at a Walgreens parking lot. One of the occupants had an active warrant out of Polk County for violation of probation/DUI. She was arrested and taken to Orient Road Jail.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

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COVID-19 SPIKES,

MAD DASH FOR VACCINES

UPDATE

BREANNE WILLIAMS

of hospital beds and 17 percent of intensive care units beds are The spike in COVID-19 cases available. throughout the nation following Those numbers were slightly the onslaught of holiday travel shifted for Tampa Bay, where and gatherings has kept Florida approximately 17 percent of hosat the third-highest number of pital beds and 12 percent of ICU cases since the start of the panbeds were open. As of Tuesday, demic. there were 7,376 Floridians in On Tuesday, the Florida hospitals with a primary diagDepartment of Health reported nosis of COVID-19 and of those 15,431 coronavirus cases and 1,580 patients were in Tampa Bay. 100 deaths. Adding that to the The hope for many that this prior data that now means that pandemic will soon come to an the state has recorded 1,392,123 end lies in the distribution of the COVID-19 cases since the start of coronavirus vaccines. The initial the pandemic. It has now reached wave of the vaccinations were a total of 22,515 deaths. distributed this week and the The daily average now for expectation is more will follow on Florida this week is 14,267 new a weekly basis. cases and 114 deaths per day. The As a whole, Florida has vaconly states with more cases than cinated 289,773 people as of Florida are Texas, which has 1.7 Tuesday. Of those, Hillsborough million COVID-19 cases, and County had16,757 people vacCalifornia, which has had 2.3 cinated. Governor Ron DeSantis, million cases. who left the distribution up to a Hospitals are continuing to county-by-county plan, received see a rise in COVID-19 patients flack when several counties chose as well. According to the Agency to have a “first-come, firstfor Healthcare Administration serve” plan. This led to massive Florida, approximately 21 percent lines of senior citizens sitting in

STAFF WRITER

the cold overnight under their blankets and jackets as they waited to hopefully receive a vaccine.

Those who chose to distribute via appointment, however, were not without their share of problems. The phone lines to get appointments for the vaccinations were flooded with callers all over the state.

“With the Department of Health, I’ve told them ‘Put more people on these phones. We need to help out with the phones,’” DeSantis said at a news conference in Ocala. “If you’re 85, you may not be totally fluent with the Internet. And so providing other ways to do it, I think, is important.”

The county had four vaccine distribution sites available for residents age 65 and older. The distributions were by appointment only and all of the appointments were booked by Tuesday afternoon. On Monday, within minutes of going live, the county website residents were told they could use to sign up for the vac-

cine crashed due to the high volume of traffic. By that afternoon the site had still not been fixed, so many turned to the phones.

Of course, that didn’t go much better as the phone lines remained full from open to close.

It’s an issue reported throughout the state and has led to national coverage of the way Florida is handling the distribution.

But there is still hope those age 65 and up can get a vaccine soon.

The county announced it expects to be able to offer more appointments next week. Residents can visit HCFLGov.net/vaccine for additional information and updates.

The 9,000 COVID-19 vaccines the county had in stock will be distributed by this Saturday. The county expects to have weekly shipments of the vaccine and residents will be notified on how to make their appointments as soon as the next batch is available. If you do get a vaccine appointment for the next round the four sites are located at the following places:

University Mall (parking lot) — 2200 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33612 Vance Vogel Sports Complex — 13012 Bullfrog Creek Road, Gibsonton, FL 33534 Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds — 2700 W. Risk St., Plant City, FL 33563 Ed Radice Sports Complex — 14720 Ed Radice Drive, Tampa, FL 33626

The State of Florida has made the vaccine available to some of its health care partners across Hillsborough County, including Tampa General Hospital, BayCare Health System, CVS, and Walgreens.

The county also still has its face covering mandate in effect. This mandate requires face coverings be worn in indoor locations of businesses, with certain exceptions. For more information, go to HCFLGov.net/facecoverings.

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Appointments to receive vaccines in the county reached capacity Tuesday afternoon, however, officials say more are on the horizon.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

PLANT CITY BUSINESS ICON LEW PROSSER NAMED TO FLORIDA CITRUS HALL OF FAME

Courtesy of the Plant City Photo Archives

Prosser, a Plant City native and a citrus industry innovator, will be honored at the November luncheon.

GIL GOTT

In a Florida Citrus Hall of Fame news release, Brenda Eubanks Burnette, Hall of Fame Executive Director, praised Plant City businessman and citrus industry entrepreneur Lew James Prosser, Jr., for his leadership in the citrus industry over many years and announced his selection for induction into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame.

Prosser was selected along with three other candidates from a slate of 21 nominees for the prestigious award, which will be presented at the 58th Citrus Celebration Luncheon scheduled for Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, at Florida Southern College. The annual luncheon originally set for March 2021 was moved as a precaution due to the pandemic.

Along with Prosser, the inductees are former Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, former Extension Agent and professor John Jackson and Steve Sorrells, a citrus production innovator and former Chairman of the Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council.

One of seven sons born to Lew James and Anna Letha Prosser, Lew James Prosser, Jr., was born in Prosser Hollow, Cambria County, near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on July 9,1899. His father was a successful bituminous coal operator. The family vacationed in Miami several times and moved there perma-

nently around 1906. Lew, Jr. attended public schools, graduating from Miami High School in 1916 and completing his formal education at Pan American College of Commerce in Miami.

While still a very young man, Lew, Jr., moved to Plant City. It was the largest inland shipping point in the state with the passage of 50 to 60 trains a day. He worked for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and gained valuable experience in freight shipping and the express business, leading to some of his most important innovations. He began his career in the citrus industry in 1921 working for Robert Wade Burch, a pioneer citrus and produce shipper. After the death of Mr. Burch in 1928, Prosser assumed sole ownership of the R.W. Burch Company. By 1930 he expanded the operations to five citrus packing plants and had become the third-largest independent shipper of citrus fruit in Florida.

With the collapse of Florida’s economy in the late 1920s, farmers had few markets for their products. Their survival depended on the extension of farm credit and making possible continued production and enabling their suppliers to also stay in business. A first which benefitted growers in the area was the formation of the Plant City Production Credit Company, administered by Prosser’s R.W. Burch Company and sponsored by a forerunner to the United States Farm Credit Administration. It was the first

farm production credit association in this part of Florida.

Prosser was an inventor and an aggressive innovator. His list of accomplishments is long and includes the formation of the Florida Mixed Car Company, specializing in marketing mixed carlot shipments of citrus and produce on one rail car solely dedicated to the shipment of produce. Later, when the railroads were unwilling to provide refrigerated carlot express services, Prosser underwrote the expense of a proceeding before the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington. The case lasted three years and eventually, in the mid-1930s, resulted in a ruling by the ICC that the express companies be required by law to provide full refrigerated car service by express at reduced rates. This provided significant relief for produce growers and shippers.

The increased volume of shipments led to the centralization of farm markets and the new Florida State Farmers Market (1939) provided an efficient marketing means leading to increased production benefitting produce growers and shippers. Areas around the Farmers Market were incubators for new business. In 1944, Lew Prosser organized the first and only citrus canning plant in Plant City, the Citrus Products Company, providing a new market for the citrus producers. He also used the byproducts processing them in the adjacent cattle feed divi-

sion and the citrus molasses division.

Always wanting to know about citrus production in other countries, Prosser made many trips throughout the world in this quest. He and Dr. Arthur F. Camp, later of the Citrus Experimental Station (CAS) in Lake Alfred, went to Brazil to explore that nation’s potential long before its rise as a main competitor in the citrus industry. He later traveled to Spain to study how that country was handling the infestations of the Mediterranean fruit fly.

Prosser’s extensive knowledge about citrus resulted in several revolutionary changes in processing and marketing crops.

He made a valuable contribution to the industry with the development of two patents which became uniformly applied throughout the state.

One of these was the trisodium phosphate bath. Previously, it had been necessary to wrap each orange and grapefruit separately in specially treated paper to deter decay in transit and merchandising. This was eliminated by the new bath process which significantly slowed decay, reduced the cost of packing and led to the use of alternative types of containers.

The second innovation pioneered by Prosser’s company

was an improvement patent.

The dyeing of oranges of varieties characteristically yellow in appearance gave them a darker orange color, enhancing the eye appeal of the fruit, making it more competitive with higher colored varieties and increasing their marketability. The improvement patent became widely used within the industry.

By the time of his death in 1996 at age 97, Lew Prosser, Plant City’s quiet entrepreneur, found success in the citrus industry and in several businesses. His name was known and associated with citrus not only in his hometown, but far beyond for more than 75 years. He was a pioneer, shipper, producer, processor, researcher and promoter of Florida’s citrus industry.

Gil Gott is the director of the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

GIRL SCOUTS SPRUCE UP PLANT CITY COMMUNITY GARDENS WITH SILVER AWARD PROJECTS Members of Troop 30889 chose to install three projects at the Plant City Commons Community Garden for one of the Girl Scouts’ most prestigious awards.

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JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

A group of local Girl Scouts going for Silver Awards, the highest honor a Cadette can achieve, were all on the same page when it came time to get to work.

The Plant City Commons Community Garden is now better for the people and pollinators using it thanks to their decision to focus all of their projects on improving life at the East Cherry Street garden across from Hillsborough Community College. It was a follow-up of sorts to several years of working in the garden for MLK Day of Service efforts and a way to give back to one of Plant City’s hidden gems.

“They came out here to do service on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day about three years ago and were really inspired by this location,” Troop 30889 co-leader Amy

Southworth said. “So when it was time to do their Silver project, they all wanted to give back to the gardens.”

Mary Beth Southworth and Victoria Wantlin teamed up to build a new home for bees after an existing bee habitat was beaten up by weather over time. The two scouts spent roughly a year on the project between studying what works best for the bees and then building the bee house, and it was finally installed in late July 2020.

“We did a lot of research about what was poisonous to the bees so we wouldn’t use that,” Mary Beth Southworth said.

“The colors that we chose were because those colors attract bees more than others. The overall structure worked better than others because it was easier to access and stuff like that.”

Their bee house also has a cool feature for teachers: it comes with a built-in lesson plan teachers can use to help students

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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learn about bees and how they help their local ecosystems thrive.

Hannah Stead, Eva Lovvorn and Aslynn Maher were inspired by the Little Free Libraries all over Plant City and communities around the country, so they built one of their own for the gardens.

“While enjoying this garden, you might want to read a book about gardening because you might not know how,” Stead said. “So we wanted to put it near the gazebo where you can sit and enjoy the garden while reading a gardening book or whatever books people put in there.”

As an added bonus, part of it is also reserved for seeds. Whether you want to find something to plant yourself or you wish to pay it forward by leaving some of your own seeds in the Little Free Library, a container within keeps the seeds safe until they’re ready to be taken out and used.

“We just thought it would be a good addition to add to the gardens,” Lovvorn said. “It wasn’t something that was too small or too big — it was just easy to do.”

This project was started in May 2020 with help from 84 Lumber and was installed a month or so later.

Melia Paat saw an opportunity to get creative with up cycled materials and created two pieces of art to display near the garden’s gazebo. Using old, discarded and unused items she either found or got

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

from family, friends and troop leaders, she built a dragonfly and a bumblebee out of materials like gardening tools, bottle caps and a bowling pin. Her idea was to enrich the natural visuals of the garden with an artistic touch and create an even more peaceful atmosphere near an area where many people go to relax.

“I personally took some unwanted items from family friends,” Paat said.

“It allowed me to get quite a few items I wouldn’t have found otherwise. I also had donations from troop leaders of things collecting dust in their garages. I went in with a couple ideas of what I wanted, but as I found what materials I was using, I ended up going with a dragonfly and a bumblebee.”

Paat also made a video advertising the gardens with plenty of information about how Girl Scouts can earn their badges there.

OPEN ENROLLMENT GRADES K-8

TUITION-FREE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL FREE Microsoft Office 360 account with customized student e-mail EDventure Before & After School Program Cambridge Program Advanced Studies Cognia Accredited Enhanced sanitation protocols in every classroom The Plant City Commons Community Garden is located at 2001 E. Cherry St. Visit plantcitycommunitygarden.com for upcoming events and more information.

12902 East US Hwy 92 | 813-473-8600 info@iacademies.com | IAcademies.org @IndependenceAcademyCharter IndependenceAcademyCharter

9

JANUARY 7, 2021

SPORTS

Ezereke Dawson was named MVP of the 2020 Nature Coast Tech Christmas Tournament. See Page 11

FIGHTING FOR FIVE The Plant City Dolphins Midgets football team will begin its latest playoff run this Saturday. If the next few weeks go well for them, they could win their fifth consecutive league championship.

UPCOMING PLAYOFF SCHEDULE The Plant City Dolphins Midgets are far from the only local team to make the TCYFCC playoffs this season.

The Midgets are one of four Dolphins teams to finish 2020 with perfect regular-season records, and the Varsity Dolphins also made the playoff picture with a 4-3 record. Also making appearances are the Turkey Creek Trojans’ Mighty Mites team (4-3) and the Dover Patriots’ Mighty Mites (5-2), Midgets (3-4) and Junior Varsity (3-4) teams.

The first round of the TCYFCC playoffs will be hosted at four different sites on Saturday, though local teams will only use three of them.

MIGHTY MITES Pinecrest Pilots vs. Turkey Creek Trojans

(@ Brandon Broncos, 3104 S. Kings Ave., Brandon) Southwest Junior Saints vs. Dover Patriots (@ Seffner Seahawks, 7358 Taylor Road, Seffner) Plant City Dolphins vs. North Lakeland Legends (@ Central Florida Panthers, 310 Kid Ellis Road, Mulberry) PEE WEES Plant City Dolphins vs. North Lakeland Legends (@ Central Florida Panthers, 310 Kid Ellis Road, Mulberry)

MIDGETS Plant City Dolphins vs. Dover Patriots (@ Central Florida Panthers, 310 Kid Ellis Road, Mulberry)

JUNIOR VARSITY Plant City Dolphins vs. Dover Patriots (@ Central Florida Panthers, 310 Kid Ellis Road, Mulberry)

VARSITY Plant City Dolphins (First-round bye, will advance to second round)

KICKOFF TIMES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Mighty Mites: 9 a.m.

Pee Wees: 11 a.m.

Midgets: 1 p.m.

Junior Varsity: 3 p.m.

Varsity: 5 p.m.

Quick Hits

File photo

The Plant City Dolphins Midgets beat the Lakeland Eagles 14-0 for the 2019 TCYFCC league championship. They can continue their legacy of winning starting with this week’s first-round game against the Dover Patriots.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

After a long offseason full of uncertainties and unprecedented obstacles, the Plant City Dolphins Midgets team made the most of the opportunity they were given. They ran the tables in 2020 with a perfect regular-season record and, most impressively, won by shutout in every game.

Now they’re getting ready for the next step: continuing their impressive hot streak in the playoffs.

“I think this year has been the most challenging,” head coach Robbie Jordan said. “It’s my 15th year coaching and a unique situation with COVID. There were lot of insurance issues with league, starts and stops, we had to take a winter break… I’m anxious to get there (the playoffs). I feel good about the team. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here.”

If this Dolphins team can win its next three games, that will make for five consecutive TCYFCC Superbowl championship wins — an impressive feat started by head coach Marcus Springfield in 2016 and 2017, then continued by head coach John Broome in 2018 and Jordan last year.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for those guys,” Jordan said.

“They put in a lot of time to set this standard and it’s my job to keep the team rolling… it’s a winning tradition and I’m glad to be a part of it. We set high expectations and do our best to meet them.”

Though this Midgets team is on the younger side — it’s a 10U team with a lot of 9-year-olds rostered — it makes up

for its youth with talent and attitude. It helps that many of the team’s younger players knew what to expect, having won a Superbowl last year with the Pee Wee team, so getting everyone from the players to the parents to buy in to the culture Jordan and his coaching staff have maintained was not difficult. That was crucial to the team’s early successes when, despite not being able to go through the usual six-week training camp, the Dolphins still found ways to get in the wins column and eventually get in sync to the best of their ability.

The defense has unquestionably been the keystone of the team’s success.

There’s no one player who stands out head and shoulders above the rest, Jordan said — it’s a total team effort by the unit and the proof lies with those eight shutout wins. The defensive plays are called by coordinator James Lovett, whom Jordan says “watches film nonstop” and always has the kids ready for anything the TCYFCC can throw at them.

“He’s busy all the time, but he’s all about football and prepares better than any coach I’ve ever been around as far as defense goes,” Jordan said. “My other assistants deserve credit also, but I give (Lovett) 100 percent control over the defense.”

Offensively, the “three-headed monster” at running back allows the team to keep fresh legs on the field at all times and keep marching downfield. Zion Weems, Jayden Freeman and Dexter Lee have split the majority of the carries this season and opened things up for the revamped passing game. Quarterback Tyson McElhaney, whose football

DYNAMIC SPORTS AND LEARNING ACADEMY RESTARTING FREE ATHLETIC TRAINING FOR YOUTHS Dynamic Sports and Learning Academy, a Plant City-based nonprofit that works with young athletes, is getting ready to get back on the field starting next week.

DSLA started offering free athletic training services last June to area youths up to age 18 at Marshall Middle Magnet School’s track and field, 18 S. Maryland Ave. The program was centered on building overall ath-

IQ Jordan praised, lets the Midgets run a spread offense and wide receiver Dominick Harris-Payne gives the offense a big-play threat at all times.

Plant City will kick off the 2020 postseason with a game against the Dover Patriots at 1 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Central Florida Panthers’ field, 310 Kid Ellis Road, Mulberry.

“Dover’s a good young team,” Jordan said. “They always show up to play football. I’m happy they made the playoffs and it’ll be a fun crosstown rivalry matchup in the first round.”

Courtesy of Victoria Escobar

The Plant City Dolphins Midgets team prides itself on its culture and work ethic, and head coach Robbie Jordan says everyone’s willingness to work for each other has led to the team’s continued success on the gridiron.

letic ability rather than focusing entirely on one sport, so those who attended the weekly training sessions got a healthy dose of cardio, speed, quickness and agility training in.

Though DSLA eventually postponed the sessions due to the then-incoming school year — which created a huge ordeal for parents, teachers and students with its rollout — it’s finally coming back next Tuesday, Jan. 12.

As before, the sessions will be held at Marshall and all participants are asked to bring their own water and cleats. Masks are optional but all athletes and parents will be required to sign a medical waiver before par-

ticipating in activities. Sessions will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, though additional times may be added. Last summer, the group also hosted Saturday morning sessions.

DSLA also offers tutoring sessions from 6 to 7 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center, 1601 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Those sessions will restart next Monday, Jan. 11.

For more information and to get your kids involved in DSLA programming, visit the Facebook page at facebook. com/DSLA2020 or email 1dsla2020@gmail.com.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

Ezereke Dawson

Plant City High School’s boys basketball team stayed busy over the winter break and came back to school with something to show for it. The Raiders won the 2020 Nature Coast Tech Christmas Tournament and a big part of that was the play of tournament MVP Ezereke Dawson.

Dawson, a senior forward, averaged 12.7 points and six rebounds per game and saved his best for last with 14 points, five boards, one block, one steal and one assist in the team’s 75-39 championship game win over the hosting NCT Sharks.

Dawson is currently averaging 15.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, and he also has a 3.5 GPA. How were you feeling heading into the Nature Coast Tech tournament?

I’m just excited to keep playing.

We had just gotten quarantined and just came back, so we didn’t have any practices or anything.

We were at home, chilling. Some of us got shots up. Some of us were doing their own thing because they had to stay home. So I was excited to be back.

S

d

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So how did that first game back feel?

I didn’t know how well we were gonna do because we hadn’t been practicing lately as a team.

I knew what I could do but I was more worried about how we would play as a team, as a whole, because we hadn’t been together.

But when we got there, we ended up showing out and playing an amazing game as a team.

You’re having a very good season now. What’s working for you this year that you can say you’ve really improved on from the last three years?

My work ethic. I feel like before, I wasn’t putting as much time and work into the gym. But then I opened my eyes working out with my AAU coach, coach C.J. He opened my eyes to, like, if I want to do it, I’ve got to go take it because it’s not gonna be given

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to me. My work ethic went higher and higher after that. I’m always in the gym. I’m always working on my jump shot and becoming better at spacing the floor for the team.

And on the court, where have you made the biggest improvement?

Finishing above the rim. I’ll dunk on everything every time I get a chance to dunk. Rebounding, too… I’m hustling, getting after rebounds knowing the importance of it. I’m trying to become more of a leader for the team.

Any college plans?

Really, anywhere. If any teams are looking, if any coaches are willing to talk to me and offer me, I’m willing to go anywhere. It’s just a blessing to even get offers from judos and all that. I take it as a blessing. I’ll never say I’m too good to go to a certain college or a certain division. Never that. I’m always looking to get better and work. Wherever I can take my talents to, I’ll be willing to go there.

What kind of fit are you looking for in a program, culture-wise?

I don’t know. I’ll play anywhere.

I don’t have a problem fitting in

with a certain group. I get along with everybody pretty well. I’ve never been the type to look down on others or look at myself above others.

What’s your proudest moment on the court?

Just being with my teammates.

They cheer me on every time I dunk the ball and I cheer them on. When the bench players get in, I get excited for them because it’s a team effort. I never feel like I’ve been the only person that’s put in work on this team. I always see what my teammates are doing.

What’s your favorite thing about this group of guys?

Work ethic. Hard work. We give a lot more effort than we had last year. I broke down in the preseason, in the locker room, because they just showed me that this year might have a lot more potential than last year. So far, we’ve been moving pretty well.

What’s the best advice a coach has given you?

Just for me to be a dominant player. Every time I step on the court, I need to show that I’m the best player. I can’t just say it. If

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So how did you stay sharp while you all had to quarantine?

I would be around the house dribbling the ball, or sometimes I’d go to the courts for a little bit and if people came I would leave… if I did get exposed to it, I didn’t want them getting exposed to it.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

11

Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at JKline@ plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.

287396-1

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

PlantCityObserver.com

813-986-1266

you’re the best rebounder, show that you’re the best rebounder. If you’re the best passer, show that you’re the best passer. If you’re the best scorer, show that you’re the best scorer. Be the best you — not somebody that you’re not.

Since you’re about to graduate, what advice would you give to the next generation of Raiders?

Time flies. You think you have all this time to work on your game?

No. Every single second you get a chance for anything, to work on your game, go take it and get after it. I thought it was like that, too, and then I realized I’m already in my senior year and I needed to show improvement.

Never think you’ve got time — always be willing to get in the gym and get some shots up.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

289704-1

We asked Facebook: What would you like to see come to Plant City in 2021?

“More events and more local restaurants, especially ones open Sunday/late night. Splash pad for the kids would be nice. What we don’t need: Box stores, chain restaurants, more subdivisions” — Caitlyn Sharits “Definitely more restaurants with outdoor seating. Have pretty much had to leave the city to go out to eat during COVID and it has made me appreciate just how wonderful sitting outside eating is.” — Laurie Reidinger-Hofts “A playground in the heart of downtown, preferably with shade sails. For families with small children that will change downtown from a place to grab lunch to a place to spend the day.” — Patrick Barrett “Besides great restaurants such as Tijuana Flats and Chick Fil A, paved sidewalks so that we can walk more or ride bikes with our children and pets. Restaurants are welcomed but we need more safer sidewalks.”

— Marley Martinez

“Healthy food choices, restaurants and grocery stores” — Debbie Kuches Schroeder “Some kind of health food store like sprouts or Whole Foods, but also Chick-fil-A would be nice as well! Midtown needs some cool stuff like the splash pad idea or even permanent food truck setup like Sparkman Wharf in Tampa versus the office buildings/apartments projected to go there.” — Autumn Laurel “I miss the old arcade also wouldn’t mind seeing a monster truck show at the stadium” — Kenneth Bowers “Something FUN for the kids/teens to enjoy” — Monica Reinhold

“A place for the homeless” — Angie T. Grooms “Chick-fil-A or Steak n Shake. New Christmas decorations for all the street lights.” — Shelly Roberts-Woods “A disc golf course in Plant City would be amazing (Medard’s course is not taken care of). It’s a growing sport and would attract a lot of people to come play or host tournaments.” — Jarad Bean “It would be nice to have a nice huge park like Barnett in Lakeland...there are several different play areas for different ages, plus a summer splash pad.” — Maegan Bledsoe “Sugar-free dessert place!” — Nikki Glover

“Tropical smoothie and more plant-based food options!”

— Graciela M. Gonzalez

Meet Your Care Team

Robert Baskin, MD

Gregg W. Gutowski, MD

Brian J. Korte, MD

Specialty: Family Medicine Education: Medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama.

Specialty: Family Medicine Education: Medical degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

Experience: Residency at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama.

Specialty: Family Medicine Education: Medical degree from Northeastern Ohio University in Rootstown, Ohio.

Experience: Residency at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Primary Care and Sports Medicine fellowship at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Board Certified Family Medicine

Experience: Residency at the Cardiology Research V.A. Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama.

Certification: American Board of Family Medicine

Board Certified Family Medicine

Certification: American Board of Family Medicine

Clinic services include: • X-ray • DEXA scan • Ultra sound • Full lab facilities • Diabetic eye exam • Telemedicine capabilities WellMed does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its health programs and activities.

ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Please call 888-781-WELL (9355).

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Board Certified Family Medicine

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WellMed at Plant City Family Practice Center 507 W. Alexander Street • Plant City, Florida 33563

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

Sonja R. Sexton, 79, of Plant City, born in Coleman on January 3, 1941, entered into eternal rest on December 21, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Thurman D. Bevlin

Randy Fallon Rhea

Wayne Dee Bigelow

Darlene (Cox) Nail

Randy Fallon Rhea, 59, of Plant City, born on December 12, 1961, entered into eternal rest on December 19, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Wayne Dee Bigelow, 77, of Wimauma, born in Benton Harbor, Michigan on January 11, 1943, entered into eternal rest on December 23, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Darlene (Cox) Nail, 77 of Plant City, born on October 12, 1943, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on December 27, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Thurman D. Bevlin, 82, of Dover, Raul Uresti born in Lumberport, West Virginia Raul Uresti, 74, of Plant City, born on July 20, 1938, entered into on June 4, 1946 in El Salvador, eternal rest on December 21, Zacatecas, Mexico, entered into 2020. eternal rest on December 21, Expressions of condolence 2020. at HopewellFuneral.com.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Cecil H. Miller

Cecil H. Miller, 84, of Lithia, formerly of Port Charlotte, born in Lenoir, North Carolina on January 16, 1936, entered into eternal rest on December 23, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Vicente Landeros Martinez Vicente Landeros Martinez 88, of Plant City, born on April 5, 1932 in Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, entered into eternal rest on December 23, 2020.

Expressions of condolences at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Kathy Hodum

Kathy Hodum, 80, of Lakeland, born in Jasper, Indiana, on August 8, 1940, entered into Reba V. Bennett, 94, of Plant City, born on November 15, 1926, eternal rest on December 25, 2020. entered into eternal rest on Expressions of condolence December 20, 2020. at HopewellFuneral.com.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Reba V. Bennett

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Joseph LaRue Richter

Dr. Joseph LaRue Richter M.D., age 78, of Plant City, passed away on January 1, 2021. Dr. Richter was a physician in Plant City for 34 years. Services will be held privately.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care.

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Andrea Smith Nixon Andrea Smith Nixon, 72, of Plant City, born in Batesville, Indiana on May 8, 1948, entered into eternal rest on December 20, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com

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Ramiro Torres Vargas

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Ramiro Torres Vargas, 81, of Plant City, born on February 17, 1939 in San Antonio, Tamaulipas, Mexico, entered into eternal rest on December 30, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Yvonne Sistrunk Clodfelter

Yvonne Sistrunk Clodfelter, age 75, of Plant City, passed away on January 1, 2021. Funeral services were held January 6, 2021 at Haught Funeral Home Chapel, 708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care.

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Christopher Lee Franklin

Gregoria Melchor Ramos

Christopher Lee Franklin, 42, of Plant City, born in Tampa on December 24, 1978, entered into eternal rest on January 1, 2021.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Gregoria Melchor Ramos, 61, of Guerrero, Mexico, born on April 26, 1959 in Loc. Tecolcuautla, Ahuacuotzingo, Guerrero, Mexico, entered into eternal rest on December 27, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com

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Jane Perry Gervais Jane Perry Gervais, 64, of Plant City, passed away on January 4, 2021.

Services will be held privately.

Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

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OBITUARIES

Sonja R. Sexton

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

BEST BET SLABACH & CO. WINTER WONDERLAND 5 to 8 p.m. Slabach & Co. Farmers Market, 110 E. Keysville Road, is hosting its Winter Wonderland festivities. Visit the market on the following days for food, music and fun: Jan. 8-9.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7

SATURDAY, JANUARY 9

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

THE WRITERS’ LOFT

7:30 to 9 a.m. Join the Plant City Toastmasters for breakfast, laughs, and fun; there’s no better way to start your Thursday mornings. Bring a chair and a mask. The Toastmasters also offer Zoom meetings for those who can’t make it in person. Visit the Facebook page, facebook. com/PlantCityToastmasters/, for meeting locations and information.

BATON TWIRLING CLASSES

Plant City Recreation presents Baton Twirling Classes at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. Classes are held every Thursday. Beginner classes are from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Intermediate classes are from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Your first class will be free. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Barbara Patrick at 813626-4554.

9 a.m. Visit the loft at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., on the second Saturday of every month for the Writers’ Loft. Poets, writers, artists, musicians and more creative types who work in all genres at all skill and experience levels are welcome. Admission is $5 and a free drink is included.

BEGINNING RUMBA/CHA CHA CHOREOGRAPHED BALLROOM LESSONS 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Strawberry Square Dance Center, 4401 Promenade Blvd. Learn basic steps that you can use at social events. Cost is $7.00 per lesson per person. Social distancing, no changing partners. Call 864-723-6965.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8

7 to 8:30 p.m. Open Mic Night is back at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. You get to be the show in this “krazy” fun night. To sign up, visit https://forms.gle/tYPLqRiyYBmNTtCP9.

SCI-FI TRIVIA NIGHT

PLANT CITY SOCIAL DANCE

7 to 8:30 p.m. Are you a sci-fi movie buff? Test your knowledge in the loft at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. It’s free family fun with full audience participation and chances to win a “krazy kool” prize.

6 to 9:30 p.m. at Strawberry Square Dance Center, 4401 Promenade Blvd. Plant City Social Dance will have dances every Saturday night in the month of January at the Strawberry Square Dance Center. From 6 to 6:30 p.m., there will be ballroom music for ballroom dancers. The

regular dance goes from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.The cost to dance is now $7 per person and attendance is limited to 50 people with reservations. Call DJ Ken Miller at 863-409-7714 to reserve your spot and visit djkenmiller.com to look at sample playlists and get more information.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 10 FREE SQUARE DANCING LESSONS

2 to 3:30 p.m. at Strawberry Square Dance Center, 4401 Promenade Blvd. No experience required. Children age 8-18 are welcome if accompanied by a parent. Masks are required. Call 813-752-0491 for more information.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Federal, state and local opportunities are constantly changing. If you’ve served any time in the military, retired or non-retention, and would like to review your benefits, please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday.

Walk-ins welcomed or call 813704-5800 to set a specific time.

Masks are required and temperatures will be taken at the door.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

BEGINNING RUMBA/CHA CHA CHOREOGRAPHED BALLROOM LESSONS 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Strawberry Square Dance Center, 4401 Promenade Blvd. Learn basic steps that you can use at social events. Cost is $7.00 per lesson per person. Social distancing, no changing partners. Call 864-723-6965.

7:30 to 9 a.m. Join the Plant City Toastmasters for breakfast, laughs, and fun; there’s no better way to start your Thursday mornings. Bring a chair and a mask. The Toastmasters also offer Zoom meetings for those who can’t make it in person. Visit the Facebook page, facebook. com/PlantCityToastmasters/, for meeting locations and information.

BATON TWIRLING CLASSES

Plant City Recreation presents Baton Twirling Classes at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. Classes are held every Thursday. Beginner classes are from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Intermediate classes are from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Your first class will be free. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Barbara Patrick at 813626-4554.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15 RETRO MOVIE NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. Visit Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., for Retro Movie Night. Bring the family, grab a treat from downstairs, relax and watch a new movie selection each month.

PLANT CITY SOCIAL DANCE

6 to 9:30 p.m. at Strawberry Square Dance Center, 4401 Promenade Blvd. Plant City Social Dance will have dances every Saturday night in the month of January at the Strawberry Square Dance Center. From 6 to 6:30 p.m., there will be ballroom music for ballroom dancers. The regular dance goes from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.The cost to dance is now $7 per person and attendance is limited to 50 people with reservations. Call DJ Ken Miller at 863-409-7714 to reserve your spot and visit djkenmiller.com to look at sample playlists and get more information.

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN

3 to 8 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. The Plant City Strawberry Classic Cruise-In is back, rain or shine.

Cars and trucks manufactured in or before 1995 can register for free starting at 3 p.m. Live music

by DJ John Paul Gasca.

NEW MEMBER SPECIAL OFFER:

RENEW RESTART PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA 1507 YMCA Pl., Plant City

| 813 757 6677

SIGN UP FEE Valid through 1/18/21.

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tampaymca.org

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FORECAST

Send your photo submissions to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com or hashtag #iloveplantcity on Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature.

THURSDAY, JAN. 7 High: 75 Low: 58 Chance of rain: 5%

FRIDAY, JAN. 8 High: 69 Low: 48 Chance of rain: 10%

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Jan. 7

7:21a

5:49p

Friday, Jan. 8

7:21a

5:49p

Saturday, Jan. 9

7:21a

5:50p

Sunday, Jan. 10

7:21a

5:51p

Monday, Jan. 11

7:21a

5:52p

Tuesday, Jan. 12

7:21a

5:53p

Wednesday, Jan. 13

7:21a

5:53p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JAN. 9 High: 60 Low: 42 Chance of rain: 10%

SUNDAY, JAN. 10 High: 64 Low: 42 Chance of rain: 5%

STRAWBERRIES Amanda Keene took this shot of strawberry fields and sandhill cranes at her grandma’s house on Trapnell Road.

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23 Former Carson Daly employer 24 Horn for Parker 26 Where to find Ruth and Aaron: Abbr.

27 West in old movies 28 Small book size 30 Words that contradict what preceded them 34 Perpetual loser 35 Game time?

36 Hydrocodone, e.g.

37 “Too Many Rappers” rapper 38 Holstein’s hi?

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42 Windy City train org.

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Jan. 12 New

Jan. 17 First

Jan. 28 Full

Jan. 8 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Dec. 28

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Tuesday, Dec. 29 0.00 Wednesday, Dec. 30

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Thursday, Dec. 31 0.00 Friday, Jan. 1

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Saturday, Jan. 2 0.00 Sunday, Jan. 3

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YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2021 00.06 in.

2021 0.06 in.

2020 00.65 in.

2020 0.65 in.

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

when treating a heart attack or stroke, time is of the essence. even during these times.

Don’t hesitate when it comes to getting emergency treatment.

Even during a pandemic, you still need to be treated immediately if you have an emergency.

Debating whether or not to risk going to an emergency room during a heart attack, stroke or other health emergency—waiting even a few extra minutes—could be harmful. That’s why in

20-1213541-0920

all BayCare hospital emergency rooms, patients who have symptoms of COVID-19 are screened and treated in a separate area. This helps keep emergency room patients and our team members safe. So if it’s an emergency, don’t wait. For more information: BayCareEmergencyCare.org