11.4.21 PLCO

FREE • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

VOLUME 6, NO. 169

COMMISSION ROUNDUP THERE WILL BE GROWTH OF SINGLE HOUSES WITH POTENTIAL INCREASE IN TOWNHOMES TOO CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

ROAD CONSTRUCTION NOTICE

On Monday, the city closed off East Park Road between James L. Redman Parkway to Jim Johnson Road.

Intersection improvement will be done, and the road closure is expected to end by Dec. 1, 2021.

Signage has been placed along East Alexander Street and East Alsobrook Street to detour traffic.

REACHING HIGH ALTITUDES WITH HIGH AMBITIONS

DIANA CORZINE DETAILS HER LIFE CHANGING ADVENTURE ALONG APPALACHIAN TRAIL

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVMBER 4, 2021

NEWS BRIEFS

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Volunteers needed for Veteran’s Day event The Cemetery Operations unit of the Plant City Parks & Recreation Department will honor military veterans that are interred in the city’s four cemeteries with the placement of a United States flag at each veteran’s grave in recognition of Veteran’s Day. Volunteers are needed to assist with the placement of fla s for Park’s & Rez’s second annual Veteran’s Day Flags In event.

The flag pla ement will occur on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, with all volunteers reporting to the Cemetery Operations office, 109 W. Spencer St., no later than 9 a.m. Groups will be given instructions on standard flag in tallation and assigned to specific areas to assist with the flag pla ements.

The event provides a great way for local area civic and service clubs to recognize Veterans Day. Families are encouraged to

participate as a way to show our youth the need to recognize and remember the men and women that fought for our country.

Refreshments will be provided for all volunteers.

For planning purposes or more information, please send an e-mail to cemeteryinfo@plantcitygov.com and pre-register, giving your volunteer names and daytime telephone number. Comfortable clothing and footwear are recommended as there is a lot of ground to cover.

44th Annual Pioneer Day Celebration The East Hillsborough Historical Society will hold the 44th Annual Pioneer Day celebration on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the historic 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. The family-oriented, free, all-day celebration will include live entertainment, a train ride for kids and a day of fun, also welcoming food and craft vendors, pioneer exhibits and the display of homemade and historic quilts.

Visit the 1914 PCHSCC Pioneer Museums, the Henry B. Plant Railroad Historical Society’s model train layout, museum exhibits, heritage demonstrations, clogging, dancing, singing and more. In addition, alumni from Turkey Creek High School will share with the community their archives collection for their school’s history.

In attendance, the Quintilla Geer Bruton Archives Center will host their annual bake sale, the Plant City Garden Club will host their annual juried fl wer show, the Seminole and Miccosukee People of Florida will have a new exhibit welcomed to The Classroom Gallery, Plant Museum staff will tell inside stories from the Tampa Bay Hotel and more.

Descendants of pioneering families who have lived in the Eastern Hillsborough County area for one hundred or more years are eligible to receive a Pioneer Certifi ate. Applications are available in the Archives Center or email info@ehhsoc.org.

Application forms for Pioneer Day vendors and events are available by contacting the EHHS office or visiting the website www.ehhsoc.org/pioneer-day-vendors.

For information, please contact EHHS at (813) 757-9226, by email at info@ehhsoc. org or visit www.ehhsoc.org.

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FALL SPECIALS

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THIS NOVEMBER WILL HAVE NUMEROUS EVENTS FOR PLANT CITY TO CHOOSE FROM

November is a month packed with events that range from patriotism and all-things turkey, and everything in between. Nov. 11 will mark Veterans Day, honoring American servicemen and servicewomen both alive and fallen. Here are several programs that will highlight this day as well as other events to come this month.

34TH ANNUAL VETERANS’ DAY EVENT

Hopewell Funeral Homes will host this program on Nov. 6 at the Veterans Memorial Monument Park at Courier Field. This is located at 703 N. Wheeler St. in Plant City, and will run from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. This year, it aims at educating youth about freedom and those who have helped make that possible. Students from various schools entered a contest with written essays entitled “What Veterans’ Day Means to Me.” Hopewell will select two winners from each age groups who will read their essays at the service. Kenzie Wheeler, Springhead Elementary Chorus, and the Durant High School Colors Team will offer performances. This event is free to the public and will supply refreshments.

CEREMONIAL RAISING OF THE FLAG

At the Monday, Nov. 8 City Commission meeting, the POW-MIA flag will be presented. This will be followed by a raising of the flag ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. It will be held at the Veterans Memorial Monument Park, 703 N. Wheeler St., Plant City.

VETERANS DAY AT TECO EXPO HALL-

The memorial service will be held on Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. at the TECO Expo Hall.

This is located at the Strawberry Festival Grounds- 2301 W. Oak Ave., in Plant City. A barbeque lunch will be provided and there will be door prizes. State Senator Danny Burgess will be the keynote speaker. Burgess is also the former executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.

Each veteran will receive two free tickets with military ID for verification. Tickets for non-veterans are $10 and can only be accepted in cash or a check. The tickets can be purchased at Bruton Library, at 302 McLendon St; Lands Used Trucks at 2900 James L. Redman; YMCA at 1507 YMCA Place; Walden Lake Car Wash at 1414 S. Alexander St; NAPA Auto Parts at 304 E. Alsobrook St; and the Chamber of Commerce at 118 W. Reynolds St, all in Plant City. Donation checks may be made out to Historic Plant City and Main Street Plant City. For additional information, contact Judy Wise at (863) 370-8389.

VETERANS COFFEE

All veterans are invited to socialize, drink coffee and have brunch at the Bing Rooming House Museum, located at 205 Allen St., in Plant City. The event will be held on Nov. 11 from 10.am. to 1p.m. There will also be a Reveille and Retreat played at 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

2nd Annual Veterans Day Flags In On Nov. 6, public is welcomed to join this memorial service at Oaklawn Cemetery, 1900 N. Wheeler St., in Plant City. Starting at 9 a.m., volunteers will place flags on the graves of fallen veterans. For additional information call 813-707-7429.

URINETOWN

In this live musical comedy, a hero fights for his city after a water shortage leads to a strict government ban. It will be held at the Plant City Entertainment Community Theater, at 101 N. Thomas St. It will run from Friday, Nov. 5 to Sunday, Nov. 14. The show will begin at 8 p.m. on Nov. 5, Nov. 6, Nov. 12 and Nov.13. It will start at 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 and Nov. 14. On opening night, two tickets can be purchased for $30 online, at the door, or at Shear Expressions, on 1514 S. Alexander St., in Plant City. Regular prices are $20 for those ages 18 to 59; $18 for students under age 18 and those age 60 and up. It will be $15 for both theater members and groups of 10 or more. For tickets sold online and additional information, visit www.pceshows.com.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

This Broadway play is being brought to Plant City from Nov. 11 to Nov. 13. The show will be held at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center located at 1601 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. It is a story that focuses on the themes of love, deception and social class. The production starts on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.; Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. Tickets are $5; $15 per family; and free for first responders, active or retired military and their families.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at https://rise-theatre.ticketleap. com/earnest/.

44TH ANNUAL PIONEER DAY

This Nov. 13 event will bring a vintage and historical feel to Plant City from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s going to be held at the 1924 Plant City High School Community Center- 605 N. Collins St. The function will not only offer food, but arts, crafts, live performances, and a museum exhibit, to name a few. For more information call 813757-9226 or visit www.ehhsoc.org. Visitors are asked to wear masks indoors.

TURKEY TROT 5K WINE RUN

This seasonal event brings together runners, walkers and wine lovers for a worthy cause. The 5k event is on Nov. 20 starting time is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. It will be held at Keel & Curley Winery at Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City. After registration, participants will be given a race t-shirt, souvenir wine glass, and a finisher medal. Those under age 21 will receive soda.

Tickets will be sold at $45 and will increase after Nov. 19. They can be purchased at runsignup.com/Race/FL/PlantCity/KeelFarmsWineRunTurkeyTrotRace. Proceeds will go toward Florida Giant Dog Rescue.

PLANT CITY PIG JAM

This festival once again makes its return on Nov. 19 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be located at the Randy Larson Softball Fourplex, 1500 S. Park Rd.,Plant City. The event will offer live music, entertainment stages, a kids’ play area, and a barbecue cook out competition. To enter the competition, visit www.PlantCityPigJam. com. Parking will be $10.

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COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

PLANT CITY

Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigate a stolen gun, an unruly patient

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

and an expensive scam.

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com istock

Sports Writer / Taylor Jenkins tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com Staff Writer / Brian Fernandes bfernandes@plantcityobserver.com

OCT. 22 SCREEN PASS 1700 block of E. Calhoun St. Residential burglary: Officers met with the victim who alerted them that they had discovered screens missing from windows of the home, along with the home being burglarized.

BAD FOR BUSINESS 4000 block of Airport Rd..

Out of county warrant: Officers made contact with a suspect who was observed causing an altercation outside of a business.

A check was conducted, which showed that the suspect had an active warrant for written threats out of Polk County. The warrant was confirmed and the suspect was transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

MOTOCROSSED 2700 block of Thonotosassa Rd. Grand theft auto: Officers met with the victim who stated that he had left his motorcycle parked overnight in a hotel parking lot at the location, where it was subsequently stolen.

THE ARREST WAS WARRANTED 1400 block of S. Collins St. Theft/warrant arrest: Officers made contact with the suspect via a traffic top. The suspect was then taken into custody for theft and four outstanding warrants before being transported to Orient Road Jail.

OCT. 23

OCT. 25

Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez

OUT OF PATIENTS

BLANK CHECK

Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

3000 block of James L. Redman Pkwy.

Criminal mischief: Officers responded to a disturbance with a patient at an emergency room at the listed location. It was then determined that the patient had caused damage to hospital property and was subsequently placed under arrest for criminal mischief.

1800 block of James L. Redman Pkwy.

Fraud: Officers met with the victim, who provided $2,800 to an unknown individual before discovering a scam.

GUNCONTROLLABLE 1000 block of Valencia Pkwy.

Vehicle burglary: Officers met with the victim who stated that sometime overnight, an unknown suspect entered their unlocked vehicle and removed a handgun.

BIG FANS 1600 block of S. County Line Rd. Burglary: Officers met with employees who discovered eight 12 x 12 inch aluminum fan blades were taken from the warehouse that is currently under construction.

TO ADVERTISE Call (813) 704-6850

Advertising / Richard Brame richard@plantcityobserver.com Advertising / Karen Berry kberry@plantcityobserver.com

CONTACT US

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

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

To contact us, send your information via: Email: Sarah Holt, SHolt@ PlantCityObserver.com.

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

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GROWL THIRD FRUGAL FLAVOR Answer: After eating so much candy, the scary-looking trick-or-treaters were “FRIGHT-FULL”

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NEW FAMILY HOMES ON THE WAY THERE WILL BE GROWTH OF SINGLE HOUSES WITH POTENTIAL INCREASE IN TOWNHOMES TOO

Photo courtesy of the city of Plant CIty

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

PARKSIDE PROJECT On Monday, Oct. 25, a property developer requested approval in building a new townhome district, to the Plant City City Commissioners.

The proposal asks for a deadend road of a certain length and installation of curbs at the site’s driveways.

Aerial-view renderings had shown a potential 85 singlefamily attached townhome development. It would be built on approximately 11.94 acres of land, located on the south end of West Grant Street, where it intersects just west of Hunter Street, in Plant City. There would be easy access to Tyler Street as it would be directly aligned with the site’s entrance on the other end of West Grant Street.

The new site would be located around the vicinity of other undeveloped property that also has the potential for future home growth.

If approved, the townhomes would be built near a school, assisted living facility and a daycare.

Also, the development would be adjacent to the west end of the Dr. Hal and Lynn Brewer Park.

If implemented, a paved trail could serve as another entryway from the neighborhood to the park. The trail would also go

throughout the development and around one of three man-made ponds.

There also are plans for a playground and two recreation amenities to be situated on the property. As shown in the renderings, each two-story building would consist of either four, five or six single-family townhomes.

The buildings won’t exceed any more than 35 feet in height and there would be a 20-foot distance between each building and the roadway.

And a curb called a Miami Valley would be installed between driveways. Its intention is to alleviate water buildup.

“Those driveways are pretty close together, so it makes sense to do that Miami Valley type curb in those scenarios,” said Robyn Baker, senior planner for the Plant City Planning and Zoning Department.

Once turning onto the development from West Grant Street, the roadway will extend until meeting with Mendonsa Road. This corridor is south of West Grant Street, but both are parallel with one another.

Local residents have expressed concerns about additional traffic if Mendonsa Road and the new street intersected.

As a result, it had been proposed to make a dead-end within the development so there is no access to Mendonsa Road.

The particular dead-end design chosen, is a cul-de-sac. This is a

circular roundabout that turns back onto the same street.

The Plant City Planning Board found the land use in accordance with the Imagine 2040: Plant City Comprehensive Plan, passing the resolution by 5-0.

The City Commission did not take any action but is allowing the developer to bring back any updates at the Nov. 22 City Commission meeting.

FIELDSTONE PROJECT

Also on Oct. 25, the Plant City City Commission passed a proposal to move forward with building a new single-family residential area in Plant City. It calls for the development of 117 unattached homes at the south-

east corner of East Sam Allen Road and North Wilder Road.

Also requested were: 1. For 30% of the lots to be 50 feet wide 2. For homes to have a 5-foot setback 3. For landscaped area to be included in 4% of open space At approximately 32 acres, the site was initially planned to erect 294 townhomes but was slimmed down to individual houses.

These homes will range from one to two stories high and will have amenities such as walking trails, a playground, a dog park and two recreation parks.

There will also be two manmade ponds centered within the premises.

The future four-lane extension of Sam Allen Road will pass its intersection with Wilder Road and provide the only entrance/ exit of the residential area, which will be gated.

Along Wilder Road there will be a gateway to the development but will be used for emergency access only.

Its close proximity to the interstate, and the soon-to-be-built South Florida Baptist Hospital, shows the new neighborhood will have its advantages.

The City Commission’s approval of 5-0 will now push the project forward.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

SADYE GIBBS MARTIN COMMUNITY CENTER HOSTS BRENDA J. SELL CLASSIC THE ANNUAL REGIONAL TOURNAMENT IS HELD LOCALLY TO HONOR BOTH GRAND MASTER BRENDA SELL AND THE IMPACT THAT WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD HAVE MADE ON TAEKWONDO.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

The Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center hosted the Brenda J. Sell Classic last month where dozens of Taekwondo practitioners came together in Plant City to participate.

Brenda Sell holds the title of Grand Master — a title that was held by her late husband Edward Sell as well — earned through 52 years of Taekwondo of training in addition to her position as president of the U.S. Chung Do Kwan association, founded by Edward Sell, the oldest Taekwondo association in the United States.

Brenda Sell began training at 14 years old and is currently a ninth-degree black belt in the practice, the highest ranking American female and second-highest ranking female Taekwondo practitioner in the world. She also became the first female to be officially recognized by the World Taekwondo Headquarters as an international official in 1987.

Throughout her time in Taekwondo she has repeatedly broken barriers in a sport that had long been traditionally male-dominated.

The annual tournament was originally created by Brenda Sell’s late husband Edward Sell to honor not only Brenda Sell herself, but the impact women have made on Taekwondo. In addition, as a breast cancer survivor herself, Brenda Sell holds the annual tournament in October to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“The Brenda J. Sell Classic was started by my late husband 21 years ago,” said Brenda Sell. “One day he came to our leadership and he said, ‘We always lift up the men and lift up what they do because men have always been the leader and Taekwondo’s been a man’s sport. But I want us, every year now, to take a day and develop the Brenda J. Sell Classic to honor my wife for her accomplishments. She’s always been in the background and I want to bring her to the forefront.’ We’ve held the Brenda J. Sell Classic every year since and I’ve tried to take that a step further. Yes, they honor me, but then I also want to honor all of the females in our organization that are taking that lead and not stepping back. Spreading the benefits of Taekwondo like building confidence and courage and discipline and focus and respect and love. Love for

people, that’s so important to be able to make it through this life. So today is not only honoring me, but honoring them.”

Around 115 competitors and over 40 officials were in attendance for the annual tournament.

The USCDKA is headquartered in Lakeland but began instructing at recreation centers as Brenda and Edward Sell traveled.

The first recreation centers in the area to house their instruction were the Planteen Rec Center and Lakeland Rec Center, and while the Sell Team Academy of Taekwondo now resides permanently in Lakeland, instruction has continued in Plant City at the Planteen Rec Center, currently under Master Steve Reynolds.

Taylor Jenkins is the Sports Writer at the Plant City Observer. Email: tjenkins@ plantcityobserver.com.

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Dance Competition Brings Out the Masses Dancing with the Locals Participants Show off heir Moves BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

The Trinkle Center at the Hillsborough County Community College – Plant City Branch held a packed crowd which came out to enjoy the 2021 Dancing with the Locals event.

Held on Friday evening, nine couples put their dance moves on display, competing for the fi st-place winner spot.

From the moment the doors opened, the auditorium amplified with non- top music in rotation, adding to the social atmosphere.

Although, it was the songs that each couple danced to that were met with much applause. It had the audience bobbing their heads, swaying, and moving their feet.

The contestant couples who performed are as follows: 1. Clay and Carmen Keel who were the fi st to open the program. Their salsa music had them dancing in lockstep, with Carmen being spun around the floor y her counterpart.

2. Arley Smude and Melinda Sue Phillips who were the next runner ups. With upbeat music adding to the performance, Smude lifted up Phillips over his head before spinning her numerous times. They received a heightened cheer as they began to do cartwheels.

3. Lindsay and Tim Hunt acted a scene where they were outdoors on a hot day.

Lindsay laid down on a lounge chair as a radio announced a heatwave. She immediately jumped up, joining Tim to dance to the song “Ice Ice Baby” by the hip hop artist Vanilla Ice. 4. Trent Lott and Zora Millerleile were donning matching black clothes as the

spotlight was put on their dance routine.

They performed over a hip hop infused tango song.

5. McKenna and Chad Jordan were the father and daughter duo. With a T.V. and couch placed on stage, they enacted a family that couldn’t decide what to watch.

Between dances, they struggled for the remote, flipping channel . The theme songs for the television shows The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Golden Girls had them resume their dance moves around the couch.

6. Sheila Jackson and Jimmy Polk found themselves sitting in a golf cart that wouldn’t start, before jumping out. Wearing a leather vest and cowboy hat, Polk flipped his artner upside down and spun her around. Their songs went from country to rock to folk.

7. Elias and Ayerim Calvillo were another couple matching in black clothes. Their rapid spinning and sliding across the floor had the audience cheering and clapping.

8. Crystal and Cliff B own opened their performance with cheerleaders running to the stage performing with pom poms in hand. The duo then showed off their dan e routine with a setting of smoke and miniature fi ecrackers.

9. Darry and Heather Dykstra were the closing act with a Halloween theme. With a coffin and lit andles, the couple performed a slow dance to a pop-rock song.

Their dance ended with Heather kicking Darry inside the coffi Toward the end of the show, Kenzie Wheeler, former contestant on NBC’s The Voice, performed a country song, with Cliff B own playing the guitar. During the performance, those in the audience came center-stage to slow dance with a partner.

Also, an auction was held to collect donations.

Voters cast their ballots putting money toward their favorite dance couple.

Crystal and Cliff B own accepted their award as they were voted as Judges Choice Winners.

And Darry and Heather Dykstra walked away with trophies in hand after being announced as the 2021 fi st place winners.

They received the most votes by donations given by the audience.

Courtesy of Deanna Hurley Voters chose Darry and Heather Dykstra as fi st place winners at the 2021 Dancing with the Locals event, on Oct. 29.

Crystal and Cliff B own were the dance couple that were the Judges Choice Winners at the 2021 Dancing with the Locals event, on Oct. 29.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

NATURE’S GUIDE DOWN THE RIGHT PATH Diana Corzine’s unwavering determination helped her complete Appalachian Trail BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

At the young age of 26, Diana Corzine has already conquered mountains…literally.

Back in 2019, she took on and completed the challenge of walking the Appalachian Trail.

While at Plant City High School, her teacher explained his journey on the trail being both struggling and rewarding.

That story sparked something inside her and she entertained the idea of experiencing it herself.

“From that conversation… it planted a seed in me, and I wanted to do it someday,” said Corzine. “I really enjoy to be challenged. I think it really motivates me.”

But it wasn’t until after she graduated college that she began to seriously contemplate the idea.

In making plans, she timed her departure for the summer,

in what would become a fi emonth journey.

The Appalachian Trail spans over 2,100 miles across 14 states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia.

The pathway runs across various mountains that all make up the Appalachian Mountain range.

After flying f om Florida to her starting point in Maine, she began walking down the east coast to her destination – Georgia.

She initially had several family members accompany her on the route. However, she hiked solo for the majority of it – guided by a map.

“A key part of the experience for me was just understanding…whenever I was by myself, I wasn’t ever alone,” explained Corzine. “Everyone that I told

about my trip, they were constantly supporting me. If they weren’t physically with me, they were with me.”

At times she had to wait until reaching high altitudes to receive decent cell phone reception and talk with her family.

In the meantime, she had much of nature to keep her company. Aside from the birds she spotted other animals such as moose and deer.

And then there were other hikers too.

“I met all kinds of people of all different walks of life,” said Corzine. “That was one of my favorite experiences. It takes you from strangers to family.”

She said that the weather was comfortable for the most part, but there were days when that wasn’t the case. At times she had to deal with low temperatures and heavy rain.

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In one instance, “it was four miles I hiked and then had to stop because I was probably experiencing pre-hypothermia.”

Then there were mornings when she had to thaw out her water in order to make breakfast.

Her backpack was only filled with the bare essentials, such as clothes, a tent, and of course food. She had to discipline herself in conserving her meals, especially when she wasn’t near a town with a local diner. Some things she had on hand were ramen noodles, oats and tuna.

Although, she made sure to bring along junk food to splurge on, stating that, “Snickers became like a food group to me.”

And when she did go into a town to eat, she knew which restaurants to treat herself to.

“Chinese buffets were the best because it was all-you-could-eat and that was perfect for hiker hunger,” stated Corzine.

Although she had trained ahead of time by running a marathon, it was her state of mind that also needed to be disciplined.

“It’s mostly a mental exercise more than anything,” she explained. “It’s how strong you can be mentally, not physically.”

Corzine recounted her brief moments of discouragement while going through extreme weather and a long endurance.

Although many miles away, her loved ones still inspired her to persevere.

Before she left on her journey, Corzine’s sister recorded messages on her phone so that when times got tough, she could listen to those reassuring words and push forward.

She recalled that, “I was standing on a mountain at one point and realized all of the songs that talk about the peaks and the valleys – I was experiencing that. I felt the full range of emotions on the trail.”

When her fi e-month journey came to an end in November 2019, her family was already in Georgia waiting to pick her up.

Corzine described her drive back to Florida as strange and surreal. She had spent almost

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

half a year on foot and now she was using a car as transportation.

“I was excited to be done but it was also a really hard transition too, in a lot of ways,” she explained. “It was such an intense experience that was suddenly over.”

She went on to say that she does miss the simplicity and quietness that came with being out in nature.

One thing Corzine said she had her fair share of was tuna and hasn’t eaten it since returning home.

It’s been two years since her adventure came to a close, but hasn’t ruled out the idea of hiking another trail.

“The really big thing that I learned was how far you can go one step at a time,” she said toward aspiring youth. “Find out whatever is your trail.”

She noted that everyone has a challenging Appalachian Trail in their life and that too can be conquered.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

FOCUS ON FITNESS

PAUL CONLEY

THE IMPACT OF VOLUNTEER COACHING When I think about strong communities I think about the impact the community makes through volunteerism. I think about those that volunteer with the Plant City Food Bank to ensure that our families can put food on the table. I think about the leaders in our community who serve selfl ssly on our communities’ nonprofit boards. I think about the caring adults that take time to mentor the youth in our community to ensure that they have the promise of a great life regardless of their situations. All of these are amazing uses of our time but, when I think of volunteerism, I think of the impact of Coaching Youth Sports.

When I was 16 years old I had the opportunity to coach my hometown’s local elementary school flag ootball team and it was an amazing experience that I didn’t truly appreciate until later in life. I was volunteering because I wanted to help kids but, selfishly I as doing it because I wanted to show my strategies on the flag ootball field I loved creating plays on Madden, so why not translate to the

young 8 and 9 year olds at the local park?

Well, like anyone who has been a volunteer coach you quickly learn that coaching youth sports has little to do with superior strategies but rather teaching life skills, fundamentals, and most importantly ensuring that children have fun and stay healthy.

Fast forward to when I began my career as a Sports Director at the YMCA of Greater Cleveland and had 300 children coming to us every season to play sports. Well, for me, that meant I needed to ensure that I had 30+ volunteer coaches to ensure the best possible experience for the kids. As I started recruiting coaches, I was shocked to learn that there was a misperception around what is needed to be a volunteer youth sports coach. I had parents who would tell me that they “only” played three years of varsity basketball so they weren’t sure if they were qualified enough o be the Head Coach of the 5-6-year-old Little Lakers team. I would normally laugh to myself understanding that the techniques needed to coach youth basketball had so

much more to do with fun and games, being present and bringing the after practice snacks than it did how to do a jump stop or dribble between their legs. After some convincing I would get them to agree to coach and you know what happened? They would love coaching and the kids would love being coached by them, especially their own child.

Youth Sports is where so many children learn skills that they take with them the rest of their lives. I learned from my youth baseball coach that when he scheduled practice for 5:15pm that myself and the rest of the team better be there at 5:15pm or we wouldn’t start that night’s game. In the moment it was a tough lesson about being on time, but my youth baseball coach knew that if I learned the value of being on time it would help me when I began working and the consequences for being late were much more severe than missing the fi st three innings against our rival. I learned from my youth football coach that showing up and giving my best was rewarded in life when I was named a

starter on my football team despite being of lesser talent. Finally, I learned from my favorite youth sports coach, my Dad, that love wasn’t shared through gifts, but rather time spent.

I am sure right now as you read this you think back to your favorite youth sports coach with fond memories, I ask, won’t you create memories of your own?

Paul Conley has been the Executive Director at the Plant City YMCA for 2 ½ years, prior to that he spent 7 years with the YMCA of Greater Cleveland. He is an avid sports fan, loves running and exercising, reading, and spending time with his friends, family, fian é Jenna, and Golden Retriever Champ.

PlantCityObserver.com

CUTEST CRITTER

Do you want Plant City to see how cute your favorite pets are?

Send your pictures to Staff Writer Tyler Jenkins at tjenkins@ plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

HONDO: Cory Morong sent this photo of Hondo, an Australian Shepard. Hondo is said to

be sometimes too smart for his own good.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

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CORRECTION: Frank Bullard and Barbara Geitner took the Observer to Brockport, New York for Labor Day weekend.

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MAZDA3 HATCHBACK MAKES FOR A THRILLING DAILY JAUNT MAZDA3 AWD (PREMIUM PLUS) Tires: P215/45R18 Wheelbase: 107.3 inches Length: 175.6 inches Width: 70.7 inches Height: 56.7 inches Weight: 3,383 pounds Fuel capacity: 12.7 gallons City: 24 mpg Highway: 32 mpg Base price: $33,780 Price as tested: $36,290 Web site: www.mazdausa.com

Photo courtesy of Nitish S. Rele

NITISH S. RELE motoringtampabay@gmail.com

Mazda is all about making fun cars to drive. Toward that end, the carmaker has put the thrill back into the Mazda3 hatchback by borrowing the 2.5-liter turbo inline-4 cylinder found in its CX-5 and CX-9 SUVs. And it was precisely a Mazda3 equipped with this power train that we test drove recently and were quite impressed with the responsiveness of the ride.

Out goes the previous 2.5-liter nonturbo to be replaced by one that puts out 227 horsepower @ 5000 rpm and 310 pounds-feet of torque @ 2500 rpm. Power reaches all wheels through a 6-speed auto gearbox. A MacPherson strut front and a torsion beam axle rear works well to absorb unpleasant road bumps or curves.

Steering response with the electric power rack-and-pinion is swift and accurate.

As always, it is equipped with the directinjection Skyactiv, which uses a torque boost via a high compression ratio to increase fuel economy.

A black metallic-finish grille with the Mazda insignia is bordered by horizontal LED adaptive headlights and daytime running lights. Other carmakers could benefit from borrowing the simple command control center to operate the 8.8-inch navigation/infotainment screen.

Rich-looking leather upholstery on the seats, steering wheel and shifter knob gives the cabin a rich ambiance. Other nice conveniences include six-way power

driver seat, heated front seats, push-button start, dual auto a/c, 60/40 fold-down rear seat with hidden armrest and cup holders, overhead sunglass holder, headup display, power windows and door locks, paddle shifters, power moon roof, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bose 12-speaker audio and AM/FM. Standard safety features include dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag, front knee airbags, stability and traction control, hill launch assist, active fronthead restraints, four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, rearview camera, radar cruise control, lane keep assist and departure warning, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert and tire pressure monitoring system. The G-Vectoring Control Plus (enables driver to handle emergency situations or untoward road conditions with more accurate steering inputs) comes at no extra cost. And the i-ACTIV AWD works along with G-Vectoring to control torque distribution between front/rear wheels.

This hatch (or sedan) has always been an exciting and well-composed ride for us. In fact, all Mazdas are. What makes the Mazda3 special is its remarkable suppleness, response and hold. Indeed, the exhilarating Mazda3 is well-balanced, stylish and enjoyable to take out for a trip or as a daily ride.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

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NOVEMBER 4, 2021

SPORTS LOCAL PREPS

SCOREBOARD

PLANT CITY FALLS, NEWSOME CLAIMS DISTRICT TITLE

Football - Oct. 29 DURANT . . . . . . . . . 21 PLANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

NEWSOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 PLANT CITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

STRAWBERRY CREST . . . . 9 TAMPA BAY TECH. . . . . . . . . . 51

Newsome claimed their first district tit e since 2011 on Friday with a 44-20 win over Plant City.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

The Newsome Wolves headed to Plant City on Friday, coming away with a 44-20 win and their first district title since 2011.

Plant City took the opening kickoff but were quickly forced to punt after just three plays. After taking over, Newsome wasted no time getting on the board. Near midfield, facing a third down, quarterback Christian Bishop found receiver Tanner Easley over the middle. Easley broke a tackle and made it down inside the Plant City five-yard line.

Running back Jason Albritton found the end zone to give Newsome a 6-0 lead.

On Plant City’s ensuing drive they were once again facing third down from deep inside their own territory when a strip sack gave Newsome a short field, setting them up at the 12-yard line. Albritton scored again quickly and Newsome was up 13-0.

Plant City answered back. After driving down to the Newsome 23-yard line, the drive stalled out and the Raiders were left staring down a fourth-and-three. Quarterback Clint Danzey took the snap, left the pocket and found a hole up the middle where he took off for the 23-yard touchdown run and closed the gap to 13-6.

Following Plant City’s touchdown, Newsome took over. With another Albritton touchdown and a field goal as time expired in the second quarter, Newsome took a 23-6 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Newsome scored 14 more unanswered points to lead 37-6 before the Raiders broke through again with a 30-yard touchdown scored on a screen pass to Romello Jones, leaving it 37-13.

With under five minutes remaining, each team tacked on one final touchdown to seal the 44-20 final, with Albritton punching in his fifth touchdown of the night and Danzey tossing a 32-yard score to Zykee Joyce.

With the win, Newsome moved to 7-2 and remained undefeated in district play at 2-0, claiming the 8A District 10 title with one game left to play. And now at 5-4 on the season, Plant City sits at 2-2 in the district, right alongside 2-2 Plant and 2-2 Durant who all hold matching records after Plant upset Durant by a score of 24-21 on Friday.

Plant City currently sits at 2-2 in the district, putting them in third behind 2-2 Durant in the 8A District 10 Standings. A win in their season finale on Friday against Lennard, in addition to a Durant loss, could leave them as high as second.

STRAWBERRY CREST VS. LETO PREVIEW Strawberry Crest looks to add one more win to their already impressive season.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

Strawberry Crest heads into their final game of the season sitting at 3-6, looking to add one more victory against Leto on Friday to put their win total at four on the season.

Realistically, the goal for the Chargers this season was not a state championship. And in a loaded district that includes undefeated Tampa Bay Tech and a pair of extremely talented two-loss teams in Armwood and

Wharton, the hope of a district championship was a lofty goal as well. Especially for a team that has finished with no more than two wins in a single season since 2013.

Strawberry Crest’s goals were relative this year for head coach Phillip Prior, to lay a foundation for the program and give themselves a chance to win more games in 2021 than the school has seen in over seven years.

With wins over Spoto, Freedom and Brandon in 2021, Strawberry

Crest has already reached that goal as they head to Leto on Friday and search for their fourth win of the year, something the team has done just three times in their 12 seasons prior and hasn’t done since going 7-5 in 2013.

Leto sits at 1-6 on the season, with their lone victory coming in a 14-12 win over Brandon in September.

In their three victories this season, the Chargers have averaged 20.6 points while allowing just 14 total points against, with shutouts

against Spoto and Brandon.

Offensively the Chargers have been led by quarterback Coby Burger who has accrued just 42 yards passing but has been a threat on the ground with 295 rushing yards and four touchdowns. In the backfield they’ve largely utilized a three-man rotation, most notably junior Ryan Weems who has totaled 319 yards and four touchdowns on 66 carries this season.

Behind Weems, sophomore Devin Blunt has racked up 148 yards on 37 carries and senior Miles Jones has 107 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.

Weems and Blunt have also been factors on the defensive backfield as well, notching two of the Chargers’ four interceptions on the year.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

PLANT CITY’S JORDAN DYER PLANT CITY’S REGGIE BUSH JR. REPRESENTS UNITED STATES AT NAMED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WORLD KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK At just 14 years old, Dyer earned a silver medal in her first ompetition on the world stage.

It’s another award in what’s been a busy month of nominations for the Plant City area.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

Turning 14 just days before her international flight, Plant City’s Jordan Dyer traveled to Romania in September and represented Chris Welbon Karate and the United States at the ninth WUKF World Karate Championships.

With 39 countries represented, Dyer was part of a 41-person team for the United States that finished second in total medal count with 27, trailing only Ukraine.

Dyer participated in six events, including two kata, two weapons and two fighting events where she brought home a silver medal in kobudo nunchaku short weapons for the female 14-17 year old division.

“The next goal is to try and get my second degree black belt and my overall goal is to keep doing world tournaments and eventually be the best of the best,” said Dyer.

Earlier in the year, Dyer traveled to Greenville, South Carolina for the AAU Karate Nationals tournament before earning three silver and one bronze medal in four events at the AAU Junior Olympics in Houston, Texas.

Dyer began training in kindergarten before advancing and eventually earning

her black belt two years ago. And despite her success on the national stage, this was Dyer’s first competition at the world level.

A competition that she hopes to be just the first of many.

“The next time I’ll know what to expect more so I’ll be able to prepare more,” said Dyer. “My experience over there wasn’t too bad because you learn throughout the years how to fight and how to do everything, it’s just certain parts of it that make you nervous. You have to learn how to adapt. So having been through that experience now, the nerves start to lessen and it begins to become natural and fun for you.”

Dyer’s next tournament will come in January as Chris Welbon Karate kicks off their local AAU tournament season for the 2022 calendar year.

“It’s amazing,” said Welbon. “I didn’t have that opportunity when I was a junior athlete, so to see these kids have this opportunity when they’re young, it’s only going to give them the opportunity to keep training and become better as an adult competitor. I’m very proud of her, especially since she’s had so much to overcome.

Seeing herKU-Lakeland out there, the camaraderie, it 231-1987 Keiser_Nov_Ads just lights a fire under you to represent the 5x6 United States and go to these huge events.”

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15

Plant City Raiders running back Reggie Bush Jr. was named Prime Time Preps’ Hillsborough County Player of the Week following his standout performance against Plant High School two weeks ago.

In Plant City’s 31-24 victory over the Panthers on Oct. 22, Bush totaled 265 rushing yards and four touchdowns, the last coming in the form of an 65-yard game-winning run.

“It’s one of the best [performances] that I’ve seen,” said head coach James Booth after the game. “Reggie’s been patient all year and a lot of teams have kind of been loading the box and daring us to throw. So this was his opportunity to really have a lighter box and he made them pay. I thought that he did a great job, ran physical, showcased the speed that he has and I think that it’s one of the top Plant City performances that I’ve seen coaching.”

The award comes just two weeks after Plant City linebacker/safety Cole Highsmith garnered the award following his own standout performance in a win over the Bloomingdale Bulls on Oct. 8.

On the season, Bush has totaled 821 yards and seven touchdowns on 111 carries.

Taylor Jenkins is the Sports Writer at the Plant City Observer. Email: tjenkins@ plantcityobserver.com.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

PlantCityObserver.com

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

289704-1

We asked Plant City: When is the appropriate time to start putting up Christmas decorations?

When is it too early to start putting them up?

“I usually wait until the weekend after Thanksgiving, but I may start early this year.” - Crystal Reilly

after Thanksgiving and come down the weekend after New Year’s.” - Yvonne Simonds Walker

“After Thanksgiving, but if you want to do it before I support that also. And I take it all down the day after Christmas.” - Ashley Adkins-Melendez

“For most of my life I’ve always waited until after Thanksgiving dinner, usually the tree goes up after we’ve cleared the table and while watching The Muppet Christmas Carol, but last year we put them up right after Halloween because we needed extra cheer. Now this year the kids are already asking to decorate so I may give in and switch the decorations early again.” - Teena Garbus

“After Thanksgiving. One holiday away a time. Shopping for a big family though can start anytime during the year.” - Carrie Harper “Everyone has their own tradition so there’s going to be dozens of differing opinions. None of them will be wrong.

Personally mine go up the weekend

“Whatever your heart desires. If it makes you happy, do it.” - Karen Young

iStock

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

Courtney Diane Berrigan, 38, of Plant City, Fla., born in New Orleans, La. on Jan 16, 1983, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 26, 2021.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Dwight Bowdish

Barbara Krumins

Dwight Bowdish, 81, of Plant City, Fla., born in Sturgis, Mich. on July 4, 1940, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 27, 2021.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Barbara Krumins, 88, of Brandon, Fla., formerly of New England, born in Dorchester, Mass. on Nov. 9, 1932, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 30, 2021.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Elena M. Richter HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Marsha Morgan Marsha Morgan, 50, of Seffner, Fla., born in Clearwater on March 5, 1971, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 28, 2021.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

Elena is survived by her husband of 51 years, Gus Richter; a daughter, Marcella and her partner, Chris Spires; a son, Kurt and his wife, Elizabeth; and her grandchildren, Eva, Eliana and Jacob. Services will be private.

In lieu of fl wers or cards, the family suggests contributions to American Cancer Society or Master Chorale of Tampa Bay.

OBITUARIES

Courtney Diane Berrigan

|

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Dorothy Ussery Dorothy Ussery, 88, of Dover, Fla., passed away on Oct. 31, 2021.

Services will be held privately by the family.

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

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Elena M. Richter, 74, of Plant City, passed away Oct. 27, 2021. Born in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Jorge and Barbara Morfin ( olf), she was a 1969 graduate of Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Mich. and a member of Beta Beta Beta, the Biology Honor Society. She was a Registered Technologist in Diagnostic Ultrasound; a 31-year member of the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and a member of the Lakeland Miniature Guild.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

Sam Conrad Sam Conrad, 84, of Lithia, Fla., born in Turkey Creek on Oct. 2, 1937, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 27, 2021.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED

BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

116 North Collins Street Plant City, FL 33563 ph: (813) 567-5735 allabloomtampa.com

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

YOUR CALENDAR

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BEST BET SATURDAY, NOV. 6 VETERAN’S DAY EVENT 10 to 11 a.m. at 703 N. Wheeler St. The Hopewell Team invites veterans and the community to their 34th annual Veteran’s Appreciation Event at Courier Field & Veteran’s Monument. The event is free to all and focused on educating the youth about the cost of freedom and the signifi ance of those who step up to pay that cost. Hopewell is partnering with the City of Plant City, Five 5 Group, Kenzie Wheeler, Springhead Elementary Chorus, Durant High School Colors Team and others to make the event special. For more information, visit www.vetday.hopewellfuneral.com.

THURSDAY, NOV. 4 PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

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.

FRIDAY, NOV. 4 MARKET IN THE MEADOWS

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2866 W. Reynolds St. The Fancy Flea is back in Plant City for Market In The Meadows, a vintage home and garden market that brings dozens of vendors to Central Florida. The event will be held at the Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds on both Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6. Admission is $5 for adults and parking is freee. Rain or shine, don’t miss The Fancy Flea’s biggest show of the year.

SATURDAY, NOV. 6 FALL FEST

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2001 E. Cherry St. Get ready for this year’s Fall Fest, taking place at the Plant City Community & Botanical Garden on the south side of the HCC Plant City campus. The event will be a one of a kind celebration of fall with something for everyone, including holiday and food vendors, a plant sale, botanical garden walks, garden education and more. Chil-

dren and adults alike are encouraged to wear garden-themed costumes and all call bring their own Halloween pumpkins for an action-packed composting event. The event is free for all and open to the public.

For more information, contact Shannon Shearer at shannon.wolfe@gmail.com.

UNWINED YOGA

9 to 10 a.m. at 5202 Thonotosassa Rd. Head to Keel & Curley Winera and enjoy your yoga practice among the grape vines.

The event is open for yoga participants of all levels and Wildfl wer Yogi will be guiding a monthly 50-minute yoga practice in the vines. Enjoy a wonderful class and some fresh air for a $10 cash drop in, or you can register online.

BLUEGRASS JAM!

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd.

This is an open invitation for local Bluegrass musicians and fans to come to the Krazy Kup loft and jam, clap hands, stomp feet and enjoy! Krazy Kup holds their Bluegrass JAM on the fi st Saturday of every month.

MONDAY, NOV. 8 PLANT CITY GARDEN CLUB MEETING

10 a.m. at 605 N. Collins St. The Plant City Garden Club will be holding a general meeting next Monday. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. with a coffee meet and greet starting before at 9:30. In addition to the meeting, guest speaker and owner of Organic Resources, Frank Lapniewski, will be in attendance to speak on probiotics for

your plants. New members are welcome. For more information, contact Christy Linke at clinke3173@aol.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 10 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 benefi s please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday.

Walk-ins welcomed or call 813-704-5800 to set a specific tim .

SUNSET SOUNDS

6 to 8 p.m. at 5202 Thonotosassa Rd. Sunset Sounds is a summer music series featuring acoustic music from local artists.

Head over to Keel & Curley Winery every Wednesday evening to enjoy music, food, drinks and sunshine on their patio.

THURSDAY NOV. 11 VETERAN’S DAY CONCERT

7 p.m. at 1 Raider Pl. The Plant City High School band will be hosting a Veteran’s Day convert on Nov. 11. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the Plant City High School auditorium and is free and open for all to attend.

SATURDAY NOV. 13 THE FORK RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOOK 5K, EMPTY BOWLS PROJECT

7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. The ForkRanAwayWithTheSpoon5K run is an event dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives, providing a safe, fun and family-friendly event that benefi s the United Food Bank of Plant City. The cost is $35 per race entry, all runners must be at the starting line by 7 a.m. and the course will close at 9 a.m. to local traffic or the neighborhood. For more information on the event, or to sign up for the run, visit www.forkranawaywiththespook5k.com.

Following the 5K, starting at 10:30, the United Food Bank will hold their Empty Bowl Project fundraisor at the same location. The fundraiser will serve a simple lunch of a variety of soups with desserts, including musical entertainment, for a $10 donation.

PIONEER DAY CELEBRATION

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 605 N. Collins St. The East Hillsborough Historical Society will hold the 44th Annual Pioneer Day celebration at the historic 1914 Plant City High School Community Center. The free, family-oriented, all-day celebration will include live entertainment, a train ride for kids and several different vendors and exhibits for a day full of fun,

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FORECAST

Send your photo submissions to staff writer Taylor Jenkins at tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com or hashtag #iloveplantcity on Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature.

THURSDAY, NOV 4 High: 80 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 24%

FRIDAY, NOV 5 High: 73 Low: 61 Chance of rain: 69%

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

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SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Nov 4

7:42a

6:41p

Friday, Nov 5

7:43a

6:41p

Saturday, Nov 6

7:43a

6:40p

Sunday, Nov 7

6:44a

5:39p

Monday, Nov 8

6:45a

5:39p

Tuesday, Nov 9

6:46a

5:38p

Wednesday, Nov 10

6:46a

5:38p

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

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MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, NOV 6 High: 73 Low: 53 Chance of rain: 33%

SUNDAY, NOV 7 High: 73 Low: 50 Chance of rain: 6%

MONDAY, NOV 8 Stephanie Hrenchir took this photo of a squirrel, enjoying the weather and their fall harvest at Gilchrist Park.

ONLINE

Follow us on social media: @PCObserver on Instagram, @PlantObserver on Twitter and Plant City Observer on Facebook.

High: 76 Low: 53 Chance of rain: 5%

Nov. 4 New

Nov. 11 First

Nov. 19 Full

Nov. 27 Last

RAINFALL LAST WEEK:

MONTH TO DATE:

0.79 in.

0.00 in.

YEAR TO DATE:

OCT. AVERAGE:

46.16 in.

1.83 in.

STRAWBERRIES Shipping point: South Florida $12.90-$16.90

Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

Your One Stop Shop For All Parties, Events & Reunions!

Choice Meats • Meat Bundles • Specialty Meats • Produce • Smoke House • Groceries 617 N. Maryland Ave. • Plant City 813-752-1548 (C) 2021 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

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11 Integer, e.g.

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53 Utah lily 54 “A Jug of Wine ... “ poet 56 Q.E.D. word 57 Doctrines 59 “Star Trek” helmsman 60 Change for a fi e 61 Gds. 63 Charlemagne’s domain: Abbr.

64 LAX listing

LL Wiiiams & Karen Davis OWNERS OF FELTON'S

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

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