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Newly Graduated Buddies Take Bicycle Tour Of Europe

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By BETTY BRIGGS

Tribune correspondent

Published: August 27, 2008

PLANT CITY - This summer, Arley Smude of Plant City graduated with honors from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. With a major in international affairs, it makes sense he would want to experience the world. In June, he and friend Steve Hollenkamp of Brandon embarked on a European bicycle journey, starting July 22 in northern Greece.

They reached the southern Albanian border at dusk after the first day of biking and had their passports stamped by a lone border guard with an outdated computer and empty bookshelf.

That first night they encountered only goats and small creatures they described as "small fox-weasel-like" and saw more stars than they ever imagined could be seen with the naked eye. They slept on a concrete foundation with four partial walls.

They quickly learned the true nature of Albania: kind and humble people, ready to share history and stories.

By Aug. 9, they made it to Kosovo, where the local newspaper published a story they wrote.

They were hoping at the end of August to catch flights to Bangkok, Thailand, and to Seoul, South Korea.

Hollenkamp will teach English in Seoul for a year and Smude was to fly home to prepare for graduate school, he hopes at American University in Washington.

Smude's parents are Diego and Mary Smude of Plant City.

Retiree's 40 Years Of Service Recognized

Sam Singletary of Plant City was honored by the Southwest Florida Water Management District for his 40 years of service as party chief surveyor in the Land Resources Department.

He retired in July and was recognized at the July 29 board meeting in Bartow. Board members Jennifer Closshey and Hugh Gramling from Plant City attendance attended.

The Brooksville office honored him with a party and a retirement plaque. His wife Mary and son Cliff attended. He was reportedly the district's first employee to serve 40 years.

He plans to fish, travel and keep his job as a referee in soccer and flag football for the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department. Working with youth has been a joy for Singletary for more than 30 years.

Plant City High Graduate Gets Navy Promotion

Daniel S. Taylor, a 2006 Plant City High School graduate, has been promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class in the Navy. He received his training in San Diego and graduated from Sonar Tech School on Aug. 8.

Beginning in November, he will serve on the U.S.S. John S. McCain, a destroyer named after the father and grandfather of the presidential candidate, who were admirals in the Navy. The destroyer will be deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

His parents, Scott and Diane Taylor, and sister Stephanie, are all of Plant City.

Forester Guest Speaker At Garden Club Meeting

Rob Northrop, urban and community forester, plans to speak at the Plant City Garden Club's first general meeting of the season at 10 a.m. Sept. 8 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 2104 Mud Lake Road, Plant City.

A pot luck luncheon will be served. For information, call (813) 759-1638.

Want A Green Thumb? Come To Meeting

Susan Miles, a librarian at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., said the Hillsborough County Extension Service's Master Gardeners will present a program called Herbs A-Z at 7 p.m. Sept. 8.

Loretta Clements, a Master Gardener, will talk and there will be a plant exchange, so you are encouraged to bring one. Call Miles at (813) 757-9215 for information.

Company President Re-Elected To Board

David Carson, president of Chemical Dynamics in Plant City, was re-elected to a three-year term on the board of directors for the Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association during the association's 76th annual meeting in Palm Beach.

Carson was chairman of the board from 2005-06. The statewide association based in Winter Haven represents the interests of agricultural fertilizer and agrichemical companies doing business in Florida, and is governed by a 21-member board of directors.

First Presbyterian Gets New Choir Director

Ian Peacock, music director at Plant City High School for three years, has joined the staff at First Presbyterian Church of Plant City as choir director. He's a University of Tampa graduate in in music performance and is a member of the Tampa Oratorio Singers and a former member of the Tampa Bay Master Chorale.

Anyone interested in singing in the church choir may call Peacock at (813) 629-1165 or (813) 752-4211.

The choir practices at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

Church Staying Active Next Few Weeks

United Assembly Church, 4989 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Plant City, has a busy schedule in the next few weeks.

Activities include:

•Yard sale 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 6.

•Covered-dish supper at 6 p.m. Sept. 13 and singing at 7, featuring The Psalms 101 group. There is no charge.

•A free festival is 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 11 featuring games, hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and a bounce house.

Swine Show Deadline Is Sept. 5

Applications for the 2009 Florida Strawberry Festival swine show and sale are due by Sept. 5.

Only 75 hogs will be drawn from all entries received. Each exhibitor may enter two pigs, but only one pig can be brought to the final weigh-in.

All exhibitors must be Hillsborough County FFA or youth agriculture organization members. They must be enrolled in grades 3 through 12 and reside in Hillsborough.

Applications can be picked up at the strawberry festival office at 2202 W. Reynolds St., Plant City or from agricultural/FFA teachers or 4-H leaders. The applications can also be downloaded from www.flstrawberryfestival

.com.

The festival is Feb. 26 through March 8. The swine show will be 7 p.m. Feb. 26 and the swine sale 7 p.m. Feb. 27.

For information call (813) 752-9194.

E-mail items to Betty Briggs at gaby lee@tampabay.rr.com; mail to The Tampa Tribune, 101 N. Wheeler St., Plant City FL 33563; or fax to (813) 865-4441.

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