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Plant City Junior Receives Anne Frank Humanitarian Award

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 2, 2008

PLANT CITY - PLANT CITY - Stacey Heckerman, the daughter of Michael and Nancy Heckerman, was honored June 5 with the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award, presented by the Florida Holocaust Museum.

The award honors 84 high school juniors from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Manatee and Sarasota counties. The award, established in 2001, honors outstanding humanitarian efforts by high school juniors in public and private schools in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Sarasota and Manatee counties.

One student from each school is chosen. Gayle Sierens, co-anchor of WFLA, Channel 8, was the honorary co-chairman of the humanitarian award.

On July 18, Heckerman will travel to Bloomingdale, Ind., to attend a Best Buddies Leadership Conference at Indiana University. Beginning in the fall, she will be the Plant City High School president of Best Buddies, a club that pairs mainstream students with those in special education programs.

Also, Heckerman and SarahBeth Newsome have been selected by the Plant City Rotary Daybreak Club to participate this summer in the 2008 World Affairs Youth Seminar at Auburn University, in Auburn, Ala. Newsome is the daughter of Ray and JoBeth Newsome.

Hospital Foundation Elects New Officers

The South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation board of directors has elected new officers for one-year terms. They are Joe Sedita, president; Sylvia Knox, vice president; and Robert Tanner, secretary-treasurer.

Sedita, a CPA and certified financial planner, has served on the board since its inception. He owns his own company. He founded Sedita Kilton Life & Wealth Management and is active in the First United Methodist Church of Plant City and the Plant City Toastmasters Club and serves on the Plant City Boys & Girls Clubs board of trustees.

Knox, a retired school administrator and adjunct instructor at Hillsborough Community College, was born and raised in Plant City. She is active in the Woman's Club, Cornerstone Center and First Baptist Church of Plant City, and, in addition to teaching private piano lessons, she plays harp for community events. Knox chairs the popular annual Diamonds and Denim fundraiser for the hospital foundation.

Tanner, a 16-year Plant City resident and executive vice president of Platinum Bank, serves on the board of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and the city planning board and is an active member of the Plant City Rotary Club. He is an elder at Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Plant City.

The hospital's board of trustees also announced the appointment of Ed Verner to the foundation board of directors. He is the grandson of the late Lew and Vaviel Prosser, longtime Plant City residents. Verner works in real estate management and development and serves on the boards of Sunshine State and Federal Savings and Loan Association and the Hillsborough Community College Foundation. He is chairman-elect of the chamber of commerce.

2 Air Force Cadets From Area Recognized

The Florida Gulf Coast Parents Club of the United States Air Force Academy has recognized two area cadets graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.

On May 28, President Bush delivered the commencement. The two Valrico graduates are 2nd Lt. Katherine Harmon, a graduate of Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Pa., who has been assigned to pilot training at the Naval Air Station, Whiting Field in Milton, and 2nd Lt. Natasha Sergi, a graduate of Durant High School, who has been assigned to pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.

Father Of 4 Adds Degree To Accomplishments

Balancing family, work and university classes is always a challenge. Plant City resident Chuck Bowser has stepped up to that task. As a single parent of four, he works full-time as an estimating manager for Henkels McCoy Inc. and now has graduated from the University of Phoenix, West Florida, with his bachelor of science in business management.

Bowser, who strives to be a role model for his children, ages 23, 18, 16 and 14, received his degree on Father's Day weekend. He hopes to advance his career by pursuing senior management positions.

Smithfield Foods Gets Environmental Award

Plant City's Smithfield Foods employees were honored in June, along with employees at 53 other company facilities in 23 states, by the American Meat Institute for their significant environmental stewardship efforts. They were presented the institute's Environmental Recognition Award at a ceremony in Kansas City, Mo.

Dennis Treacy, Smithfield Foods' vice president of environmental and corporate affairs, said the company is committed to producing food for families in a responsible way.

Hawaii's The Theme Of YMCA Fundraiser

Local residents Rhett Rollyson, Brett Mueller, Becky Wetherington, Bob Norton, Cathy Erickson, David Davenport, Frank and Wenda Trunzo, Jack Holland and Steve Nierman have been hard at work for the Plant City Family YMCA, planning an adult Hawaiian luau. The tropical event will be from 7 to 11 p.m. July 26 poolside at the YMCA, 1507 YMCA Place, off Alexander Street.

Guests must be 21, and tickets are $35 per person.

A live steel drum band and hula dancers will entertain, and restaurants and businesses including Sweetbay, Quiznos, Kazbor's, Grandpa Johnson's, Pollo Tropical, Chili's, CiCi's, National Wine, Premier Wine, J.J. Taylor Cos. Beer Distribution, Pepsi and Red Rose Ballroom will provide food and drinks. Harrell's Nursery is providing decorations.

All proceeds will benefit the YMCA's Building Strong Kids Campaign.

Golf Tourney To Benefit Parkinson's Association

Chris Fedorcek will be tournament director for the Ulma Young Playing for Parkinson's Golf Benefit at Walden Lake Golf and Country Club, 2001 Clubhouse Drive. The benefit is an 18-hole scramble with shotgun start at 1 p.m. July 26.

Entry fee is $300 per team. It will include a barbecue dinner following golf.

Tournament chairman and dinner master of ceremonies is WTVT, Channel 13's Tom Curran. All proceeds will benefit the American Parkinson's Disease Association.

Call Fedorcek at (813) 394-3330.

Winery Event Celebrates Recovery From Fire

About two years ago, Keel & Curley Winery was hit by a fire. Next month, the winery, at 5202 Thonotosassa Road, will celebrate its recovery from the blaze with an event that includes tours, wine tasting, live music and, for the children, bounces, water slides and face-painting.

The so-called second annual Fire Sale is from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 9 and 10. For information, call (813) 752-9100.

Have an event you would like to see in this column? Send items to Betty Briggs by e-mail at gabylee@tampabay.rr.com or mail to The Tampa Tribune, 101 N. Wheeler St., Plant City FL 33563 or fax to (813) 865-4441.

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