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Restaurant Owner Steps Up To Support Breast Cancer Walk

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By BETTY BRIGGS

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 10, 2008

PLANT CITY - Owen Johnson has offered his restaurant, Johnson Barbeque, 1305 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., again this year for a fundraiser that his mom, Tammy Johnson, has a special place in her heart for: the Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk.

Tammy Johnson plans to walk 60 miles this year with team members, Nancy Everidge, Laurel Ritenbaugh, Linda Garner, Dana Carpenter, Carole Lenhart, Tara Boshell and Janny Babbit. Tammy Johnson and Babbit are cancer survivors. Last year the team, Bosom Buddies Walking Abreast, raised more than $40,000.

The fundraiser barbecue will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday. Tickets are being pre-sold for $10, and the meal includes smoked chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, banana pudding and iced tea. The meals are available for eat-in or takeout.

Call Tammy Johnson at (813) 478-1494 for tickets, or buy one at Owen Johnson's restaurant or at Fred's Market restaurants in Plant City, Lakeland and Bartow.

"My hope is that our children and grandchildren will never have to hear the words, 'You have breast cancer,'" she said.

One in seven women is given that diagnosis. Money raised by this event goes to breast cancer research. Former team member Emily Barr has designed a T-shirt, which is available for $20 with all proceeds going toward the fundraiser. Call Ritenbaugh at (813) 679-1066 if you'd like to buy one.

The walk is scheduled for Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

USO To Honor Plant City Resident

Every year, the United Service Organization honors one hero from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. At the Oct. 1 annual USO World Gala, Petty Officer 1st Class Phillip Waldron of Plant City will be honored as the 2008 Coast Guardsman of the Year.

Waldron, while assigned to Coast Guard cutter Wrangell on deployment in the Northern Arabian Gulf, provided at-sea repairs to the cutter's main propulsion plant and engineering systems, ensuring the cutter never missed an operational commitment while achieving a track record of zero "lost cutter" days in 2007 and 2008. He executed 60 perilous runs, transporting special forces between coalition warships and terrorist-targeted oil terminals.

Waldron is the son of retired City Manager Phil Waldron and his wife, Sandra.

Club Welcomes Members, Installs Slate

The Plant City Junior Woman's Club on Aug. 14 inducted three new members, Darca Redmond, Kristie Brewington and Kaila Gosselin.

The same evening, the club handed out the following awards: Gosselin, provisional of the year; Leah Long, member of the year; and Sheri Dusse, President's Award. The three members dedicated countless hours of volunteer time with the club.

The club also installed its executive board for 2008-09: Racquel Sturgis, president; Bobbie Ehrenfeld, first vice president; Kristen Hitchcock, second vice president; Bethani Skiffington, third vice president; Nia Ramo, fourth vice president; Jennifer Black, treasurer; Jade Timmerman, recording secretary; Jennifer Hess, corresponding secretary; and Redmond, historian.

Plant City Woman Earns Associate's Degree

Deborah L. Register of Plant City was awarded an associate of science degree in interdisciplinary studies from Kaplan University, based in Davenport, Iowa.

She was honored by Kaplan during a commencement ceremony in Chicago in August.

Veronica Dillon, The Washington Post Co.'s senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, served as the commencement speaker.

Friends Pitch In To Show They Care

Clara Wansley, mother of 1974 Plant City High School graduate Ivan Wansley, said the power of prayer and the love of this community can never be overestimated.

Friends and family of Ivan Wansley have stepped up to help ever since the Florida Southern College music teacher had emergency surgery for a lacerated hernia about a year ago. As a result of complications, he has been in the hospital or in rehab at John Knox Medical Center since his surgery.

First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace members, including Sunday school department head Armese Butler, and First Baptist Church of Plant City members, including Plant City High School librarian Lynn Pelham, brought home-cooked meals to the family for 12 weeks.

Lynn and Bryce Wetherington and Leslie Platt headed a project to redecorate and paint the living and dining room at Ivan Wansley's Plant City home while he is recovering, using donations from the class of 1974.

Rob Wansley, Ivan's cousin, did repairs on the house. Keith Venning of Plant City High's Class of 1975 and Tim Going of the Class of 1971 were also part of the group. Professors in the music department at Florida Southern College covered Wansley's classes, and Tim Laferriere, a middle school band director in Tavares, alerted colleagues throughout the state to Wansley's situation, and they have paid his mortgage during his illness.

"So many people have reached out to Ivan, including the doctors and nurses," his mother said. "Ivan is going to be shocked and pleased when she sees the fantastic results of the hard work and monetary donations."

Clara Wansley said her son is doing remarkably well at John Knox Medical Center and should be home in a few weeks. Clara Wansley, who taught school in Plant City for many years, and his father, Howard, live at John Knox Retirement Village in Tampa.

Pageant Applications Being Accepted

Applications are being accepted for the Miss Plant City USA and Miss Plant City Teen USA pageant, director Brigittia Long said.

Girls 14 to 17 can enter the teen division, and women 18 to 25 can enter the Miss division in the pageant, which will be held Oct. 19 at the Red Rose Inn & Suites' grand ballroom in Plant City.

For information or an application, call (813) 393-7442.

An Impressive Summer For Children's Theatre

The Plant City Children's Theatre, part of the Arts Council of Plant City and operated by Jackie and Sharon Everidge, has just finished an impressive summer program.

Guest instructors included Charleene Closshey, an accomplished performing artist, model and beauty pageant veteran; David Chernault, who appeared in the Broadway tour of "Annie"; Toni Coker, a National Football League cheerleader; Becky Conn, an award-winning Irish dance and clogging instructor; Vic Larsen, a retired teacher who taught tap dance; Jennifer Russell, a Radio City Music Hall performer; Wendy Walton, of the Tennessee Ballet Conservatory; Linda Lopez, from the University of Tampa; Robin Dawn, who has taught and judged for Star Power and appeared on television and videos; Marquis Cunningham, who was on the show "So You Think You Can Dance?"; Heather Rose, who performs with Voci Dance, Orlando's premiere modern dance company; and the Tampa Bay Wranglers line dancers.

For information on the theater, call (813) 752-1621.

International Group Open To All Women

Friendly fellowship is the reward for becoming part of Beta Sigma Phi of Plant City. If you would like to join this international group, call Laura Jones at (863) 529-9676.

There will be a meet-and-greet social from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 2104 Mud Lake Road. This organization is available to women of all ages and backgrounds.

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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