Soldier returning from Iraq gets a hero's welcome at Doty home

Clouds and approaching rain did not dampen the spirits Jan. 16 when neighbors gathered at the home of Lindsay and Donna Doty to welcome home their son, Army 1st Lt. Justin Doty, who has returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.

Neighbors Dallas and Milene Powell, Donna Doty and her family prepared a feast for the neighborhood, and a band, Sucker Punch, played music.

Justin Doty will return to duty in Hawaii for a year. He isn't sure where he will be stationed after that. Nicole Sitze, Justin's girlfriend from Hawaii, Donna's brother, Mike Salza, from Colorado, and sister, Debbie Gorey and her husband, Tom, from New Jersey, were able to make the special event. Donna Doty had not seen her brother in about 10 years or her sister in a year and a half.

Safety 1st at Strawberry Crest

DOVER - Strawberry Crest High School was one of the winners in the Battle of the Belts, an annual competition to increase the use of seat belts.

Strawberry Crest, which opened in August, and Newsome High School won in the Highest Percentage category of safety belt use. Hillsborough High was named Most Improved, and Lennard High won the Best Campaign and Best Public Service Announcement awards.

Winning schools receive cash awards and prizes made possible by community sponsors. This year State Farm Insurance donated $10,000 to the campaign.

Theater readies for 'Beauty'

Sharon Everidge, artistic director of the Plant City Children's Theatre, said the organization is busy planning and rehearsing for the 2010 season of arts and enrichment.

Last year's program included the annual production of "Nutcracker," with Megan McLeod as Clara, Vlad Yakubov as the Nutcracker, Marissa Aloyo as the Sugar Plum Fairy and guest dancer Eric Williams. Aloyo was the recipient of the theater's 2009 college scholarship.

The theater's presentation of "Beauty and the Beast" is scheduled for the spring.

Kolkers to stop by, reflect at archives

Marsha Passmore and Linda Smith have planned a drop-in party for Stanley and Susan Kolker, long-time Plant City residents who are now living in California, at Plant City Photo Archives, 106 S. Evers St., from 5 to 7 p.m. today.

Refreshments will be served.

Stanley Kolker operated an advertising agency and both Kolkers were active in the community during two decades in Plant City.

For information, call Passmore at (813) 245-2244.

Father-daughter dance planned

A Daddy-Daughter dance with a whimsical forest theme will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St.

The dance is for fathers with daughters age 3 and older. The dance is also for grandfathers and uncles who want to bring their granddaughters or nieces.

The cost is $22 per father-daughter combo ($10 for each additional girl). The price includes a buffet, entertainment and keepsake photo.

Reservations are required by Feb. 12.

For information, call (813) 659-4255 or (813) 659-4256.

Volunteers needed for weekend retreat

TAMPA - LifePath Hospice is looking for a few good adult volunteers for its Camp Circle of Love weekend to help grieving children.

The 18th annual event is scheduled for April at the 100-acre Lakewood Retreat Center in Brooksville. Volunteers are needed to assist in the cabins or help with sports, water activities, arts and crafts projects and more. Also, volunteers are needed to help load and unload the camp buses in Tampa and Brooksville.

The deadline for volunteering is March 15. Background checks and a camp orientation meeting are mandatory.

LifePath, a nonprofit organization, supports and serves approximately 1,200 patients each day in Hillsborough County as they face the challenge of life-limiting illnesses.

For information, call Scott Cornelius at (813) 357-5603.