Letter to the editor
My name is Cynthia Ballard. On Dec. 8, I was in the ICU with a third degree heart block and bilateral pneumonia. I was suddenly not feeling well and the marvelous ICU nurses and BayCare’s technology jumped into action. I can’t remember seeing or hearing anything but I remember saying, “tell my daughter I love her,” and I saw a white light and two angels patting me on the head and saying that it’s not my time. I know that’s probably something that no one will believe, but that’s OK, I believe. My main purpose of contacting you is that I would love to say thank you to the ICU nurses at South Florida Baptist Hospital, to the doctor that was giving orders to save my life and the remarkable technology that BayCare has in their ICU here at South Florida Baptist Hospital. All combined saved my life. And if it’s possible, please make a public statement for me about how wonderful, knowledgeable, quick-thinking nurses and doctors saved my life. I would also like to say thank you to the two east nurses that gave me such miraculous care now that I have recovered and feel so much better. And also Dr. Gregg Gutowski and Dr. Robert Baskin, I’d like to thank them for the care that they have given me that contributed to my recovery.
– Cynthia Ballard
Chilifest 2022 in need of sponsors and teams
The Arts Council of Plant City is actively searching for sponsorships, as well as chili teams, for Chilifest 2022.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, 102 N. Palmer St.
For contestants, you will be competing for awards in mild, spicy, novelty and/or a people’s choice category that will be voted on by those in attendance. A team of of local celebrity judges will select first and second place winners in the various categories and those winners will receive a trophy, a cash prize and bragging rights for one year, until it’s time to defend their title.
For sponsors, there are three levels of sponsorships at $100, $250 and $500. At any sponsorship level you will receive acknowledgment on all Chilifest 2022 promotions, posters, social media, as well as a listing on www.PlantCityArts.com. A sponsorship of $250 or more will be recognized personally from the stage at the event and a $500 sponsor will be considered a major sponsor.
All money raised from the event will help support the annual sponsorships that the Arts Council awards to graduating seniors that will be furthering their education in the visual, performing or culinary arts.
In addition to the Chilifest, the Arts Council hosts several events that include the Seward Johnson Sculptures that appear in downtown each year, the Lamppost Banners, the Artist in the Classroom Program and the Reflections Art event at Plant City High School.
For more information, call Frank Cummings at 813-364-8071 or Marsha Passmore at 813-245-2244.