Stacy-Ann Blake spent the first seven years of her life in New York City, where it's possible to find a basketball court within walking distance of almost any location. ...more

January 31, 2008

Six months ago, Adrian Moran Gomez made an excruciating choice. He said goodbye to his wife and four young children in Honduras. He left them behind to work alongside his father and brothers in Lakeland. ...more

January 17, 2008

Michael Xipolitas will continue a tradition tomorrow, during the Epiphany Celebration procession, as he leads 61 young men to Spring Bayou, where they will try their best to succeed him as the next successful cross diver. The dive for the cross is one of the highlights of the Greek Orthodox Epiphany Celebration. ...more

January 8, 2008

Even in their darkest hour, family members of a 9-year-old boy killed by a church float in the Plant City Christmas Parade recalled that their "little comedian" loved nothing more than making people laugh. ...more

December 11, 2007

PLANT CITY - Even in their darkest hour, family members of a 9-year-old boy killed by a church float in the Plant City Christmas Parade recalled that their "little comedian" loved nothing more than making people laugh. ...more

December 10, 2007

The other day I watched a religious speech by Mitt Romney, candidate for president. He mentioned God so many times I lost count. He also credited God for giving us liberty, freedom and winning the Revolutionary War. As far as I know the good citizens and soldiers gave us all that. And government is derived from the governed, not God. He would like to see more religious icons in the public square. He actually spat out the word secular as if it were a disease. For this speech he got a huge ovation. ...more

December 10, 2007

The last engine has shut down and most of the transports have pulled out. The Sebring Historic Fall Classic is over, and not but a memory. This weekend's events are now cataloged in my mind as the newest of thousands of memories from Sebring Raceway. It's a special place to me, and not just because of the cars, but because of some of the colorful people you meet. This race, like so many others, was spent enjoying time with family. ...more

December 5, 2007

AVON PARK –– It's a family affair when Jamee and Markida Hawthorne step on the court for the Avon Park Red Devils girls basketball team. A chemistry can be seen when a laser pass from Markida finds Jamee cutting to the basket for the score –– a family bond that is bonding the Red Devils this season. Junior shooting guard Jamee and Markida, a freshman point guard, are cousins that have become an exciting combination to watch this season. "Those girls have really added another dimension to this team," AP head coach Paulette Daley said. "They work so well together on the court when they're on the floor together. They're both so unselfish and have really given us a spark early on." Jamee has become known as the defensive stopper for the Red Devils and usually has the job of guarding the opposing team's best player night in and night out. That responsibility is one that Daley feels Jamee can handle. ...more

December 4, 2007

Whenever Karen Rockwell thought about what kind of business she wanted to run, Rita's Water Ice was always on her radar screen. ...more

November 26, 2007

My husband, Hugh, and I moved to Temple Terrace on Dec. 26, 1959. ...more

November 7, 2007