Teenagers fill the room, talking teen talk, listening to music and sipping soft drinks. ...more

February 21, 2009

Teenagers fill the room, talking teen talk among themselves, listening to music and sipping soft drinks. To Mona Giordano, this teen activity represents the work of the Lord. "It's a church cleverly disguised as a coffee shop," she says about the Coffee Spot House of Praise in Holiday. "It's church unusual." She and husband Peter fulfilled their long-held dream of having a different kind of church when they opened the Coffee Spot in December 2006. They envisioned working with other churches in providing safe, informal settings for teens and adults, both believers and nonbelievers. ...more

February 18, 2009

Need A Miracle Dear Santa: My name isn't Virginia, but I would like to believe in you one more time in my life. I'm 61 years old and just lost my job at USF. I have four years to retirement. I have been working in research for 22 years, but I guess they thought a younger mind and body could do a better job. ...more

December 25, 2008

Bucs kicker Matt Bryant, whose infant son, Tryson, died in his sleep on Sept. 24, spent time with children battling serious illnesses today at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital. ...more

December 2, 2008

Tampa ophthalmologist Steven Maskin learned something when he started offering free seminars on dry eye. ...more

February 22, 2008

Nov. 15, 1997 was a special day our family will long remember. With the words, "I do," our youngest daughter and the love of her life became man and wife –– a brand new family of two ready to step out on their own. At the reception, the groom danced with his mother to the song she requested. It was "I'll Be Home for Christmas." His birthday is Dec. 24. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. Photos of the day can still be found throughout our home nearly 10 years after the event. They now share space with photos of the two children who eventually made them a family of four. As our daughter and son-in-law prepare to celebrate their 10th Anniversary, we find ourselves naturally thinking back on their wedding day. We recall dancing together to "New York! New York!" and Bill dancing with Lyn's Mom to "Chicago, My Kind of Town." Ah, yes, all wonderful memories to treasure. And then, there's the memory of a somewhat unusual incident that's lasted in a most unique way. Minutes before our daughter was to toss her cascading bouquet of roses and ivy into the eager arms of one of her bridesmaids, Lyn retrieved a small scissors from her purse. She quietly proceeded to snip off many long strands of the green ivy. The bride, her grandmother, and father looked on in wonder. Lyn merely said, "Trust me." ...more

November 2, 2007

The post office has its mantra - neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night - and Billy Turner has his. ...more

October 26, 2007