Although Hudson High School junior Clint Barga plans on a career in art, he still hasn't quite reconciled with having to part with his creations. "I usually don't give it away," Clint said, adding that he's even turned down cash offers for some of his art. But one of Clint's more recent pieces has a found a new home, in State Rep. John Legg's office in Tallahassee, as his entry took first place in Legg's second annual "Art in the Capitol" contest. ...more

January 23, 2008

SEBRING — Beautification projects in Highlands County were shut down last year because grant funding was pulled from Keep Highlands County Beautiful, the local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, which funds neighborhood, school and road improvement projects. This year, though, the agency has at least $12,000 in funding, thanks to the Florida Department of Transportation renewing the agency's yearly state funding. On top of that, Keep Highlands County Beautiful officials are hoping to add another $4,000 to $5,000 to the beautification grant pool through its first-ever fundraiser on Saturday. Called the KHCB Fun Shoot, the fundraiser is set to start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Square One Sporting Clays, 7500 State Road 70, Lake Placid. ...more

January 15, 2008

K.J. Choi had to work harder than he imagined to become the Sony Open champion everyone expected. ...more

January 14, 2008

Backyard tropical foliage plants - such as palm trees - may be on life support this morning, especially if people failed to take necessary measures to protect them from the overnight cold. ...more

January 3, 2008

The Oldsmar Public Library is moving into a new, high-tech home. This is a big step up from its current home, a building from the city's early days. ...more

December 22, 2007

Sister Veronica Rop heard Barry University's convent was unconventional, but a swimming pool? ...more

December 10, 2007

About 120 crape myrtles in medians along U.S. 301 got a reprieve this week as members of the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce signed papers agreeing to take over landscaping and maintenance duties from Hillsborough County. ...more

November 29, 2007

In Florida, you have got to make your own fall colors. "Palm trees are pretty much green all the time," conceded Bob Tiberio, a transplant from upstate New York who took root in Ruskin 35 years ago. ...more

November 26, 2007

Hawaiian shirts are a state of mind. ...more

November 20, 2007

Gary Moss bought his first vintage Hawaiian shirt in 1976 at a New Jersey antiques show to replace a sweaty golf shirt on a humid summer day. He took a fancy to it and began buying more at shows and shops. ...more

November 20, 2007