Brooks, Mehra Hailed For Work Benefiting Children About 300 guests attended the seventh annual Champion for Children awards ceremony and dinner Oct. 2 at the Renaissance Hotel at International Plaza in Tampa. The dinner, the signature event for Voices for Children of Hillsborough County Inc., the fundraising branch of Guardian Ad Litem, honored Tampa Bay Buccaneer Derrick Brooks as the 2008 Champion for Children for his work with youths, including The Brooks Bunch, Derrick Brooks Charities and Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School in North Tampa. Tampa psychiatrist Rahul Mehra was presented with the Guardian Angel Award for volunteering for Guardian Ad Litem, the nonprofit agency that assigns volunteers to represent children who need help during legal proceedings. The evening, called "Old Havana Nights," raised more than $43,000 and featured an outdoor cocktail reception with cigar bar, a chance drawing for a collection of 60 bottles of wine donated by board members, a silent auction, dinner and dancing. The emcee was former Buccaneers offensive lineman Ian Beckles, a host on WDAE, 620 AM. ...more

October 13, 2008

Bring your nickels Saturday. Streetcar rides will be 5 cents all day in downtown Tampa in recognition of the TECO Line streetcar system's six-year anniversary. ...more

October 10, 2008

Mayor Rick Baker, who has led the city since 2001, has been chosen America's Mayor of the Year by Governing magazine. ...more

October 9, 2008

PLANT CITY Plant City native Anne Hull, a Washington Post reporter who helped expose mistreatment of wounded war veterans, is this year's recipient of the Lovejoy Award. ...more

October 9, 2008

The two candidates for Pasco schools superintendent, meeting in a candidates' forum at Pasco-Hernando Community College, squared off on employee morale, a controversial teaching method and raises for school employees. ...more

October 9, 2008

Because of ubiquitous letters to the editor from his supporters, we are well aware of sheriff candidate Ron Grimming's impressive resume. The most recent letter urged us to research Mr. Grimming's background before making our decision on whom to vote for. Sure enough, a Google search verified that Mr. Grimming was indeed a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) official, headed up campus police forces, oversaw law enforcement schools and co-authored successful books on law enforcement. ...more

October 7, 2008

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 10th anniversary at Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club in San Antonio on Sept. 25. ...more

October 5, 2008

The city council voted to ban panhandling, charity collections and newspaper sales on medians along city streets, rejecting pleas from people who said they will lose money in the move. ...more

October 2, 2008

The invasion of West Pasco County is coming soon. That's the promise from Gulf High School's Athletic Booster Club. It is organizing what members hope will become the most massive reunion in the school's 86-year history. ...more

September 24, 2008

The invasion of West Pasco is coming soon. That's the promise from Gulf High School Athletic Booster Club. It is organizing what members hope will become the most massive reunion in the 86-year history of the school. ...more

September 24, 2008