The Brandon Service League's 16th annual Holiday Home Tour was a big success, said Candy Jackson, first vice president of the league and former tour chairwoman. Hundreds of men, women and children visited the ornamented houses, owned by Valrico residents Scott and Chris Etherington and Dave and Monica Cox and Lithia residents John and Ellen Matheson. ...more

January 7, 2009

The Brandon Service League's 16th annual Holiday Home Tour was a big success, said Candy Jackson, first vice president of the league and former tour chairwoman. Hundreds of men, women and children visited the ornamented houses, owned by Lithia residents John and Ellen Matheson and Valrico residents Scott and Chris Etherington and Dave and Monica Cox. ...more

January 7, 2009

We writers live "surrounded by a cloud of witnesses." When I was 10 years old my family moved from the city to a tiny country town where the school was overcrowded, so all fifth graders - me included - attended an old-fashioned, one-room school. The teacher, Rhea O'Grady, had taught eight grades in that room for 40-some years. She was 74 and shorter than some of her students, but she ruled the classroom like a drill sergeant. The first day I eagerly slid into a seat in the second row just left of the middle. Mrs. O'Grady peered at me over her wire-rimmed glasses and jerked her head toward the other side of the room. My fellow students giggled and whispered as I sheepishly crossed the aisle. Apparently, I was the only one who didn't know that in "Old Lady O'Grady's" class, boys sat on the left, girls on the right. When it was time for recess, Mrs. O'Grady followed us outside with a huge canvas bag which she turned upside down. Out poured baseballs, softballs, and several bats. ...more

June 28, 2008

Celebrity addictions specialist Drew Pinsky - famous for preppy attire, wire-rimmed glasses and scholarly answers to difficult questions - said he is willing to come to Tampa to help fallen "American Idol" contestant Jessica Sierra. ...more

December 13, 2007

TAMPA - Celebrity addictions specialist Drew Pinsky – famous for his preppy attire, wire-rimmed glasses and scholarly answers to difficult questions – said he is willing to come to Tampa to advocate for fallen "American Idol" contestant Jessica Sierra. ...more

December 12, 2007