Layoffs, foreclosures and tight-fisted credit are not the usual incentives for a business boom. But Seminole Heights is bursting with activity. At least seven businesses recently opened or under construction are taking hold along the neighborhood's major corridors: Nebraska, Florida and Hillsborough avenues. They are: Sangria's Spanish Tapas Bar & Restaurant, Ella's restaurant, Richy's Themes Sports Lounge, The Independent tavern, Tampa Street Market, D&D's Antiques & More and Reservations Gourmet to Go. ...more

February 11, 2009

SEBRING — In a closed-door meeting last week, the owners and/or general managers of the top five hotels in this city met privately with new Highlands County administrator Michael Wright to make one request: don't get rid of Rocky Ellingsworth, the Highlands County Sports Complex manager. The hotel owners and managers all told Wright that Ellingsworth is almost single handedly responsible for filling most of their hotel rooms on many off-season weekends because he brings in first-class softball and baseball tournaments. They also said that league and tournament directors who had tournaments at the sports complex have told them they will cancel their tournament dates and hotel accommodations for the fall if Ellingsworth loses his job here. Many of the hotel owners and managers also said they've been told that some tournaments will leave and never come back if Ellingsworth isn't working here, and the teams will travel to whatever new location Ellingsworth works in to hold their weekend tournaments there. ...more

June 30, 2008

Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday evoked President Kennedy's challenge to land on the moon and called for the same dedication and innovation to finding ways to save the Earth in an address that kicked off his second annual summit on climate change. ...more

June 26, 2008

The towering construction cranes and the cacophony of churning concrete trucks and rumbling cherry pickers are the sights and sounds of a business boom in South Africa's most famous township. ...more

September 30, 2007