Liduvina "Lucy" Nieves sat on a new sofa in her new house Friday, overwhelmed and nearly speechless. ...more

February 4, 2009

Liduvina "Lucy" Nieves sat on a new sofa in her new house Friday morning, overwhelmed and nearly speechless. ...more

January 31, 2009

Liduvina "Lucy" Nieves sat on a new sofa in her new house this morning, overwhelmed and nearly speechless. "The change is incredible," said Nieves, 66, who has lived on Union Street for 30 years. Nieves' home was one of 20 in her neighborhood rehabilitated and completed today as part of Kickoff to Rebuild, a project sponsored by the nonprofit Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay and the National Football League. ...more

January 30, 2009

Liduvina "Lucy" Nieves's home for three decades was deteriorating. What remained was an emotional bond and a roof over her head. ...more

January 21, 2009

Liduvina "Lucy" Nieves's home for three decades was deteriorating. What remained was an emotional bond and a roof over her head. ...more

January 21, 2009

SEBRING -- Penne Manar says she still gets goose bumps when she recalls how, seven years ago, she came to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Highlands County. She balked at a friend's invitation to join this non-profit, Christian faith-based organization that helps hard working people work and save their way into a new home that otherwise would be unreachable. Nearing the end of two years as volunteer president of the Florida Hospital Auxiliary, Manar worried that joining another service organization would stretch her time and energy too thin. But she accepted an invitation to attend a Habitat home dedication. Manar watched as a single mother with three young children, having saved the down payment and completed her 400 hours of "sweat equity" work, was given a Bible and house keys and became a first-time homeowner. ...more

October 19, 2008

Shouting up to workers on the roof of the downtown fire station, Sebring Fire Chief Brad Batz asked about the caulking on the parapets as electricians, plumbers and carpenters put the finishing touches on the major renovation project. ...more

August 15, 2008