TAMPA Faye Dowdell looks for any edge she can find in today's gloomy economy. ...more

December 12, 2008

Local knowledge paid off for Jeffrey Gaddy in the 39th annual Florida Sportsmen Association Charity Open golf tournament. ...more

October 7, 2008

SEBRING — On Lemon Street, where drug dealers have ruled and crime has been present for decades, there are now faux red brick sidewalks, new blacktop, white concrete curbs, street lamps and palm trees. The ninth Juneteenth celebration, said Robert Saffold, turned out to be the best because Washington Heights has been restored. ...more

June 21, 2008

FAIRS & FESTS Saturday Juneteenth Family Festival; a celebration commemorating African-American freedom; includes music, comedy, career fair, drum making, head wrapping, arts, crafts, food and more; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; free admission; Campbell Park, 601 14th St. S., St. Petersburg; (727) 743-6792 ...more

June 20, 2008

SEBRING — The 9th Annual Sebring Juneteenth Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., June 21, in the Washington Heights Neighborhood, on Lemon Street, from Railroad Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard. The family-fun multicultural block party will feature music, vendors and entertainment. Tim McGahee, pastor of Bountiful Blessings Church of God, is ready for the day-long celebration. "Not only does it talk about the issue, but Juneteenth brings the community together," said McGahee. "It brings people of different races and cultures together, which is very important. "It's not something government can do, only communities can do that." Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. Twenty six states observe June 19 as an annual holiday or holiday observance. ...more

June 17, 2008

SEBRING — The Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency is proceeding with plans to beautify Circle Park. On Monday, commissioners met with Roger Statzer of Keith and Schnars engineering of Lakeland, and Marshall Whidden of Whidden Design Studio in Lake Wales. Without a vote, the commissioners agreed to see more advanced plans. Whidden would plant cathedral oaks, cabbage palms, shrubbery, metal picnic tables and benches, and place spotlights among the trees. ...more

June 10, 2008

SEBRING — Since Washington Heights got a $1.3-million sprucing-up, soaring expectations by some suggest a brighter future for the struggling neighborhood. Antoine Lenton, 27, was putting the finishing touches on the streetscapes project Monday. The lifelong Washington Heights resident said it felt good to work on the neighborhood project where he grew up. "I'm glad to be on the job and give back to the community," said Lenton. "You've got to start somewhere," said Lenton. "You've got to believe it's going to improve things. It looks good, feels good, but takes time to improve." ...more

June 9, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County commissioners will consider seeking grant money to continue the neighborhood revitalization of the Washington Heights neighborhood from the city of Sebring into the abutting Lincoln Heights area, which lies in the unincorporated area. Commissioner Barbara Stewart raised that idea last week after the five commissioners voted unanimously to donate $1,000 for equipment rentals for the June 21 Juneteenth community festival in Washington Heights. Both Stewart and Edgar Stokes, chairman of the county commissioners, said they were impressed by the streetscape project, which is improving the appearance of Lemon Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the center of the Washington Heights neighborhood. Further improvements to the neighborhood will be discussed by neighborhood residents and city leaders at two "visioning" sessions, scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 18 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 19. ...more

May 25, 2008

June 7 is the deadline for women's softball teams to register for a tournament celebrating Juneteenth ...more

May 23, 2008

SEBRING — Barbara Walker, 71, of Sebring, puts in four hours a week volunteering at the Highlands Regional Medical Center's gift shop because that's all she can find time for in her busy schedule. Retirement after 45 years with the school board as a cafeteria manager at E.O. Douglas School and then Sebring High School hasn't slowed her down. Walker volunteers or is associated with at least six groups, that do everything from helping the elderly to organizing the annual Juneteenth Festival. ...more

May 18, 2008