When I was a child, Christmas at our house revolved around the tree. It wasn't Christmas until the tree went up, and the holidays were not over till the tree came down. In that respect, not much has changed; the tree is still the focal point of our holiday trimmings. But these days it fights for attention with one other decoration that is slowly taking over the spotlight, and my living room – my Dickens Village. What started in 1995 with just one little ceramic house, The Old Curiosity Shop, has grown into an entire Victorian town. The display now has 12 buildings, including some with moving parts. All of them are lighted and one even plays music. The village also has 10 trees, a road, a bridge, and a town square complete with mailbox, stone fences and a dozen different sets of tiny Victorian people doing everything from selling newspapers to lighting the street lamps and peeking in windows. My village grows every year, because friends and family are continually buying new pieces for it. They know that village "stuff" is a gift I'll always love. ...more

December 30, 2007

SEBRING — Often, kids who enter the Highlands County Courthouse are more afraid of the front lobby than they are of actually going inside a courtroom. With this in mind, bailiffs at the courthouse have been celebrating the holidays by handing out stuffed animals to kids. After going through the building's metal detector and letting their items pass through an X-ray machine, children are allowed to choose a toy amongst a group of stuffed animals sitting underneath a Christmas tree. "It's been pretty successful," said bailiff William Dilling. "We had a little girl come in a few days ago who was afraid to go through the metal detector, but we were able to convince her that she'd get a (stuffed animal) out of it." ...more

December 24, 2007

QUESTION: I have a lot of stress in my life and just don't know how to cope with it. Any suggestions? When the roof caves in at your house, when your little girl gets the measles or your teenager flunks a course in school or your spouse gets laid off at work, how do you cope with the stress? ...more

December 17, 2007

The youngest of my three children will graduate from college in two days. It is the fulfillment of a dream for him, and a step toward what I know will be a bright future. I'm happy, and proud, and … sad. Yes, sad, because this is a huge sea change in my life. ...more

December 16, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - A misdemeanor charge of battery has been dropped against a school bus driver accused of spanking a 3-year-old girl with special needs while en route to J.D. Floyd Elementary. ...more

December 12, 2007

SEBRING — The sunroom in Pat Van Dragt's home has been transformed into a snow-covered miniature village. While some of the villagers are ice fishing, others are sledding, some rush off to school and one lucky woman enjoys a manicure. "I think it's the kid in me that really enjoys setting all this up," said Van Dragt who played with doll houses made from orange crates as a little girl. Much like a real town, it keeps growing. Her tiny village has been expanding every year since she started 20 years ago. "I keep saying I won't get any more and then I see something new and different and I can't resist it," said Van Dragt, who said many of her friends buy pieces for her as gifts. ...more

December 4, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - There's this story about a wolf who dresses up as a little girl's grandmother. ...more

November 2, 2007

The woman who was hit by a sport utility vehicle Friday night in Hudson while pushing a 3-year-old in a stroller has died. ...more

October 18, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG -- The woman who was hit by a sport utility vehicle Friday night in Hudson while pushing a 3-year-old in a stroller has died. ...more

October 17, 2007

It was late in August, a time before the Colorado Rockies began their magical run and a time when fans still were debating whether their manager was worth his latest contract extension. ...more

October 13, 2007