From the way the students at Cotee Elementary School stampeded out onto the playground last Friday, you'd think it was the first time they'd had recess in years. They'd had recess, all right, but for more than 18 months, they've been having it in an open grassy area while a playground full of broken down, unusable equipment stood tantalizingly nearby. Student Council President Nico Buonsanto and another student, Gabe Coronado, cut the ribbon and led the way up the ramp of the playground's new centerpiece, a multistation jungle gym that comes with a slide, monkey bars and several other playground staples. ...more

February 25, 2009

On Tuesday morning, little Cheyenne Leslie entered the Ocean Medical Center and ran purposefully into the arms of her physical therapist, to the smiles and cheers of staff workers, the girl seemingly unhindered by her arm and leg brace. It was a dress rehearsal of sorts. ...more

December 23, 2008

SEBRING When she became a Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer, Daphne Taylor never dreamed that her fear of heights would help launch a friendship with an 8-year-old girl. But that's what happened four years ago in her second meeting with Stephanie, now 12, at Woodlawn Elementary School. They climbed to the top of the monkey bars and Stephanie caught Taylor's obvious hesitation to jump down the fireman's pole, then saw her take a deep breath and do it. A few weeks later, in the hour they spend together at school each week, Taylor saw Stephanie balk at practicing reading out loud and gently chided her, "Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and go for it … ...more

November 30, 2008

This checklist can help you determine whether the public, school or home playgrounds where your child plays is using basic precautions. ...more

November 12, 2008

The parents of a local first-grader want to know why they weren't contacted when their child received an injury on the school's playground. ...more

September 5, 2008

The 5-year-old with hazel eyes and a bouncy ponytail swung across the monkey bars as her Cuban father, Rafael Izquierdo, proudly watched nearby, ready to catch her. ...more

May 5, 2008

This past weekend was one of the most undeniably weather-perfect we have had all year. The bright, warm sun, slight, steady breeze and cool temperatures just begged for outdoor activities of any kind. ...more

November 16, 2007