There is no doubt that Florida's property tax system needs to be reformed. This current inequitable system, coupled with rapidly increasing local government spending, has produced tremendous tax increases for many taxpayers. Unfortunately, these are not the taxpayers that Amendment One would help. The Legislature's need to pass something "people will vote for," coupled with a sincere desire to help Floridians who cannot afford to move because of higher taxes, resulted in a proposal that is not only unsatisfactory but also likely to be detrimental. Not to mention that one of the provisions may be unconstitutional. ...more

January 27, 2008

"911, what is your emergency?" "I need an ambulance. My mother just called and I think my dad is having a heart attack!" ...more

January 24, 2008

We early "snowbirds" arrived during the months of October, November and December. We anticipated the many craft fairs prior to Christmas, as in years past. ...more

January 23, 2008

It's a reunion 12 years in the making. Since hosting the 1996 Super Bowl, Phoenix and its suburbs have been preening and preparing for the return of football's biggest game. ...more

January 20, 2008

I just have to write this, you see I have met "Rambling Norman A. Cukras" and his wife Ruth on a number of occasions. They are both super nice people. Although I have to admit my sympathies go out to Ruth whenever Norm and I get together, as you see we both just love to talk and we have to see who can top who in the telling tales department. Norm has told me so many things he has learned at the check out counter, Which Ruth has to add, "Maybe he could get something done if he would stay out of the stores." Then I have to see if I can top Norman with a tell I have learned about life, such as I don't call snowbirds snowbirds. I call them frogs... the way I see it they come to Florida to croak. ...more

January 19, 2008

SEBRING — The conditions weren't exactly ideal for shuffling on Wednesday morning during the opening round of the Orange Blossom Classic shuffleboard tournament. ...more

January 4, 2008

So how does one remember 2007 now that 2008 is officially upon us? Certainly not with great joy even though we in Florida did not have much of a hurricane season. Like the rest of the nation, Floridians convulsed under the grip of a tanking real-estate market, marked by record foreclosures. In Florida, high property taxes and insurance premiums made things worse for homeowners – and snowbirds, among some, promised to go elsewhere. ...more

January 1, 2008

LAKE PLACID –– Dave Alden remembers his brother-in-law, Wendell, fondly, although he was only a child when his adopted sister married. It was partly because Wendell's life was a success story but more importantly he always made time for Dave. That mentoring of honesty and setting a good example made a lifetime impact. Born in Vermont, Alden retired in 1989 as a project engineer with Kennicott Copper. He and his wife, Marie, traveled the United States and Alaska for two years before the snowbirds decided to find a warm place in Florida to land. While zigzagging across the state, they discovered Lake Placid and fell in love with this town of murals and caladiums. Dave feels that their secret to being married 48 years –– besides luck –– is that they love each other and have the same goals. Marie was the type who wanted to help people and he was brought up the same way. ...more

December 31, 2007

SEBRING — Go figure. You'd think that after the Christmas shopping rush, local retailers should be able to take a breather, but several store representatives said Wednesday that snowbirds will continue to keep workers busy for a little longer. Kathleen Trussell, store manager of Bealls, said operating hours will go back to normal starting today, but there will be no employee layoffs, in anticipation of continued heavy business. ...more

December 27, 2007

Although its produce market opened quietly Dec. 6, people are already flocking for Goodson Farms strawberries. ...more

December 17, 2007