The National Civic League was founded in 1894 by Theodore Roosevelt and Louis Brandeis to address widespread municipal corruption. The organization sought to "raise the popular standards of political morality" and is still at work, seeking to help communities adopt practices that will empower people and improve their quality of life. ...more

May 19, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA More than 65 percent of residents who participated in the first phase of a community survey said they definitely would or probably would move from the University Area within a year. A report on the survey, conducted by the Jim Walter Partnership Center at the University of South Florida, stated that people wanted to move to get better housing costs, better schools for their children, better stores and other facilities and to live in an area with less racial or ethnic tension. ...more

February 13, 2008

When it comes to evaluating programs for the developmentally disabled in Florida, "achieving" is an ideal word for a simple reason: It means a program is thriving, benefiting Floridians who need help the most. ...more

February 13, 2008

Buddies Drew Boeser and Alex DeLeon were among 33 AFIRE of Pasco County students who took a two-hour cruise on the Pithlachascotee River recently. The outing on the Miss Daisy tour boat reflects the nonprofit adult training facility's dedication to enhancing the skills, motivation, self-reliance and quality of life for mentally challenged adults in west Pasco County. For more information on the school, visit www.afirepasco.com. ...more

January 29, 2008

As a registered nurse that has had her eyes opened wide of late to how broken our medical profession is, I just wanted to share this little tidbit. ...more

January 20, 2008

You still haven't signed the Florida Hometown Democracy petition? If you are a Florida voter, and you haven't signed it yet, please do so today and mail it in. Time is running out for us to make the 2008 ballot. ...more

January 9, 2008

Having returned to the Tampa area after living in Seattle the past five years, I am shocked at a multitude of declining quality-of-life issues in the bay area. One strong and dangerous concern is the number of cars that speed through traffic lights as they turn from caution to red. ...more

January 7, 2008

I am writing in response to the letter entitled, "Just a Lot of Hype" (Letters, Dec. 20). ...more

January 4, 2008

The editorial of Dec. 20, titled "Balancing Needs For Cash And Land Critical As Area Grows," covered an important subject and the reference to the fact that endangered species need certain habitats in order to survive, was a statement all of us should ponder; as wildlife is such an important segment of our "quality of life." Thank you for your thoughtful opinion. However, a headline in your Dec. 17 issue screamed, "Grove Owners Want Development Of 4,600 Homes." ...more

December 31, 2007

One in 10 Britons are now living overseas, according to a think tank (Institute for Public Policy Research) estimate just out. ...more

December 28, 2007