This is a thank you to all members and guests of VFW Post 4300. On Dec. 16 they held a benefit for my great grandson, Hayden Hunt. Hayden's mom, Jamie, my granddaughter, was killed in a tragic auto accident in Illinois on Oct. 19. Being the great Post that it is, they got together and put on a benefit for Hayden's education fund. They had an auction and 50-50, donated music by Frank-E and Billy Glades, and of course, lots of food. My family, 11 of them, flew from Illinois for the weekend and they were all overwhelmed by the turnout. It really was awesome. ...more

December 28, 2007

The online discussions I host give me an opportunity to see the financial issues that trouble people the most. Often what I find are people racked with fear. ...more

December 16, 2007

Hamou Moussaoui and Anissa Zekkari came to the United States from Morocco on Wednesday, proud parents, eagerly anticipating their son's graduation from the University of South Florida with three degrees. ...more

December 15, 2007

SEBRING — An International Baccalaureate course carries weight with its admissions committee, a letter from Harvard College states. "Because we often do not know the quality of honors and dual-enrollment courses due to variation at different high schools and colleges, success in IB courses would be generally more meaningful to our Admissions Committee," Harvard Dean of Admissions William Fitzsimmons stated. For Highlands County parents seeking challenging academics for their children, success means getting an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program started by August 2009. About 250 people attended Monday evening's IB parent information forum at Hill-Gustat Middle School where Ed Vetter, principal of the IB School at Bartow High School, presented an overview of the IB diploma program. ...more

December 12, 2007

My goals for my children's education include development of a lifelong love of learning, higher order thinking skills, and the gift to become good world citizens in the age of a global economy. The best classes are those that encourage my children to think and apply knowledge across disciplines, not merely to memorize and regurgitate facts in isolation. Our schools are evolving to meet the needs of today's student and must continue to do so. Computers in the classroom were an important step in this process and now Highlands County is ready for the next. ...more

December 6, 2007

LAKE PLACID — Every 16-year-old driver's education student is taught the basics, including stop for all active railroad crossings. But on the night of Tuesday, Nov. 13, several frustrated drivers ignored the red flashing lights and loud clanging, and skirted past the downed safety arms while crossing the tracks on Interlake Boulevard, just east of DeVane Park. Fortunately on that evening, and at least 10 times during the past four months, the CSX-controlled signals malfunctioned, and no train rolled through the Interlake Boulevard intersection. Several public officials and council members were caught at the false alarm following the evening's special town council meeting, including Arlene Tuck, town clerk. ...more

November 20, 2007