George Texs blog

On January 1, 2012, the St. Petersburg Times became the Tampa Bay Times. The move would not just open a new chapter for the newspaper. It initiated a shift in the entire region. “We’re really seeing greater cohesion and integration in the various parts of Tampa Bay now, but back then Tampa and St. Pete were actually rivals and very different,” said Paul Tash, chairman and CEO of the Tampa Bay Times. “There was no regional sense of community like there is today.” In 2019 the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce adopted a new name – the Tampa Bay Chamber. It was no coincidence that this happened after the newspaper changed its name, said Bob Rohrlack, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Chamber. “The newspaper has really been at the forefront in recognizing the regional growth that is coming together,” he said. “Most people said ‘wow’ but the second thought was ‘this really makes sense’. ” The West Hillsbo...

COVID travel restrictions could remain in place for a while. But there is nothing wrong with making plans for the next trip and looking for places. Don’t try to see “All of Europe” on a London – Berlin – Paris – Madrid package tour. You won’t see all of Europe, and these cities are just the showcases of their respective countries. I think it’s more worthwhile to focus on one region and get to know it without a guide, even doing some quirky things for a truly local experience. Take Alsace, for example, the easternmost part of France, where the Rhine forms the border with Germany. Do you like cheese? Found in Gainesville’s supermarkets, Munster is a mild, white, almost tasteless cheese that doesn’t offend anyone. But 16 km west of the historic French city of Colmar is the city of Münster, whose name means “cathedral” in German. Alsace is bilingual, although not officially. My first taste of Munster cheese was right ...

GAINESVILLE, Florida (WCJB) – Crime may have decreased in the state, but it is still happening. Police officers across north-central Florida have worked diligently this year to solve serious crimes. Two young girls were killed in Alachua County and two Columbia County residents were put behind bars for selling drugs to a woman who killed them. In May, 13-year-old Delia Young was reported missing and in June, sheriff officials identified her remains. Two sisters, Marian Williams and Valerie Young, were charged with the murder of the child. In April, 13-year-old Maliyah Godwin was shot dead at the Majestic Oaks Apartments in Gainesville. Prosecutors this month charged convicted felon Jason Lynady with first degree murder. “It’s very touching and heartbreaking when it’s someone so young. We’re used to working on this type of crime, but when it’s someone that young it’s very touching and very tough, “said Art Forgey, ASO Public Info...

The Eastside Branch Library, Northeast Branch Library and Fort Braden Branch Library locations will open on January 2nd, 9th and 10th. At the same time, Leon County Commission Chairman Bill Proctor wishes to convene health and community leaders to identify a way forward amid the surge in cases. Leon County is opening additional COVID testing sites to meet a surge in the number of people looking for tests for the respiratory disease. Three pop-up sites will open across the county next week to meet demand that health officials have reported is growing due to the holiday season and the increasing prevalence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and the surge in infections. In the week that ended Sunday, Leon County’s COVID cases rose to 1,048. That’s a 482.2% increase from the previous week’s 180 cases. Continue reading: The Eastside Branch Library, Northeast Branch Library and Fort Braden Branch Library locations will open on January 2nd, 9th and 1...

Münster and Era picked up where they left off on Wednesday when the Holiday Classic girls’ basketball tournament resumed in Lindsay. The two Lady Hornets teams won victories and made a matchup between the two of them for the gold bracket championship on Thursday evening in Callisburg. Other Wednesday games make Thursday matches between Gainesville and Lindsay, Callisburg and Sacred Heart, and Valley View and Life Oak Cliff. Pampas 42, Sacred Heart 24 The Tigerettes reached the bronze class after falling against Pampas. The Lady Harvesters made a habit of forcing rallies and dots in transition to help them withdraw. Cold gunfire prevented Sacred Heart from keeping up. Pampa won Pool B with the win. Emily Flusche, a senior at Sacred Heart, led the Tigerettes with 15 points, all from the 3-point line. Van Alstyne JV 37, Callisburg 18 Callisburg lost their second game of the tournament to Van Alstyne in a game the Lady Cats never led. Callisburg leveled 4 in the fi...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) – Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare announced Wednesday that they will not accept any new elective surgical cases that require bed inpatient treatment from December 29, 2021 through January 9, 2022. In a statement to ABC 27, TMH said the following: Given the surge in COVID-19 cases in the Leon County and vicinity, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) will not be accepting new elective surgical cases that require bed inpatient and outpatient procedures from today, December 29 through Sunday, January 9 continue as usual. As always, TMH will continue to provide immediate care to patients in urgent or urgent cases. The TMH announcement comes a day after asking people with mild or no COVID-19 symptoms not to use their emergency room to get tested for COVID-19. They said the amount of testing “takes a tremendous amount of effort” [their] emergency doctors already employed. “ The post TMH is not accepting new elective surgical cases...

March 21, 2018; Port Charlotte, FL, USA; A look at the Rays logo on a member of the Tampa Bay Rays versus the Boston Red Sox at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports Cincinnati Reds contender Brian Rey caught the eye during the Winter League game by David Hill The Tampa Bay Rays could find helpers just about anywhere. Veteran weapons are plucked from the junk and suddenly stand up again. Inconspicuous minor leaguers are turned into weapons. It’s almost like they can sign someone off a Wal-Mart parking lot and find a productive helper. It seems like they are putting that theory to the test. According to their latest depth chart on ESPN.com, the Rays’ main aide is Brandon Berger, a 46-year-old former outfielder who last appeared with the Royals in the majors in 2004. Tampa Bay Rays really go for bullpen help Berger has some pitching experience back in 1998. That season he made two appearances for the High-A Wilmington Blue R...

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-4) will face the New York Jets (4-11) in Week 17 of the NFL season. For even more great bets and fantasy insights, subscribe to the SI Winners Club newsletter. Buccaneers vs. Jets odds Over / Under Insights Tampa Bay’s games that season went over 45.5 points 10 of 15 times. So far this season, 60% of the games in New York (9/15) combined have had more points than the over / under of 45.5 on Sunday. The combined point average of the two teams per game of 47.9 is 2.4 points above the over / under on Sunday. The over / under of this competition is 5.2 points below the 50.7 points these two teams combined to retire per game in 2021. The Buccaneers’ games this season averaged 50.1 points overall, a number 4.6 points higher than Sunday’s over / under. In 2021, games involving the Jets scored a total of 43.8 points, 1.7 less than that game over / under. Buccaneer Statistics and Trends In Tampa Bays 15 games this year,...

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (WTXL) – As of Monday, 26 people are battling COVID-19 in two Tallahassee hospitals. Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare confirmed to ABC 27 that they have 16 COVID-19 patients as of December 27, four of whom are unvaccinated with one patient in intensive care. The Capital Regional Medical Center told ABC 27 that it had ten COVID-19 patients as of December 27. None of the hospitals would confirm the number of cases of Omicron variants, but they encourage people to get tested. By 11 a.m. on December 27, Florida A&M University had tested more than 1,000 people. The FAMU director of the student health service said fewer than 400 people were being tested per day prior to this new surge. “This new variant is so highly transmissible, so easy to catch, that it will be really important that people get tested as soon as they feel they have a symptom.” Hospitals encourage people to get tested and keep getting vaccinated. The post COVID-19 te...

As a child of the Gothic Southern Appalachians, the screeching echoes of hard times and the harsh sound of saying goodbye to loved ones were a constant roar in my ear. I am no stranger to worries that settle deep in the bone marrow or tears that flow from deeply hidden places in my heart. Death’s Angel has had too many visitors over the past year. Church after church, grave after grave, scripture after scripture, our tears have left a trail that turned the hard dirt into a puddle of soft earth that threatened to give way under the weight of our being. We are not alone. Many have suffered similarly. We often saw the same faces when the organ music played sadly and we took our places among the bereaved. Through the struggles, the grief, the setbacks and even the joys and triumphs, I have often noticed: the urgent need for more friendliness, understanding and patience. It’s not a resolution. It’s a determination. I already started. I take a moment to t...

In no way, shape or form did the New Orleans Saints defense fail to carry their water in a 3–20 loss to Miami on Monday night at the Caesars Superdome. The unit allowed 13 points, 259 yards, intercepted a pass, sacked Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa three times, and trained for stops on 10 of 15 third-down attempts. It wasn’t as flawless as a Tampa Bay shutout in the previous game, but it was pretty close. But a good game had to be a great game, considering the offense probably wasn’t going to be of much help. It might not even have prevented the defeat – the Saints were trailing 7-0 at the time and could only muster one field goal in the game – but it could have helped turn the momentum around. New Orleans had a touchdown after rookie quarterback Ian Book threw an interception, which was returned 28 yards for a touchdown in his third NFL game. And when the Saints offense ended three times in the next series, the defense was told to close Miami aga...

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Florida. – The Good Samaritans said they needed to step in after a car accident set fire to a house in the Pinewood neighborhood of Miami-Dade County on Monday. Police officers and firefighters responded on Northwest 101st Street between Northwest 14th and 15th Avenues. A surveillance video from a nearby house shows a blue car driving past a stop sign, colliding with another vehicle, and knocking it into a tree. The blue car crashed into the garage of the house. Miami-Dade firefighters were involved in a car accident and house fire in Pinewood on Monday, police said. (HEAVEN 10) A woman who refused to be identified said she used a brick to break the rear window of the car in the garage to help the man trapped inside. “I ran straight to the house,” she said. “I grabbed a brick and broke the window. And I broke it and told him to kick it in because I had already cracked it. The moment he kicked, I grabbed his shorts and pulled him ...

BY ISAAC THOMAS For the times The North Hall girls dug out an early nine-point hole to beat Cherokee Bluff 42-37 in Lanierland’s first round at Lakeview Academy Tuesday. “We have a lot of people in our locker room who can score and are selfless, which is great.” That’s what Lady Trojans’ trainer, Kristi House, said. “You always ask that of kids these days, but it’s hard to sell, so seeing everyone go out and contribute was great.” AB Gilleland approached the Lady Trojans on seven points while the Lady Trojans held the Lady Bears on three points in the third quarter. We’re just super excited, our locker room is optimistic, “said House.” The kids, that was their goal, one day at a time, to get that win and then go on and see what we can do tomorrow. “ With the victory, North Hall will face the Gainesville / Johnson winner in the tournament semi-finals on Gainesville High on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Che...

With a new year on the horizon and a lot of uncertainty about income and expenses in 2022, nonprofit business owners and nonprofit executives alike are thinking about the budget. Here is a repetition of this cutting edge topic from Mark Payne, CPA providing wise advice based on real life examples and years of experience. “That’s not in the budget.” I’m sure we’ve all heard this before in our careers. But what on earth does that mean? Personally, I believe it is used to keep an employee from going spending crazy and to keep a nonprofit on a specific spending schedule. I often get calls from nonprofits that live in the world of “zero income, less expenses”. Now you are probably wondering about this statement. How many nonprofits actually end up with net income for the year with zero? I don’t think so. While not impossible, it is very unlikely that any nonprofit would have a net annual income of zero. In fact, after nearly 30 years of a...

New Years Eve in Miami is always a party getty In the Magic City there are a million ways to ring in the new year with lots of glamor. Whether you’re looking for an early seat, overflowing bubbles and caviar, or a dance party that lasts until sunrise, you’ll find it in Miami. Here are 12 options for grueling New Years Eve celebrations in Miami. Nossa Omakase Nossa Omakase will offer a seat at this NYE Nossa Omakase At the end of 2021 with a dazzling Omakase to start the new year off right. But first you need a password. Visit Koa Poke for instructions on how to enter their speakeasy, Bar Nossa for a cocktail, or bubbles, and then guests are escorted to their mysterious and intimate sushi den. For New Year’s Eve, Nossa Omakase presents a sumptuous 16-18 course meal with included additions such as bluefin tuna toro, white Alba truffles and caviar ($ 595 per person). Sushi enthusiasts receive a bottle of champagne with their dinner. There is onl...

And just like that, it’s 1861. Gov. Ron DeSantis likes to call this the “Free State of Florida.” If he hasn’t yet wrapped himself in the Tenth Amendment or threatened secession, it’s only because he’s been too busy playing soldiers, organizing his private battalion , rewriting the past, and trying to destroy democracy. Give him time. You have to lay some groundwork if you want to be the next Jefferson Davis. Step one: that little militia. Yes, other states also have them. Other states, however, do not have a governor who acts like Victor Orban with a bad case of acid reflux. DeSantis announced his new Praetorians flanked by sofa-sized gents in camo in front of a sign that read “ Let Us Alone .” (Note: that “Let Us Alone” thing does not apply to the $9 billion from the feds now plumping up Florida’s budget). The governor probably likes the historical precedent of gubernatorial troopers. Three days before Florida officially left the Union, and three months before Fort Sum...

The Christmas donation is an annual tradition that Mission members help a family or other needy in the community. “We just decided we had to do something special for our homeless,” said Stallings-Wood. Gainesville Police officers, 911 911 operator and Ninth District Opportunity Road Operator teamed up for the event on Wednesday. “They wanted to pass it on to our people, so we said, ‘Absolutely. Let’s work together to make this happen, ‘”said Michael Fisher, Housing / Program Manager, Ninth District Opportunity. Gainesville Police Department said the county 911 dispatchers were “the unseen heroes in our community.” “If you call 911, be the first to answer,” Gainesville police said on their social media page. “They are often overlooked because they work tirelessly for us behind the scenes.” Smith said the items were definitely needed because people coming to Industrial Boulevard warehouse from other warehous...

A lot of families this time of year deploy an Elf on a Shelf doll to (supposedly) keep an eye on their kids’ behavior. Better shape up or that weird doll will report you to the Big Guy! We never did the Elf thing, which seemed a little creepy. Instead, when our kids were little, my wife and I employed what we called “the Santa Sock Monkey,” who wore Santa’s hat and a maniacal grin. Every night, after the kids were in bed, we’d move the Santa Sock Monkey to a different observation point. He’d be peeking over the sofa, dangling from a curtain rod, popping out of one of the stockings. Our children had fun every morning spotting the Santa Sock Monkey’s latest reconnaissance point. These days our kids are too old to be excited about the Santa Sock Monkey. Rather than leaving him tucked in a drawer, though, I wish we could dispatch him to a few other places to keep an eye on people who might be behaving badly. Vero Beach, for instance. That’s where the South Florida office of t...

TAMPA BAY, FL – Granted, it’s hard to beat mom’s famous green bean casserole with the required fried onions in a can or your brother-in-law’s version of Alec Baldwin’s sweddy balls from Saturday Night Live, with extra bourbon included. But after spending a morning following the kids with a trash bag, picking up the torn wrapping paper, figuring out how to assemble the impossible-to-assemble Dreamland dollhouse, and removing the stick-on Christmas bows from the dog’s head, all you want is a stress-free Christmas dinner away from home. Do not worry. Tampa Bay restaurants are ready to give you a respite from all the “Christmas magic”. Find out what’s going on in Tampa. happens with free real-time updates from patch. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar This Christmas season, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 4322 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, is partnering with Duckhorn Vineyards to host a four-cour...