In his seminal book A Land Remembered published in 1984 author Patrick Smith traced three generations of a family homesteading in Florida. Life was tough. Mosquitoes were relentless in their pursuit of human blood and bad guys burned down their…
Seafood Sizzles in Cortez
Flying near the old net camp in the water off Cortez a brown pelican suddenly folds its wings and does a deep dive plunging out of the sky straight down into the bay. Hitting the water beak first this kamikaze…
Antiques Fair Well in Arcadia
“You really must go to Arcadia the fourth Saturday of the month,” she said, her husband nodding assent as they stood at my table during a book signing. I perked up. “Why the fourth Saturday?” I asked. “Oh, because all…
Florida History Makes a Great Walk in DeLand
The year was 1876. Henry Addison DeLand took a vacation from his baking soda business in New York to visit his sister and brother-in-law, O.P Terry. They lived in South Carolina. Perhaps it happened over several glasses of wine before…
Kennedy Space Center Rocks
On assignment as a reporter, I drove right up to the rocket garden at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex east of Titusville. The rockets are permanently grounded, a garden of huge slim needles pointing to space. Has your heart ever…