Proponents of Amendment 2 are deliberately misleading the public by calling it the "gay marriage" or "same-sex" marriage amendment. ...more

June 7, 2008

Designing For The FutureHer design for a home whose porch takes a person from toddler to elderly won Christine Sanchez third place in a continental competition for architecture and design students. Challenged to "design for a person to age in place with dignity," Sanchez incorporated a porch that wraps around the perimeter of the house and offers complete accessibility by wheelchair. A student at the University of South Florida, she drew for a waterfront site in Sarasota. "The porch begins with a ramp and evolves into a deck, walls, windows, seating, roof, and finally, ceiling," she wrote in her accompanying essay. "The user has the freedom to access and see all parts of his or her property." The Ethel Andrus Percy House of Freedom Design Competition is sponsored by AARP and the American Institute of Architecture Students. To see the winning designs, go to www.aias.org/aarp. Nurture A Growing VocationMost great ideas have a loser. Some are win-wins. Very few are win-win-wins. Falkenburg Road Jail's Horticulture Vocational Program hits a grand slam: Inmates learn landscaping; the government gets help beautifying highway medians; and the public gets to enjoy all that beautification - and buy lovingly grown plants. The next sale is from 8 a.m. to noon June 13 near the entrance of Falkenburg Road Jail, 520 N. Falkenburg Road, Brandon (Interstate 75 to State Road 60, west to Falkenburg Road and north to the jail). Bring cash or a check. Proceeds buy program supplies and seed careers: Inmates who graduate from the program earn a vocational certificate. Looks To Watch ...more

June 5, 2008

AARP is offering free tax preparation to middle- and low-income taxpayers. ...more

February 13, 2008

Regarding "Wondering 'What If?' " (Letters, Feb. 4): I'm writing to agree with Roger McAllister on his comments regarding Republicans' efforts to change Social Security. He explains how Wall Street ruined the mortgage industry, but doesn't mention that Congress threatened them with penalties and tighter regulation if they didn't get more creative with mortgage requirements. ...more

February 11, 2008

Alternating between bittersweet laments over the loss of husbands, youth and motherhood and rousing bawdy tunes that proclaim there's still sex, life and adventure after age 50, "Hats! The Musical" makes for a good ladies' night out. ...more

January 30, 2008

AARP is offering free tax preparation to middle- and low-income taxpayers starting Friday. ...more

January 30, 2008

AARP is offering free tax preparation to middle- and low-income taxpayers starting Friday. ...more

January 30, 2008

Keep On Editorializing Regarding "Now It's Your Turn" (Letters, Jan. 19): I was both appalled and amused by the many comments, pro and con, that you received concerning your recent endorsements of John McCain and Barack Obama. I guess I expect too much of adults in our purportedly educated society. ...more

January 26, 2008

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said this week that employers could reduce or eliminate health benefits for retirees when they turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare. ...more

December 28, 2007

Two-thirds of doctors in Sarasota County say they will stop accepting new Medicare patients if the federal program's payments do not improve. ...more

December 4, 2007