Leo and Marilyn Malinowski brought Christmas cheer to Tampa General Hospital recently in the guise of Santa and Mrs. Claus. The couple, who hail from Naples, have visited TGH every Christmas since 2004, when Leo Malinowski spent 89 days in the hospital after a car accident. On this visit, the Malinowskis made stops at Rehabilitation Services, the Cardiac ICU and, of course, the Children's Medical Center. ...more

January 7, 2009

Kindergarten students from St. Mary's Episcopal Day School recently spread Christmas cheer to residents of At Home With Friends, performing a Nativity Pageant before a packed house. The children sang carols while presenting the story of the Christmas Miracle. The senior citizens were appreciative, and the kids were excited about sharing their presentation in festive attire. The children also made Christmas cards for the residents. ...more

December 24, 2008

Santa's workshop got a little outside help this year, courtesy of Oldsmar couple Kevin and Debbie Bechtel. The Bechtels, owners of Life Brokerage Partners, 3982 Tampa Road, donated 97 bicycles and helmets to the Pinellas Sheriff's Christmas Sharing Project. The project helps families in need by seeing that children in those families find a gift waiting for them when they wake up Christmas morning. ...more

December 22, 2007

AVON PARK — Anyone needing some Christmas cheer needn't look further than their own neighbors. Two Avon Park residents have welcomed the public to their front yards to enjoy lighting displays, with show times from now until the holiday. Rob Jordan's display, at the corner of East Winthrop Street and North Lake Verona Boulevard, has shows nightly at 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Richard Reinhardt's display, at the corner of North Bowden Road and Tyler Avenue, has shows nightly at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Jordan used to help his mother put up lights every year but his year, he decided to step up the effort in her large corner lot. "I definitely took it to the extreme this year," Jordan said about his 20,000-light display. ...more

December 4, 2007

Scrooge learns some life lessons amidst various favorite Christmas movies and other scenarios in a new cantata at the First United Methodist Church of Spring Hill. ...more

November 30, 2007