This month, we look back to 1915 when a small group of determined residents had a vision of connecting many of our lakes by canals. The group organized as the Twenty Lakes Boat Club. At the time, some of the lakes had small “runs” or swampy places that connected them. This club wanted to create canals there. Pleasure boat in Howard/Cannon canal, one the Chain’s most scenic. Foot bridge spanning the canal behind boat was originally installed to connect the properties of Dick a

Jack Spengler was born in Buffalo, New York in 1930. He shares his decades with a lightness that feels almost subversive in a climate that so often feels like rain on the day you planned the picnic—even testing the dispositions of those who keep the glass a quarter full and steady eyes on the silver linings behind unexpected clouds. Jack carries a pragmatic joy, as if he shook hands with what he couldn’t control, making friends with both rain and sunshine. He jokes about skip

Have an insect on a plant and you don’t know what to do? Moved to a new home and looking for advice on how to maintain your lawn? Looking to install native plants but don’t know where to start? Look no further than the UF/IFAS Extension Plant Clinic! Homeowners in Florida know that maintaining a healthy landscape can be both rewarding and challenging. From mysterious spots on leaves to declining trees or pests in the garden, plant problems can arise quickly. Additionally, man

Florida’s state tree, the cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto), is one of the most recognizable native plants in our landscape. It grows along highways, in neighborhoods, and throughout Florida’s natural areas, from pine flatwoods to wetlands and prairies. Because it is so common, it is easy to overlook. But the cabbage palm is more than a familiar backdrop. It is a native species that plays an important role in supporting Florida’s wildlife, especially in landscapes that are increa

BLACK LOVE CLASSICS SERIES Celebrate the intersection of Valentine’s Day and Black History Month with stories of romance as told by Black filmmakers and diverse casts at the Tampa Theatre at 3 p.m. Feb. 1: “If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018); Feb. 8: “The Photograph” (2020); Feb. 15: “Boomerang” (1992); Feb. 22: “Carmen Jones” (1954). tampatheatre.org NHL STADIUM SERIES Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium. The Tampa Bay Lightning face off against the Boston Bruins in a

ORLANDO MAGIC Home games are played at the Kia Center. The Magic will play five times in February. Feb. 5, 7 p.m. vs Nets; Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. vs Jazz; Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. vs Bucks; Feb. 11 at 7p.m. vs Bucks; Feb. 26 at 7:30p.m. vs Rockets. Purchase tickets at nba.com/magic . TIARA’S HAT PARADE Feb. 7 – 22 at Orlando Family Stage. Based on the book by author Kelly Starling Lyons, “Tiara’s Hat Parade” is a celebration of creativity, community, and the bond between a mother and d