Fred Karl, Local Leader Dead at 88

One of Karl’s biggest undertakings involved the county’s consolidation of numerous operations into a single building in downtown, which is known today as the Frederick B. Karl County Center at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.

What's Hillsborough Saying?

Longtime Local Leader Mourned

Former Hillsborough County Administrator Fred Karl died March 7.

Hillsborough County is mourning the loss of one its longstanding leaders today, March 7. Fred Karl, a former county administrator, county attorney, state legislator and Florida Supreme Court justice, was 88. A Daytona native, Karl served as an Army tank commander in World War II and was present at the Battle of the Bulge, according to The Tampa Tribune. His public service career continued long after the war was over. The Stetson Law graduate served in the Florida House from 1956-64 when he attempted a bid for the governor’s office. After that, he ran for the Florida Senate in 1968 and served until 1971, according to web sources. Karl then sat on the Florida Supreme Court from 1977 until 1978 when he opted to go back into private practice. …

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D'Ann White

1:45 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013

I was a county commission reporter at the time Fred Karl, who had already retired as a Supreme Court justice, agreed to come out of retirement and help out Hillsborough County at a time when growth and, unfortunately, graft were rampant. I was, frankly, in awe of this guy who'd been an Army tank commander at the Battle of the Bulge, a state legislator and Supreme Court justice. But during his …   more ›

Gen. Schwarzkopf, 78, Has Died in Tampa

Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf had retired to Tampa, Fla., after a final military assignment leading U.S. Central Command.

Retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, 78, passed away today in Tampa, according to media reports. Schwarzkopf was best known to the American people for his leadership in removing Saddam Hussein and his forces from Kuwait in 1991. Schwarzkopf had successfully led an international coalition of U.S. allies to drive out Iraqi troops. "Barbara and I mourn the loss of a true American patriot and one of the great military leaders of his generation," former President George H.W.  Bush said in a written statement, according to ABC News. Schwarzkopf led what came to be known as Operation Desert Storm under President Bush. Most recently, Schwarzkopf had served as commander-in-chief of U.S. Central Command, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in …

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Sam Gibbons Memorial Set for Oct. 20 in South Tampa

The World War II veteran, who spent more than 50 years as a lawmaker, was pronounced dead at Tampa General Hospital.

A memorial service for former congressman Sam Gibbons will be held at Tampa's Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. Oct. 20, according to Tampabay.com. Gibbons, an iconic Bay Area figure and politician who was instrumental in the creation of the University of South Florida died on Oct. 10, 2012. The World War II veteran, who spent more than 50 years as a lawmaker, was pronounced dead at Tampa General Hospital. Gibbons, 92, lived through some of the most significant events in Bay Area and U.S. history. He served decades in the Legislature and Congress, developing a reputation as an outspoken lawmaker.

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Cancer Survivors are 'Breast Friends'

These women have been walking together on Sunday mornings since 2004.

They already had a bond. The five women are breast cancer survivors. But their relationship took another turn while attending meetings at a Tampa Bay Breast Cancer Support Group some 7 years ago at St. Joseph's Hospital. “I noticed that some of us had the same ZIP code and were living in the same area,” said Liz Price, a nearly 9-year breast cancer survivor. At one of those meetings, it was suggested that since they all lived in Westchase, the women should get together and start walking. Price along with Diane McMillen, Ann Boytim, Dawn Juliano and Mona Greenbaum started meeting 9 a.m. Sunday mornings at West Park Village. They walk a 4-mile loop to the 7 Eleven convenience store at the corner of Linebaugh Avenue and Countryway Boulevard …

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Cheers, Westchase!

Brewing Up Love for Valentine's Day

Cheers, Westchase! Each week in this column, we introduce you to a new wine, beer or cocktail you can find right here in the neighborhood.

Sure, champagne and wine have long been symbolic of a romantic evening out. But this Valentine’s Day, you may be surprised to learn about two specialty beers that can help you brew up a little romance. Here are two Valentine’s beers you can find at World of Beer Westchase. Lindenmann's Lambic Framboise Unmistakably sweet, this Belgian beer has a palate of raspberries with undertones of fruity acidity to add some tartness.  And with its vibrant rose color, it looks like a modern-day, sparkling love potion. “To me, it tastes just like candy,” says World of Beer general manager Dung To.  Those who enjoy the raspberry taste but find the sweetness to be too much, can mix (or rather, layer) Lindemann's Lambic on draft with Belgian white ale such…

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