This article appeared in The St. Petersburg Times in September 1992: A year ago, Rick J. ate garbage from trash bins behind an Orlando shopping center. A cocaine addict and alcoholic, the 44-year-old Melbourne man had abandoned his wife, kids and job with the Internal Revenue Service for a life of petty crime. An embezzler and…
This article appeared in The St. Petersburg Times in July 1996: In the late 1930s, Tampa tax lawyer Ara Brubaker, son of a Pennsylvania Mennonite minister, invited friends to go skinny-dipping in a sparkling lake in central Pasco County. So began Lake Como Club, the first nudist retreat in Land O’Lakes. More than half a century…
“Therefore, let it be resolved that the City of Cypress Knee welcomes one and all to celebrate the commemoration of our one hundred and sixty-seventh anniversary during Founder’s Day Weekend.” Adelaide Spruce, chair of the city council, set the proclamation aside and then looked toward the other five present members of the board. “Do I…
I didn’t punch Shaun Bradley for using me to manipulate Randy. But I did write an angry letter. Angry for me, at least. I was polite, but firm, explaining that I didn’t appreciate how the process had worked. Toward the end, though, I dropped the gauntlet: “I’m left with the clear indication that I don’t…
