Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from December 2005

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from December 2005

Storm season that wouldn't die spawns a straggler; Weary hurricane center staff scramble as new system brews in the Atlantic.(A SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Byline: TOM BAYLES tom.bayles@heraldtribune.com It appears only one thing was missing from the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season: an end. Tropical Storm Zeta formed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa on Friday, making the...

The prosecution's turn; Justice Department drops the 'enemy combatant' label.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
December 31, 2005... Americans are excused if they are confused by the Bush administration's attempts to prosecute Jose Padilla. The prosecution has taken more turns than a winding mountain road. The FBI took Padilla, a U.S. citizen, into custody on May 8,...

The old and the new; Yesterday is an index of tomorrow.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
December 31, 2005... The old year has passed, we say, and a new one will dawn, yet in life there never is an old year that we can throw away as we throw away the old calendar. The life of one year flows on into the new. What we were yesterday is an index of what...

Many thanks; Here's to continuing relationships in 2006.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
December 31, 2005... A few years ago, a clever designer created a multilingual greeting card decorated with the words gracias, merci, grazie and danke, so the sender could thank the recipient in more ways than one. Every year, we look for different ways to...

Classic win for 'Noles; Southeast beats Venice to capture tournament title.(SPORTS)
December 31, 2005... Byline: BRIAN NEWBERRY CORRESPONDENT BRADENTON -- Southeast High had to grind it out to claim the Eddie Shannon Classic boys basketball tournament title Friday night. The Seminoles were able to withstand a slow tempo set by Venice...

One of his best nights is his last.(SPORTS)(Comment)(Column)
December 31, 2005... Byline: Chris Anderson You should have seen the excitement at Airway Lanes on Wednesday night. Ed Lorenz did it again. He bowled a perfect 300. A perfect 300! He rolled 12 straight strikes, and life was rarely better than the...

Bulls play in first bowl today; South Florida takes on N.C. State in what is another huge step for the young program.(SPORTS)
December 31, 2005... Byline: ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- University of South Florida head football coach Jim Leavitt feels his program is traveling at warp speed. However, he realizes that's still not fast enough for most USF fans. On...

Lightning drop another close one; Tampa Bay has now lost seven of its last nine games.(SPORTS)
December 31, 2005... Byline: JODY ROYCE jody.royce@heraldtribune.com TAMPA -- Goaltending was not an issue for the Tampa Bay Lightning. But against road-weary Boston, the top two lines struggled and the Bruins scored the game-winner in the third period...

Final week of season is always the hardest.(SPORTS)(Column)
December 31, 2005... Byline: Jason Swancey It seems as if just yesterday football was cranking up again, and now here we are in the final week of full action. So let's enjoy the Browns, Bills, Niners and other teams we won't mention again after this...

Rams play for title tonight.(SPORTS)
December 31, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT WINTER HAVEN -- Senior guard John Richardson had 19 points, including 15 in the first half, as the Riverview High boys basketball team rolled to a 70-53 win over Bartow in the semifinals of the Winter Haven Big...

Agriculture reaps storm aid; The feds' $200 million brings the total for Florida growers to over $1 billion.(BUSINESS)
December 31, 2005... Byline: STEPHEN FRATER stephen.frater@heraldtribune.com More than $1 billion in emergency federal funds have poured into Florida's agricultural industry in just the last 15 months. But the Sunshine State, which leads the Southeast in...

Business Buzz.(BUSINESS)
December 31, 2005... Keller Williams Realty adds new associate Jamie Christison recently joined Steve DuToit's team at Keller Williams Realty's Main Street office in Sarasota as administrative assistant. Englewood Bank makes staff changes Joanne...

Lightning strikes memory.(PLAY!)(Go!)(Column)
December 31, 2005... Byline: THOMAS BECNEL When I think of all the columns, all the people, places and things I've written about over the years, you know what strikes me the most? Joyful Girl. I only met her once, back in 1998, but I think of her,...

Adventure racer cycles through fight with cancer.(PLAY!)
December 31, 2005... Byline: THOMAS BECNEL thomas.becnel@heraldtribune.com Tony McEachern spent years pushing himself through adventure races from the mountains of California to the jungles of Vietnam. Now he spends months forcing himself through...

Powerboat racer speeds into 'Miami Vice' movie.(PLAY!)
December 31, 2005... Lisa Matthews raced through 2005, earning a couple of third-place finishes in the Offshore Super Series, but her best run might have been in Miami. She drove one of 15 high-powered speedboats in action scenes for the movie remake of...

Wifflers curving for the World Series.(PLAY!)
December 31, 2005... The Sarasota WiffleBall League got started with Ken Flammia talking trash with his buddies working at the post office. Soon they were playing games, forming a traveling team and hosting the 2002 World Series. They're still playing ball,...

Police officer set to compete in New Year.(PLAY!)
December 31, 2005... Kim Swatts, a Sarasota police officer, has an unusual New Year's resolution: she wants to gain weight. She already stands 5-foot-10 and weights 137 pounds, but she wants to add muscle to compete in fitness and figure competitions at...

Curling hits the skids, but Olympics offer hope.(PLAY!)
December 31, 2005... When the Florida Curling Club slid into the Ellenton ice skating complex, in 2002 and 2003, the Play! section had all the details. Stones sliding, players sweeping, captains yelling. "We had more than 100 members for awhile," says Kim...

PLAY BRIEFS.(PLAY!)
December 31, 2005... NATURE Mote announces Monday lectures Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota has announced a "Monday@Mote" series of marine science lectures from Jan. 16 to March 20. Lectures will be at 4 and 7 p.m. The first lecture, by...

This new year, make it right by being bright.(PLAY!)(Sailing)(Column)
December 31, 2005... Byline: Morgan Stinemetz It's not official yet, because the year is not over as I write this column, and all the statistics aren't tabulated, but Floridians have managed to rack up a banner year for getting themselves killed while...

Storm victims' checks missing; A firm asks the Sheriff's Office to investigate an ex-worker it says took the checks of Charley victims.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Byline: PATRICK WHITTLE patrick.whittle@heraldtribune.com CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- A consulting firm hired by the county to assist Hurricane Charley victims has asked the Sheriff's Office to investigate a former employee who is accused of...

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S TOP STORIES.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Other top stories from Charlotte and Englewood in 2005, compiled by staff writers Kristen Kridel, Sara Lubbes, Anna Scott and Patrick Whittle: Hurricane Charley rebuilding continues Charley destroyed more than 10,000 housing units in...

Offices closed for holiday.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT Government offices in Charlotte County, Sarasota County and the city of Punta Gorda will be closed Monday for the New Year's holiday. There will be no interruptions in the collection of trash or recyclables. ...

Families can race into the new year by car or on foot.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Byline: ALISON POSNER alison.posner@heraldtribune.com Things are a bit quieter this time of year, everybody is winding down from the holidays. If you're looking for something to do, there still are a few options out there for families...

OBITUARIES.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
December 31, 2005... CHARLOTTE COUNTY George R. Arnold George R. Arnold, 80, Punta Gorda, died Dec. 27, 2005, in Punta Gorda. He was born Aug. 2, 1925, in Randolph, Vt., and came to the Punta Gorda area in 1988 from Chambersburg, Pa. He graduated...

Seats of power may see changes; One North Port official wavers on 2006 election; another faces term limits.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Byline: JEREMY WALLACE and LIZ BABIARZ STAFF WRITERS NORTH PORT -- Outspoken City Commissioner Vanessa Carusone said she's not sure she will run for re-election in 2006, potentially creating another opening on a board that is struggling...

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S TOP STORIES.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Other top stories from South County in 2005, compiled by staff writers Liz Babiarz and Christopher O'Donnell Phenomenal growth From south of Sarasota to the Charlotte County line, developers carved up ranches and vacant land in a...

Venice hospital volunteers honored at luncheon.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Byline: FRANCINE MILFORD francine.milford@heraldtribune.com At this time of year, every organization looks for ways to thank the many hours that their volunteers donate to a particular cause. When the Venice Regional Medical Center...

Murder suspect's wife files for divorce.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT BRADENTON -- The estranged wife of Richard E. Henderson Jr., the man accused of killing four family members Thanksgiving Day, filed for divorce Friday. Brittany Wilde, 19, married Henderson in Hardee County in...

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S TOP STORIES.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Other top stories from Manatee in 2005, compiled by staff writers Scott Carroll and Tiffany Lankes: New schools open Willis Elementary and Braden River High schools opened this year to help ease overcrowding caused by the 1,300 new...

BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... City, government closings for New Year's Day holiday MANATEE COUNTY -- All city and county government offices and libraries in Manatee County will be closed Monday for the New Year's Day holiday. Post offices and the county landfill will...

OBITUARIES.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
December 31, 2005... MANATEE COUNTY William David Chappele William David "Bill" Chappele, 68, Okeechobee and formerly of Bradenton, died Dec. 26, 2005. He was born April 21, 1937, in Hayes, Middlesex, England, and came to Manatee County in 1959 from...

Manatee Players offers theater classes for youths.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT The Manatee Players has scheduled sessions of its winter Youth Theatre Training program. Sessions will meet at the Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre, 102 Old Main St., Bradenton, and at Lakewood Ranch Town...

Free tows available tonight.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT So you've had one too many drinks to ring in the New Year and you want to get home? AAA Auto Club can help drivers who have imbibed too much get home safely. A safe ride is a phone call away, and there is no...

Tests next critical step for accused; Mental health evaluations may affect any plea deals.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Byline: MICHAEL A. SCARCELLA michael.scarcella@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- Richard E. Henderson Jr. isn't trying to convince anyone that he's innocent in the murders of his parents, grandmother and younger brother. He has...

2005; SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S TOP STORIES.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Was 2005 the year the real estate frenzy ended? Watching the value of your home go up 30 percent a year was nice while it lasted. That's probably how real estate owners will remember 2005 -- as the year in which the craziness ended....

BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Holiday closings SARASOTA COUNTY -- All Sarasota County government offices, with the exception of libraries and recreation centers, will be closed today, Sunday and Monday for the New Year's holiday. County libraries and recreation...

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S TOP STORIES.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Other top stories from Sarasota in 2005, compiled by staff writers Doug Sword, Laura Green and Robert Eckhart. Jury recommends Joseph P. Smith get the death penalty Many people had already decided Joseph P. Smith was guilty way...

OBITUARIES.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
December 31, 2005... SARASOTA COUNTY Celestine Bookmyer Celestine "Cell" Bookmyer, 91, Sarasota, died Dec. 30, 2005, at home. He was born July 4, 1914, in Kenton, Ohio, and came to Sarasota in 1957 from Upper Sandusky, Ohio. He retired as a...

Family gets involved in YMCA reading program.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2005... Byline: PATTY ALLEN-JONESpatty.allen-jones@heraldtribune.com Lucy Wong encouraged second-grader Andrew Eisenmann, who wasn't excited about reading over the holiday break, to keep up with his books. "I want to know all about this when...

Home of the future.(HOME & REAL ESTATE)(Letter From Home)(Column)
December 31, 2005... Byline: Harold Bubil Harold Bubil is on vacation. This column originally appeared on Feb. 5, 2005. As editor in chief of Better Homes & Gardens, Karol DeWulf Nickell has a pretty firm hand on the pulse of the nation's homeowners....

Kidnapper, child rapist sentenced to 50-year term; Erick Thomas Knapp Jr. pleads guilty to 15 charges.(A SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: KRISTEN KRIDEL kristen.kridel@heraldtribune.com PUNTA GORDA -- The first time Erick Thomas Knapp Jr. burglarized a pair of homes in his neighborhood, he stole property. During each of his second visits, he stole a child. ...

House sales slowing as inventories rise; Real estate agents warn about reading too much into a 39 percent drop in sales in the Sarasota-Bradenton Market.(A SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: STEPHEN FRATER and MICHAEL POLLICK STAFF WRITERS Sales of previously owned homes in the Sarasota-Bradenton market dropped 39 percent during November, mirroring the national trend of a cooling real estate market where the number of...

High cost of labor; Fine against local company should prompt state review.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
December 30, 2005... Bradenton carpenter Michael R. Pollard's case against a local day-labor company may continue to be argued in court. But, whatever the outcome, he deserves credit for helping to shine light on an industry that garners too little attention. ...

Surrender, conditionally; Proponents of a permanent sculpture deserve a chance.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
December 30, 2005... Under the city of Sarasota's written policy, reproductions "shall not be considered public art or public works of art." That leaves a quandary concerning a community group's plan to donate a permanent replica of the gargantuan...

Indians, 'Noles set to meet in finals; Championship set for tonight at 8:20.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2005... Byline: BRIAN NEWBERRY CORRESPONDENT BRADENTON -- Venice and Southeast have reached the finals of the Eddie E. Shannon Classic Boy's basketball tournament. Venice took care of Manatee 50-35 while Southeast upended DeSoto 73-68 at...

The host with the most; The Lady 'Noles beat rival Manatee.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2005... Byline: CHAD BROCKHOFF CORRESPONDENT BRADENTON -- Just chalk it up to the mystique of the Southeast High girls basketball program. The host school got a game-high 15 points from Kimber Smith, and tremendous defensive performances by...

Florida-Iowa game will divide a family for 60 minutes; Gators' defensive coordinator is Greg Mattison; son Bryan is defensive end for the Hawkeyes.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2005... Byline: MIC HUBER mic.huber@heraldtribune.com TAMPA -- They may not be sharing secrets this week but Bryan and Greg Mattison are surely sharing an experience of a lifetime. As Florida prepares to play Iowa in the 2005 Outback Bowl,...

Not just any young Buc; Rookie tight end Alex Smith has emerged this season as a key option for the offense.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2005... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com TAMPA -- Take a look at what Alex Smith has done in his first 15 NFL games and the rookie tight end has offered a glimpse of how a tight end is supposed ignite Tampa Bay's offense. Time...

Mustangs blow halftime lead.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT BRANDON -- Bloomingdale outscored Lakewood Ranch 15-4 in a decisive third quarter to erase a six-point halftime deficit and cruise to a 41-35 win Thursday in the Hillsborough Riverview Holiday Classic. Lakewood...

Bright House to increase cable rate.(BUSINESS)
December 30, 2005... Byline: LAUREN MAYK lauren.mayk@heraldtribune.com In a bid to push customers toward more expensive digital products, Bright House Networks is increasing standard cable rates but leaving the price of digital television service alone. ...

Developer pitches plan as remedy; Downtown Sarasota project includes $20M in parking.(BUSINESS)
December 30, 2005... Byline: KATHLEEN McLAUGHLIN kathleen.mclaughlin@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- When Benderson Development bought the Bank of America building at Main Street and Orange Avenue, executives spoke of a $50 million renovation. That...

Business Buzz.(BUSINESS)
December 30, 2005... Smith Barney adviser garners certification Judith A. Skornicka, a financial adviser with the Sarasota branch of Smith Barney, recently achieved the designation of senior investment management specialist. The title is sponsored by the...

The key to variety; Preserving and promoting the spice of island life.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
December 30, 2005... Manasota Key has valued visual variety by adopting architectural guidelines that strive to preserve and create a rich mixture of building styles. Key residents should be commended for embracing architectural standards and lobbying for an...

Swift gets his first challenger; A critic of the School Board announces bid for District 1 seat.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: ANNA SCOTT anna.scott@heraldtribune.com CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- Four-term School Board member Lee Swift may face his first challenger in the 2006 election. Harvey Goldstein of Deep Creek, a retired political science professor...

Nassau's owners in land deal; Parris Guite and Rolan Richard paid $442,500 for land in Maine this summer.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: SARA LUBBES sara.lubbes@heraldtribune.com PUNTA GORDA -- A local pool company's financial problems were not enough to stop its owners from buying a $442,500 property in Maine over the summer, records show. Property records...

Bezemer, county locked in shell game.(B SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
December 30, 2005... Byline: Eric Ernst While the past 17 years have changed the face of Englewood, at least one tradition has resisted the ravages of time. A monument to the durability of concrete, the unfinished, five-story shell of a structure known...

BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Government offices to close for holiday Government offices in Charlotte County, Sarasota County and the city of Punta Gorda will be closed Monday for the New Year's holiday. There will be no interruptions in the collection of trash...

Legal Advocacy Fund one critical program supported by University Women group.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: AMY ABERN amy.abern@heraldtribune.com If you're a woman and have a college degree and you're not a member of the American Association of University Women, you may be missing out on an interesting social, educational and...

Course on Islam offered at Lifelong Learning Institute.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: AMY ABERNamy.abern@heraldtribune.com Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance, it respects the beliefs of other religions and is a way of life. These are the main principles Dr. Ahmed N. Elrefai, Ph.D, hopes to impress upon...

OBITUARIES.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
December 30, 2005... CHARLOTTE COUNTY Eva Ruth Johnston Eva Ruth Johnston, 89, Punta Gorda, died Dec. 26, 2005, at Life Care Center of Punta Gorda. She was born April 27, 1916, in Mishawaka, Ind., and had been a winter resident of Punta Gorda for 30...

A passion for peace; Englewood couple at center of worldwide observance; World Day of Peace is Saturday.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: SHARYN LONSDALE sharyn.lonsdale@heraldtribune.com ENGLEWOOD -- Peter Duisberg will celebrate his 86th birthday Saturday, surrounded by, he hopes, at least 1,000 people at the 16th annual World Day of Peace celebration in Venice....

Pet therapy team visits 'Creative Kids Experience'.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: NANCY CHAPMAN CORRESPONDENT PJ Baisley was decked out in holiday finery Tuesday. The friendly yellow Labrador was wearing festive antlers -- perfectly adorable and perfect for befriending children. That's good, because PJ...

Local snapshots; Brief comments on life and times in our communities.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
December 30, 2005... Narrow vision East Venice Avenue is a gateway to Sarasota County and the city of Venice. Therefore, the city and county governments should work together to ensure the avenue -- from River Road west to the Intracoastal Waterway --...

Here's to a safe New Year's Eve on the road.(B SECTION)(Arts Around Town)(Column)
December 30, 2005... Byline: Francine Milford For all those parents who have ever dropped a set of keys into their teenager's hand, the moment of truth is a double-edged sword. While I am grateful that I am no longer needed to drop everything to play...

Booker rallies with pressing 'D'.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2005... Byline: ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT OCALA -- Trailing by double digits in the first half, Booker switched to a full-court man-to-man defense to start the third quarter and it paid off. The Tornadoes earned a hard fought 61-58 consolation...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... 2 people injured, 1 seriously, in crash ELLENTON -- Two people were injured, one seriously, when a teenager lost control of his vehicle, crashing into a fence and utility pole. The driver, Manny Mercado, 18, suffered minor injuries in...

Helping hungry people just got easier.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: STEVE HEISLER CORRESPONDENT MANATEE COUNTY -- Instead of making an extra trip to the grocery store or grabbing cans from the cupboard, giving food to the needy is just a few mouse clicks away. That's the result of the...

Realtors offer scholarships through essay contest.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT The Florida Association of Realtors is offering a scholarship essay contest for high school seniors. Students can win up to $6,500 by writing an essay about "How Does a Realtor Professional Benefit the...

OBITUARIES.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
December 30, 2005... MANATEE COUNTY Miguel A. Alvarez Miguel A. Alvarez, 77, Myakka City, died Dec. 27, 2005. He was born April 2, 1928, in Cuba and came to Myakka City 32 years ago from there. He owned Lolita's Upholstery. He was a member of the...

Man charged in family's death tries to plead guilty; The judge refuses to accept Richard Henderson Jr.'s plea.(A SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: MICHAEL A. SCARCELLA michael.scarcella@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- Richard E. Henderson Jr. smirked as he walked into court Thursday for what was supposed to be a routine hearing. Dressed in jail-issued blue garb and...

New customer accused of trying to rob his bank.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: TODD RUGER todd.ruger@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- A Bank of America employee thought the man who tried to rob the bank Wednesday morning looked familiar. Peter A. Zawacki, 66, had been to the bank earlier Wednesday morning...

Day of bad news for the homeless; Downtown soup kitchen yields to pressure to sell.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: MIKE SAEWITZ mike.saewitz@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- The soup kitchen is just a few steps from Main Street, in a spot on quiet Adelia Avenue that's hidden from most everyone who passes through downtown. But every day for...

Judge rules no-lodging law is constitutional.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: MIKE SAEWITZ mike.saewitz@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- The city's third attempt at passing an ordinance that prevents people from camping out in parks, vacant lots or wooded areas is constitutional, a judge ruled this week. ...

BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Holiday closings All Sarasota County government offices, with the exception of libraries and recreation centers, will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the New Year's holiday. County libraries and recreation centers will be...

Bike group works for people-powered traffic.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: JOSH ORR CORRESPONDENT As the Alliance for Responsible Transportation sees it, a shift toward people-powered transportation in Sarasota means less traffic, less pollution, more community interaction, more greenery. And, to...

Pet therapy team visits 'Creative Kids Experience'.(B SECTION)
December 30, 2005... Byline: NANCY CHAPMAN CORRESPONDENT PJ Baisley was decked out in holiday finery Tuesday. The friendly yellow Labrador was wearing festive antlers -- perfectly adorable, and perfect for befriending children. That's good, because...

OBITUARIES.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
December 30, 2005... SARASOTA COUNTY Miguel A. Alvarez Miguel A. Alvarez, 77, Myakka City, died Dec. 27, 2005. He was born April 2, 1928, in Cuba and came to Myakka City 32 years ago from there. He owned Lolita's Upholstery. He was a member of the...

Celebrity resolutions.(TICKET)(Admit One)(Column)
December 30, 2005... Byline: Rod Harmon It's that time again, when we look back at a bizarre year in the world of entertainment and proffer advice to celebrities to make the new year a little more, shall we say, tolerable for us. Enough blathering....

A different Auld Lang Syne; There are plenty of alternatives to bars on New Year's Eve.(TICKET)
December 30, 2005... Byline: STEVE ECHEVERRIA JR. steve.echeverria@heraldtribune.com Tradition is a good thing, but it gets boring after a while. Then again, change is risky. And when it comes to celebrating New Year's Eve, the only risk accepted is...

Praise Party kicks off the new year with positive hip-hop.(TICKET)
December 30, 2005... Byline: MARY AWOSIKA mary.awosika@heraldtribune.com Melanie Thomas cringes whenever she listens closely to the lyrics of a crude R&B song. She's infuriated by the prominent images of young girls wearing barely-there clothing and...

No New Year's Eve plans yet? Find perfect party scene at area nightclubs.(TICKET)(No Cover)(Column)
December 30, 2005... Byline: Steve Echeverria Jr. Another year is approaching -- 48 hours and counting -- and throughout the week, that same question has crept into just about every conversation: "What are you doing for New Year's?" If you're like...

'Idol' Underwood stays true to her roots with debut.(TICKET)
December 30, 2005... Carrie Underwood, "Some Hearts" (Arista): The latest discovery on Fox's "American Idol," Carrie Underwood, a natural, country-singing Southern girl, stays true to her roots on her debut. Slide guitar, violin and acoustic guitar melodies...

Performing arts course leads to career track for students.(TICKET)(Making Noise)(Column)
December 30, 2005... Byline: ABBY WEINGARTEN CORRESPONDENT To some high school students, jazz band is just another elective. They begrudgingly fiddle with some random instrument, biding their time until the hour concludes. Not Justin "J.B." Braun and...