When most adults think of preteen girls, they picture children in those appealing "tween" years-full of the innocence and exuberance of childhood but hovering on the lip of the adult world. It’s a time when girls may begin to have vague, idealized dreams of far-off love and romance, we think, but when they’re just as [...]

Though most people over 50 do need reading glasses, optometrist Dr. Gary Bockhold of Center for Sight says this exercise can postpone the inevitable. Focus on a small letter, bringing it toward your nose until it begins to blur. Stop there and cross your eyes for two to three seconds. Repeat twice. Perform twice daily. [...]

Knowledge is power, all right, especially in economic circles, with companies-and cities-now competing for the highly educated, innovative workers who come up with winning new ideas and products. At a recent luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton, Richard Florida told Sarasota business leaders that many economists believe such "knowledge" workers are now the source of most economic [...]

In this month’s Manatee Life, we profiled Curt Sinclair and his nursery, Exotic Hibiscus. During our interview, he gave us these handy tips for keeping your hibiscus plants healthy and beautiful. First, hibiscus plants require at least 50 percent full sun. If you’re keeping them in pots, never allow water to stand. Sinclair says that [...]

Sports Are you ready to rumble? That’s the question Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix fans are asking themselves this month, as the weeklong fest heats up. The World’s Largest Offshore Party is set for July 3 at the Hyatt, followed by those famous Bed Races and the Parade of Boats downtown on the Fourth. You can [...]