Mitch Traphagen
Community turns out for Diego Duran, boy wounded by ‘celebratory’ gunfire
Garage sale will be held Sat. and Sun. Jan 28 and 29. Donations will be accepted Fri. Jan. 27.
Change of watch for Ruskin USCG Auxiliary Flotilla
Ruskin Flotilla 75 supports USCG Station St. Petersburg in safety patrols and in search and rescue operations. ...
Observations: The Captains
I can’t say for certain how I would react because I’ve never had to face it....
The heart of command
He didn’t have to save the family with five small children. He could have let them die. But that's not who Larry Chambers is....
Garage sale fundraiser for boy shot by 'celebratory' gunfire donations accepted this weekend
Donations for the fundraiser will be accepted on Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Firehouse Cultural Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m....
Observations: A little weirdness goes a long ways
What is it about Florida that seems to attract insane people?...
Community steps up to help boy shot by ‘celebratory’ gunfire
Garage sale and benefit dinner are planned....
Young paleontologist makes donation to Paleo Preserve
It’s impressive enough that he has already contributed to paleontology and that he has raised money for the museum, but perhaps most impressive of all is that Braden is just nine-years-old....
Cypress Creek teacher recognized as being the ‘best of the best’
The 15 finalists represent the best of the best from Hillsborough County Public Schools. ...
Observations: No good deed...
By MITCH TRAPHAGEN I would not normally expect to be thrown into a fit of pondering by someone with the nickname “The Booth Babe”. But then ...
Ruskin boy in serious condition, struck down by 'celebratory' gunfire
"It appears at this time that the victim was shot from celebratory gunfire falling from the sky from a distance that could range for miles away.”...
Become a kid again: The circus is coming to town
Here, have some cotton candy. The Gibsonton Showmens Circus is coming to town....
Observations: Something good is in the air
I have a great feeling about 2012. After a decade of fear and loathing, I think people are ready for something good....Author info
Mitch Traphagen
Mitch Traphagen is a photojournalist, columnist and online editor for the Observer News Publications. He is the recipient of 55 awards of excellence from the Community Papers of Florida for his photography and writing. He has worked for some of the nation’s largest corporations, as Press Secretary for a U.S. Congressman, owned and published a weekly newspaper, and produced a commercial documentary video on sailing. He is a Commodore in the Seven Seas Cruising Association (ssca.org). Mitch is a writer, photographer, sailor and traveler with a bit of a geek thing going on. You can visit his personal website at mitchtraphagen.com