Mitch Traphagen
Gasparilla’s alter ego... St. Petersburg
Downtown Tampa on any given weekend has an almost post-apocalyptic feel. Downtown St. Petersburg, however, while not necessarily buzzing with frantic activity, is alive with frequent events in waterfront parks and a popular farmer’s market.
Observations: I need a little help from some friends
In the wake of a horrific mass shooting, so many people have said that guns don’t kill people, people kill people. That has never been truer than in the case of celebratory gunfire. If you truly believe that, this is your chance to stand by your words....
SouthShore Chamber names 2012 award winners
The SouthShore Chamber of Commerce held their annual awards banquet at the Del Webb Southshore Falls Clubhouse on Friday night. C1 Bank was named the 2012 ...
HCSO makes major bust near Gibsonton Elementary
A six month-long operation ended in a wave of arrests of convicted felons who sold guns and drugs across the street from Gibsonton Elementary School....
Commissioners approve new bicycle lanes in South County
he Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners voted last week to make an investment in bicycle lanes in South Hillsborough. ...
SCC expo offers a walk on the spiritual side
Metaphysics is all about helping people to get in touch with things that lie outside of the realm of our five senses....
Growing SCC church reaches beyond community
The 14,000 square foot facility will house contemporary and Hispanic worship programs within a state-of-the-art assembly space, including a commercial kitchen and office complex. ...Automated trash collection coming to your street
For the first time in more than 15 years, changes are coming to trash collection in Hillsborough County....
A family field of dreams grows in Riverview
At the three-and-a-half acre hydroponic farm, perhaps the best thing next to the large, sweet strawberries is the fact that they are easy for their customers to pick....
Deputies Darlins: Saving the world, one person at a time
The willingness and ability to extend a helping hand to someone in need says a lot about a community. ...
NOW BOARDING: American Airlines flight from the past
It holds the distinction of being the oldest DC-3 flying in American skies....
On January 17, an evening with Dry Creek
McDowell and other cast members are expected to join the Parrish Civic Association for a free screening of an episode of Dry Creek on Jan. 17. The public is invited to attend....
Finding a home for the holidays
We realized the opportunities of having an entire mansion were few and far between, so we decided to spend another night. It was wonderful to the point of being magical....
Observations: Something said, many times, many ways
I went through all of the motions, had even shopped for gifts, and still did not really appreciate that it was truly Christmas. It took ...
For the New Year, set free your inner author
There has never been a better time in the history of the written word to become an author....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