Latin infusion [Times photo: Mike Pease] Hispanic families from Latin America and Puerto Rico have joined long-time Cuban residents to create a mix of salsa, spicy food and Spanish ambience in the neighborhoods north of Tampa International Airport.

Marlene Sokol
Big Dreams at Low Prices
Ariel Pena owns Dollar's Place, a dollar store in Carrollwood that serves the Plantation area. Born in Argentina, Pena lived in Buenos Aires and Israel before coming to the United States.

'Buenos dias' from a Mexican radio show
A local weekend Spanish-language program hits the airwaves, gaining support from the community it serves.

Board wants to put teeth in dog rules
The deed restrictions for the Promenade at West Meadows limit the size and number of dogs but was never enforced. A homeowners' board wants that to change.

Mrs. Florida and Mom
Hayley Norman competes for the Mrs. United States title next month in Las Vegas, and her husband and two children plan to be there.

A replay of hoops debate
The years-long controversy over whether homeowners should be able to keep their basketball hoops in their driveways permanently comes up once again.

Using less water around the yard
Many of us live in or have friends who live in Hillsborough County where water use recently was restricted even more. In fact, there will be no lawn watering until September. And who knows what might happen then? Even if you don't live in the area, now is the time to look closely at your landscape (and all water usage) and make changes so you can conserve water.

Chasing the dream
The Hispanic people who live and work in census tracts 116.05, 118.02 and 118.04 are "hard-working, good folks, just chasing the American dream," says their state representative. Here are glimpses into a few lives.

Preservation no longer in the picture?
The daughter of the co-founder of Winn-Dixie has applied for rezoning to build 227 homes on Keystone land that neighbors hoped would become an environmental preserve.

Board hopes to fight reclaimed water hike
The Northdale Tax District wants to plead its case to the County Commission to keep the fees for reclaimed water in check.

Summer Sprint Series is ready for second race
More than 900 triathletes will compete for points in the second Summer Sprint Series race Sunday in Clermont.

Homes
Their loss may be your gain
Foreclosed properties are up for auction daily at the Hillsborough County Courthouse, where luck and research can pay off.

Bringing new life to cities
FIRED UP: Tampa City Council member Linda Saul-Sena returned from the 10th annual meeting of the Congress for the New Urbanism more enthusiastic than ever about working the principles of the movement into Tampa's city code.

Gingerbread Homes take style in different direction
A small firm offers new houses with Victorian touches -- hardwood floors, fireplaces and fish-scale siding.

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