Dateline Florida
By Times Wires
Published December 25, 2007
Thieves better watch out if they lift baby jesus
This is a story about baby Jesus, a Jewish man, a GPS tracking device and how they all came together for the holidays. It all started a few weeks ago, when someone stole the statue of baby Jesus from the nativity at Bal Harbour's Founders Circle. Cincinnati resident Jeffrey Harris read a story about the crime online. "I felt bad. How could someone steal a baby Jesus," Harris told the Miami Herald. "Even though I am Jewish, I like the Christmas spirit." So he offered to pay to replace the statue. Dina Cellini, who has put up the display for six years, appreciated his generous gift. She also added a twist of her own: GPS tracking devices for the statues. "I don't anticipate this will ever happen again," said Cellini, "but we may need to rely on technology to save our Savior."e_SClBLowered Rodman Reservoir to provide a feathered feast
It's Christmas - for the birds.
The state Department of Environmental Protection is lowering the level of the Rodman Reservoir in northern Florida to help improve the ecosystem's health. The reduction will likely provide a "moving feast" for birds, Charles Lee, advocacy director of Audubon of Florida, told the Miami Herald. "Bird concentrations could be spectacular, particularly among those species which feel for food like fish and crustaceans in shallow water," Lee said. The reservoir will remain low until March 1, giving bird-watchers plenty of time to take in the sights. The drawdowns help by exposing the lake bottom, which then hardens and can better support fish spawning and plant growth.
Kettle coin rings up $1,000 for Salvation Army in Pensacola
A platinum coin estimated to be worth more than $1,000 was donated to a Salvation Army bell ringer in Pensacola. An unidentified person donated the coin Friday outside the Belk department store at University Mall, the Orlando Sentinel reported. "The man who donated the coin tried to put it in the kettle, but it wouldn't fit," Salvation Army spokeswoman Yvonne Warthen said. "So he just handed it to the bell ringer."
Merry Heat Miser
Is this reference before your time? Watch a clip of the holiday classic in the pop music blog at blogs.tampabay.com/popmusic.