Artist mines talent to start businesses [Times photo: Scott Keeler] Ever since he retired, Tom Demperio has been getting more involved in his favorite activities: painting fine art, selling antiques and repairing and restoring china, pottery and wood.

Trail's name to honor Marquis
Signs for the Fred E. Marquis Pinellas Trail will begin to appear after the Sept. 12 commission meeting makes the name official.

Deputy cleared in shooting driver
A review board says the deputy had a reasonable fear of danger to others or himself during the shoplifting escape attempt.

School plan worries real estate agents
They tell School Board members that they now can't inform buyers about which school children will attend.

Illegal dumping mars city
Largo officials say a small problem with trash can quickly get out of hand -- and be expensive to fix.

Tarpon approves $38-million budget
The city lowers its tax rate, but because most assessments have gone up, most property owners won't see much change in their tax bills.

Search for diver called off
The Coast Guard called off its search for missing scuba diver Barry Rodden on Tuesday morning after an unsuccessful two-day effort to find the Brevard County man. Rodden, 45, was reported missing Sunday after diving with his girlfriend, three sons and nephew about 6 miles west of Anclote Key, near the Pinellas-Pasco border. Coast Guard crews searched a 144-square-mile area of the Gulf of Mexico with helicopters, a 41-foot utility boat and a 110-foot cutter.

Chamber leader to focus on retail
The group's new chief wants to fill Seminole's empty storefronts.

Through bears' hair, teen finds his calling in life
A student collecting fur samples in the Rockies realizes that he wants to make his interest in the outdoors more than just a hobby.

Penny priorities likely to change
Gulf-to-Bay beautification projects may fade away to free up funds for fire stations and the Phillies training stadium in Clearwater.

More areas eager to join Seminole
Several neighborhoods have been gathering petition signatures and are exploring annexation. The reason? Accountability and perhaps lower taxes.

Waters await racing season
The Tampa Bay area racing calendar, published annually by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club as a service to the sailing community, likely will not be distributed until after Labor Day.

Dunedin teens may tape local TV show
Time Warner no longer wants to produce and broadcast the city's commission meeting and talk show.

Video troubles upset couples
They paid hundreds for polished wedding videos but end up with unedited footage.

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