OLDSMAR, Fla., Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- How many hands touch the pens at the doctor's office, the bank, the teacher's desk each day? And how many viruses -- colds or flu -- and bacteria like MRSA are ...

By Lorri Helfand, Times Staff Writer Wednesday, February 8, 2012 OLDSMAR — For decades, chickens have been outlawed in Oldsmar neighborhoods. Or, at least, that was the intent of the city regulations that prohibit livestock in residential zoning districts, said council member Jerry Beverland. But council member Janice Miller said it's time for a change. "We need hens in this green era," said ...

By Lorri Helfand, Times Staff Writer Wednesday, February 8, 2012 OLDSMAR — After more than a year without an agreement, city leaders have approved a new union contract with Oldsmar firefighters. Firefighters have been working without a new contract since October 2010, when their last three-year deal expired. "It's been a long, treacherous road," said Jason Schwabe, district vice president of the ...

By Lorri Helfand, Times Staff Writer Wednesday, February 1, 2012 OLDSMAR — A couple of city leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, saying the group needs to do more to reach out to local businesses and to connect with the community of Oldsmar as a whole. Leaders from both groups met this week to talk about those concerns and to come up with a plan to ...

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Cat Park and Juliet Tango, both seeking their third straight wins over the Tampa Bay Downs turf course, top their fields Saturday in the second leg of the Tampa Test, a series of starter handicap routes for horses who have started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in 2011-12.

Golfweek Magazine's Golfest Tampa is back in Oldsmar for a second consecutive year and the two-day event will feature world-renowned instructor David Leadbetter.

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent Friday, February 17, 2012 ST. PETERSBURG — Meacham Field didn't know if he was coming or going. He went from Alabama to Florida, back to Alabama and is now in Florida again. The Texas-bred sprinter has given Red Oak Racing kennel plenty of mileage. Meacham Field, who is at Derby Lane because greyhound racing in Shorter, Ala., was suspended last year, is ...

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent Friday, February 10, 2012 OLDSMAR — Two hours after putting career win No. 1,400 in her scrapbook Wednesday, Kathleen O'Connell turned back to another page. It was the one featuring Watch Me Go, whose upset victory in the 2011 Tampa Bay Derby gave the trainer and her longtime owner, Gilbert Campbell of Ocala, their first taste of the Kentucky Derby. It was the ...

By Lorri Helfand, Times Staff Writer Friday, January 20, 2012 Two Pinellas County cities are bucking a state legislative redistricting proposal that puts their entire communities in a predominantly Hillsborough County district. The governing bodies of both Safety Harbor and Oldsmar adopted resolutions this week against proposals that would make them part of House District 64. They're concerned ...

Times wires Wednesday, February 15, 2012 College Football Drug sting snares four TCU players FORT WORTH, Texas — Authorities arrested 17 students, including four football players, at Texas Christian University on Wednesday as part of a six-month drug sting. Arrest warrants included reports of players who allegedly arranged marijuana sales after class or around practice and who told police that ...