Published Articles

A selection of my work from decades of publication in newspapers and magazines. These articles and columns explore history, culture, politics, labor, and the everyday forces that shape people and communities.

How Central Florida traded wild shorelines for highway access

In the 1980s, Florida residents fought a planned expressway that would slice through neighborhoods and damage a huge lake’s ecosystem. Today, the highway offers convenient access to Orlando — but at the cost of 140 acres of wetlands. Continue reading
Heroes’ welcome: Vietnam POWs returned home to Orlando celebrations in 1973

In 1973, Air Force Col. Joe Kittinger and 1st Lt. Larry D. Price returned home to Orlando after being POWs in Vietnam. Doubts about unaccounted POWs persist to this day. Continue reading
When mom crashes your live shot and the internet falls in love

A TV reporter’s cringing embarrassment — and his coworker’s delighted cackling — went viral, reminding millions that no amount of professional composure can withstand a mother’s exuberant love. Continue reading
The woman who gave ‘it’s a small world’ its magic

Joyce Carlson started at Disney fetching coffee during WWII. She became the artistic force behind “it’s a small world,” transforming Styrofoam, plastic flowers and costume jewelry into theme park history. Yet for decades, few knew her name. Continue reading
The space shuttle that needed fixing before it ever flew

In 1979, workers patched together Columbia with 7,000 glued tiles. Twenty-four years later, a thermal breach killed all seven astronauts. The tragedy revealed how even the most brilliant minds can normalize danger until the unthinkable happens. Continue reading
How baseball broke the color line in a city still clinging to hate

In 1955, Black and white boys faced off in Orlando’s first integrated Little League game while adults raged and threatened to quit. The kids just wanted to play ball. What happened on that field revealed which generation truly understood America. Continue reading