Les Harrison is a longtime resident of north Florida, having attended public schools in three counties. He has a Bachelor Degree from the University of Florida in Journalism and a Master’s of Science from Auburn University in Agricultural Economics. He is the author of more than 2000 newspaper and magazine stories and journal articles. During his career, he held positions in private, government and educational (university level) sectors. He holds the title of Extension Agent Emeritus. He can be reached at harrison.gl@gmail.com.
The sighting of a web usually indicates the presence of one of the many species of spiders living in Wakulla County. While some spiders do not use webs to trap their meals, most do in one of several distinctive forms. The petite strands are closely monitored by the patient arachnid. When a careless insect blunders…Read more
The cold and flu season will arrive soon in Florida with symptoms ranging from the inconvenient to extreme discomfort. Tissue boxes will become a common site. One universal symptom is respiratory distress. It is bad enough to feel achy and endure an elevated temperature, but the stuffed head and chest create chronic misery for the…Read more
While most panhandle Florida residents are among the fortunate few who dodged many ill effects and brutal results of the hurricanes and tropical storms during this memorable 2020 season, winter is soon to come. The local deciduous trees accurately reflect this seasonal transition. It is correct to say the shorter days are the impetus for…Read more
The low frequency droning is an unmistakable acoustic cue for anything with auditory capabilities. There are times though when the menacing monotone is not present and the pain is a complete surprise. While the lilting and directionless flight pattern can camouflage the potential agony to the inexperienced, any physical encounter has the real possibility of…Read more
The old song “Pennies from Heaven” was originally sung by Big Crosby, notable crooner, actor, and co-star with Bob Hope in many On The Road To (you pick the exotic location) films. This song intones the melancholy wishes of many depression era Americans. After all, who could object to money falling from the sky on…Read more
Holiday decorations are beginning to appear in north Florida’s homes, offices and businesses. The season’s adornments hang, stand, drape and protrude from every direction and cannot be missed by anyone with a modicum of visual acuity. The colors were, at some point shrouded in history, ritualized to red and green. The logic is unavoidable since…Read more
Dining out is an activity which requires some forethought and planning, especially in these days of “social distancing”. Choosing the meal, any dining companions (if allowed) and the location of the meal are decisions which influence the experience. Once decided whether alone or with a few friends or family members, the cares of the world…Read more
“There is gold in them thar hills,” so was the call of the ‘49’ers who were beckoned to search for the elusive, but valuable, yellow metal in California during the mid-19th century. This enticement has lured hundreds of thousands to remote and usually hostile locations the world over in pursuit of quick wealth. With the…Read more
“The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,” so wrote the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare in his classic play the Merchant of Venice. Rains in Florida’s 2020 warm season have been gentle, and not so gentle at times, but at least there has been enough of them. …Read more
A pessimist will say, “Just when you think things cannot get any worse, they will”. Unfortunately, far too many times the cynic is correct and problems compound with resulting destruction and cost. Sometimes it is the self-fulfilling prophesy of a naysayer, and sometimes it is the voice of experience recognizing a deteriorating situation. In such…Read more
