My name is Dan Ping. I was raised in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and received a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Alabama. I moved to Sanford, Fla. in May 1999.
For most of my adult life I’ve worked in the media as a writer, editor and publisher at weekly and daily newspapers in Tennessee and Florida. I’ve worked at award-winning community newspapers and respected business publications. I've been blessed to cover a wide-range of topics: breaking news, local government, commercial real estate development, tourism in the world’s No. 1 tourist market, presidential elections and a bunch of "Florida Man" shenanigans.
There's an adage in the news business that the best stories are told at the bar after deadline. It's amazing how often people will share TMI (Too Much Information) with reporters. Many times that information has nothing to do with the story the reporter is working, so it gets "retold at the bar."
That's idea behind Celery City Stories.
I want to tell true stories about people, places and events connected to Sanford and Seminole County like you're hearing them at the local watering hole or in the backyard as the ribs are smoking slow 'n low on the grill.
I hope you enjoy these stories. If you would like to add something to a story I tell, or you know a story you think I should tell, please contact me. My email address is Dan AT CeleryCityStories DOT com. You can also leave me a voicemail, by clicking on the microphone in the lower righthand corner of the website.