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Lawmakers Announce Legislation Promoting Fair Business Practices for Florida’s Franchise Owners

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Legislation supported by the Coalition of Franchisee Associations

Florida’s small business owners will benefit from fair business standards under new legislation sponsored by Sen. Greg Steube and Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen. The proposal will establish commonsense safeguards ensuring that entrepreneurs who often invest their lifesavings into a franchised business have parity when it comes to the business relationship with their corporate franchisor. These business standards will promote economic opportunity and encourage continued investment in our state’s small businesses.
The proposal filed by Steube and Fitzenhagen will provide legal protections for businesses, leading to more economic growth and jobs in communities across the state. The Small Business Parity Act will introduce a greater degree of fairness for owners of franchised small businesses in Florida. The bill would apply only to renewals and new franchise contracts issued after the bill’s effective date.
“Florida’s hard-working franchise owners typically invest more than $375,000 of their own personal savings in order to pursue their dream of owning a small business, and we must do our part to help protect these investments in our local communities,” said Sen. Steube, the bill’s Senate sponsor. “These dedicated small business owners employ more than 404,000 Floridians, and I am proud today to do my part to file commonsense legislation that would protect the livelihoods of these men and women.”
“We simply want to level the playing field for these small business owners,” said Rep. Fitzenhagen, the House sponsor. “The unfortunate truth is that many of these large, out-of-state corporations are taking advantage of the tremendous imbalance in the franchisor-franchisee relationship. This is wrong, and this bill provides an opportunity to level the playing field.”
If enacted into law, the Small Business Parity Act will:

  • defend franchise business owners from unjust terminations and non-renewals without good cause
  • defend franchise owners from unjust limitations on sales and transfers based on unreasonable requirements
  • give franchise owners the right to pursue legal disputes against their franchisors in Florida court and under Florida law
  • requires that both franchisors and franchise owners act in “good faith”

The Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA) is supporting the new legislation for the upcoming legislative session. The CFA, founded in 2007 as the largest franchisee-only trade association in the country, provides a forum for its members to share best practices, knowledge, and resources for the benefit of all small businesses that operate independent franchise establishments.
“I wish Florida would offer me the same protections that more than 20 other states give to their small business owners,” said Terry Hutchinson, a Florida franchise owner. “Franchise owners like me support our local economies, hire people from our communities, and pay state taxes — we deserve a stable relationship with the corporate brands, so we can both grow and foster Florida’s economy.”
For more information on the Small Business Parity Act please visit protectFLbusiness.com.

Sen. Bill Nelson on vote to end shutdown

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By a vote of 81 – 18, the U.S. Senate today voted to cut off debate on a bill to end the federal government shutdown – essentially ensuring its passage in a subsequent vote likely to be held later today.
In speaking prior to the vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) credited a small bipartisan group of senators for their efforts over the weekend to bring people together to reach a consensus to reopen the government. Among the group of 13 Democrats and 9 Republicans credited for their efforts was U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).
Here’s a statement from Nelson following today’s vote:
“This is a win for bipartisanship and common sense,” Nelson said. “I have been meeting with a group of moderate senators for days to reach a consensus to end the shutdown and get a commitment to take up other critical legislation. As a result, there is now a path forward to help the Dreamers, fund the military and other agencies and provide Florida with the hurricane disaster assistance it still needs.”

21-year-old wins top prize playing $2,000,000 CASHWORD Scratch-Off game

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The Florida Lottery announces that Marilu Aguirre, 21, of Zolfo Springs, claimed a top prize in the $2,000,000 CASHWORD Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,600,000.00.
Aguirre purchased her winning ticket from Racetrac, located at 24401 Sandhill Boulevard in Port Charlotte. The retailer will receive a $4,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $10 Scratch-Off game, $2,000,000 CASHWORD, launched in August 2017, and features six top prizes of $2 million and over 6,000 prizes of $1,000 to $2 million! The overall odds of winning are one-in-3.38.
Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.

Governor Scott Hosts Venezuela Roundtable

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Governor Rick Scott today hosted a roundtable event with leaders from the Venezuelan community to discuss the actions the state has taken against the Maduro regime.  Last year, Governor Scott and the State Board of Administration passed a resolution to ban state investments that would benefit Nicolas Maduro’s oppressive government. To build on these efforts, Governor Scott proposed legislation (SB 538 and HB 359) to strictly prohibit all state agencies from investing in any company that is doing business with the Maduro regime.

First Lady Ann Scott Kicks off 10th Annual Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! in St. Johns County

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First Lady Ann Scott today kicked off 2018 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! at Ponte Vedra High School in St. Johns County. The First Lady was joined by St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson, Department of Education and Florida Lottery officials, and Ponte Vedra High School students and staff. The 10th annual theme is “Find Yourself in a Book.”
First Lady Ann Scott said, “This is my eighth Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!, and I am thrilled for the opportunity to spend time with hundreds of Florida students and their outstanding teachers and principals throughout the week. I look forward to this event every year because it draws attention to the invaluable role of reading and literacy in every facet of our lives.”
Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart said, “In order for students to reach their full potential, they must continually hone essential reading and literacy skills. First Lady Ann Scott’s passion for literacy motivates students to love reading as much as she does, and I am so appreciative of her support of Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!”
Following the kick-off event, First Lady Ann Scott will visit the following schools on her literacy tour:

  • Ponte Vedra Palm Valley Rawlings Elementary School
  • Robert Willis Elementary School
  • Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School
  • Tara Elementary School
  • West Navarre Primary School
  • Oriole Beach Elementary School
  • Bennett C. Russell Elementary School

Since Governor Rick Scott took office in 2011, First Lady Scott has prioritized reading and literacy, and she has visited all of Florida’s 67 counties sharing her passion for reading with Floridians. During the school year, First Lady Scott visits schools throughout the state, where she reads to Florida’s students and thanks their hardworking educators for helping to prepare them for lifelong success. Over the summer months, she partners with the Departments of Education and Environmental Protection to encourage students to remain focused on reading all year.
Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! is a week-long celebration each January designed to raise awareness about the importance of literacy and to inspire Florida’s students and families to make reading a part of their daily routines. The week’s events are made possible by participating sponsors: Florida Lottery; LEGOLAND Florida Resort; and the Florida Education Foundation.
For more information about Celebrate Literacy Week, visit Just Read, Florida!

UT Honors Program Announces Spring 2018 Symposia Series

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The University of Tampa’s Spring 2018 Honors Program symposia series kicks off on Thursday, Feb. 1, with a presentation by Stephen Blank, internationally renowned historian of the Tsarist, Soviet and Russian periods and senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington D.C. His talk, titled “US/Russia Relations,” begins at 4 p.m. in the Reeves Theater on the second floor of the Vaughn Center.
Throughout the series, resident scholars and researchers at the University as well as guest speakers will present in their areas of specialization. Guest speakers in the series include Richard Chess, award-winning professor at UNC Asheville; Caleb Smith, professor of English and American studies at Yale University; and Dan Berger, author or editor of six books, including Captive Nation: Black Prison Organizing in the Civil Rights Era.
All lectures are free, open to the public (unless otherwise noted) and held on the UT campus, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. For a full schedule, see below:

  • Thursday, Feb. 1: “US/Russia Relations,” Stephen Blank, internationally renowned historian and senior fellow at The American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, D.C., Vaughn Center, second floor, Reeves Theater, 4 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 13: “How Light Gets In: Making Room for Bodies, Hearts, Minds, and Spirits in the Honors Classroom and Beyond,” Richard Chess, award-winning professor at UNC Asheville, Sykes Chapel, 4 p.m.
  • Friday, Feb. 16: English/Writing Symposium, Caleb Smith, professor of English and American studies at Yale, Vaughn Center, ninth floor, Crescent Room, 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Feb. 22: “Captive Nation: Black Prison Organizing in the Civil Rights Era,” Dan Berger, associate professor in the University of Washington Bothell School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Vaughn Center, second floor, Reeves Theater, 4 p.m.
  • Monday, Feb. 26: “Inhalational Marijuana: What You May and May Not Know,” Mary Martinasek, associate professor of public health at UT, Vaughn Center, second floor, Reeves Theater, 2 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 1: “I Can’t Get You Out of my Head: Popular Music and Second Language Learning,” Vanessa Rukholm, assistant professor of languages and linguistics at UT, Vaughn Center, ninth floor, Trustee’s Board Room, 3 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 21: “The Cabaret: Research and Results,” Santiago Echeverry, associate professor of film, animation and new media at UT, Vaughn Center, second floor, Reeves Theater, 4 p.m.
  • Friday, April 13: “Timothy M. Smith Inspiration through Exploration Award,” Victoria Sunseri ’18, Vaughn Center, ninth floor, Trustee’s Board Room, 11 a.m.

Please note that dates and locations are subject to change. For more information, contact the Honors Program at (813) 257-3545 or [email protected].

FDOT Meeting about Potential Improvements to State Road 19 (Central Avenue) in Umatilla

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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a public meeting next Tuesday, January 30, to discuss proposed improvements along State Road (S.R.) 19 (Central Avenue) from County Road 450‐A to Bulldog Way in Umatilla. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. with a formal presentation at 6 p.m., followed by a comment period, and will be held at the Umatilla City Hall.
The purpose of this public meeting is to explain the project goals and objectives, and present the final alternative.
The study, which was introduced at a meeting on April 25, 2017, involves a community-based evaluation to determine how to best meet the needs of current and future users, and seeks to identify short- and long-term improvements along the corridor to ensure a balance between land use and transportation. It also the first study to consider Healthy Community Design practices to encourage active transportation and physical activity in the community.
Persons with disabilities who require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Dimitre Guenov, Project Planner, at 407-839-4006 or [email protected]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).
Public participation is sought without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status.  Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator, [email protected].
Project information can also be found on the Central Florida Roads website. Media inquiries should be directed to FDOT Communications Manager Steve Olson, 386-943-5479, or [email protected].
The Florida Department of Transportation urges drivers to not text and drive, and to always wear a seatbelt.

CRC Meeting Schedule Week of January 22-26

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MEDIA ADVISORY

The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) noticed the following meeting schedule for the week of January 22-26, 2018. CRC meetings are open to the public. Members of the public wishing to address CRC committees will be provided an opportunity to speak at the direction of the respective committee chair. Visit flcrc.gov/Committees for additional information on CRC committees.
The Interim Calendar is available on the CRC Calendars Page at flcrc.gov/Meetings/Calendars.
Monday, January 22

  • No scheduled meetings

Tuesday, January 23

  • No scheduled meetings

Wednesday, January 24

  • No scheduled meetings

Thursday, January 25

Friday, January 26

Nationally Recognized Ceramic Workshop Returns to Morean Center for Clay

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The Florida Heat Series attracts artists from around the country

The Morean Center for Clay’s 5th Annual Florida Heat Surface Workshop kicks off Wednesday, February 7, and runs through February 10.
The 5th Annual Florida Heat Surface Workshop invites some of the country’s leading ceramic artists, including Linda Sikora, Mike Helke, Michael Hunt, Naomi Dalglish, Peter and Lori Pincus, Shoko Teruyama, Ben Carter and Adam Field, to demonstrate their talents and approaches to designing a well-thought-out pottery surface. The workshop covers all firing and surface approaches, including but not limited to glazing, slips, underglaze, decals, scraffito, mishima and more.
Matt Schiemann, Clay Studio Artist Program Manager at the Morean Center for Clay, said, “The Florida Heat Surface Workshop brings together eight different artists from around the country. You would be hard pressed to find another workshop that would bring together such diverse and knowledgeable ceramic artists in one location.”
This workshop coincides with the 5th Annual Florida Heat Surface Workshop Presenters’ Exhibition opening Saturday, February 10, from 5pm-9pm for Second Saturday ArtWalk. The exhibition runs through March 31 and is free and open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, at the Morean Center for Clay located at 420 22nd Street South, St. Petersburg, Fla., 33712.
This workshop follows the conclusion of the Florida Heat Woodfire Workshop where more than 1200 ceramic pieces were loaded and fired in the Center for Clay’s 500 cubic foot wood kiln.
Wood firing ceramics is unique in that the piece is fired in an anagama kiln allowing the ashes from the wood, which fuels the anagama, to interact with pieces during firing. The ashes settle on the ceramic pieces to create a unique, natural glaze.
The Florida Heat Woodfire Workshop was attended by more than 30 participants learning from some of the nation’s top wood fire artists including John Balistreri, Chris Gustin, Nancy Train Smith and Matt Long.
The Morean Center for Clay hosts a variety of ceramic workshops throughout the year, drawing together a community of ceramic artists on the local, national and international level.
“Florida Heat Surface is a workshop that is beneficial for both the beginner and the advanced ceramic artist. I really believe you can’t afford to miss this workshop and the amount of knowledge that will be shared by this group of artists,” said Schiemann.
For more information on the 5th Annual Florida Heat Surface Workshop and for a full schedule of each day, please visit MoreanArtsCenter.org or call 727.821.7162 ext. 2310.
The Morean Arts Center, with roots dating back to 1917 as the Art Club of St. Petersburg, focuses on an innovative, community-oriented approach to art and art education. The mission of the Morean Arts Center is to connect people with art and to contribute to the economic development of the region. Operating under the Morean Arts Center includes the Chihuly Collection, Glass Studio & Hot Shop and the Morean Center for Clay.

CoreMessage Team Members Carrie Patrick Promoted to Senior Manager of Advocacy and Operations & Brianna Shoaf Promoted to Account Manager

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Leading Florida public relations firm recognizes contributions of valued employees

CoreMessage, Inc. today announced the promotion of Carrie Patrick to Senior Manager of Advocacy and Operations and Brianna Shoaf to Account Manager.

“Carrie Patrick is an extraordinary asset to our public relations team, and on many levels, to the continued success here at CoreMessage,” said Cory Tilley, President of CoreMessage, Inc.  “I am excited to announce her promotion to Senior Manager of Advocacy and Operations. The CoreMessage team looks forward to working with her in this new role and to what’s ahead in 2018.”

Carrie Patrick has more than 16 years of experience in the communications, policy, legislative, state government and private industry arenas. During her tenure at CoreMessage, Carrie has managed multiple state and federal public relation campaigns, leading multi-year efforts designed to influence public opinions and policies.

As Senior Manager of Advocacy and Operations, Carrie will lead the firm’s public relations advocacy efforts on behalf of clients across all industry sectors and handle overall operations of the company. Carrie has a Masters in American Policy and Politics, a Bachelor of Science in Communications, as well as, a minor in Political Science from Florida State University.

“We are also excited to promote Brianna Shoaf, who has shown exemplary professional growth during her time here at CoreMessage,” said Cory Tilley. “Her forward-thinking public relations skillsets are a great asset to our client base. We are excited to see her continue to grow as a CoreMessage team member.”

Before joining CoreMessage, Brianna worked for a leading hospitality public relations firm and graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with a certificate in the Principles of Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America’s Universal Accreditation Board.