Governor Rick Scott today visited St. Johns Marine Group, a full-service ship repair and maintenance company in Jacksonville, to highlight the addition of more than 20 new jobs for local families over the last year. Recently, Governor Scott announced that Florida businesses have added 1,465,800 new jobs statewide since December 2010 and the state’s unemployment rate remained at a 10-year low of 3.6 percent.
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Senator Denise Grimsley Announces January Mobile Office Hours
Senator Denise Grimsley’s (R-Sebring) staff will hold “mobile office hours” during the month of January to assist constituents with state agency concerns and to gather public input on legislative issues.
“In an effort to reach constituents in their community, our office is traveling to provide constituent services for those that need help. This is an opportunity to speak with my professional staff in person,” said Senator Grimsley.
The following are the January mobile office hours for Senate District 26:
DeSoto County Mobile Office Hours:
Wednesday, January 17th, 2018
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
County Administration Building
2nd Floor, Conference Room
201 East Oak Street
Arcadia, FL 34266
Hardee County Mobile Office Hours:
Wednesday, January 17th, 2018
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Hardee County Chamber of Commerce
135 E. Main Street
Wauchula, FL 33873
Lee County Mobile Office Hours:
Thursday, January 18th, 2018
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
The Shell Factory
Chamber of Commerce Office
2787 North Tamiami Trail
North Fort Myers, FL 33903
Polk County Mobile Office Hours:
Wednesday, January 17th, 2018
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Mulberry Library
1st Floor, Civic Center
905 NE 5th Street
Mulberry, FL 33860
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Bartow Public Library
2150 S. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Fort Meade Community Center
10 SW 3rd Street
Fort Meade, FL 33841
Senator Denise Grimsley represents Senate District 26, which consists of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee, and parts of Charlotte, Lee, and Polk counties. Senator Grimsley served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2004-2012 and elected to the Florida Senate in 2012.
ICYMI: Tampa Bay Times: Florida to provide Puerto Rico high school diplomas to eligible evacuees
Florida to provide Puerto Rico high school diplomas to eligible evacuees
Tampa Bay Times
Jeffrey Solochek
January 2, 2018
Puerto Rican teens who evacuated after Hurricane Maria’s devastation can still earn a high school diploma from their home island while completing their work in Florida, the state Department of Education has informed superintendents.
If the students fled the storm, are currently enrolled in a Florida public school and had attained 11th or 12 grade by the time Maria hit, they can pursue this option, K-12 chancellor Hershel Lyons wrote in a late December memo.
…
Education commissioner Pam Stewart reached out to her counterpart in Puerto Rico in November to make this arrangement possible. The state is coordinating with Puerto Rico to get student credits transferred and to get transcripts delivered.
…
Senator Stewart Congratulates UCF Knights on Flawless Football Season
State Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) today expressed her heartfelt congratulations to the student athletes at the University of Central Florida who opened the New Year with an undefeated season and the Peach Bowl championship title.
“UCF has demonstrated to the entire nation that our undefeated hometown team is number one with a 13-0 perfect season. I am proud of the incredible performance by our true national champions, the undefeated UCF Knights. Charge on!” said Stewart.
Commissioner Adam Putnam to Open Second Camp Dedicated to Wounded Veterans
MEDIA ADVISORY
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam will participate in the grand opening of a second camp dedicated solely to providing wounded veterans with outdoor, recreational opportunities through the Operation Outdoor Freedom program. Peace River Camp is located at Peace River State Forest, and it has sleeping facilities, a screened kitchen, fire pit, dining area and restroom facility.
Event: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Camp for Wounded Veterans
Attendees: Commissioner Adam H. Putnam
Date: Friday, Jan. 5
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Peace River Camp
4300 SW County Rd. 769
Arcadia, Fla. 34266
FDOT Public Meeting for US 41 Sidewalk Enhancement Project
from 69th Avenue (Bay Drive) to 63rd Avenue West and
from 53rd Avenue West to Cortez Road in Manatee County
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, will hold an alternative public meeting for US 41 sidewalk enhancement project from 69th Avenue (Bay Drive) to 63rd Avenue West and from 53rd Avenue West to Cortez Road in Manatee County, as part of the Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study.
The proposed improvements consist of constructing new sidewalk along both sides of US 41, where there is currently. no sidewalk or where existing sidewalk is not sufficient as well as lighting and signal improvements. This public meeting is being conducted to give interested persons an opportunity to express their views concerning the location, conceptual design, and social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed improvements.
Meeting date and location:
Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Open house
Location: Ramada Waterfront Sarasota
7150 North Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34243
The public meeting is developed in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes. FDOT solicits public participation without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by FDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. §327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 14, 2016 and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and FDOT.
Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Jamie Schley, District One Title VI Coordinator, at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting at (863) 519-2573, or by email at [email protected]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TTY) or 1-800-955-8770 (voice).
If you have questions about the project or scheduled Alternatives Public Meeting, please contact the Project Manager, Amy Blair, P.E. at (863) 519-2272 or by e-mail to [email protected] at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. You can also visit the project website at www.swflroads.com/us41/69thtocortez.
Gov. Rick Scott Hosts Puerto Rico Relief Efforts Roundtable
Governor Rick Scott today hosted a roundtable at the Albizu University Miami Campus with Florida education leaders, community officials and volunteer organizations to discuss the ongoing relief efforts for those who have been displaced by Hurricane Maria. Last month, Governor Scott urged Congress to pass a disaster relief funding package which includes critical funding to help Florida school districts educate displaced students from Puerto Rico. Read more HERE.
Detour Scheduled for Old Goldenrod Road at Hoffner Avenue
Motorists should be aware of an upcoming seven to 10-day detour on Old Goldenrod Road at State Road (S.R.) 15/Hoffner Avenue in Orlando for work at the intersection, weather permitting. Traffic will be directed around the closure using S.R. 551/South Goldenrod Road as a detour (see map attached.) Electronic message boards have been installed to inform motorists about the new traffic pattern.
The work is part of a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) project to widen and reconstruct Hoffner Avenue from a two-lane street to a four-lane divided roadway from Conway Road to north of Lee Vista Boulevard.
Schedule updates are available on the FDOT Central Florida website, www.cflroads.com.
For construction-related questions, please contact Shemir Wiles, Public Information Coordinator, 321-319-8130 or [email protected]. Media inquiries should be directed to FDOT Communications Manager Steve Olson at 386-943-5479 or [email protected].
FDOT advises drivers to slow down in construction zones; the life you save may be your own.
Acclaimed 'Concussion' Doctor Bennet I. Omalu to Keynote at Largest NFL & Medical Marijuana Conference on Super Bowl LII Weekend
American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association to Host Two-Day Conference to Tackle Misconceptions, Benefits, and the Future of Medicinal Cannabis in NFL Athletes
The American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association (AMMPA), the largest physician-based organization representing the medical cannabis industry, will host the largest NFL and Medical Cannabis Conference on February 2-3, 2018, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport & Convention Center in Miami, Fla. The two-day conference will be the first of its kind to merge the topics of medical treatment specifically for active and retired NFL players and the use of medical marijuana as an alternative to treatment with opioids. Dr. Bennet I. Omalu, the physician who first identified chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and whose story was portrayed in the movie “Concussion,” will be the featured keynote speaker.
“This groundbreaking conference that merges the world of traditional western medicine and alternative medical marijuana treatments, will provide an opportunity for like-minded physicians from around the world to engage in educational topics that could begin to change the way medicine is practiced,” said Dr. Jason Pirozzolo, co-founder of AMMPA. “We look forward to bringing together our many distinguished speakers and industry leaders from around the world, including Dr. Omalu, to educate and begin to destigmatize the use of medical marijuana as a potential treatment alternative.”
Topics of discussion at the conference will include concussions and CTE in the NFL, cannabis use for chronic pain in former NFL athletes, cannabinoids and neurodegenerative diseases, and the future of medical cannabis research, among others.
As fans and players around the world gear up to watch Super Bowl LII on February 4, thought leaders and retired NFL players will come together at the conference to discuss health issues plaguing the league and how medical marijuana could serve as a safer alternative treatment. According to a recent study, retired NFL players use opioids at four times the rate of the general population. This issue was elevated even further in 2017 when Florida Governor Rick Scott declared the opioid epidemic to be a statewide emergency, followed by President Trump’s declaration of the opioid crisis as a nationwide public health emergency in October.
Discussions will be led by a faculty of renowned thought leaders including Dr. Laszlo Mechtler of Dent Neurologic Institute in New York, and Dr. Jerzy Szaflarski, both among the world’s foremost researchers on medical cannabis and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as keynote speaker Dr. Omalu. From 2002, when Dr. Omalu first published his CTE findings in the journal Neurosurgery, the NFL refused to publicly acknowledge the connection between CTE and concussions sustained in football. In 2015, his story was told in the award-winning biographical sports drama film “Concussion,” in which he was played by actor Will Smith. The film brought widespread attention to CTE and brain injury in football and other contact sports.
In addition, the lineup of panel speakers includes former NFL players, who will share their stories about their health and relationship with medicinal cannabis. Industry-leading brands, such as Surterra Wellness – the presenting sponsor, will also be present to showcase new products and insights.
Online registration is open here to physician members for $395, physician non-members for $570, and the general public for $195. The Florida Medical Association designates this live activity for approximately 10.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
For more information about AMMPA or The NFL and Medical Cannabis Conference, please visit www.AMMPA.net.
About the American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association
The American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association (AMMPA) is the largest physician-based organization representing the medical cannabis industry, with around 800 physician members. Based in Florida, the membership-driven association focuses on providing members with the resources they need to safely and effectively utilize medical marijuana recommendations as an alternative treatment modality for their patients. AMMPA serves as a physician advocate, helping to outline practice risks and benefits, education requirements, and compliance issues, and aggregates its members to provide a unified voice representing all physicians currently interested in cannabinoid medicine. For more information, visit www.AMMPA.net.
About The NFL and Medical Cannabis Conference
The NFL and Medical Cannabis Conference is designed to help physicians expand and update existing knowledge and skills regarding ever-increasingly sophisticated diagnostic and practice guidelines, to share new ideas for evaluation and treatment techniques, and to increase practitioners’ knowledge and ability to act and advocate for patients within the current medical legislative and regulatory environment.
Acclaimed ‘Concussion’ Doctor Bennet I. Omalu to Keynote at Largest NFL & Medical Marijuana Conference on Super Bowl LII Weekend
American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association to Host Two-Day Conference to Tackle Misconceptions, Benefits, and the Future of Medicinal Cannabis in NFL Athletes
The American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association (AMMPA), the largest physician-based organization representing the medical cannabis industry, will host the largest NFL and Medical Cannabis Conference on February 2-3, 2018, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport & Convention Center in Miami, Fla. The two-day conference will be the first of its kind to merge the topics of medical treatment specifically for active and retired NFL players and the use of medical marijuana as an alternative to treatment with opioids. Dr. Bennet I. Omalu, the physician who first identified chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and whose story was portrayed in the movie “Concussion,” will be the featured keynote speaker.
“This groundbreaking conference that merges the world of traditional western medicine and alternative medical marijuana treatments, will provide an opportunity for like-minded physicians from around the world to engage in educational topics that could begin to change the way medicine is practiced,” said Dr. Jason Pirozzolo, co-founder of AMMPA. “We look forward to bringing together our many distinguished speakers and industry leaders from around the world, including Dr. Omalu, to educate and begin to destigmatize the use of medical marijuana as a potential treatment alternative.”
Topics of discussion at the conference will include concussions and CTE in the NFL, cannabis use for chronic pain in former NFL athletes, cannabinoids and neurodegenerative diseases, and the future of medical cannabis research, among others.
As fans and players around the world gear up to watch Super Bowl LII on February 4, thought leaders and retired NFL players will come together at the conference to discuss health issues plaguing the league and how medical marijuana could serve as a safer alternative treatment. According to a recent study, retired NFL players use opioids at four times the rate of the general population. This issue was elevated even further in 2017 when Florida Governor Rick Scott declared the opioid epidemic to be a statewide emergency, followed by President Trump’s declaration of the opioid crisis as a nationwide public health emergency in October.
Discussions will be led by a faculty of renowned thought leaders including Dr. Laszlo Mechtler of Dent Neurologic Institute in New York, and Dr. Jerzy Szaflarski, both among the world’s foremost researchers on medical cannabis and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as keynote speaker Dr. Omalu. From 2002, when Dr. Omalu first published his CTE findings in the journal Neurosurgery, the NFL refused to publicly acknowledge the connection between CTE and concussions sustained in football. In 2015, his story was told in the award-winning biographical sports drama film “Concussion,” in which he was played by actor Will Smith. The film brought widespread attention to CTE and brain injury in football and other contact sports.
In addition, the lineup of panel speakers includes former NFL players, who will share their stories about their health and relationship with medicinal cannabis. Industry-leading brands, such as Surterra Wellness – the presenting sponsor, will also be present to showcase new products and insights.
Online registration is open here to physician members for $395, physician non-members for $570, and the general public for $195. The Florida Medical Association designates this live activity for approximately 10.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
For more information about AMMPA or The NFL and Medical Cannabis Conference, please visit www.AMMPA.net.
About the American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association
The American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association (AMMPA) is the largest physician-based organization representing the medical cannabis industry, with around 800 physician members. Based in Florida, the membership-driven association focuses on providing members with the resources they need to safely and effectively utilize medical marijuana recommendations as an alternative treatment modality for their patients. AMMPA serves as a physician advocate, helping to outline practice risks and benefits, education requirements, and compliance issues, and aggregates its members to provide a unified voice representing all physicians currently interested in cannabinoid medicine. For more information, visit www.AMMPA.net.
About The NFL and Medical Cannabis Conference
The NFL and Medical Cannabis Conference is designed to help physicians expand and update existing knowledge and skills regarding ever-increasingly sophisticated diagnostic and practice guidelines, to share new ideas for evaluation and treatment techniques, and to increase practitioners’ knowledge and ability to act and advocate for patients within the current medical legislative and regulatory environment.
