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Stetson University hosts two important exhibits at Hand Art Center

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Inspirational works of Florida Highwaymen
and celebration of Oscar Bluemner’s 150 birthday

Highwayman Alfred Hair, 24×36-inch painting on Upson board.

Stetson University’s Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center summer exhibitions will feature works of the Florida Highwaymen and small works from the museum’s Oscar Bluemner collection.
The Florida Highwaymen: Art Innovators in a Civil Rights Epoch
June 3 – July 29
This exhibit will explore the African-American men and one woman who painted Florida’s natural landscape in a time when the country was emerging from the Jim Crow south and entering the tumultuous era of the Civil rights moment. This exhibit will feature more than 30 paintings from private collections throughout the state, many of which have never been shown publicly. Each work is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of these struggling artists and bears witness to the beautiful unspoiled Florida landscape.
The group of 26 landscape artists began in Ft. Pierce, Florida, with Alfred Hair, who had learned technical aspects of landscape painting from Albert E. “Bean” Backus. Hair realized the cultural and economic limitations he faced as a black man in the segregated, southern United States, and entered the marketplace by selling his paintings door-to-door. Eventually he employed a crew of friends as commissioned salesmen to sell paintings along the sides of the Florida’s highways — hence the name Florida Highwaymen. These friends also were interested in painting and with Backus’ assistance learned to create their own work. Today, the Florida Highwaymen and their work are considered an important part of American folk history.
Highwaymen exhibition in collaboration with Lisa Stone Arts.
Gallery walk through with photographer and author Gary Monroe, Saturday, June 3, 1 p.m.
Monroe writes about Florida artists and his books include The Highwaymen: Florida’s African-American Landscape Paintersand many other titles about this group of self-taught artists.
Oscar Bluemner: A Birthday Potpourri – Small Works from the Vera Bluemner Kouba Collection
June 3-July 29
The art center’s 150th birthday celebration for Oscar Bluemner will include an exhibit of 39 small works that offer the exquisite visual experience that viewers have come to expect in a display drawn from the Hand Art Center’s keynote collection. The center is home to the largest collection of art by modernist painter Oscar Bluemner, with more than 1,000 pieces bequeathed to the university by the artist’s daughter, Vera Bluemner Kouba.
“Few of the exhibit’s small works have ever been shown before,” said Tonya Curran, director of the Hand Art Center. “That makes his birthday a great time to celebrate Bluemner’s work and to look at some examples that are very different thematically from what has been shown before. These are special pieces, unique in their own ways.”
Oscar Bluemner Birthday Celebration, June 21, 4-6 p.m.
Celebration including birthday cake to mark Bluemner’s 150th birthday.
Oscar Bluemner and “The Great American Painting,” July 8, 1 p.m.
Lecture with Dr. Roberta Smith Favis, curator of the Oscar Bluemner collection at Stetson.
If You Go
The Hand Art Center is on the Stetson University campus at 139 East Michigan Avenue, DeLand, Florida, 32723. It is open to the public free of charge. In addition to the Vera Bluemner Kouba Collection, it has a broad collection of artwork by Stetson University students, art faculty and alumni. The 5,000-square-foot building includes multiple galleries: The Oscar Bluemner Gallery exhibits rotating selections of the artist’s work and the Gary Libby Gallery hosts exhibits from the university’s permanent art collection or special shows. Except for holidays and school vacations, Hand Art Center is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Saturday, noon-4 p.m. All exhibits are open to the public free of charge.

Media Advisory From The Florida Supreme Court

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Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga, Judge Bertila Soto
Hold Media Availability Friday, Before Access to Civil Justice Commission Meeting

Who: Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and Eleventh Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Bertila Soto

What: Media Availability to discuss the work of the Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice, a workshop with the Commission’s Council of Business Partners, and an overview of a Florida Bar Foundation effort, Everyone Counts Day, to survey on a single day self-represented litigants in Eleventh Circuit civil courts.

When: 10 a.m., Friday, June 2

Where: Pan Am Ballroom, Miami Sheraton Hotel, 3900 NW 21st Street, Miami

Streaming: Media availability at 10 a.m. and Commission meeting at 1 p.m. aired on The Florida Channel on cable systems and streaming at thefloridachannel.org.

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga will lead a media availability to discuss the continuing work of the standing Commission on Access to Civil Justice ahead of its meeting that day in Miami. He will be joined by Eleventh Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Bertila Soto.

The commission works to address the barriers of access to civil justice faced by hundreds of thousands of Floridians. There is no legal representation guaranteed low- or moderate-income people and many face the prospect of civil cases related to veterans’ benefits, foreclosures, child custody, debt collection, and other vital matters without a lawyer.

While the people of Florida have access to do-it-yourself forms and guides, pro bono representation, and limited formalized legal aid services, the need for innovative approaches to the problem is great. The Access to Civil Justice Commission has initiated pilot programs and undertaken other programs to help determine the best way forward to expand basic access to the civil justice system.

A one-day survey of Eleventh Circuit civil court proceedings conducted by The Florida Bar Foundation showed 63 percent of litigants observed in seven Miami-Dade County courthouses were not represented by an attorney.

Gov. Scott Statement on Orlando International Airport Incident

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Governor Rick Scott today released the following statement regarding the incident at the Orlando International Airport this evening. 
Governor Scott said, “I have remained in constant communication with City of Orlando Police Chief John Mina, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings,
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen, and FDLE Special Agent in Charge Danny Banks regarding the incident tonight at Orlando International Airport. I want to thank law enforcement for their quick response and efforts to put the suspect in custody and keep families safe. The people of Orlando are lucky to have such dedicated officers protecting them each day.”
 

Gov. Scott Appoints Five to Construction Industry Licensing Board

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Governor Rick Scott today announced the appointment of three and the reappointment of two to the Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Michael Strickland, 43, of Lakeland, is the president of Strickland Construction, Inc. He is reappointed for a term beginning May 30, 2017, and ending October 31, 2020.
Frank Cawthon, 54, of Windermere, is the president of Florida Home Construction of Central Florida, Inc. and FHC Development. He succeeds William Sheehan and is appointed for a term beginning May 30, 2017, and ending October 31, 2018.
Keith Lawson, II, 46, of Tallahassee, is the president of Keith Lawson Company, Inc. He is reappointed for a term beginning May 30, 2017, and ending October 31, 2020.
Robert Maphis, 47, of Windermere, is the vice president of The Collage Companies. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning May 30, 2017, and ending October 31, 2017.
Edgar Laney, 71, of Jacksonville, is the president of The Laney Company General Contractor, Corp. He succeeds Robert Moody and is appointed for a term beginning May 30, 2017, and ending October 31, 2019.
These appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

Longwood woman wins top prize playing $1,000,000 CASHWORD Scratch-Off game

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Susan Silberbusch, along with her mother and daughter, poses with her oversized
check after claiming a $1 million prize in the $1,000,000 CASHWORD Scratch-Off game.

The Florida Lottery announces that Susan Silberbusch, 50, of Longwood, claimed a top prize in the $1,000,000 CASHWORD Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $760,000.00.
Silberbusch purchased her winning ticket from Publix, located at 3044 South Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach Shores. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $10 Scratch-Off game, $1,000,000 CASHWORD, launched in May 2016, and features eight top prizes of $1 million and more than 2.9 million winning tickets. The overall odds of winning are one-in-3.39.
Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, comprising approximately 65 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $734 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2015-16.

First Cases of H3N2 Dog Flu Confirmed in Florida

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The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in coordination with the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, announced today that the University of Florida has confirmed seven cases of H3N2 canine influenza virus, a.k.a. “dog flu.” Six additional results for the virus are pending. All dogs being treated are in stable condition. There is no evidence that H3N2 canine influenza virus infects people.
While H3N2 has been circulating throughout the country since 2015, this is the first time it has been confirmed in Florida. This is a highly contagious virus. Fortunately, the mortality rate is low. Dog owners can have their veterinarians vaccinate their dogs against canine influenza viruses.
If dog owners suspect a case of dog flu, they should call their veterinarian prior to going to the clinic in order to decrease the chances of spreading the virus to other animals at the clinic. Many dogs have a fever, decreased appetite and lethargy during the first few days of illness. Most dogs recover at home without any complications. Some require hospitalization.
More information on canine influenza can be found here.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, call 1-800-HELP-FLA or visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

Insurance Commissioner Altmaier’s Message to Floridians: Prepare Now for the 2017 Hurricane Season

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Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier has an important message for Floridians ahead of the hurricane season beginning on June 1.
“Florida’s unique risk to tropical weather, especially during the hurricane season, means all Floridians need a disaster plan,” said Altmaier. “The time to evaluate your insurance coverage, fortify your home and prepare for how to protect yourself and your family is now.”
Altmaier is also advising Floridians to take advantage of numerous hurricane preparedness resources available to them on the Office of Insurance Regulation’s (Office) website and offers the following additional tips:

  • Review your insurance policy with your insurance agent or insurance company to make sure the coverage is adequate to your individual needs. The “Declarations Page” of your policy will summarize the coverage you have purchased.
  • Understand the differences between your insurance policy’s coverages and deductibles.
  • Strengthen your home’s defenses against a storm through simple mitigation techniques, such as replacing worn weather stripping under doors and removing tree limbs that may fall on your home or become flying projectiles.
  • Inventory your valuables and possessions using a home inventory checklist, which is available as a form you can download and print. If you prefer to use a smartphone, there is a link to a free app created by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which allows you to take pictures and add descriptions of your belongings.
  • Know the phone number and contact information for your insurance agent and insurance company. Make sure to have easy access to it if you must evacuate your home.
  • Most importantly, have a plan for what you will do if a storm system is expected to impact where you live. Do not wait to evacuate if it becomes necessary.

For more information, visit the Office’s “Hurricane Season Resources” webpage.

Jeb Bush Endorses Mallea for Florida House

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The former governor is confident Mallea’s conservative values
and leadership skills make him the right leader for District 116.

The Jose Mallea Campaign today announced the endorsement of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Mallea, a Republican, is seeking the District 116 seat in the Florida House, which is vacant following the resignation of Jose Felix Diaz, who is running for the Florida Senate. Bush served as Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007.
“There is no question Jose Mallea is the right leader for District 116,” said Governor Bush. “Jose has an inspiring personal story of working hard to achieve success in both business and public service, and now wants to ensure that same American dream is attainable for everyone, not just a select few. I know that Jose will effectively put his conservative principles and leadership skills to work in Tallahassee for the community he loves and for our great state.”
Mallea, a Cuban-American, grew up in Miami, where he attended public schools. He was a Senior Advisor in Bush’s 2016 presidential campaign, and he served in the White House as Special Assistant to Andrew Card, former President George W. Bush’s Chief of Staff. Later, he was a Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of State Office of Commercial and Business Affairs. He is the Founder and President of Biscayne Bay Brewing Company.
The special primary election for the District 116 seat will be Tuesday, July 25, with the general election following on Tuesday, September 26.

Paid by Jose Mallea, Republican, for State Representative

Commissioner Adam Putnam Provides Wildfire Update for Florida

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Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service announced today that more than 2,300 wildfires have burned over 233,000 acres in Florida this year, with 84 active wildfires burning as of today, May 30, 2017. Current conditions by county, burn bans and helpful tips regarding wildfires in Florida can be found here.
“As we enter what is traditionally Florida’s rainy season, much of the state is still experiencing drought conditions and elevated wildfire danger,” Commissioner Adam H. Putnam said. “Residents and visitors need to pay attention to and comply with local burn bans and should take every precaution to help prevent wildfire.”
Commissioner Putnam asked Governor Scott to issue an executive order on April 11, 2017 in order to provide full resources to combat wildfires. The last time a similar executive order was issued was in June 2011.
Forecast wildfire danger for May 30, 2017:

Active wildfires in Florida:

County Burn Bans:

Wildfires in Florida usually start and spread quickly, leaving little time to prepare for a possible evacuation. Homeowners can complete a few simple tasks that will help to defend their home against wildfire. One of the best ways to reduce a home’s wildfire risk is to create 30 feet of defensible space around the home.
To increase home survivability, Floridians can do the following:

  • Keep mulch and pine needles away from your home, fence, and deck;
  • Keep roof and gutter free of pine needles;
  • Keep flammables away from your home;
  • Store fire wood at least 30 feet from your home;
  • Remove dead vegetation and debris from under the deck and within 10 feet of your home; and
  • Make wildfire preparedness a family project.

For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.