Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Featured

Featured

Cape Coral woman claims top prize in new $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game

Posted on

2-27-17 Sharon Halek - $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Top Prize

Sharon Halek poses with her oversized check after claiming a top prize
in the $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game.

The Florida Lottery announces that Sharon Halek, 60, of Cape Coral, claimed a top prize in the $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She purchased her winning ticket from Circle K, located at 2808 Del Prado Boulevard in Cape Coral.
The new $5 Scratch-Off game, $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER, launched on January 17, and features more than $182.8 million in prizes, including 44 top prizes of $500,000. The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-3.98.
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.

Vance Aloupis Files to Run for State House District 115 Seat

Posted on

Vance Aloupis

Vance Aloupis, CEO of The Children’s Movement of Florida, has filed to run in 2018 for State Representative as a Republican in House District 115. The current state legislator for HD 115 is Rep. Michael Bileca, who will be term-limited. 

Vance Aloupis
Vance Aloupis

“For the past seven years, I’ve traveled throughout every part of Florida to bring attention to our state’s most valuable natural resource — our children,” said Aloupis. “It’s with that continued commitment to education and opportunity for all — founded within a steadfast determination to serve both my district and our state — that I proudly announce my candidacy for the Florida House.” 

Aloupis, 33, practiced law for several years after graduating from the University of Miami and the University Miami School of Law. He quickly realized his passion for public service and recognized Florida’s need for education and public policy reform. In 2010, he joined The Children’s Movement, one of the state’s most significant early childhood organizations, where he now serves as the CEO. Through his leadership, Aloupis has built support for smart investments in early education and common sense policies that will ensure a competitive workforce in Florida.

“As we eagerly anticipate the 2018 election, I look forward to meeting with the voters in District 115 and discussing our community’s priorities so I can best represent them in Tallahassee,” Aloupis added.

Aloupis lives in Miami with his wife, Mariella, and their two daughters Isabella (5) and Aria (3).

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Vance Aloupis,
Republican, for State Representative, District 115.

People can help nesting sea turtles!

Posted on

3.1.2017 Leatherback Turtle Nesting

Green Turtle Nesting
Photo courtesy of FWC

March is the beginning of Florida’s sea turtle nesting season, when female sea turtles leave the ocean to dig nests and lay golf ball-size eggs in the sand.
People can help sea turtles that nest on Florida’s beaches at night by leaving the beach as natural as possible. To do this, beachgoers should remove beach furniture and other obstacles before sunset each day.
“Anyone spending time on Florida’s beaches can do something to help save Florida’s threatened and endangered sea turtles. People’s actions on the beach can have a positive impact on whether our loggerhead, leatherback and green sea turtles nest successfully,” said Dr. Robbin Trindell, who leads the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sea turtle management program.
“Whether you are a resident or a visitor, remember to take beach furniture, boats and canopies off Florida’s sandy beaches at night so these items won’t block sea turtles attempting to nest,” Trindell said. “When departing at the end of the day, beach visitors should fill any holes dug in the sand so nesting and hatchling turtles don’t become trapped. Please be careful not to disturb nesting sea turtles by getting too close, shining lights on them or taking flash photos.”
At this time of year, FWC-authorized marine turtle permit holders and volunteers begin their annual ritual too – walking beaches in the morning to look for “crawls” resembling tire tracks. Crawls indicate a sea turtle has landed and nested on a beach the previous night. On some of the beaches, nests are marked with a yellow sign and plastic tape, since sea turtles and their eggs are protected. This monitoring continues through October, the official end of sea turtle nesting season.
Exactly when sea turtle nesting season starts depends on where you are in Florida. While it begins in March on the Atlantic coast, it starts later in the spring, in late April or May, along the Gulf coast. Yet wherever you are in the state, what you do on the beach can make a significant difference on whether sea turtles nest successfully.
In the 2016 sea turtle nesting season, more than 120,000 loggerhead nests, more than 5,000 green turtle nests and over 1,000 leatherback nests were documented by the FWC. With Florida hosting nearly 90 percent of loggerhead nests within this species’ northern Atlantic Ocean population, the state plays an important role in its conservation.
You can help sea turtles by reporting those that are sick, injured, entangled or dead to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline, 888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone, or text [email protected]. Purchase of a “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” Florida license plate at Buyaplate.com contributes to sea turtle research, rescue and conservation efforts. People also can donate $5 and receive an FWC sea turtle decal.
Go to MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle for information on Florida’s sea turtles and how to get decals, and click on “Research,” then “Nesting” for more data on sea turtle nesting.

State Sen. Audrey Gibson urges veterans' health care to remain top priority under new administration

Posted on

Senator Gibson, who chairs the state Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security wants less red tape and more access to health care for vets

In a letter to the newly confirmed Secretary of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, state Senator Audrey Gibson is urging David Shulkin to retain the health care of military veterans as his top priority.
“As you may know, with over 1.5 million veterans, the state of Florida is home to the third largest veteran population in the nation,” wrote the Jacksonville Democrat, who chairs the state Senate’s Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security in a letter sent earlier this month to Secretary Shulkin. “It is the utmost concern of the Committee that Florida’s veterans receive the quality health care promised to them by their government in return for their honorable military service.”
Top among Senator Gibson’s recommendations are reducing the scheduling and wait times for medical services, the delay in veterans’ access to care through the Choice Program, and a more expeditious examination of the prevalance of PTSD among warriors returning home from deployment.
A holdover from President Barack Obama’s administration and the VA’s former undersecretary of health, Secretary Shulkin was unanimously confirmed by the full U.S. Senate in mid-February. He has vowed not only greater transparency and better care access, but opposition to any attempts to privatize the critical federal agency.

Mast Statement on President’s Address to Joint Session of Congress

Posted on

Brian Mast logo
U.S. Congressmen Brian Mast (FL-18) released the following statement after the President’s address to a joint session of Congress:
“We live in an incredible country where we can all voice our concerns and play a role in the direction of the United States. Last week, I hosted a four-hour town hall meeting where I stayed to answer every question, and it’s clear that people are passionately engaged. Tonight, I was glad to hear a vision of bipartisanship to try to bridge differences that exist. While we may not agree on every issue, I do believe there is more that unites us than divides us, by far.
“I share a desire with all Americans to make our communities and our country safer. As a 12-year Army veteran injured fighting for a country I love, I know as well as any that our enemies in the Middle East literally want to destroy our way of life. Ensuring our military has the resources needed to protect our country and that our veterans have the resources they need when they return home are absolutely critical priorities in the President’s budget request.
“I also share a desire with all Americans to leave the next generation in a better place than we are now. For far too long, Washington has avoided the responsibility to set and live by a budget—a responsibility that families and small businesses are forced to take on every year. Tax-more, spend-more policies have seriously jeopardized our children’s future by driving our country deep into debt. We must work together, with Members on both sides of the aisle, to restore fiscal sanity in Washington—asking government to do more with less instead of asking the American people to do with less.
“Reducing our debt alone is not enough. Improving our country for our children’s generation also means working to improve our schools, protect our environment, strengthen Social Security and Medicare and more. I am deeply alarmed by reports of severe, across-the-board cuts to the EPA and other agencies that are critical to our quality of life in Florida. On behalf of our community, I will continue working to hold the Administration accountable for any actions that threaten our environment and our way of life.
“I’m committed to working with anyone who shares this positive vision for our country and who wants to make Washington work for the American people again. Together, we must put people before politics.”

Governor Rick Scott Appoints Nine to Florida Independent Living Council

Posted on

Governor Rick Scott announced today the appointment of nine to the Florida Independent Living Council.
Jose “Ernie” Martinez, 53, of Miami, is a disability advocate for the Center for Independent Living of South Florida. He succeeds Carol Ann Christopherson and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Thomas DeLilla, 66, of Miami, is the former bureau chief for the Department of Health. He succeeds John Douglas and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Andree Aubrey, 61, of Tallahassee, is the director of the Area Health Education Center at the Florida State University College of Medicine. She fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Frank Cherry, 72, of Cantonment, is the executive director of the Center for Independent Living Disability Resource Center of Pensacola. He succeeds Jeannette Kicklighter and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Robert Cox, 50, of Lynn Haven, is the executive director of the Disability Resource Center of Panama City. He succeeds Jesus Garcia and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Sara Gaver, 23, of Jacksonville, is a therapy audit clerk at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital. She succeeds Patricia Lipovsky and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Tasha Turner, 27, of Key Largo, is a consumer specialist for the Center for Independent Living of the Keys. She succeeds Kathleen Abels and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Nicole Attong, of Miami, is the director of operations for Florida International University, Embrace. She fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2017.
Whitney Harris, 26, of Tallahassee, is the special projects coordinator for the Florida Chamber Foundation. She fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.

Naples man claims $1 million prize playing $5,000,000 MONOPOLY FLORIDA EDITION Scratch-Off game

Posted on

2-27-17 Richard Mizerski $1 million - $5 million MONOPOLY Florida Edition

Richard Mizerski poses with his oversized check after claiming a $1 million prize
in the $5,000,000 MONOPOLY FLORIDA EDITION Scratch-Off game.

The Florida Lottery announces that Richard Mizerski, 60, of Naples, claimed a $1 million prize in the $5,000,000 MONOPOLY™ FLORIDA EDITION Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $770,000.
“I can’t believe my good fortune,” Mizerski said. “I’m planning to use my winnings to travel and spend time with friends in different parts of the world.”
Mizerski purchased his winning ticket from Tollgate Shell, located at 3825 Tollgate Boulevard in Naples. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $20 Scratch-Off game, $5,000,000 MONOPOLY FLORIDA EDITION, launched in July 2016, and features more than $346 million in prizes, including six top prizes of $5,000,000 and 20 prizes of $1 million! The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-2.97.
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.

Sen. Linda Stewart to highlight Black Bear Act filed for 2017 legislative session

Posted on

State Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) and Rep. Amy Mercado (D-Orlando) will hold a press event on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 to discuss comprehensive legislation they’ve filed to protect Florida black bears and preserve their habitat. Senate Bill 1304 and HB 491, the “Florida Black Bear Habitat Restoration Act,” also establishes a fund for local governments for the purchase of bear resistant garbage containers.
“At a time when Florida’s native black bears are facing several threats to their habitat, it is our obligation to ensure the preservation of the iconic species as well as the safety of our neighborhoods,” said Stewart. “Today, we are setting out to do just that.”
“By protecting Florida black bear habitats and their food sources, we in turn limit bear-human conflicts and ultimately are closer to ensuring the public’s safety,” said Mercado.
The Orlando lawmakers will be joined by the President of Speak Up Wekiva, Chuck O’Neal, who is supporting the legislation.
The press conference will take place at 1:00 PM at Lake Eola Park in Orlando by the red pagoda by North Eola Drive.
“This bill addresses many of the problems that are driving Florida black bears from public forests and into neighboring subdivisions,” said O’Neal. “In order to reverse that exodus, we must stop destroying their habitat.”

Live Oak woman claims top prize in new $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game

Posted on

The Florida Lottery announces that Sheryl Tucker, 47, of Live Oak, claimed a top prize in the $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She purchased her winning ticket from J K Food Mart, located at 969 Ohio Avenue North in Live Oak.
The new $5 Scratch-Off game, $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER, launched on January 17, and features more than $182.8 million in prizes, including 44 top prizes of $500,000. The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-3.98.
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.

DEP awards more than $24 million for projects to improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon

Posted on

Department funds 12 projects to help restore Indian River Lagoon

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has awarded more than $24 million in funding for 12 recent projects to continue efforts to improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon. These projects will help communities reduce stormwater nutrient loads, continue stormwater treatment improvements, reduce or eliminate nonpoint source pollution and eliminate muck sediments.

“We are committed to partnering with local communities to expedite and implement projects that improve water quality and contribute to the ongoing restoration of the Indian River Lagoon, which is vital to Florida’s environment, economy and quality of life,” said DEP Interim Secretary Ryan Matthews. 

Recent projects benefiting the Indian River Lagoon include:

Brevard County: Awarded a total of $556,100 in grant funding and a legislative appropriation for a nutrient-reduction project at Pines Industrial Pond, a 71-acre commercial and industrial area, including construction of a treatment train system to treat stormwater runoff. The enhanced pond system is estimated to remove approximately 800 pounds of nitrogen and 100 pounds of phosphorous per year. 

Brevard County was also awarded a $122,350 legislative appropriation, for a total of $361,850, for the Johnson Jr. High School pond retrofits. These will enhance the efficiency of an existing retention pond by regulating and redirecting stormwater flow through nitrogen-removing and phosphorous-absorbing chambers to reduce pollution entering the northern Indian River Lagoon.  

Cape Canaveral: Awarded a $98,400 grant for shoreline restoration at Banana River Park and Manatee Sanctuary Park, along approximately 1,700 feet of the eastern shore of the Banana River Lagoon. Restoration includes a combination of coquina rock placement, native vegetation such as mangroves and wire grass, and enhancement of an infiltration swale. This project will protect the shoreline from high winds, wave erosion and sediment deposit.

Edgewater: Awarded a $159,300 grant for stormwater treatment improvements at Lamont and Hubbell streets, which will reduce untreated stormwater runoff directly discharged into the Indian River Lagoon. Project benefits include reducing nutrients entering the estuary, increasing groundwater recharge, reducing saltwater intrusion and encouraging seagrass growth. The project is estimated to remove approximately 24 pounds of nitrogen and three pounds of phosphorous per year. 

Indialantic: Awarded a $65,500 grant for a stormwater retrofit at Lily Park, including clearing invasive melaleuca trees, installing approximately 900 linear feet of storm sewer and excavation of a stormwater treatment area within a 1960s era storm sewer system draining directly into the Indian River Lagoon. The project will improve the quality of stormwater discharged into the lagoon.

Melbourne: Awarded a $517,050 grant for a stormwater retrofit within approximately 200 acres in the high-density residential neighborhoods of Bell and Garfield, both with stormwater currently draining into the Eau Gallie River and northern Indian River Lagoon.

Ocean Breeze: Awarded a total of $465,000 in a grant and a legislative appropriation for a stormwater retrofit of a 46-acre watershed to the Indian River Lagoon, including construction of a treatment train consisting of bioswale excavation and plantings, two baffle boxes and exfiltration pipe. The project will help remove nutrients from stormwater entering the estuary.

Palm Bay: Awarded a $400,000 legislative appropriation for stormwater treatment at Palm Bay Marina near the mouth of Turkey Creek, which flows into the Indian River Lagoon. Treatment includes retrofit and installation of treatment trains that will reduce untreated stormwater, which damages seawalls, while discharging into the lagoon. The project will prevent further seawall erosion and is estimated to remove approximately 40 pounds of nitrogen and 1,600 pounds of phosphorous per year.

Rockledge: Awarded an additional $162,500 grant, for a total of $937,500 for phase one of a septic tank elimination project in the Rockwood and Knollwood Gardens subdivisions adjacent to the Indian River Lagoon to reduce nutrient pollution. Construction of a central sewer line will connect approximately 140 residential lots to a lift station. 

St. Johns River Water Management District: Awarded an increase of $10 million for a total of $20 million from legislative appropriation grants for a muck dredging project in the Eau Gallie River, a tributary of the Indian River Lagoon. This additional funding and expansion of the project allows for completion of all dredging and the removal of approximately 625,000 cubic yards of muck sediment. Muck soils will be removed from the main stem of the Eau Gallie River, and from the southern branch of the river, Elbow Creek. The project is estimated to remove approximately 1,200 tons of nitrogen and 260 tons of phosphorous contained within the Eau Gallie River muck deposits. 

Titusville: Awarded a $352,752 grant for stormwater treatment that includes installation of two treatment trains with catch basins for stormwater flowing from the Main Street and Sycamore Street sub-basins, totaling 588 acres. The project is designed to improve water quality and reduce pollutants carried by stormwater from entering the Indian River Lagoon.

Titusville was also awarded a $105,000 legislative appropriation for watershed improvements in the city’s Knox McRae Basin, including construction of a treatment train. The project is estimated to remove approximately 280 pounds of nitrogen and 55 pounds of phosphorous.

Project funding is provided by the state’s Total Maximum Daily Load Water Quality Restoration Grant, legislative appropriation grants and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grant. 

The department is working aggressively to improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon by identifying and funding additional wastewater and stormwater projects to reduce the amount of nutrients going into the lagoon, as well as dredging projects to remove muck from the bottom of the lagoon. 

Governor Rick Scott’s “Fighting for Florida’s Families” budget proposes funding for a 50/50 state matching grant program with local communities, including those along Indian River Lagoon, to provide funding to encourage residents to move from septic tanks to sewer systems in order to curb pollution that is currently entering impacted water bodies. Additionally, this proposal will support local communities to help build wastewater systems to meet the increased demand for wastewater services.

About DEP’s Division of Water Restoration Assistance
The Division of Water Restoration Assistance is responsible for providing loans and grants for projects that improve the quality and quantity of the state’s water resources and provide a significant benefit to the environment and local communities. Projects in several funding program areas improve stormwater quality, reduce pollutants entering surface water and groundwater, protect springs, collect and treat wastewater, produce and distribute drinking water, nourish beaches and reclaim mined land. For more information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/water/waterprojectfunding/.