For a February day, Flagler College faculty, staff and students couldn’t ask for better weather to volunteer with local community organizations for the college’s biannual day of service on Saturday. Approximately 150 individuals assisted a dozen organizations across the county.
“It’s great to help out the community you live in,” student Natalia Azcue said as she helped paint interior walls at United Way. “And when you do, you can really see the difference it makes. For some of us who have scholarships, this is a nice way to give back (to our college and community).”
Azcue, a student athlete on Flagler’s Golf team, joined Saturday’s effort as part of the college’s “Reach Out Raise Up” day of service. Volunteers completed a range of tasks, from painting and organizing the interior of buildings to sprucing up outdoor spaces, clearing debris and gardening.
Organizations taking part in the day included: Alpha Omega Miracle Home, Betty Griffin Center, Council on Aging, Haven Horse Ranch, Home Again St. Johns, SAFE Pet Rescue St. Augustine, Rhino’s Youth Services, St. Augustine Center for Living, St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Johns Parks and Recreation, United Way and Wildlife Reserve.
Jenny Harvey, director of Administration for United Way, expressed her gratitude for the college’s help. Eight students, clad in their “Reach Out Raise Up” T-shirts, showed up Saturday morning ready to take on whatever the organization needed.
“We started painting the inside of the building back in 2014, but have not been able to do a second coat until now,” Harvey said. “For Flagler to come do this, it’s a great morale booster for the office. It gives us a facelift, which helps us better serve the community. We simply could not do this kind of work without volunteers.”
Volunteer Coordinator Amy Leach, of St. Augustine’s Council on Aging, couldn’t agree more.
“Non-profits rely heavily on volunteers,” she said. “By students coming here and helping us out, it helps our participants better enjoy the outdoors and garden space. And this also gives students the opportunity to learn new skills and better understand the issues facing seniors.”
COA offers adult day care services, meals and activities for senior citizens across five community centers in St. Johns County.
Flagler student Marwan Shatila helped on Saturday by refurbishing wood for COA’s outdoor picnic tables.
“I’ve always been about helping people out,” the Business Administration and Economics major said. “You can never do too much good in the community. I’m really happy Flagler encourages this. I’m stoked to be here.”
Saturday’s event was the college’s third day of service. The inaugural “Reach Out Raise Up” was held a year ago. Paige Armstrong, president of Flagler College Volunteers, helped launch it.
“This kind of event is important for personal development and service learning,” Armstrong said. “And also because organizations we serve rely on volunteer labor to function.”
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Governor Rick Scott Appoints Barbara Miedema to District Board of Trustees, Palm Beach State College
Governor Rick Scott announced today the appointment of Barbara Miedema to the District Board of Trustees, Palm Beach State College.
Miedema, 58, of Wellington, is the vice president of public affairs and communications at the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida and received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. She succeeds William Berger and is appointed for a term beginning February 10, 2017, and ending May 31, 2019.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Commission Applauds Central Florida AV Partnership on Earning USDOT's AV Proving Ground Designation
Pilot seeks to encourage testing and information
sharing around automated vehicle technologies
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently selected the Central Florida Automated Vehicle Partnership as one of 10 proving ground designations throughout the country that will foster innovations that can safely transform personal and commercial mobility, expand capacity, and open new doors to disadvantaged people and communities. According to a press release, these designations are a logical next step in the Department’s effort to advance the safe deployment of automated vehicle (AV) technology.
“Central Florida has many unique attributes for an AV proving ground that set it apart as the premier location for this designation,” said Jay Trumbull, chairman of the Commission. “The Partnership includes state-of-the-art high-tech facilities and committed local and state governments, working together to further the safety and use of AV technology on our streets to create a more sustainable community.”
The Central Florida region has developed a committed team of quality educational institutions and laboratories – including Florida Polytechnic University, the University of Central Florida, and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University-Florida State University – where AV technology will continue to be developed, refined and simulated. This proving ground offers controlled testing environments and laboratories at NASA and the new state-of-the art SunTrax facility – a purpose-built facility for the controlled testing of tolling and AV technology.
The final team members include Florida Department of Transportation and the City of Orlando’s local and regional transportation networks that provide a continuous network of roadways that allow for live AV deployment. The Central Florida proving ground offers testing environments include all modes of transportation including pedestrian, bicycle, transit, passenger vehicle and freight.
The Partnership joins together to draw from the strengths of each committed partner to provide a versatile network for the AV proving ground that includes all phases in the testing process from simulations, controlled testing and deployment.
The designated proving grounds will collectively form a Community of Practice around safe testing and deployment. This group will openly share best practices for the safe conduct of testing and operations as they are developed, enabling the participants and the general public to learn at a faster rate and accelerating the pace of safe deployment.”
The proving grounds will also provide critical insights into optimal big data usage through automated vehicle testing and will serve as a foundation for building a community of practice around automated vehicle research.
The Florida Transportation Commission is an appointed body that provides performance and fiscal oversight of the FDOT, and makes transportation policy recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature.
Deceptive Travel Club Sales Tactics Thwarted
Attorney General Pam Bondi today announced an agreement that permanently shuts down a travel company operation and stops its alleged deceptive sales tactics. Map Destinations, LLC and its owners, operators and managers, 1st Choice Sales and Marketing, Inc., Peggy Bronaugh-Lehman, Kevin V. Lehman and Charles B. McIntyre III reached an agreement with the Attorney General’s Office resolving allegations that the defendants misled consumers who purchased the company’s travel club memberships. Additionally, Attorney General Bondi reached a separate agreement with Thomas Bradley Middleton, who solicited consumers to listen to Map Destinations’ sales pitch. Map Destinations is a travel company operating out of St. Augustine.
After Attorney General Bondi’s Office obtained a temporary injunction and asset freeze last year, the court-appointed receiver for Map Destinations determined that the company could not be operated legally and shut the business down.
“Tourism is vital to Florida’s economy and we will not tolerate anyone using deceptive or unfair trade practices to take advantage of people trying to take a vacation,” said Attorney General Bondi. “This settlement will help better protect travelers no matter their vacation destination.”
The defendants sold travel club memberships to consumers for thousands of dollars. Map Destinations promised consumers that these memberships would provide access to discounted travel available on a members-only website and a toll-free customer service line staffed by travel experts. Consumers complained that Map Destinations and its owners overstated the savings and nature of the travel benefits available through its travel club memberships and engaged in deceptive sales tactics at sales presentations.
As part of the settlement, the travel company and owners are banned from selling travel club memberships in Florida for five years and agreed to relinquish previously frozen assets. From the dissolution of these assets, $300,000 will be made available for consumer redress. Map Destinations agreed to cease all operations and dissolve the company. The defendants are also barred from disclosing the personal and financial information of Map Destinations’ customers.
Additionally, the settlement imposes a $500,000 penalty if Lehman or McIntyre violate the five-year prohibition and a $25,000 penalty if Middleton violates the five-year prohibition.
To view the consent order against Map Destinations, click here.
To view the settlement agreement reached with Map Destinations, click here.
To view the order approving the settlement reached with Middleton, click here.
To view the settlement agreement reached with Middleton, click here.
Commission Begins Search for FDOT Secretary
Deadline to submit resumes is March 20
The Florida Transportation Commission is conducting a search for an outstanding forward-thinking individual to lead and manage Florida’s Department of Transportation, an agency with over 6,000 employees and an annual budget of $10.8 billion. This individual must be personally committed to improving the mobility and economic strength of one of the nation’s fastest growing states through effective planning strategies that support the utilization of innovative technology, finance and industry best practices.
The Secretary of Transportation must have a proven track record as an effective administrator who, by a combination of education and experience, possesses a broad knowledge of the administrative, financial and technical aspects of the development, operation and regulation of multimodal transportation systems and facilities.
The Florida Transportation Commission will conduct interviews and nominate three candidates for submission to the Governor. The Secretary will then be appointed by and will serve at the pleasure of the Governor of Florida. Note that the “Government in the Sunshine” laws of Florida require that all documents related to the search process, including applications, will be available for public inspection. All interviews will be open to the public.
Please direct detailed resumes to: Jay Trumbull, Chairman, Florida Transportation Commission, 605 Suwannee Street, M.S. 9; Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450, or submit by facsimile to 850-414-4234 or e-mail to [email protected]. Resumes will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, March 20, 2017. If submitting by facsimile or e-mail, applicant must confirm receipt by calling the Commission to obtain a receipt confirmation code. Inquiries may be made by contacting the Florida Transportation Commission at (850) 414-4105.
The Florida Transportation Commission is an appointed body that provides performance and fiscal oversight of the FDOT, and makes transportation policy recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature.
Fant Appoints Yarborough Special Liaison to Jacksonville City Council
Duval Legislative Delegation Chair Jay Fant announced today the appointment of State Representative Clay Yarborough to be Special Liaison to the Jacksonville City Council. Yarborough was elected last year to represent District 12 in the Florida House of Representatives.
“Representative Yarborough will serve as an important link between our local officials and those of us serving our area in Tallahassee,” said Fant. “It is vital that we keep all channels of communication open, and I know we can count on Clay to make sure we are working together to deliver the high level of service and representation Duval residents deserve.”
Fant has represented District 15 in the Florida House of Representatives since 2014 and was chosen by his fellow area legislators to chair the Duval delegation for 2017. In addition to Fant and Yarborough, the Duval legislative delegation includes Senators Aaron Bean (District 4) and Audrey Gibson (District 6) and Representatives Cord Byrd (District 11), Kim Daniels (District 14), Tracie Davis (District 13), and Jason Fischer (District 16).
About Jay Fant for State Representative
Jay Fant’s strong ties to Jacksonville began when his grandfather’s family moved to the city in 1920. Jay’s father and grandfather have been local business and civic leaders, with both having served in elected office. In 1947, the family started First Guaranty Bank, one of the oldest banks in the city. In 1994, Jay was elected to serve on the board and led the company with his father through 2012. Jay has done much to continue the family tradition of investing in the community. He has been involved with many different organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Healthy U Now Foundation, Rotary, and the Florida Bankers Association. Jay and his wife, Lauren, have two sons and two daughters. They attend St. Johns Presbyterian Church. In his spare time, he coaches little league baseball and basketball.
ON THE WEB: www.jayfant.com
Paid by Jay Fant, Republican, for State Representative
State Board of Education to meet in Gainesville
The State Board of Education will meet next week in Gainesville.
The agenda may be viewed at State Board Meeting.
WHAT: State Board of Education Meeting
WHEN: 9:00 a.m.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
WHERE: Alachua County School Board Office
620 East University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
ICYMI: WMBB: Gov. Scott and Business Leaders Voice Support for EFI and VISIT FLORIDA
“Gov. Scott and Business Leaders Voice Support for EFI and VISIT FLORIDA”
WMBB (ABC) – Panama City, FL
February 8, 2017
To view the clip, click HERE.
State Senator Dennis Baxley Files Eyewitness Identification Reform Act
Florida Senator Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala) has filed Senate Bill 312, which will require state, county, municipal, or other law enforcement agencies that conduct lineups to follow specified procedures. It will require the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission to create educational materials to inform law enforcement of these new procedures and provide training programs on how to conduct lineups, etc.
“This provision will minimize cases of misidentification and strengthen cases that have used best practices,” said Senator Baxley.
Florida Folklife Program Seeks Master Artists and Apprentices
Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today that the Florida Department of State is seeking applications for the 2017-2018 Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program. Expert practitioners of traditional art forms and persons with a strong commitment to learning and preserving traditional arts are encouraged to apply.
“For more than 30 years, the Folklife Program has worked with folk artists and tradition bearers to preserve valuable aspects of culture through the Folklife Apprenticeship Program,” said Secretary Detzner. “Through in-depth, one-on-one apprenticeships, these master artists share traditional knowledge, skills and techniques, and ensure the preservation of our collective cultural heritage.”
Master balsa wood surfboard maker George Robinson with
apprentice Cristian Robinson. Photo by Amanda Hardeman.
The Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program fosters the opportunity for qualified apprentices to study traditional arts with recognized master artists. Traditional arts are expressions of shared community identity that reflect the values and aesthetics of the groups that practice them. Since 1984, the program has supported 185 apprenticeships in a variety of Florida living traditions including performing arts such as Irish fiddling and Spanish flamenco, craft arts such as Seminole patchwork and Hungarian embroidery, occupational arts such as surfboard making and cow-whip making, and ceremonial arts such as hymn lining and Afro-Cuban batá drumming.
The application deadline is May 15, 2017. Interested masters and apprentices must apply as a team by submitting the joint application to the Florida Folklife Program. The Florida Folklife Council will review applications and recommend apprenticeship teams to the Secretary of State for approval. Final decisions will be announced by August. The program provides a stipend and funds for supplies.
Interested applicants should contact State Folklorist Amanda Hardeman by calling 850.245.6427 or 800.847.PAST. Program guidelines and applications can be found at flheritage.com/preservation/folklife/apprenticeship. The Folklife Apprenticeship Program is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Folk and Traditional Arts Program.
About the Florida Folklife Program
The Florida Folklife Program, a component of the Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources, documents and presents Florida’s folklife, folklore and folk arts. The program coordinates a wide range of activities and projects designed to increase the awareness of Floridians and visitors alike about Florida’s traditional culture. Established in 1979 by the legislature to document and present Florida folklife, this program is one of the oldest state folk arts programs in the nation. For more information, visit flheritage.com/preservation/folklife.
