COLLIER COUNTY
US 41 from Golden Gate Parkway to Airport Pulling Road: Maintenance contract project: Crews will be sweeping the roadway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 14 through Thursday, February 16, weather permitting. Motorists should use caution as crews work in the roadway.
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SJR-134: Senator Artiles & Representative Fischer File Legislation to Elect a Constitutional Officer of Sheriff
This week, State Senator Frank Artiles and State Representative Jason Fischer filed SJR-134 and HJR-721, to elect the office of Sheriff of Miami-Dade County as a Constitutional officer.
The purpose of this legislation is to ensure the people have a voice. The office of Sheriff is separate from the executive branch of government. The Sheriff should be elected by the people and thus directly accountable to the people. An elected Sheriff will bring the highest standards of transparency, aiding in the fight against government corruption and consolidated power.
Senator Frank Artiles had the following to say about the proposal, “Having a locally elected sheriff incentivizes transparency and accountability. When it comes to public safety, every citizen should have a seat at the table. Miami-Dade County has not had a Sheriff in over 50 years, what it boils down to is giving power back to the people. Direct representation through the county officers was originally written in the 1885 Florida Constitution, our bill will allow the voters to reinstate that.”
“Public safety is an issue that every voter should have the opportunity to weigh in on. In Jacksonville, our elected Sheriff Mike Williams has gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep Duval County safe. The people of Florida deserve to have a say at every level of government, and this bill will make sure the Sheriff is independent and accountable to the people,” stated Representative Jason Fischer.
Senator Artiles and Representative Fischer are both committed to safeguarding the democratic process, letting the people decide on their community leaders.
Gov. Rick Scott: CFO Atwater has fought for Florida families
Governor Rick Scott made the following statement regarding the news that Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will be joining Florida Atlantic University following the 2017 Legislative Session.
Governor Rick Scott said, “I got to know CFO Jeff Atwater well in 2010 on the campaign trail, and like me, he has been laser-focused on keeping the cost of living low for all Floridians. I am proud that the state has paid down over $7.6 billion in debt since 2011 and CFO Atwater has aggressively helped us achieve that goal. He has fought to reduce burdensome regulations that hinder job growth, protect families from financial fraud and has traveled the state to return more than $1 billion in unclaimed property to its rightful owners. CFO Atwater is a proud Floridian, father, husband and friend and I will truly miss working with him. The role of the CFO is incredibly important to our state and I will begin the process to appoint someone to serve Florida families.”
CFO Atwater announces future plans
Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced today that following the 2017 Legislative Session he will be accepting the position of Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Chief Financial Officer of Florida Atlantic University. In this capacity Atwater will lead strategic initiatives and economic development opportunities for FAU as well as manage the University’s finances and budget.
“President Kelly has assembled a truly visionary executive leadership team and faculty, who are ideally positioned to move Florida Atlantic University into a higher echelon of academic achievement and recognition. I am honored to join FAU in such a significant capacity. While I would have preferred to embrace this opportunity at a later date, the timing of crucial University initiatives warranted an accelerated transition. In the near term I will remain focused on the Department of Financial Services’ legislative agenda through the conclusion of the session and provide Governor Scott sufficient time to thoughtfully consider the selection of Florida’s next CFO,” Atwater said.
Under CFO Atwater’s guidance, the Department of Financial Services has received national recognition for its management of the State’s financial systems and processes, including awards for superior financial transparency, aggressively pursuing insurance fraud, leading the country in returning unclaimed property to its rightful owners and providing a broad array of financial literacy programs to Florida residents. The Department lead a nationwide effort to identify insurance benefits that had wrongly been withheld by insurance carriers and successfully obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits that were returned to Florida’s citizens. As State Fire Marshal the department overhauled firefighter training, career advancement and is now pursuing a statewide initiative to eliminate the tragic frequency of cancers prevalent among firefighters.
CFO Atwater has enjoyed a lengthy relationship with FAU. “The South Florida community has long known of my enthusiastic support of Florida Atlantic University. First, as a banker, collaborating with the mission and economic engine of the University, then as a legislator representing their varied campuses and priorities and lastly as a parent of FAU students. President Kelly guides an inspired faculty and celebrates the growing achievements of the most diverse university student body in Florida. I am truly excited to accept responsibility for strategically developing public private partnerships and other initiatives to enhance the mission of the University while maintaining its historically sound financial management,” added Atwater.
“As I prepare to exchange my service to the people of Florida from the position of their CFO to the position of CFO of one of the State’s most vibrant universities, I am grateful for the commitment of all those I have served with these past six years and all those I will serve with in the future,” he concluded.
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater, a statewide elected official, oversees the Department of Financial Services, serves as Florida’s State Fire Marshal, and is a member of the Florida Cabinet. CFO Atwater’s priorities include fighting financial fraud, abuse and waste in government; reducing government spending and regulatory burdens that chase away businesses; and providing transparency and accountability in spending.
Home care for seniors and disabled must be enough to prevent nursing home entry
In her 90’s and unhappy with nursing home care, Josephine Hollister, wanted only to go back to her home of forty years to live out her life. Like more than 45 thousand Floridians who are elderly or disabled, Hollister was enrolled in the state’s Medicaid managed care program that is supposed to provide home health services for people who would otherwise need nursing home care. When Hollister went home, however, she was denied the services her doctors thought she needed. Determined to live on her own home, she exhausted her own small income and had to rely on voluntary help from her guardian to get the services she needed.
Hollister and four other citizens sued Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), contending that the system places them at risk of having to enter nursing homes because adequate standards for home care were not in place. As the result of a recent settlement of the lawsuit, enrollees in the Long Term Care program will have significantly more protections in place to ensure that their care needs are adequately met at home. Hollister was able to get the services she needed to stay in her own home, where she passed away on January 10th with her beloved dog by her side.
Under the settlement, AHCA agreed to adopt rules requiring Florida’s Medicaid Managed Care companies “to provide an array of home and community-based services that enable enrollees to live in the community and to avoid institutionalization.”
The plaintiffs contended that the managed care organizations ignored critical issues such as need for supervision, caregiver availability, and access to community services.
Nancy E. Wright, Esq., who filed the lawsuit along with Disability Rights Florida and Southern Legal Counsel, says, “The long-term care program is supposed to substitute for nursing home care, allowing people to remain in their own homes or in less restrictive community settings. When care needs are not met, caregivers are pushed to the extreme, and enrollees are not safe or just end up going into nursing homes, like it or not.”
“The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination based on disability, which includes being forced into unnecessarily restrictive settings to receive care,” says Amanda E. Heystek, Esq., Disability Rights Florida. “Ms. Hollister wanted to live at home and just needed the right amount of care in order to safely do so.”
Disability Rights Florida was founded in 1977 as the statewide designated protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities in the State of Florida. It has been advocating for access to services, education, employment, independence, and the elimination of abuse and neglect for over 35 years.
Southern Legal Counsel, Inc. (SLC) is a Florida statewide not-for-profit public interest law firm that is committed to the ideal of equal justice for all and the attainment of basic human and civil rights. SLC primarily assists individuals and groups with public interest issues who otherwise would not have access to the justice system and whose cases may bring about systemic reform. SLC uses a range of strategies to achieve its goals, including litigation, policy advocacy, and training and technical assistance to lawyers, lay persons and organizations.
The Settlement Agreement referenced above resulted from Parrales et al v. Dudek (4:15-cv-00424), filed in the Northern District of Florida on August 27, 2015.
Florida Lottery players will soon have a new Draw game to play
The Florida Lottery announced today that it’s adding an exciting new Draw game, CASH4LIFE® to its portfolio of games beginning on Friday, February 17. This popular multi-state game offers two lifetime prizes, with the chance to win $1,000 a Day for Life or $1,000 a Week for Life. Florida is the ninth state to join CASH4LIFE, and game sales are expected to raise millions of additional dollars for education in Florida, and increase commissions to the Lottery’s more than 13,000 retailers.
“We are pleased to join with other lotteries in adding CASH4LIFE to our portfolio of games,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Tom Delacenserie. “The Florida Lottery remains committed to its mission of raising as much money as possible for education, and providing fun new games like this for our players helps us achieve our mission.”
Each CASH4LIFE game costs $2 to play; players choose six numbers, five white ball numbers from 1 through 60 and a Cash Ball number from 1 through 4. There are nine exciting ways to win in the game. Offering two life changing top prizes including a $1,000 a Day for Life top prize and a $1,000 a Week for Life second prize, plus seven other prize levels with prizes ranging from $2 to $2,500, there’s something for every level of player to enjoy!
CASH4LIFE launched in New Jersey and New York in June 2014. CASH4LIFE drawings are held Monday and Thursday nights at 9:00 p.m., ET in New Jersey Lottery Headquarters studio. Live drawings may be viewed on www.livestream.com/CASH4LIFE, and on flalottery.com. CASH4LIFE winning numbers will also be available at www.flalottery.com, at Florida Lottery retailers statewide, and by phone at (850) 921-PLAY. Also, you may register here to receive CASH4LIFE winning numbers and other Lottery information by email or text message.
Romeo and Juliet gets a Jazz Age treatment
Theatre UCF’s production of Romeo and Juliet will open on Thursday, Feb. 16 and run through Sunday, Feb. 26. The Shakespeare classic will be set in the 1930’s, and tell the tale of star-crossed lovers whose families clash in their fight to achieve the American Dream.
The prohibition-era setting depicts racial tension in the shady business of speakeasies where people of all races sought to turn a profit and better their lives.
Director Belinda Boyd says of the setting, “I love the decades that introduced jazz into our culture – Jazz gave us a new perspective on life. Jazz clubs gave us place where for the first time different cultures and races mixed socially. Jazz created a new rhythm for our writers and produced prolific literature that changed how we saw ourselves. Jazz gave us permission to be casual and opened the door for conversation in our country.”
Boyd believes the play will speak to all audiences because “The hope that we find undying love is relevant to all of us, [as is] the clash between parental hopes and childhood dreams, the fact that love is stronger than hate, breaking away from tradition or what others deem is right, and following your heart in spite of the consequences.”
Isabella DeChard, a sophomore in the Theatre BFA Acting track, plays the title role of Juliet. She says, “I definitely hope the audience will take something from the show because what really got me into theatre in the first place was seeing shows and taking something from them or seeing a piece that inspired me or taught me a lesson.”
DeChard believes the topics of alcohol in the Prohibition era, women’s roles in the 1930s, and racial tensions will allow the audience to better relate to the classic story of star-crossed lovers.
The show will be performed on Theatre UCF’s Main Stage. On opening night, audience members are invited to join the cast and creative team for a post-show reception.
Tickets are available for $20 for the general public, and $10 for those with a valid UCF ID. They can be purchased online at http://theatre.cah.ucf.edu/tickets.php or at the box office.
Production-at-a-Glance:
Romeo and Juliet
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Be Boyd
February 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 at 7:30 pm
February 19, 26 at 2:00 pm
A post-show reception will immediately follow the February 16 performance.
In the 1930s, speakeasies were the place where races could mingle but they also sparked clashes as each culture struggled to maintain their share of profits and their piece of the American pie from the underground sale of alcohol. Young lovers Romeo and Juliet are caught in these turf wars and hatred as the Montague and Capulet families vie for control of the clubs, the distribution of alcohol and ownership of the American Dream.
$20 standard, $10 UCF ID
Main Stage, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando
407-823-1500
http://www.theatre.ucf.edu
[email protected]
Gov. Rick Scott to Highlight Transportation Investments in the "Fighting for Florida’s Future" Budget
Tomorrow, February 10th, Governor Rick Scott will highlight transportation investments in his 2017-2018 “Fighting for Florida’s Future” budget.
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: 9:00 AM
WHERE: Southwest Florida International Airport
11000 Terminal Access Rd
Fort Myers, Florida 33913
Florida’s Housing Market Ends 2016 With Price Gains, Fewer Sales of Distressed Properties
Florida’s housing market wrapped up 2016 with more new listings, higher median prices and fewer sales of distressed properties compared to the year before, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.
“This past year was marked by tight housing inventory throughout Florida, particularly in the range of $200,000 and under,” said 2017 Florida Realtors® President Maria Wells, broker-owner with Lifestyle Realty Group in Stuart. “Buyer interest was high and home sales likely would have been even stronger if there had been enough available for-sale supply to satisfy demand. Realtors across the state stand ready to help buyers and sellers understand their local housing market trends.
“Florida’s economy is in growth mode, more jobs are being created and mortgage interest rates, while rising, remain at historically low levels, which will continue to spark buyer demand in the coming months.”
Year-end 2016
Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 268,731 in 2016, up 0.9 percent compared to the 2015 figure, according to data from Florida Realtors research department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations.
New listings for existing single-family homes rose 2.2 percent in 2016 compared to 2015. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in 2016 was $219,900, up 12.2 percent from the previous year.
Looking at Florida’s year-to-year comparison for sales of townhouse-condos, a total of 107,953 units sold statewide in 2016, down 4.2 percent from 2015. The closed sales data reflected fewer short sales statewide in 2016 compared to the previous year: Short sales for condo-townhouse properties declined 38.7 percent while short sales for single-family homes dropped 35.3 percent.
New listings for townhouse-condos for the year increased 2 percent compared to a year ago. The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties in 2016 was $160,000, up 6.7 percent over the previous year.
At the end of 2016 and also for 4Q 2016, inventory for single-family homes stood at a 3.9-months’ supply, while inventory for townhouse-condo properties was at a 6-months’ supply, according to Florida Realtors.
“Throughout 2016, Florida’s housing markets consistently exhibited a solid rate of price growth coupled with relatively flat growth in sales compared to the previous year,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor. “This tempered growth in sales was largely due to a shortage of homes for sale at the affordable end of the price spectrum – much of which was due to a rapid depletion of Florida’s remaining stock of distressed properties.
“Sales of non-distressed single-family homes, on the other hand, were up nearly 14 percent in 2016, and non-distressed condo and townhouse sales were up more than 5 percent. This increase in ‘traditional’ sales activity is a clear sign of good things to come for Florida’s housing markets in 2017.”
The interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.65 percent for 2016, down from the previous year’s average of 3.85 percent, according to Freddie Mac.
4Q 2016
Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 62,192 in the fourth quarter of 2016, up 2.1 percent compared to the year-ago figure, according to data from Florida Realtors research department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Closed sales typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.
The statewide median sales price for existing single-family homes for the quarter was $223,950, up 11.9 percent from 4Q 2015.
Looking at Florida’s year-to-year comparison for sales of townhouse-condos, a total of 24,394 units sold statewide in 4Q 2016, down 5 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. The closed sales data reflected fewer short sales statewide in the fourth quarter compared to the same time a year ago: Short sales for condo-townhouse properties declined 41.8 percent while short sales for single-family homes dropped 37.5 percent.
The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties in 4Q 2016 was $164,182, up 8.6 percent over the previous year.
To see the full statewide housing activity reports, go to Florida Realtors Media Center at http://media.floridarealtors.org/ and look under Latest Releases, or download the 4Q and Year End 2016 data report PDFs under Market Data at: http://media.floridarealtors.org/market-data
Florida Realtors® serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 165,000 members in 55 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.
Sarasota Community Taking Steps Toward A Cure For ALS
Walk to Defeat ALS® at Phillippi Estate Park in Sarasota
On Saturday, March 4, 2017, more than 500 people will gather at Phillippi Estate Park in Sarasota to join the fight to find a cure for a deadly illness. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, progressively paralyzes its victims, attacking nerve cells and pathways in the brain or spinal cord, taking away their ability to walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe. ALS has no known cause or cure, but the Sarasota community is rallying together to change that.
This year, is Sarasota Memorial Hospital joining the Walk to Defeat ALS® as both a sponsor and a walk team in honor of one of their colleagues. The SMH team is walking in honor of Debbie Kurtz, who was recently diagnosed with ALS. The team has already raised over $3,000 and is still going strong! “That kind of community support truly represents what the Walk to Defeat ALS® is all about,” said Kim Hanna, President and CEO of The ALS Association Florida Chapter. “These events give hope and help to people affected by ALS and show them they are not alone in their fight.”
Wheelchair-bound patients along with their families and friends will make a 2-mile trek in The Walk to Defeat ALS®, hoping their steps will make a difference for ALS patients living in Florida. Many who walk have a loved one who is still fighting the deadly disease. Others walk in memory of a loved one who has lost the battle. Many people, without any personal connection, still walk out of a simple concern for those who are suffering with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
With only two to five years to live, these patients have an urgent need, and the community is stepping in to fill it by walking for those who can’t. The Walk to Defeat ALS® is The ALS Association’s signature event in which all funds directly support cutting-edge research, programs and patient care. Last year, almost 8,000 people walked in events throughout the state of Florida, raising more than $1.3 million.
All interested walkers should call 888-257-1717 (ext. 132), or register online at www.WalkToDefeatALS.org.
The Quick Facts
What: Sarasota Walk to Defeat ALS
When: Saturday, March 4, 2017
9:00 am – Registration | 10:00 am – Walk Begins
Where: Phillippi Estate Park
5500 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL
Why: To raise funds and awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease. There is no known cause or cure for ALS. All proceeds raised will support patient care and comfort, as well as research for treatments and a cure.
Other: The 2017 Sarasota Walk To Defeat ALS® would not be possible without the ongoing generosity and support from our statewide sponsor this year, Vitas Healthcare.
For more information: Go to www.WalktoDefeatALS.org, or call 888-257-1717 ext. 132, or email Darcy Klempner at [email protected].
About The ALS Association Florida Chapter
The ALS Association Florida Chapter, www.ALSAFL.org, offers care to people living with ALS in Florida and funds research to find the cause and cure for Lou Gehrig’s Disease. We are part of a nationwide network of local ALS Association chapters with the same vision – a world without ALS. Through care, advocacy, research, education and support, we work to empower those with ALS to live fuller lives. Every year, The ALS Association invests millions of dollars in research conducted by the best and brightest scientists in the world. As the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS, we give help and hope to those facing a devastating disease.
The ALS Association Florida Chapter is dedicated to finding a cure for ALS while empowering the lives of those living with the disease through care, advocacy, research, education and support. For more information about the ALS Association Florida Chapter, go to www.ALSAFL.org
