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Senator Jeff Brandes files bill on parenting time plans

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Legislation offers an optional default visitation schedule for non-custodial parents

Senator Jeff Brandes today (R-St. Petersburg) filed SB 590, parenting time plans, introducing an optional default time plan to provide unmarried parents a standard visitation schedule. If adopted, this plan would encourage contact between non-custodial parents and their children.
“Spending time with our children is the most valuable gift parents can give,” stated Senator Brandes. “The state currently requires child support be paid but is silent on time. This bill seeks to offer parents an optional time sharing plan, used in many other states, that puts the focus on parents spending time with their children.”
This time plan is provided as an option when the parents meet with the Department of Revenue to set up child support. It will allow parents to bypass the court system and its associated fees. Parents may accept the plan as stated, deviate and agree upon a different plan, or they may be transferred to the courts system for further mediation. SB 590 provides exceptions to the plan when the child is under 3 years of age, when the parents live more than 100 miles away, and when there are domestic or family violence concerns. SB 590 would encourage the development of a close and continuing relationship between both the custodial and non-custodial parents and the child. The bill does not affect any child support arrangements; it seeks only to simplify the visitation schedule in order to benefit the child.

For more information on SB 590, please visit http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/0590.

 
 

30A Television announces move to The Market Shops at Sandestin

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Located in the historic heart of Florida’s Emerald Coast, The Market Shops underwent a complete renovation in the spring of 2014. Known for it for it’s specialty boutiques, unique retailers and variety of eateries from casual to fine, the location is well suited to showcase the television programming.
 “30A Television is pleased to be joining The Market Shops family,” said Paul Vizard, 30A Media founder. “Since the renovation, Market Shops is an impressive location in the community, and we are excited to be a part of it,” he stated. “The Market Shops embodies the people and places we serve and that makes it a great place for us to call home.”.
To learn more about 30A Television, please visit www.30a.tv
About 30A Television
Filming since 2007, 30a Television is a leading provider of original hyperlocal TV programming for NW Florida, dubbed “Information, Entertainment, Beach Style”.
30a TV broadcasts on Mediacom Cable Channel 17, CH 10 WOW Cable Panama City, Ch 80 Charter Cable Alabama, Comcast Ch 30 Atlanta, nationwide on Roku Web TV, mobile devices, apps and at www.30a.tv
About The Market Shops
Located at the entrance of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, The Market Shops is an upscale, neighborhood-style shopping, dining, professional, art, health services, and entertainment center featuring all local brands. After going through a complete renovation in the spring of 2014, The Market Shops has reemerged as the Emerald Coast’s premier location for local and unique retailers, specialty boutiques, signature events and an array of eateries from casual to fine dining. For more information, visit www.themarketshops.com or find The Market Shops on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PSC Customer Service Hearings for Leesburg and Clermont

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) invites customers of Utilities Inc. of Florida (Utilities, Inc.) to participate in customer service hearings in Leesburg and Clermont on the utility’s petition for a water and wastewater rate increase.  The hearings will allow customers to provide public comment on Utilities Inc.’s rate request. Customer input will be taken into consideration when the Commission considers this request.                                                             

The service hearings are scheduled for the following times and locations:

Wednesday, February 1, 2017
9:30 a.m.
Grand Hall of Pennbrooke Fairways
33825 Pennbrooke Parkway
Leesburg, FL 34748 

6:00 p.m.
Clermont Arts & Recreation Center
3700 S. Highway 27
Clermont, FL 34711

In August 2016, Utilities Inc. filed a petition with the PSC to increase its water and wastewater rates. Utilities Inc. provides service to 27 systems in Charlotte, Highlands, Lake, Lee, Marion, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Seminole Counties.

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.

Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

21st Annual Piano Scholars Festival Launches at Stetson University

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World-renowned Steinway Artist Michael Rickman plays Friday

Stetson University School of Music will present the 21st Annual Piano Scholars Festival, a part of the Great Pianists at Stetson series, Friday through Sunday, Feb. 3-5, at Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, Fla., 32723. All performances are free and open to the public. 

Friday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m.

The weekend kicks off with Steinway Artist and Stetson University Professor of Music Michael Rickman, D.M.A. This will be Rickman’s last solo recital in Lee Chapel as a professor of music. Rickman has achieved critical acclaim on three continents as a “resourceful and sensitive pianist, technically in control and emotionally rewarding,” and for his “masterful technique and unswerving control…a happy combination of the head, hand and heart, he is an intelligent, even intellectual performer…” 

Rickman will be performing a piano arrangement of Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring and Partita No. 4 in D Major by J.S. Bach as well as Etudes Symphoniques by Robert Schumann and Le Tombeau de Couperin by Maurice Ravel. 

Saturday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.

Piano Scholars Recital

This concert will showcase 18 of the Stetson’s piano scholars, representing all levels of study, performing works from composers of the 19th and 20th centuries including Chopin, Brahms, Mussorgsky, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev and Bartok.

Sunday, Feb. 5, 3 p.m.

Alumni Piano Recital

This concert features eight talented and accomplished alumni of Dr. Rickman’s studio performing such works as Transcendental Etude No. 8, “Wilde Jagd,” and Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 by Franz Liszt; Rondo in A Minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Danseus de delphes and L’isle joyeuse by Claude Debussy and others. 

About Stetson University
Founded in 1883, Stetson University is the oldest private university in Central Florida, providing a transforming education in the liberal arts tradition. Stetson stresses academic excellence and community-engaged learning, and consistently earns high marks in national rankings. Stetson encourages its students to go beyond success to significance in their lives, the lives of others and their communities. Stay connected with Stetson on social media.

Deadline for 2017 Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment

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Tomorrow, January 31 is the deadline for the Affordable Care Act’s fourth and current health insurance open enrollment period.EFOF Nav 2016

The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (EFOF), a state licensed and federally certified provider of in-person assistance for those wishing to shop for coverage on the Health Insurance Marketplace, is continuing to offer free help to consumers with enrollment.

EFOF has been an assistance provider in every Affordable Care Act enrollment period, and has educated and assisted more than 250,000 Floridians at thousands of events in 35 counties. More than 15,000 consumers have received in-person enrollment assistance, including more than 7,500 consumers speaking languages other than English.

Navigators are available at the below locations to speak with media, about the impact of the Affordable Care Act and the importance of getting covered. Media: for exact dates, times, and to arrange interviews with Navigators or consumers, please contact Franco Ripple at 352-219-6029 or [email protected].

Consumers can schedule no-cost appointments for enrollment assistance by visiting www.efof.org or calling 1-877-553-7453.

Alachua County

Navigator: Jeannette Hamersmith

Location: Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (Gainesville office), address

Broward County

Navigator: Ron Sarraf-Berrios

Location: Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (Broward office), 512 NE 3rd Avenue, third floor, Fort Lauderdale

Escambia County

Navigator: Cecily Chundrlek

Location: Epilepsy Resource Center, 2401 Executive Plaza Road, Suite 3A, Pensacola

Miami Dade County

Navigator: Islara Souto

Location: Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (Miami office), 1200 NW 78th Avenue, Suite 400, Miami

Navigator: Blanca Mesa

Location: Frankie Shannon Rolle Resource Center, 3750 South Dixie Highway, Miami

Palm Beach County

Navigator: Mike Rizzo

Location: Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (Palm Beach office), 3222 Commerce Place, Suite B, West Palm Beach

Northbound US 1 Closure at Hiawatha Street in Melbourne

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Northbound US 1/N. Harbor City Boulevard at Hiawatha Street in Melbourne will be closed to thru traffic from 7 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, to 7 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2. The closure will allow the contractor, Preferred Materials, Inc., to replace a cross drain under the three northbound lanes on N. Harbor City Boulevard.
During this time, northbound traffic will be detoured west on Lake Washington Boulevard, north on Stewart Avenue and east on Parkway Drive to US 1. The detour is 3.5 miles.
The repair is part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s resurfacing, signalization and pedestrian improvement project on US 1 from Law Street to Post Road.
The schedule is weather permitting and may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Check www.CFLroads.com for updates. For construction-related questions, please contact public information coordinator Lisa Mark at [email protected] or 321-634-6111.

Governor Rick Scott to Host 2017 Jobs Summit in Orlando Next Week

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Business, Education, Community and Government Leaders
Gathering to Discuss Economic Development and Job Creation

Governor Rick Scott announced today that he will host the 2017 Jobs Summit next week to bring together Florida business, education, economic development and community leaders to discuss how to keep bringing new jobs to Florida and ensure positive economic development across the state for generations to come. Governor Rick Scott’s 2017 Jobs Summit will be held at the Caribe Royale in Orlando on February 2nd and 3rd.
Governor Scott said, “The 2017 Jobs Summit will connect business, education, economic development and community leaders to discuss the best ways to bring more jobs to our state. A job is the most important thing to a family, and we must fight to make sure our children and grandchildren have every opportunity to succeed in the Sunshine State.”
Some of the speakers include:

  • Travis Brown, Author: How Money Walks
  • Stan Connally, President & CEO of Gulf Power Company
  • Eric Silagy, President & CEO of Florida Power and Light
  • Gary Spulak, President of Embraer Aircraft Holding
  • Al Stimac, President of Manufacturers Association of Florida
  • Syd Kitson, Chairman of the Florida Chamber of Commerce
  • Harry Sidaris, President of Duke Energy Florida
  • Belinda Keiser, Vice Chancellor of Keiser University
  • Jesse Biter, Founder & CEO of Biter Enterprises
  • Susan Amat, Founder and CEO of Venture Hive
  • John Duffy, CEO of 3C Interactive
  • Steve Calle, Co-Founder & CEO of Snow Lizard Products
  • Trey Lauderdale, Founder & President of Voalte
  • Matthew Levenson, Founder & CEO of Moocho
  • Chris Hart, President & CEO of Enterprise Florida
  • Ken Lawson, President & CEO of VISIT FLORIDA
  • Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)

Terrorism Prevention Legislation Filed in House and Senate

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Bill will expand the definition of terrorism and provide new and
increased penalties for those involved in any aspect of terrorism.

Senator Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville) and Representative Julio Gonzalez (R-Sarasota) have filed Senate Bill 476 and House Bill 457, Terrorism and Terrorist Activities, expanding the definition of the term “terrorism” and providing new and increased penalties for those involved in any aspect of terrorism.
“In the wake of the horrific terror attack in Orlando, the State of Florida must take a strong stance against terrorism,” said Senator Bean. “This bill will provide new and harsher punishments for those engaging in acts of terror and will allow law enforcement to combat this rising threat more effectively.”
The bill provides that violation of specified provisions with certain intent is a crime of terrorism. In addition, the bill provides penalties for any person who willfully becomes a member of a designated foreign terrorist organization and serves with the intent to pursue illegal acts.
“Combating those who threaten our democracy and our way of life is pivotal to maintaining a vibrant republic and to protecting our future. I am thrilled to join Senator Bean and Commissioner Swearingen in the fight against terrorism in our state,” stated Representative Gonzalez.
The bill also prohibits providing material support or resources to any designated foreign terrorist organizations and prohibits engaging in other illegal actions in connection with these organizations. Lastly, it will require the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to create specified guidelines pertaining to terrorism.
“We appreciate this legislation and its support of our mission to promote public safety and strengthen domestic security,” said FDLE Commissioner Swearingen. “By providing law enforcement with the tools to help prevent future attacks, we are poised to take a more proactive approach in fighting terrorism.”