First Lady Ann Scott recognized the winners of the Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Service Project Contest. First Lady Scott was joined by K-12 Public Schools Chancellor Hershel Lyons and Lottery Secretary Tom Delasencerie. The award ceremony concludes the week-long celebration of reading and literacy in Florida’s schools.
First Lady Ann Scott said, “Congratulations to all of the contest winners! It is never too early for children to start contributing to their communities, and it is evident that these students put a great deal of time and effort into their projects. I am honored to recognize them for their hard work, and I encourage them and all students in Florida to continue reading and helping others develop a deeper appreciation for literacy.”
K-12 Public Schools Chancellor Hershel Lyons said, “I have been an educator for more than 30 years and while many things have changed, one fact has remained true – literacy is essential to success student achievement in K-12 schools, college and career. The Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Service Project Contest serves as a great reminder that everyone can play an important role in promoting reading and literacy in their homes, schools and communities.”
“On behalf of the Florida Lottery, I want to congratulate the winners of the 2017 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Service Project Contest,” said Secretary Tom Delacenserie. “At the Lottery, we are committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to receive a good education, and we are proud to once again join First Lady Scott and the Department of Education in support of their mission to highlight the importance of reading and literacy in Florida’s schools.”
The winners of the 2017 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! statewide contest are below.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
First Place: Prairie Lake Elementary School, Orange County – “Light the Path to Literacy”
Second Place: Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School, Glades County – “Reaching Out Across the Globe Through Literacy”
Third Place: Eustis Heights Elementary School, Lake County – “Stuff the Bus”
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
First Place: Central School, Santa Rosa County – “Harvesting Literacy: How Country Kids and Corn Mazes Change our World”
Second Place: Swift Creek Middle School, Leon County – “Literacy Changes our World: Literacy Creates Good Citizens”
Third Place: Lyndon B. Johnson Middle School, Brevard County – “Leaders are Readers”
HIGH SCHOOLS
First Place: Ft. Myers High School, Lee County – “The Ft. Myers High School Shared Reading Program”
Second Place: Marathon High School, Monroe County – “Literacy Night and Book Exchange”
To compete in the contest, students organized a literacy-based project with teachers and community partners, and provided evidence that their project had a positive impact on their school, neighborhood and/or community. The prizes were sponsored by the Florida Education Foundation: $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place. The winning projects will be featured on the Just Read, Florida! website and the Department of Education’s social media pages. Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! is sponsored by the Florida Lottery, Florida Education Foundation, and LEGOLAND® Florida Resort.
For more information about Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!, visit Just Read, Florida!
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
Florida
PSC Customer Service Hearing for Pensacola
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) invites customers of Gulf Power Company (Gulf) to participate in a customer service hearing in Pensacola on the utility’s petition for an electric service base rate increase. The hearing will allow customers to provide public comment on Gulf’s rate request. Customer input will be taken into consideration when the Commission considers this request.
The service hearing is scheduled for the following time and location:
Thursday, January 26, 2017
6:00 p.m. (Central Time)
Pensacola State College
Hagler Auditorium
1000 College Boulevard
Pensacola, FL 32504
In October 2016, Gulf filed a petition with the PSC to increase its electric service rates. Gulf provides service to 450,000 retail customers spanning Northwest Florida.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Senator Dana Young Introduces Legislation to Ban Fracking in Florida
Senator Dana Young (R-Tampa) today filed Senate Bill 442, an act relating to advanced well stimulation treatments, which effectively bans fracking throughout Florida. The bill bans fracking of all types in Florida, including hydraulic fracking, acid fracking, and matrix acidizing.
“As a 6th generation Floridian and avid outdoorsman, I believe we must act quickly and decisively to protect our fragile environment from incompatible well stimulation practices in our state,” said Senator Young. She continued, “We have seen the detrimental impacts fracking has had in many states around the country, most notably Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. As Floridians, we must join together and say ‘no’ to this harmful activity, before irreversible environmental damage is done.”
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater) said, “I am proud to support and co-sponsor this very important piece of legislation which will help keep our environment safe and protect our aquifer from being one accident away from becoming the next oil spill which would contaminate our drinking water for years to come,” he continued, “More than 75 counties and cities have passed ordinances and resolutions banning fracking and it is time their voice is heard on this issue and this bill gets a fair hearing in the Senate.”
Senator Gary Farmer (D-Lighthouse Point) said, “I am pleased to co-introduce this legislation that will finally ban all forms of fracking in our beautiful State. The time has finally come to end this dangerous practice. This bill represents the now bipartisan recognition that Florida’s unique geological makeup leaves our water-supply particularly vulnerable, and must be protected.”
Senator Keith Perry (R-Gainesville) said, “I am proud to stand with Senator Young in supporting this important legislation which will put Florida’s future generations first and protect Florida’s vast natural resources.”
Representative Mike Miller (R-Orlando) who will sponsor the legislation in the House of Representatives said, “Florida’s natural beauty is what attracted me to this state over 40 years ago. My family and I have spent many vacations here enjoying and exploring it. Florida is a truly unique place and I will do my part to protect it and our clean water supply for future generations.”
House Minority Leader Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) said, “I’m proud to prime co-sponsor this great piece of legislation to ban the dangerous practice of fracking in Florida because we must do everything we can to ensure the long-term environmental and economic prosperity of our state.”
Fracking is an oil extraction method, which injects chemical-laden fluids into a well at pressures that exceed the fracture gradient of the rock formation for the purpose of increasing oil and gas production. Matrix acidizing involves injecting acids into the rock formation for the purpose of dissolving the formation to increase production of oil and gas.
In closing, Senator Young stated, “I have been fortunate to have grown up in a family with a very deep connection, understanding and appreciation of Florida’s beautiful natural environment. I have filed this bill for my children and for all the current and future generations of Floridians who I believe deserve to have this same opportunity.”
Support for Sen. Young's bill to ban fracking in Florida
State Senator Dana Young filed a bill this morning that would ban fracking in Florida. Over 75% of Floridians live in a city or county that has passed a resolution or ordinance opposing this dangerous drilling practice, including Dade City, Zephyrhills, Tampa, and Pinellas County.
Jennifer Rubiello, Environment Florida state director, issued the following statement:
“We applaud Senator Young for listening to her constituents and Floridians across the state who want a ban on fracking. A ban on fracking will ensure our communities, our health, and our environment are better protected. Floridians should celebrate this bill, pick up their phones, and tell their state senators to support it.”
First Lady Ann Scott kicks off Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! with Broward County elementary, middle and high school students
First Lady Ann Scott kicks off Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! at Ft. Lauderdale High School
First Lady Ann Scott kicked off 2017 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! today at Fort Lauderdale High School with Florida’s 2017 Teacher of the Year, Department of Education and Florida Lottery officials, author and prize-winning Novelist Brad Meltzer and students from neighboring schools. The ninth annual event focuses on the theme, “Literacy Changes Our World.”
First Lady Ann Scott said, “CELEBRATE LITERACY WEEK, FLORIDA! is one of my favorite events because it brings together Florida students of many ages to recognize the invaluable role that literacy plays in every aspect of our lives. I was impressed by Broward County’s talented students and their participation in today’s activities while we kicked off Celebrate Literary Week, Florida! I’m very excited to share my passion for reading as I travel to schools throughout the state.”
Following the kick-off event, First Lady Ann Scott will visit seven schools on her literacy tour:
- Eagle Point Elementary School
- Grandview Preparatory School
- Pine Grove Elementary School
- Forest Park Elementary School
- Heritage Elementary School
- Lake Alfred Elementary School
- Karen M. Siegel Academy
Ft. Lauderdale High School Students Perform at Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! kickoff
Since Governor Rick Scott took office in 2011, First Lady Scott has prioritized reading and literacy, and she has visited all of Florida’s 67 counties sharing her passion for reading with Floridians. During the school year, First Lady Scott visits schools throughout the state, where she reads to Florida’s students and thanks their hardworking educators for helping to prepare them for lifelong success. Over the summer months, she partners with the Departments of Education and Environmental Protection to encourage students to remain focused on reading all year.
“Literacy is a fundamental skill that students must continually develop to accomplish their academic and career goals,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “We are fortunate that First Lady Ann Scott uses her platform to motivate Florida’s students to love reading as much as she does, and I hope that all of our state’s parents and educators will echo this powerful message.”
Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! is a week-long celebration each January designed to raise awareness about the importance of literacy and to inspire Florida’s students and families to make reading a part of their daily routines. The week’s events are made possible by participating sponsors: Florida Lottery; LEGOLAND Florida Resort; and the Florida Education Foundation.
For more information about Celebrate Literacy Week, visit Just Read, Florida!
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
Department of Education Celebrates Braille Literacy Month at Tallahasee Elementary School
Walter Blackmon of the Florida Division of Blind Services reads “The Three Little Pigs”
in braille to the several pre-k students at Conley Elementary for Braille Literacy Month.
In honor of National Braille Literacy Month, staff from the Florida Department of Education’s (FDOE) Division of Blind Services (DBS) read the braille version of “The Gingerbread Man” to 60 Pre-K students at J. Michael Conley Elementary School in Tallahassee.
Following the reading, students learned about the varying levels of blindness, as they participated in activities using vision simulators. The students were later presented with copies of their names written in braille and the braille alphabet.
Students in Mrs. Jaime Cox’s pre-k class feel the braille on the pages of a book
during a reading at Conley Elementary School for Braille Literacy Month.
Through FDOE, students with visual disabilities work with teachers who are trained specifically in visual impairments to learn important skills such as reading braille and how to navigate the classroom using a cane or a guide dog.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
For more information about the Division of Blind Services, visit www.dbs.fldoe.org
PSC Customer Meeting for Charlie Creek Utilities, LLC.
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) invites customers of Charlie Creek Utilities, LLC. (Charlie Creek) to a customer meeting on Thursday, January 19, 2017, to discuss the utility’s petition for a rate change. Customers can comment on Charlie Creek’s proposed rates and any quality of service issues at the meeting.
This is the first PSC rate case for Charlie Creek, which provides water service to approximately 150 residential customers in Hardee County.
The meeting is scheduled for the following time and location:
Thursday, January 19, 2017
6:00 p.m.
Historic City Hall
225 East Main Street
Wauchula, FL 33873
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Senator Frank Artiles Files Legislation to Collapse Expressway Authorities in Florida
Florida Senator Frank Artiles (R-Miami) today announced the filing of Senate Bill 308, relating to Expressway Authorities, for the 2017 Legislative Session, in an effort to collapse expressway authorities into the Florida Department of Transportation.
“Senate Bill 308 removes another layer of government by eliminating the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX), saves money and keeps 95 percent of toll revenues in the county that generates it,” said Senator Artiles. “The exorbitant tolls charged by the MDX are simply too high for the working class to afford; and, collapsing the MDX will cut down on bureaucratic government, saving money for all Floridians who travel on the expressway.”
SB 308 would collapse all expressway authorities in the State of Florida, including the MDX, would end the culture of excessive tolls and ensure the safety of Florida roads.
Statement by CARE FL Steering Committee Chairman Brent Hanlon
Statement by CARE FL Steering Committee Chairman Brent Hanlon RE: Congressman
Brian Mast’s Appointment to the U.S. House Transportation Committee
“Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida (CARE) today congratulates U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) for being appointed to the House Transportation Committee.
“The committee will be tackling many important issues that will impact people across the nation, but most importantly members of the committee are also charged with developing legislation to address strong oversight of federal infrastructure programs.
“Cong. Mast has publicly indicated that he is concerned about the rail expansion program and he now serves on a committee that will be scrutinizing public subsidies to private rail projects like All Aboard Florida’s efforts in the state.
“For almost three years, our organization has served as a strong, consistent voice against rail expansion for likeminded citizens in the Treasure Coast and North Palm Beach County regions who oppose the proposed AAF project.
“Its negative impact is vast—from public safety, to the environment, to maritime traffic and commerce, to decreased property values and more. This project threatens to destroy our quality of life.
“We look forward to working with Cong. Mast on these issues.”
Office Issues 2016 Workers’ Compensation Annual Report
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) has released the 2016 Workers’ Compensation Annual Report to the Florida Legislature. The Office is required by law to annually evaluate competition in the workers’ compensation market and to investigate and use data in its review of associated rate filings.
For more information on this subject, please visit the Office’s Workers’ Compensation webpage.
About the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has primary responsibility for regulation, compliance and enforcement of statutes related to the business of insurance and the monitoring of industry markets. For more information about the Office, please visit www.floir.com or follow us on Twitter @FLOIR_comm and Facebook.
