April 2009
Concerned park managers at Everglades National Park are unveiling four new plans that are focused on curbing the impact of fishing and boating on the waters of Florida Bay, stretching from Islamorada to Everglades City.
While one proposal defers to the status quo and leaves everything as is, the other three call for permits for boaters and paddlers as well as mandatory education for those who traverse the waters of this fragile ecosystem. According to an article in the Miami Herald, two of the plans would "expand restrictions on power boats, adding more slow-speed zones and 'pole and troll' areas where boaters could use only push-poles or electric motors as well as some paddle-only 'no motor zones.'"
Public meetings will be held this month so that area residents and local outfitters who operate boat tours, charters, and other services can gather information about the restrictions that could potentially affect their businesses.
The proposals were prompted by impact studies that showed a large amount of scarring across sea beds, including about 12,000 trails that covered in excess of 300 miles. Sea grass is an important part of Florida Bay as it serves to protect crabs, shrimp, and other small fish that would otherwise be eaten by certain sport fish like tarpon, redfish, and bonefish.
The 153-year-old lighthouse on Florida's uninhabited Little St. George Island is up and running again after it was destroyed by storms more than three years ago. But this time, it has a new location where it can be enjoyed by more visitors.
Little St. George Island, 77 miles southwest of Tallahassee and a part of the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, is accessible only by boat, so previous to the moving of the Cape St. George Lighthouse to larger St. George Island this year, only boaters were able to tour the landmark. Today, however, the lighthouse sits at the end of the 4-mile bridge that connects St. George with Eastpoint on the other side of Apalachicola Bay and is easily accessible to all.
The volunteer St. George Lighthouse Association was integral to the success of the project. They raised funds for the move, assisted in cleaning up the rubble from the old site after several storms damaged the building, and they contacted local and federal lawmakers to apply for grants to complete the move and renovations.
March 2009
With attendance down this year, Walt Disney World is offering incentives for in-state residents to come and enjoy time at the Florida parks. From now through May 20, Disney is selling a pair of one-day park passes for $99 for anyone who resides in The Sunshine State.
Tickets must be used by May 21 and cannot be used during the busy Easter weeks of April 4 through 18. They also must be used within two weeks of purchase. The price represents a 33 percent reduction from the regular price of $75 per each one-day pass.
The downturn in the economy prompted the ticket price reduction, say Disney officials.
February 2009
While the Florida Panther is still on the endangered species list, the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that numbers of the animal are on the rise, increasing from about 35 in the early 1990s to a total of about 100 that were counted in 2008.
Though the news is encouraging, the commission warns that the usually shy and elusive animals are now coming into more frequent contact with the human population and with domestic animals, largely because of the shrinking size of the panther's natural range. According to an ABC News story, the Florida Panther is now restricted to about five percent of its natural roaming area, and between June 2007 and June 2008, the cat was responsible for the death of 11 domestic animals, including goats and sheep as well as family pets. No human deaths due to encounters with the Florida Panther have been reported.
February 2009
Beginning February 27, motorcycle enthusiasts will gather in Daytona Beach for what has been a tradition since 1937. Daytona's annual Bike Week is a 10-day festival that attracts literally tens of thousands of bikers to Daytona and the greater Volusia County area, featuring dozens of motorcycle-related events, including the annual Daytona 200, a Honda-sponsored motorcycle race that takes place at the International Speedway.
Generally noted as the most popular motorcycle rally in the U.S., Daytona Beach Bike Week includes not only the bike race but also numerous concerts, parties, and street festivals.
The event, which once caused much angst among residents and merchants in the Daytona area due to its rowdy flavor, is now organized with the help of the local chamber of commerce and government, which have strived to improve the event's reputation and make it more manageable.
Vendors are plentiful at Bike Week and sell everything from motorcycle accessories and parts to event-related apparel and much more. Most local establishments offer special value prices for Bike Week attendees including reduced-price lodging and other perks.
February 2009
Universal Orlando theme park will be celebrating a New Orleans-style Mardi Gras for 13 weeks as they present their annual Mardi Gras Celebration and Concert Series, which began on Feb. 7 and continues until April 18.
The Mardi Gras festivities at the popular theme park take place each Saturday evening and include top names in entertainment, a parade, a variety of New Orleans Cajun and Creole cuisine, and lots of colorful confetti and Mardi Gras beads in traditional colors of green, gold, and purple.
Entertainers for the festival include KC and the Sunshine Band, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the Village People, Pat Benatar, Barenaked Ladies, Kelly Clarkson, MC Hammer, and Trace Adkins.
In addition, the park has developed a French Quarter Courtyard, which resembles New Orleans' Bourbon Street thoroughfare. For the Mardi Gras, Universal has brought to this themed area traditional musicians straight from The Big Easy, performing jazz, blues, Zydeco, and more.
Authentic New Orleans cuisine will be the fare for those Saturday evenings, including Jambalaya, Shrimp Gumbo, Andouille Sausage, Red Beans and Rice, Beignets, and more.
This year's Mardi Gras parade, which takes place mid-evening on the nights of the festival, has a book-related theme. Entitled "The Wonderful World of Literature", the parade brings to life visitors' favorite literary characters from a variety of books. Traditional Mardi Gras floats will also be part of the parade.
Guests who purchase tickets for the Mardi Gras can continue the party after they leave the park with free admission to Universal's CityWalk entertainment complex, where most clubs are open until 2 am.
With a change of position that has surprised a number of environmental organizations, Florida's Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus has announced that it now supports exploration for oil and natural gas off the state's coast, provided any rigs remain at least 30 miles offshore.
In a surprise position paper recently submitted by the association, members state that they believe the drilling will help promote tourism in the Sunshine State. And while they continue to back conservation and finding alternative energy sources, the organization states that drilling - and the employees the oil industry will bring to Florida - will generate millions more dollars for the state's economy.
Most state, county, and municipal government officials, however, continue to maintain the belief that offshore drilling poses an environmental hazard to Florida's coastal areas and has the potential to destroy the state's idyllic beaches. Most have opposed drilling for decades.
February 2009
Despite frigid temperatures that had the mercury dipping below freezing, Florida citrus growers are reporting that they've made it through the recent bouts of cold weather in fairly good condition. Citrus growers throughout the state reported that temperatures didn't remain at a low long enough to do any major damages. Though temperatures in major citrus growing regions reached as low as 28 degrees, experts reported that the temperature would have had to remain at that level for at least four hours to cause real problems for growers. Fortunately, the temps climbed after about an hour at 28 degrees. However, some spot damage was expected.
Tomato growers, however, didn't fare so well. Lisa Lochridge, a spokeswoman for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, told the Associated Press that to would take several more days to fully assess the damage to tomato crops but that it was "cold enough long enough that there will be pockets of damage to those crops," especially in dense growing areas such as Immokalee, in the southwestern portion of the state, and the Palmetto-Ruskin area near the city of Tampa.
The Florida Strawberry Growers Association reports that most of their growers emerged unharmed, despite the recent cold snaps.
January 2009
Looking for something extra special for your Valentine this year? If you take her/him to Orlando's Discovery Cove, the resident dolphins will participate in your Valentine's Day surprise.
This year, Discovery Cove is offering romantic dolphin lovers three specially-designed Valentine packages ranging in price from $75 to $300, not including admission to the popular park. The Value Package includes a buoy with personalized message delivered by a dolphin, 6x8 photo, souvenir frame and boxed chocolates. The Sweetheart Package features all of the above plus a bottle of champagne and two souvenir toasting flutes. For those who want to go all out this year, the Romance Package adds a dozen roses and the use of a private cabana for the day.
The packages are available during the entire month of February and space is limited, so advance reservations are necessary, especially on Valentine's Day, Sat. Feb. 14. The park's admission fee is additional and includes continental breakfast, snacks and beverages throughout the day, and access to all the theme park's attractions, including the Dolphin Experience, where guests swim with the park's favorite sea creatures.
One of America's fastest-growing hotel chains arrived in Southwest Florida at the end of the summer and continues to eye more locations for its low-cost facilities.
Wichita, Kans.-based Value Place Hotels rent by the week and offer accommodations for as little as $169 per night, notes an article in the Naples Daily News. The company was founded by Jack DeBoer, who also founded Summerfield and Candlewood Suites and Residence Inns. DeBoer saw the need for clean and safe hotels that could offer lower rates for longer stays. He now has commitments for more than 600 all-suite hotels in 20 states.
There are currently 13 in Florida, most in the Orlando area. However, there are plans to open many others in Southwest Florida, including two in Fort Myers, one in Collier County, and another in Bonita Springs.
"Florida has been a very good market for us," said Gina-Lynne Scharoun, president of Value Place Franchise Services LLC.
The brand has become popular with business travelers, says Scharoun, who have begun to recognize the good value offered at the chain's locations and the advantage of having a full kitchen within their accommodations. That eliminates the need to eat all meals at a restaurant and saves money on expense accounts, something that delights business owners during tough economic times.
The article also notes that the accommodations appeal to individuals who are in-between homes or apartments, offering an extended-stay option at an affordable price.
The Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee is welcoming a new exhibit guaranteed to appeal to music lovers of all ages. Dubbed "Florida's Got the Blues!", the exhibit will focus on musicians who pioneered and advanced the blues genre of music during the early-to-mid twentieth century in Florida.
Some blues artists featured in the display include Tampa Red, who was well-known as a blues guitarist; Blind Blake, a ragtime and blues guitarist; and pop singer Ray Charles, who grew up in Greenville, Florida. Red hailed from Tampa and Blake spent much of his young life in Jacksonville. Both performed extensively in The Sunshine State.
The exhibit includes a number of items on loan from Seattle's Experience Music Project, which profiles the history of music of many genres. Included in the Museum of Florida History displays are one of Tampa Red's guitars and Ray Charles' famous sunglasses as well as a costume belonging to Bo Diddley. Visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy special performances by local blues ensembles and other special programs linked to the exhibit.
The exhibit opens at the museum, located in the R. A. Gray Building at 500 South Bronough Street in Tallahassee, on November 21 and runs until March 1, 2009.
Due to an abundance of colder temperatures further north, Florida's manatees have been making their way to South Florida in huge numbers, prompting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to warn boaters to beware of the cumbersome sea mammals. The commission has now stepped up marine patrols after two manatees were recently killed in Palm Beach County and one in Broward.
Though the animals always travel south during the colder months, experts explain, this year their numbers have increased greatly and they are moving more frequently because of fluctuating temperatures.
"What's unusual is you have a lot of manatees in the traveling zones, traveling back and forth on the Intracoastal Waterway between Broward and Palm Beach counties," Christy Hudak, a research associate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "That does raise the risk."
Boaters are being urged to exercise caution when traveling through a heavily-populated manatee zone and citations are being issued to those failing to follow rules to protect the safety of the large sea mammals, sometimes known as "sea cows" because of their massive size.
Open to competitors age 50 and over, this year's South Florida Senior Games are scheduled to begin on January 28 and continue through February 10. The games, held each year throughout Broward County, attract hundreds of active older adults who enjoy the spirit of competition in a fun, friendly setting.
Sanctioned by the Florida Sports Foundation and serving as a qualifier for the Florida Senior Games State Championships, the South Florida Senior Games include competitions in more than 50 categories/sports including high-energy events such as basketball, martial arts, and tennis as well as more low-key events like bocce, dominoes, horseshoes, shuffleboard, and even bridge. (For a complete list of competitions, log onto www.broward.org/parks/programs).
A small registration fee includes the right to participate in one competition (additional competitions are $4 each), a t-shirt, a goodie bag, and a ticket to the closing ceremonies. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each sport/category. Participants must register before the start of the games, which have been quite popular with Broward County residents.
October 2008
A study released by the Florida Oceans and Coastal Council reports that Florida's coastal economy contributed over $562 billion in revenue to the state and Florida's ocean economy contributed $25 billion in the year 2006, the last year for which statistics are currently available.
With figures such as this, researchers have determined that the coastal counties of the Sunshine State contribute about 79 percent of the state's economic productivity, notes a press release by the council.
Funded by the Florida Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the report – entitled "Florida's Ocean and Coastal Economies Report, Phase II" – was compiled by principal investigator Judith Kildow of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute with assistance from a number of researchers from the University of Maine, Florida Atlantic University, and University of Florida-Gainesville.
"Florida's economy has been strongly tied to the oceans through tourism and recreation for decades," the report states. "Yet, there are many facets of its economy that are also dependent on its long and lovely coastline, but don't get reported in any single document or coherent report. That is the purpose of this effort."
The report cites such trends as a decrease in commercial fishing but a large increase in recreational fishing. It also notes that the Florida system of state parks provided a direct economic impact of over $936 million to local economies. Thus, for every 1,000 people visiting a state park, the total direct economic impact exceeded $43,200, the study explained.
"Florida's ocean economy ranks second in the nation after California, further highlighting the need to protect our ocean and coastal resources," said Bob Ballard, the deputy secretary for land and recreation for the Department of Environmental Protection. "Protecting our sensitive coastal areas is not an easy undertaking, but capturing this important information helps government officials and Florida researchers prioritize the best ways to succeed."
October 2008
Florida tourism officials want their voice to be heard in regards to offshore drilling along the Florida coast and have embarked on a letter writing campaign that will make their opinions clear to lawmakers throughout the state.
A vote is expected to take place in Washington later this week in regards to the controversial proposed offshore drilling bill. The current proposal would allow exploration one hundred miles off the coasts of Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. State legislatures could choose to allow drilling as close as 50 miles from the coast.
Those involved in the tourism industry in Florida say they are adamantly opposed to the legislation.
"We don't want it," said Bob Stewart, the chairman of Tourist Development Council and the Pinellas County Board of Commission Chairman. "To have the offshore, it's the opinion of those in the industry, it would have the potential of a negative effect on messing up the white sandy beaches which are our number one attraction."
Stewart told Bay News 9 that if local tourist commissions don't make their stances known, federal officials will "do what they darn well please."
Florida Governor Charlie Crist believes the state needs to find a healthy balance between keeping gas prices low and continuing to entice visitors to the pristine coasts of the Sunshine State.
"I think it's important for tourism, that people are able to drive to Florida,' Crist said. "And with the price of gas the way it is, I'm concerned about that too."
October 2008
In a nail-biting series, the Tampa Bay Rays win the MLB American League Championship Series. This advances them to the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Long unknown, and considered the "underdogs", the Tampa Bay Rays stepped up to the Major League Basebase stage in style as they quitely rose to become the ALCS winners. The Tampa Rays now stand against the Phillies in the World Series.
The Rays have surprised many with their steady, but unrelenting performance. This young team has exceptional talent and will be a force to recon with in the coming years.
October 2008
Start melting the butter! Florida has officially opened its 2008-2009 stone crab season and this wonderful shellfish will soon start appearing on restaurant menus and family dinner tables throughout the Sunshine State.
Stone crab season runs from October 15 to May 15 but no one quite knows what the catch will be like this year or any year. However, that didn't stop hundreds of fishing boats from heading out to the Gulf of Mexico on the first day of crab season to try their luck at catching the tasty critters, notes an article in the St. Petersburg Times.
"We can't really predict what the harvest will be like until opening day, but the guys we're talking to are saying they're not seeing any problems or damage from hurricanes Fay or Ike," said Jono Nye, operations manager for Billy's Stone Crab Restaurant in the town of Tierra Verde. "Really, sometimes storms are good because they push the crabs closer to the beach. It's hard to say with stone crabs because they move around quite a bit. The harvest was tough in 2005 and in 2006 prices were extremely high, and then last year was pretty good."
Nye's restaurant sells about 1,000 pounds per week for the first few weeks of stone crab season and about half of that per week for the remainder of the season. The shellfish is one of the most sought after items on Florida restaurant menus this time of the year, notes the article.
October 2008
Even though the nation's economy is sagging a bit and hurricane season is destined to be rougher than usual this year, Southwest Florida's many outlet malls continue to be a top attraction with visitors to the Sunshine State.
Tom Kirwan, senior editor of Tampa-based Value Retail News, part of the International Council of Shopping Centers, told the News-Press of Fort Myers that the outlet malls in Lee County are doing particularly well this year, with a huge number of foreign visitors – mostly German and British – taking advantage of the great prices on clothing at those stores, which can be up to 300 percent lower than prices in Europe for the same items.
"It follows the traditional trend, and that's been that when the economy goes into a slide, the outlet centers become especially busy, certainly for the brand names, which is the big pull," said Kirwan, noting that locals are also taking advantage of the lower prices at the outlets.
Jeff Staner, manager of the Miromar Outlets in the town of Estero, said he has also noticed the surge in Europeans. "Sometimes I walk through the mall after work and I don't hear any American English dialect whatever."
"They're coming here in families; they spend an extended time in Lee County," he added. "They're buying a lot of merchandise. They'll go down to the Samsonite store and buy suitcases so they can pack more clothes to take back."
Some outlet stores have revamped in order to offer a more universal appeal, adding a variety of stores that attract a diverse clientele. Tanger Sanibel Outlets in South Fort Myers recently added Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, Calvin Klein and Polo, all of which are quite popular with the European tourists.
Staner believes customers are willing to travel a good distance for the right merchandise at the right price. "We draw from Tampa south to Marco Island and on the longer extended weekends we get a lot of people from Fort Lauderdale and Miami who are staying here for the weekend," he said. "It's about a 150-mile radius."
September 2008
A cattle ranch in Arcadia, Florida has received a national award for its efforts in effectively combining the use of private lands with wise conservation practices, reports an article in the North Florida News Daily.
Owners of the Longino Ranch were in Saratoga Springs, NY recently to receive the Private Lands Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Award from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The award was presented at the agencies' annual conference on Sept. 10.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) nominated the Longino Ranch for the honor earlier this year. The Longino family runs a cattle, citrus, and timber operation at their spread in Arcadia, which is located in DeSoto County. The 8,000-acre ranch has been in operation since the 1950s, under the director of Berryman (Buster) Longino. Buster's nephew accepted the award on his behalf.
"The Longino family has led the way for more than 50 years in balancing the needs of the land with the needs of a business," said Tim Breault, the FWC's director of the Division Habitat and Species Conservation. "The FWC encourages other farmers and landowners to look to this ranch as a role model for how to balance through diversification and a willingness to do what is right for wildlife and the environment."
The Longino Ranch has long partnered with the FWC as part of their Landowner Assistance Program, through which the commission assists private landowners in achieving conservation benefits on private lands. The ranch also reaches out to the community by holding field days and wildlife workshops on their premises.
September 2008
International real estate purchases in Florida account for more than one-fourth of all foreign home purchases made in the United States, notes a report released this week by the National Association of Realtors.
According to the study, which was profiled in an article published by the Miami Herald, 25.4 percent of international purchases were made in the Sunshine State. Canadians were the number one group of international buyers overall, taking advantage of the weak U.S. and strong Canadian dollar. Thirty-three percent of all Canadians who purchased U.S. property bought in Florida, the report said.
The study ran from June 2007 to May 2008 and showed a slight decline in foreign buyers during that time as compared to the twelve months prior to the survey. The report surmised that "foreign buyers -- like U.S. buyers -- may be waiting for home prices to continue to decline in order to purchase a property at a lower price." Florida realtors that were interviewed for the survey, however, noted that their international business had grown within the last five years.
In addition to the Canadians, 42 percent of all British buyers purchased homes or property in Florida and 54 percent of all German buyers were attracted to the Sunshine State as well. Other top states with foreign buyers included Texas, Arizona, and California.
September 2008
The Coral Restoration Foundation of Florida is inviting citizen divers to join them on five separate dive trips, enlisting their help to save endangered staghorn coral. Divers will work side-by-side with marine scientists to aid in the restoration of coral reefs in the south Florida area.
According to a press release by the foundation, the first of five trips will happen from August 24 through 28 and will be sponsored by the Amoray Dive Resort in Key Largo. The event, dubbed an "environmental education and advocacy trip", will feature three evening lectures by marine experts and three morning dives to work on the coral.
"We're inviting divers to become citizen scientists," said Amy Slate, owner of Amoray Dive Resort. They will be joined by coral restoration expert Ken Nedimyer and marine scientist Lad Akins, she adds, both of whom are involved with the non-profit Coral Restoration Foundation in leadership positions.
Nedimyer says this is the first event of its kind open to the general public. "This is something the average person can get their hands on and do," he said. "It shows positive results in real time."
Divers will have the opportunity to visit the federation's "coral nursery" as well as a reef where coral was transplanted in 2003 and 2007 and has been successfully re-grown. Guests will also help transplant coral at a location that is in need of restoration.
"Participants will get to see what can happen in a year and five years," Nedimyer said. "It's like an adrenaline shot and they feel like, 'we can do this!'"
September 2008
Snook season in all Florida waters reopened on Monday, September 1 and will remain open until December 1 for anglers on the Gulf Coast and December 15 for those who fish on the Atlantic coast.
Snook is a species native to the coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, stretching from southern Florida and Texas to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
According to a press release by Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, those fishing for snook in the Gulf of Mexico, Everglades National Park, and Monroe County coastal and inland waters may keep one snook per day between 28 and 33 inches in length. Those fishing in Florida's Atlantic coastal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, may keep one snook between 28 and 32 inches total length per day.
A permit to harvest snook is required before anglers can fish for the species ($2) and the Fish and Wildlife Commission reminds that snatch-hooking and spearing snook are prohibited, and that it is illegal to buy or sell snook.
September 2008
Thomson Reuters has released a list of 100 hospitals that have demonstrated the fastest, most consistent improvement in the nation over five consecutive years, and eight Florida hospitals have earned places on the list.
According to a press release by Thomson Reuters, which helps organizations to manage costs, improve performance and enhance the quality of healthcare, the hospitals on the list were chosen from 2,800 that were examined. Experts reviewed a variety of clinical, financial, operational and patient safety criteria to identify the 100 winners, the release notes.
"This study identifies superior leadership, based on the success of hospital executive teams' long-term strategies for strengthening performance," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs at Thomson Reuters. "These are true 'Good to Great' leadership teams that have focused on improving quality, efficiency, use of evidence-based medicine, and financial stability in order to better serve their patients and communities."
The facilities were rated on eight factors: patient mortality, medical complications, patient safety, length of stay, expenses, profitability, cash-to-debt ratio, and use of evidence-based medicine.
The Florida hospitals that made the list include: Shands at the University of Florida - Gainesville; Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare - Tallahassee; NCH Downtown Naples Hospital - Naples; Flagler Hospital - St. Augustine; Boca Raton Community Hospital - Boca Raton; Brooksville Regional Hospital - Brooksville; Florida Hospital – Orlando; and Jackson County Hospital District - Marianna.\
August 2008
During the next twenty years, until about 2030, Florida should expect to experience an onslaught of baby boomers - those born between 1946 and 1964 – who will be choosing to make Florida their home, says a report issued by the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
"The first of the Baby Boomers are just barely over 60 now, so over the next 10 or 15 years you'll see a real increase in that group," said Stan Smith, research director at the university. "Lower [housing] prices could have some impact because historically Florida has been a relatively low-cost place to live but that has been going up in recent years."
According to an article in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, so-called baby boomers accounted for about 23 percent of Florida's 15.9 million population in 2000, according to statistics issued by the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2010, an estimated 27 percent of the 19.6 million people making their home in The Sunshine State will be boomers.
Indeed, current lower housing prices and the ever-present tropical climate are major attractors to the state. But social services advocates worry about the onslaught of older citizens and wonder whether or not they will be able to keep up with the need for essential services for elders.
Edith Lederberg, executive director of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County, spoke of current waiting lists for seniors needing state subsidized in-house services, such as personal care, home-delivered meals and nursing care.
"It will get worse before it gets better," Lederberg explains. "A lot of Baby Boomers will expect social services to be there for them, and that won't be the case because funding hasn't kept pace with the need or demand."
July 2008
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), this year, Florida's citrus crop has increased more than thirty percent over last year's numbers for the same time period, indicating that the state made an excellent comeback after crops were ravaged by a number of hurricanes during the 2006-2007 growing season.
The Florida orange crop finished at 169.7 million boxes for the 2007-2008 season, says the USDA, which included 83.5 million boxes of Early-Mids and navels, and 86.2 million boxes of Valencias. Florida's grapefruit crop increased to 26.6 million boxes from 26.5 million boxes. Tangelos and tangerines remained unchanged, the department reports.
"This was a pretty good rebound year for the Florida citrus industry, coming off the hurricanes," said Michael W. Sparks, chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual, the state's largest citrus growers' organization . "Prices to growers were reasonable, and that's important. We need higher prices to offset the increased production costs associated with pest and disease management, and energy prices."
The citrus industry in the Sunshine State employs nearly 90,000 individuals and crops cover about 620,000 acres throughout the state. It is estimated that the industry has a $9.1 billion economic impact statewide.
July 2008
As the value of the dollar continues to decrease against that of the euro and pound, reports indicate that thousands of European visitors are heading to Florida's beaches to take advantage of their spending power in the states.
"What we see is Europeans taking even short holidays to get some sun and take advantage of the great value," says Bud Nocera, president of Visit Florida, the state's tourism promotion agency. "People are actually coming over without any luggage at all, and they not only buy clothes, but the suitcases to take it home in. That gives you an idea what a great bargain it is."
An article in the Mail and Guardian notes that nearly one million oversees visitors headed to Florida's beaches during the first quarter of the year, most of them from the European countries. While that's only a two percent increase over the same time period last year, reports indicate that the visitors are spending much more than they did in the first quarter of 2007.
Lars Binckebanck, a German who comes to the United States once a year with his family, says they rented an RV and made it their mission to hit all of Florida's "Top 10" beaches. "This time we are spending. We don't care," he joked. "We've been to Disney World, we've bought souvenirs, we've bought a camera," he added.
Organizations such as Shop America Alliance are offering "shopping tours" to interested European travelers. These trips combine Florida outlet shopping with visits to beaches, museums, and spas. Thousands have signed up for the experience.
July 2008
The acquisition of 185,000 acres of land from the US Sugar Corporation will provide a big boost for the Florida Everglades Restoration Project, a project approved by the U.S. Congress in 2000 and aimed at preserving this unique area, enhancing area water supplies, and maintaining flood protection. It is expected to cost about $10 billion.
A spokesperson for the project announced last week that it would purchase the land from the company in order to help restore the flow of water through the wetland ecosystem. According to an article recently published in New Scientist Magazine, the health of the Everglades depends on the flow of water from Lake Okeechobee south to Florida Bay. Unfortunately, increased development in this area of South Florida has greatly reduced both the volume of water and its quality.
The purchase of the US Sugar property should aid in opening a path for water flow, the article points out. In addition, the return of the Everglades to a marshland state will provide water storage for dry seasons.
Scientists and environmental advocates lauded the upcoming purchase of the acreage. "Most folks were resigned to the fact that it would be hard to acquire that much land," said Don Boesch at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
New "Green" Building Opens in Florida
June 2008
A 33,000 square-foot, four-story office building that has a self-sustaining eco-environment has opened in Lake Worth, Florida. It is the first building of its kind in the state.
Ecocentre, dubbed a "living building", incorporates natural systems and green technologies designed to save energy, reduce CO2 emissions and water consumption, and create a healthier environment.
Florida's new living building is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and will seek Gold L.E.E.D. Certification, a national rating classification system for sustainable buildings. The gold level is the second-highest rank a project can earn from the U.S. Green Building Council, which handles LEED certification. The Green Building Council is based in Washington, D.C.
Inside the building, a "living machine" will treat grey water from the building's restrooms, showers, and kitchen sinks and re-use it for exterior irrigation, reducing potable water consumption. In addition, rainwater will be collected in an 8000-gallon cistern and will be re-used for flushing toilets. Condensation from air conditioning units will be the source of fish pond water which is used to irrigate interior landscaping, a press release points out.
A Biolarium, situated in the center of the building, is to be filled with plants and will reduce CO2 concentration. Also, a rooftop "roof park" will be covered with grass, trees, and plants.
"We are looking forward to creating this 'Living Building' to prove that business can co-exist with a comfortable working environment while addressing environmental concerns and needs, sustain energy, recycle water and provide for a happy, healthy environment for our employees and others working within the building," said John Romano, whose law firm will occupy much of the facility.
March 2008
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. March 19 – June 1, 2008. Epcot's annual spring flower fest is the premier show of its kind. Impressive and colorful gardens with massive displays of wide varieties of flowers is the backdrop for this festival.
April 2007
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. Flowers, gardens, concerts, pirates and princesses! It's all at the Epcot flower and garden festival, now through June 3rd. A pirate ship topiary (sculptured shrubs), millions of blooms, hundreds of butterflies and dozens of character topiaries are on display throughout Epcot.
Displays, shows and events will appeal to adults and to kids. Engage in gardening at home discussions by the Disney experts. "Flower Power" concert series offers evening entertainment from the '60s and '70s.
November, 2006
Daytona Speedweeks 2007 Schedule! The annual racing blitz starts with the Rolex 24 on January 27 (practice and qualifying on the 25/26th). Then the Budweiser Shootout on February 10, followed by the Gatorade Duel on February 15th, a Craftsman Truck Series race on February 16, the Daytona 300 on February 17th, leading up to "The Great American Race" - the Daytona 500 on February 18. That's a lot of racing!
November, 2006
Florida theme park animal family doing well. Several Florida theme parks have proud new additions to their animal populations.
Busch Gardens, Tampa, welcomed its newest member in September with the birth of a hippopotamus. The mother, Moxie, gave birth underwater at Busch Gardens' Edge of Africa. Also in September, the Shamu whale family increased by one with the birth of a 7-foot-long, 350-pound baby to mother Katina. And again at Busch Gardens, the attraction is also home to the baby gorilla, Bolingo, born on November 18, 2005. Mom Kishina, and her baby boy, are doing well and can be seen in the Myombe Reserve. Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando is the proud park of the recently born giraffe named Imara to mother Aibuni on October 7, 2006. The baby girl giraffe weighed in at 110 and was six-foot tall at birth!
Congratulations to these parks and the parents! We wish these families well!
November, 2006
Disney decorates and offers vacation events galore! During an extended weekend from November 10 to 12, the Walt Disney Resort will host a variety of seasonal events.
The Festival of the Masters presented by Sharpie® at Downtown Disney will feature work from more than 200 award-winning fine artists from 29 states and Israel including photographers, painters and sculptors. Runs Nov 10-12.
The ABC Super Soap Weekend presented by Colgate Total at Disney-MGM Studios will see more than 30 TV stars from several popular daytime "soap" shows. Celebrity activities include talk shows, interviews, motorcades and autograph sessions. Each day the event will close with a live musical performance. Runs Nov 11-12.
The Nov 11-12 weekend is the finale to Epcot's 2006 International Food and Wine Festival. Don't miss the opportunity to experience this culinary extravaganza.
October, 2006
Epcot's 2006 International Food and Wine Festival is in full swing. The festival runs from October 13, 2006 to November 12 2006. At Epcot's World Showcase, explore and enjoy international and regional flavors of wine, beers, cheeses, deserts, and samplings of main dishes from 26 countries and regions! The full breadth of culinary experiences range from complimentary tastings and samplings with costs of a few dollars to extravagant and elegant dinners up to $300 USD.
In between, enjoy "Sweet Sundays" - cakes and pastries, "Food and Wine Pairings" - three wines and three tasting portions from Epcot's signature restaurants, the Saturday night "Party for the Senses", and others. Late afternoon and evening musical performances liven the atmosphere and include different entertainers each day. For more information, visit Epcot's web site at www.epcot.com.
October 4, 2006
Southern Florida Wetland stamps and postal cards released. Naples, FL - U.S. Postal Service releases stamps and postal cards depicting 21 plants and animals found in southern Florida wetland areas. The goal is "to raise awareness of the diverse species inhabiting the fragile environment of the world's largest subtropical marshland — the Florida Everglades".
The sheet of 10 First-Class 39-cent stamps, available for $3.90, and 10 stamped postal cards selling for $7.95, are available in Naples Post Offices today, and nationwide, Thursday, Oct. 5.
October 3, 2006
Hurricane experts downgrade the 2006 forecast predicting below average hurricane season. William Gray and Philip Klotzbach of the Colorado State Forecast team released a report today that predicts two more named storms, one more hurricane and no more intense hurricanes for the remainder of the hurricane season, which ends November 30.
So far, no major hurricanes have struck Florida this season. This is certainly good news for Florida after the beating it's taken over the past two seasons. The hurricane season is not over yet, but Florida residents are holding their breath!
September, 2006
Biketoberfest® in Daytona Beach is set for October 19-22. The annual event in Daytona Beach is set for another awesome motorcycle rally that offers bikers a weekend of sun, fun, beaches, and of course, motorcycles - thousands of them! There will be motorcycle shows, rallies, contests and demo rides. Non-stop entertainment keeps the place hopping with live rock, blues and reggae music. Long time favorites including the BootHill Saloon, Iron Horse Saloon, Last Resort, Stock Exchange, Smiley's Tap Room, Dirty Harry's and Gilly's Pub 44 all have special entertainment and activities planned for the long weekend. So, if you are a biker looking for a unique Florida vacation, consider the Biketoberfest! Go to www.biketoberfest.org for more information.
September 12, 2006
Universal Orlando offers two parks, for seven days for $85. The new ticket, which becomes Universal's primary advance-purchase multi-day ticket, allows all visitors up to seven days unlimited admission to both Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure for $85! Good deal! Purchase in advance from Universal's website (www.universalorlando.com), other online sites, AAA locations or other professional travel agencies and tour operators.
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Article Date: 28/4/2012 
