Farm workers and their allies in Immokalee are one step closer to making their dream of a community center a reality.

While they’ve been raising money to renovate the center since buying an old building in the center of Immokalee in 2004, they just got the needed permits from Collier County this week, and that means renovations can soon begin.

Farm worker Herardo Reyes Chavez, who works for the Coalition for Immokalee Workers, explains the need.

“It would actually belong to the community, because right now we’re renting. And we would have much more space for the community meetings that we have every Wednesday for community education formation. We would have space to show videos about other struggles, and to promote the campaign for Fair Food.”

The Coalition’s Fair Food Campaign seeks to get higher wages for tomato pickers. It recently won concessions from Taco Bell – and has now turned its sites on McDonalds.

Chavez says the building will eventually be home to a radio station, computer lab and kitchen. It’ll mainly be a place to meet and share ideas.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is conducting a comprehensive review of alligator management for the state. It’s seeking public input at a meeting in Key Largo in early December.

At the same time, a Sanibel author is out with a new book titled “Alligators, Sharks & Panthers: Deadly Encounters with Florida’s top Predator – Man.”

WGCU’s Amy Tardif spoke with the author.

Today is the Great American Smokeout – the American Cancer Society’s annual push to get smokers to give up their habit – if only for just one day. So is Smokeless Tobacco a safer alternative?

According to an email being sent to many newsrooms, smokeless tobacco is being used in Switzerland to help smokers kick the habit. It goes on to say it’s 98 safer percent than cigarettes. But according to the American Cancer Society – dipping and chewing are deadly. Melissa Peacock is the Patient Services Representative for Southwest Florida.

“43 The amount of nicotine in smokeless tobacco is two or three times the amount delivered by a cigarette. People who dip or chew eight to ten times a day receive the same amount of nicotine as a smoker who smokes 30 to 40 cigs a day.”

The American Cancer Society was behind passage of an amendment in Florida last week requiring the state to spend more money on anti-tobacco programs. It also has a toll free 24-7 number for tobacco users to call for peer counseling – 1-877-yes-quit.

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The American Cancer Society’s annual “Great American Smokeout” is tomorrow – the day smoker’s are urged to give up their habit for a day – and see how it goes. But many younger people – while eschewing cigarettes are taking up smokeless tobacco. And that’s not good. Melissa Peacock is with the American Cancer Society in Southwest Florida.

“its direct absorption in the mouth which cause sores and white patches which often lead to cancers of the mouth – and also increase risk of cancer to tharnyx, larynx and esophagus – not to speak of other social things like chronic bad breath, stained fillings, gum disease – gum recession tooth loss decay.”

Currently about 21 percent of Americans still use tobacco – down from a high of 42 percent in 1966. Recently the number of smokers who’ve quit has leveled off. But help is available. The American Cancer Society’s 24-7 toll free number is 1-877-now-quit.

The 2006 midterm elections are over. But there’s no rest for the winners. Future West Palm Beach Congressman Tim Mahoney’s realizing how much there is to get done before Congress starts in January.

Newly elected lawmakers flew in to Washington, DC this week to start freshman orientation. Beverly Bell of the Congressional Management Foundation says the most important decision lawmakers must make immediately is who to bring on their congressional staff.

“If you hire a bad chief of staff or a chief of staff that is not right for you that’s very difficult. It’s going to set you back a long way because that chief of staff has a lot of responsibilities getting your office set up.”

Mahoney says he’s already receiving hundreds of resumes to work in his Congressional offices. But he will have fewer openings than most freshmen.

“We’re going to hold on to most of former Congressman Foley’s staff. I don’t care if they’re Republican or Democrat. They did a great job for Congressman Foley and the 16th district.”

Mahoney says he wants to stay a bit of an outsider in Washington. He’s spending this week learning parliamentary procedure and will vote in Democratic Leadership elections.

Hospice Care in Collier County could soon be expanding – after a state review found the county is underserved. Every six months the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration reviews each of the state’s 27 hospice service areas to determine if needs are being met. The agency’s most recent review listed Collier as one of three areas in Florida where more hospice care is necessary.

Eight agencies have begun the application process. Chief of the state’s Bureau of Health Facility Regulation - Jeff Gregg – says it’s a competitive process…

“I would expect that we will get large, complicated applications because in addition to submitting information to us for review, they’re also competing against one another.”

Seven of the applicants are for profit hospice providers from outside Florida. The eighth is Fort Myers-based Hope Hospice. It’s President - Samira Beckwith - says while the process is highly competitive, she’s confident in what Hope Hospice has to offer.

“There have been many studies that have shown that community-based hospice such as ours provide more comprehensive services to all people regardless of their ability to pay, and regardless of their reimbursement status. And none of the other applicants…I just know that they don’t provide the same level of services that we provide.”

All eight hospice providers have until the end of December to submit their full applications to the state. A final decision should be made at the end of February.

A Naples couple made a very generous gift yesterday to Florida Gulf Coast University.

The two and a half million dollar gift from Alan and Marilyn Korest will be matched by the state and endow the Bower School of Music. FGCU’s Music program got underway this fall. Marilyn Korest is the daughter of the late Edwin Bower who was a well known Collier County philanthropist . F-G-C-U President Bill Merwin acknowledged the gift at a well attended reception.

“Today we are here to witness uncommon munificence that will make a difference in our society”

Merwin has worked to launch a music program at FGCU since he joined the University in 1999. The 25 students enrolled in the program were front and center at the reception – showcasing their talent. FGCU is offering degrees in performance and teaching with plans to expand the program to include Music Therapy.

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Florida Gulf Coast University’s fledgling music program got a huge boost today - a two and a half million dollar gift from Alan and Marilyn Korest of Naples. The gift will be matched by the State’s Major Gifts Trust Fund – endowing the Bower School of Music. Marilyn Korest is the daughter of the late Edwin Bower. Florida Gulf Coast University President Bill Merwin says the music program fills an important educational niche.

“According to the Florida Department of Education projection, by 2010 there will be nearly 400 music vacancies in the state of Florida. This program therefore responds directly to that emerging state need”.

FGCU’s baccalaureate program in music got underway this fall. Twenty five students are enrolled. Degrees are offered in performance and teaching. And there are plans to expand the program to include a degree in Music Therapy.

The mystery deepens about what happened to thousands of Sarasota County votes during Tuesday’s election. Sarasota Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent says the touch screen machines ran well. Supporters of congressional candidate Christine Jennings say they fear their votes may not have been counted. Miami attorney Kendall Coffey has been brought in by Jennings to monitor the recount and coordinate the investigation.

“We’re continuing with an investigation that is not driven by Chris Jennings or her lawyers, but is a spontaneous combustion of outcry from this community.”

Coffey says hundreds of people experienced a computer glitch when using the touch screen machines. Despite some 18-thousand potentially unaccounted votes, Jennings’ opponent Vern Buchanan has already declared victory. He tells Republican leaders he’ll be in Washington Monday for congressional orientation. While he’s gone recounts begin in Sarasota, Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto Counties. State law requires the recount because Buchanan’s margin of victory is less than one-half of one-percent. At last count Jennings trails Buchanan by 368 votes.

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Former U-S Attorney Kendall Coffey says it may never be known what happened to 18-thousand votes in Sarasota County’s congressional race. Coffey is representing Democrat Christine Jennings in her bid to win the seat being vacated by Katherine Harris. Her opponent Republican Vern Buchanan leads the race by 368 votes. Coffey questions the county’s Supervisor of Elections theory that people didn’t vote because they were turned off by the candidates.

“The real rebuttal to the supervisor’s thesis is if people were not interested in this race then why is there such a spectacular differential between absentee and machine? The only explanation for that is machine failure.”

Kathy Dent insists the county’s touch screen machines ran flawlessly. Coffey questions why 13-percent of people using the machines failed to vote in the Jennings-Buchanan race – while only 2-percent of people voting by absentee ballot left that race blank. Coffey says outside experts need to inspect the touch screen machines. A voter-passed referendum mandates a countywide switch to paper ballots before the 2008 election.

Environmental groups are thrilled with a court ruling against a developer who wanted to build on protected mangroves on Captiva Island.

Harbor Point is a planned residential community and marina on the northern end of Captiva. South Florida Water Managers approved a building permit - and the destruction of 8 acres of mangroves in Outstanding Florida Waters in the process.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation and the Captiva Civic Association appealed the permit to the state. The court ruling returns the permit to the water management district, saying alternatives to mangrove destruction were not considered. The Conservancy’s Andrew McElwaine says it’s a nice victory.

“I think this is a precedent setting case because I think it will, we think, require developers who are destroying mangroves and wetlands in SWFL to consider alternatives to their destruction. So it’s not only an important case in terms of Captiva Island and maintaining the remaining mangroves on the island, but I think it’s important region-wide.”

McElwaine says the water management district now has to act on the court’s recommendations. If it doesn’t consider something other than letting the mangroves be bulldozed, the plaintiffs could take the issue to a higher court.

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Eight acres of mangroves in Outstanding Florida Waters on the north end of Captiva Island will remain intact for now, after an administrative law judge issued a 50-page ruling against their destruction. He nixed a developer’s permit, okayed by the South Florida Water Management District, because alternatives to mangrove destruction were not considered.

Three groups, including the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, appealed the permit. The Conservancy’s Andrew MAC-ul-wayne says they’re very pleased because of the ramifications this decision could have on another planned development.

“We don’t always get successful outcomes in appealing water management district cases. We’ve got a tough one ahead of us on the Mirasol development here in Collier County. So this was a very good win and I think it sets us up to be perhaps more successful than we thought we might be appealing Mirasol’s permit.”

Environmentalists want the same outcome in the Mirasol case – in which the water management district also approved destroying wetlands near Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary for a golf course community.

Florida Repertory Theatre’s current show “Moon Over Buffalo” pays homage to the great masters of farce. Using door slamming and mistaken identity, mixed with tongue-in-cheek melodrama, playwright Ken Ludwig gives audiences a peek at the backstage antics involved in putting on a show. Ludwig paused for a moment to talk about his work and inspirations with Kathleen Moye.

The winner of Katherine Harris’ congressional seat might not be known for a week or more. Sarasota Republican Vern Buchanan currently leads Democrat Christine Jennings by 368 votes. But as Alex Newberry reports the race has triggered a recount and a controversy.

Sarasota County Elections Supervisor Kathy Dent is trying to explain why more than 18-thousand people did not vote in this high-profile race. Dent says, like her, many people were turned off.

“There are a lot of disillusioned voters in Sarasota County. I left that race blank because I was disillusioned with the candidates.”

Dent says her electronic touch screen voting machines performed well.
Democratic Candidate Christine Jennings differs.

“Sarasota voters have been victimized by having their vote count”

Jennings supporters wonder if a glitch with the electronic balloting lost votes for her. Sarasota Democratic Party official Steve Runfeldt says it might take a lawsuit to allow them to look inside the touchscreen machines.

“What’s more important, a valid vote? Or the protection of corporate rights to own their software?”

Vern Buchanan’s campaign says the numbers will confirm their candidate won.