Monday, 27 March 2006 01:00
Archaeology Exhibit
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Collier County recently unveiled a new permanent exhibit in conjunction with the second annual Southwest Florida History and Archaeology Festival.
The new exhibit at the National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Environmental Learning Center explores how humans have interacted with the local area over the past 3000 years. Visitors to the Center can learn about the role Native Americans and pioneers played in preserving the environment though photographs, videos, replicas, artifacts and timelines. The exhibit was funded by the Department of Environmental Protection and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The new exhibit at the National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Environmental Learning Center explores how humans have interacted with the local area over the past 3000 years. Visitors to the Center can learn about the role Native Americans and pioneers played in preserving the environment though photographs, videos, replicas, artifacts and timelines. The exhibit was funded by the Department of Environmental Protection and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Published in
WGCU News
Friday, 24 March 2006 00:00
A Plus Plus reaction
There’s concern from some local educators over Governor Jeb Bush’s so-called A Plus Plus plan. Donna Motzanard is president of the Teachers Association of Lee County. She says it takes too much control out of local hands.
“One of our biggest concerns, and one of my concerns, is that they seem to be taking away more and more local control for school districts to be able to decide what’s best for their district.”
The wide-ranging education overhaul mandates when schools can start classes…no sooner than the week before Labor Day. It also would hand over control of chronically failing schools to the State Board of Education and Governor.
“One of our biggest concerns, and one of my concerns, is that they seem to be taking away more and more local control for school districts to be able to decide what’s best for their district.”
The wide-ranging education overhaul mandates when schools can start classes…no sooner than the week before Labor Day. It also would hand over control of chronically failing schools to the State Board of Education and Governor.
Published in
WGCU News
Thursday, 23 March 2006 00:00
Memory Mobile
A unique project to support people with Alzheimer’s Disease across Southwest Florida is in jeopardy due to funding cuts. The Memory Mobile is a modified Recreational vehicle, which travels mainly to rural areas offering memory screenings to people who might otherwise be reluctant or unable to get help. Poor test results can be an early indication of Alzheimer’s disease.
Since 2001, more than 2600 people have been screened in the RV in Southwest Florida. But last year state officials cut funding nearly in half, says Gloria Smith CEO of the Gulf Coast chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“That was pretty dramatic for us because we’re used to having the thing on the road every day but we really got I think it was a 45% cut. So we had to cut back on the number of stops we could make. But recently we were approached by the Department of Elder Affairs who had found us additional resources for the remainder of this contract period.”
That gets them through the end of June. Supporters are now trying to prevent more cuts to this and other Alzheimer’s programs throughout the state by lobbying lawmakers. The Memory Mobile is the only one of its kind in the country.
It parks at stores, churches and community centers inviting people aboard for memory screenings. Alzheimer’s affects approximately 1 in 10 people over age 65, including about 430-thousand in Florida. With the vehicle, the Gulf Coast chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association can serve a lot more people, including caregivers, says C-E-O Gloria Smith.
“Registering them for safe return, the wanderers program to dealing with challenging behaviors to modifying your home for safety. Because we know that the stress of care giving is pretty phenomenal and a lot of times we actually lose the caregiver before we lose the patient.”
The program started five years ago as a test project with a state grant. Lawmakers said if it proved successful more would be added around Florida. But instead, supporters are trying to prevent more cuts after funding was slashed nearly in half last year. The memory mobile has been on the road less than half the number of days compared to this time last year.
Since 2001, more than 2600 people have been screened in the RV in Southwest Florida. But last year state officials cut funding nearly in half, says Gloria Smith CEO of the Gulf Coast chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“That was pretty dramatic for us because we’re used to having the thing on the road every day but we really got I think it was a 45% cut. So we had to cut back on the number of stops we could make. But recently we were approached by the Department of Elder Affairs who had found us additional resources for the remainder of this contract period.”
That gets them through the end of June. Supporters are now trying to prevent more cuts to this and other Alzheimer’s programs throughout the state by lobbying lawmakers. The Memory Mobile is the only one of its kind in the country.
It parks at stores, churches and community centers inviting people aboard for memory screenings. Alzheimer’s affects approximately 1 in 10 people over age 65, including about 430-thousand in Florida. With the vehicle, the Gulf Coast chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association can serve a lot more people, including caregivers, says C-E-O Gloria Smith.
“Registering them for safe return, the wanderers program to dealing with challenging behaviors to modifying your home for safety. Because we know that the stress of care giving is pretty phenomenal and a lot of times we actually lose the caregiver before we lose the patient.”
The program started five years ago as a test project with a state grant. Lawmakers said if it proved successful more would be added around Florida. But instead, supporters are trying to prevent more cuts after funding was slashed nearly in half last year. The memory mobile has been on the road less than half the number of days compared to this time last year.
Published in
WGCU News
Thursday, 23 March 2006 00:00
Mangrove Planting
The City of Sanibel began the process Wednesday of replanting mangroves in Clam Bayou. Once upon a time Clam Bayou was rimmed with red mangroves. Then construction of a jetty to the north caused it to silt it – and with no tidal flushing from the gulf, the mangroves died. Now the city has created culverts to open it up again – and the dead mangroves are being replaced. Eric Milbrandt is with the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation.
“currently along the shoreline of clam bayou there are very few seedlings and we’re going to go in and take them out of their pots and plant them directly into the ground”
Volunteers planted about 16 hundred mangrove seedlings. Milbrandt says about 80 percent of them should take root. Mangroves provide food and habitat for many species of juvenile fish.
“currently along the shoreline of clam bayou there are very few seedlings and we’re going to go in and take them out of their pots and plant them directly into the ground”
Volunteers planted about 16 hundred mangrove seedlings. Milbrandt says about 80 percent of them should take root. Mangroves provide food and habitat for many species of juvenile fish.
Published in
WGCU News