A three-day anti-bullying conference kicks off this afternoon in Fort Myers. Organizers hope to draw more attention to the kinds of bad things that can happen in schools. It seems virtually everyone has a personal bullying story. For many, the incidents are long forgotten. But some of the teasing sticks with people and can cause plenty of problems down the road. Last year, a Cape Coral teenager committed suicide after years of being cyber-bullied. Educators say it’s time for bullying to stop. Kathleen Saucier is a school counselor at Mariner Middle School and is helping organize the conference.

“It’s a culture that’s been accepted for a long time and one of the things that we talk a lot about with the kids and the adults is that we need to start changing the culture. And how do we do that? By increasing the awareness, by talking about alternatives, by working on strategies to help people make better choices, be more successful in the classroom which includes how they get along with others.”

Saucier says about three-dozen people will participate during the bullying conference at Mariner Middle. She says the sessions are geared to educators who teach elementary and middle school.
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Bullies have been in schools as long as there’s been recess. Now a group of Lee County educators is holding a conference to look at ways to curb the teasing. The impact of bullying hit home last year when a Cape Coral teenager committed suicide after being cyber-bullied. Several dozen educators are holding a three-day conference at Mariner Middle School this week. Counselor Kathleen Saucier says they’ll look at ways to minimize bullies and help teachers do a better job cracking down on it.

“I think it’s very, very common. And I think a lot of it, it’s gotten better in that we’ve increased awareness for the students. That they can actually have an avenue, something that they can do so it doesn’t have to be that way. For the teachers to be more aware of what’s going on. But we still have a lot of work to do.”

Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature failed to pass anti-bullying legislation. The measure would have given school districts more power to punish those who tease other students and it also would have created anti-bullying programs.

Researchers at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota can continue studying the effects of red tide – thanks to the renewal of a seven and a half million dollar federal grant. Mote will share the money – awarded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences – with seven other organizations, including the Florida Department of Health & the U-S Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
The ongoing effort seeks to discover how humans are affected by red tide toxins to develop a treatment. Mote Senior Scientist - Barbara Kirkpatrick – says the study’s next phase takes place this weekend on Sarasota’s beaches.

“We’re going to be running another red tide exposure study with the asthmatic group we’ve been following for the last 3 years to identify the response asthmatics have after a one hour beach exposure to the Florida red tide aerosols.”

Kirkpatrick says the grant is worth a-quarter-million-dollars annually over the next five years to Mote – but more money than that will be spent here in southwest Florida…because it’s such a good place to study red tide.

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The next round of field studies on red tide gets underway today in Sarasota…thanks to the renewal of a 7-million-dollar federal grant.
Researchers at Mote Marine Laboratory are conducting the local study. It’s part of a broader effort into red tide’s human impact – and ways to reduce its effects. Mote Senior Scientist - Barbara Kirkpatrick – says there’s still much debate over the human impact on red tide.

“It is part of the natural environment…I think the big question is are things we’re doing along our coastline making these natural blooms last longer and/or become more intense.”

This weekend’s Sarasota study involves bringing a group of asthmatics to the beach for one hour where red tide is present - to see what effect, if any, it has on them. Kirkpatrick doesn’t expect science will ever get rid of red tide – she’s hopeful the day will come when it can be managed… almost like an allergy.

An informational meeting about a coal burning power plant planned for Glades County will be held tonight in Ortona. Florida Power and Light recently got the go-ahead from Glades County to move forward with permitting of a coal burning plant to power 650-thousand homes. County officials say it’s an economic boom, bringing tax revenue and jobs. But Ellen Petersen, with the Sierra Club of Southwest Florida, doesn’t see it that way.

“We should be helping them with ecotourism and the wonderful aspects of the lake and the wonderful things that can be done in glades with Fisheating creek and cypress knee museum which would be spectacular tourist draws but this coal fired thing is an abomination.”

Petersen wants the national chapter of the Sierra Club to try to quash the plant. She says it threatens endangered birds like swallowtail kites. And she disagrees with FPL’s claim that new technology will minimize harmful emissions. F-P-L Area Manager for Southwest Florida, Grover Whidden, says the utility has done its homework – and the plant will do no harm.

“We have done initial environmental assessment of the site itself and have not found any endangered species. the site consists principally of the sugar cane fields – it’s presently cultivated in sugar cane fields – but even for any endangered species outside the immediate plant area it should not be a problem because this plant is not going to create any pollution.”

If the permitting process goes forward groundbreaking could be in two years – with the plant generating electricity by 2012. The informational meeting is at the Ortona Community Center at 7 P-M.

An informational meeting about a coal burning power plant planned for Glades County will be held tonight in Ortona. Florida Power and Light recently got the go-ahead from Glades County to move forward with permitting of a coal burning plant to power 650-thousand homes. County officials say it’s an economic boom, bringing tax revenue and jobs. But Ellen Petersen, with the Sierra Club of Southwest Florida, doesn’t see it that way.

“We should be helping them with ecotourism and the wonderful aspects of the lake and the wonderful things that can be done in glades with Fisheating creek and cypress knee museum which would be spectacular tourist draws but this coal fired thing is an abomination.”

Petersen wants the national chapter of the Sierra Club to try to quash the plant. She says it threatens endangered birds like swallowtail kites. And she disagrees with FPL’s claim that new technology will minimize harmful emissions. F-P-L Area Manager for Southwest Florida, Grover Whidden, says the utility has done its homework – and the plant will do no harm.

“We have done initial environmental assessment of the site itself and have not found any endangered species. the site consists principally of the sugar cane fields – it’s presently cultivated in sugar cane fields – but even for any endangered species outside the immediate plant area it should not be a problem because this plant is not going to create any pollution.”

If the permitting process goes forward groundbreaking could be in two years – with the plant generating electricity by 2012. The informational meeting is at the Ortona Community Center at 7 P-M.

Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson wants Florida’s “Save Our Homes law” to become portable. He traveled to Orlando yesterday to present his plan to a state tax reform committee.
Save our homes caps tax increases on primary homes to 3-percent a year. It’s been lauded since its inception by homeowners statewide…but there’s a catch. Longtime residents face huge tax increases if they move elsewhere in Florida…because its savings aren’t portable. Wilkinson wrote the original Save Our Homes amendment back in the early 90’s…

“Because in my opinion the legislature wasn’t moving in the right direction a group of citizens in Lee County and around the state put together a constitutional amendment…we were able to get it on the ballot. That is what Save Our Home is…now I’m faced with the same situation.”

Lawmakers proposed several bills during the last legislative session that provide portability - but none passed. Wilkinson’s plan would allow homeowners to take some of their savings to another home in Florida. His group needs about 650-thousand signatures to put the idea before voters in 2008.

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Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson wants the tax benefit of Save Our Homes to become portable. He’s formed a non-profit corporation to focus support on the issue…and to gather signatures to get an amendment on the 2008 ballot. Wilkinson wrote the Original Save Our Homes amendment – passed by Floridians in 1992. It caps property tax increases on primary residences to 3 percent a year.
He says the problem is -- as property values increase some long time residents are becoming trapped in their homes… because if they move to another house they could face huge tax increases.

“Save Our Homes did some phenomenal things – beyond our expectations. It allows you to stay in your house. But because it’s been so successful some people, many people are finding that they are locked in. See what we’re trying to do? Give the homeowner the flexibility.”

Wilkinson’s idea would work this way: If your home has a MARKET value of 400-thousand, but is being assessed by the county at only 200-thousand, thanks to Save Our Homes…your current savings is 50-percent. So if you then sold your home and bought another one for 600-thousand…the new assessment would be half that …or 300-thousand. The group needs about 650-thousand signatures to get the amendment on the ballot in 2008.

The deal to bring the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to Charlotte County for spring training was passed its final hurdle Wednesday. The twenty year old Charlotte Sports Complex will get a major facelife and then the Rays move in – to play ball by the spring of 2009. W-G-C-U’s Valerie Alker prepared this report.

The devastating Florida hurricanes of 1926 and 1928 are highlighted in a new exhibit that opens today at the Clewiston Museum. It’s part of a weeklong effort to shine the light on two deadly tropical systems largely forgotten by residents. The 1928 storm killed more than 3-thousand people after a Lake Okeechobee dike flooded, sending a torrent of water into nearby towns. The group ‘Project HOPE’ is helping with the Clewiston festivities. Organizer Angelica Pena says a highlight is a discussion with a handful of survivors.

“It’s really hard to say how many are still out there because as we look at history and identify certain names, we are then faced with the difficulty in actually finding them. So I really don’t know how many we would have actually still living.”

Pena spoke on W-G-C-U’s Gulf Coast Live. She says the program also includes survivors of last year’s Hurricane Wilma and presentations from local disaster officials.

Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson wants Florida’s “Save Our Homes law” to become portable. He traveled to Orlando yesterday to present his plan to a state tax reform committee.
Save our homes caps tax increases on primary homes to 3-percent a year. It’s been lauded since its inception by homeowners statewide…but there’s a catch. Longtime residents face huge tax increases if they move elsewhere in Florida…because its savings aren’t portable. Wilkinson wrote the original Save Our Homes amendment back in the early 90’s…

“Because in my opinion the legislature wasn’t moving in the right direction a group of citizens in Lee County and around the state put together a constitutional amendment…we were able to get it on the ballot. That is what Save Our Home is…now I’m faced with the same situation.”

Lawmakers proposed several bills during the last legislative session that provide portability - but none passed. Wilkinson’s plan would allow homeowners to take some of their savings to another home in Florida. His group needs about 650-thousand signatures to put the idea before voters in 2008.

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Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson wants the tax benefit of Save Our Homes to become portable. He’s formed a non-profit corporation to focus support on the issue…and to gather signatures to get an amendment on the 2008 ballot. Wilkinson wrote the Original Save Our Homes amendment – passed by Floridians in 1992. It caps property tax increases on primary residences to 3 percent a year.
He says the problem is -- as property values increase some long time residents are becoming trapped in their homes… because if they move to another house they could face huge tax increases.

“Save Our Homes did some phenomenal things – beyond our expectations. It allows you to stay in your house. But because it’s been so successful some people, many people are finding that they are locked in. See what we’re trying to do? Give the homeowner the flexibility.”

Wilkinson’s idea would work this way: If your home has a MARKET value of 400-thousand, but is being assessed by the county at only 200-thousand, thanks to Save Our Homes…your current savings is 50-percent. So if you then sold your home and bought another one for 600-thousand…the new assessment would be half that …or 300-thousand. The group needs about 650-thousand signatures to get the amendment on the ballot in 2008.

Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson wants Florida’s “Save Our Homes law” to become portable. He traveled to Orlando yesterday to present his plan to a state tax reform committee.
Save our homes caps tax increases on primary homes to 3-percent a year. It’s been lauded since its inception by homeowners statewide…but there’s a catch. Longtime residents face huge tax increases if they move elsewhere in Florida…because its savings aren’t portable. Wilkinson wrote the original Save Our Homes amendment back in the early 90’s…

“Because in my opinion the legislature wasn’t moving in the right direction a group of citizens in Lee County and around the state put together a constitutional amendment…we were able to get it on the ballot. That is what Save Our Home is…now I’m faced with the same situation.”

Lawmakers proposed several bills during the last legislative session that provide portability - but none passed. Wilkinson’s plan would allow homeowners to take some of their savings to another home in Florida. His group needs about 650-thousand signatures to put the idea before voters in 2008.

-------


Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson wants the tax benefit of Save Our Homes to become portable. He’s formed a non-profit corporation to focus support on the issue…and to gather signatures to get an amendment on the 2008 ballot. Wilkinson wrote the Original Save Our Homes amendment – passed by Floridians in 1992. It caps property tax increases on primary residences to 3 percent a year.
He says the problem is -- as property values increase some long time residents are becoming trapped in their homes… because if they move to another house they could face huge tax increases.

“Save Our Homes did some phenomenal things – beyond our expectations. It allows you to stay in your house. But because it’s been so successful some people, many people are finding that they are locked in. See what we’re trying to do? Give the homeowner the flexibility.”

Wilkinson’s idea would work this way: If your home has a MARKET value of 400-thousand, but is being assessed by the county at only 200-thousand, thanks to Save Our Homes…your current savings is 50-percent. So if you then sold your home and bought another one for 600-thousand…the new assessment would be half that …or 300-thousand. The group needs about 650-thousand signatures to get the amendment on the ballot in 2008.

The chairwoman of the Lee County Commission struck a conciliatory tone yesterday over Lake Okeechobee water releases. But Tammy Hall threatened new legal action if the U-S Army Corps of Engineers doesn’t alter its release schedule. The Corps manages the water level of Lake Okeechobee. Too much and the dike is in danger of bursting, flooding thousands of nearby homes and businesses. So Corps managers send polluted water to the east and west down the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers to ease the pressure, but doing environmental damage to the waterways and their estuaries. The Corps met with concerned residents in Fort Myers last week and soon another group of local officials will address the issue. Speaking on Gulf Coast Live, Lee Commission Chairwoman Tammy Hall says they unsuccessfully sued the Corps in 2002.

“We’re prepared to go back to court if we have to. But I’m hoping that our dialog with the Corps can be more conducive to working together, waiting for three years in a court and $5 million later for a decision. If we go to court, we want to win.”

Hall says ‘science’ should drive water release decisions...not political pressure. She says the Caloosahatchee River is just as important to Florida as Lake Okeechobee.