blogging the Treasure Coast now

Inventor, scientist, genius talks of future at Emerson Center

2010-03-07T20:47:00.000-08:00

VERO BEACH — Standing before a sold-out crowd at the Emerson Center Saturday afternoon,

inventor, genius, scientist, entrepreneur Ray Kurzweil answered questions on the cure
for cancer, universal health care and bio-terrorism.
After a scintillating hour-long lecture that touched on the exponential progress of
information technology, Kurzweil held rapt an audience at the Celebrated Speakers Series
that ranged in age from pre-teens to 80-somethings with his predictions for the future.
A member of the Inventor Hall of Fame with 18 honorary doctorates, Kurzweil advises
presidents, world leaders and researchers.
“I had dinner with Gorbachov,” he started one story. President Bill Clinton honored him
with the National Medal of Technology. He has started nine successful companies and created
speech recognition software, music synthesizers and the flat bed scanner.
Dressed in a dark suit with a loud tie and his blackberry worn on the hip like a six-shooter,
the diminutive futurist started his story at the beginning — age 5 when he decided that if
he “could put things together just the right way I could achieve some sort of transcendence.”
His mind is amazing as is his understanding of time. “Imagine the world without search
engines,” he said. “They have only be in existence for 10 years. Thirty years ago I started
to study information technology trends and trajectories and if there was a way to predict
the future. I found they follow amazingly predictable trajectories.”
Much was made of the difference between linear thinking and exponential thinking. Our
future lies in the exponential — events are happening so quickly it is hard to predict what
is next. For example, in a discussion on the enhanced human brain, Kurzweil pointed out
Parkinson patients already can have chips that repair the damage from the disease embedded
in their brains. The future is now.
“There is a doubling of the power of the brain every year,” Kurzweil said, “The nature of
the future is not apparent.”
What is apparent is that technology will continue to become more powerful, ever smaller
and make us smarter. Kurzweil pointed out that his Blackberry was a brain extender that
makes him smarter. “I often use it when I am being interviewed,” he said. “If someone asks me about someone’s theory and I don’t remember it clearly I can look it up and have the information immediately.”
Information technology has gone beyond artificial intelligence to include other areas such
as health and medicine and energy. Soon solar power will provide for all our energy needs
releasing us from dependence on fossil fuels, Kurzweil explained. “There is 10,000 times more
sunlight than we need. ”And, we will be able to manufacture what we need — or as Kurzweil described it, we will be able to “print out” three-dimensional objects. That will happen about 2020 and range from
low-cost housing to clothes.

Servpro hits a Big Number

2010-01-22T12:19:00.000-08:00

VERO BEACH — Servpro of Indian River County, part of the nationwide system of more than 1,500 franchises, said 2009 year-end systemwide revenue hit the $1 billion mark for the first time in Servpro’s 40-year history.
Christopher Reinhart, owner of Servpro of Indian River County, said it was the 10th time in 11 years the system experienced double-digit volume growth. Servpro of Indian River County specializes in the emergency cleanup and restoration of fire- and water-damaged homes and businesses, among other services.
Entrepreneur Magazine listed Servpro as the No. 1 restoration services franchise system, and No. 9 overall in 2010.In addition, allbusiness.com ranked Servpro as the No. 9 franchising opportunity.

Seniors need Christmas and Santa Too

2009-12-14T15:46:00.000-08:00

By Jessica Tuggle

jtuggle@hometownnewsol.com

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY -
The growing number of seniors living on small, fixed incomes prompted
nonprofits to work together to give them a little holiday cheer.
The United Way of Indian River County and the Senior Resource Association, along with sponsor
Florida Eye Institute, are asking community members to donate enough unwrapped gifts to fill
a bus for needy seniors in the county.The "Santa for Seniors" holiday gift drive will run through Dec. 18, said Jennifer Jones, United Way director of workplace and corporate giving. This is the third year United Way has held the drive, Ms. Jones said. In 2007, 75 seniors were given care packages. In 2008, that number jumped to 250. This year's goal is 500 seniors, Ms. Jones said. Unwrapped gift donations can be made at any RBC Bank location or the United Way offices in downtown Vero Beach, but a special, one-day drop-off location will be at the Indian River Mall on Dec. 12. Residents can bring gift items, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the mall, just outside of Macy's, according to a press release. Some of the requested items include personal hygiene products, robes, pajamas, toilet bowl cleaner, sponges, non-perishable food, as well as traditional presents such as music, large print books or gift cards to grocery stores. Many of those who once worked hard to provide sweet Christmas memories for their families have now grown older and may be far away from the comfort of family, said Ms. Jones. "Some of my fondest childhood memories are being with my family during the holidays, especially my grandparents," she said. "This is something that you can do to give back to them. Sometimes they are the first to be forgotten at the holidays," Ms. Jones said.

Fort Pierce Up for the "Great American Main Street" award

2009-11-29T16:49:00.000-08:00

Meisel@hometownnewsol.com

FORT PIERCE - Beginning in the late 1970s as malls developed, downtown Fort Pierce lostbusinesses and buildings remained vacant."It was a typical scenario of what was goingon around the nation," said Doris Tillman, the director of Fort Pierce Main Street.Thenin 1988, a workshop was held to find ways to revitalize downtown and 300 people showedup, despite a "blistering rain storm," Ms. Tillman said."That was a real turning point for downtown," she said.In recognition of the progress since then, Fort Pierce Main Street was named a semifinalist for the 2010 Great American Main Street awards last week. Fort Pierce will compete with Aledo, Ill., Columbus, Miss., Fairmont, W. Va., Farmland,Ind., Ferndale, Mich., Lee's Summit, Mo., Paducah, Ky., Pontiac, Ill. and Rochester, Mich. The winner will be announced during the National Main Streets conference in Oklahoma City on May 4.Fort Pierce could end up being only the second Florida city to win. The first was Deland. Ms. Tillman said this was the first time Fort Pierce Main Street applied. She said in past years, with numerous projects going on, the "timing wasn't right."Since 1988, she said, downtown Fort Pierce gained 404 jobs, 88 new businesses, 136 projects to rehabilitate existing buildings and 17 new buildings. There's been $14.5 million in public investment and $25 million in private investment.But it all started with that workshop when people helped develop a master plan for downtown, said Ms. Tillman, director of Main Street since 1991."We were all excited and ready to make a change and it happened," she said. Ms. Tillman recalled that early on, a woman told her that she was ashamed to go downtown, but had decided to be a part of the change. The woman started a business, she said. And that was typical of many, Ms. Tillman said. In only six months, not long after the initial workshop, 60 businesses were attracted to downtown, she said.In the years since, progress has included the Manatee Center, the rehabilitation of the Sunrise Theatre and renovation of the old City Hall. More recently, Main Street moved its headquarters to the former residence of landscape artist A.E. Backus and renovated the dwelling. Efforts to convince St. Lucie County to maintain its presence in downtown Fort Pierce were successful and the results have included a new Clerk of Courts building.The success came about,in part, because Fort Pierce Main Street has a board of directors that never shied away from major projects, she said. But it's also occurred because of support from residents and enthusiastic city officials, such as former Mayor Eddie Enns and former city manager Dennis Beach, she said.Besides all that, she said, success has come because of promoting downtown. That has included holding events, such as Friday Fest and putting information about businesses on its Web site.

New Jet for Piper

2009-11-29T11:22:00.000-08:00

Vero Beach Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson asked about staffing plans and witnessed a testflight of the new PiperJet during his hour-long visit and tour of Piper Aircraft Inc.'s facilityThursday afternoon.“He’s always heard about the operations but never had a chance to see what they are doing,”said Nelson’s spokesman Bryan Gulley. The tour was not open to the press or public.“They (Piper management) talked briefly about the job losses and how it’s related to the economic downturn. They told him that they’ve seen this before and they’re confident the jobs would come back. He pressed them on their commitment to staying in the area and they reiterated their commitment to staying.”Piper president John Becker, who is resigning from Piper effective Dec. 1, and three other employeesin sales and engineering accompanied Nelson on the tour, which started just after 4 p.m. Vero Beach Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson asked about staffing plans and witnessed a test flight of the new PiperJet during his hour-long visit and tour of Piper Aircraft Inc.'s facility Thursday afternoon.
In October, County Commissioner Peter O’Bryan, the commission’s liaison to the Economic Development Council, said he would meet monthly with county and company officials for updates and to discuss the status of the stateand county’s $32 million incentive package given to Piper. The package is tied to employment levels and production of the new PiperJet. Piper had contemplated relocating to Oklahoma City or Albuquerque, N.M., beforethe local offer was presented in 2008.

A Look Back in Time

2008-06-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

Look back in time: June 22, 2008

Cindy SchwarzSunday,
June 22, 2008

80 YEARS AGO: 1928

Invitation to prayer group

VERO BEACH — A novel attendance contest conducted by the First Baptist Church attracted 159 people to the prayer meeting Wednesday night.
Twenty-teams of two people each were organized by Pastor P. T. Taylor last Sunday and requested to invite friends and acquaintances to the Wednesday night services. The most successful solicitors were Mrs. T. W. Hewlitt and O. J. Henderson who induced 21 people to attend the meeting.
Fred McEwan and Mrs. J. M. McCully brought 20 attendants. The result of the contest was arrived at after the regular services conducted by the Rev. Taylor and aroused lively interest among those present.

70 YEARS AGO: 1938

City refunding plan discussed

VERO BEACH — Status of the city's proposed refunding program was outlined and a general discussion conducted in the matter at a special meeting of the council and citizens last Friday night.
The City Hall auditorium was packed to capacity with interested citizens who listened to various phases of the refunding program and the Wilcox Municipal Debt Adjustment Act. Several speakers expressed their views of the matter.
60 YEARS AGO: 1948

Hilton Hotel official here

VERO BEACH — Robert B. Witwer, real estate representative of the Hilton hotel chain, gave Vero Beach the once over last Monday and indicated that he saw great possibilities in the beach and Miracle Mile sections, if properly developed.
While not making any commitment, Witwer inferred that his organization is "looking over Florida cities" for possible hotel sites. The Hilton chain operates the Palmer House and Stevens Hotel in Chicago and other hotels.

50 YEARS AGO: 1958

Typewriter, shotgun stolen

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Did anyone living in south Vero Beach have a typewriter and shotgun stolen from his residence between Nov. 1 and 8, 1957?
A young prisoner from Broward County, housed at Raiford State Prison, recently told prison officials he was passing through Indian River County sometime during that week and stole two such articles from a dwelling south of Vero Beach. He pawned them in two different shops in Fort Lauderdale, according to his statements.
Prison officials are trying to trace the truth of this statement, but can find no record these losses were reported with either the Vero Beach Police Department or the Indian River County Sheriff's Department.
40 YEARS AGO: 1968

County leaves regional council

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Wednesday, Indian River County formally withdrew from the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council with the written blessing of its representatives. The county left the controversial group based on a proposal that it creates its own long-range planning authority.
County Commissioner Donald Macdonald moved, seconded by Commissioner D. B. McCullers, that the County Commission officially notify the regional council it is withdrawing after five years of participation at a cost to the county of almost $24,000.
"Without a trained planner, the county cannot take advantage of all the valuable information the council provides," reasoned Macdonald.

25 YEARS AGO: 1983

Reward proposal for teachers

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Specifics of a proposal to reward outstanding Indian River County teachers were released at Tuesday's Indian River County School Board meeting.
The bylaws and articles of incorporation of a foundation to administer the program will be discussed and voted on at a future meeting, after the board has had a chance to study the documents.
Under the proposed articles of incorporation, a nonprofit corporation will be formed with the intent and purpose of recognizing teachers.
The committee to select the recipients would be appointed by the corporation's trustees. The first trustees probably would be the original donors or sponsors for the chairs.
10 YEARS AGO: 1998

Subsidized housing may slow

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — "I think these will probably be the last," Indian River County Community Development Director Bob Keating said, referring to the three elderly affordable housing complexes still being built.
With those three — The Club at Vero on State Road 60, River Park Place on Indian River Boulevard and Lindsey Gardens off 40th Avenue — the county will have a dozen apartment complexes with some type of subsidy, with no less than half built in the past several years.
The building boom will stop, officials said, because the state is no longer targeting Indian River County as an area in dire need of affordable housing and so is no longer offering tax credits to developers.
The state targeted Indian River County in 1996 and 1997 as an area of need and began offering the tax credits.
FIVE YEARS AGO: 2003

Dock, bridge ready for public

SEBASTIAN — A city-owned dock and bridge were recently installed on the lake's west side near Kildare Drive and Conover Avenue.
Last week, Summerlin's Seven Seas Inc. of Ft. Pierce finished building a 6-by-25-foot dock and a 10-by-80-foot pedestrian bridge to the island, said Linda Kinchen, administrative supervisor for the city Public Works and Engineering departments. The project cost the city $31,000.
They say the bridge provides better pedestrian access to the island.
ONE YEAR AGO: 2007

Planners may restrict church land

VERO BEACH — The city Planning and Zoning Board discussed the possibilities of creating new rules for how churches use their property.
Restrictions could include limiting the number of nonreligious events a church can have, the times and dates of the events and requiring churches to have a parking management plan for the event.
The changes will apply to all places of worship, including mosques, synagogues and churches.
No decision was made at the meeting and any proposed changes will have to go to the board for a public hearing and the City Council for approval.

Preservation group keeps putting nature at forefront

2008-05-26T18:51:00.000-07:00

History Column: Preservation group keeps putting nature at forefront

Jean Catchpole,
corresponding secretary of Pelican Island Audubon Society
Sunday, May 25, 2008

"To preserve and protect the animals, plants and natural communities in Indian River County through advocacy, education and public awareness" is the stated mission of the Pelican Island Audubon Society.
Originally formed in 1961 as the Indian River Preservation Society, the organization's early members were comprised of citrus growers, commercial fishermen, sportsmen and concerned citizens. Spearheaded by local pioneer Joe Michael, the society's goal was to protect the vital wetlands adjacent to the Pelican Island National Refuge from dredge-and-fill operations and eventual development.

The organization was successful in convincing Florida to declare the wetlands sovereign land. From its success at Pelican Island and due to the island's reputation as a premier sanctuary for roosting and nesting water birds, the organization became affiliated with National Audubon and changed its name to the Pelican Island Audubon Society. In April of 1964, PIAS was voted a chapter of the Florida Audubon Society. Merritt C. Farrar served as its first president.
Over the succeeding decades the organization has continued its crusade against activities that result in negative impacts to our environment. Countless PIAS representatives have spoken out against improper development in Indian River County at government meetings and in print and continue to do so to this day.
In the 1970s, PIAS was instrumental in implementing several important environmental regulations and policies. For example, it led drives that resulted in the protection of beaches, dunes and their associated flora and fauna through construction of dune walkovers and prohibition of vehicles on the beach. Activist Maggy Bowman was the catalyst for this and many other endeavors and served as PIAS president numerous times. Other PIAS initiatives resulted in the now widely appreciated adoption of building height restrictions, a feature that sets Indian River County apart from its neighboring counties.

In 1986, PIAS organized the first coastal cleanup in the country when hundreds of volunteers gathered to clean Indian River County's beaches. PIAS was recognized by the Department of Interior and the Keep America Beautiful campaign in the early '90s for this program which has now grown into an international event with the participation of more than 90 countries and hundreds of thousands of volunteers annually.
From 1986 to 1990, PIAS led the community in convincing coastal government entities, including Vero Beach and Indian River Shores, to pass nighttime lighting ordinances to protect sea turtle hatchlings.
In 2006, the chapter worked with Indian River County staff to rewrite the county's landscape ordinance encouraging the use of water-saving plants and increasing tree protection. The new ordinance was adopted by county commissioners in 2007 and was a contributing factor to PIAS being named 2007 Chapter of the Year by Florida Audubon.
Most recently PIAS was instrumental in appealing a decision by the St. Johns River Water Management District to swap 1,265 acres of important conservation lands ( known as the Sand Lakes Tract) to avoid a lawsuit by adjacent landowners. St. Johns has reversed its decision and that parcel will remain in conservation with Indian River County now owning 23 percent of it and having a say in any future plans.

PIAS has a long history of promoting and supporting environmental education in Indian River County. The organization has donated monies to local schools for the purchase of scientific equipment such as the Water Analysis Laboratory presented to Vero Beach High School in the mid-1970s. Scholarships have been awarded since 1991 to high school students showing an interest in conservation or environmental education. The current award is $500 toward books at the recipient's college or university.
One of the proudest accomplishments has been the creation of the Environmental Learning Center at Wabasso in 1988 with its ongoing public education programs including the award-winning "River Days." This special event targets all fourth-grade students in the county who are brought to the center and exposed to a full, hands-on day of estuarine ecology on the Indian River Lagoon, the most biologically diverse estuary in North America.
The chapter publishes a monthly newsletter, "The Peligram," to inform the community about environmental issues and schedules monthly speakers, field trips, canoe trips and educational workshops for its members and the general public. It annually recognizes community members for making outstanding environmental contributions.
Currently PIAS is in the planning and fundraising stage to construct its own office and outreach center in collaboration with the University of Florida and Indian River County. The new center is designed to be a "green" building and will be located adjacent to the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area.
The public is invited to attend the chapter's monthly meetings at 7:30 p.m. conducted the third Monday of each month at the Vero Beach Community Center. For further information or to become a member of Pelican Island Audubon, visit its Web site at http://www.pelicanaudubon.org/. or call the office at (772) 567-3520 .

Wildlife Festival March 8th this year

2008-02-29T10:29:00.000-08:00

staff reportSunday,
February 17, 2008

SEBASTIAN — Celebrate nature from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 8 at the Pelican Island Wildlife Festival at Sebastian’s Riverview Park.
The event, now in its 16th year, commemorates President Theodore Roosevelt’s establishing Pelican Island as the nation’s first national wildlife refuge 105 years ago.

The festival is free and is one of the best attended wildlife festivals in the state of Florida. More than 80 exhibitors will show wildlife and showcase local environmental and historical organizations.
Live music, food and arts and craft vendors will be at the event alongside the Indian River Lagoon. The event also includes a 5-kilometer run, guided kayaking and pontoon boat tours to view Pelican Island.

All funds from the festival will go toward building the new wildlife observation facility at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
For information, visit the festival Web site at www.pelicanislandfriends.org.
Call (772) 562-3909, ext. 258, for event information and volunteering; (772) 323-4550 to inquire about being an exhibitor; (772) 569-7364 for the 5-kilometer run; and (772) 794-9900 for the kayak race.

Old Trees & Such

2008-02-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

117-year-old tree may get fresh air in Sebastian

By Ed Bierschenk (Contact)
Monday, January 28, 2008

SEBASTIAN — City workers are expected to take measures next week to help breathe new life into the historic Hardee oak tree.
"That is what we are shooting for," said City Manager Al Minner on Friday.

The tree, planted in 1891, is northwest of the Main Street and Indian River Drive intersection.
The tree's namesake, Capt. Robert Hardee, served on the Sebastian City Council for 11 years, starting in 1926, two years after the town was incorporated.
The tree has been attracting renewed attention recently as plans are under way to realign the intersection in connection with a controversial project to build a new parking lot for boat trailers. A new bathroom and additional car parking also would be added as part of the plan.
The condition of the oak tree had some officials and at least one arborist questioning whether the tree could be saved. For the past several months, there was discussion about replacing it with a fountain and retaining a piece of the tree's history by using acorns from the tree to grow saplings.

However, Minner said at least one arborist with Jimmy's Tree Service, which does work for the city, has indicated the tree can be saved.
Part of the process will be removing concrete and pavement near the tree to try to allow more air and water to reach its roots. Workers will be "trying to loosen the collar, so to speak," he said.
Although most of the people speaking at a recent meeting on the road project spoke in favor of saving the tree, City Councilman Eugene Wolff questioned whether a large amount of taxpayer money should be spent preserving it. He pointed out the arborist saying the tree could be saved works for a company that could benefit financially from the preservation efforts.
Wolff noted numerous other trees were taken down as part of other projects and the Hardee family name is honored in other ways throughout the city, including the local Hardee Park, and a plaque could be placed where the tree is located.
Mayor Andrea Coy said though she agreed with Wolff's position earlier, she had received numerous calls petitioning for the tree to be saved.
"That tree is important to a lot of people in the community," she said.

Farmer's Market celebrates 11 successful years

2008-01-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

By Larry Bailey
Correspondent
Monday, January 28, 2008

FORT PIERCE — Food, fun, and entertainment captivated those who attended the Farmers' Market in downtown Fort Pierce Saturday morning.
Debra Yatsko, a longtime market patron, said her family members do so well selling photography at the market that she is considering a venture for herself.

"It is high spirited, full of positive energy, and a great opportunity to make money," she said.
The Fort Pierce Farmers' Market, designed to bring more customers to businesses and help showcase downtown area, attracts large crowds. According to market chairwoman Linda Hudson, the market draws 12,000-15,000 people into downtown Fort Pierce every Saturday. The mood was especially festive on Saturday as the market celebrated 11 years of success.
Patrons of the market come to feast on the varied cuisines while they sit on the sea wall that overlooks the Indian River Lagoon. Foods offered at the market include soup to nuts, crepes, cakes, sandwiches, Mexican and Jamaican dishes, gyros, jellies, and fruit. There is also a large display of arts and crafts that includes pottery, painting, and jewelry.
The market also features entertainment. On Saturday, the Avenue D Boys Choir offered up soulful gospel songs and solo singer Maury Stauffer followed with memorable mellow folk ballads from the 1960s and '70s.

Market manager Bobbi Spencer, of Fort Pierce, said participating vendors come to Fort Pierce because they believe it's the best farmer's market in south Florida.
"Our beautiful waterfront location draws many people," she said.
Beverly Loureiro, a customer from of Fort Pierce, said "I have been coming to the market for many years, we often start here with breakfast and end here with lunch, I come for bread and my husband comes for sticky buns."
Saturday morning regular Mary Ann Bryan, of Fort Pierce, said, "The market on the waterfront is a Fort Pierce treasure."
Both patrons and vendors get up early to participate in the Saturday morning tradition of activities offered by the market.
"It is worth getting up at four in the morning to get my peanuts ready for my customers because I do well in this market," said Barbi Motisi, of Stuart.
The Fort Pierce Farmers' Market is open every Saturday year-round from 8 a.m. to noon.

Indian River County: What's ahead in 2008

2008-01-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

Here are a few New Year predictions and prognostications for Indian River County and the Treasure Coast

Monday, December 31, 2007

IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

Orioles snatch up Dodgertown

Dodger blue will give way to Oriole orange when officials announce that Baltimore will move its spring training facility from hectic Fort Lauderdale to laid-back Vero Beach. Keeping the historic training facility occupied will help stabilize Indian River County's economy by bringing new life — and new dollars — to the tourist trade.

Estefan opens Vero Beach hotel with concert

Gloria Estefan will open her long-awaited luxury hotel in Vero Beach and commemorate the event with a free community concert. Vero Beach won't nix the concert this time around because local candidates want to usurp the event for their campaigns. They will be booed by residents just looking for rhythm, not rhetoric.

Wild Turkey mine defeated by riled residents

Angry residents will wear down the owners of the Wild Turkey property, and they'll give up plans to mine the land — either willingly or after being bought out by the county or neighbors. In the battle, lawsuits will be filed, letters to the editor will be written and the growth debate in Indian River County will have a new epicenter.

Guthrie finally cleans up

Acting on a New Year's resolution, singer Arlo Guthrie will clean and rebuild his ruined Roseland house. Once he's out of hot water with county code enforcement officers, Guthrie will try to make amends with his neighbors who will be civil, but refuse to support his bid to turn the place into the new Alice's Restaurant.

Piper stays, but isn't quite welcomed

After months of waffling, Piper executives will decide to keep the 1,100 jobs in Vero Beach. But the company's relationship with Indian River County residents and officials will remain strained. Some workers will leave anyway, worried their jobs could be in jeopardy again.

Officials reach historic annexation deal, but residents aren't happy

Fellsmere, Sebastian, Vero Beach and the other Indian River County governments finally hash out a deal — the first of its kind on the Treasure Coast — showing how much land each city eventually will annex. Officials say it will prevent land grabs. But residents won't like the plan, fearing the extended city outlines just mean unsustainable growth, and will lash out at incumbent candidates during the election.

ON THE TREASURE COAST

Failing real estate market cripples local, national economy

The continued free fall of housing prices, combined with skyrocketing foreclosures, will leave more Treasure Coast workers out of work. Treasure Coast governments, as both commercial and residential growth slows to a trickle, also will be scrimping for cash. Worry, panic and stress over the recession will make the economy a significant issue in every election, from presidential down to local campaigns.

Voters lash out at governments over high taxes, poor economy, extra fees

Local governments, crimped by property tax reform passed by voters in January and the failed housing market, will enact new and higher fees on many services with a backlash against incumbent candidates in the elections. Incumbents who manage to eke out another term will have to promise tighter budgets.

'Research Coast' lands another biotech company

Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research, a Santa Clarita, Calif.-based biotech organization, likely will be the next tenant of the Florida Center for Innovation at Tradition in Port St. Lucie. The Mann Research Center, which has ties to the Mann Foundation, already has signed a contract with developer Core Communities to buy 22 acres at Tradition. Another research organization could be the one bright spot in the Treasure Coast economy.

16 ft Python

2007-12-11T06:49:00.000-08:00

16-foot python bushwhacked by roadside mower in Vero Beach

By Elliott Jones (Contact)
Tuesday, December 11, 2007

VERO BEACH — For the second time in two years, a 16-foot python has been found in the wild west of Vero Beach — this time killed by a large roadside bush mower on a canal bank along 58th Avenue.
On Friday, Jesse Parker was mowing for the county along a large canal south of 12th Street and hit what he thought was bricks.
"When I backed up, a head popped up. It was huge," said Parker, who works for a company that does contract work for the county.
The snake died within minutes.
"I had only seen something like that on Animal Kingdom" on television, Parker said.

"It is lucky this happened," Vero Beach Animal Control Officer Bruce Dangerfield said Monday. He said the snake could have grown 25- to 30-feet long.
Though pythons are constrictors capable of killing humans, small ones are legally sold in pet stores.
Dangerfield said he thought the snake originally was a pet that grew too big and was released into the outdoors.
"There is plenty for them to eat out there" and warm canal waters to sustain the tropical creatures during the cold, he said.

The wildlife officer planned to let the snake's remains decay in the canal across the street from the First Church of God.
"The buzzards can take over," he said.
This is the 20th large python or boa Dangerfield has found in the past decade in Indian River County. Yet it is among the largest, comparable to a 16-foot python found live two years ago on the edge of Fourth Street, near 58th Avenue.
"I had to use both my hands to get around its neck," Dangerfield of that snake. With the help of bystanders and deputies, the snake was put in a body bag and ultimately donated to a serpentarium near St. Cloud.
Ilka Daniel, with the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, suggests people with large snakes should contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or the Humane Society about what to do with them, rather than dump them in the wild.

Fellsmere's 2,595 acres

2007-11-19T15:24:00.000-08:00

Fellsmere to annex 2,595 acres?

By Ed Bierschenk (Contact)
Sunday, November 18, 2007

FELLSMERE — A South Florida billionaire whose company was responsible for developing Broward County's largest business park may be gaining a larger foothold within this rapidly growing community in northwest Indian River County.
The City Council next month will conduct a public hearing and consider giving final approval to annexing 2,595 acres of land east of Interstate 95 partially owned by brothers Edmund and Ronald Ansin.

There are 640 acres in a square mile. The 2,595 acres under consideration are roughly 4 square miles.
The council already has given preliminary approval to the deal, which will pump another $130,000 into its Community Development Department fund.

The Ansin brothers have vast land holdings throughout the state. Edmund Ansin was No. 286 on Forbes Magazine's most recent ranking of the 400 richest Americans, with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion.
According to the South Florida Business Journal, Ansin's Sunbeam Properties Inc. is known for its development of the 400-acre Miramar Park of Commerce, the largest business park in Broward County.
Fellsmere City Manager Jason Nunemaker is hoping a similar commercial development can be built on a portion of the 4,000 acres of Ansin property earlier annexed into the city.
The latest annexation will be a mixed-use development. The agreement calls for 50 percent of the property to be kept as open space, but the requirement can be waived.

In addition, the agreement calls for annexed property to be limited to two homes per acre as calculated over the entire acreage. This would mean if 50 percent or more of the land is kept as open space, then four or more homes per acre could be built on the remaining land.
In the past, the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Commission has encouraged this type of clustered housing, or new urbanism. It allows for more open space and recreational opportunities, said Nunemaker.
The agreement states the land shall not be developed for residential development for five years unless approved as part of a Development of Regional Impact or Preliminary Development Agreement, which could give officials from around the region input into how it is developed.
Sebastian Mayor Andrea Coy was surprised Fellsmere had given preliminary approval to the latest annexation. Sebastian and Fellsmere officials are currently in talks discussingthe new annexation, but have not reached an agreement.
Nunemaker said Sebastian's concerns were taken into consideration in the most recent agreement in terms of density and height restrictions and provisions for parks east of I-95. Part of the agreement calls for a greenway, or trails, plan to be developed to complement one currently in development for the North County. Coy, however, said Sebastian officials have yet to determine whether such provisions will be acceptable.
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Existing home prices continue to fall

2007-10-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

Indian River County existing home sales, prices still falling

By Nadia Vanderhoof (Contact)
Thursday, October 25, 2007

VERO BEACH — Existing home sales and prices in September continued to fall in Indian River County, a report from the Realtors Association of Indian River County said Wednesday.
In the county, 94 existing single-family homes sold in September, down from 141 units the year before, the Realtors association said. Prices dropped to $174,495 from $220,400 between the same months.

"Figures seem to show we are not at the bottom yet and that sellers are reducing their prices," said Richard Hope, past president of the Treasure Coast Builders Association and president of The Hope Co., a Vero Beach general contractor.
Eleven existing condos sold in the county last month, down from 21 in September 2006. The market's median sales price for an existing condominium was $135,000, down from $166,900 from last year.
"Historically September has been a slow month," said Maria Fulchini, president of the Realtors Association of Indian River County.
Sales and prices of existing homes fell across the Treasure Coast, but the region is faring better than other markets to the north and south, a separate report from the Florida Association of Realtors showed Wednesday.

The association said its members in the Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Stuart, sold 258 existing single-family homes in September, down 23 percent from a year earlier when 336 sold.
The median sales price for an existing single-family home in the area dropped 17 percent to $202,000 in September compared with $244,300 last year.
Sheri Wetzel, president of the Realtors Association of St. Lucie County, said the market likely turn around in 2009.
"I think this shows that we're still an affordable community," Wetzel said. "Where else can you find a waterfront community and find affordable housing that a family can make payments on?"
Fifty existing condos sold in the Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie area last month, almost unchanged from the number of condos sold a year ago, according to the Florida association. The market's median sales price for an existing condominium inched up 1 percent to $225,000 between the two time periods.

The report showed that the Treasure Coast's numbers were better than markets to the north and south, except for Palm Beach County. The West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area saw 471 sales of existing homes, down 17 percent from 566 last year. Prices dropped 3 percent to $355,300.
41 percent to 304 in September, according to the Florida association. The median sales price declined 8 percent to $189,700 from the same period last year.
Year-to-year sales of existing homes plummeted 46 percent in the Fort Lauderdale market and 53 percent in Miami, according to the association.
Statewide, home sales dropped 38 percent to 8,688 in September from the same month of 2006, the state association said.

Existing single-family homes:

September 2006: 141 units
September 2007: 94 units
Median Price
September 2006: $220,400
September 2007: $174,495

Existing condominium sales:

September 2006: 21 units
September 2007: 11 units
Median Price
September 2006: $166,900
September 2007: $135,000
Realtors Association of Indian River County

Home building falls in Indian River County

2007-10-16T20:11:00.000-07:00

By Robert Barba (Contact)
Friday, October 5, 2007

Builders say they expect a better 2008 after watching new-home construction in Indian River County drop by half this year.
The number of planned new single-family homes in Indian River County decreased 53 percent between January and August compared with the same months of last year.

There were 838 permits for new homes issued this year versus 1,802 last year, according to the building departments of Indian River County and Sebastian. The county handles permits for Vero Beach.
"These numbers are indicative of what needed to happen," said William Pittenger, chief real estate economist for Seacoast National Bank. "It's an ongoing correction, and I think we will begin leveling out as we approach 2008."
Pittenger expects the market to begin a rebound in 2009, when prices and sales will return to levels last seen in 2003.
During the boom that started 2004 and lasted into 2006, Pittenger said builders of new homes outpaced demand by 25 percent to 40 percent.
"They forgot a fundamental economic principal that for every home built there needs to be an owner or a tenant," Pittenger said. "This really had to come. And it's only bad news if you are a builder or in an allied industry."
With demand for new homes still weak, builders are hurting, said Don Santos, president of Santos Construction and former president of the Treasure Coast Builders Association.

"It is not overly surprising, but it's still bad," Santos said. "It is affecting our industry pretty drastically."
To survive, some companies are taking lower-revenue jobs, such as home remodeling, or finding work in the still-busy commercial market.

"Companies have to be a lot more nimble and innovative," Santos said. "I am doing a church addition right now."
The number of jobs in construction has declined at a similar pace to building permits, Santos said. Yet those numbers are not reflected in the unemployment figures because the brunt of those laid off were undocumented workers.
"They don't claim unemployment," Santos said. "They just left for places like the Gulf Coast. They want to work."
The slowdown is now spilling over to technicians and skilled laborers, he said, as the industry waits for a rebound.
"Right now we are bumping along the bottom," Santos said. "I think 2008 will start to bring us out of the doldrums."
For long-time builders, the current slowdown is nothing new, said Ken Ringe, president of Bayview Construction Corp. in Stuart
Today, Bayview is one of the busiest commercial builders on the Treasure Coast, but started in residential. It expanded during a housing slowdown in the 1980s, Ringe said.

"The key is to remain flexible," Ringe said. "Builders think when it's good, it's always going to be good. And when it's bad, it's never going to get good."
January to August 2006: 1,527 permits for single-family homes
January to August 2007: 779 permits for single-family homes
49 percent decrease
SEBASTIAN
January to August 2006: 275 permits for single-family homes
January to August 2007: 59 permits for single-family homes
79 percent decrease

Help for pollution in Indian River lagoon

2007-10-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

Well injection to clean up Indian River Lagoon

By Ed Bierschenk (Contact)
Saturday, October 6, 2007

VERO BEACH — City officials are digging deep both physically and fiscally as they attempt to reduce pollutants going into the Indian River Lagoon while preparing to revamp the city's water system with the construction of a multi-million dollar well.
A deep injection well: Deep injection wells have to be dug deep enough so that the material is injected into the earth below underground sources of drinking water. Vero Beach is proposing to construct its well about 3,000 feet deep, well below the 100-foot depth of the surficial aquifer and the 400-foot depth of the Floridian aquifer.

Cleaning up the lagoon: The well will be used to dispose of treated wastewater as well as briny liquid left over from the treatment of water coming from the Floridian aquifer. The city now puts perhaps 130 million gallons of the briny liquid into the Indian River Lagoon annually.
While a lot of the treated wastewater is used by golf courses, during particularly wet periods the city has sent some excess treated wastewater to the lagoon. About 45 million gallons of this treated wastewater is deposited in the lagoon annually. The excess nutrients from this water is believed to negatively impact seagrass in the lagoon.
New restrictions also are coming out soon on the amount of such material that can be deposited in the river and city officials say the deep injection well is needed as they move more toward reverse osmosis. The reverse osmosis system is used to treat water coming from more plentiful Floridian aquifer and is expected provide higher quality drinking water for residents.
Cost: Estimated to cost $8 million for injection well plus $2.5 million for lines between the wastewater treatment plant and water treatment plant and other infrastructure. The city recently raised its water and sewer rates 2.5 percent and some of that increase will go toward the cost of the project. City officials may also look to see if they can get some money from St. Johns River Water Management District and have talked to county officials about possibly sharing in the system.
Timeline: Construction could start by fall 2008. Estimated completion around fall 2009.

Real Estate news

2007-09-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

Home sales in Indian River County jump by 17%

By Robert Barba (Contact)
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

VERO BEACH — Realtors in Indian River County got some good news this week: an increase in existing home sales.
The Realtors Association of Indian River County reported 159 existing single-family homes were sold in August — 16.9 percent more than from the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, the median home price dipped 6.4 percent to $207,000 for the same period.

"It's a little glimpse of glory," said Karen Hall, association president. "I am encouraged by these figures. ... I think we are headed in the right direction."
Hall said the increase was likely driven by sellers lowering their prices.
"Sellers are becoming more realistic about their prices," Hall said. "They are realizing that they may not be seeing the big bucks that some people were making in the past."
According to William Pittenger, chief real estate economist for Seacoast National Bank, prices will need to continue to roll back to 2003-2004 levels "before we start to see any major action in the market."
Indian River County's August figures reflect the first positive sales growth since the Realtors association began reporting its figures in July 2006.
The increase, however, didn't spill over to the rest of the Treasure Coast.

The Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie metropolitan statistical area, which includes Stuart, had 287 single-family homes sold in August, reflecting a 26 percent decrease from a year ago, according to the Florida Association of Realtors.
The median home price for the same period also fell 15 percent to $214,200.
The Realtors Association of Martin County reported flat year-to-year growth with 130 existing single-family homes sold in August. The median home price in August was $247,750, down 16 percent from a year earlier.
The state Realtors association credited low mortgage rates, low unemployment rates and strong demographics for bringing August home sale totals close to the August 2001 and 2002 numbers — before the peak of the housing boom years.
Statewide, single-family home sales in August were down 26 percent compared to a year earlier, with the median home price falling 4 percent for the same period.

Piper News

2007-09-26T18:13:00.000-07:00

Officials in Vero Beach say final Piper offer is in the works

By Ed Bierschenk (Contact)
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

City and county officials are preparing what they say could be the final incentive offer to keep Piper Aircraft Inc. in Vero Beach.
The package would update earlier proposals made after an Indian River County referendum on $40 million in funding to retain the company was cancelled. Piper had said that a vote was not in the best interests of county residents.
Vero Beach Mayor Tom White said Tuesday that negotiators for the company have told the city that if it presented the right financial package, Piper would stay in Vero Beach.
While the city would have to hold a referendum to deliver all that Piper requested, White said, "We're not that far off."
Piper executives did not return phone calls for comment Tuesday.
Piper is considering moving its headquarters and planned manufacturing plant for the PiperJet from Vero Beach to Albuquerque, N.M., or Oklahoma City. Piper officials have been tight-lipped on when a decision will be made.

City and county officials expect a decision from Piper this week or in early October.
White wanted a meeting of city and county officials on Oct. 4 to inform the public about the final offer because it would impact government spending. For instance, some money earmarked for Piper might otherwise be spent on capital improvements such as road paving and sidewalks.

White learned Tuesday that the city could not be ready to meet by that date. But County Administrator Joe Baird said they want to meet "sooner rather than later."
To date, White and sometimes Indian River County Commission Chairman Gary Wheeler have participated in private negotiations with Piper, along with Baird, City Manager Jim Gabbard and financial and legal representatives from the city and county.
White said he had seen a list comparing what the three communities have to offer Piper. For instance, electric costs are higher in Vero Beach, White said, but Florida has no personal income tax.
Published reports have pegged Albuquerque's offer at as much as $70 million.
White said the figures he saw were spread out over 20 or 30 years and were tied to goals such as the number of employees.

Pelican Island trail to reopen

2007-09-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

Pelican Island trail to reopen Oct. 6 in Sebastian

The Centennial Trail at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge will reopen Oct. 6 during National Wildlife Refuge Week.

A public event will dedicate the trail as a National Recreation Trail and highlight the improvements completed this summer.
Recent improvements include replacing all 547 worn planks with new, denser boards and engraving the refuge names deeper so that they won't wear away.
The design and installation of 16 permanent educational panels along the trail was also completed with the help of a combined Wild Birds Unlimited and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant and additional funds from the Pelican Island Preservation Society.
The dedication event is at the Pelican Island Viewing Area, one-half mile south on Historic Jungle Trail off Highway A1A in Sebastian and will begin at 7 a.m. with a family early-bird tour of Bird's Impoundment Trail.
The National Recreation Trail dedication will begin at 8 a.m. at the Pelican Island Viewing Area

The National Recreation Trail dedication will begin at 8 a.m. at the Pelican Island Viewing Area, followed by a tour of The Centennial Trail.
Tours of the refuge butterfly garden will be offered throughout the morning and the Pelican Island Preservation Society, the refuge friends group, will be selling special National Wildlife Refuge Week T-shirts. Refuge trails will remain open to the public throughout the day and on a daily basis thereafter.
For more information, call Joanna Webb at (772) 562-3909 ext. 258 or e-mail pelicanisland@fws.gov.

Helping habitat in Wabasso

2007-09-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

Crews work to restore natural habitat of refuge in Wabasso

By Gabriel Margasak (Contact)
Thursday, September 6, 2007

Rhythmic whacks of a machete against Australian pine trees and Brazilian pepper plants echoed through the tangled thickets of Preacher's Island.

Workers here must sometimes toil by hand when their chain saws break on the notoriously hard trees. Heavy machinery is not allowed because it would destroy the very vegetation the crews are trying to save by killing the non-native plants.

But experts say the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service project that began on Aug. 6 is worth it to restore the habitat for blue heron and wading birds, fish, turtles and wildlife in the historic Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. President Theodore Roosevelt named Pelican Island as the country's first national wildlife refuge on March 14, 1903.

"All you have to do is take a ride down the Indian River and you see all the houses and sea walls going up," Charles Mathis, the assistant refuge manager said while surveying the project. "The more we can save and restore back to its original state — it's not going to offset what we're losing — but at least we can keep what we have."

The problems here began back in the early 1950s, when dredge spoil from construction of the Intracoastal Waterway channel was dumped on the natural islands.

Covering up the native mangroves and other vegetation allowed "the exotics to take control and out compete the natives," Mathis said.

For decades, they choked out the natural landscape and wildlife.
As part of the refuge's 15-year conservation plan, federal wildlife agents determined the islands needed to be restored to benefit water birds and fisheries.
And refuge managers wanted to keep the exotics on the islands from creeping into other parts of the refuge.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used $80,000 to begin the project.
Some of that money went to contractor, Riviera beach-based Aquatic Vegetation Control.
A crew of company men leave a little island on the Wabasso Causeway by boat four days a week for brutal 10-hour shifts.

They wade ashore through a foot of muck and disappear into the tangled thicket of mangroves.
The only clearing in sight is what the men have cut down.

"We cut it with chain saw, the peppers and the Austrian pine," said crew supervisor Jose Rivera, 40. "We drop it down, we put it in pieces and we stock it."
Once the exotics are all cut and piled high, federal fire crews will burn them down in a tightly controlled fire.

That work is scheduled to be finished by Sept. 21.
But wildlife officials still have to figure out how to replant the area and where to come up with the $200,000 it might cost to do that.

Pine needles are highly acidic and can regenerate quickly. So crews might have to bring in dirt or use chemicals to treat the area.
Mathis said the idea is then to plant more mangroves, palm trees and plants that would naturally be on the island.

"What we wanted to do here inside the refuge was remove these exotics, try to correct the damage that was done to them," he said, "and assist them in their natural process of restoring themselves back to a completely natural island with the unique characteristics and habitat and animal species that are associated with these natural islands."Australian pines and Brazilian peppers stifle natural Florida plants — on which wildlife depend for food and habitat — by taking sunlight and other nutrients.

Brazilian Pepper:

?Introduced in Florida in the 1890s as decorative landscaping
?Female trees have yellow to white flowers in the spring, and small red berries in the fall.
?The trees are also synonymous with poison ivy, oak and
sumac.
?Notorious for re-growing even after being cut down

Australian Pine:

?Australian pines were brought to the area to provide windbreaks for citrus groves and farms.
?Can flourish in a salt water
environment
?Can invade beach dunes
?May interfere with sea turtle nesting

Indian River Lagoon Clean up threatened

2007-08-02T14:01:00.000-07:00

Bush threatens to veto bill that world pay for Indian River Lagoon cleanup

By Amie Parnes
(Contact)Originally published 02:45 p.m.,
August 1, 2007Updated 07:00 p.m., August 1, 2007

WASHINGTON — For more than six years, environmentalists have been determined to convince lawmakers to pass a massive water bill that holds more than $1.3 billion in money to help clean up the Indian River Lagoon.
Now, as the House and Senate are on the heels of finally passing the legislation that aims to clean up the sometimes-troubled local waters, someone else stands in the way: President Bush.
On Wednesday, as both chambers prepared to debate the Water Resources Development Act, White House officials sent a letter to lawmakers bluntly stating the president’s displeasure with the bill. The administration officials said Bush would veto the bill because of its hefty price tag.
The administration has urged the Congress to limit the total cost of the authorizations in this WRDA and to authorize only those projects that would provide a high net return on investment and fall within the three main Corps mission areas,” the letter from the White House Office of Management and Budget said. “Unfortunately, the conference has reported a bill that exceeds significantly the $15 billion estimated cost of the House-passed bill, which is the higher cost of the House and Senate bills.”
“Indeed, it seems a $14 billion Senate bill went into conference with the House’s $15 billion bill and somehow a bill emerged costing approximately $20 billion,” the letter continues. “This is not how most Americans would expect their representatives in Washington to reach agreement, especially when it is their tax dollars that are being spent.”
If the bill does get signed into law, it would help improve water quality in estuaries on both sides of the state. The estuaries have carried contaminants that have contributed to the Everglades’ pollution over the years.

The money would be used to help remove deposits of muck and phosphorous and in lakes and canals that have polluted sea grasses and oyster flats.
“Funding for these projects is vital and long overdue,” said April Gromnicki, the director of Ecosystems Restoration for Audubon, the environmental group. “We urge the president to reconsider.”
If Bush does in fact veto the legislation, Gromnicki said lawmakers should override the veto.
It was unclear on Wednesday if the bipartisan bill had enough votes for an override.
But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said they were convinced the bill had to move forward.
“Delaying this bill will only add to the cost,” said Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla.“The federal government has made huge commitments in Florida and around our nation and they ought to honor those commitments. The seven-year delay in Everglades restoration alone has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

These projects are critical and there’s too much at stake to keep kicking the problem down the road,” Martinez added.
Rep. Tim Mahoney, the Democrat who represents parts of Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties, said the president’s decision to veto the bill will have “serious consequences” for the area.
“Local economies depend on preserving our rivers and estuaries,” he said, vowing to fight the White House on the issue.
Congress last passed WRDA in 2000 but failed to pass the bill since then — most recently in December — because lawmakers in the House and the Senate could not settle their differences on the legislation’s final cost.

Floridia fights global wraming

2007-07-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

Crist vows judgment day vs. global warming

By GABRIEL MARGASAK
gabriel.margasak@scripps.com
July 14, 2007

MIAMI — Don't worry about the return of long lines to have your tailpipe tested, even as Florida Gov. Charlie Crist ordered tough controls on pollution from vehicles. In the big action scene of his global climate change summit Friday, Crist vowed to join California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a fight against the federal government to adopt more stringent auto emission standards to reduce greenhouse gases, which are blamed for global warming.

And Crist signed, as promised, executive orders saying the state government must become more energy efficient, utilities and vehicles must reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the Sunshine State has to use more alternative energy sources.

Crist said the details of the vehicle emission plan had yet to be worked out, but, "I don't want to have our citizens wait in the lines they used to wait in years ago."
From 1991 to 2000, emissions tests — which measure vehicle's exhaust for pollutants — were required annually for every motorist in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Broward, Duval and Palm Beach counties. The tests were hugely unpopular with drivers.

One key component of Crist's plan was to adopt California's effort to force automakers to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 22 percent by 2012. But the governor's orders are aimed squarely at automakers, utilities and other businesses.

Standing together, Schwarzenegger called Crist "another great action hero."
In 2005, California's Air Resources Board requested the federal government allow the state to adopt its own emissions standards.

Without a definite response to the request, Schwarzenegger told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency he will sue if they don't take action.
Crist said Friday he would join that action.
"As the old adage goes, there's strength in numbers," he said, "and Gov. Schwarzenegger could not be more right."

Officials with the EPA could not be reached for comment.
Michael Sole, the secretary of Florida's Department of Environmental Protection, said Florida's emissions rule would focus on how cars are built. It potentially could increase the cost of buying a vehicle, according to one study he read.

"But if you look at the fuel efficient savings that you then gain, (the extra costs) are readily offset in a very short period of time, especially with today's fuel prices," he said.
And the controlling emissions are crucial, Crist said.

"I think that what you can be assured of though, the goals that we have set out are ambitious," he said. "They are important. We want to make sure they are adhered to."

Sebastian Inlet to be dredged

2007-06-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

Dredging to begin on deep channel for Sebastian Inlet

By ELLIOTT JONES
elliott.jones@scripps.com June 7, 2007

SEBASTIAN — A 2-mile-long line of flashing nighttime beacons and large floats are being extended across scenic Indian River Lagoon here. They are markers for what begins Friday: the long-sought dredging of a deep boating channel to the Sebastian Inlet. The channel will cut through the shallows, west of the inlet, that have been an obstruction for boaters going from the Indian River Lagoon to the popular inlet to the ocean.

"It's a dire necessity, absolutely," said charter board captain Dick Catri, who operates his 32-foot vessel Escape II out of the Sebastian Inlet State Park marina, on the park's north side. "It is a crying shame this has gone on for so long without being taken care of. The other ocean inlets (with deep channels) are 25 miles away in either direction."
Dredging of the three-quarter-mile long channel is to last 30 to 45 days.
But solving the problem is expensive: $3 million, one-third of which is because of the project's environmental consequences, principally disruption of sea grass beds.
Concern about protecting the grasses — that scientists say are vital to marine life — has held up the work for years, said Marty Smithson, director of the Sebastian Inlet District that is doing the project.
To finally get approval, sea grass in the channel's way had to be dug up and transplanted to neighboring areas.
At least 36 caution signs for boaters will be arrayed outside the channel to keep boaters off the sea grass beds.
The dredged-up material is too poor a quality to be put on eroding beaches, so it will be piped away to the mainland at an added cost of about $500,000. Further, to make up for the channel construction, the district must give Indian River County $750,000 for cleaning up fertilizers flowing into the lagoon in Vero Beach from a large canal draining the mainland.
All that is to create a channel that will be 9 feet deep, from channel bottom to the top of the water. The project will straighten part of an existing channel that ends abruptly, with depths going from 8 to 3 feet.
"They put us through it," said Smithson, referring to finally getting dredging permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The west side of the inlet has 240 acres of grasses, including one of the rarest, the endangered Johnson's sea grass. And just south of the proposed channel is the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Smithson did convince government regulators the channel will concentrate boating traffic, which has been spreading out, finding its own way through the grass-filled shallows. The result, he said, is boat bottoms and propellers have destroyed an equivalent of three-fourths an acre of sea grasses.
In the end, though, boat owners hope the channel makes the inlet an easier and less dangerous place to use. Owners of larger boats have run aground, ruining propellers costing thousands of dollars, Catri said.
Opening up a large channel, "Will be a boon to the local fishing trade," he said. "I don't know of a fisherman who would disagree with that."
Capt. Terry Wildey operates a 37-foot sports fishing boat out of Capt. Hiram's Marina in Sebastian. "It will be great if they do it (the channel dredging)," he said. "Every time we go out the inlet we have been chewing up the grasses because of the shallows."
SEBASTIAN INLET NAVIGATION CHANNEL DREDGING
Purpose: Create a deep navigation channel linking the Sebastian Inlet to the Intracoastal Waterway in the Indian River Lagoon.
Timetable: Dredging to begin Friday and will last 30 to 45 days.
Size: The 3,200-foot-long channel will be 150 feet wide and 9 feet deep, from the water's surface to the channel bottom.
How: A floating dredge will work in daylight hours. The sandy soils will be pumped away through an underwater pipe across the Indian River
Lagoon. The pipeline ends eight miles away at a man-made reservoir west of Barefoot Bay. Six miles were already in place for the dredging of the St. Sebastian River.
Who pays: Sebastian Inlet District, with a $325,000 grant from the
Florida Inland Navigation District, Jupiter.
Usage: The inlet is well used by boaters. A survey showed 400 boat trips during one four-hour period on a weekend.
Sebastian Inlet District

Better Hurricane prediction

2007-05-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

Looking at the 'core' will improve hurricane predictions

By MATT SEDENSKY
The Associated Press May 27, 2007

MIAMI — Meteorologists have spent decades drastically improving predictions on where a looming hurricane could hit — warnings that potentially drive millions of people from their homes. Now, they aim to better determine how powerful those storms actually will be. Next month, forecasters will debut their new Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting model, which for the first time will take into account most data from within the storm and use it in real time to better determine its strength.

The processes at the inner core are not well informed and not well predicted," senior hurricane specialist Richard Pasch said at the National Hurricane Center. "With the HWRF, we're hoping that we can analyze that middle core." Until now, experts have mostly relied on the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory model which, like those before it, mainly depended on initial storm information paired with historical data for similar storms. The higher-resolution new model will consider conditions over the oceans that have never been plugged into models before.
It could take years, and some tinkering, for the new model to realize its full potential. But forecasters hope the result will be a greater understanding of storms like hurricanes Charley and Wilma, which grew substantially stronger in a matter of hours. Wilma went from being a tropical storm to the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record in a day.
The hope is that the model will better predict the strength of a hurricane when it eventually makes landfall and ultimately save lives.

The National Hurricane Center has cut its average forecast error on storm tracks in half over the past 15 years. Average track errors last year were about 55 miles on one-day forecasts, about 111 miles on two-day predictions and 169 miles on three days' ahead.
In the same period, two-day forecasts for the intensity of all tropical cyclones improved from an average of about 18 mph to about 17 mph.

"We've made those improvements in track but we've made little improvement in forecasting intensity," Pasch said. "It was what the science allows. We understand more about hurricane track than intensity."

With the HWRF, that should change. Information from hurricane hunter aircraft, satellites and other sources will immediately relay wind conditions in and around the storm, temperature, pressure, humidity and other oceanic and atmospheric conditions and analyze them to better determine the track and intensity.

Naomi Surgi, who coordinates the hurricane modeling program at the National Center for Climate Prediction in Camp Springs, Md., said using real-time data provides the most accurate forecasts.

"You have to with as much accuracy as possible describe what that hurricane is doing now," she said, adding HWRF shows great promise. "It's getting the storm right, it's getting the ocean underneath the storm right, it's getting the environment around the storm right."
The model has been in development since 2001. Surgi said while improvements will begin the day after it goes operational next month, the model is expected to be used for the next 10 to 15 years.

Forecasters will also test a new radar technique that allows meteorologists to determine wind speeds and barometric pressures in all parts of a storm every few minutes, not the several hours it takes to get readings from hurricane hunter aircraft, said Colin McAdie, a hurricane center meteorologist.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research's method of analyzing radar images gives a three-dimensional view of hurricanes that are within 120 miles of land and will warn if storms are strengthening or weakening unexpectedly, he said.

The hurricane center's new director, Bill Proenza, has warned there is at least one major threat to forecasters' accuracy. The QuikScat weather satellite, designed to last five years, is in its seventh year of operation, and it is only a matter of time until it fails. The device gives forecasters basic storm information like wind speed and Proenza has said he is unaware of any plans to allocate an estimated $400 million to replace it.

That aside, even with the expected improvements the HWRF could bring, Surgi said meteorologists still concede they will never deliver error-free hurricane forecasts.
"We have stopped thinking in terms of 100 percent accuracy," she said, "because I don't think it will ever be realistic to expect that."

Torrey Pines scientists looking for ways to help you live longer

2007-05-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

By ROBERT BARBA
robert.barba@scripps.com
May 7, 2007

Eugene Levin will be here Tuesday looking for $1.4 million so that he can help people see. The scientist from Torrey Pines Institute of Molecular Studies will ask Treasure Coast investors to fund his spin-off company, developing a treatment for a blinding illness known as wet macular degeneration.

Levin is one of two Torrey Pines scientists, along with a third from the University of California, San Diego, speaking at the Angel Investment Forum of Florida's Treasure Coast chapter meeting. They represent the first wave of research tying this region to the institute. Levin's style of basic research with possible real-life implications is the sort of science Torrey Pines President Richard Houghten has promised to bring to Port St. Lucie starting this summer. Last week Torrey Pines announced it has hired its first three senior scientists that will launch the San Diego-based center's Florida operation.

"In Florida, our scientists will have one foot in each camp of basic research and practical discovery," Houghten said. "Their job is to do solid science, but with a look toward how this could be useful."

Levin discovered his possible treatment while researching the Fibroblast Growth Factor protein. In one size of the protein, Levin found it did some important things: inhibited cell movement and stimulated cells to divide.

From the way bodies develop, wounds heal and diseases spread, cell movement affects nearly every facet of life.

"It was one of those instances in which you try something and are shocked to find out that it works differently than you actually thought," said Levin.

Levin needed to separate the part that stops cells from the one that makes them grow. In molecular biology, scientists can clip out functions they don't need.

Originally, Levin thought his finding could be useful in treating cancer. With every research center and big pharmaceutical company searching for a blockbuster cancer drug, he ultimately decided it might be too tangled and competitive. Instead, he started looking into a form of macular degeneration that primarily affects the elderly.

In macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina, which is in the back of the eye. The growth diminishes the vision of macula, which is responsible for direct sight.
There are two forms of macular degeneration, dry and wet. The dry form affects more people and has few treatments. The wet form is less common but more severe and accounts for 90 percent of all macular degeneration-related blindness, according to The Eye Digest, an online publication of the University of Illinois.

Levin said his possible treatment fits well with macular degeneration because the eye is a closed organ, meaning that there is less worry about side effects.

In animal testing, Levin said the injected treatment has shown "substantial reduction" in the abnormal blood vessel growth.

If Levin finds local funding, his company Motility Inc. could be one of the first biotech firms in the region.

"It all starts with a question. Cell migration is one of the fundamental science questions," Houghten said. "And Gene (Levin) is a perfect example that sometimes you come up with something that can be useful."

RESEARCH AT TORREY PINES

Scientists at Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies investigate what causes diseases, how they work and how to treat or prevent them. Areas of research include heart disease, cancer, diabetes, pain, bioterrorism, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS and immunology.

• Joanna Davies, an immunologist, is investigating cancer and the corresponding wasting of muscles, known as cachexia.

• Vipin Kumar's company, GlycoRegimmune, is developing new ways to treat auto-immune diseases, including AIDS and Alzheimer's. GlycoRegimmune will present Tuesday at the Angel Investment Forum of Florida meeting.

• Clemencia Pinilla, an immunologist, is investigating vaccinations against possible bio-terrorist threats.

What exactly is a charter government ?

2007-04-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

By HENRY A. STEPHENS
henry.stephens@scripps.com
April 29, 2007

"Charter government" is a term often used in Indian River County political debates these days, but not well understood by many people outside government circles. Several readers have requested answers to their questions: Q. In voter-friendly terms, what is charter government?

A. A charter is a document that spells out the powers, duties and structures of government and the rights of citizens. It is often compared to constitutions at the local level.

Q. So why are they controversial?

A. Florida cities have had charters for years. Counties traditionally did not.
City voters approve their charters when they incorporate. The charter provides for the City Council's terms in office, defines its powers and that of the city administration — and the rights of voters to approve or reject certain City Hall proposals or recall council members from office. But originally, counties were mostly rural and didn't have charters. They were set up by the state, not by voters, and the state decided what powers are granted to county officials.
Vero Beach voters, for instance, can recall a City Council member or vote on an exception to the city height limit. Indian River County voters can't recall county commissioners from office or approve most county proposals. Since the late 1960s, however, Florida law has allowed counties to have charters, if their voters approve, and attain city-type powers.

Q. Would any elected positions change?

A. Florida law allows charters to transform the duties of their elected "constitutional" officers — the sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector, clerk of court and supervisor of elections — to appointed staff positions under the county administrator. The proposed Indian River County charter, however, has provisions to retain the voters' rights to elect their constitutional officers.

Q. What role do county commissioners play in charter government?

A. Commissioners would have the same role as now, setting countywide policy. The proposed Indian River County charter, however, would expand the policy they can set to include planning for areas west of the Urban Services Area boundary. Any changes would be allowed only by a countywide vote — or a 4-1 vote of commissioners if state law doesn't allow the referendum.

Q. Can the public make sure commissioners don't abuse the power of a charter?

A. Voters can reduce commissioners' opportunity for abuse by insisting the charter include a recall provision. This way, they can collect petition signatures and put a commissioner on the ballot for a recall vote.

Q. What prompted the current move?

A. County Commissioner Gary Wheeler and charter supporters want to prevent what they call South Florida-style growth. So their proposal is to only allow changes to the Urban Service Area if countywide voters approve. But this puts the county at odds with Fellsmere's right to annex agricultural land outside its city limits and rezone it for residential density.
Having a city charter and a county charter in effect would put cities on a new footing with the county. So the constitution requires county charters to spell out whether the city ordinance or county ordinance would prevail inside city limits in case of a conflict.

Q. What would the proposed charter allow?

A. Unless it is changed before it goes to ballot, it would:

• Require countywide votes, or at least a 4-1 commission majority, for changes in density of agricultural land or exceptions to the county height limit.

• Provide for recall elections for county commissioners, but not constitutional officers.

• Leave unchanged county commissioners' salaries and scheduled raises.

• Provide for voters to petition for certain new ordinances. They must gather a petition of at least 8 percent of the voters in each commission district and present it to the commission. If commissioners decline to adopt the new ordinance, it would go to referendum and become new law if passed.

• Provide for commissioners or voters to amend the charter. Commissioners would just need a 3-2 majority. Voters would need to collect a petition of 12 percent of the electorate in each district. Then it would go to the ballot if the commission doesn't adopt it.

Provide for commissioners or voters to amend the charter. Commissioners would just need a 3-2 majority. Voters would need to collect a petition of 12 percent of the electorate in each district. Then it would go to the ballot if the commission doesn't adopt it.

• Prevent charter amendments that would change constitutional officers' positions.

Q. How do residents of a Florida county adopt a home rule charter?

A. State law provides for either the voters, a special charter commission or the County Commission to draft the proposed charter. But in each case, county charters can only be adopted upon a vote of the countywide voters in a special election.

Q. How many Florida counties have adopted charters?

A. Of the state's 67 counties, 19 have charters. The nearest charter counties to Indian River are Palm Beach (1985), Osceola (1992) and Brevard (1994). For the full list, visit the Florida Association of Counties' Web site, www.fl-counties.com.

Q. Has any county repealed charter government?

A. None, says Stetson University Prof. T. Wayne Bailey. Having been a charter-government consultant across the state for years, Bailey says some counties have repealed certain provisions — such as Sarasota County's short-lived change to an appointed sheriff — but none have ditched the entire charter. Volusia County voters once had a referendum to repeal the charter and it lost.

From Florida Constitution, Florida Association of Counties and Dr. T. Wayne Bailey

Plans to lower property taxes

2007-04-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Senate plan to save property owners $11B in taxes

By MICHAEL PELTIER
staff writer April 13, 2007

The Florida Senate unveiled its property tax relief package Thursday that retains Save Our Homes protections while providing, backers say, long-term predictability without unduly hindering local governments. "This is an across-the-board plan," said Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Indialantic and chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee. "We're trying to help every single Florida taxpayer, whether that is a first-time home buyer, a person who feels trapped in their home because they have a growing family or are an empty nester."

The proposal is the latest in a series of plans unveiled over the past several weeks as lawmakers try to address a statewide hue and cry over skyrocketing property tax rates. Fueled by a white-hot real estate market beginning in 2004, property taxes have soared across the Treasure Coast.
The Senate plan would save taxpayers about $11 billion over the next five years. The House plan provides $6.3 billion of property tax relief in the first year and up to $15.8 billion by the third year.
Several steps are needed for the Senate plan to become law. Provisions for increasing the homestead exemption and tangible property taxes, and for allowing portability of Save Our Home savings, would have to be added to the state constitution. Backers would need to convince three-fourths of their colleagues to agree to put the issue on the November ballot.
More plan details will become available today as Senate finance and taxation members discuss the proposal. A committee vote is expected Tuesday.
COMPARING THE PLANS
Other property tax rollback plans proposed this legislative session:
HOUSE
Roll-back tax rates immediately to 2000-2001 levels adjusted for inflation. Voters would be asked to approve a constitutional amendment that eliminates property taxes on homesteaded residences. Increasing the state sales tax by 2.5 cents would make up lost revenue.
DEMOCRAT
Allow homeowners to carry up to $250,000 of Save Our Homes benefit to a more expensive home. Measure also would relax Save Our Homes cap by allowing local property appraisers to raise assessed value of a home more than the 3 percent now allowed under the 1992 constitutional amendment. Plan requires two constitutional amendments, one for portability of savings and second to increase annual property assessment.
GOVERNOR
Double the $25,000 homestead exemption and allow homeowners to carry their Save Our Homes tax savings to new homes, and expand exemptions to businesses.

SENATE REPUBLICAN
Plan highlights unveiled Thursday:
• Roll-back property tax rates to 2005-2006 levels. After accounting for population growth and inflation, rates would be frozen for two years. After that, local governments could not increase revenue by more than the inflation rate. Public school districts would not be required to roll back rates.
• Retain Save Our Homes protections for homeowners and allows them to transfer up to $500,000 in savings when they move. If a homeowner purchases a more expensive home, tax increases would be limited to 10 percent a year until the tax equaled the new property's purchase value. Thereafter, the increases would be capped at 3 percent.
• Give first-time homebuyers an additional $25,000 homestead exemption, bringing the total to $50,000.
• Provide small businesses with $25,000 tangible personal property tax exemption. Sponsors say that would eliminate the need for almost 1 million businesses to file tangible tax returns and reduce the amount paid by 300,000 more businesses.
• Help landlords by assessing their property based on rental income, not market value, which is often higher.

Low water levels cause concern

2007-04-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

Indian River County's low water levels causing conflict on shore

By ED KILLER edward.killer@scripps.com April 9, 2007
FELLSMERE — In the Garcia Reservoir south of Fellsmere, bass anglers are running aground. The 15-month-long drought gripping Florida is pinching off vital avenues of navigation. And access to favorite fishing holes are drying up for boaters and anglers throughout the Treasure Coast.
Evaporating waters are receding from boat ramps and bringing sand bars, rocky areas and submerged obstructions in closer proximity to boat hulls and propellers. With an estimated two more months of dry weather in the forecast,anglers and boaters planning trips to Blue Cypress Lake, the Stick Marsh, Garcia Reservoir, C-25, C-24, C-23, the St. Lucie Canal or Lake Okeechobee can expect to find more boat ramps that fail to reach the water's edge. Even where there is enough water to launch a boat, running aground is often an expensive — and dangerous — proposition.
'HISTORICAL LOW WATER LEVELS'
The South Florida Water Management District reported that the past 15 months have been the driest on record for this part of the state. Almost all of the Treasure Coast's freshwater ponds, lakes and canals are recharged solely by rains.
"Based on the extended forecast, we could get pretty close to what may be historical low water levels," said Boyd Gunsalus, senior environmental scientist with the district.
Measurements on Lake Okeechobee indicate water levels are dropping at rate of about 0.11 inches per day or a little more than an inch a week.
The St. Lucie Canal — the eastern segment of the Okeechobee Waterway that bisects the state — is an important conduit that enables recreational and commercial boat traffic to travel across Florida rather than around it saving 206 miles. It's worth $55 million of economic development value to the state.
RUNNING AGROUND
However, as the average depth of Lake Okeechobee and its surrounding canals approach historical lows, boaters and anglers are feeling impacts that have far reaching effects — both good and bad. Docks along the canal reach out into thin air and stand eight feet above dry land. Sailboats that moored in ample water in 2005 and 2006 are now lying on their sides on desert-dry canal banks.
The waterway's levels severely impede boat traffic. During the past two weeks, a half dozen large cruising vessels suffered damage after running aground on submerged rocks in the canal, said Eric Bamberg, yard manager of Indiantown Marina.
"This is extreme," Bamberg said. "We've hauled out a few boats that ripped off keels and rudders."
One boat towed in was taking on water and had an estimated $40,000 of damage, Bamberg said.
The drought also is impacting fishing trips.
"The low water is hurting everybody," said Jeanne Middleton, owner of Middleton's Fish Camp at Blue Cypress Lake west of Vero Beach. "We're low, the Stick Marsh is low and (Lake) Garcia is a mud hole. We've been calling customers who were planning to stay with us to let them know they may not be able to get out onto the lake."
Jeanne's husband, Joe, has been at Blue Cypress Lake for 46 years. He said this is lowest he has ever seen the lake in April.
Last week, the St. Johns River Water Management District dug out the access canal from the camp into the lake, so boaters have access until water levels recede more.
Springtime is the best time of year to catch bluegills and Mayan cichlids in C-24 Canal through Port St. Lucie, said Capt. C.W. Bishop. But last week city parks officials were forced to close the ramp at Oak Hammock Park because of low water.
ANY UPSIDE TO LOW WATER?
Low water is not all bad when it comes to fish populations in ponds and lakes, said Jon Fury, regional fisheries administrator for the South Region of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Fury said in the long term, aquatic plant life can re-seed and grow more vigorously in low water.
"Low water level does concentrate fish populations making it easier for anglers and predators like otters, alligators and ospreys to catch them," he said. "But when the fish concentrate, they also become susceptible to other factors. Low oxygen, disease and parasites can become more damaging and when the water drops low enough, the fish stop spawning."
Where anglers can get out onto area lakes, the fishing has been fairly strong, said Jeremy Prouty, a Vero Beach bass angler who fished a tournament on Lake Okeechobee March 31.
"There are spots where boaters cannot get out onto the lake," said Prouty, referring to Harney Pond Canal along the northwest shore. "If you run the main lake, you're really taking a chance. But there really aren't a lot of places to fish right now."
Capt. Mike Shellen is a fishing guide on Lake Okeechobee. His personal pontoon boat sits on dry land in the canal behind his home in Buckhead Ridge.
"This time of year, you'd like to have eight to nine spots where you can fish to reduce the amount of pressure on a specific spot," he said. "Now, I'm down to two or three spots. The fishing is still good, but it will drop off soon."
And in dry times like this people should only be out on the water if they have experience boating.
"I see someone run aground every day," said Shellen noting that airboat owners are charging $250 to pull boaters off sand bars. But it's the rocks and other submerged objects that worry him. "Someone could get killed out here."
***

Extreme low water conditions are affecting motorized boat traffic and fishing throughout the Treasure Coast. Here is a look at some of the impacts:
Lock schedules on Okeechobee Waterway: Eastbound vessels will pass through the lock on even hours between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Westbound vessels will pass through the lock on odd hours between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Conditions will be evaluated on a weekly basis.
Navigation depth: 4.03 feet
More information: www.saj.usace.army.mil and scroll down for Lake Okeechobee
Boaters can contact Lock Masters on VHF Channel 13
BOATER BEWARE
Channel Marker 52 in the Okeechobee Waterway east of Port Mayaca has become a hazard to navigation. In the past two weeks, several vessels passing through the St. Lucie Canal have run aground on submerged rocks near Marker 52.
Boater assistance: SeaTow and Towboat U.S. have stepped up assistance efforts on the Okeechobee Waterway. Boater's in need should call VHF Channel 16. SeaTow can be reached directly at (772) 225-3144. Towboat U.S. can be reached at (772) 286-8123.
Accidents: Call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (888) 404-3922.
Further assistance: Indiantown Marina on the St. Lucie Canal can be reached at (772)597-2455 or at www.indiantownmarina.com.
Stick Marsh: Open
Lake Garcia: Open
Blue Cypress Lake: Open
St. Lucie County
C-25 Angle Road, Fort Pierce: Open
C-24 Oak Hammock Park, Port St. Lucie: Closed
Martin County
C-23 Boat Ramp Road, Palm City: Closed
C-44 Timer Powers Park, Indiantown: Open
J & S Fish Camp, Lake Okeechobee: Too low to launch
Port Mayaca Lock, Lake Okeechobee: Open
Okeechobee County
Harney Pond Canal, Lake Okeechobee: Too low to launch
Indian Prairie Canal, Lake Okeechobee: Open
Okeetantie Park, Lake Okeechobee: Open

Steady Growth for Indain River County

2007-03-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

Indian River continues slow but steady population growth for 2006

By CHARLIE REED AND JEREMY ASHTON
staff writers March 22, 2007

The Treasure Coast is now home to 522,217 people, 15,608 more than previously the Census. Mirroring years of relatively slow but steady growth, Indian River the latest data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The county welcomed 2,743 new residents during that time, raising its population to 130,100 although the growth rate dropped slightly from 2.3 the year before, according to the Census estimates.
"We've been running pretty steady the past few years," said IndianRiver County Commission Chairman Gary Wheeler.
Compared to the state's 1.8 average growth rate, Indian River is "almost middle of the road," Wheeler said. "It's like golf, the lower the score, the better."
But sandwiched between St. Lucie County and Brevard counties, which grew by 12,754 and 5,719 residents, respectively, Indian River is not immune to growing pains, Wheeler said.
"Where we're getting cramped is at our county lines," he said. "Between the water supply and roads, we're going to feel a tremendous impact from those communities."
While growth rates along the Treasure Coast fell across the board during 2005-06, the region's 3.1 percent growth average is well about the 1.8 state average. St. Lucie County dropped from 5.8 percent to 5.3 percent and Martin County fell slightly from 1.2 to 0.1. Okeechobee County also dropped slightly from 1.8 to 1.7 percent.
The declining growth rates are linked to a cooling housing market and a relatively small retiree population, said Lance deHaven-Smith, a public policy professor at Florida State University.
"Right now our retirement population is the fairly small generation in-between the World War II generation and the baby boomers, people born in the 1930s," he said. "But when the first baby boomers start retiring in two years, the growth is going to be enormous."

Those 65 and older now account for 18 percent of Florida's 17 million residents, but by 2025 they will make up 26 percent of the population, deHaven said.
"It's an avalanche waiting to happen," he said.
Until then, the Treasure Coast likely will not come to a standstill. The region is now home to 522,217 people, 15,608 more than previously recorded by the Census.
However, the latest batch of year-to-year comparisons released by the Census do not necessarily indicate an overall slow-growth trend in the region, said Greg Vaday, economic development coordinator with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council.
"You can't call a trend based on a couple of data points. Population migration is not always on a completely upward trajectory. Sometimes it flattens, sometimes it dips. It can't just keep going up and up," he said. "What we're probably seeing is a reflection of the overall economic condition of the country and certainly the slow down in the housing market."
But with a growing economy and coastal living appeal, the Treasure Coast is sure to continue attracting a steady stream of new residents, most of whom come here for a new job or to retire, he said.
charlie.reed@scripps.com jeremy.ashton@scripps.com
"Right now our retirement population is the fairly small generation in-between the World War II generation and the baby boomers, people born in the 1930s. But when the first baby boomers start retiring in two years, the growth is going to be enormous. It's an avalanche waiting to happen."
Lance deHaven-Smith, public policy professor at Florida State University
"We definitely need an opportunity to catch our breath. We got behind in providing the services that we're supposed to be providing such as schools, public transportation, libraries and roads. The growth came so quickly in the past few years we just weren't able to make those things happen as quickly as we could have or should have."
Some interesting notes from the 2006 population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau:
St. Lucie County Commission Chairman Chris Craft
• The Treasure Coast is home to 13,419 more people than the state of Wyoming.
• Florida boasts 12 of the 100 fastest-growing counties in the United States. Only Georgia and Texas have more on the list.
• St. Lucie County went from the 13th fastest-growing county in the United States in 2005 to 43rd in 2006.
• Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach rank eighth, 15th and 29th, respectively, on the list of the nation's largest counties.

Under the oaks

2007-03-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

Vero Beach's three-day event among top 200 of its type in the nation

By ELLIOTT JONES
elliott.jones@scripps.com
March 10, 2007

VERO BEACH — After a 20-hour flight from Israel, artist Yoram Gal was rushing and sweating: he couldn't get the last two boxes of his fresh paintings boarded on the airplane for the final leg of his journey to the Under the Oaks sale and show. So the 55-year-old Israeli went ahead Thursday, flying from New Jersey to Miami.
Then he drove to Vero Beach, just in time to get his display set up for the opening on Friday, the first day of the three-day show that continues today and Sunday. He had to get there. "This is an important show," said Gal, who displayed some paintings he had left in a van in Miami from a previous trip to the United States.
Then last night he planned to drive to Miami to get the boxes of paintings the airplane was forwarding to him.
More than 629 artists and photographers applied to get in. Only 212 were selected, said Roz Duflo, coordinator of the three-day show that attracts up to 80,000 visitors each year. The 59th annual Under the Oaks show is among the top 200 events of its type in the nation, based on quality and size, she said.
So artists come from throughout the United States — even from overseas, in Geal's case — to offer items such as handmade Italian lambskin purses with silver and semiprecious stones, costing $1,195.
Carver Jia Justin, of Philadelphia, displayed a 3-foot-tall wooden carving that took a year to make: fish and turtles in a coral reef. The price tag is $5,788.
But there are also small trinkets, such as the necklace 9-year-old Pennsylvania resident Courtney Howell picked out under the watchful eyes of her grandmother, part-time Vero Beach resident Dottie Howell.
Dangling from the necklace was a dark blue piece of glass tumbled smooth by the ocean washing on the beach. It reminded her of Cape Cod's Martha's Vinyard, where she spends summers on the beaches.
Most of what she saw Friday at Under the Oaks "is for adults," Courtney said, while holding the necklace and pointing out a metal swirl on it. "This is really cool." As her grandmother sees it, Under the Oaks "is fabulous."
A group of people were silent, listening to Brooker resident Gene Jaeger playing "Amazing Grace" on a handmade $300 psaltery that has a fine, harp-like sound.
Wisconsin winter visitor Audrey Delafield listened, thinking of an old lyre harp at home. "This is a wonderful show," she said. For Gal, the show is a breathe of freedom.
In Europe, buyers are more fickle, tending to purchase from galleries and rely on art critics in making choices, he said. The United States has outdoor art shows where customer just walk up and buy what they like. "It is a risk coming here, having to spend many thousands of dollars" in travel expenses to showcase his paintings made of canvas and water-based paints and other mediums. Some are realistic, such as one of a duck running. One is of the waterfront were he lives: Old Jaffa, home of the Biblical Jonah and the whale story.
Most are abstract, colorful emotional representations of things such as a night in Jerusalem.
This is his third Under the Oaks show and from here he goes to New Jersey and Texa, before flying back to Israel to visit his wife and young son — embracing as in one of his paintings entitled "triangle embrace." Then he'll fly back for a show in Austin, Texas.
He was an officer in the military in Israel and knows the tensions in his country. "It is a love-hate relationship," he said. "We argue between ourselves. There are a hundred views of what is going on. There are tensions. Yet, I love Israel. We are passionate, fighting to keep it alive.
"I do like to get out and breathe a little," he said, as he stood by his paintings under the oak trees in the quiet of Riverside Park. "There is death and war. That makes me try even harder to have fun and smile. We have enough of the other."
What: An outdoor juried art show with 212 artists from Florida and the United States
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Vero Beach's Riverside Park, south of the eastern end of the Merrill Barber Bridge
Typical attendance: 80,000 during the three-day show that started Friday
Admission: Free
Parking: Free parking in park, plus a shuttle for parking in nearby MacWilliams Park
Concessions: Food and drink for sale
Information: List of exhibits and information are available at Vero Beach Art Club tent at the entryway.
Organizers: Vero Beach Art Club, a group of 562 members
Proceeds: Pay for scholarships for high-school seniors and education of art club members

Sebastian Yacht Club

2007-03-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

Yacht club improvements may be completed by April

By ED BIERSCHENK ed.bierschenk@scripps.com March 1, 2007
SEBASTIAN —
Repairs and renovations to the Sebastian Yacht Club — along with the parking area that serves it and the adjacent boat ramp — may be completed this spring. "We are really shooting to have it back open by mid- to late April," said Sebastian City Manager Al Minner.
The Sebastian City Council, acting in its capacity as the city's Community Development Agency, on Wednesday authorized putting another $15,000 in CRA money into the project —now expected to cost about $154,000.
Minner will also look at some money allocated for sidewalks to help fund improvements at the site, initially expected to cost about $110,000.
Interior work to the building, damaged during the 2004 hurricanes, included utting the city-owned facility to allow for a more spacious layout, installation of new handicap bathrooms, new electrical wiring, new air conditioning, replacement of doors and windows, and new siding. information Minner presented to council members.
About $30,000 more is needed for sidewalks and railings. Minner said the Yacht Club will be in better shape than it was before the hurricanes because of the improvements, with about $5,000 of new landscaping added to the site.
Some residents have complained about delays in finishing renovations at the building, which has been used by community groups. City officials held off on making some repairs while looking at options to aid area boat traffic .
At one time, consideration was given to doubling the size of the boat ramp and possibly closing the Main Street boat ramp. That idea, however, was vigorously opposed by some boaters, and the City Council last year rejected that plan.
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New Heart Clinic report card

2007-03-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

Heart center at IRMC gets strong report

By JAMES KIRLEY jim.kirley@scripps.com March 1, 2007
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY —

A team of doctors from Duke University spent Wednesday examining heart surgery and angioplasty cases done during the first three months of operations at The Heart Center at Indian River Medical Center and delivered a glowing report to the hospital's Board of Directors. "The quality that you've achieved is not by mistake, it's by design," said Dr. Harry Phillips, medical director of the Duke Heart Network. "I want to compliment everyone involved in the process."

Duke University Health System is affiliated with IRMC. It helped develop the heart program and conducts ongoing quality reviews of results. The local program hired Dr. Cary Stowe as its medical director for cardiovascular surgery and Dr. Joel Greenberg as its director of interventional cardiology — procedures usually referred to as angioplasty. Both are veteran doctors with years of experience at other heart centers
Duke's Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery Dr. Peter Smith told IRMC directors Wednesday the first open heart surgery cases done locally by Stowe were more complex than might be expected at a new heart center. He added that Stowe's surgical experience made that possible.
"I don't think he's shied away from much at all," Smith said. He also predicted that, based on patient volumes to date, RMC's Heart Center could perform between 220 and 240 open-heart surgeries during its first year. High heart surgery volumes are widely considered important for maintaining the skills of surgical teams.
"It could be better," Smith said of surgery volume. "But we're well on the road."
Dr. Jimmy Tcheng, an inteventional cardiologist and medical director of Duke's Heart Center of Excellence program, said he was "extremely happy" about what he saw on Wednesday's visit.
"You, as an institution, are ahead of the game in terms of experience," Tcheng said, adding that Greenberg has helped IRMC off to a good start.
Phillips said that while many people feel there is an inherent advantage in academic medicine, hybrid programs such as the Duke/IRMC affiliation have their own merit.
"I think there is an advantage in community medicine," Phillips said.

HEART UNIT PUMPING
The Heart Center at Indian River Medical Center has been performing open heart surgeries since Nov. 6 and non-surgical angioplasty procedures to open blocked heart arteries since Nov. 27. The number of cases performed to date at IRMC are:
Open heart surgeries: 60
Non-surgical angioplasty procedures: 110
Heart Center patients who died at IRMC and up to 30 days after discharge: Zero
IRMC Marketing Department; oral report to IRMC Board of Directors by a team of Duke University doctors who conducted case reviews Wednesday.
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Greenways may come to airport

2007-02-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

By ED BIERSCHENK ed.bierschenk@scripps.com February 12, 2007
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 10-mile path along the perimeter of the Vero Beach Municipal Airport for use by pedestrians and bicyclists could be among the first projects designed as part of a Central Indian River County Greenways Plan. The trail could run along 43rd Avenue, 41st Street, the railroad corridor east of the airport, Aviation Boulevard and the Main Relief Canal. A system of trails also could be located in a proposed Mountain Bike Park, in some land northwest of the Airport Industrial Park.
The county is recommending that design work begin on this project, which is one of several included in the greenways plan being done by the county by Alta Planning + Design, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y, and Fort Lauderdale-based Kimley-Horn and Associates.
The loop trail has been discussed in the past and part of it is expected to be built in conjunction with the widening of Aviation Boulevard, west of U.S. 1, in the summer of 2008. Vero Beach Recreation Director Rob Slezak said previously that he will be seeking additional state money to complete the airport loop. The total cost of the loop could exceed $3 million.
The county's Metropolitan Planning Organization will discuss the plan at its Wednesday meeting. Other projects that could be done over the next one to five years include some improvements to a "two bridges loop," which is already a popular route for runners and others.
The loop basically runs from State Road A1A, west along Beachland Boulevard and the Barber Bridge to Indian River Boulevard, south to the 17th Street Causeway, east along 17th Street to S.R. A1A and back to Beachland Boulevard.
Some of the proposed improvements could include adding designated bike lanes to S.R. A1A between the bridges and improving the bike lanes along the 17th Street bridge, which could include using colored asphalt. Longer term, there may be consideration given to shifting the barrier along the Barber Bridge to create a wider pedestrian walkway.
The public will have a chance to comment on the final draft of a Central Indian River County Greenways Plan between 2 and 3 p.m. Tuesday at a meeting in conference room A of the Indian River County Administration building, 1840 25th St.

Top 10 cities: Where to buy now

2007-02-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

CNNMoney.com
Top 10 cities: Where to buy nowThe real estate slump could get worse before it gets better. But these 10 markets offer great opportunities for those who have the patience to buy and hold.
2. Vero Beach, FL
64% Projected gain in home prices (5-year)*
Median home price2006: $235,0002011: $386,000
Population2006: 131,0002011: 147,000
Per capita income2006: $44,4002011: $51,200
Balmy weather, low property taxes, and a cost of living 3% lower than that of nearby West Palm Beach make this coastal town an affordable alternative, with sandy shores and the best surfing on the East Coast."Vero Beach is at high risk in the short term but will move up in the long term," Cochrane says.Here's why: A Florida Atlantic University study says Indian River County and its two closest neighbors will need a projected 154,000 new homes during the next 25 years to house the growing population and replace old structures. A Manpower Employment Outlook Survey predicts growth in construction, manufacturing, and retail jobs too. Per capita income growth closely shadowed that of Martin County, Florida's second-wealthiest, and is gaining on that of Palm Beach County, the state's richest.
CAUTION: Projected job growth in the region will revolve mainly around lower-wage work, which can dampen home values.

$2.5 million park for Sebastian next year

2007-02-09T16:44:00.000-08:00

$2.5 million park to open in Sebastian next year
By TONY JUDNICH tony.judnich@scripps.com December 10, 2006
SEBASTIAN — Barbara Zingman is eager to show her friends around a massive oasis in the middle of town.
The Sebastian resident joined about 30 other bundled-up volunteers on a blustery Friday morning to finalize construction of the 166-acre Sebastian Stormwater Park. They planted more than 750 stabilizing plants, shrubs and plugs of grass around its ponds and other areas.
"I got my hands dirty and I helped create it," Zingman said of the $2.5 million park. "I'll be bringing my friends here to go walking."
The heavily wooded park, south of Englar Drive and west of Caprona Street, could open officially to the public in a year. Until then, St. Johns River Water Management District officials will monitor the park and make sure its water pumps are working and its ponds and wetlands are removing pollutants as they should.
The ponds and wetlands will filter pollution out of water pumped from the adjacent Collier Creek, which collects storm water from more than 1,000 acres of the Sebastian Highlands and connects to the St. Sebastian River and Indian River Lagoon. The cleaned water then will be returned to the creek.
Late next year, St. Johns will turn over the park's maintenance to Sebastian officials, who also will decide whether to add new recreational features. Currently, the park has more than two miles of hiking trails, and grassy berms around the ponds could serve as picnic spots.

The city's main park task will be keeping the berms mowed, but city officials don't yet know what the annual mowing cost will be. City Manager Al Minner visited the park Friday and said installing benches, and allowing people to walk their dogs on the trails and to canoe or kayak on the ponds are some recreational issues that might be considered.
"I'm sure we'll take a good hard look at making it the best it can be," he said of the park.
St. Johns Project Manager Ralph Brown said while the park won't open officially until late next year, many people — including some with dogs — already have walked along its trails.
Zingman's husband, Bruce, also helped to install plants at the park Friday. He said the volunteer planters included residents of Sebastian, Vero Beach, Roseland and Little Hollywood.
"It's just a gorgeous area in the middle of Sebastian," he said. "I didn't believe it was this big."
The planting work marked the end of the park's construction. The project began five years ago, but most of the time since then has been used to obtain various permits. The actual construction took about a year and a half, St. Johns officials said.
OASIS IN SEBASTIAN
What: Sebastian Stormwater Park.
Size: 166 acres, about the same size as the Sebastian Municipal Golf Course. The park includes three ponds, the largest of which covers 21 acres.
Where: Bounded by Collier Creek to the west and south, Englar Drive to the north and Caprona Street to the east. Entrance is on the south side of Englar Drive, just east of South Easy Street.
Function: The park's ponds and wetlands will filter storm water from Collier Creek, then clean water will be returned to the creek. They'll remove an estimated 80 percent total nitrogen and 56 percent of total phosphorus — both from fertilizers — and 79 percent of sediments and suspended solids from the water.
Recreation: There are more than 2 miles of hiking trails. Berms around the ponds can be used for picnics and bird watching. The city later might add benches and allow people to walk their dogs there.
Preservation: Park includes several stands of live oak, as well as many gopher tortoises and scrub jays.
Opening: About a year from now.
Cost: $2.5 million in state and federal money.
Managers: The park will be overseen by the St. Johns River Water Management District for the next year, then the district will turn over its maintenance to the city.

FAU marine center opens

2007-02-09T16:42:00.000-08:00

FAU marine center opens
By CHARLIE REED charlie.reed@scripps.com November 13, 2006
NORTH ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Priscilla Winder is trying to find the cure for cancer under water.
The Florida Atlantic University student is doing research for her doctorate in ocean engineering at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, specializing in drug development.
"We're basically looking for pharmacological drugs from marine organisms," said Winder, 28, a native of New Jersey who came to FAU 10 years ago to study marine biology and chemistry. She now works with the same Harbor Branch scientists she first met as an undergraduate.
In 2001, Winder was among the first group of students to attend the Semester by the Sea program, accredited by FAU, but taught at Harbor Branch's sprawling campus along a deep-water channel in the Indian River Lagoon.
"You're completely immersed in everything marine," said Winder. "It inspired me and helped me figure out what I wanted to do."
The program — which takes students into the water with top scientists at the nonprofit for field research — formalized years of partnership between FAU and Harbor Branch.
Today, the affiliation deepens with the opening of an $11 million marine science center, owned by FAU and located just outside the main gates of Harbor Branch.
The taxpayer-funded project brings 40,000 square feet of laboratory and office space for eight faculty members from each institution and up to 48 doctoral students, some pursuing degrees with FAU, others with Harbor Branch.
As it grows, the public-private alliance is expected to score more funds from the state Legislature and prestigious and well-heeled organizations such as the National Science Foundation.
The Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies has plans to temporarily set up shop at the new building next year. The nonprofit biotech committed earlier this year to build a permanent campus in Tradition, a planned community in St. Lucie West, after the state promised the La Jolla, Calif.-based group millions in financial incentives.
FAU won't profit from lending Torrey Pines space. But university officials are counting on the physical connection to spur collaboration, such as the one FAU developed with Scripps Research Institute. Also based in La Jolla, Scripps is building permanent offices and labs at FAU's Jupiter campus.
"We expect to have significant interaction with Torrey Pines just like we're developing with Scripps," said Larry Lemanski, vice president for research at FAU.
But the new marine science building is more than temporary digs for Torrey Pines. It will allow Treasure Coast scientists to continue marine- related drug research that began in 2003 with a $10 million state grant.
The growing public investment at Harbor Branch could help local leaders justify pumping more money into the cash-strapped research outfit to prevent commercial and residential developers from chipping away at the 500 acres of pristine riverfront property. Partnerships are key to Harbor Branch flourishing in the future, said Dennis Hanisak, director of Marine Science.
"The benefactors are the students," he said.
In the case of Winder, the Ph.D. candidate combing the ocean for the cure for cancer, society also benefits if her research leads to a medical breakthrough.
"I'm so happy because I get to do what I love and try and help people at the same time," Winder said.
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IRMC director brings extensive surgery experience to the table

2007-02-09T16:39:00.000-08:00

IRMC director brings extensive surgery experience to the table
By JAMES KIRLEY jim.kirley@scripps.com October 13, 2006
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — There should be nothing novel about the first-ever open heart surgery done at Indian River Medical Center, says the doctor who will be performing it in the new $13.5 million facility that is set to open the week of Oct. 23.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — There should be nothing novel about the first-ever open heart surgery done at Indian River Medical Center, says the doctor who will be performing it in the new $13.5 million facility that is set to open the week of Oct. 23.
That is because Dr. Cary Stowe, IRMC's medical director for cardiovascular surgery, has done thousands of such operations. Moreover, the 54-year-old Stowe has brought several members of his surgical team with him to Vero Beach from Florida Hospital System in Orlando, where most of those surgeries were done.
"There will be a sense of cohesiveness, like a football team," said Stowe, adding he plans to begin IRMC's program with "straight-forward" cases of heart valve replacement and coronary bypass. He expects it will not take long before more complicated heart problems are getting cured locally
"If I had to guess, we will have all that up and running in six months or sooner," Stowe said.
There was a noticeable sense of excitement among hospital staff Thursday, as construction workers put the finishing touches on 28,000 square feet of new and renovated hospital space.
While repairing hearts and major arteries is the project's mission, an infusion of new talent, training and $5 million in new medical equipment is spilling over into other hospital departments.
"The improvement process really started several years ago," said Janet Longenberger, registered nurse and director of The Heart Center. Duke University Health System Inc. formed a partnership with IRMC for the center beginning in fall 2004.
"When Duke came, they did an assessment of the entire organization," Longenberger said.
Partly as a result of that process, IRMC's clinical laboratory was renovated and its blood banking capabilities expanded.
She also noted cardiac nursing experts conducted three dozen sessions to train clinical teams and 35 nurses from IRMC were sent in groups to observe operations at Sarasota Memorial Hospital's heart surgery center.
The radiology department at IRMC got the latest CAT scan machine, which uses computers to generate three-dimensional images from two-dimensional X-rays.
Thursday, Hospital Facilities Director Cliff Schroeder showed workers putting the finishing touches on a new cardiac catheterization laboratory.
It is where Dr. Joel Greenberg, IRMC's new director of interventional cardiology, and another Florida Hospital alumnus will open plaque-blocked arteries and install tiny wire scaffolds called stents to hold them open — typically working through a small incision in a patient's groin
Until now, IRMC used the same basic technique to diagnose heart disease, but could not repair blockages.
In most instances, Longenberger said, these patients will go home after less than one day at the hospital.
The Heart Center at IRMC will be the third heart surgery unit in as many Treasure Coast counties. Martin Memorial Medical Center opened its unit Aug. 1 and Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute opened in 1999 — the same year IRMC leaders decided to begin pursuit of their own heart center.
Critics of the proliferation of heart surgery units at smaller hospitals — they often come from institutions that have existing programs — say it takes several hundred surgeries per year to keep an operating room team proficient in the delicate and complicated procedures.
Stowe said those critics need to consider the starting point.
"Here, we are starting with a very experienced (operating room) team," he said.
It includes a heart-lung machine specialist, scrub nurse and physician's assistant who worked with Stowe in Orlando, plus his office manager and a nurse practitioner to care for patients after surgery.
"I don't think (patient) volume is as critical for a team that has prior experience and a doctor who has done thousands of these procedures," Stowe said. THE HEART CENTER AT IRMC
Officials at The Heart Center at Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach will be ready for their first open heart surgery patient the week of Oct. 23. The following week of Oct. 30, hospital officials expect to be ready to perform their first non-surgical heart procedure using angioplasty.
HEART CENTER FACTS
• Four new operating rooms, two dedicated to heart surgery, plus one new laboratory for interventional cardiology — often called angioplasty.
• 15,000 square feet of new building, plus 13,000 square feet renovated.
• Cost of about $8.2 million for construction, plus $5 million for new equipment.
• Improvements related to heart surgery benefiting other areas of the hospital include an expanded clinical laboratory and state-of-the-art imaging equipment.

Making move to save more gopher tortoises

2007-02-09T16:36:00.000-08:00

Making move to save more gopher tortoises
By ELLIOTT JONES elliott.jones@scripps.com October 13, 2006
WABASSO — When Humane Society director Joan Carlson saw a developer clearing some woodlands weeks ago, she feared some state-protected gopher tortoises would be destroyed.
So society officials began checking.
This week that led to a major policy shift by state wildlife officials, allowing local citizens for the first time to step in and save tortoises developers have been permitted to plow under.
"It's been entombment," said local Humane Society official Ilka Daniel, referring to the state's long-standing policy of allowing destruction of gopher tortoise burrows.
Now she and national Humane Society officials hope other groups throughout Florida will follow the local Humane Society's lead in trying to move tortoises that otherwise might have died.
Under state rules, developers can either contribute money or have the tortoises moved, with only permitted people allowed to do the work. Developers have often found it cheaper to contribute to the land-buying program than go through the state-regulated process of relocating the animals.
Through the years, the state's so-called pay-and-plow policy has collected $33 million, used in purchasing 9,700 acres at 11 sites in Florida — all for safeguarding gopher tortoises, said Joy Hill, spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
But because of declining numbers of tortoises and loss of lands on which they live, the commission in June increased the animal's status, making it a threatened species, just one step under being endangered. An estimated 250,000 tortoises live in Florida.
And next summer Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission plans to stop its policy of allowing developers to plow under gopher tortoises, commission officials said.
The new rule, allowing citizens' involvement, is largely a humanitarian gesture, said Hill, who doesn't expect it to do much in safeguarding the overall tortoise population.
Yet, "We don't want turtles to be killed either," she said.
National Humane Society official Jennifer Hobgood sees it differently. She intervened, on the local Humane Society's behalf, this week to get the rules changed. And on Thursday, she visited the construction work site that alarmed Carlson. Hobgood estimated that the state's pay-and-plow policy has been allowing the destruction of 8,000 to 10,000 tortoises a year throughout the state.
Hobgood and Daniel found four tortoises on Thursday, including three living in an undeveloped portion of a subdivision. The fourth is presumed to have dug itself out of a buried burrow, Hobgood said.
Those turtles were moved to the undeveloped area. Also, the workers identified 18 burrows being used by tortoises. Work will continue throughout the weekend.
"Tortoises are a keystone species," said Florida Atlantic University tortoise researcher John Moore, a Vero Beach resident who helped with the work of locating tortoises at the development site.
According to a state survey, the subdivision contained an estimated 15 tortoises. Each tortoise can have anywhere from one to five burrows, wildlife officials said, and half of the estimated 30 burrows at the subdivision were plowed over. The remainder are in protected areas, society officials said.
"The developer has been very, very cooperative" on allowing society officials to get on site and look for turtles, Daniel said. Yet, she said, the developer doesn't want to be identified. A developer's local representative didn't return phone calls.
Relocating turtles on the site is a temporary measure as society officials start apply for the permanent relocation permit allowed under the new change in rules. The Humane Society's board hasn't yet met to discuss whether the tortoises could be moved to vacant property at its headquarters.
The search for land is what developers throughout the state will face, if the commission's rule-makers approve the proposed elimination of the pay-and-plow policy.
"It's a multi-million-dollar question," Hill said. "We'll be working with developers, landowners and others to find suitable sites."
The Humane Society of Vero Beach wants local conservation groups to band together to save gopher tortoises threatened by development. • Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission just started allowing local groups to relocate tortoises the commission is allowing developers to bury during construction.
• Groups have to apply for a permit to move the tortoises.
• To get a permit, groups need permission of the developer and a suitable place for the tortoises to live. Sick tortoises can't be moved to site with healthy tortoises.
• Anyone who wants to help may call the Humane Society at (772) 388-3331, ext. 28.

Riverview Park offering brownbag programs

2007-02-09T16:34:00.000-08:00

Riverview Park offering brownbag programs
By TONY JUDNICH
SEBASTIAN — Starting today, anyone living near the Indian River Lagoon and wanting to learn more about the waterway and other parts of the local natural environment might want to pack a lunch and head to Riverview Park.
That's where members of the nonprofit, Palm Bay-based Marine Resources Council of East Florida will kick off the Sebastian version of their brown bag lunch lecture program, which covers topics such as ecology, fishing, native plants, gardening and natural historyThe first lecture at Riverview Park will be given from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Amber Shawl, a research associate with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce, will discuss the queen conch, the second-most valuable fisheries species in the Caribbean. Despite conservation efforts, queen conch populations have been declining for the past 20 years, according to information from the council.
The first lecture at Riverview Park will be given from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Amber Shawl, a research associate with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce, will discuss the queen conch, the second-most valuable fisheries species in the Caribbean. Despite conservation efforts, queen conch populations have been declining for the past 20 years, according to information from the council.
Shawl also serves as the education and outreach director of the Conch Heritage Network, an organization founded at Harbor Branch in 2001 and dedicated to protecting the queen conch through education and outreach programs.
The Marine Resource Council's subsequent brown bag programs at Riverview Park will run from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the last Friday of the month: Oct. 27, Dec. 29, Jan. 26, Feb. 23 and March 30. A lecture will not be given on the last Friday in November, since that is the day after Thanksgiving.
The Oct. 27 program will feature Heather Stapleton, education coordinator from Wabasso's Environmental Learning Center. Stapleton will discuss stormwater runoff and how it affects lagoon species.
Jessica Carey, the Marine Resource Council's education coordinator, said the council is arranging speakers and lecture topics for the other lectures at the park. For many years, the council has given similar brown bag lectures at several other locations, including at noon each Friday at Fisherman's Landing Park, 5795 U.S. 1 in Grant, in South Brevard County.
Many Sebastian-area residents who regularly attended the lectures in Grant and some of the Tuesday lectures at the council-managed Lagoon House, 3275 U.S. 1, Palm Bay, requested the programs be offered in Sebastian, Carey said Thursday.
"It's a real relaxed atmosphere," she said of the brown bag lunches. "There is a short, 30-45-minute lecture and then a Q and A."
Previous speakers included officials from various universities, St. Johns River Water Management District and the Pelican Island Audubon Society, she said.
What: Brown bag lunch lectures, discussing the Indian River Lagoon and other environmental topics.
When: From 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the last Friday of the month, except November. The first lecture is today and the last will be on March 30.
Where: Riverview Park's gazebo, west of Indian River Drive and south of Sebastian Boulevard.
Who: Lectures will be given by environmental experts selected by the nonprofit, Palm Bay-based Marine Resources Council of East Florida.
Cost: Free to the public. Participants bring their own lunch.

Disney property sold to developer

2007-02-09T16:32:00.000-08:00

Disney property sold to developer
Byline: ROBERT BARBA robert.barba@scripps.comSource:VERO BEACH -- A St. Petersburg developer has snagged one of the most prominent pieces of oceanfront property in Vero Beach. Southeast Companies of Tampa Bay Inc., through its subsidiary Ocean Sands-Vero, has purchased 7.8 acres just south of Disney's Vero Beach Resort.Repeated calls to the developer and its broker, Michael Thorpe, were not returned.
The firm paid Disney $13.6 million in late August for the parcel, according to public records. The deal was financed with a $14.3 million mortgage from SunTrust Bank.The property fronts the ocean for about 1,500 feet and is zoned multi-family residential.Plans call for 60 units in five three-story buildings with covered parking, according to the developer's Web site. Units range from 3,500 to 3,800 square feet. Amenities include cabanas, tennis court, pool and spa.No prices are listed on the site.

Torrey Pines to get red carpet

2007-02-09T16:30:00.000-08:00

Torrey Pines to get red carpet
By HILLARY COPSEY hillary.copsey@scripps.com September 21, 2006
PORT ST. LUCIE — Developer Core Communities is hosting an invitation-only reception at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Tradition Hall to welcome Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, while the city is taking the first steps toward building a $40 million facility for the California-based biotech organization.
Gov. Jeb Bush is expected to attend Tuesday's event, which will celebrate Torrey Pines' decision to build in Port St. Lucie. The nonprofit research center is the latest California biotech organization to expand in Florida.
Torrey Pines is expected to bring 189 jobs to a new facility being built for it by Port St. Lucie in Tradition. President and founder Richard Houghten will give more information Tuesday about the research center's Florida plans, event planners said.
A $90 million incentive package collected by the state, Port St. Lucie St. Lucie County, Core Communities and Florida Atlantic University lured Torrey Pines to the Treasure Coast. The state Legislative Budget Commission is set to seal the deal early Tuesday by approving $30 million for Torrey Pines.
Five companies already have submitted proposals to build the $40 million, 100,000-square-foot facility needed for Torrey Pines.
The city hopes to complete the facility in Tradition in about two years paid for with fees charged to developers on every home they build, officials said.
To stick to the fast timeline, City Manager Don Cooper asked builders with experience constructing lab facilities to submit their qualifications by Monday. Three companies working out of West Palm Beach — Centex Construction , Suffolk Construction and The Weitz Co.— met the deadline, along with Catalfumo Construction Ltd. of Palm Beach Gardens and DPR Construction of Phoenix.
The city may choose a construction company early next month.

Two rescued arctic seals fighting for survival

2007-02-09T16:28:00.000-08:00

Two rescued arctic seals fighting for survival
By SUZANNE WENTLEY September 19, 2006
FORT PIERCE — Lounging near baby pools in an air-conditioned building at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution on Monday, two arctic hooded seals that beached themselves during the weekend were recovering and possibly heading home.
Meanwhile, marine scientists were trying to figure out how the seals, which normally live off the coast of Newfoundland and Greenland, ended up stranding themselves about 3,500 miles away at the St. Lucie Inlet State Park Preserve in Hobe Sound on Saturday and in Palm Beach County on Sunday.
"Why are they in Florida? That's the question," said Greg Bossart, Harbor Branch's director of marine mammal research and conservation. "We've just seen so many bizarre changes in our oceans with cancer in dolphins and antibiotic resistant bacteria and viruses, all disturbing things. Is this another one?"
The seals could have been affected by cold water upwelling, a shift in food patterns or even one of the two hurricanes churning out in the Atlantic Ocean, he said.
On Monday, the seals — named Patches and Sandy — were being given ice, baby formula and antibiotics because they were suffering from severe dehydration and hypothermia "from being on the beach and baking in the Florida sun," Bossart said.
It was unclear Monday whether both of the young, female seals would survive, but Bossart and other marine mammal experts were working to transport the creatures to a better-equipped animal hospital in New Jersey.
Doug Capen, the operations manager of Stuart Jet Center, an aviation service business at Witham Field, said the center's owner was willing to fly the seals in his own Lear jet if the seals' cages can fit through the aircraft's door.
They could be flown north by jet as early as this afternoon, he said.
From there, Bossart said he hoped the animals would be healthy enough to be released back into the wild off the Maine shoreline.
"I need to get them stabilized medically," he said. "They're not feeling well now, and they're only 65 pounds, but even that's a handful."
WANT TO HELP THE SEALS?
In case efforts fall through to transport the two seals from Fort Pierce by jet to New Jersey — where the Marine Mammal Stranding Center is equipped to care for the seals until they can be released — Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution is hoping to raise $6,000 to transport them. Call the institution at (772) 465-2400 to donate.

Q & A: Joanna Taylor, Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

2007-02-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

A: Joanna Taylor, Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
By TONY JUDNICH tony.judnich@scripps.com September 18, 2006
The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, covering 20.5 miles from Wabasso Beach in Indian River County to Melbourne Beach in Brevard County, annually hosts the most loggerhead sea turtle nests in the Western Hemisphere and the most green sea turtle nests in the United States.
Refuge Ranger Joanna Taylor explains why loggerheads, greens and some leatherback sea turtles seem to prefer nesting at the refuge.Q: First, what are the nesting seasons?
A: Loggerheads nest April through September, greens nest June through September and leatherbacks nest March to July.

Q: How many nests are in the refuge now?
A: Through Aug. 17, we recorded 8,898 loggerhead nests in the Brevard County section of the refuge; 614 at Sebastian Inlet State Park (in Brevard and Indian River counties); and 1,184 in the Indian River County part of the refuge, south of the park. The refuge and (the Middle Eastern country) Oman have the two largest populations of loggerheads.
For greens, there were 1,079 in Brevard County, 63 in the park and 123 south of the park. For leatherbacks, which are done nesting, there were 12 nests in Brevard, one at Sebastian Inlet and six in Indian River County.

Q: Why is the refuge so popular for turtle nesting?
A: The beaches in the refuge remain rather pristine. Even though we have some private homes on them, it's not like Miami or Palm Beach County. We still have natural dunes. If turtles come up and see a seawall or bright lights, they're going to turn around and find some place else to nest. And the Indian River Lagoon is an extremely important nursery for juvenile greens.

Q: What are the biggest causes of death for the turtles?
A: Only one in 1,000 hatchlings make it to adulthood. There is natural predation by larger sport fish, sharks, birds and beach predators like raccoons and ghost crabs, and sometimes dogs. The biggest problem is human caused, such as from fishing nets and boating.

Q: What can people do to help turtles survive?
A: Do not go on the beach at night with a flashlight looking for turtles. The light is a nesting deterrent. Join a guided turtle program in June and July. Keep your dog off the beach. Dispose of trash properly. If you own a residence or business on the beach, turn off your outdoor lights after 10 p.m. and draw your curtains so interior lights don't shine on the beach. Also, park in designated parking areas, not on dune vegetation.

Environmental Learning Center

2007-02-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

Environmental Learning Center
Welcome to our 51-acre campus!
Take a hike and learn a little about this beautiful, diverse, and ecologically authentic place. It's diverse because it ranges from hammock (high ground) through salt marshes (sometimes underwater) to mangrove forest (with its feet in the water).
It's ecologically authentic because before we built our pavilions, we cut down all the exotic invasive trees like the Brazilian peppers and the Australian pines and replaced them with indigenous (native) species such as live oaks, cabbage or sabal palms, coontie, and wax myrtle.
It's beautiful because, well, just look around. But beauty is not just skin deep here. Our surroundings are especially beautiful because they provide a natural habitat for birds, fish, crustaceans, and mammals of many kinds. In fact the Indian River Lagoon, the big body of water that nearly surrounds us, is home to more than 4,000 different species, 36 of which are endangered or rare. It's such a diverse estuary (the most diverse in North America) that the Environmental Protection Agency has named it an Estuary of National Significance.
Try to be quiet during your walk about so that the birds and small animals will show themselves. With luck you'll see an otter. Or down by the canoe dock, a dolphin or manatee. Look up, look down; there's a lot to see. Follow the signs posted near the paths and boardwalk. You can't get lost and you can find out a lot.

Indian River County buys $13.7M land

2007-02-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

Indian River County buys $13.7M land
By HENRY A. STEPHENS henry.stephens@scripps.com January 24, 2007

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The last 163-acre tract of undeveloped land in Sebastian will stay that way, the County Commission decided Tuesday.
In a 5-0 vote, the commissioners agreed to spend $13.7 million to buy the Sebastian Harbor Preserve, northeast of Englar Drive and South Easy Street, from Lincoln Land Development LLC of Melbourne.
Easy Street resident Dale Simchick, who is running for the Sebastian City Council, recalled a pair of nesting bald eagles return to the property after Hurricane Jeanne knocked their tree down.
"And there are ospreys, great-horned owls, indigo snakes, gopher tortoises, scrub jays — and these are just the protected species," she said. "It's saturated with wildlife."
Another council candidate, Eugene Wolff, however, felt quite the opposite.
He questioned spending almost 30 percent of the county's $50 environmental-cultural bond fund to make Lincoln Land richer.
"This is like a poker game," he said. "The $50 million is the pot and the developer is calling our bluff."
County Environmental Planning Chief Roland DeBlois said the land is zoned residential, about five units per acre, and was appraised in October at $15 million if it were developed as a subdivision.

"If you don't buy that now, it's going to be houses," said Jens Tripson, with the Pelican Island Audubon Society. "Maybe not next year, but the year after or the year after that."
DeBlois said he expects the Florida Communities Trust, an agency of the state government, to approve a $6.6 million matching grant for the project.
The county's net expense would be "a small price to pay," said County Commissioner Joe Flescher, who made the motion.
Commission Vice Chairwoman Sandra Bowden said she hopes the city of Sebastian helps with the project.
She cited the example of Vero Beach and Indian River Shores, which helped the county buy the Lost Tree islands in 2001.
Commissioner Peter O'Bryan, however, said Sebastian has offered to help manage the land after the county's purchase.

SEBASTIAN HARBOR
Location: North of Englar Drive, east of South Easy Street, within Sebastian city limits.
Size: 163 acres, with 132 upland acres and 31 acres of wetlands.
Features: Palmetto prairie, pine flatwoods, freshwater marsh.
Wildlife: Bald eagles, ospreys, scrub jays, sandhill cranes and gopher tortoises among others.
Appraised value: $15 million if developed according to its residential zoning.
Negotiated price: $13.7 million, with about $6.6 million of that expected from the state.
Roland DeBlois, Indian River County environmental planning chief
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