Treasure Coast Community Health (TCCH) has opened its fifth location in Indian River County in the K-Mart Plaza, 1555 U.S. 1, Suite 105, Vero Beach; offering pediatrics, primary medical care and behavioral health. TCCH is a complete healthcare home to nearly 20,000 IRC residents.

An open house, including tours, will be held Wednesday, December 14th from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m.

TCCH accepts Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurances, or charges on a floating fee scale for the uninsured. For more information, or to make an appointment at a location near you call 772-257-8224.

Judyth Piazza interviews Steve Dorrance, Executive Director of Treasure Coast Community Health Foundation…

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VeroBeachLocalNews.com
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Vero Beachside News
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Florida Man Arrested on Charges of Selling Stolen Art and Selling Forged Paintings for Millions of Dollars

A Florida man was arrested this morning pursuant to a federal indictment that alleges he sold paintings stolen from a Los Angeles art gallery, and that he had sold forged artworks to a collector with false claims that they had been painted by esteemed artists.

Matthew Taylor, 43, of Vero Beach, Florida, was arrested without incident this morning by special agents with the FBI. Taylor, who formerly worked as an art dealer, is expected to make his initial court appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Fort Pierce, Florida.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles indicted Taylor last week on seven felony charges related to art theft and a long-running fraud that targeted a Los Angeles art collector.

The indictment charges Taylor with defrauding the art collector victim out of millions of dollars by selling him forged art works. Taylor allegedly sold the collector more than 100 paintings—including paintings that he falsely claimed were by artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko—for a total of more than $2 million. The indictment alleges that Taylor altered paintings from unknown artists to make them appear to be the products of famous artists, and then sold the bogus artwork to the victim at prices exponentially higher than their actual worth.

To conceal the true nature of the paintings, Taylor allegedly put forged on the paintings and painted over or otherwise concealed signatures from the actual artists. The indictment also alleges that Taylor created and put onto the paintings fake labels which falsely represented that the artworks were once part of prestigious art collections at famous museums, including those of the Museum of Modern Art in the New York and the Guggenheim Museum.

Regarding the alleged art heists, the indictment accuses Taylor of stealing a Granville Redmond painting called “Seascape at Twilight” from a gallery in Los Angeles. Taylor later sold that painting to a different gallery for $85,000, falsely claiming that his mother had owned it for several years. The indictment also alleges that Taylor stole a separate artwork—a painting by Lucien Frank titled “Park Scene, Paris”—from the same gallery in Los Angeles. Taylor was seen several years later in possession of the stolen Lucien Frank painting at a gallery in Vero Beach.

The indictment further alleges that Taylor laundered and transferred across state lines some of the proceeds from his fraud on the collector victim—specifically, $105,000 that Taylor had taken from the victim by selling him four forged paintings in September 2006.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.

The indictment charges Taylor with three counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering, one count of interstate transportation of stolen property and one count of possession of stolen property. The mail fraud charges each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, and the remaining counts each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years. Therefore, if he is convicted of all seven counts in the indictment, Taylor faces a maximum possible sentence of 100 years in federal prison.

Based on evidence collected throughout this case, investigators believe there are additional victims of art fraud related to Taylor’s activities. Individuals who purchased art from Taylor and believe they may have been defrauded should contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Los Angeles at (310) 477-6565 or the Los Angeles Police Department’s Art Theft Detail at (213) 486-6940.

(A photo of Taylor is below for the purpose of potentially identifying additional victims.)

The ongoing investigation into Taylor is being conducted by the FBI’s Art Crime Team, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Art Theft Detail, and IRS – Criminal Investigation.

Toxic Algae Harms Floridians’ Health & the $57 Billion Yearly Tourism Economy

Luckily, there is a ready and easy fix to this deadly algae problem.

Tallahassee, FL – (September 15) Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) first warned about the dangers of toxic algae outbreaks in a 2000 scientific report – eleven years ago. Life threatening algae blooms and fish kills from sewer, manure and fertilizer pollution still persist. The toxic algae problem in Chesapeake Bay was resolved with advanced wastewater treatment systems thatcut pollution at a cost of only $2.50 per household per month.

David Guest, Managing Attorney for Earthjustice’s Tallahassee office, has incourtrooms around Florida successfully tried environmental cases for the past 20 years which in one way or another were all about water.  Monica Reimer has been a staff attorney with the Tallahassee Office of Earthjustice since 2003. In 2002, her victory in an off-shore oil drilling case was reported as a landmark case in the National Law Journal. David or Monica is available for interviews September 19—October 7to give up-to-date answers, discuss actions that residents can take and can discuss any aspect of this issue including the three questions below.

Why was the EPA forced to step in?

Since 1998, Earthjustice has been using legal action to get the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to apply pressure on Florida’s DEP to set limits on this toxic pollution. The EPA’s action to set new pollution limits for Florida came in the summer of 2009 — a year after Earthjustice filed its 2008 suit in the Northern District of Florida on behalf of the Florida Wildlife Federation, St. John’s Riverkeeper, and other Florida groups. The suit challenged the decade-long delay by the state and federal government in setting limits for nutrient pollution.

The EPA entered into a settlement agreement and established new water pollution limits that were the same as the Florida state limits set by DEP based on the samenumeric criteria mandated under the Bush administration that set limits for phosphorus and nitrogen compounds which triggered deadly growths of algae in waterways throughout Florida. These limits by the Bush Administration came about as a result of Florida’s failure to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act. During the comment period, the agency received 22,000 comments, with 20,000 in support of the new standards but polluters continue to fight compliance.

Now, after lobbyist and polluters have fought these established regulations, the Florida DEP is, again, in the process of setting new statewide standards for phosphorus and nitrogen pollution. Unfortunately, the rules that state regulators have proposed so far are highly inadequate to protect public health and clean up the waters. It is critical that the state’s polluters do not end up writing the DEP’s water-pollution rules. It is critical that our state regulators protect the public, not the polluters.

What are the health impacts from toxic algae that Floridians and tourists have experienced?

In 2008, over 1,000 miles of Florida’s rivers and streams, 350,000 acres of Florida’s lakes, and 900 square miles of its estuaries were contaminated by sewage, fertilizer or manure pollution. Toxic algae has caused respiratory problems, neurological damage, nausea, diarrhea, rashes, and even death for Floridians, their pets, and tourists with hundreds of emergency room visits each year and has also contaminated drinking water for thousands. The toxic algae pollution has become so frequent and serious that the Florida Department of Health now hands out educational materials that ask people: “Have You Been Slimed?” Callers to the state’s Aquatic Toxins Hotline (1-888-232-8635) hear a recording which warns: “It is very important that pets, livestock and small children are kept out of water suspected of having a blue green algae bloom since there have been many reported cases of animals dying after drinking highly contaminated water.”Residents should report any toxic algae outbreak in waters immediately to their County Health Departments and should not touch the water.

What are the economic impacts of algae outbreaks throughout Florida’s waterways?

Florida’s economy is driven largely by real estate and tourism. Waters with toxic algae put both of these sectors in jeopardy. Visitors from around the globe come to Florida for its clear, sandy-bottomed rivers, streams, lakes, springs, bays, beaches and for the beauty and revitalization that they experience, bringing $58 billion in tourism yearly. When visitors come here and see dead fish and “No Swimming” signs, they won’t come back, and that affects our state budget and jobs. When algae outbreaks occur, workers at hotels, charter and commercial fishing boats, beachfront concessions, restaurants, bars, and waterfront rentals all pay the price.

In 2005, one of the worst toxic algae outbreaks ever recorded happened at Southeast Florida’s St. Lucie River and estuary. The entire river was covered with bright green slime. It wasn’t safe to touch the water. Waterfront property values in the area suffered a permanent decline of a whopping $500 million after the outbreak.

In June of this year an algae outbreak in the Caloosahatchee River near Fort Myers turned the river bright green, smelled like raw sewage, and killed hundreds of fish. In August a large algae outbreak slimed Old Tampa Bay.  In earlier years, there were nauseating algae outbreaks on popular Florida tourist beaches like Sanibel Island and at fishing meccas like the St. Johns River near Jacksonville.

FLORIDIANS CAN TAKE ACTION

The way to make Florida’s waters clean again is to limit this pollution at its source, by upgrading old sewer plants, using modern manure management on agricultural operations and being smarter about applying fertilizer but powerful interests who profit from free disposal of pollutants in public waterways continue to fight new standards and argue that regulations would cost millions to the phosphate, property and agriculture industries.  They fail to mention the sickness and death that has resulted and the billions that water pollution has posed to fishing, tourism, waterfront real estate, and health related expenses.

Residents should report any toxic algae outbreak immediately to their County Health Departments and should not touch the water. If exposed they can call the state’ Aquatic Toxins Hotline (1-888-232-8635).

At www.earthjustice.org, click on Take Action in the top heading, and find Let’s Keep Florida’s Waters Clean, to easily forward a letter to the EPA, your Senators, and your Representative.

David Guest is the Managing Attorney of Earthjustice’s Tallahassee office. In 1978, he graduated from the University of Chicago Law School where he was a member of the law review. He has a B.Sc. in Government and Economics from Florida State University. In courtrooms around Florida David has tried environmental cases for the past 20 years which were all about water. Before development, half of Florida was under water during the wet season and its 1,500 miles of coastline were teeming with life. But its beauty invited its consumption. Millions of acres were drained and converted into agricultural, industrial, and urban developments. As a result, rivers and lakes are being polluted and closed off to the public, groundwaters are being rapidly depleted by uncontrolled withdrawals from aquifers, and the lives that depend on water are threatened.

Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment.

David Guest or Monica Reimer is available for interviews from September 19—October 7.

Please call Antonette Badami, Caplan Communications, 303.997.4037 orAntonette16@aol.com.

3 Boys Productions announced today the program of films selected to screen at the 2011 Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival(MIFF). This year, the festival`s program comprises films from U.S. and international filmmakers selected from 238 entries. The 2011 MIFF runs September 9-10 in Melbourne, Florida at the beautiful Premiere Theaters Oaks Stadium 10.

“I`m particularly struck by the creativity in this year`s selections. These filmmakers are charged with telling compelling stories and engaging the audience and they really deliver” said Terry Cronin, the MIFF 2011 director of programming . “For 2011, we are pleased to be able to shine a light on Florida filmmakers who are making their way on the world-wide film festival circuit. We are particularly proud of the talent that has originated here in Brevard County.”

“On the heels of two sold-out showings at the Florida Film Festival, Melbourne native Andrew Kenneth G(a)y brings his feature film, A Beautiful Belly, to his hometown. Palm Bay`s Lee Thongkham brings his hypnotic feature, Tears of Remedy, for a special engagement on Friday. Orlando`s Jose Zambrano Casella will delight the horror enthusiasts with his suspenseful feature, The Sacred. MIFF alumnus Michael Baumgarten brings an after-hour s(e)xy Hollywood-produced thriller called Pretty Obsession which was co-produced by Melbourne`s Robin Krasny. And the short films will really knock your socks off, too! Whether its the dark humor of Matt Cantu`s zombie reality show The Zombie Factor or Devi Snively`s amazing short Last Seen on Dolores Street or the weather reality of Brevard County`s Chris Kridler and her short film Chasing Reality about passionate storm chasers, it`s all sure to be fun”

The films selected for the 2011 Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival are:

Features

A Beautiful Belly directed by Andrew Kenneth G(a)y

A warmly comic story of an aspiring but out-of-work children`s entertainer who gets his longtime crush pregnant on their first date: It`s engaging, entertaining, and hilarious.

Butterflies directed by Ester Brym

A feature documentary film following the lives of six young people that are prominent `weblebrities` on the video site YouTube. The film explores the new media, its power, and its future.

Pretty Obsession directed by Michael Baumgarten

A pretty eighteen year-old puts herself and her family in danger when she leads a double life as an erotic web cam model.

The Sacred directed by Jose Zambrano Casella

Five young people went on a journey, a weekend of fun, and what they found is the evil inside themselves. Sins come back to kill you!

Tears of Remedy directed by Lee Thongkham

Every teardrop comes with a story, one that endures beauty and pain, and mostly, love.

Palm Bay director, Lee Thongkham, tells a rich and enigmatic story about the power of tears.

Horror Films

Blinky™ directed by Ruari Robinson

Meet Blinky™. All he wants is a friend. The only problem is, he`s not very good at making friends.

Last Seen on Dolores Street directed by Devi Snively

In a hard-boiled town, a heartbroken woman says goodbye to an old pet and hello to a new nightmare. Sometimes, life`s a real bitch.

The Sacred directed by Jose Zambrano Casella

Five young people went on a journey, a weekend of fun, and what they found is the evil inside themselves. Sins come back to kill you!

The Zombie Factor directed by Matt Cantu

The zombie apocalypse becomes REALITY on The Zombie Factor, the most dangerous show on television.

Florida Shorts

This year`s MIFF features 18 films shot in Florida

The Adventures of Monty Moudlyn directed by Zach Hibbard

Monty Moudlyn is the friend who`s always `up`. The kind of eternal, insufferable optimist that you sometimes want to kill.

The Breakdown directed by Robby Sparks

Stress relief never felt so good!

Burial Island directed by Ray and Migdalia Etheridge

Two friends set up camp on a deserted island in the Everglades which had once been an ancient Indian burial ground. (Plus preview of The Money Trail directed by Ray and Migdalia Etheridge)

Chasing Reality directed by Chris Kridler

Storm chasing is portrayed as an extreme sport on television, but the reality is dramatically different. In this documentary, storm chasers talk about life on the road, their peculiar relationship with their cars, and the frustration, smells and miles that go into those few moments of seeing a tornado.

Follow Your Dreams directed by Sue Dontell

A man trying to follow his dream to be a singer is sidetracked by his wife`s illness. He has to set his priorities in that his wife is the most important thing in his life. The wife realizes the light is gone from her husband`s eyes in not being able to follow his dreams. She realizes the importance of following a dream as things come full circle.
The Incredible Banana directed by Paulette King

No matter how hard you think you may have it, there is always someone who is less fortunate them you.

Life Lessons directed by Paulette King

A sister saves the day for her seven year old brother

Maybe directed by Kevin Shah

An average guy Jim trys to find a girlfriend. Jim gets “Maybe`ed” every time and there seems to be no hope, till he meets Rachel. This is a light-hearted take on dating, relationships and being average. A movie inspired by true events.

Melbourne, FL: December/January:

Home directed by Craig Weinstein

A short nonfiction (mostly) collage of the filmmaker`s home of Melbourne over a winter holiday.

No Boundaries directed by Paulette King

Trusted neighbor is having an affair with her next door neighbor`s son.

The Red Shoes directed by Sue Dontell

“I cried because I had no shoes until I met someone who had no feet.` A girl learns a valuable life lesson to be grateful for what you do have rather than to be unhappy about what you don`t have. There is always someone in this world worse off than you.

Special Sneak Preview of “The Space Coast” directed by Lear Bunda

Starring Dana Snyder(Aqua Teen Hunger Force), Amber Freeman, Pat Martin, Dustin Harbin

Twilight of Youth directed by Jerald Fine

Brash, young stockbroker who despises the elderly contracts a strange virus that rapidly ages him.

Vestiges directed by Alex Sushil

Calvin Fields has an appointment with a dermatologist.

Extraordinary Shorts

Caught Short directed by Will Hall-Smith United Kingdom

A scatological romantic comedy.

Crossing Salween directed by Brian O`Malley Thailand/Ireland

In eastern Burma, a young girl named Ho Reh finds herself orphaned after the massacre of her village by the army. She must make the arduous journey to the Salween River that divides the horrors of Burma from the safety of Thailand.

Fumbling Toward Ecstasy directed by Gemma Faith Ireland

Offers comfort in its familiar Irish surroundings yet challenges stereotype, daring to explore female s(e)xuality in later stages of life.

Goliath directed by Ryan Daniel McKinney USA

After contracting HIV, a boy struggles with what is out of his control while his father tries to hold it together by looking to hold someone accountable.

Happenstance directed by Sandy Pranjic & Victoria Strehlau Canada

A cautionary tale.

Karate Wipe directed by Virginia Abramovich USA

A comedic exploration of one of the many challenges of fatherhood.
Loft directed by Gareth Chambers Ireland

A man and his pigeons live in fear of a young boy and his soccer ball…something must be done!

Manhood directed by Melanie M. Jones Canada

Forced to flee to the woods when war strikes their cozy suburban neighborhood, Midge continues her quest to turn her husband Harold into a paragon of manliness with surprising results.

Ol` One Eye directed by Brain Folan Ireland

An old man gets a new glass eye, however this is not your standard prosthetic. To his amazement he discovers that he can in fact see with his new eye.

Orange Desespoir Directed by John Banana France

What happens when a small sad orange decides to leave for the other side of the shop to meet a bunch of fun dancing pineapples ?

Rest Stop directed by Melanie M. Jones Canada

Danny must make difficult choices and live with the consequences of his actions while hitchhiking through Northern British Columbia.
Signs directed by Vincent Gallagher Ireland

There is magic in what we see every day. Sometimes we just have to look hard enough.

Festival Sponsors

The 2011 Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival sponsors include: Celebrity Level Sponsors- A Cut Above Video, Premiere Theaters Oaks Stadium 10, Treasure Coast Dermatology; Leadership Sponsors-Browning`s, The Courtyard at the Oaks, Academy Award Sponsors- Against the Grain Tattoos, Bill and Karen Slover. Food sponsors include The Courtyard at the Oaks, Flo`s Catering, Freddie D`s, Forever Soul Ichabod`s, Island Pasta, Miyako`s, Mustard`s Last Stand, Nature`s Market, Pizza Hut, Shells, Skewer`s, Taste of India, Tijuana Flats, and Tropical Smoothie. The MIFF recognizes critical support from the Space Coast Film Commission, and our patrons- Better Bodies, Victoria Buckley, Paulette King, Tommy “Tricks” Loomis, and Sky Diary. The support of these organizations will help the charity Unconditional Love, Inc. In return, sponsorship of the MIFF provides these organizations with community exposure and unique access to MIFF attendees.

About Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival

Now in its 13th Year, the Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival prides itself on the promotion of independent filmmakers to the Brevard County community and as a destination for filmmakers worldwide. Each year independent films are screened to enthusiastic audiences and all the funds raised go to charity.

3 Boys Productions

In 1998, a creative group of friends (Terry Cronin, Jeff Hall, Bob Lizek,and Pat Martin) decided to form a production company to produce independent films in Melbourne, Florida. This group has evolved into publishing comic books and novels including the critically-acclaimed detective series “The Skinvestigator”. They continue to host the annual Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival and the Megacon Indie Film Expo in Orlando.

For more info go to

www.3boysproductions.com

www.premieretheaters.com

or join us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/#!/melbourneindependentfilmmakersfestival

Star Quality Air Conditioning, Inc. Launches Website as a Florida Air Conditioning and Heating Resource on the Internet

Star Quality Air Conditioning, Inc. today announced the launch of www.starqualityair.com as an information portal for Vero Beach area home owners and businesses to find information about heating and air conditioning projects. With articles being added almost every day and an online monthly newsletter of heating and air conditioning tips, the website is anticipated to quickly become Florida’s primary resource for residential and commercial air conditioning and heating tips.

Future plans include educational guides on selecting an air conditioning and heating contractor and professional advice from experts in the field.

The web site will be an invaluable resource for Florida area homeowners and businesses in finding accessible information to address their heating and air conditioning needs. Information will be efficiently categorized for easy navigation.

Star Quality Air Conditioning, Inc.’s Mission Statement reads, “We are dedicated to expanding the way you perceive your home comfort needs by blending the latest energy-technology and luxury conveniences with unsurpassed, old-fashioned customer care. Star Quality Air Conditioning, Inc. also states, “We are committed to providing the best customer support possible. We stick by you making sure our job is done correctly and safely. We do this by hiring only the best skilled HVAC technicians and partnering with top quality manufacturers and engineers in the industry. We use green technology to not only save you money by conserving energy, but also doing our part to save the environment.”

About Star Quality Air Conditioning, Inc. – Star Quality Air Conditioning is a full service, fully licensed and insured Florida air conditioning and heating company dedicated to providing quality service in a timely manner. At Star Quality Air Conditioning, we guarantee quality and dependability. Whether you are interested in cleaner indoor air, a new air conditioning system, or you need service on your existing air conditioner; our Independent Dealers are eagerly awaiting to help you with the sales, service, and installation of the air conditioning system that is ideal for your home or business. For more information please, visit them at www.starqualityair.com.

“Ready When the Time Comes” Program provides vital training to employees

The American Red Cross teamed up with Seacoast National Bank to provide training to 32 employees through the “Ready When the Time Comes,” disaster volunteer program.

After a disaster, the American Red Cross responds in a variety of ways in order to meet all of the emergent needs of individuals, families and communities. The Seacoast employees trained for the Client Casework aspect of disaster response, learning how to provide direct assistance to individuals affected by man-made or natural disasters. Client Case workers also evaluate the needs of disaster victims, provide services and maintain records.

“The Ready When the Time Comes program promotes a very caring way of helping people by understanding and communicating their needs during a disaster,” said Theresa Vazquez, Vice President/Branch Manager of Seacoast National Bank South Vero Square office. “This approach perfectly aligns with ways Seacoast and its employees operate all year long. We are happy to partner with the Red Cross for the program, they have been part of our lives for generations.”

All of the employees who received the American Red Cross training have become a part of the overall Red Cross volunteer team, and will be able to help when the Red Cross responds to a disaster in the area. About 10 of the participants in “Ready When the Time Comes” have also began taking follow up training, allowing them to respond to disasters in other functions outside of Client Casework as well.

The American Red Cross provides “Ready When the Time Comes” training for free to any group or organization that would like to become a partner in disaster response. With the help of the wide network of volunteers, the American Red Cross is able to fulfill its mission of “helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters.”

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.pbtcredcross.org.

Orthodontic Specialists of Florida (OSOF) to Offer a Special Price on Invisalign to Meet What is Hopefully an increase in Employers Hiring

Orthodontic Specialists of Florida (OSOF) announced today that due to the response to their “Smile, You’re Hired” campaign which the group test-marketed in Tampa, FL in November and December of 2010, will be extended throughout all 33 offices in the state of Florida by offering Invisalign for $199 per- month, to adults looking to reenter the job market in 2011, with a new smile and first-impression during the interview process.

“We decided to test market ‘Smile, You’re Hired’ in Tampa, only because we wanted to tread lightly on the issue of employment in the state of Florida, but what we’ve found is that almost 60 percent of our patients to date are adult patients who are seeking reemployment in 2011, and are looking for an affordable monthly payment, and discreet way to improve their smile” said Alan D. Shoopak, D.M.D., founder and owner of OSOF. “My staff and I are seeing a steady flow of these types of new patients on a weekly basis, and we feel the greatest reward when someone stops back in from our ‘Smile, You’re Hired’ program, and they’ve recently landed a job.”

As reported in Tampa by WTSP’s Kathryn Bursch, a CBS affiliate, the number of adults coming into Orthodontic Specialists of Florida to improve their smile, thereby improving their impression during interviews, as America goes back to work in 2011 is increasing, and will hopefully continue to do so as this program is now extended throughout the state.

“We want to encourage others to chip in as well, and help America get back to work in 2011, even if it’s just 50% off neckties by a department store, or an individual helping a job seeking friend with a resume,” added Shoopak.

Link to OSOF “Smile, You’re Hired!” page: http://www.florida4braces.com/smile-you-are-hired.html
To schedule a “Smile, You’re Hired” consultation at one of OSOF’s locations, please call 1-855-BRACES-4-U.

* Some exclusions apply; down payment required.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to Mark Earth Day and Hibiscus Festival
With Free Open House at Downtown Vero Beach Office

The general public is invited to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s office in downtown Vero Beach on Saturday, April 16 for a free “open house” from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. to mark the 41st anniversary of Earth Day in conjunction with Hibiscus Festival activities.

The free open house will include kids’ activities, wildlife displays, presentations by local biologists and an exhibit of illegal wildlife products seized by law enforcement officials. “Earth Day is actually April 22, but we wanted to host this event on a date we could share with our friends on the Treasure Coast, who will already be celebrating at the Hibiscus Festival. This is an opportunity to enjoy the festival, then meet our biologists and learn about endangered species, habitat conservation programs, Everglades restoration and more,” said Ken Warren, open house co-coordinator. “This will be an educational activity for the entire family.”

The office, which also have a booth at the festival, is at 1339 20th Street across from the Post Office. The Service has operated a station in Indian River County since 1954, when it was known as the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. For more information, contact Ken Warren at ken_warren@fws.gov. The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The annual Earth Day is a national event designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, the first Earth Day was held as a symposium April 22, 1970 and has been celebrated on that date ever since.

A serious tennis injury leads a would-be author to write his long-planned first novel. “Until I Return: Dawn of the Shining Darkness” is a spiritual thriller based on modern headlines and little-known prophecies of saints.

For most people, nothing important gets accomplished until they get off their duffs. For author Ken Nowell, however, the novel he had thought about for over a decade was never to be written until he landed flat on his.

Eighteen months ago, Nowell was playing tennis with three friends. When a ball was softly returned to him, Nowell sprung forward. “I heard and felt a ‘pop’ in my ankle, and immediately went down, hard,” he recalled. “I thought my partner had slammed his racket on my Achilles tendon. I’m embarrassed to say that weeks later I learned I had kicked myself while lunging.”

The tendon had severed completely in one place and shredded in another. So, Nowell’s active lifestyle came to a crashing halt. After stressful decades in a variety of careers –including practicing law, serving in a state legislature, and owning a variety of businesses – Nowell had managed to retire in Vero Beach, Florida, by the age of 52. He had hoped to slow down, knowing a more leisurely pace would add years to his life. But not this slow!

Convalescing in bed, day after day, it wasn’t long before Nowell realized he had too much time on his hands. He longed for a way to rekindle the excitement that sports, sailing and exotic, international travels had offered him in the past. He considered diving into the spiritual thriller he had been thinking about for years. With the encouragement of his wife, Betsy, and after briefly meeting best-selling author, Daniel Silva, Nowell decided to take the plunge.

For the next year, his new outlet for excitement would become an intellectual, rather than physical, exercise.

“My injury was a blessing,” the author now claims. “The decks were cleared of my many distractions. Finally, I was able to dedicate long stretches of quiet time to the creative process.”

The pain and effort paid off with the release of Nowell’s new spiritual thriller that promises to be a great read for anyone, of any faith, who is spiritually curious. “Until I Return: Dawn of the Shining Darkness” takes the reader around the world and through the centuries, weaving fascinating strands of Christian history into today’s headlines. This thought-provoking, fictional tale is packed with historically accurate references that are documented in endnotes. It is enticing, both spiritually and intellectually. Yet, the story still manages to surprise at every turn and tug at a full range of emotions. The video book trailer can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9K5FyF08tI or the publisher’s website at www.VeroHousePublishing.com.

Now that the author is back on his feet, again, and encouraged by the response he has received, Nowell says he has a follow up book in the works. He adds, “I just hope I won’t have to contribute another leg to speed up the process.”

ADDITIONAL BOOK INFO:
Until I Return: Dawn of the Shining Darkness
420 pages
Paperback
ISBN:978-0-9828279-0-1

Available from
major bookstores,
Amazon.com,
BarnesAndNoble.com,
VeroHousePublishing.com

BOOK LOGLINE:
The prophecies
you don’t know…
The warning
you should never forget.

“A Florida woman said her missing dog was found after a group of dolphins drew a neighbor’s attention to the canine treading water.

Cindy Burnett of Marco Island said Turbo, an 11-year-old Doberman, escaped from her yard Sunday night and she and her sons were unable to locate him, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, reported Thursday.

Burnett said a fatigued Turbo was finally spotted swimming in canal water when a group of dolphins splashing loudly drew a neighbor’s attention to the distressed canine.” UPI

This is a heartwarming story of a frantic family who spent hours searching for their beloved pooch, a group of dolphins who drew attention to the struggling animal, a kind neighbor who pulled the canine from the water and a courageous dog who was in the water struggling to survive for God only knows how long.

This incident should be made into a movie, and the theatre owner should hand out a box of Kleenex to everyone. It would be a film that would appeal to the whole family, including the dog. (Maybe not the family cat)

Let’s hope that Turbo never again escapes from his home, and that the dolphins will never be captured by an evil Sea World type amusement park.

Follow Robert Paul Reyes on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertpaulreyes