For the past l2 years, local community organizers have made a dream come true for children and youth from Gifford and other underserved areas in Indian River County. Backpacks filled with new school supplies have been given to children to help prepare them for school and create a positive new beginning to their school year. Previously held at the Gifford Community Center, this year’s “Back to School” drive will be held at the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office due to the need for more space. The event will take place at 4055 41st Street, Vero Beach on Saturday, July 3l from l0:00 a.m. to l2:00 p.m. County Commissioner Joe Flesher will open the event introducing Freddie Woolfork of the Gifford Youth Activities Center. The l2th Annual “Back to School” is being coordinated by the Gifford Youth Activity Center, River Fund/Feed Everyone, By the River, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Department and the Visiting Nurse Association. Festivities include booths for activities and product samples, healthy food and snacks, music, face painting and a fitness program called ZumbaWorks.

 
All donations are accepted and appreciated. Requested items include paper, tablets, pencils, pens, 3-ring binders, erasers, folders with pockets and monetary contributions. 2010 distribution of backpacks will go to grades: K-2 (300), 3-5 (200), 6-9 (250) and grades l0-l2 (50 backpacks). “Back to School” is a highlight of every student’s school year, complete with surprises and much needed new school supplies.
 
“It will be a great day with music, food and face painting and that very special feeling all of us remember when opening a brand new box of crayons, a new backpack and the start of a new school year,” said Ananda Devi, The River Fund’s Feed Everyone Program Director.
Individuals and business may donate supplies at the following drop off locations:

– Let’s Fill 800 Children’s Backpacks with New School Supplies –
 
            Gifford Youth Activity Center
            Indian River County Sheriff’s Office
            Indian River County North and South County Libraries
            Gifford Church
            Living Lord Lutheran Church
            Westminster Presbyterian Church
            Comcast Vero Beach
            Eye Clinic of Vero Beach (Miracle Mile)
            Christ by the Sea
            Curves in Sebastian
 
Freddie Woolfork, development director at the Gifford Youth Activity Center said this is not only about distributing supplies, but also providing information about community services and encouraging literacy. “Everyone comes together to help kids in our area. Parents want to give their kids the best and that’s not always possible. We hope the kids are happy, the parents are happy and that the event is fantastic.” 
 
For more information or to donate, please contact Ms. Ananda Devi at 772-589-8334.

Popularity: 3% [?]

I have 3 children under the age of 8 who are extremely upset as you can imagine. He was wearing a black leather collar and also a choker chain. We unfortunately found his tag in the backyard. We have also posted flyers around the neighborhood; we were able to speak to a few neighbors and they stated that there have been a few cases were some (more expensive) breeds have been taken. . .we hope this isn’t the case.

Thanks again for your help.

Amanda Sanders

Popularity: 2% [?]

According to AccuWeather.com Chief Hurricane Meteorologist Joe Bastardi, a strong tropical wave could develop into the second tropical storm of the season, threatening Florida later on Thursday and through the weekend.

The tropical system, which is currently bringing strong winds and rough seas north of Puerto Rico, could become better organized in the next 48 hours, as it moves into an area more favorable for tropical development.

People in Southern Florida and the Bahamas should be on alert for a tropical storm to form this weekend and be ready to make preparations.

AccuWeather.com meteorologists are focusing on two potential scenarios.

The first depicts the storm developing, crossing Florida early in the weekend and entering the eastern Gulf of Mexico as a weaker system.

Impacts over the oil spill site in the central Gulf would be less than were caused by Hurricane Alex, which moved through the southern Gulf of Mexico in late June.

The second scenario depicts the system moving through the Florida Keys late in the week, developing into a stronger tropical storm or hurricane. If this were to happen, impacts to the spill site will be increased.

Regardless of either scenario, Florida will be impacted first before any effects reach the Gulf.

“The weather map on Saturday could be a summer classic,” said Bastardi. “A hot shot into the mid-Atlantic and a tropical system affecting Florida or the Gulf.”

If you have questions or want to speak to a meteorologist, contact:

Roberti@AccuWeather.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

Over the last several weeks, Defenders of Wildlife’s Florida office has been working for improvements in search and recovery operations to impacted by the disastrous Gulf oil spill. We’ve worked to ensure that accurate, up-to-date information is reported from the Gulf and hosted clean-ups with our partners on beaches around Tampa Bay to prepare in case oil reaches our shores.

Today, I need your help to prevent another offshore oil disaster, one that could be right off our Florida shoreline. Please use the information below to contact your Florida state senator and state representative and tell them to put a constitutional amendment banning drilling in Florida waters on the November ballot:

Your State Representative Debbie Mayfield – (850) 488-0952 or (772) 778-5077

Florida House of Representatives Switchboard: (850) 488-1157

Your State Senator Mike Haridopolos – (850) 487-5056 or (321) 752-3131

 Find Contact Information fort Your State Senator

You can make a big difference today! Just deliver this simple message:

My name is XXXXX and I’m calling from Vero Beach because I’m deeply concerned about the effects of offshore drilling on Florida’s wildlife, communities and tourist economy. During the special legislative session next week, I urge you to support a constitutional amendment banning drilling in Florida waters on the November ballot. Because offshore drilling poses such a significant threat to marine wildlife, the environment, fisheries, tourism, and enjoyment value of our coasts, it is critical for Florida to make the prohibition against drilling ironclad, and Floridians should have the right to vote on this very important decision.

Please report your call. Our advocates in the state capitol will be tracking the opposition to offshore drilling closely and following up with state representatives and senators to ensure that your voice is heard. Having seen firsthand the magnitude of the damage from the BP Gulf oil disaster, Governor Charlie Crist has called a special session of the Florida Legislature on Tuesday, July 20th – Friday, July 23rd… and we need your help to make the most of this opportunity to protect our coasts and wildlife. At stake are some of the Sunshine State’s most beautiful beaches and some of our most spectacular wildlife – animals like endangered Kemp’s ridley and threatened loggerhead sea turtles, whales, dolphins, giant blue fin tuna and rare shorebirds.

Currently, Florida has a moratorium on drilling our coasts, but that ban could be overturned in any legislative session – which almost happened just last year, putting our coasts and economy at devastating risk. It is now tragically clear that cleanup technologies have not kept pace with drilling techniques, and that endangers Florida’s coast and tourist economy, so I need your help to ensure that our coasts, communities and, especially, our wildlife remain protected from this toxic threat. Please contact your state senators and state representative now and speak out for permanent protection.

For the Wild Ones,

Laurie Macdonald Director,

Florida Program Defenders of Wildlife

Popularity: 3% [?]

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. East southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly cloudy, with a high near 92. East southeast wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. East southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Saturday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 92. East southeast wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. East southeast wind around 10 mph.

Sunday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 90. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Sign-Ups for 2010-2011 School Year The School District of Indian River County’s Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) Program is pleased to announce plans for sign-ups for the 2010-2011 school year.

The Voluntary Pre- Kindergarten program is a 540 hour instructional program that provides up to a full school day and a full school year of quality education and care at no cost to parents. To be eligible for this program, a child must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2010, and the family must reside within an eligible home school zone. The 2010-2011 School District of Indian River County’s Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten School Year Program will be offered at: Dodgertown Elementary, Fellsmere Elementary, Pelican Island Elementary, Sebastian Elementary, and Thompson Lifelong Learning Center.

• Families in the Fellsmere Elementary home school zone are eligible to participate in the lottery for the slots at Fellsmere Elementary.

 

• Families in the Pelican Island Elementary, Sebastian Elementary and Treasure Coast Elementary home school zones are now eligible for the lottery for the slots at either Pelican Island Elementary or Sebastian Elementary.

 

• Families in the Dodgertown Elementary home school zone are eligible to participate in the lottery for the slots available at their Dodgertown and may elect to be included in the lottery for the slots available at Thompson Lifelong Learning Center.

 

•  Families in the Beachland Elementary, Citrus Elementary, Highlands Elementary, Glendale Elementary and Vero Beach Elementary home school zones are now eligible to participate in the lottery for the slots available at Thompson Lifelong Learning Center. To find out your home school zone, please call the Office of Student Assignment at 564- 3145. The slots available will be filled through a lottery process, if there are more families interested in the slots than there are slots available. During the times listed below, interested families need to provide contact information and documentation of their child’s eligibility to the Pre-K Office. Documentation that is required for participation in the lottery selection process is: The School Board of Indian River County, Florida Karen Disney-Brombach District 1 Matthew McCain District 2 Carol Johnson District 3 Claudia Jiménez District 4 Debbie MacKay District 5

 

• Proof of the child’s age (ex: original birth certificate)

 

•  Proof of the family’s residency (ex: a bill for a service that you receive in your name at your current address) Documentation that is requested but not required for participation in the lottery selection process is:

 

• Child’s Social Security card (if available at the time)

 

•  Certificate of Eligibility from the Early Learning Coalition (only if parent has already obtained this document) The Pre-K Office Portable is located in the east parking lot of the Freshman Learning Center located at 1507 – 19th Street in Vero Beach. Dates and times for sign-ups are:

 

• Thursday, June 3, 2010 from 1:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M.

 

• Friday, June 4, 2010 from 8:00 A.M. until Noon

 

• Tuesday, June 8, 2010 from 2:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M.

 

• Wednesday, June 9, 2010 from 8:00 A.M – Noon

 

• A special sign-up date has been scheduled for those families interested in the School District of Indian River County’s Voluntary Pre-K program located at Fellsmere Elementary. Interested Fellsmere families should bring the same documentation listed above and come to the office at Fellsmere Elementary on Monday, June 7th, 2010 anytime between the hours of 2:30 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. or Fellsmere families can choose to come to the Pre-K Office Portable located in the east parking lot of the Freshman Learning Center during the scheduled times on June 3rd, 4th, 8th and 9th, 2010.

Contact information and complete eligibility documentation must be received at the Pre-K Office no later than Noon on June 9, 2010, to be included in the selection process. A computer generated, random selection process will be applied to the contact information and all families will be notified in writing of the outcome for their child, either Acceptance or Wait Listed. Letters will be mailed out the week of June 21, 2010. Notification letters for parents of accepted children will include specific directions for completing the registration and enrollment process with the Pre-K Office.

If a child is not selected to participate in the School District of Indian River County’s School Year Voluntary Pre-K program, notification letters will include information for families to access their child’s Voluntary Pre-K services from either another eligible Voluntary Pre- Kindergarten provider during the school year or from the school district during the summer prior to their entry into Kindergarten. Additional information regarding a complete listing of eligible Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten providers for Indian River County for the 2010-2011 school year can be obtained from the Early Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin and Okeechobee Counties at 1-877-220-1223 extension 260.

Please contact Kim McCorrison, School Readiness Coordinator, in the Pre-K Office at 564- 4169 with any questions or for additional information.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Judyth Piazza chats with Doug Murphy Author of Mutual Aid on The American Perspective Radio Program (Click here to listen)

While he was born in Illinois, Doug moved with his family to Vero Beach, Florida at the age of eleven.” He has worked on an ambulance in some capacity since 1973, when he joined the Indian River Volunteer Ambulance Squad, and has been a paramedic with Indian River County since 1989.” Doug is married to Marcia and between them; they have three adult children and one granddaughter.” He now lives in Sebastian, Florida with Marcia and their three dogs.”

Aside from his normal duties with the county`s fire rescue system, Doug is also the Incident Commander of Indian River County`s Special Needs Shelter.” This is a job he took over just prior to the hurricanes of 2004.” He is also a member of a Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), FL-6, which is based in Orlando.” It was with this organization that he assisted with the recovery effort in Wachula, Florida after Hurricane Charlie in 2004, Kiln, Mississippi and New Orleans after Hurricane`s Katrina and Rita in 2005.”

Mutual Aid is Doug`s second novel, the first one being Occupational Hazard.” Occupational Hazard was written as a fictionalized version of his life, with many of the stories portrayed being based on real situations Doug has experienced.” While Mutual Aid is entirely fiction, it does have basis in his professional and personal life.

As for where to find the book, below is the website for Amazon.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

Judyth Piazza chats with Norman A. Green, Attorney at Law, Vero Beach, FL on The American Perspective Radio Program (Click here to Listen)

Norman A. Green graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1969. He was admitted to practice in Pennsylvania in 1970, Florida in 1974, and Colorado in 1991. He is also admitted in the Federal Courts in Florida.

Mr. Green was an Assistant District Attorney from 1970 to 1974 in Pittsburgh and from 1975 to 1977 in Vero Beach, Florida. Since that time, Mr. Green has continually defended citizens accused of crime throughout Florida and many other states. Mr. Green was an organizer of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and has been on the Board since its inception.

Mr. Green was the first president of the Indian River County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is the past president of the Indian River County Bar Association.

Green & Metcalf P.A.
(772) 569.1001
1245 20th Street
Vero Beach, FL 32960

http://www.greenandmetcalflawofficepa.com/

The American Perspective is a cutting edge radio program that is full of inspiration and information which airs on WTTB News Talk. It`s intended to help people succeed in life. Each week the American Perspective features celebrity guests from around the nation such as Zig Ziglar, Maya Angelou, Yolanda King, Billy D. Williams, Tony Little, Mark Victor Hansen, Dean Koontz, Dave Ramsey and many many more.

“It`s the next generation of Inter-tainment”

For More Information: www.thesop.org

Popularity: 100% [?]

Judyth Piazza chats with Highwaymen, Jimmy Stovall (Click here to listen)

“The Highwaymen” is a name I’ve given to a group of black artists working on the East coast of Florida from approximately 1955 to the present. So called because their marketing and sales strategy consisted of traveling the highways and byways of central Florida peddling their paintings out of the back of their cars.

Although I’ve identified nearly twenty of these artists still living, they are, for the most part, unknown and have not received credit for their contribution to Florida’s art tradition. In fact, it was these artists who were the bare bones beginning for Florida’s resident/regional art tradition. Further, their paintings met a growing demand for regional Florida art and served to encourage what has become the Indian River school of painting, perhaps the only school or movement within the state that is recognizable as such.

The story of the Highwaymen begins with one man, now deceased, who has come to be known as the dean of Florida landscape painters, A. E. “Bean” Backus of Fort Pierce. I use the admittedly arbitrary date of 1950 as a point of beginning because that was the year Bean married Patsy Hutchinson and his career began to blossom. Unfortunately, Patsy died of complications following heart surgery in 1955. Bean’s love from then on was painting. He devoted himself to his art, the daily consumption of a quantity of rum, good conversation, and good friends.

Although Bean was a white Southerner during a time when racial equality was not yet taken seriously, he was a friend to all. This characteristic, coupled with a natural Bohemian bent, made him the perfect mentor to a group of young black men who had noted the apparent ease with which he made a living. Painting, for them, was perceived as being a way out of the fields and groves.

Most of these young men were content to learn by osmosis, by observation. Bean’s studio became a place to congregate. One seemed more eager to learn than the others. His name was Alfred Hair. To my knowledge, Alfred was the only one of this group of black men to take formal lessons from Bean and even accompanied him to the Bahamas on occasion.

Apparently Alfred had an entrepreneurial spirit because he later organized some of the others who had hung around Bean’s studio and began to “mass produce” Florida landscape paintings. They were usually done on Upsom board with whatever materials were at hand, including house paint.

It seems that Alfred employed specialists. Some were tree painters, some painted only skies, others did water. Who signed the paintings was of little concern to anyone.

Unfortunately, Alfred Hair was killed in a barroom brawl. Lacking his organizational skills, most of the others went their own ways and began to paint and sell for themselves. Not all of these artists were content to paint by formula. Some went on to develop their talents and skills and have gained respectable reputations. Some retained the highway sales technique.

A few of the more capable artists in this group are Harold Newton, now incapacitated by a stroke, George Buckner, still painting and selling near the thousand dollar range (George and his brother Ellis, now deceased, once operated a gallery in Coral Gables) and Al Black, who in my opinion most typifies the Highwaymen.

Somewhere I’ve heard it said that one sure road to success is to “find a need and fill it”. These black artists did just that. Whether we are willing to accept their work as “art” or not is an argument I won’t make. I do know that by painting for the marketplace they inadvertently created an awareness of and appreciation for Florida regional art. They deserve recognition for that contribution.

The American Perspective is a cutting edge radio program that is full of inspiration and information. It’s intended to help people succeed in life. Each week the American Perspective features celebrity guests from around the nation such as Zig Ziglar, Yolanda King, Billy D. Williams, Tony Little, Mark Victor Hansen, Dave Ramsey and many many more.

“It’s the next generation of Inter-tainment”

For More information: judy@thesop.org

Source: The Student Operated Press

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

Judyth Piazza sits down with Cynthia Krosky, CSP, President of Achieving Corporate Excellence, Inc. (Click Here to Listen)

Cynthia Krosky, CSP, President of Achieving Corporate Excellence, Inc. is an award-winning speaker having earned her Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) the highest earned designation in the National SPeakers Association an honor held by only 7% of all speakers. Cynthia is a speaker and trainer who is in demand. She delivers high-energy, high-content, fun, and engaging, programs that are memorable. This is why companies want to retain her and conference committees bring her back over and over again. Clients rave about her professionalism, her powerful messages, and her ability to connect with audiences of all types.

Cynthia’s most requested topics Include: Getting the Lead on Leadership ” in this program, participants learn how to discover the leader within and how to lead people more effectively in various situations. Achieving Cohesiveness with Ease helps to build a productive team that has the necessary elements to be successful. Teambuilding speeches and workshops are highly interactive as they seek to equip participants with the strategies and tools that can be immediately applied in the real world. Her thought-provoking messages inspire participants to take personal responsibility, to develop accountability and to embrace the gifts that they possess. Genderly Speaking: The He She Art of Language is an entertaining presentation on a rather serious topic. Improving communication between men and women both improves productivity in the workplace and decreases frustration outside the office as people learn how to cross the gender gaps.

Cynthia draws from her diverse professional training as a corporate manager, corporate trainer, college instructor, adventure-based facilitator, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), facilitator, coach, and consultant.Cynthia is an approved provider for Human Resouce Continuing education events. In addition, Cynthia is a trained Critical Incident Stress Debriefer, with Specialization in Corporate Workplace Violence as well as Domestic Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction. Cynthia is an expert on how people work together, presenting no less than 100 programs a year. Her diversity of knowledge, experiences, and understanding of group dynamics enrich her ability to influence the way people work together. Presentations are customized to meet your business or conference needs.

For More Information: www.acespeaks.com

Popularity: 1% [?]