LOOKING FOR S’MORE PLACES TO GO/ GIFTS/ART/ COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS IN LBTS?…

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Latest info on the Meet & Greet for Lt. Col. Allen West at Athena By The Sea ..(chg. of date )…as well as much more….

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more to come…

Tags: S'more At Heresthescooponline.com, Scoops
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THEY’RE IN  HOLLYWOOD … AUGUST 19-21…..

THE WESTIN DIPLOMAT RESORT AND SPA …. FOR THIS YEAR’S THEME …”Creating Community in Tough Times”…

“Overview

The 998-room Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa is a sight to behold, rising 39 stories above the Atlantic Ocean. Its bold architecture, comprised of art deco curves and lines, recalls the hotel’s illustrious past. Ideally situated between two international airports and the top two passenger ports-of-call , once inside, you’ll marvel at the lobby’s soaring 60-foot atrium ceiling of glass, unlike anything else in the Southeast. Gracious spaces allows comfortable accommodations for large groups while a casual elegance throughout the resort prevails. All meeting space and every guest room and suite, are state-of-the-art to meet the needs of the discerning executive traveler.

The Westin Heavenly Bed® and Heavenly Bath® will make it difficult to leave the breathtaking water views from each room – however, the glorious full-service Spa, 18-hole golf course and 10-clay court Tennis Center will make it worth your while. Relax by the outdoor bridged pool with infinity edge, see-through bottom and waterfalls flowing into the 240-ft. lagoon pool below, while pool side servers cater to your every whim. The Westin Executive Club feature upgraded amenities and access to the spectacular views from the 10,000-sq. ft. lounge offering complimentary continental breakfast, evening cocktail service and complimentary hors d’oeuvres.”

http://www.diplomatresort.com/

FROM THE FLOCITIES WEBSITE…WHAT THEY WILL PARTAKE IN …

“President’s Invitation to the
Florida League of Cities 84th Annual Conference
Dear Friends:
I hope you are making plans to attend the Florida League of Cities 84th annual conference. I
cannot think of a theme and focus more appropriate than the one we have this year: Creating
Community in Tough Times!
Our country, our cities and our citizens are in the midst of some tough economic times. This
conference aims to bring you value-added ideas and innovations that can be incorporated into
your city’s programs at low-to-no cost. We will focus on the elements within our cities that bring
our citizens together and keep them together – that sense of place, belonging and pride that
cause a citizen to say, “I’m proud that I live here, work here, play here, and raise my family here.”
This year’s theme is perfect to showcase the memorable conference event that is designed to both educate you and
provide cost-cutting ideas that will make a difference in the lives of those you serve. Designed for the new or veteran
official, this conference will give you the tools you need to solve today’s municipal problems, especially during these
tough economic times.
It is a conference that will offer a wide variety of information-packed workshops; general sessions with powerful
keynote speakers; timely information on Florida; and technical assistance and resource materials from national, state,
regional and non-governmental entities. And, in this all-important year of elections, we will feature not-to-be missed
political forums with candidates running for statewide office. Hear from the candidates on issues that matter to you
and your citizens!
Our lineup of nationally celebrated speakers will provide insightful information to leadership and governance so that
you can offer the best for your city. William (Bill) Hudnut is a former four-term Indianapolis mayor and congressman,
author, public speaker, TV commentator, think tank fellow and clergyman. Hudnut is currently managing partner and
senior fellow emeritus for the Urban Land Institute. Back by popular demand: John Avlon, author and senior political
columnist of the Daily Beast. Avlon is also the author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America and is
often seen on the major news and political television shows offering his opinion on today’s political scene. Ronald O.
Loveridge, mayor of Riverside, Calif., and president of the National League of Cities, will give us a compelling report on
the state of America’s cities. You’ll also hear from the ever-popular Dr. Scott Paine, former city councilman, professor,
noted author and League blogger during one of two “city class” sessions that will kick-off the annual conference by
providing you with an intensive, interactive educational experience. When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in
2005, a new definition of natural disaster evolved. Moreover, the impact of the storm revealed how ill-prepared the
country was to deal with this type of devastation. Join us as we hear first hand from Lt. General Russel Honoré,
the commanding general of Joint Task Force Katrina. Co-sponsored by the Florida League of Mayors, this special
presentation with General Honoré, titled “See First, Understand First, Act First: Leadership and Preparedness in the
21st Century,” will offer cities key strategies on preparedness and disaster response. This session is not to be missed!
I look forward to seeing each of you in Hollywood as we all learn from insightful speakers and innovative workshops,
and benefit from networking and information-sharing that will address your unique municipal challenge.
Sincerely,
John Marks III, FLC President
Mayor, City of Tallahassee

…………
Tentative Program
Workshop Topics Under Development
The League is working to bring you the most timely information possible. The list of topics will be
announced in the Datagram in June and will also be posted on our Web site …(BC-see link below)…

7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Registration Desk Open
7:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Charity Golf Tournament to Benefit
Tallahassee: A Community that Reads
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
City Class Sessions
The League has developed two concurrent, three-hour
“city class” sessions to kick-off the annual conference.
These workshops will provide you with an intensive,
interactive educational experience. While there is no
charge to attend either session, pre-registration is
required to ensure there will be enough seating and
handout materials. Be sure to indicate which session
you will attend on the enclosed registration form.
City Session 1 – What Do I Do Now?
Presented by Scott Paine, Ph.D., Associate Professor of
Communication/Government, University of Tampa
Winning an election or re-election makes us leaders
by position. But leading is so much more than a
title and an office… and nobody prepared us for the
challenges with which events, and our constituents,
confront us every day. What are the leadership
principles and practical tools that make us more
effective leaders in these particularly challenging
times?
Using a combination of discussions, role-play and
presentations, Dr. Scott Paine, communication and
government professor, former city councilman,
Florida League of Cities columnist and blogger, and
author of Rethinking Public Leadership for the 21st
Century, will help you enhance your effectiveness as
a public leader. Paine will bring real-world, and real-

Florida, experiences to life, and challenge you to

find a leadership path through them… where your

political career won’t be on the line!

City Session 2 – Creating Community in Your
City: Partners for Livable Communities
Presented by Partners for Livable Communities
Join representatives from Partners for Livable
Communities for an engaging session on maximizing
your cultural assets as partners in economic
and social development agendas. In tough economic
times, these partnerships and the programs
that develop through them will help cities foster
and maintain their unique quality of life, often with
little or no cost to the city government.
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Technology Center Open
Need to check the local news? Are you looking for that
important e-mail? Just want to browse the Internet or
catch up on some work? The Florida League of Cities
Technology Center provides you the perfect place to do
all that with eight PCs and staff to assist you. Please note
that children must be supervised while in this area.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Florida League of Mayors Luncheon and
Business Meeting
For more information, contact Jenny Anderson at
(850) 222-9684.
12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Municipal Marketplace Open
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
“Cities 101” Workshop
If you are newly elected or newly appointed, this “crash
course” is designed for you. Details about Florida municipalities,
services and governing challenges will be
discussed. This is a prequel to the popular Institute for
Elected Municipal Officials, but is not a substitute for the
three-day IEMO class.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Registration Desk Open
7:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Charity Golf Tournament to Benefit
Tallahassee: A Community that Reads
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
City Class Sessions
The League has developed two concurrent, three-hour
“city class” sessions to kick-off the annual conference.
These workshops will provide you with an intensive,
interactive educational experience. While there is no
charge to attend either session, pre-registration is
required to ensure there will be enough seating and
handout materials. Be sure to indicate which session
you will attend on the enclosed registration form.
City Session 1 – What Do I Do Now?
Presented by Scott Paine, Ph.D., Associate Professor of
Communication/Government, University of Tampa
Winning an election or re-election makes us leaders
by position. But leading is so much more than a
title and an office… and nobody prepared us for the
challenges with which events, and our constituents,
confront us every day. What are the leadership
principles and practical tools that make us more
effective leaders in these particularly challenging
times?
Using a combination of discussions, role-play and
presentations, Dr. Scott Paine, communication and
government professor, former city councilman,
Florida League of Cities columnist and blogger, and
author of Rethinking Public Leadership for the 21st
Century, will help you enhance your effectiveness as
a public leader. Paine will bring real-world, and real-
Florida, experiences to life, and challenge you to
find a leadership path through them… where your
political career won’t be on the line!
Thursday, August 19, 2010, continued
William H. Hudnut III
Senior Fellow Emeritus, Urban
Land Institute and Managing Partner,
Bill Hudnut Consultants, LLC
Former four-term Indianapolis
mayor and congressman,
author, public speaker, TV
commentator, think tank fellow
and clergyman, Bill Hudnut is
a senior fellow emeritus at the
Urban Land Institute (ULI) in
Washington, D.C.; managing
partner in his own consulting
firm Bill Hudnut Consultants, LLC;
a faculty member at Georgetown
University teaching graduatelevel
real estate development
courses; and an associate with
SGBlocks LLC. Hudnut is probably
best known for his 16-year tenure
as mayor of Indianapolis from
1976 to 1991. A past president
of the National League of Cities
and the Indiana Association of
Cities and Towns, Hudnut helped
Indianapolis record spectacular
growth during his years in
office. His goal was to build a
“cooperative, compassionate and
competitive” city. After leaving
the mayor’s office, Hudnut held
posts at the Kennedy School
of Government at Harvard, the
Hudson Institute in Indianapolis
and the Civic Federation in
Chicago before assuming his
position with ULI in 1996.
He is the author of Minister
Mayor; The Hudnut Years in
Indianapolis, 1976-1991; Cities
on the Rebound; Halfway to
Everywhere; and Changing
Metropolitan America: Planning
for a More Sustainable Future.
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Legislative Policy Committee Meetings
Energy and Environmental Quality
Finance and Taxation
Growth Management and Transportation
Intergovernmental Relations
Urban Administration
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
International Relations Committee Meeting
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Resolutions Committee Meeting
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
First-Time Attendees’ Orientation
If this is your first FLC Conference – Welcome!
This workshop will acquaint you with the League, the
conference program (with tips for the best use of your
time), how to get involved in your local or regional
league, FLC legislative policy committees and other
municipal services.
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Florida League of Mayors Board of Directors Meeting
For more information, contact Jenny Anderson at
(850) 222-9684.
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
President’s Welcome Reception in
Municipal Marketplace
Friday, August 20, 2010
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Florida Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials
Breakfast
For more information, contact Leo Longworth at
(863) 533-3136 or visit www.fbcleo.com.
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast in Municipal Marketplace
7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Municipal Marketplace Open
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration Desk Open
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Early Bird Workshops
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Technology Center Open
9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Opening General Session
Featuring the presentation
of the E. Harris Drew Award
and the Years of Service
Awards and a keynote
presentation by William H.
Hudnut III.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Roundtable Discussions
Come sit with your colleagues
and discuss fiscal
best practices, “go green”
solutions, small city issues,
financial innovations and
other topics.
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Women Elected to
Municipal Government
Luncheon
Luncheon by invitation only.
If you do not receive your
invitation, please contact
WEMG at (904) 571-4925 or
contact@wemg.org. See
letter on page 19 for details.
11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Grants and Technical
Assistance Resource
Center
This unique and valuable
session will provide you
with grants information,
technical assistance and
other resources that are
available to your city. The
Resource Center is specifically
designed so that you
may drop by at your convenience
to meet with representatives
from various
state, federal and nonprofit
organizations that provide
grants and other services.
Preview the 2010 version of FLC’s much sought after
grants exchange guide, Financial and Technical Assistance
for Florida Municipalities, which will be sent to your city.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Sidewalk Café in Municipal Marketplace (Cash Sales)
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Workshops
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Florida Association of City Clerks Workshop –
“Public Integrity and Transparency in Government”
Join your peers for an enlightening session with
members of the Winter Springs City Commission and
its city manager. Learn how they have taken their
focus on transparency in government and opened the
floodgates so it is truly for the citizens. The elected
officials, management and all city staff of Winter Springs
are incredibly focused on keeping the actions of the
government’s leaders open to the public. It goes beyond
Florida statutes and what municipalities are mandated
to do. It is a new mindset, a real emphasis on true
accountability and better communications. Attend this
informative session full of innovative ideas and consider
new ways to let your community know more about
their government, including what you are doing for
them, and how you and your citizens can form a more
understanding partnership.
2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Candidates’ Forum
The League has invited all candidates running for governor,
Cabinet positions and U.S. Senate to participate in
one of two forums during the conference. The final forum
schedules will be determined closer to conference.
4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Special Presentation – “See First, Understand First,
Act First: Leadership and Preparedness in the
21st Century”
Co-sponsored by the Florida
League of Mayors
When Hurricane Katrina struck
New Orleans in 2005, the
devastation was more than
anyone could have imagined.
Images of the city drowning in
the waters of the Mississippi and
Lake Pontchartrain, and of the
dire conditions at the Louisiana
Superdome and Convention Center, showed the world
that the United States was ill-equipped and unprepared
to deal with a natural disaster of such epic proportions.
In spite of questionable leadership on many levels, one
leader undeniably changed the course of the disaster:
Lt. General Russel Honoré, the commanding general of
Joint Task Force Katrina. A native of Lakeland, La., Honoré,
the “Category 5 General,” swept into New Orleans,
surveyed the destruction and took charge, bringing the
city back under control and starting the long process of
putting it back together. Honoré is a no-nonsense career
soldier who always speaks his mind. While in charge
of the entire Army east of the Mississippi, he brought
leadership to New Orleans, reminding soldiers to lower
their weapons and help those in need, creating a more
positive atmosphere as rebuilding began. Honoré is now
bringing the lessons on Katrina to organizations around
the country. An expert on preparedness and responding
to catastrophe, he offers insights into protecting people
and organizations, outlining the principles necessary
to lead through unexpected and uncontrollable crises.
In May 2009, he published his first book, Survival: How
a Culture of Preparedness Can Save You and Your Family
From Disasters. The man that New Orleans Mayor
Ray Nagin called a “John Wayne dude,” Honoré has
proven that by taking charge and creating a culture of
preparedness, whether as an individual, group, city or
entire country, unexpected crises can be managed and
their impacts can be minimized.
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Past Presidents’ Luncheon Ticket Exchange Open
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Municipal Achievements Event
All delegates are invited to meet and recognize the winners
of this year’s Florida Municipal Achievement Awards
program. Beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Evening Open
Saturday, August 21, 2010
7:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Past Presidents’ Luncheon Ticket Exchange Open
7:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Various Local/Regional League Breakfast Meetings
Contact your local league for more information.
©Sigrid Estrada
Saturday, August 21, 2010, continued
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration Desk Open
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Technology Center Open
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Voting Delegate Registration Open
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Annual Business Meeting
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Youth Council Program
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Second General Session
Featuring keynote presentations by National
League of Cities President Ronald O. Loveridge
and John Avlon.
12:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Past Presidents’ Luncheon and Installation
of New President
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Workshops
3:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Candidates’ Forum
6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Childcare Provided
Pre-registration required. See enclosed form
to register.
6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
“FLC Arts Festival” Closing Night Event
Join your colleagues from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
for samples of culinary delights from throughout
the state, while exploring the works of local artists
and community activities within our own festival!
After 8:00 p.m., enjoy dancing and singing along
with a rock n’ roll band.
Schedule and speakers subject to change.
Ronald O. Loveridge
Mayor, Riverside, Calif.,
and President, National
League of Cities
Ronald O. Loveridge,
mayor of Riverside,
Calif., was elected
president of the National
League of Cities by its
membership in 2009.
He has long been active
in NLC, serving as a
member of the Board of Directors and vice chair of
the Equity and Opportunity Panel. He also served on
NLC’s International Council and chaired the American-
Canadian Cities in 2004-2005. He is a past president of
the League of California Cities and served on numerous
task forces and leadership positions. Loveridge was
first elected mayor of Riverside (pop. 300,000) in
1994. He served on the City Council from 1979 to 1993
and the Environmental Protection Commission from
1970 to 1979. He is also a member of the California
Air Resources Board, the South Coast Air Quality Air
Management District and the Southern California
Association of Governments.
John Avlon
Author and Senior
Political Columnist,
The Daily Beast
John Avlon is senior
political columnist for
The Daily Beast and the
author of Wingnuts: How
the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking
America, as well
as Independent
Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics.
Avlon was the youngest and longest-serving speechwriter
in New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s City Hall.
After the attacks of September 11, 2001, he and his
team were responsible for writing the eulogies for all
firefighters and police officers murdered in the destruction
of the World Trade Center. Avlon’s essay on the
attacks, “The Resilient City,” concluded the anthology
Empire City: New York Through the Centuries and won
acclaim as “the best single essay written in the wake
of 9/11.” In a profile, author Stephen Marshall wrote
“Avlon talks about politics the way ESPN anchors wrap
up sports highlights.” Columnist Kathleen Parker wrote
“Americans who are fed up with the Ann Coulter/
Michael Moore school of debate and are looking for
someone to articulate a common sense, middle path,
may have found their voice in John Avlon.”
Additional Activities
Off-Site Activities
The Westin Diplomat provides a professional concierge
desk to answer all questions regarding what to do, where
to dine and how to get there, as well as brochures on
area attractions, shopping and restaurants. For complete
information, please contact the Westin at (954) 602-6000
or visit their Web site at www.diplomatresort.com.
Charity Golf Tournament
A charity golf tournament will be held on Thursday
morning, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to
benefit Tallahassee: A Community that Reads. Enjoy a
round of golf on the Diplomat’s course while helping this
organization promote literacy and foster and develop
a love of reading in citizens of all ages. The entry fee is
$100 per person. See the registration form on page 15
for more information.
Past Presidents’ Luncheon
Ticket Exchange
The installation of the new president will take place
during Saturday’s Past Presidents’ Luncheon. When you
pick up your packet at registration, you will receive a
coupon to exchange for a luncheon ticket. The ticket
exchange booth will be open twice: Friday, August 19
from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. (during the Municipal
Achievements Event) and Saturday, August 21 from
7:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. This procedure will give you
the opportunity to pick the table at which you want to
sit. You must exchange this coupon for a ticket.
Saturday Night Childcare
Childcare services will be available on Saturday, August
21, from 6:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. during the “FLC Arts
Festival.” This service, provided by the League through
Sitter Solutions, will be offered at no charge, but preregistration
is required.
The League will provide pizza, popcorn and drinks. Sitter
Solutions will provide quality childcare with loads of
activities and games. Toys will be provided for children
1-3 years old, as well as videos for quiet time. Pillows and
blankets will also be available.
Agenda
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Registration
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Activities
9:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Quiet Time and Videos
10:30 p.m. Closes
Please be sure to pick up your child by 10:30 p.m.
In order for us to provide this service, you will need to fill
out the Childcare Registration Form on page 17 so we
can determine how many sitters will be needed. Please
return childcare forms to Barbara Solis, P.O. Box 1757,
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1757 or fax to (850) 222-3806.
This service is licensed, bonded, insured and CPR trained

http://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/Events.aspx?CNID=3164

……………

more to come….

Tags: Commissioners Descend On Hollywood Florida For FLOC 2010 Conference, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, Sea Ranch Club, State Politics, Web News, local government

RECEPTION FOR BROWARD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE REBOLLO  … AT ATHENA-BY-THE-SEA …IN LBTS … 8/4/10 …

Want S’more info?  … It will be THE place to be on WEDNESDAY  NIGHT! … http://heresthescooponline.com/

Tags: heresthescooponline.com, Scoops
Posted in Scoops, Web News

Places To Go  and more …. http://heresthescooponline.com/

Tags: Scoops, Web News
Posted in Scoops, Web News

Dear Readers… S’more on sister site … http://heresthescooponline.com/ …. has become the “Go- To” site  for finding “Places To Go”… Want S’more?…just click on the link after you read BCbythesea…to check for “Places To Go”…..

Want your Event/Business/ Cause to get more exposure and bring more people to participate and attend?….Just send your info with a jpg. to barbarafcole@yahoo.com…

Everybody loves S’mores!….

more to come….

Tags: S'mores for Places To Go, Scoops
Posted in Scoops, Web News

IT ALWAYS COMES BACK HOME, SOMEHOW…..

Dear Readers… an Avid Reader spoke to this writer last week about the judges up for re-election…I was a little embarrassed that I like most voters actually know very little about the candidates or the races … The name at the top of the list to find out about was Carlos S. Rebollo … I promised I would look into it…

With a little downtime this morning I did a little looking online …and found that this judge is highly regarded and well respected from all the comments found on various sites …Judge Rebollo has listed on his site .(see below)….as a reference The Honorable James I. Cohn, United States District Court Judge, Southern District of Florida … That struck me because I had just finished reading an article about Judge Cohn (see below) …finding he too is highly regarded and respected …One of those lawyers interviewed was the Atty. for Kenneth Wilk …. In August 2004, Kenneth Wilk shot and killed Deputy Todd Fatta while he was trying to serve a search warrant at Wilk’s house in Fort Lauderdale. A high-powered round from a Winchester hunting rifle penetrated Fatta’s bulletproof vest and hit him in the heart.The bullet passed through Fatta’s body and then hit Sgt. Angelo Cedeno in the hand and shoulder. Cedeno lost a finger from the incident. That’s right, the very same BSO-LBTS Lt. Angelo Cedeno …(see below)…It always seems to come back home…somehow….

What also came to light for me from various websites and articles is the issue of how the politicos think we vote when having so little knowledge of who the person is on the ballot before us…These articles being posted bring forth that perhaps we will vote the surname rather than the record…

If true, it appears that Judge Rebollo could be voted out because of his surname … and he’s not alone…opponents are coming forward in many such races in hopes that this assumption will hold true…

In the meantime I believe it would be a great service to the the voters of the Town to invite the candidates to come to Jarvis Hall and speak to the voters to make sure that when our residents vote, they vote for the person and their record just as they did in March…

Our Commissioners should assist in this endeavor and I ask Readers to do some homework as well before they are faced with a name on the ballot before them that might make them have to question whether they will give validity to the claims of how we vote…..

………………….

“Retain Judge Carlos S. Rebello website”….

“CARLOS S. REBOLLO

About Judge Rebollo

I have been a Broward County Circuit Court Judge for over two years, assigned to the Juvenile Dependency division handling cases where children have been abandoned, abused or neglected. Prior to becoming a judge I was a prosecutor for twenty one years, two in New Jersey and nineteen here in Broward County.

In those twenty one years I was a homicide, career criminal, organized crime and gang prosecutor.
I look forward to continue serving the people of Broward County. I bring integrity and fairness to the bench. Everyone in my courtroom is treated with respect.

Professional

* Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, August 2007
* Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of Florida, December 1987
* Admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida April 2006
* Admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the 11 th Circuit, August 2007
* Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey , May 1985
* Admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, May 1985

Legal Experience

* Appointed November 22, 2007 by Governor Charlie Crist Circuit Court Judge for the 17 th Judicial Circuit in and for Broward County; Started December 17, 2007 in the Juvenile Dependency division.
* Solo General Practitioner, The Law Offices of Carlos S. Rebollo, P.A., August 2007 to December 2007.
* Assistant State Attorney, 17 th Judicial Circuit, Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, Florida,

September 1988 to August 2007. Prosecuted over 200 felony jury trials to verdict, charges included murder, robbery, burglary, other violent offenses, possession, delivery and trafficking in controlled substances and all other felonies.

* Homicide Unit October 2006 to August 2007
* Organized Crime and Gang Unit May 2001 to September 2006
* Career Criminal Unit November 1994 to April 2001
* Senior Supervisor & Supervisor in the Felony Trial Unit July 1992 to December 1994
* Felony Trial Unit December 1988 to June 1992
* Misdemeanor Trial Unit September 1988 to December 1988
* Assistant Essex County Prosecutor, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Newark , New Jersey ,
* June 1986 to August 1988. Prosecuted 20 felony jury trials to verdict.
* Law Clerk to the Honorable John J. Dios, Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County, Criminal Division, September 1985 to June 1986.
* Associate and Law Clerk to the law firm of Summerville, Radding & Campbell, Jersey City, New Jersey. September 1984 to August 1985. General practice of law.

Education

* Juris Doctorate, The Drake University Law School , Des Moines , Iowa May 1984
* Dean’s List, The Drake University Law School, Des Moines , Iowa 1983 Fall semester
* Biography in Who’s Who Among American Law Students, 4 th Edition 1984
* Prosecutor’s Internship Polk County State Attorney’s Office Des Moines, Iowa 1984 Spring semester
* Student Attorney, Boone County Legal Aid, Boone, Iowa 1982 Fall semester
* Bachelor of Arts, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey May 1980
* Major in Political Science; Minor in History

Professional Affiliations Current and Previous Years

* Florida Bar
* Broward County Bar Association
* Broward County Hispanic Bar Association
* Broward County Crime Commission
* Florida Gang Investigators Association
* Friends of Florida Assistant State Attorneys
* Federal Bar Association Broward Chapter
* New Jersey State Bar Association
* American Bar Association
* Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Committee Membership

* Florida Bar – Florida Criminal Procedure Rules Committee
* Appointed July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007; Reappointed July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2010;
* Appointed Subcommittee I Chairman July 1, 2008; Reappointed July 1, 2009.

Awards and Commendations

* 2006 Commendation presented by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Strategic Investigation Division, Organized Criminal Activities Section, for tremendous contribution in the fight against Organized Crime in South Florida.

* • 2003 Commendation presented by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Strategic Investigation Division, Organized Criminal Activities Section, for leadership and dedication to Operation Goodfellas and Operation Crossover.
* April 2001 Commendation presented by the Broward County State Attorney’s Office, Career Criminal Unit for dedication, effort and accomplishments while in the Career Criminal Unit.
* October 1991 recognized as Prosecutor of the Month in the Felony Trial Unit and commended for dedicated and outstanding service to the Broward County State Attorney’s Office.

Special Skills:
* Speak Spanish fluently.

References:

* The Honorable William P. Dimitrouleas, United States District Court Judge, Southern
* District of Florida.
* The Honorable James I. Cohn, United States District Court Judge, Southern District
* of Florida .

http://retainjudgerebollo.com/about.html

…………………

Excerpts …Judge James I. Cohn

“When three of Broward County’s once powerful residents are sentenced to federal prison in the next few weeks, their fates will lie in the hands of one man — U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn.

BC-Broward School Board member Beverly Gallagher, now-disbarred attorney Scott Rothstein, former Miramar City Commissioner Fitzroy Salesman

“Cohn wields great authority and power as a lifetime appointee to the federal bench in Fort Lauderdale but outside court, he’ll introduce himself as “Jimmy Cohn” in his soft Alabama drawl or gently inquire about some personal detail you’ll have assumed he’s too busy to remember.

“A true Southern gentleman” and “tough but fair” were the most common descriptions offered by dozens of attorneys who have handled cases in his courtroom and were interviewed by the Sun Sentinel.

And yes, many of them said that he doles out tough sentences to convicted criminals.

For his part, Cohn said in a rare interview that he would like to be known as “somebody that was fair and reasonable and someone who treated people with courtesy and respect and somebody who followed the law.”

“He’s a judge who’s prepared, he’s decisive and he plays it down the middle. The rulings cut both ways,” said Bill Matthewman, a defense attorney who represented convicted cop killer Kenneth Wilk in Cohn’s courtroom in 2007.

Cohn, 61, is a lifelong Democrat nominated to the federal judiciary in 2003 by Republican President George W. Bush and confirmed 96-0 by a Republican-dominated Senate during a bitterly partisan era. His confirmation hearing was described by the Sun Sentinel as “a striking display of harmony in a contentious arena” but Cohn said that, as a Democrat selected by a Republican president, he was unlikely to face opposition.

The position of U.S. district judge is for life and appointees are not subject to voter approval. The job pays $174,000 a year.

Before Cohn’s current job, he was a Broward Circuit judge, appointed in 1995 by Gov. Lawton Chiles, a Democrat. He scored high in attorney reviews and never attracted a challenger at election time.

In his eight years on the state bench, Cohn tried 770 felony jury trials, including 144 in one year, a local record only exceeded by his friend, U.S. District Judge William Dimitrouleas when he was a state judge. Cohn believes that his work ethic helped to get him the federal appointment.

The judge sets the tone and he insists on punctuality, courtesy and respect in his courtroom. He seems bewildered by attorneys who run late or are less than totally organized.

Benjamin said he thinks the world of Cohn: “He’s the picture of what you want in a judge.” But Benjamin said he was really frustrated by the judge’s rigidity. “It’s puzzling to see that court scheduling can ever be more important than preparing a case,” the attorney said.

Cohn said he hopes he’s evolved with experience but that “lawyers are inherent procrastinators and you’ve got to set deadlines.”

Some defendants in state court, where Cohn handled career criminals who were mandated by law to receive lengthy sentences, called him “the Rocket Man” because they said “he could send you to the moon.” That reputation has stuck and some attorneys quietly call Cohn’s courtroom “the launching pad” for similar reasons.

Cautiously choosing his words, Cohn said he judges each case on its merits, considering the advisory sentencing guidelines, the nature and circumstances of the crime and the defendant’s history and character.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-judge-cohn-profile-20100529,0,3680538,full.story

…………..

Excerpts…Conviction of Kenneth Wilk….
“BSO deputy murderer sentenced to three life terms
MIAMI – A man convicted of murdering a Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy was sentenced earlier today to three concurrent terms of life imprisonment, an additional thirty years’ imprisonment to run consecutive to the life terms, a lifetime term of supervised release, and a $25,000 fine.
Kenneth Paul Wilk was also ordered to pay $300,000 to the court’s CJA fund to defer the costs of his appointed defense counsel. The court also ordered the forfeiture of Wilk’s interest in his residence, located at 1950 NE 57th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as directed by the jury in a separate forfeiture proceeding on June 13, 2007. A separate hearing is set for Nov. 2, 2007 to determine the amount of restitution that Wilk will owe to the Fatta family and Angelo Cedeno.
The sentencing announcement was made by R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony V. Mangione, special agent in charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Jonathan I. Solomon, special agent in charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Sheriff Ken Jenne, Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO).
Wilk was convicted on June 5, 2007 of murder in the first degree for the murder of BSO Sheriff’s Deputy Todd M. Fatta, the attempted murder of Sergeant Angelo Cedeno, use of a firearm in the commission of crimes of violence, that is, the murder of Deputy Fatta and the attempted murder of Sergeant Cedeno, obstruction of justice in connection with the prosecution of Kelly Ray Jones in a prior federal case, possession of child pornography; and conspiracy to obstruct justice. The defendant has been in custody since Aug. 19, 2004, the date of the Fatta murder.
U.S. Attorney Acosta stated, “Although today’s sentence brings some measure of comfort to the Fatta and BSO families, no amount of punishment can undo or even alleviate the pain and suffering caused by this senseless murder. The loss of human life is always tragic, but it is particularly poignant when the victim is someone who so selflessly devoted his life to helping others.”

http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/articles/070822miami1.htm

……………….

Excerpt….

“Here We Go Again: Two Hispanic Judges File For Re-Election

Have Broward County voters matured enough to elect a Hispanic judge?
We’ll find out next year now that two incumbent Hispanic judges have opened re-election campaigns.
Broward Circuit Judges Carlos Rebollo and Carlos Rodriguez filed re-election papers in Tallahassee within the last week.
Both were appointed to the bench by Gov. Charlie Crist. They will be facing voters for the first time in 2010.
That may be the problem.
When three appointed Hispanic judges — Catalina Avalos, Pedro Dijols and Julio Gonzalez — ran last year for the first time, they lost.
Sad, but true: The loss was widely attributed to them having Hispanic names.
Having Hispanic names hasn’t deterred Rebollo and Rodriguez from running.
Rebollo and Rodriguez deserve to be easily re-elected. They would be, unless biased voters reject them because of their Hispanic names.
Rebollo and Rodriguez are two of three remaining Broward judges with an identifiably Hispanic name. The third is Judge Robert Diaz.
Judge Ana Gardiner is Hispanic, but her name isn’t.
Judge Mily Rodriguez-Powell could run as Mily R. Powell. That’s similar to what Judge Marina Garcia Wood did when she ran as Marina G. Wood.
I wish that we reached the point where a Hispanic name is not a detriment for a candidate.
But I wouldn’t count on it.”

http://www.browardbeat.com/here-we-go-again-two-hispanic-judges-file-for-re-election/

…………………….

more to come…

Tags: How Will You Vote For A Judge?, Judge Carlos S. Rebollo, Judge James I. Cohn, Scoops
Posted in Public Safety, Scoops, State Politics, Web News

THE OVERPAYMENT IS IN BLACK AND WHITE …

Dear Readers… After Tuesday night’s meeting and the Interim Town Manager’s report the decision and direction was made for the Town to recoup the overpayment of compensation to former Town Manager Esther Colon.

The Sentinel did a follow-up posted tonight on their website (see below)…with a second “no comment.” from  Ms. Colon and the comment from the Town Atty. that we will just ask for it first…Hmmm…

Verbatim from the Oct. 12, 2009 Special Workshop Town Manager performance Review … … Posted 10/13/09…

“Town Manager Colon-”Thank you Mayor, I know I am not on the agenda to speak but I would like to clarify some issues for the record and most of them I’ll do from just listening to everybody.”

“First let me explain something. I was not hired by the five members of the commission on this dais. I was hired by the five members of the prior sitting commission. I do want you to understand and you can check the record and you can subpoena the previous commission as well as you can subpoena me. My contract was reviewed independently by each sitting commissioner with the Town Attorney. My contract was motioned first motion to approve by Mayor ProTem Chuck Clark. It was second by Commissioner Yann Yanni, it was, excuse me John Yanni. It was approved 5-0. I read an article in the Futures paper and the only commissioner or the only elected official that was truthful in that article was mayor Oliver Parker. Mayor Parker did not like my severance position and like always I like a good little argument. He did not like a one year severance package. I said I worked too hard in this town during the broom sweep campaign. I’m sorry commissioners it was, we got locked out of Town Hall when you won so I was there. I said if that is any indication of what the residents are gonna do during election time I am not gonna put my heart and soul to run the day to day operations of this town unless I have a contract I’m worthy of. I believe I, at that time I had thirty years of public service and that is a contract that five independent commissioners reviewed with the Town Attorney, did not violate any Sunshine Laws and that is the contract they approved. Two of those sitting commissioners are currently on this dais.”

“A couple of months ago this commission started to divide , the residents started to divide. They believe they can use me as a sounding board. I will go and work with Robert Baldwin any day without a problem for one reason. Robert Baldwin never told me what to do, how to do it. All he told me was as long as you obey the law, you do  what you’re supposed to do. I have always done that in my 30+ years as a public servant. I have one fault and I have criticized this commission publicly once, only once. I have not been disrespected this commission. I have been disrespected by many residents on this dais and I have told you all I like you, I don’t like you but I’m gonna come here and do my job and if there’s one thing I will not allow anyone to do. And when I say anyone I mean my brother, my sister, my father , my mother God rest they’re all in peace, I’m not gonna break the law. The one time that I disrespected this commission was when they gave me a unlawful order. Do we remember that commissioners? And I told them you can direct me to do that and I’m not gonna do it. If that’s bein’ disrespectful and rude well then I’d like to see anyone in this commission put in this audience purposely disrespect the law. I am not a puppet. If you all think that Vice Mayor McIntee tells me what to do, boy you haven’t seen some of our good fights. I will agree to disagree with everybody that’s sittin’ on this dais and everybody that’s sittin’ in the audience and my staff who’s sittin’ up there who’s not even a third of them but boy do we have great arguments everyday too. I’ll tell you one thing that none of you know about me is I am a very fair person. You might come to my office and not like what I have to say. I’m sorry, I believe in black and white. There’s no gray. And if that style does not approve or agree with you well then I believe I requested Commissioner Dodd once to make a motion to terminate my contract. I believe that was the day the vote of confidence came and it was 5-0. Even Commissioner Dodd voted, gave me a vote of confidence. I said Commissioner Dodd if you don’t think I’m doin’ a good job then vote to terminate my contract. I don’t have a lifetime contract. Whoever keeps on inventing that story, I’m not a Supreme Court Judge. I’m a human individual like everybody else. If you don’t like me there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m gonna come here, I am gonna do my job and the only thing I ask and I’m sorry if I do have a problem with that word and many others, is that people don’t try to coerce me because it’s not gonna work. I am gonna do here and do my job until this commission or the next commission wants to do it be the Town Manager and I pray to God that whoever follows suit does not allow any resident or any elected official play political games. Because that is what I’m all about. Thank you.”

……………..

Standout comments from Former TM Colon contained above …

“and you can subpoena the previous commission as well as you can subpoena me.”

“I will go and work with Robert Baldwin any day without a problem for one reason. Robert Baldwin never told me what to do, how to do it. All he told me was as long as you obey the law, you do  what you’re supposed to do. I have always done that in my 30+ years as a public servant.”

“if there’s one thing I will not allow anyone to do. And when I say anyone I mean my brother, my sister, my father , my mother God rest they’re all in peace, I’m not gonna break the law.”

“I’m sorry, I believe in black and white. There’s no gray.”

BC- We will now see if there is any “gray” Ms. Colon now believes in ….when Ms. Colon is “asked” by the Town to reimburse us for her overpayment …thus far…

………………….

Sentinel …..

“Lauderdale-by-the-Sea seeks partial return of former town manager’s severance pay

The town commission unanimously authorized the town attorney to recover $69,308 from former Town Manager Esther Colon.

The amount is part of $296,188 in severance payments made to Colon the same week of her April 20 dismissal.

Interim Town Manager Connie Hoffmann alleged in a May 20 report that there were errors in calculating Colon’s benefit payments for deferred compensation and accumulated sick and vacation leave.

Reached at her Miami Lakes home, Colon would not comment on the town’s inquiry.

“We’ll probably start off just by asking for it and see what happens,” Town Attorney Susan Trevarthen said. “Obviously it’s a matter of great importance to the commission. We’ll seek to resolve this as quickly as possible.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/lauderdale-by-the-sea/fl-lauderdale-by-sea-colon-overpaymen20100527,0,293477.story

more to come….

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Seeks Overpayment From Former Town Manger Esther Colon, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, News, Scoops, Web News, local government

IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK ….

Dear Readers…Looks like the Sentinel got a whiff of the Town’s Colon payout inquiry being finished (thus far) …They had quotes from the Int. Town Manager (we hear they were never responded to by the former manager )…From former Town Manager Esther Colon ” I have no comment”… quite a change from her having plenty to comment on during her days on the dais….The inquiry will be  addressed tonight in the Town Manager’s Report… (prev. post) …Was Colon overpaid?…Was Colon terminated or a retiree?  …And will the Town be reimbursed for the $69 thousand + and whatever else was wrongly received? …In this writer’s opinion…nothing was done with the finances for this self proclaimed “bean counter”, Esther Colon without her direction…knowledge…oversight and consent… She provided big time for herself and her former boss and followed suit with his employment agreements for her staff  denying them what they should have received. from the Personnel Policy Manual …Those “loyal” staff members who will follow her out the door after being terminated are left  to waddle away with empty beaks!…

SENTINEL ONLINE….

“Lauderdale-by-the-Sea commission to review fired town manager’s severance payment

Report alleges overpayment of $69,308 Wages and Pension to Colon”

“LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA

A report about the severance payments to former town manager Esther Colon alleges she was paid $69,308 more than she was entitled to receive.

Interim Town Manager Connie Hoffmann said she will ask commissioners to consider the findings at Tuesday’s meeting. If they authorize her and the town attorney to proceed, Hoffmann said she will attempt to recover the funds.

Colon was fired April 20 and received $296,188, according to the report. Colon’s replacement, her former deputy John Olinzock, was fired a week later.

Asked about the town’s inquiry, Colon said, “I have no comment.”

Olinzock’s dismissal came after officials said they grew concerned about the rapid severance payment to Colon, which led to a lockdown of Town Hall the weekend of April 24.

Commissioners later said that Olinzock was authorized to process payments to his former boss, but that he had also been asked to review the severance payout with the town attorney.

“He did not do that until after the money had already been transferred into her account,” Hoffmann said.

According to Hoffmann’s report, direct deposit payments were made to Colon for:

$169,276 for one year’s salary in severance pay, including $7,499 for a year’s worth of deferred compensation that Hoffmann wrote “was not warranted.”

$41,479 for accumulated vacation leave that included an alleged overpayment of $18,593. “She was getting four weeks’ vacation, two weeks more per year than the commission authorized,” Hoffmann said.

$56,293 for accumulated sick leave that was allegedly $43,215 too much.

“That’s 75 percent more than the policy manual dictated,” Hoffmann said.

$29,138 for comp time.

Also under review is two years’ worth of deductions that Colon directed be made from her severance for health insurance premiums; eye care; dental, life and disability insurance, the report states.

“The question is whether the town is obligated to allow her to do that,” Hoffmann said. “Human resources treated her as a retiree, rather than as a fired employee.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/lauderdale-by-the-sea/fl-lauderdale-by-sea-manager-20100524,0,3031264,full.story

more to come…

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Town Manager Comments On Former Town Manager Colon In The Sentinel, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, News, Scoops, Web News, local government

Dear Readers … We hear the VFD has been busy with 2 fires in the last 2 days …”smoke showing” …at 4900 N. Ocean (Sea Ranch Club C) yesterday on the 7th floor and in the 1900 block of  S. Ocean  today…… No word on the extent of the damage… We hear all trucks were on scene at the 4900 call …

……………..

TAR BALLS  COMING TO  LBTS?…..

Yesterday Congressman Klein had a conference call on the oil spill potential impact with Commissioners … after  sending  e-mails the day before on May 18th….

“Subject: Call With Congressman Klein

Dear Friends,

Many of you have contacted our office with questions and concerns about the oil spill in the Gulf. In order to provide you with the latest information and to discuss how we can be prepared for the potential impact on our shorelines, I’d like to invite you to participate in a conference call with Congressman Klein tomorrow afternoon at 3:30pm. The phone number and access codes required to dial in are below. Please let me know if you have any questions. We hope to hear from you tomorrow.

Thanks!

Rebecca”

Also …
Int. Asst. TM Bud Bentley will also be attending a meeting on Thursday, May 20th sponsored by Hollywood Fire Dept. regarding – preparation and planning for the oil spill to which EOC Reps and City Managers have been invited and Mayor Minnet will be attending a Coastal Cities Mayors meeting sponsored by Ken Keechl on Friday, May 21st…..
…………….

And more on the oil spill front…

PRESS RELEASE FROM GOV. CRIST …

(BC- No direct links…sorry need to paste and click to get there….)
“CHARLIE CRIST SECRETARY ……….. MICHAEL W. SOLE DAVID HALSTEAD
Governor Florida Department of Environmental Protection State Coordinating Officer
MEDIA ADVISORY: TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2010
CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION (ESF 14): (850) 921-0217
FLORIDA DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE MAY 18, 2010
TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.
The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre- and post-landfall.
Landfall Predictions: The State Emergency Operations Center is aware of and has been fully briefed on the report of tar balls being found in the Keys. The Coast Guard has sent the tar balls for analysis to determine if they are related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
It should be noted that in 2008 and 2009 there were 667 and 681 reports respectively of oil and petroleum incidents along Florida’s waterways and beaches so these types of occurrences are not as unusual as one might think.
It is important that residents, visitors and especially the media await confirmation of the testing on these tar balls before assuming where they came from. Deepwater Horizon continues to discharge an estimated 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day. BP continues to evaluate numerous options to contain the oil discharge and is continuing efforts to drill a relief well. Winds/currents continue to keep the plume away from the Florida coast for at least the next 72 hours. Florida continues to monitor the location of the loop current and make preparations to safeguard the state’s shoreline. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the lead monitoring agency and at this time has not confirmed whether the oil has entered the loop current. Floridians and visitors are reminded that the state’s beaches and other attractions remain open for public enjoyment. Impacts to Florida’s coastline could include tar balls, oil sheen or tar mats. Should individuals observe oil on Florida’s coastline, report the incident to BP’s hotline 1-866-448-5816, or the State Warning Point at 1-877-2-SAVE-FL (1-877-272-8335), or by dialing #DEP from any wireless device. BP has opened six claims offices in Florida and expects to open an additional office later this week.
Walk-ins are welcomed. BP asks that calls be made to the claims hotline in advance at 1-800-440-0858 to expedite the process. After the initial call, a claims adjuster is estimated to call back in 48 to 72 hours.
State Actions: The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated at a Level 2 or Partial activation.
On May 17, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist announced that BP will provide Florida an additional $25 million for a national tourism advertising campaign. These funds are in addition to the $25 million Florida has already received for preparation efforts. On May 14, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved disaster loan funds for businesses along Florida’s Gulf coast that have been impacted by the Deepwater Horizon incident. (Press Release) Learn more at: http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/. Businesses and individuals can now submit Innovative Technology Ideas, suggestions, or products by completing the following information: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/files/inno_tech_evaluation.pdf.
Send the completed form and any other supporting documentation to Innovative.Technology@dep.state.fl.us. On May 12, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist directed DEP to issue an Emergency Final Order to accelerate preparedness and restoration in the 19 coastal counties under the Governor’s state-of-emergency Executive Orders.
Government entities, BP and its contractors making emergency permit application requests pursuant to the Emergency Final Order can obtain DEP’s emergency application form at: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/publications/pdf/emergency/DEP73-303EmPerApp-w-insts.pdf
The following link provides additional information about activities that may take place seaward of Coastal Construction Control Line: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/default.htm#DEEPWATER_HORIZON_-_Gulf_Oil_Spill. On May 11, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist issued (Executive Order 10-101) creating an Economic Recovery Task Force to facilitate efforts by Florida businesses and industries in recovering from the loss of business and revenues due to the Deepwater Horizon incident. On May 10, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum called on former Attorneys General Bob Butterworth and Jim Smith to chair a Legal Advisory Council to explore options relating to the Deepwater Horizon incident and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Press Release As of May 11, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. the Florida Oil Spill Information Line, 1-888-337-3569, was activated to provide Floridians with response information and resources about the Deepwater Horizon oil incident from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week. Additional phone numbers have also been established for persons with disabilities: (800) 955-8771 (TDD) or (800) 955-8770 (voice). DEP conducted water and sediment sampling to use as a baseline and is monitoring air quality data. Statewide air quality monitoring is conducted in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Learn more at http://www.airnow.gov/ or http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/.
Air quality reports for Monday, May 17, revealed that air quality throughout the panhandle area was considered good based on the ozone and fine
On May 17, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist announced that BP will provide Florida an additional $25 million for a national tourism advertising campaign. These funds are in addition to the $25 million Florida has already received for preparation efforts. On May 14, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved disaster loan funds for businesses along Florida’s Gulf coast that have been impacted by the Deepwater Horizon incident. (Press Release) Learn more at: http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/. Businesses and individuals can now submit Innovative Technology Ideas, suggestions, or products by completing the following information: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/files/inno_tech_evaluation.pdf.
Send the completed form and any other supporting documentation to Innovative.Technology@dep.state.fl.us. On May 12, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist directed DEP to issue an Emergency Final Order to accelerate preparedness and restoration in the 19 coastal counties under the Governor’s state-of-emergency Executive Orders.
Government entities, BP and its contractors making emergency permit application requests pursuant to the Emergency Final Order can obtain DEP’s emergency application form at: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/publications/pdf/emergency/DEP73-303EmPerApp-w-insts.pdf
The following link provides additional information about activities that may take place seaward of Coastal Construction Control Line: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/default.htm#DEEPWATER_HORIZON_-_Gulf_Oil_Spill. On May 11, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist issued (Executive Order 10-101) creating an Economic Recovery Task Force to facilitate efforts by Florida businesses and industries in recovering from the loss of business and revenues due to the Deepwater Horizon incident. On May 10, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum called on former Attorneys General Bob Butterworth and Jim Smith to chair a Legal Advisory Council to explore options relating to the Deepwater Horizon incident and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Press Release As of May 11, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. the Florida Oil Spill Information Line, 1-888-337-3569, was activated to provide Floridians with response information and resources about the Deepwater Horizon oil incident from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week. Additional phone numbers have also been established for persons with disabilities: (800) 955-8771 (TDD) or (800) 955-8770 (voice). DEP conducted water and sediment sampling to use as a baseline and is monitoring air quality data. Statewide air quality monitoring is conducted in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Learn more at http://www.airnow.gov/ or http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/.
Air quality reports for Monday, May 17, revealed that air quality throughout the panhandle area was considered good based on the ozone and fine
Fishermen who wish to contact BP about a claim should call 1-800-440-0858. FWC urges citizens to report oiled wildlife to the Wildlife Distress Hotline at 1-866-557-1401. For the safety of the public as well as the safety of animals, rescues should be conducted by trained responders. Untrained rescuers may cause more harm than good. Learn more at: http://www.myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/10/statewide/News_10_X_OilSpill2.htm
Closures: Currently there are no Florida State Park or beach closures. Learn more about Florida State Parks at: www.floridastateparks.org.
Tourism: Florida’s pristine beaches and famed fishing grounds remain open to residents and visitors. Currently, there are no impacts to Florida’s more than 1260 miles of coastline and 825 miles of sandy beaches. Florida’s shores are clear and open for business. If planning a trip to the Sunshine State, VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing organization, encourages visitors to check with local destinations in order to get the most up-to-date information. Through www.VISITFLORIDA.com, vacationers are able to view live Twitter feeds and read up-to-the-minute information on the status of any city or region in Florida, allowing them to see first-hand whether or not an area is currently affected. The following link also provides helpful local links to check on the status of your Florida destination: http://www.visitflorida.com/florida_travel_advisory/. The Florida State Park website will be updated daily and will list any parks that may be impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Incident: http://www.floridastateparks.org/. Visitors with camping or cabin reservations will be notified if their stay will be impacted. If you have any questions, please call 1-850-245-2157.
Tips for Homeowners While the state appreciates the concern expressed by Floridians and the ingenuity of those seeking alternative measures to help protect the state’s shoreline, the following tips are offered to ensure that these measures are helpful and not harmful to Florida’s coasts, wildlife and water resources: Tips for homeowners.
Tips for Businesses and Consumers: Florida residents are discouraged from signing any documents provided to them in return for money from BP or anyone else until they know the extent of their loss, which may be significantly higher than the money being paid. These may be fraudulent or premature. The Attorney General’s fraud hotline is open to receive any reports of fraud or price gouging. The hotline is 1-866-966-7226.
The Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner gas price-gouging hotline is also operational. The toll-free hotline number is 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352). Florida’s coastal businesses should be prepared to make loss of earnings claims for damages incurred as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In all circumstances, affected businesses should file a claim with BP via the hotline number – 1-800-440-0858 or claims office. Learn more at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/ or by calling 1-850-413-3089 or toll-free at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).
Volunteer Opportunities: The Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service is encouraging Floridians and visitors to watch for oiled wildlife, vegetation, and beaches by becoming a Coast Watch volunteer. Learn more at www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org. Report injured or oiled animals to the Wildlife Distress Hotline: 1-866-557-1401. Report oiled shoreline to: 1-866-448-5816. Report a change in Air Quality to: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/. For information on scheduled beach cleanups and other volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/. BP has established a volunteer program and set up a toll-free number for those interested in volunteering. Learn more by calling BP’s community information line at 1-866-448-5816.
Learn More About Florida’s Response: DEP launched a Twitter account, www.Twitter.com/FLDEPalert, dedicated to providing updates on Florida’s response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. DEP in coordination with the state Emergency Operations Center established an email sign-up for information alerts on its website as well as a resources page containing fact sheets and tips. Learn more at: www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon. For a list of Unified Command, BP and Florida phone numbers, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/default.htm#numbers
For additional information regarding Florida’s response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon, or follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/FLDEPalert.”

FACT SHEET  FROM GOV. CRIST …
“CHARLIE CRIST SECRETARY ………. MICHAEL W. SOLE DAVID HALSTEAD
Governor Florida Department of Environmental Protection State Coordinating Officer
WHAT FLORIDIANS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT REPORTING OIL
Report evidence of oil by calling the State Warning Point at 1-877-2-SAVE-FL
(1-877-272-8335), or by dialing #DEP from a cell phone.
 Impacts reported to the State Warning Point will be investigated by reconnaissance teams of
trained individuals for verification. When verified, a Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique
(SCAT) team will be deployed.
 Oil on Florida’s coastline will most likely be in the form of tar balls, oil sheen, tar patches or mats.

Tar Balls: Pliable, globules of weathered oil, ranging
from mostly oil to highly emulsified with varying amount
of debris and/or sediment. Tar balls may vary in size
from millimeters to 20-30 centimeters across.
Tar Patches: An oil configuration or “structure” that
reflects a broad range of shapes and dimensions.
Numerous tar balls could combine to form a patch; oil
of various colors and consistency could form a patch or
single layer 10s of cm to 10s (or even 100s) of meters
in diameter. Patches of oily debris, barely able to float
with sediment/plants in them, might be called “tar
mats.”
Oil Sheen: When fresh oil spreads out on the water
surface, it eventually becomes sheen, a very thin layer
of oil floating on the water surface. Sheens can vary
greatly in color. In regards to the Deepwater Horizon
incident, the thinnest sheens are nearly transparent,
and the thickest are dull brown in color.”

more to come….

Tags: Info On Oil Spills From Gov. Crist, Lauderdale By The Sea Preparing For Oil Spill, Lauderdale By The Sea VFD Smoking Fire Calls, Scoops
Posted in Scoops, State News, State Politics, VFD, Web News, local government

Lauren Sallan and Professor Michael Coates handle a actinopterygian fossil in their Culver Hall lab Oct. 6, 2009. Sallan and Coates found that an extinction event 360 million years ago set the stage for modern vertebrate evolution. The research was published online May 17 by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Credit: Photo by Jason Smith/University of Chicago)

…………………….

Dear Readers… many of you wondered why I made a beeline to Chicago after the landslide win to change the Town Commission/Town Administration in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea to help with my new granddaughter so my daughter could continue on with her Phd. at the University of Chicago …Below will explain it better than I ever could….It’s been amazing to watch my first grandchild come into the world one month ago…and to know that as she grows up she will see what an accomplished woman her mother is… My granddaughter will able to read this first of many important research papers her mother will have published and find that this paper and the others to follow will make big changes in how she and her classmates will be taught in school about the world and how it evolved!…

There have been interviews over the last week and this … and it was picked up by the Tribune as well as other print/web media…so it should also be in the Sentinel tomorrow… Below is the L.A. Times article and a link to Science Daily and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences for the full text of her research paper …

L.A. TIMES …
“Ancient mass extinction of fish may have paved way for modern species
A report looks at a 360-million-year-old gap in the fossil record and finds that marine vertebrates were recovering from an extinction event on par with the one that killed the dinosaurs. What happened is unclear.
By Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times

May 17, 2010 | 5:56 p.m.

Modern-day lizards, snakes, frogs and mammals — including us — may owe their existence to a mass extinction of ancient fish 360 million years ago that left the oceans relatively barren, providing room for marginal species that were our ancestors to thrive and diversify, paleontologists said Monday.

The report, by University of Chicago researchers, focused on events at the end of what is commonly called the Age of Fishes, which lasted from 416 million years ago to 359 million years ago. That age was followed by a 15-million-year period of relative silence in the fossil record.

Paleontologists had tended to ignore the rarity of fossils from that period, which is known as Romer’s gap — assuming that the fossils just had not been found, or shrugging it off as an unusual period of low diversity. But in a paper published online Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the authors proposed that Romer’s gap is a sign that the world’s marine vertebrates were recovering from a global-scale extinction event.

That gap left ocean niches bereft of weird, now-extinct fishes like the giant armor-plated Dunkleosteus that had ruled the seas up till then, permitting then-marginal species such as sharks to gain ascendency, scientists said. If they had not, the forms of vertebrates existing today may have been very different.

“It’s clearly one of the most important papers published in recent years” in paleontology, said John Long, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County who was not involved in the study. “Forty-four percent of all vertebrate life went extinct at that point, and that was not recognized before.”

That event was one of the most devastating in Earth’s history, on a par with the one that killed off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, said Lauren Sallan, a paleontologist at the University of Chicago and lead author of the paper.

And just as the fall of the dinosaurs made room for mammals to rise, she said, this extinction made way for modern marine life such as sharks and the ancestors of modern fish — as well as for tetrapods, ancestors of terrestrial vertebrate life.

The Age of Fishes earned its nickname from the diversity of marine life at the time.

During this period, lobe-finned fishes — descendants of which include the lungfish — ruled the oceans, as did armored fish called placoderms and many other forms of fish that no longer exist. Placoderms, which were a dominant life form on Earth for 70 million years, included a diverse array of species, including the 8-meter-long Dunkleosteus and the much smaller Bothriolepsis, which had arm-like spines near the front of its body.

According to data analyzed by Sallan and her colleague Michael Coates, about 345 million years ago — after the extinction and subsequent 15-million-year silence in the fossil record — the ecological balance of power had shifted. Sharks had risen to the top. Ray-finned fishes, of which there had been a mere dozen or so species that mostly looked like salmon, diversified extensively, leading to the appearance of such creatures as angel fish and eels in the fossil record, Sallan said.

Today, Sallan added, there are about 30,000 different species of ray-finned fish.

Researchers are still unsure what precipitated the extinction. There is some evidence of a period of low oxygen levels in the oceans at that time. Sallan said it is also possible that a miles-deep drop in the ocean’s water level caused the die-off. But the causes of this major change will have to be studied further, she said.

Sallan said the popular view of evolution was to think of it as a steady improvement — as evidenced by the idea that tetrapods, or four-footed life forms, “conquered the land,” somehow defeating now-extinct species.

“But by finding this extinction event,” Sallan said, “basically, [we show that] those kinds of progressive stories can’t be used anymore.” Luck — bad and good — plays a huge part in what species come out on top, she said. “There’s no reason for dinosaurs to die 65 million years ago except that they got killed by an asteroid.”

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-fish-20100518,0,203315.story

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100517152518.htm

Full text paper…(PDF)…

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/05/05/0914000107

more to come….

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Former Resident Publishes Important Research Paper, Lauren Cole Sallan Publishes In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Scoops
Posted in News, Scoops, Web News