PANHANDLE BUTTERFLY HOUSE & NATURE CENTER
A HAVEN FOR BUTTERFLY ENTHUSIASTS
By Nicole Willis
he Panhandle Butterfly
THouse & Nature Center
(PBH) is a quaint butterfly sanctuary located in downtown Milton that houses several species of butterflies and also serves to educate visitors on these fascinating creatures.
As a program of the nonprofit organization Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful, Inc., the goal of the PBH is to “enhance the environmental awareness by connecting its visitors with Florida native butterflies, botanical gardens and nature trails.”
The PBH was founded by butterfly enthusiasts, Jack and Fonda Wetherell. Though the couple has passed on, their legacy continues decades later, as the PBH remains an active educational center in Northwest Florida.
Officially opening its doors in 1997, the PBH was established in Navarre Park, where the house remained until 2018.
“The PBH relocated from Navarre Park in 2018 due to renovations to the park by Santa Rosa County. We had to find a new home, and in 2020, we purchased the T.W. Jones property from the Blackwater River Foundation,” PBH Executive Director Pamela Murfey explained. “We wanted to create a regional conservation facility within Santa Rosa County. From there, we needed to build a new vivarium to house the live butter-
flies, install pollinator gardens and make the facility accessible to all.”
Once the property was purchased, a two-year renovation throughout the property began in July 2021. Renovations included the construction of the vivarium, building repairs, planting gardens, adding an accessible walkway and more. Funding for the move and renovations came from a variety of sources including donations, gift shop sales, fundraisers, an Impact 100 grant and beyond. The post-renovation grand opening of the PBH was held last October.
The new PBH facility is the historical T.W. Jones house, located at 4966 Henry St. in Milton. This home was built in the late 1800s and sits atop 9 acres of beautiful land. While exploring all that the property has to offer, visitors will stroll through 18 different gardens, a vibrant vivarium and a short nature trail.
“This [acreage] provides us the opportunity to expand our conservation efforts and showcase native plant gardening. We are housed in a registered historical home and expound on the cultural history of the Jones family and local history,” Murfey said. “Gardens surround the home, vivarium and throughout the grounds. The quarter-mile Tiger Nature Trail provides a living backdrop for exploring the Blackwater River floodplain ecosystem and wetlands.”
One of the main attractions on the property is, of course, the
house. Along the hallway walls of the historic home, visitors can view more than 300 species of mounted butterflies and moths from around the world. This massive collection was donated to the PBH in 1999 by Gulf Breeze local, Dr. Tom Grow.
In addition to the expansive collection of mounted butterflies, the PBH is also home to many species of live butterflies that are native to Florida. The vivarium typically houses around 10 species of butterflies, allowing visitors to learn about the species that they may encounter where they live. According to Murfey, there are approximately 116 species of butterflies found in NW Florida, with visitors like the zebra heliconian and the white peacock occasionally passing through. Visitors to the vivarium can see butterflies in various stages of life.
Whether you are looking for a fun and educational summer outing for the kids, or you are a solo butterfly enthusiast wanting to learn more, the PBH has something for everyone. The PBH is open to visitors Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 am to 2 pm. Adult entry is $7, individuals ages 17 and under are admitted for $5 and children 5 or younger are free.
To donate to the PBH or learn more about its mission, visit panhandlebutterflyhouse.org. Stay connected with the PBH by following the house on Facebook at facebook.com/FPBHNC. ■
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY ANIMAL
WELFARE RESCUES INJURED BABY OPOSSUM FROM TRAP
Escambia County Animal Welfare officers rescued an injured baby opossum from a trap this week, highlighting the potential unintended dangers of certain types of animal traps.
Animal Welfare received a call Tuesday, Aug. 6 reporting the injured opossum, which was stuck in a mole trap in a Pensacola resident’s yard. The opossum’s front leg and paw were severely injured, so officers worked quickly to free it from the trap and transport it to the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida to receive veterinary care.
“There’s no telling how long it had been dragging this trap around,” Lead Animal Welfare Officer Sgt. Merideth Roberson, who responded to the call with Animal Welfare Trainee Officer Josh Clayton. “And the trap was twice its size, because it’s just a baby.”
Sgt. Roberson said the trap was designed to catch underground moles, but it did not appear to be set up correctly. Without a key to the locked trap, Sgt. Roberson and Officer Clayton had to pry the trap open with a screwdriver and free the opossum’s injured paw.
This is not the first call like this Sgt. Roberson has experienced, with examples including kittens, dogs, or even snakes caught in sticky traps or other rat traps. Sgt. Roberson said not all pest or rodent traps are bad, but she said this is an opportunity to encourage people to research the kinds of traps they’re using and consider humane options.
“Sometimes the traps you’re using, they trap other animals that you’re not trying to catch, and then those animals suffer the unintended consequences,” she said. “I think if
people would just do more research about the kind of traps they’re using, there are humane traps where an animal doesn’t have to suffer physically or mentally – because it is traumatic for them to be trapped and in pain.”
Sgt. Roberson was especially glad to be able to help the opossum since it’s one of her favorite animals – along with one of the most misunderstood, in her opinion.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, opossums are also extremely resistant to rabies and are much less likely to carry rabies than raccoons, bats and other small mammals.
“They eat ticks and fleas, and they’re just a cool little animal to have around,” Sgt. Roberson said. “They’re just so misunderstood. They just open their mouth and show their teeth, but it’s really because they’re scared and just want to be left alone.”
Escambia County Animal Welfare Director John Robinson said this is just one of many examples of his team going above and beyond to care for animals in Escambia County.
“Our Animal Welfare team truly cares about the well-being of all animals in our community, whether they are household pets or wild animals,” Robinson said. “I definitely encourage residents to do research before setting traps that may have unintended consequences for animals or even pets, which will hopefully help us avoid unfortunate calls like this in the future. Thank you to Sgt. Roberson and Officer Clayton for their quick response, and to the Wildlife Sanctuary for their continued partnership and dedication to helping animals in our community.”
NEXT MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP SET FOR SATURDAY, AUG. 31
The next Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup will be Saturday, Aug. 31 in the area east of Spanish Trail and north of Summit Boulevard, including Baycliff, Lavallet, Gaberonne, Bohemia, and surrounding neighborhoods. Please see the cleanup map for details. This event allows City of Pensacola Sanitation customers in the cleanup area to leave eligible items at the curb for pickup, free of charge. Sanitation customers in the cleanup area must place items curbside by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Please do not place items at the curb prior to Wednesday, Aug. 28.
Please note that items left curbside outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. The cleanup includes bulk items only. Yard waste or garbage will not be collected. Items eligible for removal include:
• Household appliances and electronics
• Household junk and debris
• Furniture and mattresses
• Carpeting
• Barbecue grills (no propane tanks)
• Bicycles and toys
• Tires
• Old paint and paint cans
The City of Pensacola plans to spend up to $1 million per fiscal year to improve city streets, contingent upon funding availability. This Asphalt Paving Program is the next step following the 2023 assessment. During that assessment, nearly 5,000 city street blocks were given a pavement condition index (PCI) score. This PCI score range is Serious (0-24), Very Poor (25-39), Poor (40-54), Fair (55-69), Satisfactory (70-84), and Good (85-100). The first blocks to be included are "serious," "very poor," and several "poor"-scored blocks adjacent to "serious" and "very poor" blocks. These locations are focused first in the southwest section of the city and then move to the northeast section. Work is expected to begin in September 2024.
ROBINS & MORTON TOPS OUT OKALOOSA GAS DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS
Construction firm Robins & Morton celebrated the topping out of the headquarters for Okaloosa Gas District on August 13 in Valparaiso, Florida.
The topping out ceremony represents a significant milestone with the placement of the final steel beam, signifying the structural completion of the project.
The project includes a four-story, 152,000-square-foot office building, an 18,400-square-foot operations center, a 7,200-square-foot vehicle maintenance building, and a 23,540-square-foot warehouse.
The space will allow Okaloosa Gas District to consolidate its team members into a new community-focused location to serve Panhandle residents for years to come. Okaloosa Gas District team members will be moving into the new space in the fall of 2025, leaving behind their existing campus, where many of the buildings have reached their end of use.
In addition to housing the administrative and operations resources for Okaloosa Gas District, the new facilities include a large outdoor space, interior spaces to host community events, and kitchen and
catering spaces to serve the occupants and local community.
“We are excited about the progress on these facilities for Okaloosa Gas District,” Robins & Morton Project Director Bryan Durkin said.
“This milestone marks an important step in delivering this new campus to our community.”
Robins & Morton is the general contractor, and DAG Architects is the architect.
About Robins & Morton
Robins & Morton is a privately held construction firm based in Birmingham, Alabama, with offices in Charlotte, Dallas, Huntsville, Miami—Fort Lauderdale, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, and Tampa.
The firm specializes in the construction of healthcare, hospitality, higher education, entertainment, sports and government buildings. Since 1946, the firm has built a reputation as a trusted advisor to clients nationwide by cultivating a high-performing team that values integrity, safety, and innovative thinking. Robins & Morton is consistently ranked as one of the top 100 contractors in the United States, and one of the top 15 in the Southeast. To learn more about Robins & Morton, visit robinsmorton.com.
BAPTIST HOSPITAL EARNS
NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR LOWERING C-SECTION RATES IN 2023
Items not eligible for removal include:
• Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or more than one cubic yard of lumber)
• Household or pool chemicals
• Herbicides or pesticides
• Explosives or ammunition
• Auto parts
• Dirt or sod
• Propane tanks
• Garbage or yard trash
Please keep tires and paint cans separate from all other debris. Do not place piles under low-hanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes.
Through the Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup program, all city neighborhoods have a cleanup once a year during the months of January through October. In addition to Sanitation Services collecting items left at the curb, Code Enforcement conducts a sweep of the cleanup area and addresses any code violations. For more information about the Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup Program, visit cityofpensacola.com.
CITY OF PENSACOLA UNVEILS AMBITIOUS REPAVING PLAN WE’RE
The city has created a webpage for citizens to see just where the work is needed. It includes a spreadsheet of the city blocks identified for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025 work orders. There is also an interactive map showing the PCI ratings for city street blocks, as well as which fiscal year they will fall under for repair.
The final street blocks in each work order will depend on actual costs incurred. There are several street blocks shown in grey and scored as "very poor" that are included in future city projects for resurfacing within the next five years.
It's important to note that this paving program will not include unpaved streets, state streets, county streets, parks, or private streets.
Baptist Hospital achieved the federal Healthy People 2030 Maternal and Child Health goal of reducing Cesarean section (C-section) rates at or below 23.6 percent in 2023 for first-time mothers with low-risk pregnancies. The announcement was made by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Florida Department of Health. This is the third time Baptist has earned this national recognition. “This is an important reflection of the team's exceptional efforts to provide evidence-based maternal and infant health care practices,” said Joyce Nichols, APRN, FNP-BC, CWON, vice president & chief nursing officer, Baptist Health Care. “It speaks to our ongoing commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes."
“Choosing a hospital for birth is a big decision for expectant parents,” said Tracey Thomas-Doyle, M.D, chief of OBGYN and pediatrics Baptist Hospital. “This award reflects the dedication of our team to mothers and their newborns. More importantly, it highlights the trust that parents place in the Baptist team to bring their newborns safely into the world.”
According to the Florida Department of Health, reducing the occurrence of unnecessary C-sections lowers the rate of prematurity and maternal death and creates better health outcomes for mothers.
To learn more or to request an appointment, please visit ebaptisthealthcare.org/ WomensHealth or call 448.227.6870.
PLT PRESENTS BOLD, MODERN ADAPTATION OF ROBERT BOLT'S ‘A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS’
Pensacola Little Theatre (PLT) is proud to announce the upcoming production of Robert Bolt's acclaimed play, “A Man for All Seasons,” with performances running from September 13th to 22nd. This powerful drama, directed by Jeff Glickman, promises to captivate audiences with its modern twist on a classic tale.
A “Man for All Seasons” tells the story of Sir Thomas Moore, a man who stands up to King Henry VIII when the monarch rejects the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarry. This timeless narrative of courage, integrity, and political intrigue is brought vividly to life on the PLT stage, reflecting contemporary issues and resonating deeply with today's audiences.
The show is usually set in the 1500s, with all the typical costumes and settings to accompany the time period. Still, Director Jeff Glickman has a different vision for this production:
“As Sir Thomas says in the play, ‘I show you the times.’ I want to see these characters as relatable and the story to reflect the challenges we all experience surrounding our politics, regardless of our affiliations. Moving the play from the distant past into a modern era is a way to bring the audience closer to these conflicts, to make the action recognizable to a contemporary audience, and hopefully to revisit and revitalize this important incident in history and for us to understand the dangers of authoritarianism.”
This innovative adaptation emphasizes the relevance of Moore's moral dilemmas and the timeless battle between personal conscience and political power.
See “A Man for All Seasons” September 13th through 22nd on the Pensacola Little Theatre Mainstage. Get tickets now at pensacolalittletheatre.com or by calling the Box Office at 850-432-2042.
UWF CENTER FOR CYBERSECURITY EARNS PRESTIGIOUS COMPTIA AWARD
CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the information technology industry and workforce, honored the University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity with the Pathway Champions: Cybersecurity Award at the CompTIA Partner Summit. The summit was held in Atlanta on July 31.
“Employers value certification as a signal of someone's readiness for a job,” said Guy Garrett, associate director of technology and training at the UWF Center for Cybersecurity. “CompTIA Certification validates the work our students do in our courses and makes them more attractive to employers.”
Organizations and individuals were awarded for their work building a stronger technology workforce through training, education and certification programs designed to connect people with the technology skills they need to reach their full poten-
tial and attain career success. The Pathway Champions: Cybersecurity award recognizes CompTIA partners for their outstanding contributions to cybersecurity training and those that propel the next wave of cybersecurity talent. In the past two years, UWF students earned 427 CompTIA certifications. The UWF Center for Cybersecurity is a national leader in cybersecurity workforce development and offers several programs and scholarships for cybersecurity training, upskilling and reskilling. UWF leads an 11-university coalition through the CyberSkills2Work program and serves state and local government partners through the Florida Cybersecurity Training Program.
For more information about the UWF Center for Cybersecurity, visit uwf.edu/cyber. For more information about the CyberSkills2Work program, visit cyberskills2work.org.
MAYOR D.C. REEVES ANNOUNCES "24 FOR '24" CITY PRIORITY LIST
Shortly after the beginning of the year, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves unveiled his top priorities for the city, calling them his “24 for ’24.” They touch on nearly every corner of city government and challenge city administration, directors and staff to bring better services to the residents of Pensacola.
The following is where each project stands as of Aug. 1, 2024. You’ll find the project, followed by the department(s) responsible for it.
City of Pensacola "24 for '24" Priority List:
• American Magic (Port of Pensacola, Engineering, Economic Development)
° Funding for the building is secured. Construction is expected to begin this fall.
• Attainable Housing Initiatives (Community Redevelopment Agency, Economic Development)
° 2305 W. Cervantes St (Pensacola Motor Lodge) Negotiations are currently underway with the developer to create a redeveloped site with lowincome housing. 925 E. Jackson St.: Community Land Trust has been selected to move forward with a target development of 80-120% AMI housing.
° Infill Lot Project: Community Land Trust and the Home Builders Association of West Florida are coordinating the redevelopment of 3 city-owned lots to build/rehab homes at an affordable level (1491 North E St., 2300 W. Jackson St. A, 113 North Spring St.).
• Baptist Hospital (Economic Development, Engineering, Housing, Community Redevelopment Agency)
° State funding is secured.
A demolition consultant has toured the site.
° We are working with Baptist Health Care to complete the due diligence process. The Paces Foundation has been awarded two affordable housing multi-family rental projects utilizing Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) monies as well as other state funds.
• Bayfront/SUN Trail mixed use path (Public Works)
° 30% design complete for Phase 1 from Florida Department of Transportation. This is for a 3-mile bridge to the Port.
° We are waiting for the SUN Trail application for construction funding to be determined. This is expected to happen this Fall.
Community feedback is underway.
• Begin $5,000,000 Brownsville Commercial Revitalization Project (Community Redevelopment Agency)
° Grant award has been accepted
• Begin Fricker Center $5.5 million CDBG Renovation Project (Parks and Recreation/ Public Works)
° Grant documents have been executed. Facilities is working with Parks and Recreation on an Environmental Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Commerce approval. Facilities is working on completing an RFQ for project management.
• Begin Hashtag Project (Engineering, Public Works, Community Redevelopment Agency)
° Design RFQ is complete for Hashtag Phase 1 Main St (Tarragona to Baylen St).
° Design RFQ Hashtag Phase 2 Cedar St (Commendencia to Spring St) is ready to advertise, but we’re waiting on the determination of the SUN Trail application for funding before we proceed. That determination is expected to be announced this Fall.
• Code Enforcement Policy & Procedure Overhaul (Code Enforcement/Pensacola Police Department)
° Software has been upgraded to MyGovernment Online.
° Code has begun the process of digitizing its workflow, making citizen access to code enforcement-related information easier.
° Code has begun a full review of the Code of Ordinances pertaining to the department and will overhaul/edit as necessary.
• Customer Service Center at City Hall (Building Inspections, Parking Management, Engineering, Pensacola Energy, Sanitation Services and Fleet Management)
° We are in the process of creating an allencompassing city webpage for payment of all city bills.
° We are working on the design of a new customer service center.
• Hagler Mason/Council Chambers Refresh (Public Works) Completed.
• Help finalize A&P Mechanics School for Pensacola State College at Pensacola International Airport (Airport, Economic Development)
° Triumph funding has been secured. Pensacola State College is looking to break ground sometime this fall.
° Airport and PSC are finalizing the lease.
• Hollice T. Williams Greenway (Public Works, Engineering, Community Redevelopment Agency)
A design firm has been selected. Working on executing a contract.
° Community outreach is now underway.
Property acquisition conversations are ongoing.
• Improved Internal Communications (Mayor/All Departments)
° Started Employee Town Halls with the Mayor/Administrators.
Monthly Conversations, Leadership Development Institute and supervisor training ongoing.
Weekly meetings are held with all department directors and city administration to discuss city initiatives, projects and updates.
• Land Development Code Assessment/ Next Steps for LDC (Planning and Zoning/ Development Services)
° LCD assessment is complete.
° Implementation funding is expected to come in August.
• Leadership Training/Development/ Evaluation (Human Resources, All Departments)
° There have been quarterly LDI’s held for all leaders since the beginning of Mayor Reeves’ term.
° The city has partnered with Pensacola State College to create the Emerging Leaders program.
° The city has created an emphasis on training for all staff.
• Low Barrier Shelter (Mayor/Housing)
° Cost evaluated.
° Committed to spending $1.1 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for homeless reduction.
• License To Use - Parking, Sidewalk, Canopy, Business Tax Receipt Overhaul (Development Services)
° LTU’s have been updated to become more uniform across the city’s urban core.
° Development Services is working with Legal to address the overhaul of the Business Tax Receipt system.
• Mental Health Outreach Officer Implementation (PPD) Staffed and funded.
• Parking Reform (Parking Management)
° Most parking reforms have been implemented by Aug. 1.
• Parks and Recreation Organizational Assessment + Deferred Maintenance Evaluation (Parks and Recreation)
° Currently drafting an RFQ solicitation for a system-wide Park Facilities Condition Assessment.
° Currently drafting specifications for High Priority Park Revitalization projects funded through Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) monies.
° Staff are outlining a Department Restructuring Action Plan with objectives and timelines.
• Pensacola International Airport Terminal (Airport)
° Received $5 million in state funds this past legislative session. We continue to work with state and federal partners to secure additional funding.
° We have begun the discussion on bonding at the airport.
• Recycling Solution (Sanitation Services and Fleet Management)
We continue negotiations with Adams Recycling for curbside recycling.
° City staff is evaluating sanitation services (garbage, bulk, and green/yard waste) in conjunction with the potential opt-in curbside recycling option to ensure operational efficiencies and proper customer service.
• Solution for Bay Bluffs Park (Parks and Recreation/Public Works)
° Advocated for $2.2 million in state funds, which was awarded to the City and Conservation Florida.
° We continue to work with Conservation Florida on a plan to move this project forward.
• Strategic Plan Execution (All Departments, Pensacola City Council) The strategic plan process will be completed in October and presented to the City Council and the public at that time.
° Staff have been holding regular update meetings with the Gehl team each month.
° Numerous public outreach opportunities have been held since March.
GULF WINDS CHAMPIONS
CHILDREN’S HEALTH THROUGH CAT COUNTRY CARES FOR KIDS RADIOTHON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ASCENSION SACRED HEART FOUNDATION
On Friday, August 16, Gulf Winds Credit Union sponsored Cat Country’s 2024 Radiothon in partnership with the Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation. Gulf Winds donated $20,000 to the event, supporting the Studer Family Children’s Hospital, the only Children’s Miracle Network affiliate serving the Pensacola region.
Since 2013, Gulf Winds has donated more than $184,000 to Sacred Heart’s Foundation and the children’s hospital, including this years’ gift of $20,000.
This year’s donation will support the purchase of Angel Eye Cameras for the hospital’s 62-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. These cameras let families watch over their babies 24/7 via a secure account, giving them peace of mind as they never have to miss a memory.
“Our children are shaping tomorrow,” said Daniel Souers, President and CEO of Gulf Winds Credit Union. “We are committed to supporting the Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation and the Studer Family Children’s Hospital to create positive and lasting change. The Studer Family Children’s Hospital is our region’s only children’s hospital. We are proud to give back to ensure world-class care and treatment for the kids and families we know, through donations, sponsorships, and volunteer support.”
Support from Gulf Winds and other community partners makes it possible for all families to have unprecedented access to expert care.
“We are grateful for the continued support and partnership of Gulf Winds Credit Union,” said Adrienne Maygarden, President, Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation. “Their generosity impacts nearly every child and every family in our community helping ensure the highest level of care, close to home.”
To see the difference Gulf Winds is making, visit gogulfwinds.com.
About Gulf Winds:
Since 1954, Gulf Winds Credit Union has offered products and services that Move Members Forward. As a full-service financial organization, Gulf Winds provides 13 branch locations, digital banking, nationwide surcharge-free ATMs, and the support of more than 235 knowledgeable employees committed to delivering exceptional service. Gulf Winds is also renowned for its community involvement. With a mission to create a sustainable funding source for local community organizations, Gulf Winds can be depended on year after year. To learn more, please visit gogulfwinds.com.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOLS SIGNS COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
To help its employees upskill and further their careers by pursuing educational opportunities, leaders at Santa Rosa County District Schools have signed a collaboration agreement with accredited, online Western Governors University. WGU will provide school district employees with flexible, personalized learning pathways to higher education, including bachelor’s and master’s degrees, professional certificates and credentials.
As part of the agreement, school system employees will be able to apply for WGU’s K-12 Partner Scholarships in the amount of $2,500, which is disbursed in increments of $625 per term for up to four academic terms based on satisfactory academic performance. Tuition at WGU is around $4,000 to $5,000 per six-month term, and students can take as many courses as they desire within a term with the consent of their assigned program mentor.
Established in 1997, WGU offers more than 80 bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the fields of K-12 education, information technology, business and healthcare. The nonprofit university’s asynchronous competency-based model allows working adults to log on at a time and place convenient to them, and to accelerate at their preferred pace. WGU currently has more than 10,200 enrolled students and more than 18,800 graduates in Florida.
Dr. Karen Barber, superintendent of Santa Rosa County District Schools, expressed her excitement for the collaboration. “We are thrilled to announce the partnership between Santa Rosa County District Schools and Western Governors University. We look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on our staff and students. This collaboration will bring valuable resources to our district.”
“Santa Rosa County District Schools is an exceptional system that was recently honored with an overall district grade of ‘A’ from the Florida Department of Education,” said
Kimberly K. Estep, Ph.D., WGU’s Southeast regional vice president. “WGU is proud to partner with them to provide their staff with educational opportunities that can, in turn, benefit every student in the district.”
To stay up to date on Santa Rosa County District Schools, visit santarosaschools.org. For more information about WGU, visit wgu.edu. About Santa Rosa County District Schools Santa Rosa County District Schools is a district of excellence in Florida. With nearly 30,000 students and nearly 3,000 educators, our 35 school sites bring a robust education to the students of Santa Rosa County. The district focuses on providing a high-quality education to every student in a safe and supportive environment. With a dedication to academic excellence, innovative teaching, and community engagement, Santa Rosa County District Schools is committed to preparing students for success. Our mission is to love, educate, and prepare all students for graduation and a successful future. About WGU
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online nonprofit WGU now serves more than 175,000 students nationwide and has more than 339,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 27 years, the university has become a leading influence in the development of innovative workforcefocused approaches to education. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN and The New York Times. Learn more at wgu.edu.
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COURT TO WEIGH
'LEGISLATIVE PRIVILEGE'
NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
SAUNDERS
JIM
In a potentially far-reaching case, an appeals court Tuesday said it will hear arguments next month in a dispute about whether Florida lawmakers should be shielded from testifying in lawsuits.
The 1st District Court of Appeal scheduled a hearing Sept. 17 in a dispute stemming from an attempt by voting-rights groups to take depositions of lawmakers and legislative staff members as part of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a redistricting plan.
The voting-rights groups have argued the issue is moot because they decided against continuing to seek the depositions. But in a June brief, attorneys for the House and Senate described the appeal as presenting a “question of great public importance.”
The House and Senate contend that a concept known as “legislative privilege” shields lawmakers from having to testify in civil lawsuits. Ultimately, the House and Senate want to take the issue to the Florida Supreme Court and undo a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that allowed legislative testimony in certain circumstances.
“What encourages legislators to act, speak, and vote in accordance with their consciences — and their appraisal of the wishes and interests of their constituents — is the confident foreknowledge that their legislative conduct will not embroil them in litigation,” the House and Senate lawyers wrote. “As long as the law withholds that security, legislators will continue to face a deterrent to the uninhibited discharge of their legislative duties.”
A coalition of groups, such as the League of Women Voters of Florida and Equal Ground Education Fund, and individual plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in 2022 challenging the constitutionality of a congressional redistricting plan that Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through the Legislature that spring. They contend the plan violated a 2010 constitutional amendment that set redistricting standards, including a standard that said plans could not “diminish” the ability of minorities to “elect representatives of their choice.”
The 1st District Court of Appeal in December 2023 upheld the constitutionality of the redistricting plan. The groups appealed to the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear arguments Sept. 12.
As part of the lawsuit, the voting-rights groups in 2022 sought depositions from six current and former lawmakers and five
current and former staff members. The Legislature fought the depositions, but Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh in October 2022 said he would allow the lawmakers and staff members to be questioned, with some limits.
Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh cited the 2013 Supreme Court precedent.
“The appropriate line in this case is where the doors to the House and Senate meet the outside world,” Marsh wrote. “Accordingly, each legislator and legislative staff member may be questioned regarding any matter already part of the public record and information received from anyone not elected to the Legislature, their direct staff members or the staff of the legislative bodies themselves. They may not be questioned as to information internal to each legislative body that is not already public record (e.g., their thoughts or opinions or those of other legislators).”
The House and Senate appealed that decision, and the issue has remained pending at the Tallahassee-based appeals court while the underlying redistricting case has moved on to the Supreme Court.
In a May brief, attorneys for the votingrights groups said the deposition issue is moot because they long ago decided against continuing to seek the testimony.
“This appeal is unquestionably moot,” the May brief said. “It challenges the circuit court’s October 27, 2022, order allowing appellees (the voting-rights groups) to depose a limited subset of legislators and staff involved in the 2022 congressional redistricting process on a limited number of topics. But those depositions never happened.”
But attorneys for the House and Senate wrote in their June brief that they want the appeals court to rule on the legislative-privilege issue and take a step known as certifying a question of great public importance to the Supreme Court.
The brief urged the appeals court to “certify the question whether the Florida Supreme Court should recede from (the 2013 decision) and recognize an absolute legislative privilege in civil cases.”
The current and former lawmakers involved in the dispute are former House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor; former Sen. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero; former Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach; Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island; Rep. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach; and Rep. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island. Each had a leadership role in the 2022 redistricting process.
STATE PARKS PLAN INCLUDES GOLF, PICKLEBALL
JIM TURNER NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Future visits to some of Florida’s state parks could include getting in 18 holes of golf or playing pickleball.
The state Department of Environmental Protection this week announced what it has dubbed a “Great Outdoors Initiative” aimed at expanding public access to state parks. The announcement included such things as adding campsites and cabins and increasing “the number of outdoor recreation opportunities available at Florida’s state parks, including pickleball, disc golf, golf and paddling.”
“The initiative will work to expand public access, increase outdoor activities and provide new lodging options across Florida's state parks — reinforcing the state’s dedication to conservation, the outdoor recreation economy and a high quality of life for Floridians,” the department said in a news release. The department didn’t immediately respond to questions about the plan. But a series of meetings are scheduled Aug. 27 to review management plans for Honeymoon Island State Park in Pinellas County, Hillsborough River State Park in Hillsborough County, Oleta River State Park in MiamiDade County, Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, Dr. Von D. MizellEula Johnson State Park in Broward County, Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County, Camp Helen State Park in Bay County and Topsail Hill Preserve and Grayton Beach State Park in Walton County.
Audubon Florida Executive Director Julie Wraithmell said Florida's state parks are award-winning because of their natural beauty and protecting "real Florida."
“Golf courses at treasures like Jonathan Dickinson and pickleball courts at Honeymoon Island would be travesties,” Wraithmell said in an online post.
PORT BACKTRACKS AFTER STATE CRITICISM
JIM TURNER NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Port Canaveral leaders acquiesced Wednesday to demands by the state and reversed plans for a new cruise terminal that could have been an impediment to future needs of the space industry.
The Port Canaveral Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to end plans set in May for redesignating what is known as North Cargo Berth 8 for cruise operations and to use adjacent property for parking garages. Port Canaveral is one of the world’s busiest cruise ports.
“We are confident that solutions can be reached to fulfill our commitment to the space industry as well as to our commitment to the cruise and economic businesses,”
Commissioner Jerry Allender said.
On Aug. 2, Florida Department of Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue expressed dismay about changes in cruise-terminal plans that could affect the space industry.
Kelly and Perdue in a letter said that unless the port returned to earlier plans for the berth, the Department of Transportation would shift investments to other seaports and spaceports and the Department of Commerce would halt funding for Port Canaveral projects.
“Florida’s cruise tourism and commercial space launch sectors are both vitally important,” Kelly and Perdue wrote. “Port Canaveral bears the responsibility of housing and supporting both. We will help you do both. But in this case, the port has announced its intention to support one sector to the direct detriment of the other. That decision must, therefore, be reversed.”
The letter also said the Department of Commerce would “stringently” review
whether the port complied with terms of an $8.245 million grant received in 2018 through the state’s Job Growth Grant Fund. That grant made up the bulk of funding for a $12 million road project and was provided, in part, to support the aerospace industry, the letter said. Also, the letter warned that the Department of Commerce and the Department of Transportation would not certify three recent applications to the Florida Seaport Tourism Economic Development Council for projects related to the cruise industry.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Port Canaveral Chairman Micah Loyd defended port staff members as balancing demands among the space, cargo, commercial fishing and cruise industries, with no interest “more important than the other.”
But Commissioner Fritz VanVolkenburgh said the authority needs to be flexible with increased demands that limit available port space.
“There will be tensions that will rise from that, because the demand is so high. And those tensions will continue,” VanVolkenburgh said. “I think, going forward, we just have to recognize that.”
Space Florida, the state’s aerospace agency, in May released a study that found the space industry would need to nearly double by 2033 the current footprint of about 2,800 linear feet of wharf space around Port Canaveral. Port Canaveral handled 6.92 million cruise passengers in 2023, globally behind only PortMiami with 7.3 million cruise passengers.
After SpaceX launched another batch of Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday, Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral have had 59 launches in 2024. Florida had a record 72 orbital rocket launches in 2023, up from 57 in 2022 and 31 in 2021.
MUCARSEL-POWELL, SCOTT SET UP NOVEMBER FIGHT
DARA KAM NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell cruised to victory Tuesday in a Democratic U.S. Senate primary, setting the stage for what could be an uphill battle to oust incumbent Republican Rick Scott in November.
The Senate race has drawn national attention as Democrats’ exuberance around Vice President Kamala Harris’ White House bid continues to swell.
The Florida Springs Council described the proposal as “commodifying & developing our public lands.”
Golf has been considered in the past at parks such as Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
In 2011, a bill would have allowed legendary golfer and golf-course designer Jack Nicklaus to build courses in state parks.
The measure arose out of talks between Nicklaus and then-Gov. Rick Scott about promoting tourism. The idea was to create a Florida version of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, which offers golf courses at 11 sites.
Then-Rep. Patrick Rooney, a West Palm Beach Republican who sponsored the bill, said at the time his intention was economic development, but he withdrew the measure as "Floridians spoke very clearly” about the proposal.
Rooney’s proposal called for hiring Nicklaus to create a Jack Nicklaus Golf Trail “in an environmentally sensitive manner." The proposal also suggested accompanying hotels.
In its news release Tuesday, the Department of Environmental Protection said state parks attracted nearly 30 million visitors during the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
According to the Florida Sports Foundation, the state has more than 1,100 golf courses, with out-of-state visitors playing one-third of the nearly 48 million annual rounds. Visit Florida, the state’s tourismmarketing agency, put the number of public golf courses in the state at over 1,400.
The website Pickleheads lists 1,160 pickleball locations in Florida, the most of any state for the growing sport. Jacksonville, Tampa and Orlando have the most courts.
The state also is buying land to create the Florida Wildlife Corridor, which is planned to include nearly 18 million acres of habitat from the Everglades to the Panhandle. It already includes more than 6,000 acres of recreational trails.
Scott, a former Florida governor who was elected to the Senate in 2018, handily defeated two little-known primary opponents Tuesday. Scott captured about 84 percent of the vote in the race against Keith Gross and John S. Columbus.
Democratic leaders viewed MucarselPowell — who earned dozens of endorsements from local, state and national party figures — as their best shot at toppling Scott in a state where Republicans hold a millionvoter registration advantage over Democrats.
Mucarsel-Powell served one term in Congress before she was defeated in 2020 by former Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez.
The former congresswoman from Miami-Dade County has made the issue of abortion a central plank of her campaign, and the November ballot also will include a proposal aimed at enshrining abortion rights in the state Constitution. The Republican-controlled Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis last year approved a law restricting abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. The law went into effect in May.
Mucarsel-Powell, who was born in Ecuador and emigrated to the U.S. as a child, is among the Democrats trying to harness opposition to abortion restrictions and use it to help win in the fall.
National Democrats hailed MucarselPowell’s primary victory Tuesday evening, saying “she has spent her life fighting to expand opportunity for every family in her state.”
“Debbie has fought for the values all Floridians care about, and in the Senate, she will protect Medicare and Social Security, stand strong against threats to reproductive freedom, and tackle rising costs head on,” U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat who is chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a prepared statement.
Scott portrayed Mucarsel-Powell as a “radical socialist,” a label that contributed to her defeat in Miami-Dade County four years ago.
"The most radical socialist ticket of my lifetime, consisting of Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, seeks to fundamentally destroy the promise of freedom in America for generations to come,” Scott said in a statement.
The state Division of Elections website Tuesday night showed Mucarsel-Powell with 68.5 percent of the vote in a four-way primary. Navy veteran and businessman Stanley Campbell drew 19.5 percent, while Brian Rush, a former state representative, and Rod Joseph, an Army vet and businessman, each received support from fewer than 7 percent of primary voters.
Apart from the top-of-the-ticket Senate race, other federal primaries also closed out with few surprises.
Democrat Whitney Fox emerged the victor in a crowded Pinellas County primary and will try to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna in November. Fox, who was seen as the frontrunner, picked up about 58 percent of the vote in a five-way contest against Sabrina Bousbar, Liz Dahan, John William Liccione and Mark Weinkrantz. Bousbar came in second, bringing in about 17 percent of the vote.
Democrats view the District 13 seat held by Luna, who was first elected in 2022 and has the backing of former President Donald Trump, as what could be one of the state’s most-competitive congressional districts. According to the latest book-closing report before Tuesday’s election, the Pinellas County district had about 205,000 registered Republicans, 151,000 Democrats, and 136,000 voters with no party affiliation.
“Anna Paulina Luna’s extreme agenda puts partisan politics over people and threatens to take away our freedoms. Luna tells struggling families to 'just move' if they don't like her cruel policies. Well, I say it’s time to move Luna out of office!” Fox said in a statement released by her campaign Tuesday night.
On the Space Coast, Mike Haridopolos, a former Florida Senate president, crushed two other Republicans in a contest to fill a seat that became open when U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., announced he would retire. Haridopolos on Tuesday garnered about 72 percent of the vote in Republican-leaning District 8, which includes Brevard, Indian River and part of Orange counties. Haridopolos will face Democrat Sandy Kennedy in November. Elsewhere, incumbents did not face any upsets in Tuesday’s primary elections.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a firebrand Republican from Northwest Florida seeking a fifth term, swept aside opponent Aaron Dimmock in a race that drew national headlines. Gaetz, a Trump ally, was instrumental in toppling former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who contributed to Dimmock in a bruising race.
Gaetz received 72.5 percent of the vote in the primary and is expected to top Democrat Gay Valimont in November in the heavily Republican Congressional District 1.
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Photo ©David Schrichte