West Volusia Wire

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Junior Master Gardener Day Camp canceled
posted 9:50:14am

NEWS SOURCE: VOLUSIA COUNTY

The Junior Master Gardener Day Camp scheduled for Aug. 5 to 9 has been canceled.

To view upcoming Volusia County 4-H activities, visit www.volusia.org/4-h.

For more information, call the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension at 386-822-5778.

Lake County Extension’s ‘Chicken University’
posted 9:46:55am

NEWS SOURCE: LAKE COUNTY EXTENSION CENTER

TAVARES — The UF/IFAS Lake County Extension will host a small-scale poultry workshop, “Chicken University,” from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 25 at the Lake County Agricultural Center, 1951 Woodlea Road, Tavares.

“Raising poultry on a small scale can be an excellent way to provide meat and eggs for your family,” said Megan Brew, M.Sc., livestock and natural-resources agent with the UF/IFAS Lake County Extension, who will instruct the class.

Preregistration is mandatory and may be completed at http://ufchickenu.eventbrite.com. The cost is $5, which includes supplemental material. For more information, contact Brew at 352-343-4101, ext. 2728, or horsygrl@ufl.edu.

The University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (UF/IFAS) Lake County Extension provides research-based information and educational programs cooperatively with the Lake County Board of County Commissioners and the University of Florida for all aspects of horticulture, agriculture, food safety, the home environment, financial management and 4-H youth programs.

The UF/IFAS Lake County Extension’s mission is to make knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources accessible to people to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. The Extension provides free consultations as well as educational programs on a variety of subjects. The foundation for the Gator Nation – An Equal Opportunity Institute.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Volunteer Info / Eco-Surf Clinic This Saturday!
posted 10:07:53am

Come celebrate International Surfing Day with the Volusia/Flagler Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation

Saturday, June 22nd at our FREE 7th Annual Eco-Surf Clinic!

Free for children ages 17 and under who can swim (parent or guardian required for surfing)

We’ll have cool giveaways and snacks on hand, come out and support your local Surfrider and buy a t-shirt!

WHAT: FREE! 7TH ANNUAL ECO-SURF CLINIC

WHEN: SATURDAY, JUNE 22nd FROM 10A-2P

WHERE: ON THE BEACH AT LIGHTHOUSE POINT PARK

(5000 S. Atlantic Ave, Ponce Inlet) - LOOK FOR THE SURFRIDER FLAGS!

WHO: VOLUSIA-FLAGLER CHAPTER OF THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION

Sign-up will begin at 10am! At 10:30am we’ll have a short surfing lesson and then all go surfing, boards provided by the Volusia County Junior Lifeguards. We’ll take a break around noon, have some snacks and enjoy a short Eco-Tour and learn some cool stuff about your beach! Chad Truxall of the Marine Discovery Center will talk about plants and animals in the ocean and estuaries surrounding Ponce Inlet. Then we’ll hit the waves again after we give away some cool swag! Membership not required. RSVP by email encouraged but not required.

We can always use a few more volunteers to accompany kids in the water.

For more info visit volusiaflagler.surfrider.org or email volunteercoordinator@volusia.surfrider.org

Strickland Shooting Range to close for renovations
posted 9:49:47am

NEWS SOURCE: VOLUSIA COUNTY

The Robert Strickland Shooting Range, 1180 Indian Lake Road, Daytona Beach, will be closed for major renovations and lead removal for approximately four months beginning July 15.

The Volusia County Council has approved $360,000 in improvements, which include an upgrade to the overhead canopy eyebrow system and replacement of the baffle system for the 50- and 100-yard firing lanes. According to Tim Baylie – director of the county’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Division – these modifications are necessary to improve range safety, comply with best practices, and minimize future operational costs.

During the closure, workers also will extract lead from the entire site to ensure the range is compliant with environmental safety standards.

Annual and semi-annual pass holders will receive an extension equal to the duration of the closure.

The popular county-owned range, which opened in 2006, attracts more than 20,000 gun enthusiasts each year.

The range provides a covered firing line for handguns at 7, 15 and 25 yards. High-caliber rifles may be fired from 50 and 100 yards. Any caliber handgun or rifle may be used except 50-caliber BMG rifles, shotguns and fully automatic weapons.

“Safety is our primary concern,” Baylie said “We have strict safety policies, and our range masters are always on duty to make sure they are followed to the letter.”

For more information about the shooting range, call 386-736-5953 or visit www.volusia.org/parks.

Seville road closure
posted 9:48:53am

NEWS SOURCE: Volusia County Road and Bridge

To accommodate railroad crossing maintenance, CR 305/LAKE GEORGE RD at the CSX RR CROSSING west of US HWY 17, SEVILLE, will be closed to through traffic beginning 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 20th, 2013 and will re-open at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25th, 2013. A well signed detour will be in place.

If you have any questions, please contact Ray Porter, Benchmark Consulting Inc, at (864) 809-4378.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Rep. Santiago to host free food distribution Deltona
posted 11:25:19am

On June 29th from 9:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M., Representative David Santiago (R-Deltona) will be hosting a free drive-up food distribution.

He will be partnering with Commissioner Fred Lowery at the Deltona Lakes Baptist Church on 2886 Elckam Blvd, Deltona.

“We are bringing an 18-wheeler truck load full of groceries to the district. As far as I know, this is the first time something like this is happening in our area,” stated Rep. Santiago.

He is also planning to schedule another event on the eastside of Volusia County in the near future.

The food delivery will be coming up from South Florida via Farm Share. Farm Share is an organization that re-sorts and packages an abundance of surplus food and distributes it to individuals, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, churches, and other organizations feeding the hungry in Florida -- free of charge.

Rep. Santiago stated, “I am a firm believer that taking care of each other starts at the local level.” The plan is to distribute food for up to 2000 families while supplies last.

While the preferred method of picking up the groceries is driving up, those constituents walking to the church are more than welcome as well.

No paperwork or documentation is required to receive the food.

Orange City to Celebrate with Fireworks, Fun & Fanfare
posted 11:20:05am

ORANGE CITY, Fla. — The City of Orange City is gearing up to celebrate our Nation’s independence with Fireworks, Fun & Fanfare, beginning at 5 p.m. June 29 at Valentine Park (1595 W French Avenue).

“Events like these build a sense of community strength and pride; we hope you and your family will join us for this occasion,” Mayor Tom Laputka says. “For those of you that have attended in the past and know how fun it is, we think we’ve upped it a notch or two this year.”

Festivities include children’s games, bounces houses, a rock wall, bungee jump, live DJ, live music by CaerBonnog, a pie-eating contest and more! Of course, no Fourth of July-type celebration is complete without a fireworks spectacular, which will begin at 9:00 p.m. No outside coolers are permitted; food and drinks will be available on-site.

Without our sponsors, events like this would not be possible. Orange City would like to thank all sponsors for their generous donations to this great community event, WCA, Florida Hospital DeLand, Triple D, TD Bank, Wells Fargo, Senez Roofing, CFB Outdoors, Texas Roadhouse, Ace Hardware, West Volusia Shed, Boulevard Tire and Mainstreet Community Bank.

For more information about Fireworks, Fun & Fanfare, or any event in Orange City, please call 386-775-5410.

Stetson Mansion Foundation cocktail party
posted 11:13:55am

The Stetson Mansion Foundation Inc. is hosting an introduction Cocktail Party 6 PM Friday June 28th at the Stetson Mansion 1031 Camphor Lane Deland

Come discover what the Foundation plans to do with the John B Stetson property!

Music, appetizers, beer & wine, door prizes, a John B. Stetson signature cocktail, AND guests will be given a tour of ALL 3 floors of the mansion!!!

ALL proceeds go to the Stetson Mansion Foundation

Limited tickets available at Dick And Jane’s Downtown Deland or contact Suzanne Locke (386) 748-1209 Robyn Harrington Schmidt (386) 626-8949.

Deltona Authors Book Fair: Call for authors
posted 11:03:00am

The Deltona Authors Book Fair takes place on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Ave, Deltona 32725. Prior events welcomed authors from all over the state and as far away as California.

The event themed, “Let Your Imagination Take You Away!” is free to the public and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The authors will talk about books, sign and sell copies and speak on book related topics. The event also include as “how to” workshop for authors featuring Donna Loader, President of Royal Support Services with an interactive program “Social Media Made Simple.” 

The Kidz Zone features speakers and activities followed by a play. Christmas will be right around the corner and patrons can buy author-signed copies for that very unique gift.

Christmas will be right around the corner and patrons can buy author signed copies for that very unique gift.

The fair is sponsored by the Friends of Deltona Library. Admission is Free to the Public. For more information, see www.friendsofdeltonalibrary.org or on the Friends Facebook page, Deltona Library Fans.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Consolidated Tomoka announces Teen Creative Writing Scholarship at Atlantic Center for the Arts
posted 2:00:38pm

News source: Consolidated Tomoka

Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co. announced its sponsorship of a teen writing scholarship for the Atlantic Center for the Arts’ “your word” Teen Creative Writing Residency.

This year’s worthy recipient of the Consolidated Tomoka Teen Writing Scholarship is a senior from Spruce Creek High School and a resident of Port Orange.

This program is a one-of-a-kind, multi-genre summer writing residency that offers participants an extraordinary opportunity to explore and expand the power of their individual voices through writing workshops. The program offers teen writers a wonderful opportunity to study with top notch Master Writers (Mat Jones-fiction, Mira Bartók-memoir, Taylor Mali-poetry), and takes place at Atlantic Center for the Arts, an artists’ community on the east coast of Central Florida.

John P. Albright, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated, “We are pleased to offer this scholarship to a deserving local student, in a fantastic local learning environment, at the Atlantic Center for the Arts.”

For more information about the Atlantic Center for the Arts and the sponsorship opportunities that are available, visit their website at www.atlanticcenterforthearts.org.

Theater Camps Begin at Gateway on Monday, June 17!
posted 1:43:43pm

News source: Gateway Center for the Arts

Once Upon a Shoe (2 weeks)

June 17-28

9 am - 4 pm

$230 members/ $250 non-members

The Old Lady in the shoe's mortgage has come due so her children put on a play to save their house- will they succeed? Campers will put on this play within a play and enjoy theater through movement, mime, role play, improvisation and games. Camp will end with two performances: Thursday, June 27 at 7:30 pm and Friday, June 28 at 2:30 pm

Making Music

July 8-12

9 am - 12 pm

$65 members/ $75 non-members

A primary camp based on theater games, activities and crafts that focuses on the theme of making music. We'll create our own marching band, dance to the beat of jazz, and square dance. Drama exercises will focus on music and pantomime. Final showcase will be alive with MUSIC!

Alice in Wonderland

July 15-26

9 am - 4 pm

$230 members/ $250 non-members

While chasing the White Rabbit, Alice tumbles down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. There she encounters all of its famous residents: Cheshire Cat; Mad Hatter; The Duchess; The Red Queen and more.... Students will have a wonderful time presenting this classic production.

You may pre-register online or first day of camp

For more information call 386-668-5553

Gateway Center for the Arts, 880 N. Hwy 17-92, Debary, FL

Historian to discuss Florida pirates at DeBary Hall July 6
posted 10:34:09am

News source: Volusia County Community Information

Learn about swashbucklers and shipwrecks during a free presentation at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 198 Sunrise Blvd.

Zach Zacharias, senior curator of education and curator of history at the Museum of Arts & Science, will share a treasure of information about the infamous pirates of Florida’s East Coast.

His presentation is part of the Lemonade Lectures series, which is sponsored by the Enterprise Historical Conservancy and Volusia County. The presentation will be in DeBary Hall’s stables. Light refreshments and lemonade will be served.

Reservations are not required. For more information, call Amber Patterson at 386-668-3840.

DeBary Hall Historic Site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is owned by the State of Florida and managed by the county’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Division. Tours of the 1871 hunting lodge are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission prices are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and younger.

For information about DeBary Hall and other upcoming events, visit www.debaryhall.com.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Arm kids with tools to keep them safe from abuse this summer
posted 2:43:40pm

News source: Florida Department of Children and Families

As summer begins and children spend time in new settings with unfamiliar caregivers, it’s an important time for parents to arm them with information to keep kids safe from sexual abuse. That’s why the Florida Department of Children and Families and Lauren’s Kids teamed up to provide new educational tools for parents, children and youth-serving organizations.

The summer safety push includes launch of a free online parent toolkit (www.parenttoolkit.laurenskids.org) to help parents talk with their children about how to stay safe through videos, interactive scenarios and parent and kid tips. Also available is an online Web training (www.youthserving.laurenskids.org) and handbooks (www.dontmissthesigns.org/materials) for youth-serving organizations to teach their staff and volunteers how to spot and report abuse, and

protocols to keep children, staff and volunteers safe.

“Summer is an important time to open up the lines of communication and make sure children know they can come to their trusted adults with anything,” said Lauren Book, M.S. Ed Founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids. “It’s very helpful to run scenarios by children and help them imagine how they would

handle different situations.”

Parents also can benefit from the resources of the “Don’t Miss the Signs” campaign, a comprehensive public awareness campaign that launched earlier this year that aims to educate Floridians about the signs of child abuse as well as their obligation to report suspected abuse. The campaign can be accessed online at www.dontmissthesigns.org.

Ninety percent of child sexual abuse victims know their offender in some way.

“Sex offenders seek out places where children are, so youth-serving organizations need to keep their guard up and learn how to be a strong first line of defense against sexual abuse,” said Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins. “These resources give parents and

caregivers important, new tools to help keep children safe.”

To promote a safer summer experience, Florida requires all owners, operators, employees and volunteers who work more than 10 hours a month to undergo background screening for state and criminal histories. DCF wants to remind summer camp operators of Florida’s background screening requirements and encourages them to add their summer camp listings to DCF’s statewide database.

Summer camp has long been a tradition for kids and is an important part of child development. It is crucial that parents ask questions and make sure any summer camp personnel are appropriately screened. Parents can also search DCF’s database of summer camps whose personnel have confirmed background screenings. For more information and to search DCF’s summer camp

database, go to www.dcfbackgroundscreening.com.

Lauren’s Kids is a non-profit organization that works to prevent abuse and help survivors heal. The organization, headquartered in Aventura, Florida, was started by Lauren Book, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who endured abuse at the hands of her nanny for six years. Her organization offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, elementary school prevention curriculum, an annual 1,500-mile awareness walk, legislative advocacy and speaking engagements. For more information, visit laurenskids.org.

Central Florida Regional Hospital opens new rehab center
posted 2:39:17pm

Open House Set for June 26 at 1p.m.

SANFORD — In response to the need for an intensive and comprehensive rehabilitation facility in Seminole County, Central Florida Regional Hospital has opened The Rehabilitation Center at Central Florida Regional Hospital. An open house tour is scheduled for Wednesday, June 26, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and is open to the public.

The Rehabilitation Center, the only facility of its kind in Seminole County, offers rehabilitation for patients with complex conditions that may include stroke, spinal cord injury, amputation or brain injury. The center helps patients minimize physical or cognitive disabilities and gain greater independence after illness, injury or surgery. It has 13 large private rooms, a physical therapy gym, a home care therapy area and 24 hour immediate access to all hospital services. The Rehabilitation Center’s team of doctors, nurses and therapists is dedicated to improving, maintaining or restoring physical strength, cognition and mobility through a customized plan for each patient.

“This is a great example of how Central Florida Regional Hospital works to align the services we offer with the needs of the community we serve,” said Wendy Brandon, Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to be the first and only healthcare organization in Seminole County to provide this type of acute rehabilitation.”

To R.S.V.P for the open house please call (407) 302-7363 by June 24.

Navy training schedule June 13-16
posted 2:36:44pm

Navy training schedules indicate that live bombing will take place for intermittent periods of time at the Pinecastle Range Complex located in the Ocala National Forest within the following days and times:

June 13-16 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Each day)

The telephone number for noise complaints is 1-800-874-5059, Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility, Jacksonville, Fla. For additional information, call (904) 542-5588.

Run for Africa 5K set for July 27
posted 12:13:11pm

The fifth annual Run for Africa 5K will take place July 27, 2013, in Baldwin Park, a neighborhood in Orlando. Organized by the nonprofit organization Children of the Nations (COTN), this fundraising race helps to raise money to support the organization’s work with children in Africa.

The past four years, hundreds of runners have turned out to support the cause, and this year, COTN excitingly expects an upwards of 700 runners.

Proceeds will help fund construction of classrooms and dormitories at COTN's first secondary school in Malawi.

The run will kick off at 7:30 a.m., and will be followed by a Kids Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. The entrance fee for the 5K is $25 in advance and $35 the day of the race.

Participants will also have a chance to earn various prizes for best overall time and best time in each age group. Runners will also be eligible to win door prizes, including restaurant gift cards and tickets to theme parks.

Those interested can visit www.racetimesports.com/run-for-africa-5k/ to find out more or to register.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

STEM Outdoors! workshop June 24-27
posted 3:57:20pm

In the education field, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Schools around the nation are working to integrate STEM into their classroom lessons at all grade levels and many educators are struggling to learn how. STEM education can be an interdisciplinary approach to learning where rigorous academic concepts are coupled with real-world problem-based and performance-based lessons.

With this in mind, Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is partnering with the University of Florida’s Program of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences and School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and US Forest Service to conduct a four-day, interactive summer training for educator (both formal and non-formal) titled STEM Outdoors! on June 24 through 27, 2013.

At this training different ecosystems, habitats, and wildlife will be compared and contrasted through hands-on adventures. While taking part in various scientific investigations, participants learn about ponds, clear-water or springs systems, dark-water systems, and the habitats and wildlife associated with these systems. Fish electroshocking, macro invertebrate dip netting, water quality testing, and habitat and biological surveying are some of the scientific investigations they will complete. Visits to Rainbow River and Springs and Lake Woodruff NWR will help them make personal connections to the different environment which they can take back to their classrooms.

Through the unique partnership created between the agencies and university, participants from around the state will have access to different viewpoints, management techniques and applications, and expert knowledge and skills. By focusing on hands-on, field investigations, participants will gain skills in the use of investigations and practical experience. Through additional reflective and classroom activities, participants will also learn how to use a multidisciplinary approach involving language arts, reading, art, music and more to appeal to the many different learning styles of students.

Training Schedule:

June 24: UF Program of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Gainesville

June 25: Rainbow Springs State Park and Aquatic Preserve, Dunnellon

June 26: Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, DeLeon Springs

June 27: UF Program of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Gainesville

Call Eileen Tramontana, education specialist at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, 2045 Mud Lake Road in DeLeon Springs, at 386-985-4673.

Soccer clinics announced
posted 3:47:20pm

The City of DeLand Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting a series of soccer clinics throughout the summer.

The clinics are open to boys and girls ages 6-16.

The dates for the clinics will be Thursdays June 20, June 27, July 11, July 18, July 25, August 1 and August 8.

The cost for all sessions is $25.

The time for each age group will be 6pm-6:50pm for ages 6-9 and 7pm-7:50pm for ages 10-16.

You can register at the fields before the clinic or in the Parks and Rec office at 230 N. Stone St, DeLand. For more information please contact 386-626-7280.

Volunteers needed at Florida Hospital-DeLand
posted 3:27:28pm

Florida Hospital-DeLand is seeking new volunteers. Shifts are available on various days and for different lengths of time.

This is a wonderful opportunity to provide services such as assisting patients at discharge or delivering flowers to patient rooms.

No previous experience is necessary; the hospital offers an orientation program to familiarize new volunteers with hospital policies, needs and goals.

To learn more, call Patricia King, Florida Hospital-Deland Auxiliary Coordinator Marcia Smith at (386) 943-4820 or Marcia.smith@fhd.deland.org.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Flag Day celebration at Sterling Court June 14
posted 4:38:26pm

In honor of Flag Day, Sterling Court Retirement Community at 1001 Alabaster Way in Deltona will be hosting a fundraiser for “ Outward Bound for Veterans” event 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, June 14.

All proceeds will benefit U. S. Military veterans.

The Volusia Board of Elections will be here to help anyone with voter registration, Gateway Center for the Arts will promote Vera Rekstad with her glass-fused jewelry, PRP Winery will be doing wine-tasting from Europe, Honor Flight will be here to help any WWII veteran sign up for their free trip to Washington D. C.

Tom Evan will be the patriotic entertainer and there will be a tribute to all branches of the military.

Chef Joe will be doing a red – white – blue patriotic luncheon.

We would like to invite all military personnel and their families to join us in this fundraiser. A $5 donation will include all the entertainment and lunch and prizes galore! We will also have a 50/50 raffle during lunch!

As a company, we are committed to raising over 1.3 million dollars to help U. S. Veterans during our “ Outbound for Veterans” campaign. Please RSVP at 386-775-8004.

Downtown Stuart to Launch Shop Local Campaign
posted 4:27:45pm

Local Business Initiative to Kick Off at “Coffee with the City Manager”

Downtown Stuart will officially launch its new shop local campaign next week. Shop Local | Shop Smart is an awareness campaign designed to educate shoppers about the benefits of shopping and dining at locally based businesses. Stuart Vice Mayor, Troy McDonald, a vocal advocate for the program, will be joined by members of the local business community to share details of the effort at Coffee with the City Manager Coffee Wednesday, June 12 at 8:00 a.m. at the Flagler Center, 201 SW Flagler Avenue in Downtown Stuart.

“Studies have found that when consumers shop in local, independently owned, brick and mortar businesses, three times as much money stays in the community,” said CRA Administrator Teresa Lamar-Sarno. “Shop Local | Shop Smart is designed to educate consumers about that benefit – and the many independent businesses that make Historic Downtown Stuart the friendly, vibrant area it is.”

Shop Local | Shop Smart was developed jointly by the City of Stuart and Stuart Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the Downtown Business Association of Stuart, and downtown advocacy group Stuart Main Street. Initially the campaign will focus on Historic Downtown Stuart, which is home to over 50 locally owned shops, restaurants, and galleries. For details and updates on the program, visit www.Facebook.com/ShopLocalShopSmart.

The City of Stuart Community Redevelopment Agency was created in 1986 to eliminate slum and blighted conditions in its communities and re-established and expanded in 1998 and 2002. The CRA is directed by the Community Redevelopment Board (CRB) and implements the objectives, programs, and projects defined in the CRA Plan adopted by the City of Stuart in August 2002. The CRB meets the first Tuesday of every month at 4:00 in the City Hall Chambers at 121 SW Flagler Avenue, Stuart. For more information, please visit www.cityofstuart.us.

The Stuart Downtown Business Association (DBA) formed to market the shops, galleries, restaurants, and professional businesses of Stuart’s Historic Downtown and the surrounding areas. The group advocates for business owners and promotes a positive image of the downtown business district as a unique alternative to “cookie cutter” mall shopping through marketing, events, and other promotions. The DBA meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. in the City Hall Chambers at 121 SW Flagler Avenue, Stuart. For more information, visit www.historicdowntownstuart.com.

Stuart Main Street is a historic preservation-based program dedicated to building a healthy, vital downtown area through community self-reliance and a focus on the downtown’s traditional assets: personal service, local ownership, unique architecture, and sense of community. Formed in 1987, the group follows the Main Street Four-Point Approach® as established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center and practiced in over 1600 communities across the country. Stuart Main Street meets the second Tuesday of every month at 4:30 p.m. in the City Hall Chambers at 121 SW Flagler Avenue, Stuart. For more information, visit stuartmainstreet.org or call 772-286-2848.

Stetson junior presents at Capitol Hill
posted 3:58:34pm

News source: Stetson University

Katie Moore, a junior Stetson University student in the College of Arts and Sciences, was accepted to present at this year’s Posters on the Hill conference. The conference, held each April in Washington, D.C., is hosted each year by the national Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) on Capitol Hill. This event helps members of Congress understand the importance of undergraduate research by talking directly with the students whom these programs impact. The project that was accepted was Moore’s SURE (Stetson Undergraduate Research Experience) research project, entitled, “A Ubiquitous Non-Binding Fitness Application for Mobile Devices Using Body Sensors.”

Moore first presented this project in Stetson University’s Showcase 2013 program held on campus on April 16. The goal of her research is to “develop a motivational fitness application for a smartphone.” The application would allow an engaging and guided exercise routine by wearing a wireless heart rate monitor that collects fitness data, and then displays heart rate performance on the device. The benefits from this modern way of exercising would include weightless equipment and the freedom to work out as preferred.

Through Stetson’s SURE grant program, students illustrate how to be daringly significant. And with the help of Stetson University’s math and computer science professor Hala ElAarag, Ph.D., Moore was able to do so effortlessly.

"Katie's research was one of 60 selected from 850 abstracts submitted this year, with an acceptance rate of seven percent,” stated ElAarag. “Katie has previously presented this research at the annual consortium of computing sciences in colleges: southeast region, held in Marietta, Ga., where she won first place. In addition, Katie presented her research at the third annual Florida undergraduate research conference held at the University of Florida.”

For the second time in six years, ElAarag and her students represented Stetson University on Capitol Hill. In 2007, Andrew Moedinger, who also conducted SURE research under ElAarag's supervision, presented on the Hill. Moedinger now has a very successful career working at Google as a software engineer.

“I was very excited to participate again this year in this prestigious event,” ElAarag said. “Undergraduate research plays an important role in undergraduate education. Katie and I are very happy we got the opportunity to promote undergraduate research on Capitol Hill.”

Information regarding the Posters on the Hill conference can be found at this website: http://www.cur.org/conferences_and_events/student_events/posters_on_the_hill/.

Funding for Moore’s project was provided by the Stetson Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) grant.

Port Orange library announces July movie lineup
posted 3:00:34pm

News source: Volusia County Community Information

Bring your own popcorn and take in some free flicks at the Port Orange Regional Library. July’s movies include:

(Title cannot be released): 2 p.m. Monday, July 1. A young woman bonds with a widower who forces her to confront the dark secret that haunts her. The movie is based on a book by Nicholas Sparks. Rated PG-13, 115 minutes. Call 386-322-5152, option 4, for the title.

“Il Postino”: 2 p.m. Sunday, July 7. Rated PG, 108 minutes. A simple Italian postman learns to love poetry while delivering mail to a famous poet; he uses this to woo a local beauty. The movie is in Italian with English subtitles. Rated PG, 108 minutes.

“Skyfall”: 2 p.m. Monday, July 8. James Bond’s loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. Daniel Craig and Judi Dench star. Rated PG-13, 143 minutes.

“The World is not Enough”: 4 p.m. Thursday, July 11. After a friend tragically dies, James Bond is assigned to protect the friend’s beautiful and wealthy daughter. Pierce Brosnan stars. Rated PG-13, 128 minutes.

“Oz the Great and Powerful”: 2 p.m. Monday, July 15. A small-time magician is swept away to an enchanted land where he is forced into a power struggle among three witches. Rated PG, 130 minutes.

“42”: 2 p.m. Monday, July 22. This film looks back on the life story of Jackie Robinson and his history-making signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Chadwick Bronson and Harrison Ford star. Rated PG-13, 128 minutes.

The Living Daylights”: 4 p.m. Thursday, July 25. Timothy Dalton debuts as James Bond, confounding the KGB and greedy arms dealers. Rated PG, 130 minutes.

For more information, please call the library at 386-322-5152, option 4.

The movies are funded by the Friends of the Library. Learn more about the friends group at www.portorangefol.blogspot.com.

OIA Connector Refresh Study public meeting June 18
posted 11:17:39am

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is holding a public meeting regarding the alternatives analysis for the Orlando International Airport (OIA) Connector Refresh Study. This study is evaluating options for providing transit service between major activity centers in the study area with connectivity to the SunRail project. The study area is bordered by Interstate 4 on the west; Oak Ridge Road and Hoffner Avenue on the north; Narcoossee Road on the east; and Osceola Parkway on the south, in Orange and Osceola Counties, Florida.

The study will consider and assess community support, financial options, and policy support of the alternative determined to best meet the current and future needs of the study area. The results of this analysis are anticipated to result in a recommended alternative to be potentially adopted by MetroPlan Orlando, the regional transportation planning agency in Central Florida.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Pine Castle located at 1001 Hoffner Avenue in Orlando. It will start with an informal open house at 5:30 p.m. There will be a presentation at 6:30 p.m. Attendees may ask questions or make comments either before or after the presentation. This meeting is an important part of the Alternatives Analysis and is necessary to aid the FDOT in obtaining public input on the initial project alternatives.

Display maps illustrating the project corridors being studied and the initial alternatives, the project schedule, and other information will be available for public review and comment. Project representatives will be present during the specified hours to informally discuss the project, receive public input, and answer questions.

Public participation is encouraged and solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any person requiring special accommodations or translation services to participate in this meeting should contact Ms. Eileen LaSeur, Public Involvement Coordinator, by telephone 407-883-8257 or by email at Eileen@qcausa.com.

For additional information please contact Ms. Amy Sirmans, FDOT Project Manager, 719 South Woodland Boulevard, DeLand, Florida 32720, by phone 386-943-5404 or by email Amy.Sirmans@dot.state.fl.us.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Volusia Orchid Society meets June 19
posted 5:45:35pm

The Volusia County Orchid Society's regular monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, at the Volusia County Agriculture Center’s Auditorium on East State road 44 just east of I-4, DeLand.

A culture class will be at 6 p.m. on orchid care.

Our guest speakers this month this will be Johnny Hicks from Hicks Orchid Supplies speaking on orchid supplies. There will be orchid supplies & orchids for sale.

The meeting is free to the public & refreshments will be served. An orchid raffle will also be held at the end of the program.

For information please call Patricia Burkholder at 386-801-4749.