Latest news with #FriendsoftheEverglades
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislation aimed at protecting Florida state parks stuck in committee
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — What all started with a leaked proposal to build golf courses and pickleball courts at state parks last year has now resulted in legislation that aims to protect natural grounds from those very acts. Efforts to protect Florida's natural grounds was a bi-partisan hit with many supporters rallying over the summer, but with no further movement in the last few weeks at the capitol, what is the hold up to push the 'State Park Preservation Act' across the finish line? Gov. DeSantis proposes $1K rebate checks to cover Florida homeowners' property tax Last summer, hundreds protested against possible plans to further develop wild spaces, and that fight to protect Florida's state parks continues at the statehouse.'I think we were all dismayed last summer when suddenly out of nowhere these plans were revealed to pave over out state parks,' said State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando). Led by both Republicans and Democrats, Senate Bill 80 and its house companion aims to not only preserve state land but also requires public hearings for future park plans and puts in place an advisory board that will report back to the legislature. While lawmakers and advocates support those efforts, there may be some gaps in the language, leaving room for future prospects to find loopholes to build over state parks. 'We can't possibly list every use inappropriate, but we can cover our bases. By explicitly stating we will not permit uses that disturb and harm the resources of our state parks,' said Gil Smart, Friends of the Everglades Policy Director. When asked whether the bill had any luck in the senate, President Ben Albritton (R- Wauchula) said, 'We'll see what happens.' 'We will see where it ends up going. I am certainly supportive of making sure that we're protecting our state parks and that we are showing Floridians that this natural space matters. But again, this issue is like a lot of issues, it's really about achieving balance,' Albritton said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Woman celebrates her 100th birthday with family she lovingly guided to success
This year's Women's History Month brought me an email about a determined woman who recently celebrated her 100th birthday. It's always uplifting to hear the stories of people in our community who have persevered through it all. And especially when they reach 100 years old. Andrea Tai lovingly told me about her mother-in-law, Isemenia Tai. 'I am writing to share the story of a remarkable woman,' she said before gratefully acknowledging the accomplishments of a life. Isemenia was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in February 1925 and was a small business owner there until she came to this country as an immigrant in 1978, Andrea Tai said. 'Against any number of odds, Isemenia raised six children and four stepchildren and cared for numerous grandchildren, guiding them all with a firm but loving hand with second husband Michael Tai. 'Although she never finished high school herself, she doggedly secured excellent educations for her children, many of whom became professionals. 'One son, Lloyd Tai, was the chief operating officer of now-defunct Air Jamaica. My husband is director of artists and repertory at New World Records. Another son, Karl Tai-Loy, runs a martial arts school in Jamaica, while other children and grandchildren have become doctors, nurses and professionals in an array of technical and artistic fields,' she said. Andrea Tai said her mother-in-law was tragically widowed in July 2000, when a hit-and-run accident took her husband's life. 'But she remains undaunted. At the age of 100, my mother-in-law still lives independently in the same home she's lived in since first coming to Miami, rising each morning at 6 a.m. to tend her garden, where she raises flowers, fruits and vegetables.' On Feb. 8, friends and family from Jamaica and around the country gathered to honor her. 'Her life and achievements are a testimony to her resilience, faith and devotion to her family,' Andrea Tai said. Happy 100th Birthday, Isemenia! SUPPORT THE EVERGLADES APRIL 4 'River of Grass' author Marjory Stoneman Douglas founded Friends of the Everglades in 1969 when she was 79. Although her eyesight was failing, she was determined to create awareness about the potential destruction of a large portion of the Everglades. Construction on a huge jetport had begun, but Stoneman Douglas and others were able to stop it after just one runway was built in the fragile wetlands. It's still there in the Big Cypress. Friends of the Everglades continues to fight on and will host its fourth annual Marjory Stoneman Douglas Legacy Celebration luncheon at 11 a.m. April 4, at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. The theme is 'Our Two National Treasures: Clyde Butcher and America's Everglades.' Butcher, the renowned photographer famous for his large-scale black & white pictures, will serve as keynote speaker. He is also an acclaimed humanitarian, environmentalist and recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Butcher's wife, Nikki Butcher, and daughter Jackie will also attend. Additionally, the group will present the prestigious Marjory Stoneman Douglas Defender of the Everglades Award to an environmental advocate who exemplifies her legacy and fighting spirit. This year's recipient is public interest environmental and land use lawyer Richard Grosso. His practice is dedicated to supporting environmental sustainability and restoration and the protection of ecosystems and communities. The emcee will be Ron Magill, conservation and international wildlife ambassador. Co-chairs of the luncheon event are Christian Armstrong and Milda Vaivada. Sponsorships and table reservations are available. Contact Scott Brown, director of development, at 305-669-0858 or 804-461-8830 or visit MUSIC CLUB HOSTS AWARDS RECITAL Coral Gables Music Club members have been joyfully promoting interest in music and supporting talented young artists in their careers for 86 years. At its annual scholarship recital in February, the club honored 18 students in elementary through high school with its prestigious award. The 2025 recipients are: Daniel Acosta, Zoe Aldana, Marcus Bautista, Alexander Brown, Anabelle Calles, Aleksandra Deshevaia, Nicolas Marin Fumero, Luka Gekic, Valentina Gomez, Sophie Habashi, Raphael Hablich, Shanming He, Alexandra Larios, Christopher Rocha, Joshua Safont, Marianne Rose Villar-Cordova Scott, Marc Usatenko and Christopher Yang. The club's artistic director and scholarship chair, Angelica Sganga, was a scholarship recipient when she was in high school. She has a Masters in Music and Piano Performance from Florida International University and is currently a piano instructor at the University of Miami Frost Preparatory Program. Many generous benefactors contributed to the scholarship fund. Winning the Coral Gables Music Club award increases a young musician's confidence and self-esteem. Former winners are working in every field of music. There are more than two dozen on university music school faculties, and many others teach privately. Many more are members of large, first-rate symphony orchestras around the globe. Some are working in Broadway Musical Theater, while others are jazz artists, composers, arrangers, and opera singers. There is a Tony Award winner among this elite group, and another received a Duke Ellington award as the finest young pianist of jazz in the nation. For more on how to be involved, or for student eligibility, visit Write to ChristinaMMayo@ with news for this column.
Miami Herald
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
After golf course debacle, Florida's state park legislation needs to be stronger
After the uproar created last summer by Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposal to pave over parts of Florida's beloved state parks with golf courses, pickleball courts and lodges, it's good to hear that a bill has been filed in Tallahassee aiming to put a stop to any more of that park development nonsense in the future. Sen. Gayle Harrell from Stuart, has filed Senate Bill 80 — the 'State Park Preservation Act' — to stop construction of sporting facilities at state parks. Harrell is a Republican; one of the most notable things about the fierce opposition to DeSantis' idea last year is that it came from both environmentalists and from within his own party, including from Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. But her bill, which passed the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee unanimously on Tuesday, doesn't go far enough to fully safeguard our parks. A group of 60 environmental groups called on Harrell and House bill sponsor Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, to add more specifics to the bill to tighten it. Gil Smart, a director of Friends of the Everglades, told the Miami Herald Editorial Board that although the organizations know they can't list every inappropriate use of the parks, the bill still should add safeguards in the form of 'specific language that prohibits any proposal that is going have material impacts on the resources of the parks.' The proposed legislation would take basic but important steps, starting with preventing the construction of development that could 'cause significant harm to the resources of the state park.' That's critical. Parks would have to prioritize 'conservation-based activities, such as fishing, camping, biking, hiking, nature study and more,' which sounds like the right idea. It would also allow construction of 'camping cabins with a maximum occupancy of six people.' Florida already has plenty of golf courses and resort accommodations. What sets the state apart are its wild spaces — from the icy waters of Wakulla Springs in North Florida to the mangroves at Oleta River State Park in Miami-Dade, where the DeSantis administration wanted to build pickleball courts and cabins to the chagrin of frequent park goers. The state's 175 parks are key to Florida's identity — and an enormous tourist draw. They also provide affordable recreation and environmental education opportunities for Florida families. The environmental and long-term economic benefits of preservation far outweigh the short-term gains from developing golf courses or more recreational facilities. In 2024, Florida parks attracted over 30 million visitors, with an estimated economic impact of more than $3.9 billion. These natural spaces attract all those visitors in part because they are home to a variety of animal species, including alligators, manatees and over 300 types of birds. Florida's state parks also play a key role in protecting the environment. They act as natural shields against rising sea levels and stronger storms. Wetlands absorb excess rainfall, while maritime forests help protect inland areas from storm surge. During Tuesday's hearing, Harrell — whose district includes Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, where three golf courses were proposed under DeSantis' initial development plan — said that 'we are preserving our state parks for what they were originally intended for' and the legislation 'clearly defines conservation-based public outdoor recreational uses.' Past decisions highlight stronger protections are needed. Last June, the Florida Cabinet quietly approved the transfer of 324 acres of state forest land to a private golf course company in exchange for less valuable, isolated timberland. This pattern of undermining conservation efforts cannot continue. While Harrell's bill is a very good start, it needs to go the whole way. The proposal that the DeSantis administration shelved last year had big ambitions for developing our public parks: 50-room luxury lodges at Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Walton County, a flying disc course at the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in Tallahassee, pickleball courts at Miami's Oleta River State Park. To combat such over-the-top proposals, lawmakers should nail down this legislation with great specificity. Florida's unique environmental heritage is worth it. Click here to send the letter.
