CMF Public Media

Commentary

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:29:16 +0000

A feature of every Central Florida Matters is a 3-minute commentary presented by a voice that matters on an issue that voice believes matters.

The voice you’ll hear is that of Gil Bankston, General Manager of the Oviedo MarketPlace commenting on his plans for the mall.
Feature length – 03:24

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck)

Central Florida Matters encourages you to post your own reaction to this commentary. Below, you will find useful links related to the commentary, including a transcript, biographical information and related pictures.

Should you wish to be considered for a commentary segment on Central Florida Matters, please click on the “contact” link to send us an email which should include adequate information for us to understand your issue. And please include a daytime telephone number where we may reach you.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

Additional Feature Information

Hey Stranger. What’s Your Story? (Chris)

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:28:41 +0000

This new feature is a quest for serendipity with the hope that finding it reveals stories that are local, uncontrived and meaningful…and captured simply by happenstance. This story unfolded on a Saturday morning at Trotwood Park in the city of Winter Springs, Florida. You’ll hear Chris, the father of a son with SPD – sensory processing disorder – describe the challenges his son and family face as a result. This story – offered by a stranger whom we serendipitously met at a city park — ends with a message of pride, confidence and encouragement as, along the way, this stranger shares his story. Feature length – 17:42

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck)

Here’s the feature’s premise…with microphone in hand, producer Stephen McKenney Steck walks up to someone he’s never met and asks in a friendly and non-threatening way… “hey stranger, what’s your story?” And que sera, sera – what ever will be, will be.

Chris is about 40 years old, married with 3 kids. It’s the oldest kid – the one Chris says attends a “therapeutic school” which becomes the focus of the story as we learn how Chris discovers that his then 1-year old son has SPD, sensory processing disorder. A combination of school and therapy is working effectively for Chris’ son… but there are a few emotional moments as the story unfolds.

On-line research about SPD reveals that our “senses” are stimulated by smells, movement, touch, taste, sights and sounds. We process those senses so that we learn, socialize and function with ordinary motor skills. Yet, when our brain does not correctly process these stimuli – the result is disorder in our behavior. This disorder can be seen in a child’s fear of playground equipment or the preference for wearing only certain kind of clothes or eating only certain kind of foods, or jumping and crashing into objects.

All of us have some processing difficulties, but those become a disorder when they become disruptive, extreme and unpredictable. Most SPD diagnoses occur in children, and sometimes in adults though usually as a carryover from childhood.

According to Chris, SPD treatment is critical, though Chris says getting a clear program of treatment – let alone an acceptable medical diagnoses – is not an easy or inexpensive journey, particularly as regards the requirements of insurance carriers and educational institutions.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

Chris and Stephen McKenney Steck

Extended interview (24:00)

Additional Feature Information

Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation
Sensory Processing Disorder Resource Center
Freedom Ride Inc
Geneva School
Heavenly Hoofs
Heavenly Hoofs – Riding for the Disabled (more insight into horseback riding as a form of physical and spiritual hippo-therapy for youngsters with special needs from the Village Academy of Oviedo.)
United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida
City of Winter Springs’ Trotwood Park

Women in Politics

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:27:44 +0000

Are women making gains as candidates and officeholders in the political arena? Linda Chapin, a pioneer for women in public service, Pat Bates, mayor of Altamonte Springs and Dr. Terri Fine, professor of Political Science at UCF discuss the characteristics that help women flourish in politics and the circumstances that make it difficult for women to succeed. They describe an environment in which a woman’s point of view is needed, yet often in a setting which is sometimes uncomfortable for women. They all encourage women to step up and climb the ladder from local government to the White House. Feature length – 23:53

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner)

As the 2010 election season gets into full swing in Florida there are two women running for governor, women running for the cabinet and in 21 races in the U.S. House of Representatives. Local government has many women candidates. Both the Orange and Seminole county school boards are made up almost exclusively of women.

But the picture isn’t so rosy for Florida’s women from another perspective. Women make up more than 50% of the population, yet since 1987 the percentage of women in the Florida legislature has been stuck at around 22%. And today and in the near future no women will be holding leadership positions. Florida has not had a woman senator since Paula Hawkins who was defeated after just one term.

Linda Chapin, Orange County’s first elected mayor, and her colleagues opened the doors to women by paying their dues with community service. Patricia Bates, the mayor of Altamonte Springs, leaped into the political arena thirteen years by running for Altamonte Springs city commission. Dr. Terri Fine, professor of Political Science at the University of Central Florida and Associate Director of the Lou Frey Institute for Politics and Government, has observed women in politics from an academic perspective for 20 years.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

	Linda Chapin and Desta Horner Extended interview (25:43)
	Patricia Bates and Desta Horner Extended interview (36:32)
	Terri Fine and Desta Horner Extended interview (41:44)

Additional Feature Information

Voting Smart: Michael Ertel, Supervisor of Elections, Seminole County, Fl

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:26:49 +0000

Voting Smart interviews Michael Ertel, Supervisor of Elections for Seminole County Florida in what results in a civics lesson – on issues surrounding voting in the upcoming local elections. Ertel is the go-to-guy who assures your vote is counted and counted correctly, that local candidates play by the rules in seeking your vote, and that your voting experience is as flawless as possible. Feature length – 31:20

Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck

At age 40, Michael Ertel has served 5-years as Supervisor of Elections for Seminole County, since being appointed by the governor to fill the unexpired term of the previous election supervisor. Ertel has been subsequently elected and reelected to the office in the ensuing years. His current annual salary is $120,000 set by the state statue based on a population formula. He has voluntarily forgone several legislatively proffered salary increases to remain in line with salary freezes imposed on his own staff which is funded by the county commission.

Ertel grew up in Seminole County Florida. He is a military veteran, a former public relations professional and a lifelong Republican– though he asserts his office is administered in a non-partisan fashion. This is his first elected office. His present term of 4-year expires in 2012. He has not yet announced his reelection intentions.

Producer–reporter Stephen McKenney Steck held the interview in Ertel’s Sanford, Florida office located on the property of the Orlando Sanford International Airport. The extended interview lasted almost 90 minutes and is posted below, though 27-minutes was excerpted for this Voting Smart feature.

In the feature, Ertel’s answers illuminate a broad collection of issues ranging from what keeps him up at night to what your rights and responsibilities are as a voter. And from the role technology plays in the registration and voting process to how you should evaluate the effectiveness of candidates. You’ll also learn from Ertel how precincts are defined…the many ways you are able to vote…and whether or not he can be influenced or can influence candidates as regards their election campaigns.

In Ertel’s extended comments he adds more insight into the issues he has addressed, and he also offers responses about his personal and political journey to the position he now holds… the history of the supervisor of elections office…his own feelings about the difference between being appointed and then later elected…how he supervises his own election…and the partisan aspects of his office.

In another program, Ertel is featured on our Heard in Central Florida page in our unedited coverage of his explanation about pending state constitutional amendments.

Note that Heard in Central Florida has and will be posting unedited comments from candidates standing for election or reelection in Seminole County to the positions of judges, state legislators, school board members, county commissioners and city council positions in selected cities in Seminole County. Links to these programs are below. Future Voting Smart segments will feature one-on-one interviews with local candidates in those positions, too.

Bios

Michael Ertel

Supervisor of Elections, Seminole County, Florida

website | bio

Additional Feature Information

Links to other features produced by CMF Public Media featuring Michael Ertel or addressing issues related to local candidates and elections

State Constitutional Amendments – Michael Ertel
Voting Smart – Local Issues
Voting Smart: The State of Municipal Leadership
Judicial Review: Meet the Candidates
Amendment-4/Hometown Democracy Proposed Florida Constitutional Amendment
Voices on the Street: If I were a candidate…
Voting Smart: Former Oviedo Mayor Tom Walters

Extended Content & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

	Michael Ertel and Stephen McKenney Steck Extended interview (01:25:02)

Central Florida Matters #16

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:25:14 +0000

Hear Michael Ertel, Seminole County Supervisor of Elections in a Voting Smart civics lesson on voting in the upcoming local elections. The role of women in politics is assessed by former Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin, Dr. Terri Fine of UCF and Patricia Bates, mayor of Altamonte Springs. Listen to a local dad’s success in confronting his son’s SPD— sensory processing disorder. And hear commentary from the new general manager of Oviedo Marketplace, Gil Bankston, on changes he is initiating at the mall.

These are the issues and voices featured in a traditional radio-style format in this complete version of Central Florida Matters, posted on line 7/29/2010. Feature length – 01:22:58

Presented and hosted by Stephen McKenney Steck and Desta Horner

2010 Florida Legislative Session Review

Webmaster — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:30:01 +0000

On this Heard in Central Florida, you’ll hear an assessment on the effectiveness of the recently adjourned 2010 session of the Florida legislature from the perspectives of three local subject matter experts—Deidre Macnab, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida; Mark Simpson, public radio journalist for 90.7 WMFE-FM; and, Dick Batchelor, a locally recognized political analyst and business consultant. The league invited State Senator Lee Constantine to present. Senator Constantine did not respond to their invitation. The presentation portion of this feature runs 41-minutes. It is followed by 20-minutes of answers to audience questions. This event — known as the League of Women Voters of Seminole County’s Hot Topic Luncheon — was recorded Thursday, June 24, 2010 at Sergio’s Italian Restaurant in Sanford, Florida. The event drew more than 40 league members and members of the public. Deana Schott, immediate past president of the League of Women Voters of Seminole County hosted the event.
Feature Length — 01:11:49

Photos courtesy – GK Sharman and CMF Public Media

Key Participants

	Deidre Macnab President, League of Women Voters of Florida		Mark Simpson Public radio journalist, 90.7 WMFE-FM resume
	Dick Batchelor Locally recognized political analyst and business consultant. Dick Batchelor Management Group, Inc resume		Deana Schott Immediate Past President, League of Women Voters of Seminole County

Pictures

“Various Luncheon Pictures” Photo Credit – GK Sharman

After you launch the slideshow below, click “Next” and “Previous” to rotate through the photos.

Additional Feature Information

This presentation marks the 6th in a series of collaborations Carroll McKenney Public Media has initiated with the League of Women Voters of Seminole County Florida through a series of on-going events produced by the League addressing a range of important voter issues.

As you listen to each speaker, please note that below is relevant and helpful information regarding each speaker including their resumes and links to their web site. Additionally, there are still pictures of the event included in an on-line slide show.

While at the Heard in Central Florida Web site you may listen to this growing archive of previous Seminole League events featuring…

Legislative Appreciation Luncheon

Webmaster — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:29:56 +0000

Formal remarks are offered by three state legislators – Altman, Adams and Plakon — on their view of the results of the recently adjourned 2010 state legislative session and the impact such results had on Central Florida related issues. Those issues include SunRail, funding for public education, aerospace economic incentives, bond ratings, unemployment tax, property insurance premiums and tax credits among others. Audience questions evoked responses centered on financial aid to local school districts, home owners’ property insurance, pension reform, Tax Payer Bill of Rights (TABOR) and state taxes on common area maintenance rates on leased property. Their 45-minute presentation begins with 25-minutes of remarks from the legislators and 20 minutes of answers to followup questions from the luncheon audience.
Feature Length — 54:18

Selected photos courtesy – Charles Wells Photography

Key Participants

Senator Thad Altman

District 24 (Republican)

website

Representative Sandy Adams

District 33 (Republican)

website

Representative Scott Plakon

District 37 (Republican)

website

Facilitating Participants

Cynthia Sucher

Chamber Board President, and Associate Vice President for Community Relations at University of Central Florida

UCF

Paul Sladek

Moderator and Chamber Vice President – Government Affairs
Attorney, Cloninger & Files

website

Cory Skeates

Executive Director, Oviedo Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce
website

Pictures

Selected photos courtesy – Charles Wells Photography

After you launch the slideshow below, click “Next” and “Previous” to rotate through the photos.

Additional Useful Links

Oviedo Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce

Tuscawilla Country Club

Additional Event Pictures(selected photos courtesy Charles Wells Photography)

Additional Event Information

This presentation marks the 6th in a series of collaborations Carroll McKenney Public Media has initiated with the Oviedo/Winter Springs Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce through a series of on-going programs staged by the chamber to address a range of important issues relevant to the business community and the general population in the Oviedo and Winter Springs communities served by the chamber.

Here at the Heard in Central Florida Web site you may listen to the growing archive of previous chamber luncheon events featuring… the Oviedo and Winter Springs mayor’s “state of the cities” address, an overview of high-tech innovation along the 417 Corridor, a presentation regarding state constitutional amendments; comments from Donnie Jones, new head coach of the University of Central Florida Men’s basketball team; and an overview of broadband technology and it’s potential for the community.

Commentary

Webmaster — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:35:21 +0000

A feature of every Central Florida Matters is a 3-minute commentary presented by a voice that matters on an issue that voice believes matters.

The voice you’ll hear is that of Longwood, Florida resident Steve Bruton, a formerly homeless person commenting on the homeless issue in Seminole County.
Feature length – 03:53

Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

Additional Feature Information

Kids of HOPE

Webmaster — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:29:58 +0000

When summer arrives many children who receive free or reduced lunches during the school year may miss out on their midday meal. In Oviedo, Florida, the HOPE Foundation sponsors a program called “Kids of HOPE” which provides bag lunches for those children. Christine Wright, resource coordinator for the HOPE Foundation, explains how the program operates and Darlene Campbell and her daughter express their appreciation for the lunches. Feature length – 08:50

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner)

With the end of the school year millions of poor children across the United States lose their access to free and reduced lunches at school. To help fill the 9 week gap until school begins in August, the HOPE Foundation of Oviedo, Florida is again providing free bag lunches for eligible children. Christine Wright, the resource coordinator and food pantry manager at HOPE, came up with the idea after seeing children from Jackson Heights Middle School loose their summer lunch program a few years ago.

In 2009, the Kids of HOPE initiative served 300 children with one meal a week during the 9 weeks of summer break. Now, in 2010, it has expanded to 3 days a week and expects to serve 450 children. Each meal costs approximately $2.10. For families in a tough economic climate, providing an extra meal for each child each day can be a strain.

Children or their parents can pick up the lunches at the Sunshine Food Pantry in Oviedo. The bags contain a small easy-opening canned meal (spaghetti, ravioli, etc), fruit, juice and a snack. Also each child who picks up a meal can choose a book for summer reading or may receive a tooth brush or shampoo and even a small piece of candy. These little extras are gathered by HOPE to accompany the lunch.

Donations from churches, individuals and grant aid helps fund the program but the program hasn’t yet reached its funding goal for the summer of 2010. Volunteer families assemble the bags and often decorate them and write a special message to place inside. The children who receive the lunches get great joy from these messages of love and support.

The HOPE Foundation website (link below) provides additional information and a chance to support this program.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

Christine Wright and Desta Horner Resource Coordinator Extended interview (08:38)		Darlene Campbell and Desta Horner Extended interview (03:29 )

Additional Feature Information

The HOPE Foundation of Oviedo

Voting Smart – Local Issues

Webmaster — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:28:30 +0000

Central Florida Matters returns to the series we call Voting Smart… in this feature addressing local issues facing voters and candidates in the upcoming 2010 elections. To help us sort through those local issues and focus on the key ones, we put together a panel of two local experts … each with a respectable collection of experience and insight — Marilyn Crotty and Michael Hoover, who describe the local issues facing the voter AND the local candidates.

Marilyn E. Crotty is the Director of the John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government at the University of Central Florida and also serves as Executive Director of the Tri-County League of Cities. Dr. Michael Hoover is a Professor of Political Science at Seminole State College and a frequent participant on Central Florida Matters.
Feature length – 23:02

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck
Production assistance courtesy of WUCF-89.9 FM, a service of the University of Central Florida)

In Seminole County Florida, voters are confronted with 6 of the 7 cities holding elections for commissioners and Mayors… 3 seats on the public school board are in contention…2 commission seats are in play for county government….3 races are underway for judgeships…and 3 seats are to be filled for supervisors on the Soil and Water Conservation District board.

Voters must also consider candidates for seats for state government. In Seminole County these offices include 3 state senators, 4 state house members, and then the state-wide races for governor and lieutenant governor, 3 cabinet members and our congressional seats — 1 for Senate and 3 in our area for the House of Representatives. And then there are the 9 proposed state constitutional amendments, initiatives and referenda to consider. The elections are the primary on Tuesday August 24 and the general election on Tuesday November 2.

In Voting Smart, our goal is to help you be a smarter voter… at least on Seminole County-specific issues — issues you and your neighbor confront most every day …the ones that deal mostly with your city, your school board, your county and your judges.

Bios

Marilyn E. Crotty

Director of John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government at the University of Central Florida and Executive Director of Tri-County League of Cities

bio

Dr. Michael Hoover

Professor of Political Science, Seminole State College

bio

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

Professor Michael Hoover & Marilyn Crotty Discussion

Extended interview (01:08:00)

Election and Reelection Offices 2010

Local city and county offices for which candidates are standing for election or reelection in 2010

City government | council/commission

Altamonte Springs – Two commission seats in 2010
Casselberry – Three commission seats in 2010
Lake Mary -Mayor and two commission seats in 2010
Oviedo – Three council seats in 2010
Sanford – Mayor and two commission seats in 2010
Winter Springs – Mayor and two commission seats in 2010

Public school board

School Board Member, District 1
School Board Member, District 2
School Board Member, District 5

County government – commissioners

County Commissioner, District 2
County Commissioner, District 4

District 18 circuit court (for Brevard and Seminole) – judges

18th Judicial Court (two races)

County Judges

Seminole County Court (one race)

Soil and Water Conservation

Soil and Water Conservation District, Group 1
Soil and Water Conservation District, Group 3
Soil and Water Conservation District, Group 5