In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Treat.”
Driving Martin Grade Highway early in the morning.
Monthly Archives: October 2015
In Da Hood : Ghostly Treasure Coast
Happy Halloween!
Here are some Ghostly Treasure Coast facts that I found.
Haunted Jensen Beach
http://www.ghostsofamerica.com/3/Florida_Jensen_Beach_ghost_sightings.html
“I live in the sugar hill subdivision of Jensen Beach Florida in the 3600 block of sugar hill ave. Behind my house is a cemetery with graves dating back to the 1800s. One night I was in my pool in the backyard at dusk.
I looked through my screen and saw a small child peering at me in my pool. The child appeared to be about 6 or 7 years old. A little girl in a white and blue school dress with shiny black shoes. I was startled.
I looked again and she was gone. A few days later I saw her again. She was wearing the same clothes standing by the screen holding a small knife. I freaked out and got my husband. He ran out to the pool and just as he got outside she vanished and the knife dropped to the ground.
We went over to the screen and she had used the knife to cut a long vertical slit in the screen. It was a warm evening but it was very cold where she was standing. I picked up the knife and brought it in the house.
The next day I went in the kitchen to get the knife and show it to my neighbor but it was gone. My neighbor in sugar
hill too had seen the same little girl who mysteriously vanishes. A few days later I saw her again and I bolted out after her.
She ran through my backyard and ducked under my fence running into the graveyard. She ran across the cemetery and then vanished. When I walked over to where she vanished there was a grave there of a girl born 1921 and died 1929.
She died from scarlet fever. Needless to say I put my house up for sale. The ghosts of sugar hill live on…”
Here are some of the spooky things that have happened in nearby cities and towns.
Port St Lucie: Everybody has heard of the infamous Devil’s Tree here in PSL, where two girls were sadistically murdered by an insane police officer in the 60s. He hanged them from the tree and left them there for dead.
.
Palm City: On Bessey Creek there is said that a girl around 10 disappeared rowing her fathers rowboat, if you go there at midnight you will see her….
http://www.hauntedhovel.com/leachmansion.html
Leach Mansion
The Leach mansion was built in 1936 when the leach family first moved to the area. The building was purchased by the Florida Institute of Technology in 1972 but closed down in 1986, the property stood vacant for over a decade until it became the site of Indian River Side Park with the first phase opening to the public in 2001. It remains as such to this day.
There are many ghost story’s about the mansion, some tales of hauntings include, extreme cold spots in the hallways, and huge amounts of orbs throughout the building. Also shadows of people have been seen in all areas of the building when there has been no one there.
The auditorium is said to be one of the most haunted areas, reports of piano music and the sound of a young boy singing are experienced frequently.
One unique report from this location is when entering through the double doors a very strange feeling can be experienced, it has been described by some as feeling like entering another world. The other most common report is to experience the feeling as if your being watched, some have claimed to feel the presence of another person, as if they were being followed around the building.
http://www.ghostsofamerica.com/3/Florida_Stuart_ghost_sightings.html
“I often hear of this bloody wedding dressed woman around here. I live here and am going to find out about her.”
Submitted by Itsasecret
“Comment by Dlr: In the early 80s my brother and I saw a bloody lady in a white dress walking down the road in Golden Gate. I went up and asked if she was OK and she just kept walking. I turned to my brother who was in a ditch and turned back and she was gone! I forgot about this until I read your post! I was 8 at the time and my brother was 10 and we were outside playing army with the neighbors! Got chills when I read your post!.”
http://theshadowlands.net/places/florida.htm
check it out. These are some place’s that are said to be ha
Jensen Beach
Leach Mansion
Jupiter
Old Jupiter Elementary, Jupiter Lighthouse, Trapper Nelsen’s at Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Fort Pierce
Old Antique Store
Pace Center for Girls
Hilltop House Restaurant
Port St Lucie
Oak Hammock Park
Oak Hammock Park-The Devil Tree
Sanctuary Apartments
Vero Beach
http://www.ghostsofamerica.com/3/Florida_Vero_Beach_ghost_sightings.html
I was staying at the Driftwood with my son and some friends we heard it was haunted so at 12 went outside to look at the beach it was completely dark. We saw a shadow that looked like Waldo Sexton (the founder of the Driftwood) then we went back to bed and heard creeks and footsteps. All night the kids couldn’t sleep; if you want to stay in a haunted hotel here it is.
Submitted by Nancy
I was staying with my three cousins overnight (and they lived in like the middle of nowhere). I had heard stories of someone being buried in the woods behind there house (not by them) but I never believed them.
One night one of my cousins left the room to get something. I looked out the window and looked out onto the dock (which was well lit) and I saw a dark human like figure standing there. It’s eyes were blood red.
It stayed like that for almost an hour until it just faded away. By far the scariest thing in my life.
his actually happened a number of years ago and I’d almost forgotten about it. I was walking briskly on a dirt road before the area became very built up as it is now. I reached the end of the road and gazed off into the field which was actually a citrus grove and then suddenly I heard the noises of people’s voices speaking rapidly in hushed tones, and then when I looked up again there was no grove but I saw a tall Native American woman walk by me very briskly carrying a basket of what appeared to be food and she actually looked at me.
It seemed that she was actually looking through me and didn’t really see me standing there. I could see her face very clearly and she appeared to be frightened of something. There were many people running, all of them appeared to be natives wearing native type clothing, but most were fairly tall.
There was something green on the woman’s shoulder but it happened so fast it was hard to make out what it was. As rapidly as it happened the whole scene disappeared and the citrus grove was there as it had been before.
Submitted by Charlene”
http://www.ghostsofamerica.com/3/Florida_Sebastian_ghost_sightings.html
“My parents moved us here to Sebastian where we purchased a house in a mostly deserted community. We have repeatedly witnessed a ghostly black dog in the house. I keep hearing footsteps on the stairs at night.
On one night while staying up late reading I heard my door creak open. I looked back and it wasn’t our cat. Then all of the sudden it slammed shut. After that one night we went on a walk. I saw a face with bright yellow eyes and with blood on it in the brush along the road.
I was scared as we walked home and want to move back where we came from but my parents insist we stay here.”
If you have any good spooky stories let me know.
Bear Hunt: It’s true. Floridians cannot be trusted to hunt bears.
If you go back and look at the multitude of blogs I have written about the bear hunt you’ll see I was right. Unfortunately being right doesn’t bring back the lactating bears. Does not give young cubs their moms back.
This is what we know right now.
A letter was sent by Chuck O’Neal from Wake up Wekevia
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wildlife/bear-hunt-likely-headed-to-an-early-end/2251210
Florida’s first bear hunt in 21 years may become a victim of its own success. Florida’s hunters have killed so many bears that state wildlife officials say they are likely to end what was envisioned as a week-long season after only two days.
The commission had set quotas for each of four areas where hunting was allowed, and Wiley shut down two of them at the end of the first day of the hunt because they exceeded their limit of dead bears. The hunters in one of those regions, the eastern Panhandle, had brought in twice as many dead bears as the limit permitted. Updated figures presented in the 3 p.m. conference call showed the hunters killed even more bears than the official record reflected on Saturday.
In the eastern Panhandle, the new numbers show hunters killed 112 bears, or nearly three times the limit of 40 that the commission had set. The Central Florida region’s limit had been 100, and hunters topped that too, bringing in 139 dead bears by mid-day Sunday. Both of those sections were closed to hunting as of 9 p.m. Saturday, but commission rules say hunters had up to 12 hours to bring in any bears killed before the area was closed. That’s why the numbers were much higher as of Sunday.
The commission’s top bear expert, Thomas Eason, said the high number of bears killed showed that hundreds of eager hunters spent weeks scouting locations to guarantee a shot at a bear. He also credited the high number of bears killed to the fact that the last Florida bear hunt was in 1994.
“The bears haven’t been hunted in 21 years, so they’re relatively naive,” Eason said.
Opponents of the hunt, including the Sierra Club and Speak Up Wekiva, called for the statewide hunt to be shut down Saturday, warning that killing too many bears would be a disaster for a population that until 2012 was on the state’s imperiled species list. But Wiley only closed the areas that had exceeded their quota.
The Sierra Club’s Frank Jackalone, in a Saturday e-mail to Wiley, contended that the over-the-limit bear killing showed that the state’s “predictions that hunters would find it difficult to track and kill Florida black bears were dead wrong, leaving science trumped by sloppy guesswork.”
The Sierra Club’s Frank Jackalone, in a Saturday e-mail to Wiley, contended that the over-the-limit bear killing showed that the state’s “predictions that hunters would find it difficult to track and kill Florida black bears were dead wrong, leaving science trumped by sloppy guesswork.”
Jackalone, in a Sunday interview, criticized the wildlife commission for not limiting the number of hunting permits that were sold, which he said guaranteed there would be too many hunters killing bears. He also contended that the wildlife agency’s actions had “set back the recovery of the bears for years, if not decades.”
Decades. Sloppy. Hunter’s would it difficult to track. Science trumped sloppy guesswork.
Welcome to Florida.
It’s been a weekend and I have to say from both sides. Some nasty woman who was busy having a twitter war with the FWC got mad at me and accused me of all kinds of nasty things. People were terrible. To me. This person is telling me I’m for the hunt and for Rick Scott. I’m not writing this to complain. I’ve seen this kind of stuff for years. Read my hate circuit blog. People get so uncontrolled hate their brain changes. The circuit goes off. It doesn’t matter what side of the issue your own. People start threatening each other, name calling. Like the PETA witch that called me a dog killer at a hearing in Palm Beach County. (Look how well that turned out more dogs and cats are being euthanized)
They honestly think that calling rick scott’s office and being angry voter is going to make a difference. He is probably dancing on the table.
They think that calling their legislator will make a difference.’
http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/florida-bear-hunt-207-killed-on-first-day-7351694
“Robert Ruderman, of the group Animal Hero Kids, said, “The Florida black bear hunt is a well-calculated, thinly disguised power play by right-wing Governor Rick Scott and his faithful servants on the FWC Commission at the behest of powerful special interests; namely, the gun and hunting industries and lobbies, influential land developers, and wealthy trophy hunters..”
This is correct. Florida bought and Paid for. Mission Accomplished!
Here is some video. its terrible. I’m warning you now.
On this one they got most of the story wrong.
Here is one of our hero’s Chuck O Neal
Listen to his words. We are suppose to protect the bears. The hunt was picked on cherry picked data.
Here is an excellent article from Psychology Today
Florida Bear Hunt Ignores Conservation Psychology & Science
Florida’s decision to reinstate bear hunting after a 21-year hiatus (link is external) ignores well-established science on human-bear conflicts and constitutes an appalling magnification of the ethical defects afflicting the killing of grizzly mother Blaze by officials at Yellowstone National Park and, more recently, the killing of Boulder Bear 317 by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. 320 black bears – 10% of the estimated statewide population – have been targeted by Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for killing by recreational hunters (you can see the hunt plan here), a lethal response that is massively disproportionate to the concerns that have been articulated by human stakeholders about property damage and a handful of relatively minor attacks on humans. The hunt’s quota is in addition to the increasingly routine practice of killing bears who have been deemed a nuisance and to high road kill rates (282 in 2012 alone (link is external)). A combined mortality rate of 20% of the entire bear population has become Florida’s ghastly new definition of sustainability, while the human population of the state increases by more than the entire bear population every single week, a fact that human policy-makers regard as a source of pride (link is external), not a cause for grave concern.
Instead, Dr. Eason, for one, seems to be perfectly comfortable with Floridians repeating their familiar role as super-predators, killing adult bears in their prime reproductive years, imposing far-reaching collateral damage on family units and the bear population as a whole. Although Florida’s bear hunt forbids the “harvesting” — read, killing — of mother bears with cubs, this will inevitably happen, since mothers commonly “tree” their cubs up to 200 yards away, out of sight from hunters. Black bear cubs stay with their mother for up to two years, learning essential survival skills and enjoying her protection from male bears and other animals who may harm them. As orphans, their prospects for survival are grim. And, since we know that animals experience a wide range of emotions, including joy, love, empathy, and grief, it is beyond dispute that these cubs will suffer immense emotional, as well as physical, distress. Equally repugnant is the fact that the FWC knows that some female bears will be pregnant at this time of year (just prior to denning), and there is no way for hunters to discern the gender of their target until they’re killed. Far from apologizing for these horrific effects, Dr. Eason has matter-of-factly stated that this is all part of the plan.
please read this from our friend at the Daily Kumquat.
The Lingering Stench of Death: Witnessing the Developers’ War on Florida’s Black Bears, October 24-25, 2015
These images document the death of 18 beautiful, innocent, sentient creatures who were denied the right to follow their unique paths through life in an environment that was ideally suited to their wants and needs. Every drop of blood symbolizes not merely a loss of life but a loss of decency, a perversion of science, an affront to democracy, and an indelible stain on the character of the State of Florida
http://www.dailykumquat.com/florida-developers-war-on-black-bears-october-24-25-2015/
and lastly from my friend Debbie Culp over on the west coast of Florida. We must must find a way to come together and talk. Because while we’re fighting over this who knows what is being plotted and planned.
In regard to the bear hunt:
When controversy strikes, I strive to hear and understand the position and feelings of the perceived opposition. Tho very defensive at first, and rightfully so given the numerous arguments and personal attacks on individuals, generational families, and hunting culture at large, I found some very genuine hunters willing to speak openly and honestly about the hunt, existing law, and FWC. While they strongly defended their rights to traditional hunting, the need for FWC reform in policy making was expressed. They openly admitted that the FWC based their policy on the bear hunt on old data of bear population. They felt that had updated data been presented prior to the hunt that it would reflect even higher numbers of population based on what they had observed in certain locations. This of course is only speculative because FWC did not bother to do this when making such an important decision. They also suggested a need for reform in laws on fining the practices of unethical hunters with fines as low as 50 dollars for killing a Mother bear with cub under 70lbs.
They also adamantly expressed the need for human population control in the state of Florida and openly expressed that much bear and other wildlife’s habitat has been consumed by development and particularly sited developments next to wetlands critical to the survival of wildlife. In defense of the attacks on trophy hunting, they explained that the traditional hunter does eat the meat. Although I do not prefer bear meat, I have been to plenty of wildlife dinners where bear was served. While this may be revolting so some, we have many families in Florida, many going back many generations in Florida living sustainant lives, where hunting, fishing, , raising their animals and growing their food is an integral part of their lives as they pass down traditions to their children.
I saw much arguing, name calling, viscous attacks on people, families and businesses by environmentalist. As an environmentalist I was deeply dismayed by some of this behavior. This is not the way to communicate. The focus should be on reform of policy and we all can contribute to this if we communicate appropriately and not alienate, polarize and burn bridges. The powers that be would like nothing better than for there to be abyss of division. Attack the policies and policy makers, not the people. Just my opinion.”
Thank you Debbie. Your opinion is very much appreciated.
On the Snout : Septic Tanks , Martin County, Stupid Headlines.
On the Snout: Septic Tanks and Martin County
When I first moved here I lived in my house for about nine months before I bought it. I love my house. I wanted to live in an older house near the Indian River Lagoon on the same land the AIS Indians lived on thousand of years ago. Ancient sand dunes.
Sacred land.
An incredible lagoon. With flying fish. Dolphins that live here and grace us. Water that I swam in. I bought a Kayak.
I chose this house by myself with the help of local real estate person. She never told me that there were discharges that would come and destroy my life and make it impossible to take my family to the water which is why I moved here in the first place.
When I purchased my house I called the water department to get my water hooked up. I was told who ever lived here never paid some assessment and it would cost me 2500 dollars to hook up. Then I found out I would have to pay thousands of dollars to bring the plumbing to the street where the water hook up. The nasty guy on the other end of the phone told me I could put it on my credit card when I asked if I could pay it off at a hundred dollars a month. The whole thing would have been paid off long ago.
He did me a favor.
I love my well. I have a great well guy that keeps it going and I have great water. So I’m keeping the well along with my money.
But having to deal with Martin County makes me very nervous.
This situation to me is no different from the Bear Hunt we just had. There is no in-between and no consideration for the people who live here. Let me just throw this headline at you!
I’m not opposed to sewage hook up but when the issue of our septic tanks came up I did a lot research and I called my brother in law who builds green houses in Colorado. These places have all kinds of poop disposing systems. I asked him a bunch of questions and he told to be kind to my septic and it will be kind to me. Nothing goes down there unless it came of out me or in the case of the washing machine and dishwasher I use all those eco products that you buy at the health food store and enzymes. I had one issue once when i was out of town and the pump on my well went and I had a flood.
As I go around I simply cannot believe the things that people put down into their septic tank. Kitty litter (why not just put it in a bag), Food from the disposal (again why would you do that ?) all kind of chemicals , medications. It reminds me of the things I used to see working in the er. “You put what where? No kidding!” “Where did you put the penny?” “Oh up my nose.”
When I tell my patients all these things are really not a good idea they are responsive. Many of them simply have not thought it through. They are thankful. It’s so easy to be kind and educate people.
So instead of writing a headline that says this TC Palm:
Research: Septic systems ‘primary’ source of river, reef pollution
Write something about educating people on what they need to do for their septic tanks.
When I moved here before the discharges the water was awesome.
This was June 2013
This was August 2013 after the discharges
toxic green algae photo credit Lorena Cedeño Teal
I understand the hot spots of old palm city and golden gate. I have smelled the stuff from the north fork and its brutal. Why is PSL not doing anything about that? Why is their poop our poop? Why are they not educating their citizens on how to deal with their septic systems. Why?
But at the same time that we are being vilified houses are being built with septic. The septic has been extended so builders can build more houses. Houses in Rio on the old Frances Langford property have been approved. They will all have septic because the sewage doesn’t go up that far. How does this make any sense?
When I drive up Indian River Drive all kinds of houses are being built.
The subject of septic tanks come up frequently because of our lagoon. There are indeed spots are filled with bad things that probably come from septic and the same time you have Ocean Breeze adding all kinds of new units? Where is their sewage going? What about the new houses that are going to built in Rio near Palmer? What is that awful smell when you drive up Indian River Drive and your across from the Power Plant? It smells like dead fish.
The other thing is many millions have been spent so developers can develop. Like the sewage half way thru Rio so this guy can build his monstrosity but the rest of us get screwed. The circle with the plants that endlessly have to be maintained.
Martin County hired Dr Brian Lapointe to do this study. He has done others and has always come to the same conclusions.
It’s the poop!
Vero Beach
Brevard
Loxahatchee
http://www.loxahatcheeriver.org/pdf/2010%20Final%20Report-Complete-Edited.pdf
American Planning Association Meeting
So here is the article from the TC Palm:
There are more but you get the pictures.
That’s why this blog is literally on the snout!
I hate to even post because I can’t post the whole thing and you have to be a subscriber to see the rest. It’s pains me but I think this is one of the reason we can’t widen our circle of friends is because we can’t share articles. (as opposed to kicking butt with the Bear Hunt and the endless shareable article and blogs)
Research: Septic systems ‘primary’ source of river, reef pollution
is the title. Is this what we can expect from the TC Palm from now on? Really? This headline is straight out of the Sunshine State News. Ex Editor Nancy Smith would be proud.
The huge plumes from the discharges from Lake Okeechobee have nothing to do with this?
Nothing?
Please see before and after photos above.
This headline sounds like its funded by Big Sugar. ( who btw was running some very expensive ads a little while back)
“Septic systems are a primary source of St. Lucie River pollution, according to a soon-to-be-released study Martin County-commissioned from the Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.
The finding refutes an opinion popular with some local officials and environmentalists that Lake Okeechobee discharges and fertilizer in agricultural runoff are the primary sources.
“We’re not saying there are no pollutants from (agriculture); there are,” said Brian Lapointe, a Harbor Branch research professor and study team leader. “But sewage from septic tanks is a significant contributor, in fact a primary contributor, to nutrients damaging the estuary and the reefs offshore.”
There is a lot of science in his study that need to be gone thru.
““We confirmed that the areas with a high concentration of septic systems had nitrates and phosphates in the groundwater and in the ditches leading to the St. Lucie,” Lapointe said. “Then we found that sewage is getting into the estuary and being taken by tides out to the reefs, where it’s causing a chain reaction that’s literally killing the reefs.”
How he managed to do this when we are continually get discharges from Lake Okeechobee baffles me.
Hey if that’s the case just open up the gates and let it all out!
But they can’t. Because it’s not that simple.
Maggy Hurchalla sent this out in an email sent out this morning.
“No one I know ever questioned the fact that septic systems are polluting the river.
That’s why we amended the comp plan to put our strong local restrictions back into ch 10.
The pro-development commissioners took them out in 2009 and announced that the minimum state rules were enough.
Those state rules are totally inadequate. They allow new subdivisions to have 5 septic systems per acre. They allow new apartments and condos to use septic systems. They allow super sized systems of 10,000 gpd.
The Commission adopted the amendment to the Sewer chapter of the comp plan almost a year ago. It’s still being challenged by developers. The judge ruled in the county’s favor. It is now waiting for a final opinion. Doug Smith and John Haddox voted against it. They were joined by ex-mayor Sasser from Pahokee and the One Florida group and the King Ranch and other AG interest.
The arguments against the amendment included;
– It was unfair to limit septic in new developments until all existing septic systems had been hooked up to sewer. They seemed to think you shouldn’t close the barn door until all the horses that got out earlier were caught.
– the amendment was not about helping the river. It was created by an environmental extremist (me) to stop growth.
– big agricultural septic systems don’t pollute.
Martin County has fewer septic systems than any other county on the Lagoon because we had strict rules for new development from 1982 to 2009.
That is not an excuse for doing nothing. We know that areas of high density and high water tables and old septic systems are causing problems. They don’t have to be waterfront to cause problems if their drainage ditch goes to the river.
Sasser went so far as to suggest that Lake O discharges were a problem only because out septic effluent flowed back into the Lake and then back to the river.
That kind of dumb doesn’t need an answer.
(me hahahaha funny)
The study does not show that septic systems are a bigger problem than Lake discharges.
It does not show they are the only problem.
It does not show that they are a worse problem in Martin than in other counties. The North Fork has a big problem coming down from Port St. Lucie.
The study does show that we have stuff in the water coming from septic tanks. We knew that. Now we know it for sure.
Sewering the whole county all at once is not a good solution.
Setting up a funding source and connecting up the top priority areas first is a good solution.
CRA funds could be used to help subsidize hookups in Old Palm City and in Golden Gate.”
Thank You Maggy for reaching out to me! See if I can live with this! Why because its a fair assessment of the situation. It’s grounded in Maggy logic.
Charles Grande, Former PSL Commish said this.
“How sad the headline implies septics are “The” source as opposed to one of several, and certainly not The big one. Without Lake O discharges, the other sources make it tough on our waterways but, we can address those problems locally, over time, and the waterways will survive. When they dump the Lake on us, our water ways are impacted beyond our ability to respond and living things (plants, animals, and people) die. Everyone should read Maggy’s response stressing “The study does not show that septic systems are a bigger problem than Lake discharges” and “The study does not show they are the only problem?”
Thank you Charles.
Kevin Stinette, former Indian Riverkeeper said this:
It bothers me to see “Septic systems are a primary source of St. Lucie River pollution, …” and then, “The finding refutes an opinion popular with some local officials and environmentalists that Lake Okeechobee discharges and fertilizer in agricultural runoff are the primary sources.”
All are primary sources.
Taking sides and contending that one or justifies the other makes no sense. Our estuary needs to go on a nitrogen diet. We need to stem the flow of nitrogen wherever we can. Stormwater runoff, discharges from canals and septic tank sources all put more nitrogen into the water than the system can handle.
It is hard to argue against Dr. Lapointe’s assertion that, “… sewage from septic tanks is a significant contributor, in fact a primary contributor, to nutrients damaging the estuary and the reefs offshore.”
Why argue over whether either source is “a” contributor or “the” contributor? Big sugar loves to foster such arguments, as though they are justified in having hijacked our water treatment systems south of the lake because coastal residents have septic tanks. People who don’t want any constraints on pollution love to join in arguing that we shouldn’t have to clean up after ourselves because agricultural discharges are so obviously destructive in the rainy years.
Hooking up to municipal sewers only injects the waste deeper into our aquifer where it will eventually migrate into our waters.
While we make the transition to sewers, there are solutions short of $11K hookups. Why don’t we consider grey water systems to use water from washing machines to water lawns? Other water conservation measures would limit the mix of grey water in septic tanks give the bacteria more time to digest nutrients and slow the migration of nitrogen toward our waters. Maximizing vegetation between septic tanks and canals and rivers could turn the nitrogen into trees and shrubs and assist in sequestering carbon dioxide.
We need to confront nutrient pollution on all fronts, not square off to argue about who is doing the most damage.”
So as we can all see the situation is complicated. Do we have a septic issue? Yes DO we have Discharge issue? Yes DO we have a nitrogen problem? Yes Do we have very knowledgeable people that disagree? Yes
There are a lot of issues.
The last one I want to address is this quote from Dr Lapointe.
“The utility department would pay 30 percent of the cost; property owners would pay 70 percent, about $11,750 per parcel.
“The fix is expensive,” Lapointe said, “but living in paradise ain’t cheap.”
Pretty cavalier! Apparently he does not know that in June 2012 (I’m not sure what the numbers are now)
More than 27 percent of kids on Treasure Coast going hungry
There are people in this county that are old, disabled and get 15 dollars a month for food stamps. That’s if they are lucky.
I’m sure they will be able to come with that 11,750. Maybe we could set up GOFUNDMESEPTIC HOOKUP SITES!
There’s so much more to discuss but that’s for another day. Please me join me at this meeting.
I think there are some places that need to be hooked up and we have to figure out a way to do that. But I also think there is a lot of education that needs to go on so lets all put our thinking caps on. And please lets stop making grand headlines when they are not quite true or right for the people that live here.
Brian Lapointe, a research professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Fort Pierce, will talk about his team’s study on the impact of septic systems on the St. Lucie River estuary and nearshore reefs.
What: Martin County Commission meeting
When: 9 a.m. Nov. 3
Where: Commission Chambers, 2401 S.E. Monterey Road, Stuart
Information: www.martin.fl.us
“
Bear Hunt starts Today.
Bear hunt starts today.
Thanks to all the monitors, documenters, Chuck O Neal and everyone that has spoken out to what we know in our hearts is a mess. A big bloody mess.
I was very proud to read through the list of permits and find only one person in Martin County bought a permit.
This was CBS national news who got most of the story wrong calling every against animal activists. Thank goodness they put in that bit about Ron Bergeron. CBS we are citizens of Florida and we have an opinion and we have a right not to be pigeon holed. I don’t see any where to leave comments. The Hunt is all over Florida.
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/floridas-first-bear-hunt-in-two-decades/
My issue as I have stated before is not hunting bears. There are bear hunts and other places seem to know how to do this. Florida does not and the agenda is driven by the Governor who is driven by his masters. We have seen this behavoir last winter at SFWMD and even lately when they tried to do the right thing and keep taxes the same.
WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Careful
In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Careful.”
Flying Dog
Weekly round up: Bears, Benghazi, HSUS, Anthrax, the FBI and the lost dogs of south carolina.
It’s been a busy week
The Bear Hunt
I really hope the FWC who opened up this hunt on bears all over the state that were not bothering anyone saying they were saving our lives from nuisance bears that eat people garbage are satisfied with what happened yesterday. We have no idea what will happen but we do know what happened yesterday.
From a friend on Facebook: So a friend of mine with the county (Marion) Sheriffs called me today and asked me if I was going out to protest the hunt and I said I was planning on hiking this weekend. He wanted to let me know that the local sheriffs deputies were all given an FBI bulletin due to the “High Threat of violence.” Apparently hunters have threatened to open fire on anyone they see trying to disrupt their hunt.
nice hunters.
Many reports of lactating mothers. One cub under 100 lbs.
My heartfelt grateful thanks to the volunteers from speak up wekevia who monitored the hunt and documented with video and photos.
To everyone who was just awoken to the travesty’s that go on in Florida. You may be outraged but I can guarantee that NO ONE is Tallahassee cares. Rick Scott has an agenda. He is doing what he set out to do. He cannot be impeached and he has no remorse about this hunt.
You can crab all you want but if any of these commissioners give you anything you want they will be replaced.
What can we do?
We can make sure the news is reporting correctly. I saw a report yesterday from CBS News. CBS this guy misreported the whole thing. I would ask for my money back. We can let our legislators know how we feel and we can let the people running know (the ones that don’t want to piss off the hunters) that unless we all talk and come up with a plan there will no land to hunt on.
here
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/floridas-first-bear-hunt-in-two-decades/
I went through all the permits and only found one person from Martin County who bought one. I was hoping for none. This speaks volumes because I really did think there would be a bunch of people going.
Here is the list of all the permits
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6HSYXJo5WOXT19DLWE4Q21NODQ/view?pli=1
Unfortunately, while we’re busy fighting with each other you gotta know there’s bad stuff going on. Yesterday was a bad for Florida and a bad bad day for the bears and unless we talk to each other it will never get fixed.
Hunters there will be no hunting because there will be no land to hunt on so I suggest you start thinking about this.
News people: We are not animal activists. We are citizens of our state.
HSUS don’t use this as an opportunity to make money to pay your staff. All money should be going towards the lawsuit.
Here is the main facebook page. Please do not give any money to HSUS. It doesn’t help us.
https://www.facebook.com/SaveFLBears?fref=ts
Lost Dogs of South Carolina
Speaking of HSUS.
Last week I wrote this about the dogs from South Carolina and a local shelter claiming they were from the storm which I knew could not be true.
https://cyndi-lenz.com/2015/10/12/lost-dogs-of-south-carolina-here-we-go-again/
This week I was sent this message.
______
JUST IN: Hours after #BenghaziHearing debacle, Boehner names new House Select Cmte to investigate #PlannedParenthood
How much money will be wasted on fake videos? These people claim to be fiscally conservatives they have no problem spending millions of dollars on witch hunts? Riddle me that! I could sit here and write a blog on how many people got killed under Regan but it would make difference to the Hillary Haters. They are so stuck in their hate circuits there is no getting out.
Another Blog I wrote about the Anthrax attack in Boca Raton.
https://cyndi-lenz.com/2015/10/22/tbt-anthrax-in-boca-raton-florida/
I have for years walked around with the knowledge that someone called and asked us to research Anthrax 2 weeks before the attack and I never knew why. The answer came from a friend of mine and it chilled me to my core.
So because the world is amazing a friend of mine shared this story with me. I have walked around with a lot things from when this happened and one the questions was why did we get the call to do research on this. It came from someone at AMI and I never wanted to get that person in trouble. I had some theories but I never ever ever expected this.
From my friend Victoria:
Victoria Romero Huggins It was a very scary time for me as a mother. Our daughter, Summer, sat at the desk next to Bob’s. Summer was Bob’s photo-journalist assistant. Yes, there were at least 3 others who had spores within their noses. I got the phone call from Summer when Bob died. They knew what it was, they just kept it under wraps and out of the public. Her phone call to me was: “Mom, I’m to young to die! I had Sammy in here on Saturday to do some work. Bob got the Anthrax on Friday!” Yes, there were people in the building on MONDAY swabbing everything. When they found spores on the keyboards and hand railings within the building – they sent everyone home. They were not allowed to take anything but themselves out of the building. That very day, they began swabbing the noses of the employees – some were put on cipro immediately. Summer was one of those. I sat with her every day for the FBI updates. I went through the most trying time – she had an allergic reaction to Cipro. A very bad reaction. Then, the FBI decided that since Bob and Summer lived within the same neighborhood, an approach to the Lantana Municipal Airport, they began swabbing their homes and yards. Nothing was found at their homes. We were told at least a month before the press got hold of it, that the spores were throughout the building, compliments of the A/C. It seems so strange that the AMI people were working and having daily briefings at the Sun Sentinel building in Delray, yet they were continually told “Share nothing with the press!” Everyday after briefings, the parking lot was full of TV crews…… I will say this, AMI paid their employees in cash each week, even though most of them were not working…. It was a very sad time for our family. (Now that AMI has moved out of Boca, Summer is without a job since September. She worked for AMI since she was 17 – and she is 39 now.)
Let it be known that David Pecker, the owner of AMI at that time, went above and beyond for his employees. Everything, I mean everything was left behind by the employees. Coffee mugs, purses, their identification, personal pictures and things on their desks. When Guiliani had the building decontaminated, they asked if any of the AMI employees wanted anything of a personal nature back. All stated NO. There were thousands of dollars of photos in the photo-journalists storage which could not be used.”
So there you have it. We had anthrax in Boca way before we even knew it was there and it totally under wraps. So I have to worry about what else was under raps.
We’ll never know who was responsible and I think if Bob had not died we would have know about this at all.
A very disturbing week on my blog, in my world. People who are suppose to be doing the right thing are not.
I can only hope next week will be better.
Happy 18th Birthday Barney!
Today is 4 years since Barney came to stay with us as a foster at 14 years old.
I don’t think I have smelled anything that bad in my whole life.
I brought him home.
I told him he would never have to worry about anything again ever.
Thanks to Dr White and his wonderful staff at Port Salerno Animal Hospital.
TBT: Anthrax in Boca Raton, Florida evening post of todays blog
This is photo of the American Media Building after it was attacked by Anthrax.
In October 2001, after the 911 attacks, we were all working and there was a news report about someone local at American Media dying from Anthrax. The news at the time reports that Bob Stevens died from drinking water in the Carolina’s where he had been vacationing. The person that was saying this was the head of the Palm Beach County Health Department.
I was driving down Okeechobee Blvd when I got the call to come home because someone died from Anthax. I knew this wasn’t true because I had been reading about Anthrax at the DOD website. After 911 we were all so hypervigilent. I think we never thought our lives would get back to normal.
I did know this. You can’t get anthrax from drinking it in the water.
We contacted Governor Jeb Bush and he contacted who ever the head public health doctor was.
The pharmacy I worked at sold out of cipro instantly. We then sold out of doxycycline. So did everyone else. The entire area sold out of antibiotics.
At the time Dr. Jean Malecki the head of the health department of palm beach county did not want to check for spores in the noses of other people that worked at American Media but the people who worked there insisted. I can’t remember how many but there were spores found in the noses of a few people.
I may be wrong but I believe this was the first. I do not think they ever figured out who did this but they did think it was from someone who access to weaponized anthrax. As I did my research this morning I see a lot of history has been rewritten but I have to work so I’ll save that for another day.
I can tell you this for sure. If you look closely at the photo the company name was Bio One. Bio One was owned by Rudy Giuliani. I guess it’s a smart move to benefit financially from the deaths of other people.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/giuliani-co-cleaning-up-anthrax/
So when I talk about how we have to continue to be vigilant and call out the news this a prime example.
I will never forget how terrified I was. Not just because of the Anthrax but because of all the mistakes of the news media of the time.
RIP Bob Stevens.
Remember this New’s Media. Report the news. Period. Otherwise it’s propaganda and scare tactics.
Evening Post of Todays Blog
So because the world is amazing a friend of mine shared this story with me. I have walked around with a lot things from when this happened and one the questions was why did we get the call to do research on this. It came from someone at AMI and I never wanted to get that person in trouble. I had some theories but I never ever ever expected this.
From my friend Victoria:
Victoria Romero Huggins It was a very scary time for me as a mother. Our daughter, Summer, sat at the desk next to Bob’s. Summer was Bob’s photo-journalist assistant. Yes, there were at least 3 others who had spores within their noses. I got the phone call from Summer when Bob died. They knew what it was, they just kept it under wraps and out of the public. Her phone call to me was: “Mom, I’m to young to die! I had Sammy in here on Saturday to do some work. Bob got the Anthrax on Friday!” Yes, there were people in the building on MONDAY swabbing everything. When they found spores on the keyboards and hand railings within the building – they sent everyone home. They were not allowed to take anything but themselves out of the building. That very day, they began swabbing the noses of the employees – some were put on cipro immediately. Summer was one of those. I sat with her every day for the FBI updates. I went through the most trying time – she had an allergic reaction to Cipro. A very bad reaction. Then, the FBI decided that since Bob and Summer lived within the same neighborhood, an approach to the Lantana Municipal Airport, they began swabbing their homes and yards. Nothing was found at their homes. We were told at least a month before the press got hold of it, that the spores were throughout the building, compliments of the A/C. It seems so strange that the AMI people were working and having daily briefings at the Sun Sentinel building in Delray, yet they were continually told “Share nothing with the press!” Everyday after briefings, the parking lot was full of TV crews…… I will say this, AMI paid their employees in cash each week, even though most of them were not working…. It was a very sad time for our family. (Now that AMI has moved out of Boca, Summer is without a job since September. She worked for AMI since she was 17 – and she is 39 now.)
On the Snout: Florida bought and paid for.
On the Snout: Florida bought and paid for.
“If you smell something. say something.”
I’ve written extensively about the Pacific Legal Foundation.
A group that is intent on destroying our bears, panthers, manatees and every piece of green we have in our state. It’s also quite obvious that RIck is ruled by the Koch brothers because his agenda is their agenda. Not ours.
Last year we saw an incredible dysfunctional Florida legislature and the will of the people even for little things was just totally ignored. Like we didn’t exist.
They really don’t care. Not Rick Scott nor the people who represent you.
First this.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/19/americans-for-prosperity-rick-scott_n_2160739.html
“AFP is extremely disappointed in leaders in Florida suggesting that the Sunshine State should create a health insurance exchange” said Slade O’Brien, AFP’s Florida State Director. “An exchange will increase insurance premiums on consumers and taxes on hardworking families. Florida’s best intentions will be masked by the federal government’s onerous requirements.”
then this.
“Americans for Prosperity, the free-market advocacy group financed by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch, is going on the attack.
The group sent mail ads Monday to the districts of Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and 24 other senators over their support for a plan to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.
“The Florida Senate continues to move forward on a plan to give good people bad coverage,” the mailer states.
It also encourages residents to call senator’s district offices. Click here to view the mailer.
AFP sent the mailers to the districts of senators who voted for the Medicaid expansion plan in committee. Gardiner, who is vice president of external affairs at Orlando Health, doesn’t sit on any committee as Senate President, but pushed expansion from the onset of the legislative session.”
“Gov. Rick Scott is getting help from Americans for Prosperity, which has begun phone banking and canvassing across Florida.”
http://realkochfacts.com/rick-scott-the-special-interests-governor/
“The heated race for governor in the Sunshine State is just around the corner, and after throwing his tantrum on national television, Rick Scott needs something of a miracle to win reelection. Luckily for Scott, he’s got the support of the billionaire Koch brothers and their extensive political network: Koch Industries has made large contributions to Scott’s campaign, and the Kochs’ primary political arm, Americans For Prosperity, has put more than 40 paid staffers on the ground in the Sunshine State.
Scott’s ties to the Koch brothers go back a ways. In 2013, Scott spoke at Americans For Prosperity’s “Defending the American Dream Summit” in Orlando the very same week that he skipped his own three-day education summit, a stark juxtaposition of priorities that drew this rebuke from Tampa Bay Times:
“Unless he’s worried about his base or the lingering threat of a primary challenge, it baffles us that Scott – who couldn’t find time to attend any of a three-day education summit he called himself – would find the time to speak at the AFP “Defending the American Dream Summit”… Maybe he hopes the Koch brothers, who founded AFP, will show some love to Scott’s Let’s Get to Work Committee.”
“This year, AFP’s annual summit was hosted in Texas, and Scott’s fellow Republican governor and friend Rick Perry joked about razzing him because the Texas summit was better attended than Scott’s Orlando event. Perry recalled, “Rick Scott always tries to one-up me, so you know, he was the first to call me and say ‘Hey, we got Americans for Prosperity, what’d you get?’”
Of course Scott called Perry to brag about his support from the Koch brothers. And of course the Koch brothers support Rick Scott, they share the same agenda – opposition to raising the minimum wage, denying the science of climate change, refusing to expand Medicaid. It’s a match made in heaven.
When Floridians go to the polls on Tuesday, they should bear this in mind. Rick Scott is the special interests governor. The Koch brothers are just one of his many interests.”
cyndi lenz 