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The status of the juvenile justice system in Seminole County is discussed by Dr. Erica Pooler, director of school safety and alternative placement for Seminole County Public Schools and Major Scott Ballou who leads the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office department of youth services (length 45:42).

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck, Event photos – Charles E. Miller for CMF Public Media)

“Kids who are thrown to the wayside” in the county is the subject for remarks presented at this Hot Topics event hosted by the League of Women Voters of Seminole County, FL. Both voices represent a successful partnership between Seminole County Public Schools and Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.

In this 40 minute podcast, Major Ballou and Dr. Pooler take 13 minutes each to describe their institution’s role in the juvenile justice system and the various components and purposes of their programs. A concluding 13 minutes is given over to answers to questions posed by league members and guests facilitated by league president LaVonne Grayson.

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Hear the viewpoints of panel members Steve Barnes, Russ Hauck and Jeanne Morris on medical marijuana proposal, Seminole voters pick for a Democratic nominee for governor, measuring public trust in local government, and the public access to the Geneva gun range. Plus shout outs, call outs and a look around the corner (length – 33:46)

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck, Event photos – Charles E. Miller for CMF Public Media)

Viewpoint Seminole is a monthly podcast featuring a panel of Seminole County voices sharing their viewpoints about current issues confronting our communities.

After discussing the latest issues, panelists offer a congratulatory “shout out,” a constructive “call out” on other issues of their choosing and each “look around the corner” on local issues they will follow in the months to come.

The full, unedited discussion of each issue is posted below

This edition of Viewpoint Seminole was recorded on Friday, November 8, 2013. This feature was edited by the moderator for brevity and focus. The views and opinions expressed on Viewpoint Seminole are those of the panelists.

Viewpoint Seminole Panel

Click here for a roster of all Viewpoint Seminole panel members

Each month, CMF offers Viewpoint Seminole as a forum for civil and informative local commentary from a panel of credible local voices that have a stake in Seminole County. Each month we’ll call upon the panel’s experience and insight and listen as they offer their “viewpoint” on the politics, policy, people and consequences that affect those of us who embrace life in Seminole County.

Photographs of the panel taken during their discussion are presented below in an on-line photo album.

You may email a link to this feature to those you know who have an interest in the issues discussed. Use the “share” option below. And “reply” below to CMF Public Media with your comments about this feature, adding suggestions about issues you believe worthy of future discussion by panel members.

Previous Viewpoint Seminole Podcasts

Viewpoint Seminole #9 (10/10/13)

Issues: 1) metro area’s low-wage job market, 2) soccer stadium funding, 3) downtown Sanford’s hotel dilemma, and 4) new charter schools.

Panel: Dr. Mike Abels, Dr. Michael Hoover and Randy Morris

Viewpoint Seminole #8 (09/12/13)

Issues: 1) Un-contested local elections, 2) a proposal for a 1-cent sales tax increase, and 3) the 100th anniversary of Seminole County Public Schools.

Panel: Dr. Mike Abels, Russ Hauck and Randy Morris

Viewpoint Seminole #7 (08/08/13)

Issues: 1) George Zimmerman trial verdict, 2) toll-lanes on Interstate-4, 3) new property & sales taxes, and 4) the Lake Jesup Nature Center.

Panel: Russ Hauck, Dr. Michael Hoover and Randy Morris.

Viewpoint Seminole #6 (07/11/13)

Issues: 1) Supreme Court’s decision on same sex marriage, 2) the battle over Immigration Reform in Congress, 3) and the real meaning of patriotism and love of country for citizens of Seminole County

Panel: Dr. Michael Abels, Steve Barnes and Saima Qureshi, M.D.

Viewpoint Seminole #5 (06/13/13)

Issues: 1) media coverage of the George Zimmerman trial, 2) results of the recently adjourned session of the Florida Legislature, 3) our local economy, and 4) what’s up with so many local persons declaring their candidacy for elected office so early?

Panel: Jeanne Morris, Randy Morris and Judith Smith

Viewpoint Seminole #4 (05/09/13)

Issues: 1) getting commuters to & from our local SunRail stations, 2) the need for the school board property tax referendum, and 3) whether Seminole County should buy land to build a major sports complex.

Panel: Russ Hauck, Jeanne Morris and Michael Abels

Viewpoint Seminole #3 (04/11/13)

Issues: 1) Bills pending at mid-point of the Florida legislative session, 2) consolidating fire and police services between the county and cities, 3) using public funds for street-scaping and building new city centers,

Forest Lake, mayor, legislator, banker, embezzler and crook is a classic scoundrel from the roaring 20’s and bankrupt 30’s in Florida. He helped create Seminole County in 1913 only to find his vision corrupted by greed. The story of the infamous mayor of Sanford is told by Professor Dan Gilmartin of Seminole State College.  (length 23:33)

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner, Historical photos courtesy Jim Robison)

Professor Daniel O. Gilmartin researched and wrote the story of Mayor Forrest Lake’s career in Seminole County. His scholarly article, which appeared in the Spring 1996 Florida Historical Quarterly, proves there is more intrigue and drama in our local history than in many popular novels.

Professor Gilmartin spoke at the September 17, 2013 meeting of the Oviedo Historical Society at the Memorial Building in Oviedo. The society became interested in Mayor Lake after recently discovering in their archives previously unknown letters from the President of the Bank of Oviedo and his wife. Banker B.G. Smith and Agnes Smith wrote to relatives discussing Lake’s situation as he was being investigated for fraud. During this feature you will hear Dr. Gilmartin read from these letters which added new insights into the historical record of this notorious mayor.

In his comments, recorded live by CMF Public media, Dan Gilmartin describes to the audience the exploits of Forrest Lake from his role in creating Seminole County to his 22 years as mayor of Sanford, and from his visionary housing development, Dreamworld, to his corruption and incarceration.

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Marine Colonel Gerald Berry of Winter Springs, Fl., recounts his role in the dramatic story of the evacuation of the U.S. Ambassador in the Vietnam war (length 18:38).

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck, Event photos – Charles E. Miller for CMF Public Media, Helicopter title photo – courtesy Cpl Aubry L. Buzek & USMC; Historical photos courtesy Col. Gerald Berry. Event audio support – John Campbell & First United Methodist Church)

In April 1975, Gerald Berry, then a captain in the Marine Corps, piloted “Lady Ace 09” ---the last chopper out of Saigon. Berry’s chopper carried US Ambassador Graham Martin from the embassy rooftop to a US ship waiting off the coast of Vietnam… and in doing so marked the formal end of US involvement in the Vietnam War. In 1993, Berry retired from the Marine Corps after 25 years of service.

On Sunday, November 10, 2013, the day before Veterans Day 2013, to an audience of about 200 military veterans, spouses, civilians and church members, gathered in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Oviedo Florida, Berry spoke in a non-sectarian manner about his experience and those final historic hours now visually seared into the memory of a generation of Americans who lived through that era of the 1960s and 1970s.

Operation “Frequent Wind,” as the project was called, stands today as the Marine Corps single biggest evacuation in its history, with captain Berry’s 34 sorties logging 18.3 hours in the pilot seat of a CH-46D Sea Knight military helicopter.

Church member Larry Humes introduces Colonel Gerry Berry.

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Hear the viewpoints of panel members Dr. Mike Abels, Dr. Michael Hoover and Randy Morris on metro area’s low-wage job market, soccer stadium funding, downtown Sanford’s hotel dilemma, and new charter schools. Plus shout outs, call outs and a look aroun...

The Early Learning Coalition of Seminole County funds child care for low income families and the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program for all the county’s 4 year olds. Executive Director Jennifer Grant Lessne explains the procedures to qualify for the program and the importance of selecting quality early childhood education providers (length – 19:25).

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner, Title photo “Baby Boy 3” courtesy Justyna Furmanczyk)

Research shows that participation in high-quality early learning programs results in long-term positive outcomes for children. Studies in neurobiology show that the years, birth to 5 are critically important for brain development. The human brain develops more rapidly during this time than at any other subsequent period.

During these early years, children develop essential language and cognitive skills, develop their ability to manage emotions and stress, and learn to cooperate with others.

However, the pace of this growth depends on whether the child’s eagerness to learn is stimulated by an educational environment rich in verbal, social and creative experiences. Reading and math achievement scores in school are consistently higher for children who have participated in early childhood education programs.

Early childhood education also reaps big benefits for taxpayers and society in the long run.

For every $1 dollar spent on early learning, it has been estimated that society saves $7 in later costs. This isn’t surprising because studies show that when children are better educated they are more likely to be healthier, pay more taxes, and are less likely to require welfare or be involved with the Criminal justice system.

The Early Learning Coalition of Seminole County is led by a 22 member board made up of business leaders, educators and private citizens from the county. The day to day operation is in the hands of executive director Jennifer Grant Lessne. In the school readiness program, low-income families that qualify for assistance contribute to the cost of child care which is then subsidized by the coalition with funds received from the federal government. All 4 year olds are eligible for a 540 hour pre-kindergarten program paid for by the Florida Department of Education at no cost to parents.

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Three experts discuss and respond to questions on the Affordable Care Act implemented on October 1, 2013. Panel members are Jason Altmire of Florida Blue, Richard Morrison of Florida Hospital and Christina Swiridowsky of Enroll America (length 37:35).

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck, Event photos – Charles E. Miller for CMF Public Media)

The panel speaks for 20-minutes, followed by 10-minutes of panel answers to 8-questions asked by League members on such topic-related issues as Medicare Advantage, non-enrollment penalties, physician accountability and followup, Medigap coverage, the misinformation of aging-out of certain required surgeries, prescription drug benefits, pre-existing conditions, and employers’ conversion of staff from full time to part time to reduce employer-paid health care plans.

Their remarks were recorded by CMF at the Thursday, September 26, 2013 Hot Topics luncheon of the League of Women Voters of Seminole County held at the Patio Grill in Sanford, Florida, and moderated by league president, LaVonne Grayson.

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Hear the viewpoints of panel members Dr. Mike Abels, Russ Hauck and Randy Morris on un-contested elections, a proposal for a 1-cent sales tax increase, and the 100th anniversary of Seminole County Public Schools. Plus shouts, call outs and looks around...

Karen Almond, board chair of Seminole County Public Schools and Dr. Walt Griffin district superintendent speak to the Seminole County League of Women Voters about the recently adopted 1-mil property tax for schools and the status of elementary school rezoning. They also offered an overview of the mission, goals and accomplishments of the district. (length 25:55)

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck). Event photos Charles E. Miller for CMF Public Media

Three major issues – property tax, school rezoning and the district’s mission and accomplishments – are addressed by Almond and Griffin. During their remarks, questions are asked by league members.

As to the property tax, in the November 2012 elections, 56-six percent of the voters approved the 1-mill property tax referendum advanced by the school board. The tax amounts to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value – residential or commercial property. According to the district, the tax will raise an estimated $26 million each year for four years beginning with this school year, October 2013.

Also on Almond and Griffin’s plate was the formation and eventual phased-in implementation of a plan to rezone more than two-thirds of the county 36 public elementary schools in time for the new school year. The broad goal of the plan was to more effectively address future county growth with the balance of students in each school as regards population, income, race and ethnicity, students whose native language is not English, as well as students with disabilities.

Their remarks were recorded by CMF at the Thursday, August 22, 2013 Hot Topics luncheon of the League of Women Voters of Seminole County held at the Patio Grill in Sanford, Florida, and moderated by league president, LaVonne Grayson.

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Many of Florida’s springs, including Wekiva Springs in Seminole County, have high levels of nitrate contamination which has stimulated a dangerous growth in algae and water plants. Scientists Dr. Robert Knight and Dr. Todd Kincaid present their analysis of the problem,  and the research that suggests action to protect the Floridan Aquifer and the spring (length: 27:38).(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner, Title photo “Waterlilly 3” courtesy Flavio Takemoto)Septic tanks and fertilizer runoff in the springs’ basins are primary sources of nitrate in the springs. However, water treatment plants contribute by spreading treated water on the ground to percolate down to recharge the aquifer. They do this using spray fields and Rapid Infusion Basins (RIB). This water is meant to percolate through the limestone geology which removes the nitrates. However, the recent appearance of nitrates in springs is causing scientists to take a new look at this method.Dr. Robert Knight, president and founder of the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute, is active on spring restoration projects throughout the state. He advocates replacing spray fields and RIBs with specially created treatment wetlands and marshes to naturally remove the nitrogen before it sinks into the ground and down to ground water.Dr. Todd Kincaid is the head of GeoHydros LLC. He has spent years exploring, mapping and modeling the characteristics of the Floridan aquifer. After more than a decade of study and experimentation in the Wakulla Springs basin, he concluded that the water in the aquifer can travel swiftly over long distances through underground conduits and therefore may not achieve the purification expected by limestone infiltration that we had assumed. Tracing nitrate contamination must take the Karst geology of Florida into account when looking for sources.For more scientific discussion and explanation from the scientists please listen to their extended remarks in podcasts below and view the slide shows that accompanied each scientist’s presentation.This program was recorded at Urban Rethink in Orlando on August 17, 2013. The Orange County League of Women Voters Natural Resource Committee sponsored the lectures as part of their yearlong program spotlighting the threat to Central Florida’s springs.Principal SpeakersPicturesAfter you launch the slideshow below, click "Next" and "Previous" to rotate through the photos.