CMF Public Media » Podcast

Hear the viewpoints of panel members Russ Hauck, Dr. Michael Hoover and Randy Morris the George Zimmerman verdict, toll-lanes on Interstate-4, new taxes, and the Lake Jesup Nature Center. Plus shouts, call outs and looks around the corner (length – 29:25)

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

This is the seventh edition of Viewpoint Seminole, 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 brief 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

This edition of Viewpoint Seminole was recorded on Friday, August 2, 2013. It 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 “point of view” 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 slide show.

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 #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, and 4) arming teachers.

Panel: Frank Ioppolo, Jr, Michael Hoover, Russ Hauck and Judith Smith

Viewpoint Seminole #2 (03/14/13)

Issues: 1) Verizon Communication’s major new facility in Lake Mary, Fl.; 2) hiring of a new police chief for Sanford; and 3) background to the unanimous defeat by the county of a proposal to amend the rural land use restrictions in east Seminole County.

Panel: Steve Barnes, Jeanne Morris, Randy Morris and Judith Smith

Viewpoint Seminole inaugural edition (02/08/13)

Issues: 1) Governor Rick Scot’s education budget proposal to the legislature; 2) reaction to the pending rezoning of elementary schools; 3) and a proposal being considered by Seminole County government to amend a rural land use zone in the eastern portion of the county.

Panel: Steve Barnes, John Bush, Michael Hoover and Jeanne Morris

Defense attorney Mark O’Mara speaking on his experience working with news media as the lead defense attorney in the trial of George Zimmerman, plus his responses to questions on the issues and challenges of the Zimmerman trial asked of him by members of the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida (length 49:06)

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck)

O’Mara led a successful defense in a multi-week trial in Seminole County Florida resulting in an acquittal of defendant George Zimmerman charged with 2nd degree murder in the death in Sanford of a 17-year old black youth, Trayvon Martin.

The trial and the almost yearlong run-up to the not-guilty verdict received substantial media attention, initially overwhelming to O’Mara and his team. It’s O’Mara’s management of media which is the opening 15-minutes of the 43-minutes of remarks you’ll hear from him in this podcast.

The remaining 27-minutes features O’Mara responding to 14 questions asked of him by members of the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida at their August 2, 2013 monthly luncheon at The Ballroom at Church Street Station in Orlando, Florida.

Principal Speaker

Pictures

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The Common Core State Standards were adopted by Florida to establish common requirements for the skills students will need for future success in college and careers. This feature explains how and why Seminole County Public Schools are developing the local curriculum and materials that will assist students in meeting the new goals. Feature length 23:44

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner, Title graphic “Writing” courtesy Michael Lorenzo)

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were developed by the states through an initiative of the National Governors Association and the council of state chief school officials. Their plan was to develop one common set of goals and standards focusing on essentials skills to be used across all states. As stated by the developers, “The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers.

The Florida Department of Education participated in the development of these new standards which are for English language arts and math. The FDOE reviewed, helped revise and then adopted the final Common Core State Standards in 2010. These Standards will be fully implemented in all public schools in Florida, including Seminole County, in the 2014-15 school year.

However, each local school district must design the instructional plans and select the content which will be used in the classroom to help students to learn and develop the skills required by the new standard. The district, with FDOE assistance, provides training in the new standards and teachers in their Professional Learning Communities develop curriculum for their particular subject and grade level.

A primary concern is the creation of a common test to assess whether students have met the goals and acquired the skills listed in the CCSS.

Principal Speakers

Hear the viewpoints of panel members Dr. Michael Abels, Steve Barnes and Saima Qureshi, M.D. on the Supreme Court’s decision on same sex marriage, the battle over Immigration Reform in Congress, and the real meaning of patriotism and love of country for citizens of Seminole County (length – 26:16)

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner, Event photos – Charles E. Miller for CMF Public Media)

Welcome to the sixth edition of Viewpoint Seminole, 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 brief 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

This edition of Viewpoint Seminole was recorded on Friday, July 5, 2013. It 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 “point of view” 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 slide show.

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 #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, and 4) arming teachers.

Panel: Frank Ioppolo, Jr, Michael Hoover, Russ Hauck and Judith Smith

Viewpoint Seminole #2 (03/14/13)

Issues: 1) Verizon Communication’s major new facility in Lake Mary, Fl.; 2) hiring of a new police chief for Sanford; and 3) background to the unanimous defeat by the county of a proposal to amend the rural land use restrictions in east Seminole County.

Panel: Steve Barnes, Jeanne Morris, Randy Morris and Judith Smith

Viewpoint Seminole inaugural edition (02/08/13)

Issues: 1) Governor Rick Scot’s education budget proposal to the legislature; 2) reaction to the pending rezoning of elementary schools; 3) and a proposal being considered by Seminole County government to amend a rural land use zone in the eastern portion of the county.

Panel: Steve Barnes, John Bush, Michael Hoover and Jeanne Morris

Note:

CMF takes care to recruit and impanel members who are local to the area. Though still in formation, the full group of 10 members, when viewed as a whole will reflect a broad array of ethnicity, age, gender and life style. As a whole,

Oviedo Florida in the era of Jim Crow laws and segregation is the topic of this personal history and commentary by Judith Delores Smith. In this personal memoir, she describes the close knit colored communities in Oviedo, the segregated schools, the inspirational churches, the agricultural workers and painful incidents that often punctuated daily life (length 23:20).

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner)

Judith Delores Smith was born in Sanford, Florida but grew up as a 3rd generation family member in Oviedo. She is a graduate of Lincoln Memorial College in Tennessee and followed a career in social work and as a vocational rehabilitation counselor. She currently owns a business in Seminole County. She has served on many community boards and ran for the Oviedo City council. Since her conversion to Judaism, she has pursued an intense study of Hebrew both in the U.S. and Israel.

Judith Delores Smith grew up in Oviedo, Florida when agriculture was the foundation of the economy and segregation was still accepted as the structure of daily life. In this podcast she shares her memories and observations about a way of life that may be decades in the past but which touched many citizens of Seminole County on either side of the color line.

Principal Speaker

Hear local transportation leaders discuss what’s in store for transportation in Central Florida now and into the future. (length 30:01).

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck, Event audio support – Terry Kyle, 911TechMed, Title picture – "Heavy Traffic" courtesy Drouu)

Transportation experts include the executive director of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority – Max Crumit; Central Florida district secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation – Noranne Downs; chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority – Frank Kruppenbacher; and transportation writer/reporter for the Orlando Sentinel newspaper – Dan Tracy. The event is moderated by the City of Orlando Florida’s transportation policy advisor, Christine Kefauver

The opening 5-minutes allow the speakers to explain their or their organization’s role in local transportation, followed by 15-minutes of responses to the moderator’s questions concerning issues related to local transportation challenges, visions, trends and solutions. And, in the remaining 5-minutes, you’ll hear the speaker’s responses to several audience questions.

This podcast was recorded in mid-June 2013 before an audience of members of the League of Women Voters of Orange County, Florida at their monthly meeting held in Orlando.

Principal Speakers

Pictures

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

Hear the viewpoints of panel members Jeanne Morris, Randy Morris and Judith Smith on media coverage of the George Zimmerman trial, results of the recently adjourned session of the Florida Legislature, our local economy, and what’s up with so many local persons declaring their candidacy for elected office so early? (length - 26:44)

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

Welcome to the fifth edition of Viewpoint Seminole, 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 brief 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

This edition of Viewpoint Seminole was recorded on Friday, June 7, 2013. It 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 “point of view” 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 slide show.

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 #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, and 4) arming teachers.

Panel: Frank Ioppolo, Jr, Michael Hoover, Russ Hauck and Judith Smith

Viewpoint Seminole #2 (03/14/13)

Issues: 1) Verizon Communication’s major new facility in Lake Mary, Fl.; 2) hiring of a new police chief for Sanford; and 3) background to the unanimous defeat by the county of a proposal to amend the rural land use restrictions in east Seminole County.

Panel: Steve Barnes, Jeanne Morris, Randy Morris and Judith Smith

Viewpoint Seminole inaugural edition (02/08/13)

Issues: 1) Governor Rick Scot’s education budget proposal to the legislature; 2) reaction to the pending rezoning of elementary schools; 3) and a proposal being considered by Seminole County government to amend a rural land use zone in the eastern portion of the county.

Panel: Steve Barnes, John Bush, Michael Hoover and Jeanne Morris

Note:

CMF takes care to recruit and impanel members who are local to the area. Though still in formation, the full group of 10 members, when viewed as a whole will reflect a broad array of ethnicity, age, gender and life style. As a whole, they will reflect a perceived level of current or former community involvement, life experiences and familiarity with broad community issues and standards.

CMF also takes care to avoid or disclose a panelist with known conflicts of interest relative to the issue being addressed.

When a hurricane, tornado or manmade disaster hits, disabled residents are particularly vulnerable. Seminole County Emergency Manager Alan Harris discusses the assistance available at the special needs shelters and the unique services from transportation to medical care available to disabled people. He also gives advice on the preparations all residents should make before the emergency strikes (length – 20:00)

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner, Title montage – wheel chair icon photo – “Handicap Cracks” courtesy Nicolas Raymond at freestock.ca)

The Seminole County Office of Emergency Management is responsible for developing and implementing the county’s comprehensive disaster response and preparedness. A key aspect of their emergency preparation is assisting disabled citizens with their special requirements.

Special Needs Individuals are those with health or medical conditions who meet the program criteria or need transportation assistance during an evacuation.

The Seminole County Special Needs Program is a voluntary program that should be considered by individuals who have NO alternative than a public shelter or, need transportation to a shelter. The Emergency Management Division recommends that individuals with special needs should consider first sheltering with relatives or friends prior to the use of a shelter. Any person qualified for this program should sign up with the special needs registry. See link below.

In an emergency or disaster, individuals electing to use a Special Needs shelter, or any public shelter, should bring cots, bedding, medicine and medical supplies and food supplies for each person to be self sufficient for at least 72 hours. Seminole County Special Needs shelters are mainly in elementary schools.

Principal Participants

Pictures

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Education funding and policy, Medicaid, ethics reform and Citizens insurance are some of topics covered by Seminole County legislators as they report on the 2013 session of the Florida legislature. Sen. David Simmons, Reps. Karen Castor Dentel and Mike Clelland discuss the hits and the misses and their efforts to bridge the partisan divide in a year in which rising state revenues provided more money to restore funding for programs (length 24:47).

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner, Event photos – Charles E. Miller for CMF Public Media, Event audio support – Luis Melara, PhotoSound of Orlando)

Each legislator gave a summary of the achievements the session and some items still to be resolved. Representatives Castor Dentel and Clelland discussed their reaction to their first session as newly elected legislators.

This presentation was recorded on Thursday, June 6, 2013 before an audience of 100 members and guests at the “Good Morning Seminole” membership breakfast of the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce held at the Orlando/Lake Mary Westin Hotel.

Principal Speakers

Pictures

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