Gulf Coast Life

To mark the end of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative's 10 year mission the regional Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team, which is part of GoMRI, is hosting a free webinar this Friday, October 16 at 1:00 p.m. to break down the results, and the understanding that has been gained about the Gulf of Mexico thanks to all the research. We get a preview, and a bit of a history lesson about the spill, with Dr. Monica Wilson, Oil Spill Research Extension Specialist with the Florida Sea Grant College Program at UF/IFAS.

Back in 2017 a major rain event was followed just two weeks later by Hurricane Irma, dumping up to 30 inches of rain on some areas of Lee County. The subsequent flooding destroyed homes and put lives at risk, which prompted county commissioners to approve a three phase plan to mitigate flooding in the future.

This episode explores a true-crime anthology and a wonderful contemporary novel.

We learn about the Fort Myers nonprofit My Autism Connection, which as brought adults on the spectrum together since 2012. Its mission is to provide experiential opportunities for adults diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder to help them develop skills towards independence and building healthy relationships.

Since 1991 The Immokalee Foundation has been helping children and young adults to change the course of their lives through the support of mentors, donors and volunteers. We learn more about its programs, especially in the time of COVID-19, by talking with Melissa C. Phillips, Vice President of Philanthropy.

Immokalee has historically been undercounted during the decadal U.S. Census counts. In 2010 about 34% of residents participated, and with just weeks left to go that number is currently less than 25%. We learn about efforts to increase those numbers with two members of the League of Women Voters of Collier County's Complete Census Count Committee.

The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program is the longest-running study of a wild dolphin population anywhere in the world. Since 1970 more than 52,400 dolphin group sightings have yielded more than 158,000 identifications of more than 5,600 individually distinctive dolphins in and around Sarasota Bay.

We learn about a new podcast called Grieve Love Heal that’s being made by the people at Valerie’s House. The nonprofit’s sole focus is helping children grieve. The podcast covers topics like Losing a Loved one on Christmas, Back to School with Grief, and Going Through Grief as a Young Adult.

A recent article in The Atlantic titled “The Election That Could Break America” speculates that President Trump could “easily throw the election into chaos and subvert the result.” One subject it covers is how presidential electors are chosen after the votes have been tabulated. To get some clarity on this topic and how things could actually play out here in Florida we talk with Aubrey Jewett, associate professor of political science at University of Central Florida.

The 2020 General Election is just five weeks and one day away, and deadlines to register to vote and request a mail in ballot are approaching. We go over the deadlines, and get the basics on vote by mail, early voting, and voting in person on Election Day.