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February 6, 2007 No. 18 Vol. 85 Today’s Program: Dr. Cynthia
Heil, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Dr. Cynthia Heil is a Senior Research Scientist and Red Tide Group
Leader at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish &
Wildlife Conservation Commission in St. Petersburg, Florida. There, she
oversees a staff of 25 people responsible for conducting research on and
monitoring red tide blooms in Florida. She received an MS degree from
the University of South Florida and a Ph.D from the University of Rhode
Island in 1996 for research on the nutrition of different types of red
tide. After a post-doctorate appointment at the University of
Queensland, Australia where she worked on new methods to assess water
quality, she returned to Florida to study red tide at the University of
South Florida (USF)’s College of Marine Science from 1998 to 2003. She
joined the staff of FWC in November 2003, and remains on faculty at
USF. While her research focuses on nutrients and water quality, her
research group at FWC studies topics ranging from red tide toxins to
taxonomy to new technology development to the potential impacts of
Everglades restoration on coastal algal blooms.
Please welcome scholar and scientist, Dr. Cynthia Heil.
Last Week at Kiwanis
Jim Smith, Pinellas County Property Appraiser
Kiwanian-of-the-day Tom Nelson introduced our speaker, Jim Smith, to
a large luncheon crowd. The meeting was especially well-attended because
Mr. Smith is Pinellas County’s Property Appraiser and Kiwanians had
questions and criticisms, which Mr. Smith handled with grace and
aplomb.
Jim Smith said that his office sends out a couple of mailings,
notably, the Truth of Millage Notice in August, a practice that began
when he was in the legislature, the notice to confirm one’s Homestead
Excemption and the New Property Values notice. Last year’s property
values went up 16%, this year’s increased by 20%. This is not an
arbitrary increase, but is based on the sales of the previous year. He
went on to explain that just because values go up does not mean taxes go
up; the market sets the value, but its spending that causes the
increase.
To those who criticize the upward trends in taxes, Smith suggested
they get involved in local politics. “People who don’t get involved in
government deserve the government they get.” He is critical of
legislators who read the paper, make phone calls, talk to interns and in
other ways absent themselves from the discussion of issues on the
floor. That never happens if citizens pack the room. We have to hold
our public officials accountable and that means making our voices, and
our grievances, heard.
Jim spoke to the current housing market, explaining how we got to
where we are and why prices seem to be going down now. They’re not
going down, said Smith, as much as they are returning to where the
prices ought to be. There may still be a reckoning coming, but he
reassured us that property is still a good investment if you can ride it
out for the long haul.
In answer to questions from the floor, Mr. Smith said he is against
term limits (you lose institutional memory), against the Save Our Homes
amendment because it isn’t doing what it’s supposed to do and opposed to
the Governor’s support of another homestead exemption. Were that to go
through, said Smith, “…our school system will go belly up and some towns
will also.” Smith defended the way his office is handling property
valuation and the subsequent increases and spoke about refinements in
assessing property values to come in the next year or so. Smith was a
good sport, offering facts and statistics to back up his explanations
and maintaining his good humor as the key representative of an office
that is always sure to draw some fire.
Guests and Visitors
Tom Nelson brought his neighbor, Arnold Lawner and David
Miles brought his new colleague Sirena Ionata. David Feaster
brought Steve Coppini, John Biesinger his lovely wife Nancy, from
the Tampa Kiwanis Club, and Stan Shaver brought Matt Smith and
Blake Thompson. Maryann Lynch introduced us to Adam Yore.
Finally, Ted Pinocci joined us from the Property Appraiser’s Office, a
guest of our speaker, Jim Smith. Welcome, all. Our programs are always
this good and the food and company’s not so bad, either.
What’s Happening?
Be Our Valentine
Treat your sweetheart to a special evening with fellow Kiwanian
couples at our All-American Valentine’s Social! Cynthia Mulligan
and Lorin Bridge have arranged a fun-filled evening for 20
couples and tickets are going fast. Start your night at a private wine
tasting with hors d’oeuvres, sponsored by Cynthia and Sherwood Financial
Group at 5:30 p.m. at American Spirits at 280 Third St. South. Then
enjoy Neil Simon’s Chapter Two across the street at American
Stage, directed by fellow Kiwanian Todd Olson. $35 per person or $60 per
couple, checks to be made out to St. Petersburg Kiwanis Club.
Special Volunteers Needed For Special Olympics
Please sign up as the sign-up sheet goes around to volunteer at the
Community Service Committee’s first event of the new year. The Special
Olympics will be held Saturday, March 3 at Lakewood High. Bob Piplitz
says volunteers will act as scorekeepers, timekeepers, cheerleaders,
distributors of goods, etc. Talk to Bob or any member of the Community
Service Committee for more information.
Great Chefs Needs Great Volunteers
Our Club plays a major role in a volunteer capacity at Great Chefs of
Tampa Bay, which takes place on Sunday March 18. The event is very
people-intensive and requires a large number of volunteers to fill a
variety of roles. Please let Ron or Kathy Condon,
co-Chairs, Committee on Young Children Priority One, know if you’d like
to help out. The proceeds from Great Chefs benefits the Family
Resources, Inc.
Cover Story: Dr. Ron O’Neal
Kudos to Dick Koch and Dr. Ron O’Neal for capturing the
cover of the Kiwanis International Florida District magazine! Dick
wrote the story about Project Save-A-Smile and the magazine featured Dr.
Ron on the cover along with shots of happy kids. We’re happy Dr. Ron’s
efforts received the recognition it deserves. Thanks, Dick, for helping
make that happen.
February Fast Fact
In Shakespeare’s time, the second month was called Feverell. In
Isaac Newton’s time, it had become Februeer. The modern name, February,
is only a little over 100 years old.
TODAY’S QUIZ:
- What is the connection between Red Tide and
tides?
- What insect will attack and eat hummingbirds?
- What is the world’s smallest independent
state?
- When did the first televised presidential
debate take place and between which two men?
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God, help us to remember that others don't always see the way we do,
hear what we hear, feel what we feel, or understand things the way we've
come to. We each have gifts uniquely ours but so often we fail to value
the gift in another. Give us the compassion you want us to have and
teach us to embrace each other with compassionate arms, no matter what
our age, color, creed, history, or belief. Help us to remember that we
are given our unique gifts to bring us closer and together once again
with you.
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
- George Washington, known
as the "Father of Our Country,” had no children of his own,
but adopted and helped raise his wife Martha’s
two children,
John Parke Custis and
Martha Parke Custis, affectionately called "Jackie" and "Patsy".
Later the Washingtons raised two of Mrs. Washington's grandchildren,
Eleanor Parke Custis and
George Washington Parke Custis.
- The greatest worldwide use of cowhide is
to hold cows together.
- In 1845, President Andrew Jackson’s parrot
was removed from his funeral for swearing.
- There are 100 tiles in a 'Scrabble'
crossword game.
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