Tolls Lifted On Florida Highways

In preparation for the as yet unknown storm possibilities in Florida, officials are beginning to issue statements.

Following is a statement from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) as Florida prepares for Hurricane Irma:

“I’ve talked to Brock Long, the head of FEMA, he’s ready and is prepositioning people and supplies around the state. I’m talked to the commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Zukunft, and he is already prepositioning ships and aircraft to come in right after the storm hits. I’ve talked to Col. Kirk with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he’s ready and says Lake Okeechobee still has the capacity to hold another three feet of water before this hurricane would threaten the dike. I spoke to General Calhoun with the Florida National Guard. They are ready and prepositioned. And I’ve talked to the secretary of transportation, Elaine Chao, and asked her to urge the state to go ahead and lift the tolls on South Florida’s roadways, particularly I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike, to make it easier for folks who are starting to evacuate.”

And from the Governor's office:

Today, Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to suspend tolls across the entire State of Florida in preparation for Hurricane Irma at 5 p.m. Tuesday. By suspending all tolls, Floridians and visitors will more easily be able to prepare for any potential storm impacts, access important hurricane supplies, and quickly and safely evacuate when necessary.

Governor Scott said, “In preparation for the potential impacts of Hurricane Irma, I have directed the Florida Department of Transportation to suspend all tolls across the State of Florida to keep traffic flowing. They will be suspended for the duration of the storm’s impacts to Florida. Ensuring the safety of Florida families and visitors is our top priority and suspending tolls statewide will help people quickly evacuate and make it easier for all Floridians to access important hurricane supplies to ensure they are fully prepared. FDOT has been in constant contact with local districts and stands ready to provide traffic assistance alongside the Florida Highway Patrol and their law enforcement partners. We are continuing to closely monitor the developments of Hurricane Irma and will continue to take aggressive action to keep our state safe.”

Community Association Deed Restrictions Expire

30-Year Limit On Deed Restrictions Says Local Attorney

LABELLE, FL. -- A Port LaBelle homeowner's association has apparently lost jurisdiction to govern almost half the properties in the Laurel Oaks subdivision located east of LaBelle.

Attorney Angela Hill has been retained by the Laurel Oaks homeowner's association to reinstate it's declaration of covenants and restrictions which had expired many years ago for almost half of the 82 lots in the Hendry county subdivision.

Jack Zorn, a member of the community told board members by email on May 19th that "After thorough review of our POA covenants and bylaws, legal opinion is that we must initiate revitalization," and hired the attorney to handle the matter.

Florida law mandates that homeowner association documents and restrictions expire after 30 years unless they are timely renewed before that time limit. The Laurel Oak board of directors apparently failed to do this and the restrictions and covenants in the "deed restricted" 82-unit community expired in November 2002.

This has not been the first time the elected, but volunteer board of directors have not followed the non-profit corporation by-laws and community covenant rules; having to re-do several annual member meetings because of discrepancies in voting procedures, counting votes improperly, and the board illegally raising annual property owner dues over the last decade.. The board has been informed they have improperly added board members, and extended their terms of service from one year to three and failing to advertise board meeting times regularly to property owners.

Florida's Marketable Record Title Act says property owner deed restrictions expire 30 years after each buyer purchased a lot from the original developer. At Laurel Oaks it appears from county records that 38 lots, most all with houses built on them, were therefore exempted from deed restrictions during the period from 2002 to 2017.

The remaining lots will be exempt gradually over the next 15 years unless property owners vote to reinstate, or "revitalize" the expired covenants and deed restrictions. While the community deed restrictions may be non-enforceable for lot owners, all properties are still governed by Hendry county zoning and building codes and restrictions.

The Hike That Went To Sea

Excerpts From A Walk Across Florida by Bob Kranich
At last I came to Jewfish Creek. I crossed over the drawbridge. There was a gas station, restaurant, marina, and a large unfinished poured concrete hotel under construction at this island in the mangrove swamp….

I saw a man standing out front of the marina. He had on an all-white tropics outfit with a short sleeved sport shirt, dress pants, and one of those Panama wide brim hats. Looked like he had just stepped out of a movie. I asked him for suggestions for a place to camp since there were only private business areas and rocky fill amongst the mangroves. He suggested the top of the huge hotel being built. He was named Francis and had a French accent. He said that he was from Quebec and was running the marina….

I took a look at the huge concrete structure, thanked him and climbed up the 6 flights of stairs to the top. What a view! I was really thrilled by what I could see, a long string of lights stretching out towards the southwest along the Keys. That was my destination….my goal.

I had just finished eating supper when Francis called up, “Hey Bob, you wanna some wine and a hot shower? Come on down.”

What a gift, I didn't drink, but the hot shower was like heaven, a newfound luxury. It had been weeks since I had had a hot shower! Sure I sponged off every night and got in the water at times for a swim, but this was the best! What nice people I met.

The top of the unfinished hotel was nice, no mosquitoes and a cool breeze. I had to sleep on the concrete but it was worth it. I saw that the roof hadn’t been finished. It would be real easy to get up in the middle of the night, and being half asleep walk right off the top. I tied my hank of 3/16 thick 500 pound test, nylon rope to a bent reinforcing rod protruding out of the concrete and then around my waist. I was now tethered to the hotel. The moon was out and illuminating the top of the hotel. I could hear the traffic way down below, but up here it was like another world...and with a cool breeze. I crawled into my sleeping bag and drifted off to sleep….

It was early morning, and it seemed that I saw the sunrise from the top of the world. I ate some breakfast, packed up and went downstairs. As I walked by, the restaurant manager said,

“Hey, wait just a sec, I’ll get you a drink of ice water.”

He came back with a large drink cup filled to top with ice and cold water. I thanked him and in two miles, I was on Key Largo and heading down the Keys.

About the Author: After getting out of the Army Bob Kranich backpacked from the Georgia border to Key West in a 40 day adventure walk across Florida. His recently published book A Walk Across Florida is available from his website or Amazon.com

bobkranich.com

2018 Pioneer Family Nominations At Museum

LaBelle Heritage Museum will present a list of families who have lived and still live in the LaBelle community area a minimum of 50 years to the Swamp Cabbage Festival Committee at its October meeting for possible selection as 2018's Pioneer Family at the November meeting.  The museum has a list of eligible families, some who have lived in the area before the creation of Hendry County and others who just meet the 50 year requirement, who would embody the spirit of what constitutes a "Pioneer Family" but would also like suggestions of families deserving recognition for making LaBelle "special" from the community at large.  

While many of our Pioneer Families have included elected officials and successful business men -- and women -- this is not a necessary qualification.  The Pioneer Family could possibly be one that consistently overcame adversities that faced them, could be a family whose children consistently became contributing members of the community,  regarded by their peers over the years as being among those who make LaBelle what it is.

 

Your suggestion for Pioneer Family may be one the museum already plans to present to the Swamp Cabbage Festival Committee or may be one the museum has inadvertently overlooked. 

Whatever the situation, the volunteers at LaBelle Heritage Museum will help all in putting together the information the Swamp Cabbage Festival needs in making its decision come November. Call (863) 674-0034, email info@labelleheritagemuseum.org or drop by our temporary museum office in the 1905 Aiken-Rider House at 360 North Bridge Street to discuss your suggestions for the 2018 Swamp Cabbage Festival's LaBelle Area Pioneer Family.  If not Pioneer Family at the 52nd Annual Swamp Cabbage Festival in 2018, then there will be many more years to come in which your suggestion could be honored at Pioneer Family. 

Florida Traveler Free Wifi Along Interstates

As Floridians prepare for travel during Labor Day weekend, the Florida Department of Transportation and GEICO remind motorists to avoid driving distracted. Motorists can safely and conveniently use their phones and other mobile devices for calling, texting, navigating and accessing mobile apps at the 64 GEICO-sponsored Safe Phone Zone locations along the interstate highways and turnpike with free WiFi for up to 15 minutes.

FDOT Assistant Secretary for Engineering and Operations Brian Blanchard said, “We’ve seen a record number of travelers on Florida roads every major holiday weekend this year and we expect the trend to continue this Labor Day weekend. Our number one priority at the Florida Department of Transportation is safety, so we are proud to partner with GEICO in continuing to provide Safe Phone Zones throughout the state. We encourage all drivers and passengers to buckle up, follow traffic laws and to put the phone down and focus on the road.”

GEICO sponsorship of Rest Areas, Welcome Centers and Service Plazas as Safe Phone Zones began in 2015 and motorists are made aware of upcoming locations via highway signs in advance of each facility. FDOT and GEICO recently added more signage at ten of the busiest Welcome Center and Rest Area facilities, reminding motorists when they leave, "Don't Text and Drive," as they are exiting the Safe Phone Zone. GEICO provides similar support in six other states to promote stopping at Rest Areas to avoid texting while driving: Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Virginia.

“We're proud of our longstanding Safe Phone Zone partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, which has no doubt removed countless would-be distracted drivers from the state's highways,” said Shawn Burklin, GEICO senior vice president.  “Safe Phone Zones are an important part of promoting traffic safety because they give drivers a place out of harm's way to catch up on texts, emails and more."

Map of locations:
http://www.fdot.gov/maintenance/Rest_Area_App/restareainfo.shtm