News Digest
“Lawmakers move to revive National Scenic Byways Program”
"Lawmakers move to revive National Scenic Byways Programis a voluntary, community-based program administered through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to recognize, protect, and promote America's scenic roadways got a major boost in Congress on February 6 as...
Commercial Litter in Public Spaces: “South Walton group wants ‘ghost chairs’ to vanish”
Photo: WJHG.com News 7 "Empty beach chairs won’t occupy large swaths of the prime Walton County coastline next tourist season if the South Walton Community Council has its way. The council, represented at Tuesday’s County Commission by John Reichenbach, wants to see...
Commercial Litter in Public Spaces: Dockless scooters and bicycles left on Florida’s streets and sidewalks
Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images in Forbes
Legal: “The Rise of Electric Scooter Regulations – U.S. cities grapple with the regulatory challenges posed by electric scooter sharing programs.”
Photo: The Regulatory Review "Cities across the country have been invaded by flocks of Birds. But these Birds do not have wings—they have wheels. Bird is the largest of several electric scooter share companies operating in cities worldwide. Scooter users download an...
“Standing Electric Scooters: Study Shows How You Can Get Injured”
Photo: Chesnot/Getty Images in Forbes "Love hurts. So can crashing while riding on a standing electric scooter. Or being hit by such a scooter. Or tripping over such a scooter. While many people seem to love cruising along on these scooters, a study just published in...
Breathing Mannequin Bus Shelter: “See the bus stop ad that’s creeping them out”
Video: Fox 35, Orlando "The very lifelike naked mannequin is an ad for Netflix’s “Altered Carbon” A squishy, gooey, breathing advertisement is drawing double-takes even in too-cool West Hollywood. On a Santa Monica Boulevard bus shelter, the plastic pouch containing a...
Happy New Year Florida!
Photo: DateNightGuide.com Read entire article
“44 Islands and 42 Bridges: A Florida Keys Road Trip”
Photo: Scott McIntyre, The New York Times "It’s only 113 miles from Key Largo to Key West, but take it slow and savor the subtropical, sometimes kitschy, flavor, of these fragile isles. Seagulls and squadrons of brown pelicans flew alongside my rented Hyundai as I...
“Madeira Beach to ban flutter signs”
"In what will likely be a major change to the city’s visual landscape, the commission has voted to prohibit flutter signs, so called because they flutter when blown by the wind... Community Development Director Linda Portal said the city has become very cluttered with...
“Florida billboards hacked with satanic Corgi and ‘naughty’ gorilla”
Photo: Markelle Maddock via WTSP Channel 10 News "The poor dog definitely isn't feeling the Christmas spirit. [The main character on one of the billboards] Corgi is hungry for some burgers and fries, but be warned in case you join him for dinner: 'Satan is the one...
“Smith, board differ on developer’s sign complaint”
Photo: Mike Wright, Citrus County Chronicle "County officials say a wall that separates the Stonegate development from Crystal Oaks [in Lacanto] is not permitted. County Commissioner Jimmie T. Smith went to bat for a Lecanto developer during Tuesday’s board meeting...
20 Holiday Towns in Florida to Visit
Photo: Coastal Living, Visit Sarasota "When it comes to celebrating the holidays, the North Pole has nothing on Florida, where Santa gets to wear swim trunks and his reindeer frolic in the sand. Here are some of jolliest holiday happenings in the Sunshine State."...
“Sign of the times: Billboards are an old but booming ad medium Innovations developed by online advertisers are working for billboards”
Photo: Economist/Getty "..Most forms of conventional advertising—print, radio and broadcast television—have been losing ground to online ads for years; only billboards, dating back to the 1800s, and tv ads are holding their own (see chart). Such out-of-home (ooh)...
Celebrating 50 years in community: Jacksonville’s Murray Hill Library is renamed in Honor of Bill Brinton
Photo: Leah Powell "Practically on the eve of its 50th anniversary, the Murray Hill Library will be renamed the Bill Brinton Murray Hill Branch Library in honor of the late William Brinton, an Avondale attorney who spearheaded an effort in 2014 to create an...
New Alachua County Ordinance Gives Citizens Right To Throw Away Signs Left On Public Property
Photo: Marianna Faiello/WUFT News "Signs in colors ranging from the patriotic red, white and blue to eye-catching yellows, oranges, greens and more. You can’t avoid seeing them this time of year, especially with an election on Tuesday. 'It’s ugly,' said Alachua County...
Walkable Cities: Pensacola:”Maritime Park development plan to utilize world-renowned consultants”
Photo: Jim Little, Pensacola News Journal "Urban planning expert Jeff Speck told the Pensacola City Council on Thursday that creating and executing the right master plan for Community Maritime Park could 'turn the corner' on the revitalization of downtown Pensacola....
“St. Pete eyes digital kiosks. Some think they’ll be an eyesore.”
Photo: City of St Petersburg "Mayor Rick Kriseman wants to bring digital information kiosks to downtown. But some business owners and council members aren't sure those digital displays fit the city's vibe... The touch-screen kiosks are a hybrid of a mall directory and...
Happy Birthday Marion Hilliard!
Photo: Bill Jonson, Marion Hilliard and John Crescimbeni Marion Hilliard celebrated her 90th birthday this October at the Orange Park Women's Club amid family, friends and Scenic Florida members. A tireless activist and leader, Marion has held many local, state and...
“Legislative Update: National Scenic Byways Foundation”
Photo: Florida Scenic Byways via National Scenic Byway Foundation "The U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee September 27 unanimously approved H.R.5158 – which directs the Secretary of Transportation to reopen the nomination process...
Placemaking: “Pensacola Foo Foo Festival celebrates five years of success; still working on unique name”
Photo: Pensacola News Journal "From umbrellas floating in the sky to colorful murals covering what once was a drab parking garage to art installations to interactive displays, the 12-day compendium of events known as the Foo Foo Festival has made its mark upon...