News Digest
Energy Sign Protests: “Is the climate cost of digital billboards too high to justify?”
Photo: The Drum article by John McCarthy "Outdoor or out-of-home (OOH) ads are modernizing, ditching static paper and paste formats for ever-changing illuminating digital screens. Media owners are locked in an upgrade race, but with climate crisis anxiety heating up,...
Energy Sign Protests: “Billboards ‘hacked’ across Europe in protest against adverts for airlines and fossil fuel”
Photo: Brandalism "Environmental campaigners hijacked billboards across Europe in a protest against the advertising of air travel. Adverts promoting services and products that use fossil fuels should be banned in the same way that those for tobacco products are, the...
“Tampa tree service company fined more than $234K for cutting down protected trees”
Video: WTSP " City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said Miller & Sons LLC illegally cut down 28 protected trees in 2019. Tampa’s mayor is sending a strong message to anyone cutting down trees illegally in the city. Her message comes after a Tampa Bay area tree cutting...
Technology 5G Towers: “What Are Those Mysterious New Towers Looming Over New York’s Sidewalks?”
Photo: A new 5G tower on Mulberry Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown - Amir Hamja for The New York Times "As the city upgrades to 5G wireless, the streetscape is changing. Not everyone is impressed. A curiously futuristic tower recently appeared on the corner of Putnam...
“Targeted Billboard Ads Are a Privacy Nightmare”
Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images in Gizmodo "A new report details ways advertisers are taking lessons learned from mobile ads to create intimately targeted ads in the physical world. Advertisers are using insights gleaned from targeted digital advertising and...
Mobile Technology Powered by People: “Meet the Adidas Billboards That Could Probably Outrun You”
Photo: Adidas "Adidas’ most recent campaign (quite literally) has legs... To promote its specially-designed sweat-proof, ergonomic, wireless 'Fwd-02 Sport' earbuds for runners, developed by Zound Industries, M&C Saatchi Stockholm turned athletes from Stockholm Run...
Alert! Citizens petition to keep mega billboards out of city parks
Illustration via Change.org using original photo credit on Miami New Times - Richard Cavalleri Giant 1800 square foot billboards slated for parks and other government properties in Miami. Resident's start a petition drive and updated information...
Utility Storm Hardening – “FPL removes last 2 wooden transmission poles in Palm Beach County”
Video: WPTV " ...A historic moment for Palm Beach County on Wednesday. The last two wooden transmission poles in the county are now gone, a sign the county is more prepared for the next storm. 'Wonderful, that’s wonderful,' FPL customer John Winfree said... 'We...
Underground works! – “One Florida community built to weather hurricanes endured Ian with barely a scratch”
Photo: Carlos Osorio for NPR "Babcock Ranch, in Florida, runs on solar power and was built to weather the worst storms. After Hurricane Ian, the community didn't lose power or water, and it experienced minimal damage. Like many others in Southwest Florida, Mark...
Reinstalling Undergrounding Post Surge on Marco Island and Volunteering Experience – “Post Ian Cleanup Brings Unusual Items to Beach”
Photo: Coastal Breeze News "October 15th over 200 volunteers gathered on Residents’ Beach for the annual MICA sponsored beach cleanup. For many of the volunteers, this is the first time they’ve visited the beach post Hurricane Ian... Hurricane Ian altered many coastal...
“Florida to harden electric grid statewide in wake of Hurricane Ian”
Photo: News Service of Florida seen in clickorlando.com "Less than a week after Hurricane Ian knocked out power to large swaths of Florida, state regulators Tuesday approved utilities’ long-term plans to try to bolster the electric system. The state Public Service...
A Place: Florida National Scenic Trail Northern Terminus Gulf Islands National Seashore
Photo: NPS "The Florida National Scenic Trail , or just Florida Trail, is a federally-designated trail intended to offer a continuous non-motorized recreation opportunity showcasing the biodiversity, history, and culture of Florida. Its northern terminus lies here on...
SIGN really for airplanes and pedestrian safety? Controversial “art mural” in DeFuniak Springs
Photo: Flickr JR P as seen in Only in Your State Florida "DeFuniak Springs officials say they want the city to be a destination spot for tourists. One way of doing this is by promoting the arts. 'It’s been a bit of a collaborative effort between Main Street and the...
“Named The Most Beautiful Small Town In Florida, Take A Closer Look At DeFuniak Springs”
Photo: Only In Your State Florida "MSN Insider came out with a list of the best small towns in every state, and we’re happy to say that DeFuniak Springs was named the most beautiful spot in Florida. This panhandle gem is loaded with history, but also boasts a...
Scenic Manatee: “Palma Sola Causeway sign rules to be enforced”
Photo: Kristin Swain, Anna Maria Island Sun "As long as money doesn’t exchange hands, watercraft rentals and other businesses are allowed to operate on the Palma Sola Scenic Highway corridor. Anyone who’s traveled the Palma Sola Scenic Highway has seen the roadside...
“Best place to park? In the shade, of course!”
Photo: Scenic Jacksonville "We need many M????RE shade trees planted throughout Jacksonville, like this Southern Magnolia, to ensure cooler walking, dining, lounging, spectating, strolling, biking and yes, parking spaces." -- Scenic Jacksonville Visit Scenic...
“Meet the teenager who helped push Florida toward cleaner energy”
Photo: Robin Loznak, Our Children's Trust "For most of his 15 years, Levi Draheim led a beachy life on a barrier island on Florida's east coast, swimming, surfing and sailing in the nearshore waves. He dreamed of someday becoming a marine biologist. But Levi's world...
Save Money on Air Conditioning: “More trees, not cooling centers, are South Florida’s answer to increasingly hot summers”
Lack of Shade Photo: Kimberly Miller "Late July blistered with sandy skies and soupy air in South Florida as a slug of Saharan dust drained clouds of rain while moisture clung to the surface like hot gum on a shoe. The combination of a dry middle atmosphere blocking...
Energy savings: “Electronic Signs going dark in Germany and Spain” Is UK next?
Photo: AV Magazine "Switch off digital signs off at night to save energy. Government decrees that out-of-home advertising spaces, as well as display and LED signage in shop windows, are switched off from 10pm-6am to prevent an energy shortage from September. The...
Fewer “Zombie” eyesores and more affordable housing units made available during a major transformation of St. Petersburg’s codes process
St. Petersburg improves its housing stock by transforming vacant lots into affordable housing. Photo: Mark Wemple "By dealing aggressively with the owners of dilapidated homes and vacant lots, St. Petersburg has improved its housing stock — and is transforming some...