THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, MARCH MADNESS IS LEADING TO A SURGE IN ONLINE GAMBLING WHILE SOME ARE HOPING TO WIN BIG.

CONCERN GROWS OVER THE IMPACT THE EASE OF ONLINE BETTING HAS ON GAMBLING ADDICTION.

AS THE STATE BUDGET REMAINS IN LIMBO.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SIGNED NEW LEGISLATION HE SAYS IS AIMED AT STRENGTHENING FLORIDA'S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY AND LEAVING BEHIND A MEMORABLE LEGACY.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE UNIQUE WAYS PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO REMEMBER THEIR LOVED ONES.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AS COLLEGE BASKETBALL CONTINUES TO SEE A SURGE IN RATINGS.

MARCH MADNESS IS ALSO DOMINATING ANOTHER AREA GAMBLING.

THE AMERICAN GAMING ASSOCIATION ESTIMATES AMERICANS WILL BET MORE THAN 3.3 BILLION DOLLARS ON THIS YEAR'S MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS.

THAT'S A 54% INCREASE OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS AS THE POPULARITY IS BETTING SORES.

SO DOES THE NUMBER OF CALLS TO FLORIDA'S GAMBLING ADDICTION.

HELPLINE.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE RISE IN ONLINE GAMBLING IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FLORIDA COUNCIL ON COMPULSIVE GAMBLING.

JENNIFER KRUSE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE TREND IN GAMBLING ADDICTION IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA?

>> SO DEFINITELY WITH THAT.

IT INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY, RIGHT?

SO IT'S THE PERCEPTION AND THE OVERALL NORMALIZATION THAT WE SEE OF GAMBLING IN SOCIETY.

THERE'S DEFINITELY AN INCREASE AND VULNERABILITY TO PROBLEM GAMBLING.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE MORE BUT THE MORE SOMEONE CAN ACCESS AN ACTIVITY AND THE MORE ACCEPTABLE IT IS, ESPECIALLY WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ONLINE APPS.

AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THAT THE IESE AND ACCESS TO MONEY TO CREDIT.

YOU'RE NOT QUALIFYING.

A LAW SAYS YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE MONEY.

LEAVE YOUR HANDS.

SO IT'S A LOT EASIER TO GET ADDICTED.

A LOT MORE QUICKLY.

>> WHAT ARE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CALLING IN FOR HELP?

HOW YOUNG ARE THE GAMBLERS THAT ARE ADDICTED AND HOW OLD ARE THEY?

>> SO WE'RE REALLY SEEING SIMILAR TRENDS TO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY HERE IN FLORIDA.

WE'RE SEEING MORE YOUNGER MEN, 97%.

WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR DATA FROM THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR, 97% WERE MALE AND 64% WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 30.

SO THAT'S HUGE.

I'M WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE ONLINE SPORTS BETTERS VERSUS PEOPLE WHO ARE HER CONTACTING THE HELPLINE AND HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OTHER TYPES OF GAMBLING.

THE DIFFERENCE IN AGE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 30, IT'S ONLY ABOUT 27% OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GAMBLING ON OTHER TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.

SO DEFINITELY A YOUNGER MALE WHITE.

THEY TEND TO BE IN A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE.

40 49% WERE WHITE AND THEIR STARTING GAMBLING MUCH EARLIER AND LIVES ALMOST A QUARTER.

SO 24% SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD STARTED BEFORE THE AGE OF 20 AND AND THEY'RE ALSO REPORTING THAT BEING INFLUENCED BY OTHERS TO GAMBLING IS WHAT'S WE KNOW REALLY THE PROPENSITY FOR THEM TO DEVELOP A PROBLEM WITH IT.

SO IT'S IT'S THAT PEER PRESSURE AND THAT SOCIAL, YOU KNOW, HEY, YOU KNOW, LET'S GO TO THE TO THE BAR.

LET'S WATCH THE GAME AND EVERYBODY'S BEDDING AND EVERYBODY'S DOING IT.

SO LET'S ALL DO IT.

>> HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE ADDICTED?

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ENJOYING IT.

YOU'RE HAVING FUN.

BUT WHAT ARE THE SIGNS WHEN IT'S TRULY BECOMING A PROBLEM?

>> YOU KNOW, AND WHAT WE TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE OPERATE THE 24 7.80, DIDN'T MINUTE PROBLEM, GAMBLING HELPLINE.

SO, YOU KNOW THAT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE IS HELP AND HOPE AND SUPPORTS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO DO DEVELOP A PROBLEM.

GAMBLING, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN WHEN IT'S NO LONGER FUN WHEN IT'S NEGATIVELY IMPACTING YOUR LIFE WHEN IT'S CAUSING PROBLEMS AND ANY AREA OF YOUR LIFE AND MAY BE TIME TO SEEK HELP.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ACQUITTED TO FINANCIAL IMPACTS AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS ARE DEFINITELY ONE ASPECT OF OF THE DISORDER AND OF OF PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP A PROBLEM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, CAN AFFECT YOUR LIFE AND OTHER WAYS TOO RELATIONSHIP PROBLEM.

WE'RE SEEING VERY HIGH INCREASE TRENDS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS THAT WORK AND SCHOOL NOW, YOU KNOW, RELATED TO THEIR GAMBLING.

SO AGAIN, THAT THAT FACTORS INTO THE ACCESSIBILITY FACTOR.

SO ANY TIME IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING YOUR LIFE?

NO, IT'S IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A FUN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY.

>> THAT IF SOMEONE IS A SHAME THAT THEY SAY, HEY, I I AM ADDICTED, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN GETTING HELP.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE ON HOW SOMEONE CAN SEEK HELP WHEN THEY THEY WANT TO DO IT DISCREETLY OR THEY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BE ANONYMOUS.

>> SURE.

SO ALL THE HELP THAT WE PROVIDE IS COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS MULTI-LINGUAL CONFIDENTIAL.

EVERYTHING STAYS BETWEEN US AND THAT PERSON WHO'S SEEKING HELP.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS THERE'S A LOT OF SHAME THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ADDICTION BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT QUITE THE SAME WAY THAT THEY DO SUBSTANCE ABUSE, RIGHT?

LIKE YOU SEE SOMEBODY THAT'S STRUGGLING WITH ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.

THEY HAVE VISIBLE SYMPTOMS.

YOU DON'T SEE, YOU KNOW, SLURRED SPEECH OR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO SMELL IN THE BREATH.

THERE'S NO TEST TO DETECT IT IN YOUR BLOOD.

BUT WITH A GAMBLING PROBLEM.

SO THERE IS THIS SENSE OF SHAME WHERE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ADDICTION AND DON'T DON'T GET IT.

THEY THINK IT'S BAD BEHAVIOR WEEK.

WELL, AND SO REALLY JUST LETTING PEOPLE KNOW IT'S NOT AT THE EFFECTS.

YOUR BRAIN, THE SAME WAY THAT A SUBSTANCE OR CHEMICAL DOES.

AND, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT THERE'S HELP OUT THERE WERE HERE TO HELP AND THAT HELP IS ACCESSIBLE.

24 7, LIKE I SAID, 88 AND THEN IT AND IT IS CONFIDENTIAL.

>> WHAT SHOULD BE DONE AS A COMMUNITY AS A STATE TO HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING ADDICTED TO SPORTS GAMBLING.

>> SO CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, CONSUMER PROTECTIONS INCREASE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS ARE ALWAYS IMPORTANT PROVIDING ACCESS TO PROBLEM.

GAMBLING SUPPORTS LIKE THE HELPLINE ON LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S HELP OUT THERE FOR THEM.

YOU KNOW THAT THAT DOESN'T COST ANYTHING AND THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT THAT THEY NEED HELP.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY OFFERING TOOLS SUCH AS YOU KNOW, LIMIT SETTING WHETHER THAT'S TIME OR MONEY LIMITS THAT CAN BE HELPFUL TO THE APPS.

AND JUST, YOU KNOW, AS A SOCIETY, KNOWING WHEN YOU INCREASE PARTICIPATION AND ACTIVITY THAT HAS A KNOWN ADDICTIVE COMPONENT TO IT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INCREASED POPULATION THAT'S GOING TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS AS A RESULT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT PROBLEM AND HOW TO SOLVE A THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> COMING UP, LAND CONSERVATION WAS AT THE CENTER OF A NEW BILL SIGNED BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS.

BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS IF THE BILL CAN DELIVER ON WHAT IT IS PROMISING.

STATE LAWMAKERS ENDED FLORIDA'S ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION NEARLY 2 WEEKS AGO WITHOUT PASSING A BUDGET AS THEY FIGURE OUT A DAY TO RECONVENE.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS IS BUSY SIGNING SOME OF THE BILLS THAT PASSED BOTH THE FLORIDA HOUSE AND SENATE.

FOR MORE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING LEGISLATIVELY, WHILE LAWMAKERS ARE EFFECTIVELY ON BREAK.

WE ARE JOINED BY WGC YOU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS.

JOHN, WITH LAWMAKERS NOT RETURNING TO TALLAHASSEE UNTIL SOMETIME IN APRIL.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH?

>> SO THIS IS GENERALLY VERY THE TIME OF YEAR, YOU KNOW, IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER OF ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE THE GOVERNOR CUMBER GOES AROUND THE STATE AND HOLDS THESE PRESS EVENTS, THE CEREMONIAL BILL SIGNINGS WHERE HE SIGNED 2 MEASURES INTO LAW THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED.

THE VERY FIRST ONE WAS LAST THURSDAY AND THIS WAS SIGNING A BILL INTO LAW THAT EFFECTIVELY STOPS THIS CRUISE SHIP PORT IN MANATEE COUNTY.

BASICALLY IT STOPS THE DREDGING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO ACCOMMODATE THE SIZE SHIPS OF THEIR PLAN TO COME INTO THAT PORT.

THIS IS A BIG WIN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE WHO HAD BUT CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM THAT DREDGING.

>> HAS THE GOVERNOR SIGNED ANY OTHER BILLS RECENTLY >> YEAH.

JUST ON MONDAY HE SIGNED A MAJOR FARM BILL PACKAGE INTO LAW.

AND THIS IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, THAT PROCESS SO FAR HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES.

THIS CORE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS TO SUPPORT THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY, WHICH IS WE KNOW IS INCREDIBLY VITAL HERE IN FLORIDA AND GENERATE 15280 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

IT SUPPORTS MORE THAN 2 MILLION JOBS.

ENVIRONMENTALLY WHERE THIS COMES.

WHAT'S CONCERNING, THOUGH, IS THAT IT WOULD ALLOW THE STATE TO DESIGNATE CONSERVATION LAND THAT THE STATE HAS PURCHASED AFTER 2023.

AS SURPLUS WHICH MEANS THAT IN SOME INSTANCES THEY CAN THEN SELL IT OFF TO AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS.

NOW, THIS WOULD NOT APPLY TO LIKE STATE FOREST OR THE STATE PARKS.

I THINK THERE'S EVEN A PROVISION THAT SPECIFICALLY YOU KNOW, LAMB FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN.

BUT JULIE RACE MET WITH AUDUBON, FLORIDA HAS SAID, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS FOR HOW THEY WOULD DETERMINE WHAT IS CONSIDERED SURPLUS HASN'T REALLY BEEN MADE CLEAR YET.

AND THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE FEDERATION SAYS THE SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT BECAUSE BASICALLY ANY LAMB THAT THE STATE PURCHASES AFTER 2023 OR PURCHASED AFTER 2023 FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES.

IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE CAPPED AS CONSERVATION LAND.

IT COULD BE SOLD AGRICULTURALLY.

THERE'S OTHER INTERESTING ASPECTS OF THIS BILL IS WILL AS WELL ONE IS THAT INCLUDES LIKE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

PREEMPTION.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE LIKE LANDSCAPING OPERATIONS TO USE ELECTRIC POWERED FARMING EQUIPMENT.

AND THIS.

THIS GOES TO, YOU KNOW, THINGS EVEN MY GAS-POWERED MOWERS OR BLOWERS AND THEY WANT THEM TO USE ELECTRIC.

AND SO THIS PREEMPT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND THERE'S ALSO AN INTERESTING PROVISION IN THERE THAT REDUCES SOME REGULATIONS AND RED TAPE AROUND AGRA TOURISM.

SO THIS IS LIKE ONE FARMERS MAKE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL REVENUE BY DOING FARM TOURS AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

YOU SAID THERE'S AN ASPECT OF THIS FARM BILL THAT ALSO >> RELATES TO DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESPEOPLE.

WHAT IS THAT RIGHT?

>> SO WE ALL HAVE THOSE PESKY DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESPEOPLE.

IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, YOU MIGHT EVEN HAVE LIKE A PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB OR NO SOLICITATION SIGN ON YOUR DOOR AND THEY COME KNOCKING ANYWAY.

SO THIS ACTUALLY PROVIDES LIKE A STATE LEVEL LAW TO PREVENT, YOU KNOW, DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESPEOPLE.

BUT IT'S VERY SPECIFIC LIKE THE LANGUAGE YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE ON YOUR SIGN AN ORDER FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE.

IT IS VERY SPECIFICALLY WRITTEN IN THE LAW LIKE NO COMMERCIAL SOLICITATION IS PERMITTED PERSON WENT TO BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BUT ACTUALLY WHAT?

HALF THE STATE STATUTE AND IT.

BUT I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE THIS ISN'T REALLY SOMETHING THAT FLORIDA HAS ENFORCED IN A UNIFORM WAY.

IT'S KIND OF DIP IN FORSMAN HAS SORT OF DEPENDED ON.

WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHAT THE LOCAL REGULATIONS ARE.

AND OFTEN EVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT HANDS HAVE BEEN TIED JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE WASN'T MUCH THEY CAN DO UNLESS THE PERSON HAD BEEN TOLD TO LEAVE THE PROPERTY AND WOULDN'T LEAVE.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.

AND I THINK IT'S VERY NOTEWORTHY.

YES.

>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT YOU ARE WATCHING THAT YOU BELIEVE WILL BE WILL BE SIGNED?

WELL, FIRST, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PART OF THIS FARM BILL.

>> IS CONCERNS ADDING EXPANDED LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR FARMERS AND GROWERS AND THE KIND OF GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO SUE FOR DISPARAGEMENT, LIKE DEFINITE DEFAMATION RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND PRACTICES AND CRITICS SAY THIS COULD REALLY CHILL FREE SPEECH.

I MEAN, BECAUSE THIS IS LIKE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS REPORTING ON, YOU KNOW, IMPACTS OF AND POLLUTION COMING FROM FARMS.

IT COULD EVEN IMPACT REPORTING LIKE WGC YOU HAS DONE ON SAY THE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF BIG SUGAR.

SO THAT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE FARM BILL THAT'S IN THE FARM BILL.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

JOHN DAVIS, THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE BY HEADING TO OUR WEB SITE.

>> WGC YOU DOT ORG.

>> FOR A LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING LOCALLY, WE ARE JOINED BY WGC YOU REPORTER JAN TO PARK.

WELCOME JAN.

2.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD TO BE HERE, JENNIFER.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT OF CELEBRATION GOING ON IN OUR AREA.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> SO CHARLIE COUNTY, THERE IS A GRAND OPENING OF 2 BUILDINGS, ONE FOR THE ELECTION SUPERVISORS AND THE OTHER ONE FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BOTH ARE HOLDING A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.

THURSDAY AT 1 O'CLOCK.

>> DRIVERS IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY ALSO HAVE SOME CHANGES THAT THEY NEED TO BE AWARE OF.

CORRECT.

>> CERTAINLY, MOTOR SHOULD BE CAREFUL WHEN THEY DRIVE THROUGH SCHOOL ZONES IN THE AREA STARTING NEXT WEDNESDAY.

SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN TESTS AND THIS WHAT HAS BEEN A WARNING PHASE IN WHICH MOTORISTS WERE WARNED THAT THEY'RE GOING OVER THE SPEED LIMIT.

BUT NOW STARTING ON WEDNESDAY, THEY WILL BE FINED $100 EACH TIME THEY GO 10 MILES PER HOUR ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT.

SO.

THE LESSON IS MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE SLOWING DOWN, SAYS THAT YOUR KIDS LEFT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAIR WARNING.

FAIR WARNING.

>> AND COLLIER COUNTY, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S QUITE A FEW PROJECTS.

>> THAT ARE ONGOING.

THAT COULD ALSO IMPACT DRIVERS IN THE COMMUTE IN THAT AREA.

>> YES, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING NEXT TUESDAY AND THAT WILL BE HOSTED BY THE COLLIER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.

THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE A NEW BRIDGE THAT IS GOING NEAR GOLDEN GATE ESTATES TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FRUITS.

SO RESIDENTS AS WELL AS BUSINESS OWNERS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO PROVIDE INPUT AND SPEC SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE TRANSPORTATION DESIGNERS.

AND THAT IS ALL HAPPENING ON MARCH 31ST FROM 05:00PM TO 07:00PM.

>> NEXT TUESDAY.

AND THEY REALLY ARE LOOKING FOR INPUT FROM RESIDENTS, WHICH IS GREAT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IS A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS THAT WILL INVOLVE A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS.

>> THERE ARE ALSO SOME IMPORTANT HAPPENINGS IN THE BUCKINGHAM AREA.

>> A BUCKINGHAM HAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW ROUNDABOUTS.

THE HAS BEEN CREATED ON BUCKINGHAM ROAD AND SUNSET ROAD MOTORISTS SHOULD STILL TAKE CARE AND DRIVING AROUND THE AREA BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION IS ONGOING.

ALSO, THE LEAD BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HAVE APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A AROUND 11 ACRES SOUTH OF BECKHAM.

AND THIS IS FOR THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION PURPOSES OF THE LAND.

STAND BY.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES AROUND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THAT ARE CELEBRATING SOME MILESTONES.

TELL ME ABOUT THEM.

YES, THESE ARE EXCITING MILESTONES SINCE THIS MORNING THERE WAS A CELEBRATION OF 100 YEARS OF MATLACHA AND WHICH THEY READ ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THERE WAS A RIBBON CUTTING PROCESS.

SO THE RIBBON CUTTING CELEBRATED THE RESTORATION OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER AS WELL AS PINE ISLAND BUILDING AND THE LITTLE PINE ISLAND BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

SO THIS HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE HURRICANE DAMAGE AND NOW THAT IT'S OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND ALL THIS WEEK, BONITA SPRINGS WILL BE CELEBRATE BONITA AT EVENT.

>> I ALSO WITH SOME ALL THE WAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

>> YES, THERE WILL BE LIGHTS LIVE MUSIC AS WELL AS ARTWORK PRODUCED BY THE LOCAL STUDENTS.

SO THAT'S WONDERFUL.

YES.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THE LATEST.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU MIGHT ASIA.

JENNIFER, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> AFTER THE BREAK, LEAVING BEHIND A UNIQUE LEGACY, HOW SOME PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO BE REMEMBERED AFTER THEY PASS AWAY.

THAT STORY NEXT.

FOR MANY PEOPLE, A LINGERING QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY'RE GONE?

FUNERAL HOME EXPERTS SAY A PERSON SHOULD START MAKING PLANS FOR THE FINAL STAGE OF LIFE IN THEIR 40'S WITH A DETAILED FINANCIALLY SOUND PLAN.

HOW PEOPLE CHOOSE TO BE REMEMBERED CAN SAY EVERYTHING ABOUT HOW THEY LIVED.

WGCUS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS REPORTER ELIZABETH ANDARGE INTRODUCES US TO 3 FAMILIES THAT CHOSE DIFFERENT PATHS OF HOW THEY WANT TO BE REMEMBERED.

>> AND WE JUST KEPT GOING OVER IT AND OVER IT REAL IS THE PAIN.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF STONE.

>> SHE TOLD HIM WHAT SHE WANTED BEFORE.

SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO SPEAK.

NO VAULT, NO CHEMICALS.

JUST THE EARTH.

>> SHE HAD IT ALL WRITTEN UP IN THE TRUST AND EVERYTHING ALL VERY DETAILED ABOUT HOW SHE WANTED.

YOU KNOW, ME AND LAUREN TO TO, YOU KNOW, DEVELOP THIS NATURAL BURIAL CEMETERY.

>> CHRIS ALONSOS MOTHER, KENNA HAD A DISEASE THAT SLOWLY TOOK EVERYTHING FROM HER.

HER MUSCLES, HER VOICE HER 30 YEARS OF WORKING.

THE LAND BESIDE, HER SON, WHO'S LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.

>> YOU KNOW, WANTED TO HAVE CLOSURE.

>> SO WE ENDED UP FINDING THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

SHE WAS FIRST ONE THAT WAS BURIED HERE ON THE PROPERTY WITH COWS AND AWE.

>> SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON BURIED AT HOPE.

ETERNAL GARDENS IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY, ALONG WITH CHRIS'S FATHER.

THAT WAS 5 YEARS AGO.

WHAT ALONSO AND HIS WIFE, LAUREN, ROBBIE, HAVE BUILT SINCE IS PART CEMETERY PART FORCED PARTS.

SOMETHING.

THERE'S STILL FINDING WORDS FOR.

>> I WASN'T A LITTLE GIRL BEING LIKE I CAN'T WAIT TO OPEN UP MY OWN CEMETERY.

I'M SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE LIKE THAT AND THAT'S GREAT.

BUT FOR ME, I WAS ALWAYS AN ARTIST AND A DESIGNER AND I HAD TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CONCEPT OF THIS PLACE AND BASICALLY BEING ABLE TO PLANT THESE FOR US AND TO HELP FAMILIES IN THIS WAY AND TO PLAN FOR OUR LONG TERM.

HAS BEEN SO FULFILLING AND POWERFUL.

AND I TRULY LIKE AS AN ARTIST AND DESIGNER, I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER.

LIFE'S WORK TO TO TO SPEND MY YEARS ON.

>> I HOPE ETERNAL.

THERE ARE NO CONCRETE VAULTS KNOW INVOLVING CASKETS ARE BIODEGRADABLE.

SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE A SIMPLE SHROUD, THEN NATIVE TREES ARE PLANTED OVER THE REMAINS.

CHRIS AND LAUREN SAY THE FOREST BELONGS TO EVERYONE WHO COMES AFTER?

>> YEAH, I THINK I'M STILL HEALING AND I'M STILL LIKE VERY SINCE OR THEM MOTION.

AND START GOING BACK IN THINKING OF THE TIMES THAT I WAS WITH OR BE THIS USES SHOULD BE PART OF A KNIFE.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS TO WITH ME.

>> MARTHA THAT ALI HAD A DIFFERENT IDEA ABOUT HER FINAL RESTING PLACE INSTEAD OF LAND.

SHE CHOSE THE WATER, HER FRIEND DEBI SEVERSON CALLED HER MASSEY MESSY, SPENT MORE THAN 3 DECADES AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

SHE MADE JEWELRY, TRAVELED THE COUNTRY, LOVE THE UNUSUAL SIDE OF LIFE.

>> AND SHE LOVED THE MYSTIC SIDE OF LIFE.

AND SHE LIKED TO HAVE A PURPOSE IN THIS WAS HER PURPOSE.

ONE OF THEM IS TO HELP RESTORE THE WILDLIFE UNDER THE SEA.

>> SO WHEN IT CAME TIME TO CHOOSE HER LAST LOCATION.

>> MESSI'S LIKE THE NOTION OF ETERNAL REEFS.

>> DOES THAT MEAN LIKE THE FISH EASE AND THE DOLPHINS AND TURTLES WILL COME AND SWIM AROUND ME.

AND I SAID IT DOES.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

BECAUSE I WANT TO BE CELEBRATED.

WHEN I DIE.

>> AND THESE ARE SO FAST.

>> AND THAT'S THE WAY SHE JUST LOOKED AT.

IT.

ONCE WE GOT THAT THROUGH ALL OF THAT, IT WAS A HUGE PIECE OF MIND FOR HER TO KNOW THAT IT WAS OKAY TO GO.

>> WELL, THE WHITE OUTSIDE.

>> ETERNAL REEFS MIXES CREMATED REMAINS INTO A CONCRETE REEF BULL THAT BOWL IS PLACED IN A PERMITTED AREA OFFSHORE OVERTIME.

MARINE LIFE MOVES IN AND IT BECOMES A CORAL REEF.

MARGI PLANTE SAYS THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNED GIVING FOR ETERNAL REEFS IN SARASOTA, AN OPTION THAT'S BEEN AVAILABLE FOR 20 YEARS AND THE REEF CAN BE PERSONALIZED.

>> YOU CAN TELL >> WHO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ON A REAL AT ALL.

>> YOU CAN TELL THIS GAP HERE IS SHE'S AN ARTIST.

THEY'RE GORGEOUS PIECES.

YOU CAN TELL THE ELECTRICIAN, YOU CAN TELL THE ENGINEER, YOU CAN TELL THE GULF GUY.

IT'S VERY, VERY INTERESTING.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST MEANINGFUL, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE REALLY WANT TO BRING TO THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE OFFER HERE AT THE TURNER ACE.

LET YOU GO.

>> INTO THE OCEAN AND THE HANDS OF THE MAKERS OF CORAL.

WE LET YOU GO.

WE LOVE YOU.

WE MISS YOU.

WE WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY.

GO SAFELY.

GO DANCING.

RUNNING HALL.

>> CREMATION IS A GROWING TREND FOR AMERICANS.

THE QUESTION ETERNAL REEFS HEARS MOST ISN'T HOW?

BUT WHERE?

>> WHAT BETTER SOLUTION BEING?

>> IF AS E U.

>> INSTEAD OF HAVING YOUR FAMILY HANGOUT HERE, CREMATED REMAINS AND NOW THE GENERATION TURNS.

AND NOW A SUDDEN YOU'VE GOT GREAT GRANDMA IS CRIMEANS.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH US?

THROW THEM AWAY.

YEAH, IT'S A SOLUTION FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

BUT IT IS STILL AND THE MEETING EXPERIENCE.

>> CHEYENNE RULER SON HAD BEEN CARRYING HER DOG'S ASHES FOR 6 YEARS.

IZZY WAS A BOSTON TERRIER, A GIFT FROM HER FATHER WHEN MUELLER SON WAS YOUNG IS HE WAS THERE WHEN SHE MET HER HUSBAND AND WHEN HER DAUGHTERS WERE BORN.

>> SHE WAS THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF MY LIFE I LOST IS THE 2 ARE OUT.

THINK BY SHE WAS PROTECTING MY DAUGHTERS WHO WERE VERY SMALL AND PLAYING IN THE BACKYARD TIME.

WHAT HAPPENED AND SHE WASN'T ABLE TO SAY.

>> ROLLER SUN FINALLY FOUND A PLACE WHERE SHE'D NEVER HAVE TO LET HIS EGO AT ARTISTIC SOUL TO 2 IN CHIEFLAND TATTOO ARTIST BRAND OF MILLER'S MIXES ASHES INTO THE TATTOO INK FOR THE CONCERNED ASHES ARE STERILIZED THROUGH THE CREMATION PROCESS.

THE YEARS HAS DONE THIS BEFORE.

>> IF I HAD KNOWN I WOULD BE A THERAPIST, BUT I BECAME A TATTOO ARTIST.

IT IS ADDS A WHOLE NEW ASPECT TO THIS PROFESSION.

IT'S UNIQUE BECAUSE THE YEAR PROCESSING YOUR MOTION THAT THE SAME TIME THAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING A LITTLE BIT OF PHYSICAL PAIN AND IT'S VERY CATHARTIC TO.

AND I HOPE I FEEL SHE KEPT MY FAMILY SAFE.

>> AND I'M ABLE TO LOOK AT HER KNOW THAT SHE DID WHAT SHE WAS MEANT TO DO WAS PROTECT.

>> HER LITTLE GIRLS.

>> THEY DIDN'T WANT THEIR LOVED ONCE TO DISAPPEAR.

SO ONE BECAME A FOREST.

ONE BECAME PART OF THE OCEAN.

ONE STAYED JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE.

ALL OF THEM TRYING TO ANSWER THE SAME QUESTION.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE PEOPLE?

WE CAN'T BEAR TO LOSE.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M ELIZABETH ANDARGE.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, GIVING YOUR CAREER A TECHNOLOGICAL BOOST AS AI GROWS IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES.

THE TIPS YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR JOB AND STAY COMPETITIVE IN THE WORKFORCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU.ORG, WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

PLUS, THOSE EXTENDED INTERVIEWS HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU RIGHT HERE NEXT TIME ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.