THIS IS SOUTH WEST, FLORIDA, AND FOCUS COMING UP, GIVING SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A CHANCE TO RECLAIM THEIR LIVES.

THE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES OF PHYSICAL PATH TO RESTORING THE BODY.

AND THE MIND WAS A SENSE OF EMPOWERMENT.

THE FUTURE OF FLORIDA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM MAY COME DOWN TO THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

WE'RE TALKING TO THE POTENTIAL FIRST LADY OF FLORIDA.

ERICA, DONNELL'S ABOUT THE STATE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WE'RE DIGGING UP HISTORY AS PART OF NATIONAL FOSSIL DAY.

WE'RE GIVING YOU A LOOK AT THE CREATURES THAT CALLED PREHISTORIC FLORIDA HOME.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

I'M MIKE WALCHER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE, MORE THAN 12 MILLION WOMEN AND MEN ARE VICTIMS OF ABUSE EACH YEAR THAT AVERAGES OUT TO ROUGHLY 24 PEOPLE EVERY MINUTE IN THIS COUNTRY AS PART OF THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN TO BRING AWARENESS TO HONOR SURVIVORS AND THE MORE VICTIMS OF VARIETY OF PROGRAMS ARE BEING OFFERED TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED AND WGCUS KATE CRONIN HAS MORE.

>> FOR MORE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, I'M JOINED BY SARAH.

LET'S SHOP A TRAUMA THERAPIST AND FOUNDER IS HEALING LOUDLY.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK WITH ME TO THIS ERA.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

NOW I WANT TO START WITH YOUR UPCOMING EVENT.

OCTOBER 18TH, YOU CALL IT RECLAIM YOUR POWER AND IT'S A COURSE ON SELF-DEFENSE.

EDUCATION.

KEY, TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS SUNDAY.

>> SO THIS SUNDAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SELF-DEFENSE CLASS AND TRAUMA INFORMED YOGA SESSION AT BACKYARD.

SOCIAL AT 09:00AM.

AND IT WILL BE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

WHERE HALF THE PROCEEDS ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO PROJECT HELP.

>> MUSIC, HOW DOES YOUR TIME AS A TRAUMA THERAPIST INFORMED YOUR WORK IN SELF-DEFENSE?

EDUCATION?

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

LIKE I STARTED TO NG SELF-DEFENSE.

ACTUALLY, BEFORE I BECAME A TRAUMA THERAPIST.

BUT IT DEFINITELY HELPS EMPOWER MYSELF AND EMPOWER OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD ANY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES SAYING.

>> NOW I KNOW THIS A PRACTICE.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE WHAT WE NORMALLY THINK WHEN WE THINK THERAPY IS THE HIGHEST TAKING YOUR WORK OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICE, HELP THESE WOMEN, THE SURVIVORS REALLY FEEL EMPOWERED.

>> SO TRAUMA IS NOT ONLY STORED IN YOUR BRAIN BUT ALSO STORED IN YOUR BODY.

SO BY DOING SELF DEFENSE THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE FEEL THE POWER WITH IN THEIR BODY.

AND SO JUST THINKING THROUGH THINGS.

SO THE TRAUMA CAN BE PROCESSED THE MEDICALLY AS WELL.

AND AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUST TO IT BY THINKING YOU CAN TO IT IN OTHER WAYS, TOO.

>> DO YOU SEE ANY CHANGES IN PARTICIPANTS BEFORE THEY TAKE YOUR COURSE FOR SAYS AFTER?

>> WHEN I'VE DONE THIS IN THE PAST, THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I'M HOSTING THIS ON.

PEOPLE DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE AND LIKE INVIGORATED AFTERWARDS.

THEY I HAVE LOTS OF ENERGY.

YOU CAN SEE THEM LIKE WITH LIKE SMILES ON THEIR FACES.

AFTER THAT, THEY LEAVE AND AND THAT THEY JUST FEEL MORE CAPABLE WITHIN THEMSELVES.

>> CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT HOW HAVING THIS EXPERIENCE LEARNING TO DEFEND YOURSELF CAN MAKE SURVIVORS FEEL MORE EMPOWERED?

WHAT IS IT REALLY GIVING THEM WHEN THEY GO TO HIS CLASSES?

>> SO WHEN SOMEONE EXPERIENCES ON INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP ABUSE >> THE FEEL LIKE THE FLOSS CONTROL FOR OWN BODIES.

>> AND SO THROUGH SELF-DEFENSE, IT CAN HELP THEM RECLAIM THAT POWER WITHIN THEMSELVES TO REMIND THEM THAT THEY ARE BACK IN CONTROL AND BACK AND BEING CAPABLE OF THERE.

OF LIKE RECLAIMING THAT POWER AND THEIR BODIES.

SO IT'S LIKE HELPS THEM LIKE BUILD CONFIDENCE.

BACK UP >> NOW, OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS TIME OF YEAR FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR TEAM?

>> SO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS DEFINITELY A BIG TOPIC THAT WE FOCUSED ON.

AND IN OUR TREATMENT ROOMS.

SO THAT LIKE GARZA, STICK ABUSE, ASSAULT ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL ABUSE AND THE RELATIONSHIPS IS OUR MAIN FOCUS AND OUR PRACTICE.

AND AND I WORKED WITH PROJECT HELP FOR 6 YEARS.

AND THEN EVEN BEFORE THAT, I STARTED VOLUNTEERING ONE ELSE.

5TH TEEN.

SO I'VE BEEN IN THIS FIELD FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.

AND THAT'S JUST A VERY DEEP PASSION OF MINE.

>> BEFORE AND THEN IF ANYBODY WANTS TO ATTEND THIS IN SESSION ON SUNDAY, HOW WOULD YOU HOW WOULD THEY GET IN TOUCH?

>> AND THEY CAN GET IN TOUCH THROUGH MY EMAIL OR THROUGH MY WEB SITE.

MY TICKETS ARE ON MY WEB SITE ON UNDER THERAPEUTIC WORKSHOPS.

>> PETA, FOLLOW.

SARAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO TALK WITH US TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> COMING UP, A POTENTIAL PREVIEW OF OUR STATE'S EDUCATIONAL FUTURE.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK WITH ERICA DONNELL'S AS THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS DRAW CLOSER.

ONE OF THE TOPICS AT THE CENTER OF FLORIDA'S RACE FOR GOVERNOR IS THE FUTURE OF THE STATE'S SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

NOW, THE SYSTEM HAS ALLOWED STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THEIR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL TO USE PUBLIC EDUCATION, MONEY AND RESOURCES FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THAT INCLUDES CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WGCUS DAYNA HARPSTER SA DOWN WITH ERICA DONALDS.

SHE'S AN ADVOCATE OF SCHOOL CHOICE.

FOUNDER OF THE EDUCATION FREEDOM FOUNDATION AND ONE FO FLORIDA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE MYRON DONALDS.

WE'RE GOING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS.

IF SHE BECOMES THE FIRST LADY OF FLORIDA.

>> HOW DO YOU ENVISION YOUR ALL IF IT HAPPENS AS FIRST LADY OF FLORIDA?

>> I WOULD SEE A CONTINUATION OF A LOT OF THE CAUSES THAT I'VE BEEN CHAMPIONING HERE IN THE STATE FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.

I REALLY STUDIED THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION, FREEDOM, EDUCATION, ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ACADEMIC OUTCOMES HERE IN THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND I WOULD DO THAT, I THINK FROM A LARGER PLATFORM.

IF I'M BLESSED TO BE THE FIRST LADY OF FLORIDA CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED EDUCATION OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

JUST LIKE I DID WHEN OUR CHILDREN WERE YOUNG, I NEEDED SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEM.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY SINGLE FAMILY HAS ACCESS TO THOSE OPTIONS.

THE MAJORITY OF YOUR WORK SINCE LEAVING THE FINANCIAL SECTOR HAS BEEN IN SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCACY.

>> A SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS ACTUALLY IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES.

AND WHAT'S THE STRONGEST EVIDENCE OF THAT?

>> WELL, THEY ARE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL MANY STUDIES DON'T EVEN SAY SEVERAL.

THERE'S AND NEARLY 100 STUDIES AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE SHOW POSITIVE EFFECTS.

THE STUDY, ANYTHING FROM SCHOOL SAFETY, A LOWER RATES OF DISCIPLINE ISSUES TO HIGHER PERFORMANCE.

EVEN HERE IN FLORIDA, OUR OWN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE PAST.

25 YEARS HAS COMPARED CHARTER SCHOOL ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE TO THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND IN NEARLY EVERY SUBJECT, EVERY GREED, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE OUTPERFORMED THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING WITH THE MOST DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AND CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP.

ASIDE FROM THAT, THOUGH, THE EVIDENCE IS THAT PARENTS WANT THESE OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE THAT PARENTS KNOW BEST, WHAT THEIR CHILDREN NEED, THE FACT THAT A HALF A MILLION STUDENTS ARE ALREADY USING A UNIVERSAL PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM.

ANOTHER HALF A MILLION IN SCHOOLS OF CHOICE, WHETHER THOSE BE CHARTER SCHOOLS, AUREUS OR SCHOOLS WITHIN THE DISTRICT SYSTEM I THINK WE'RE SEEING THE EVIDENCE THAT PARENTS WANT THE DIVERSITY OF OPTIONS, THEIR EDUCATION SYSTEM SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY SAY IT'S SO.

>> YOU CUT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, WASTEPRO BUREAUCRATIC AND MONOPOLISTIC.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD YOU CHANGE FIRST ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION?

>> THE NUMBER ONE THING I THINK WE CAN CHANGE TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO BE MORE STUDENT-CENTERED AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO PARENTS IS TO ALLOW FOR FREE MARKET COMPETITION IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR MAKING PARENTS THE ONES WHO ARE CONSUMERS OF EDUCATION, THE ONES WHO ARE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND DECIDING HOW THE FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR CHILD ARE GOING TO BE SPENT, WHETHER THAT IS TOWARDS THE NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL, A CHARTER SCHOOL, A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR SOME CUSTOMIZED OPTION COULD BE A COMBINATION OF HOME SCHOOLING OR HYBRID SCHOOLING.

THE FACT THAT THE PARENTS ARE THE ONES TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT DECISION.

AND THEN LIVING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT DECISION.

I THINK CHANGES THE CULTURE OF PUBLICLY FUNDED EDUCATION IN OUR STATE AND IN OUR COUNTRY.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE ALL SCHOOLS MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS.

>> YOU FILLED ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES AROUND THE CHARTER SCHOOL SECTOR AND AT TIMES BEEN CRITICIZED FOR MIXING ADVOCACY AND FINANCIAL INTEREST IN SCHOOL, SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS FUNNELING PUBLIC MONEY INTO UP TO MADDEN, UP TO MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THOSE CRITICISMS?

>> I WONDER IF ANYONE WOULD CHARACTERIZE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS FUNNELING MONEY INTO SCHOOL.

PUBLISHING COMPANIES LIKE PEARSON WEBSTER.

WE DON'T USE THOSE TYPES OF TERMS WHEN IT COMES TO ANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAT MAY BE CONSUMED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THE OPPOSITION ONLY USES THOSE TERMS WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOLS OF CHOICE AND OPTIONS THAT FAMILIES CAN USE TO OPT OUT OF THE MONOPOLISTIC SYSTEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS.

SO I REJECT THAT CHARACTERIZATION.

I AM A PROFESSIONAL AND I'VE STARTED SEVERAL BUSINESSES, ALL OF WHICH OUR FULLY AUDITED FULLY COMPLIANT AND WE'RE PROVIDING A VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE SCHOOLS TO HELP THEM GET STARTED, TO BUILD THEIR BUILDINGS, TO SECURE FINANCING, TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTING, HR.

AND IT SERVICES EVERY SCHOOL AND EVERY BUSINESS IN THE COUNTRY HAS TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES AND PAY MARKET RATES.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR BEING A PROFESSIONAL BEING A BUSINESS OWNER IN PROVIDING VALUABLE SERVICES THAT ALLOW FAMILIES TO HAVE THE HIGH-QUALITY OPTIONS THAT THEY DESERVE.

>> ANOTHER THING THAT STRONG CRITICISM NATIONALLY WAS IS PEOPLE CITING INCONSISTENT ACADEMIC RESULTS AND FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY ISSUES HOUSED IN STATES REGULATE CHARTERS WITHOUT UNDERCUTTING THEIR FLEXIBILITY.

>> I THINK ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR BOTH FINANCIAL AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.

AND IT DOES START WITH WHAT PARENTS WANT.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT ACCOUNTABILITY TAKE PLACE EVEN HERE IN FLORIDA AS MANY SCHOOLS THAT PARENTS HAVE OPTED OUT OF INCLUDING DISTRICT SCHOOLS.

NOW ARE BEING FORCED TO CLOSE BECAUSE PARENTS ARE CHOOSING A DIFFERENT OPTION.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

WHETHER A CHARTER SCHOOL, A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR A PUBLIC SCHOOL WHEN PARENTS SAY YOU'RE NOT DOING THE JOB EITHER BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE, YOU'RE NOT ENFORCING DISCIPLINE WELL ENOUGH OR YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THOSE ARE THE SCHOOLS THAT SHOULD NO LONGER EXIST.

THOSE FAMILY SHOULD HAVE OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE SEE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND IN THE CHARTER SECTOR.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

THE ONLY WAY THAT THOSE SCHOOL SURVIVE IS IT PARENTS CONTINUE TO CHOOSE THOSE SCHOOLS.

THE ONLY WAY PARENTS CHOOSE THEM IS IF THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE WORKING WELL FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

AS LONG AS YOU MAKE SURE PARENTS HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

I BELIEVE IN ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH TRANSPARENCY AND ALLOWING PARENTS TO VOTE WITH THEIR FEET.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE YOU MENTIONED THE ENROLLMENT ERS DECLINING AND SCHOOLS CLOSING.

WHAT ABOUT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO DO NOT GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL?

WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM?

>> MY HOPE IS THAT THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO SERVE THOSE STUDENTS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING MORE FUNDING ON A PER-STUDENT BASIS.

THE MORE STUDENTS THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCHOOL CHOICE BECAUSE OF THE WEAR.

FUNDING FORMULA WORKS.

THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS THAT REMAIN IN THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND I HOPE THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH THOSE DOLLARS AND FOCUS ON GETTING RESULTS FOR THE STUDENTS THAT REMAIN IN THEIR CARE, PARTNERING WITH THOSE PARENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING DOES ALIGN WITH WHAT PARENTS ARE LOOKING FOR SO THAT THEY CAN RETAIN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR TEACHING THOSE STUDENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS CREATE MORE DIVERSE OPTIONS, INCLUDING MAGNET SCHOOLS AND OTHER SPECIAL PROGRAMS THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO COMPETE WITH SCHOOLS OF CHOICE AND PROVIDE PARENTS EVEN MORE OPTIONS.

>> AS DONALD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND FOR MORE ON SCHOOL VOUCHERS, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND OTHER STORIES IMPACTING EDUCATION.

MAKE SURE TO VISIT WGCU DOT ORG.

WELL, TODAY MARKS NATIONAL FOSSIL DAY.

YES, A WORLDWIDE CELEBRATION OF PALEONTOLOGY AND THE PRESERVATION OF THESE VALUABLE RESOURCES FOSSILS SHARE A UNIQUE LOOK AT PREHISTORIC SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IT'S A WORLD BEFORE PEOPLE SETTLED IN THE AREA.

WGCUS JENNIFER CRAWFORD LEARN HOW BANKS SHOULD ARTIFACTS ARE ALL PART OF THE EXPERIENCE AT THE IMAC.

>> WITH MORE, I'M NOW JOINED BY CAROL MORE IN AN EDUCATOR, AN EXPERT ON FOSSILS WITH THE I'M MEG HISTORY AND SCIENCE CENTER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FORT MYERS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN OUR STUDIO TODAY.

THANK YOU.

NOW, WHEN A LOT OF US WHEN WE THINK OF FOSSILS, WE IMMEDIATELY THINK OF DINOSAURS HATS, THERE ARE MANY OTHER KINDS OF FOSSILS ARE OUT AND MANY FOUND RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE VARIETIES OF FOSSILS?

>> YES.

>> THE PICTURES HERE ARE SOME FROM I MAKE.

AND THESE ARE PHONE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

NOW WE WERE ACTUALLY UNDER WATER DURING THE ICE AGE AND AS THE WATER WAS RECEDING, ARISING, DOT THESE ANIMALS.

LIBERATED IN THE AREA A LOT MORE.

SO THESE FOSSILS ARE DIRECTLY FROM OUR AREA.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE PEACE RIVER, YOU'LL NOT ONLY FIND IT PARTS OF THESE ANIMALS HERE, BUT ALSO.

MEGALODON TEETH AND LOTS OF OTHER SURE CASE.

>> CAN YOU TELL US WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

SHIRT?

>> THIS IS A GIANT GROUND.

SLOTHS.

THEY ARE EXTINCT.

IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT JUST BUT ACTUALLY HE WAS A GENTLE PLANT EATER.

SO THEY GREW UP AROUND 50 FEET TALL.

SEYBERT WHOSE CAT?

AND I DID FIND OUT RECENTLY SOME OF THE SPECIES OF DIFFERENT CATS AND ANIMALS HEAD SABER TEASE.

THOSE LONG TEETH WERE BECAUSE THE PREY THEY WERE HUNTING.

THIS IS COOLER TIMES HAD THICKER FOR.

AND THICKER SKIN.

THEY HAD TO BITE THROUGH IT.

WHEN THEY WERE EATING.

AND BACK HERE, WE DID A MAMMOTH AND MASTODONS IN OUR AREA.

SO BUT I BELIEVE THIS ONE IS A MAMMOTH AND IT HAS HUGE TUSKS.

SO THERE ARE REMAINS, AS I SAID OF ALL OF THESE ANIMALS IN OUR AREA.

>> WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR US TO LEARN ABOUT FOSSILS FOSSILS?

TEACH US A LOT.

>> THEY TEACH US ABOUT THE PAST.

NOT ONLY ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT ANIMAL SPECIES, BUT HOUSING ADAPTED TO THEIR ENVIRONMENTS.

AND IF THEY COULDN'T ADAPT WITH A LOT OF CHANGING WEATHER AND WATER AND FOOD, THEY WOULD EAT, THEY WOULD DIE OUT.

SO THAT TEACHES US THAT.

PLUS WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE LIKE BACK THEN THE CLIMATE AND WE NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLIMATE TOO.

HELP US FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON NOW TO.

SO IT DOES TEACH US A LOT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR PLANET AND IT'S VERY INSPIRATIONAL FOR CHILDREN, TOO.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE FOSSILS FORM?

>> OH, THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

THEY FORM IN MANY WAYS.

SOMETIMES THERE'S ACTUAL EVIDENCE OF AN ANIMAL BONES, TEETH AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEY WILL FALL DOWN, OF COURSE, WHERE THEY DIED AND THAT CAN BE.

ON LAND OR IN THE WATER AND DIFFERENT THINGS, COVER THEM.

ALSO, THERE'S TRACE EVIDENCE LIKE FOOTPRINT.

AND THERE'S DIFFERENT REMAINS.

NOW.

SOMETIMES THERE'S.

THINGS FOUND IN LIKE A BOG WHERE THEY'RE SOLD.

THAT CUTS OFF OXYGEN AND PREVENTS DECAY SOMETIMES OR SOFT TISSUE FOUND IN SOME OF THOSE REMAINS.

AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE DISCOVERED, HOW IS IT BEST TO PRESERVE THEM?

THAT IS SOMETHING.

IF YOU DO FIND SOMETHING YOU SHOULD.

IF IT'S SMALL, YOU CAN PROBABLY KEEP.

BUT THERE'S MANY WAYS TO PRESERVE AND THEY HAVE TO CAREFULLY TAKE THINGS OUT OF A DIG.

SOMETIMES A RAPID IN PLASTER GET BACK TO, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN PLACE THEY LIKE A MUSEUM OR SOMETHING.

AND THEY CAREFULLY REMOVE EXTRA DEBRIS AROUND, BUT THEY'RE VERY FRAGILE.

OF COURSE.

STILL THERE.

THE THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE ITEMS ARE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE FUN TO DO AS A GEOLOGY STUDENT, PALEONTOLOGY STUDENT GOING DAY FIND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> NOW SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN FINDING FOSSILS AND LOOKING FOR THESE WONDERFUL THINGS IN A IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WHERE SHOULD THEY GO?

I KNOW YOU SAID PEACE RIVER.

GET GREAT PLACE TO LOOK FOR SHARK TEETH.

>> I WOULD SAY MAYBE EVEN COME TO I MAY CAN SEE SOME OF THESE SPACES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE ACTUALLY IN OUR FLORIDA AREA.

BUT STUDY A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF TIME.

IF YOU GO TO THE PEACE RIVER, THEY HAVE A NICE WEBSITE AND IT TELLS A LOT ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN FIND THERE.

AND THERE'S ALSO SPECIAL PERMITS DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND IN WHAT YOU CAN TAKE WITH YOU.

SO IT DOES WALKING SHOES IT ON THEIR WEBSITE, TOO.

>> AND THEN HOW DO YOU USE THESE FOSSILS TO TEACH VISITORS AT THE MUSEUM?

>> I USE THESE AN EDUCATION.

>> SO WE LIKE TO INSPIRE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN.

>> THINGS ABOUT I MIK, WE LIKE TO INSPIRE EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SO EVEN THE SMALLEST CHILD CAN COME BY AND LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND WONDER AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IT.

BUT WE DO ALSO HAVE WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES THAT WE CAN GO INTO MORE DETAIL AND THEY CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT FOSSILS AND MAKE SOME LITTLE REPLICAS OF SOME THINGS ON THEIR OWN.

>> ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL FOSSILS ON DISPLAY THAT ATTRACT MORE ATTENTION ARE MORE POPULAR?

>> I THINK OF COURSE, OUR BIGGEST ONE WOULD BE THE GROUND SLOUGH TO.

BUT I THINK ALL OF THEM, I SEE PEOPLE LOOKING AT ALL OF THEM.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT INSPIRES THEM.

WE DO HAVE UNDER THE GROUND SLOTHS OUT WITH THE CAN SEE IT.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER AND THE NIGHT NOW THIS ONE WAS DONATED TO US.

IT'S A GOOD SIZE.

AND EMMA KNIGHTS, ALONG WITH THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.

AND THIS PIECE.

THOSE WE'RE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND IF YOU FIND THEM NOW THEY'RE GONNA DATE THE ROCK LAYER THERE IN BECAUSE THEY WERE SO MUCH IN SO MANY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.

ALSO THIS LARGER ONE HERE WAS FOUND IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES UP IN THE MOUNTAIN TOPS.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE GET INTO PLATE TECTONICS.

BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH US TODAY.

PROBABLY ME TO MISS MORE.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

THE BREAK.

>> GIVING A BOOST TO THE DINING SEASON.

WE'LL LEARN THE RESULTS FROM THE ANNUAL SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S A MAJOR TOURIST DESTINATION WITH PRISTINE BEACHES AND ATTRACTIONS BRINGING IN VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE AND TO HELP BOLSTER THAT EFFORT.

THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS VITAL TO THE AREAS ECONOMIC HEALTH.

HOWEVER, THE END OF SUMMER CAN MEAN SOME SLOW BUSINESS FOR THE DINING INDUSTRY AND TO ALLEVIATE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES, SOCIAL BINDING PARTNERED WITH RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE REGION TO BRING IN CUSTOMERS HUNGRY ONES DURING THE SLOW SEASON WHO USED EDDIE BYRNE HAS MORE.

>> WELL, JOINING US NOW IS GUY CLARK, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SIZZLE DINING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO I GUESS WE HAVE TO GET TO IT.

>> THINGS HAVE WRAPPED UP THEIR.

HOW DID EVERYTHING GO THIS YEAR FOR SIZZLE DINING?

EVERYTHING WENT REALLY WELL THIS YEAR.

WE SURPRISINGLY WE >> HAD A GOAL OF 100,000 DINNERS TO BE SOLD THIS YEAR AND WE DID 105,655.

SO WE BLEW THROUGH THAT.

THANKS TO EVERYBODY GOING OUT IN EXTRA TIME.

>> AND THEN I UNDERSTAND IS WE'RE TALKING THAT THIS KIND OF CAME DOWN TO THE WIRE THIS YEAR THERE.

BUT YOU STILL WERE ABLE TO GET ACROSS THAT FINISH LINE.

>> YEAH, THAT IT DID.

>> IT WAS DOWN TO LIKE THE LAST 13 RESTAURANTS THAT WERE REPORTING BACK TO ME.

THEIR NUMBERS.

>> AND WE WERE LIKE 97,098 1099 1000.

AND THEN THERE'S ONE RESTAURANT GROUP, A GROUP HE KNOWS HE SAW BARBARA TELE.

THEY REPORTED THEIR NUMBERS AND HAD BREAKFAST THIS YEAR AND HELP IS REALLY JUST KIND OF BREACH THAT NUMBER.

WE HAD 100,000.

THEN THE REST OF THEM CAME IN.

WE WERE ABLE TO GO AND THEN SURPRISINGLY, THERE'S A RESTAURANT THAT'S NOT EVEN OPEN YET.

BUCHAN RIDER, THEY CALLED UP AND SAID, LOOK, WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE'RE NOT OPEN YET.

WE WILL DONATE MATCH WHATEVER THE AVERAGE WAS.

SO WE RECEIVED ANOTHER $766 DONATION BECAUSE THEY JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY HELPED US HIT THAT 105,000 GOAL.

>> SO NOW THIS IS A MILESTONE YEAR FOR YOU.

THIS THE 10 YEARS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS.

HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THIS EVOLVE IN THAT DECADE?

NOW?

>> I MEAN, THAT'S A LOADED QUESTION IS IT'S EVOLVED FROM, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED AT 11 DAYS WITH 26 RESTAURANTS.

WE'RE USED TO BE TWICE THE YEAR RIGHT AFTER MOTHER'S DAY, RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING.

THEN WE WENT TO 3 WEEKS THAN IN 2020.

WE HAD TO KIND OF RETHINK EVERYTHING.

2021, WE CAME BACK ONCE A YEAR IN SEPTEMBER 3 WEEKS.

SO THEN WE WENT TO 3 WEEKS.

SO WE WENT TO 4 WEEKS AND FINALLY WENT TO THE ENTIRE MONTH.

SO IT'S EVOLVED.

TIME WISE.

IT'S EVOLVED.

WHAT TIME OF YEAR IT'S BEEN.

BUT THE UNDERLYING WHAT THE EVENT IS ALWAYS STAYED THE SAME, HOPING THE RESTAURANT AND HELPING FEED THE KIDS WITH BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK.

>> AND THEN HOW DOES IT FEEL TO GET BACK TO AN ORGANIZATION LIKE BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK?

BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY SWEATED OUT THERE DOWN THE STRETCH, BUT NOW YOU'RE ABLE TO HIT THE GO.

YOU WANTED TO AND DELIVER ON THE PROMISES YOU MADE TO A GREAT ORGANIZATION.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY A RELIEF KNOWING THAT YOU'VE HIT YOUR GOAL.

AND HE SAID THIS IN VICIOUS SCHOOL MONTHS AND MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME, NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, NOT ONLY REMEMBER HURRICANE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

YOU DON'T KNOW.

YOU JUST SET THIS GOAL AND GO FOR IT.

IT'S A FANTASTIC FEELING TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, ALL OF THAT HARD WORK.

NOT ONLY IS IT HELPING THE COMPANY GROW, BUT WE'RE HELPING FEED THESE KIDS AND THAT THAT THAT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU CAN'T EVEN REALLY DESCRIBE.

IT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT FEELING.

AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THINGS, YOU KNOW.

>> WHEN YOU'RE HOLDING THIS EVENT, IT'S TYPICALLY A DOWN PERIOD FOR RESTAURANTS DOWN HERE.

PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, FIGURING OTHER THINGS OUT.

BUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT YOU'RE HAVING, ESPECIALLY ON RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, IT WAS.

>> BIG NUMBERS AS YOU WERE SHARING WITH ME.

ABSOLUTELY.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WAS SHOCKING WHEN WE REALLY TOOK A LOOK AT IT.

WHEN YOU ADD UP, HOW MANY DINNERS FOOL YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT THE AVERAGE DINNER IS.

YOU PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.

YOU FACTOR IN A LITTLE BIT FOR LIQUOR.

YOU FACTOR BEVERAGE SALES.

I TAKE 3 TO 4 MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR THAT THIS HAS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE RESTAURANTS, EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE RESTAURANT FROM THE LINENS TO THE UNIFORMS WHEN THE RESTAURANT IS BUSY OR THAT STUFF, THEY GO THROUGH.

MORE OF THAT.

SO THAT HELPS INCREASE THEIR SPENDING, WHICH HELPS THE OTHER VENDORS MAKE MONEY.

THE MICROGREENS, THE MUSHROOM.

THE DISHWASHER GETS MORE HOURS.

I MEAN, IT JUST GOES ON AND ON.

IT'S STAGGERING.

SO NOW.

>> LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR, YOU ALREADY HAVE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE GIVING, YOU KNOW, TO THE ORGANIZATION BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN OPEN.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING AS THIS GROWS INTO NEXT YEAR'S CELEBRATION?

>> WELL, NEXT YEAR, WE HAVEN'T REALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT OUR GOAL IS GOING TO BE AT.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME AND ANALYZE ALL THE DATA FROM THIS YEAR.

BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA COME BACK BIGGER AND STRONGER.

EVERY YEAR WE TRY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING WE'RE REALLY GOING TO FOCUS ON NEXT YEAR'S LUNCHES AND PROBABLY BREAKFAST AS WELL AS SOMETHING WE INTRODUCED THIS YEAR.

REALLY SOFTLY.

BUT IN THE LUNCH MARKET ALONE, WE HAD A LITTLE OVER 10,000 PEOPLE GO OUT FOR SAYS A LUNCH, BUT 90,000 PEOPLE WENT OUT FOR SIZZLE DINNER.

SO THERE'S A HUGE DISPARITY BETWEEN THERE.

BUT THE RESTAURANTS ARE STILL OPEN FACE TO FACE TO LEAD HOPE.

THEY STILL NEED THE CUSTOMERS.

SO IF WE CAN USE SIZZLES THE CATALYST TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR LUNCHES, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAPPIER WITH THE EVENT.

WE'RE GOING TO RAISE MORE MONEY FOR THE CHARITY.

IT COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THE BIGGER THING THAT I THINK IS TRYING TO INCREASE HOW THE EVENT ECONOMICALLY IMPACTS THE COMMUNITY.

IF WE GET MORE PEOPLE TO GO OUT TO RESTAURANTS, BECOME MORE BUSIER.

THE RESTAURANTS HAVE TO SPEND MORE LOCALLY AND THE LOCAL SERVERS.

EVERYBODY MAKES MORE MONEY.

AND THAT'S JUST A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS FOR THIS YEAR.

BEST OF LUCK IN THE FUTURE.

A GUY CLARK WITH SIZZLE DINING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT BROADCAST.

>> THE COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING WITH IMPAIRED VISION OR >> DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY ARE HELPING PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND ALSO HELPING THE NEXT GENERATION.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HAD THE WGCU DOT ORG, WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.