The community of Harbor Isles in Sarasota County, Florida, recently achieved Firewise Communities/USA recognition status. As luck would have it, I was in Florida at the same time that the community's recognition ceremony was scheduled. Florida state forestry WUI specialist Patrick Mahoney made a few phone calls and the residents of Harbor Isles responded. And how!
Spontaneity and again, luck, were in our favor for this event. The national Fire
wise program is developing Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for release in 2008 and we needed more footage of WUI residents and community mitigation activity. A video crew met me on site and we were treated to a fantastic breakfast prepared and served by a 30-person committee. For their efforts, Patrick rewarded them with Smokey Bear bandanas, which they wore proudly.
Some 200 or so folks showed up for breakfast, an all-veterans color guard and the Pledge of Allegiance, and a Firewise presentation by Patrick Mahoney. County Commissioner Shannon Staub, City of North Port Fire Marshal Michael Frantz and Fire Chief Bill Taffe were among the notable officials in attendance - along with 2 TV news reporters and a newspaper reporter for the North Port Sun. Our own video crew captured the ceremony and presentation of the community signs and plaques. We interviewed Commissioner Staub and Marshal Frantz and then raced off to the home of Sam and Jeanne Avallone to document Firewise in action.
Sam, Jeanne, Rose Beach, Don Ninekirk, and a cast of thousands (OK, several) converged along the backyard area bordering several homes - and the overgrown wild preserve. A swatch of mitigated land was the backdrop for a staging of Firewise action involving rakes, machetes, clippers and pruners. 
Our video producer set the stage with Rose and Don as our PSA spokespeople and the rest of the volunteers putting those rakes and clippers in motion. I was happy to let the pros and the volunteers do their job, while I took my own photos and chatted with the neighbors (you know, networking, schmoozing, same thing). I was sorry to have to leave as I was having a grand time. The Harbor Isles visit reminded me how great our Firewise community residents are and how much fun we all can have with Firewise. Stay tuned for the PSA releases in 2008! 
Spontaneity and again, luck, were in our favor for this event. The national Fire
wise program is developing Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for release in 2008 and we needed more footage of WUI residents and community mitigation activity. A video crew met me on site and we were treated to a fantastic breakfast prepared and served by a 30-person committee. For their efforts, Patrick rewarded them with Smokey Bear bandanas, which they wore proudly.
Some 200 or so folks showed up for breakfast, an all-veterans color guard and the Pledge of Allegiance, and a Firewise presentation by Patrick Mahoney. County Commissioner Shannon Staub, City of North Port Fire Marshal Michael Frantz and Fire Chief Bill Taffe were among the notable officials in attendance - along with 2 TV news reporters and a newspaper reporter for the North Port Sun. Our own video crew captured the ceremony and presentation of the community signs and plaques. We interviewed Commissioner Staub and Marshal Frantz and then raced off to the home of Sam and Jeanne Avallone to document Firewise in action.
Sam, Jeanne, Rose Beach, Don Ninekirk, and a cast of thousands (OK, several) converged along the backyard area bordering several homes - and the overgrown wild preserve. A swatch of mitigated land was the backdrop for a staging of Firewise action involving rakes, machetes, clippers and pruners. 
Our video producer set the stage with Rose and Don as our PSA spokespeople and the rest of the volunteers putting those rakes and clippers in motion. I was happy to let the pros and the volunteers do their job, while I took my own photos and chatted with the neighbors (you know, networking, schmoozing, same thing). I was sorry to have to leave as I was having a grand time. The Harbor Isles visit reminded me how great our Firewise community residents are and how much fun we all can have with Firewise. Stay tuned for the PSA releases in 2008! 
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