[Nfbf-l] Meet the Blind - Greater Daytona Beach Area

[Kirk]

Great Job to all concerned in Daytona Beaxch! Kirk
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kathy Davis" <kdavisnfbf at cfl.rr.com>
To: "Nfbf Leaders" <nfbf-leaders at yahoogroups.com>; <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2009 10:10 PM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Meet the Blind - Greater Daytona Beach Area


> Hello Everyone,
> Here's a summery of the goings on at the Meet the Blind Activity held in 
> our
> area this past Friday. Regretfully I was unable to attend but I sure am
> proud of the many blind participants who made the event such a resounding
> success.
>
> Please read on.
>
> Kathy Davis
>
>
> The Daytona Beach News-Journal published two articles on our event Friday
> (seen below).
>
>
>
> There was a great turnout and participation by staff (including Ed Hudson,
> Robert Kelly and Ronee Hudson) and students at the Orientation and
> Adjustment Center, HCB, NFBF, HAVOC, Conklin Center and CVI.  At least one
> war veteran was present.  Members of the Ormond By-The-Sea Lions Club were
> everywhere, helping out.
>
>
>
> Mayor Roland Via did a masterful job as master of ceremonies and County
> Council Chair Frank Bruno also read a proclamation.  Holly Hill Chief of
> Police Mark Barker spoke on the importance of the White Cane Laws and
> pedestrian responsibility. All three walked the intersection under blind
> fold, as did several officers. Officers stood on all 4 corners informing
> motorists waiting at the intersection of the law and one on motorcycle
> pursued cars that disobeyed the law. Other officials present included 
> Ormond
> Beach Mayor Fred Costello and David Laing of WNDB radio.
>
>
>
> Publix lent us a table by their store and gave us permission to sell 
> items.
>
>
>
> Sonics was terrific! Not only did they allow us to use an entire section 
> of
> tables and electricity for the PA System the Holly Hill Police brought, 
> but
> they also gave us 50% off drinks and allowed us to park our white van with
> the White Cane Safety Banner on their grassy lot at the NW corner of
> Ridgewood and Calle Grande.  Their Mr. Sonics character, dressed as a hot
> dog, stood by the van, motioning a thumbs up to passing motorists. Sonics
> also gave us permission to sell items.
>
>
>
> As seen by the articles below, both a photographer and reporter came from
> the Daytona Beach News-Journal.  Claire Metz of WESH Channel 2 TV and a
> cameraman came by and were observed interviewing some of the participants.
>
>
>
> Thanks to the following NFBF members who participated in the event:
>
> Allen Bornstein
>
> Mike Bowmer
>
> Peter Cerullo
>
> David Dixon
>
> Holly Idler
>
> Patricia Lipovsky
>
> Bill Outman
>
> Jean S
>
> Steve Williamson
>
> Joseph Young
>
>
>
> Thanks to Allen Bornstein for his donation of Sonics coupons, which were
> later misplaced by Doug and Nancy.  Once found, we will distribute them to
> those who participated.
>
>
>
> Thanks also to Mary Tyson of HCB, for arranging Doug's speaking engagement
> with the Volusia-Flagler Police Chief's Association (VFPCA) on the White
> Cane Safety Law and Pedestrian Safety.
>
>
>
> And a final thanks to Mayor Roland Via, for inviting Doug Hall and David
> Dixon to WNDB radio's morning talk show Thursday, October 8th.
>
>
>
> We received much positive feedback from the owner of Sonics, his staff and
> the manager of Publix, as well as Mayor Roland Via and the Holly Hill
> Police, who welcomed us back in the future.
>
> __________________________________________
>
>
>
> October 8, 2009 Daytona Beach News-Journal
>
> In Brief
>
>
>
> Drivers offered tips on White Cane Safety Day
>
> Government officials and advocates will educate drivers Friday in Holly 
> Hill
> on safety guidelines when approaching the blind, visually impaired and
> others with mobility limitations crossing local streets.
>
> An event for National White Cane Safety Day will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
> on Friday at the intersection of Ridgewood Avenue and Calle Grande in 
> Holly
> Hill. Holly Hill Mayor Roland Via challenges all local mayors and 
> government
> officials to participate by crossing the intersection blindfolded or
> mobility impaired.
>
> The day, which includes participants crossing the street, focuses the
> attention on educating drivers to stop when a person with a visual
> disability is crossing the street.
>
> The event is sponsored by Halifax Council of the Blind, Greater Daytona
> Beach Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, Handicapped Adults 
> of
> Volusia County, the City of Holly Hill and other area agencies.
>
> ____________________________________________________________________________
> _
>
>
>
> October 10, 2009  Daytona Beach News-Journal
>
>
>
> Blind pedestrians gather for driver awareness
>
> By RON HURTIBISE,  STAFF WRITER
>
> ron.hurtibise at news-jrnl.com <blocked::mailto:ron.hurtibise at news-jrnl.com>
>
>
>
> HOLLY HILL - You'd think the driver of the little red coupe would have
> figured it out.
>
>
>
> Police officers on Friday stood on all four corners of the intersection of
> Ridgewood Avenue and Calle Grande amid four groups of pedestrians - most
> with white canes, service dogs or wheelchairs - taking part in an event to
> build awareness of laws requiring drivers to yield to blind and 
> handicapped
> pedestrians.
>
>
>
> As the groups made their way across southbound Ridgewood, eastbound Calle
> Grande, north-bound Ridgewood, and so on, scraping the tips of their white
> canes across the asphalt to guide their way, most motorists got the 
> message
> and waited their turns.
>
>
>
> Not the driver of the red car.
>
>
>
> The traffic light and pedestrian signal turned green, and the driver 
> turned
> right - in front of pedestrians beginning to cross Ridgewood.
>
>
>
> One officer got on his radio, and the driver was soon parked in front of a
> set of flashing blue police lights.
>
>
>
> Happy White Cane Awareness Day.
>
>
>
> The event is staged annually to make motorists aware of the White Cane 
> Law,
> which requires vehicles to stop anytime a person with a white cane or 
> guide
> dog is attempting to cross the street.
>
>
>
> Blind services advocate Doug Hall said the event normally takes place on
> Oct. 15. But that day falls during Biketoberfest this year. ''No way I'm
> going to try to cross the street as 100,000 motorcycles go by,'' he said.
>
>
>
> Sponsors include the Halifax Council of the Blind, Greater Daytona Beach
> Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, Handicapped Adults of
> Volusia County, and the city of Holly Hill.
>
>
>
> Holly Hill Mayor Roland Via and County Chairman Frank Bruno donned 
> blinders
> and grabbed canes to experience the challenge of sightless street 
> crossing.
>
>
>
> ''It was very interesting,'' Via said later. ''You have to rely on the
> sound of the vehicles, and learn to trust the cane.''
>
>
>
> That's not enough when motorists aren't vigilant, said Mike Bowmer, a 
> blind
> Holly Hill resident who has been struck by cars three times in three 
> years.
>
>
>
> In 2006, he was walking with his guide dog across Ridgewood Avenue and
> Walker Street when they were hit. Both Bowmer's legs were broken. Police
> didn't cite the driver, saying Bowmer was wearing dark clothes and the
> driver didn't see the dog.
>
>
>
> Bowmer said he hopes the event will help convince motorists to ''just be
> aware that I can't see them. I just want them to give me the opportunity 
> to
> go across.''
>
>
>
> That's the message police gave the driver of the red coupe, and four 
> others
> they pulled over during the event. No one actually got a ticket, Police
> Chief Mark Barker said.
>
>
>
> ''We wanted to make it an awareness day, rather than an enforcement
> initiative,'' Barker said. ''It was a great day.''
>
>
>
> Color Photo Below
>
>
> News-Journal/ JIM TILLER
>
>
>
> [Photo Caption] Holly Idler helps a blindfolded County Chairman Frank 
> Bruno
> cross the street in Holly Hill on Friday for White Cane Awareness Day,
> designed to educate drivers about those with sight and mobility 
> limitations.
>
> [also in the photo: Doug Hall (HCB member), David Dixon? (HAVOC member), 
> ___
> (veteran ? using a wheelchair) ___ (blonde woman), Steve Williamson (HCB 
> and
> NFBF member) and Joseph Young (NFBF member).
>
>
>
>  _____
>
>
>
> [Black and White Photo below of Bill Outman (NFBF member), Joany Arosko 
> and
> Barbara Coleman (students from the Orientation & Adjustment Center). Photo
> taken from the ground, looking up at the cane tip, feet and to the clouds]
>
> [Photo Caption] Visually impaired residents navigate the intersection of
> U.S. 1 and Calle Grande Avenue in Holly Hill as part of White Cane 
> Awareness
> Day on Friday.
>
>
>
>
> News-Journal/ JIM TILLER
>
>
>
>
>
> White Cane Law
>
>
>
> Whenever a blind or mobility-impaired pedestrian is crossing or attempting
> to cross a public street or highway, motorists must come to a full stop 
> and
> before proceeding, take such precautions necessary to avoid injuring the
> pedestrian. This includes anyone guided by a service dog or carrying an
> extended or raised white cane or walking stick, as well as anyone using a
> walker, crutch, orthopedic cane or wheelchair.
>
>
>
> It is unlawful for anyone not totally or partially blind or otherwise
> incapacitated to carry a white cane or walking stick in a raised or 
> extended
> manner while on any public street.
>
>
>
> - Florida Statutes 316.1301 and 316.1303
>
> _______________________________________________________
>
>
>
>
>  _____
>
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