Sgt. Hancock was born in Thomasville, Georgia, in 1913, but later migrated to Auburndale, Florida. Hancock managed a Great Atlantic &]]> Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
Sergeant Hancock was born in Thomasville, Georgia, in 1913, but later migrated to Auburndale, Florida. Hancock managed a Great Atlantic &]]> Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
Sgt. Hancock was born in Thomasville, Georgia, in 1913, but later migrated to Auburndale, Florida. Hancock managed a Great Atlantic &]]> Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> color digital image by Dwight Anderson.]]> Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
A notable Floridian who served in the 6th Armored Division was Sergeant John F. Aylward, Jr. (1912-1944), who died on November 3, 1944. Also known as Jack, Sgt. Aylward was a part of the Headquarters Company within the 6th Armored Division, nicknamed the Super Sixth. Sgt. Aylward was originally from Ocala, Florida, and is interred at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France.]]> Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> original record, 1946: National Archives Identifier 305285, Record Group 407, Modern Military Records LICON, Textual Archives Services Division, National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.]]> Textual Archives Services Division, National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.]]> Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]>

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One notable member of the crew was Florida native Staff Sergeant Thomas E. Eason (1922-1945), who served for over three years in the U.S. Army Air Forces' (USAAF) as a waist gunner on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Sweet and Lovely" and "Princess Pat." SSgt. Eason completed 28 missions in both the Pacific and European Theaters of World War II. On January 20, 1945, he was killed near Altenheim, France, after his airplane was shot down by enemy combatants. Over the course of his service, SSgt. was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters.]]> black and white photograph.]]> Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> 1-page typewritten questionnaire by Earl D. Greenstreet.]]> Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]>

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SSgt. Eason served for over three years in the U.S. Army Air Forces' (USAAF) 569th Bomb Squadron of the 390th Bomb Group, as a waist gunner on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Sweet and Lovely" and "Princess Pat." SSgt. Eason completed 28 missions in both the Pacific and European Theaters of World War II. On January 20, 1945, he was killed near Altenheim, France, after his airplane was shot down by enemy combatants. Over the course of his service, SSgt. was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters.]]> typewritten memorandum from Colonel H. M. Rund to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Force, February 16, 1945.]]> Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]>

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A notable member of the 45th Infantry Division during World War II was Private Rufus H. Lennon Jr. Lennon (1921-1944), a soldier from Bradenton, Florida. Lennon was born in 1921 to Rufus H. Lennon, Sr. and Bertha Lennon. On November 21, 1940, he enlisted into the U.S. Army at the age of 19. Pvt. Lennon served in the 180th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division. Pvt. Lennon died in battle on September 21, 1944 in Lorraine, France, and was awarded a Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.]]> color photograph.]]> Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> census record by Frances S. Bax, April 2, 1930: Image Number 00031, Digital Folder Number 004950234, GS Film Number 2340057, Affiliate Film Number 322, Affiliate Publication Number T626, National Archives &]]> , Washington, D.C.]]> Bureau of the Census]]> National Archives &]]> , Washington, D.C.]]> Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Bureau of the Census.]]>

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0:02:27 Joining the Orlando Gay Chorus
0:05:02 Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) of Choruses Festival
0:09:52 Mass shooting at Pulse nightclub
0:14:13 Orlando Gay Chorus’s response to Pulse tragedy
0:23:43 Coping with emotional repercussions of Pulse tragedy
0:26:44 Community response to Pulse tragedy
0:30:02 Support from other gay choruses at GALA festival
0:34:39 Significance of Latin night at Pulse
0:36:56 Long-term consequences of Pulse tragedy
0:40:20 Closing remarks]]> RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Orlando Gay Chorus Collection, LGBTQ+ Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> QuickTime.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> The Watermark was published on January 6-19, 2000, and focuses on community issues with the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) movement. The main topics covered in this issue include a letter from the editor]]> The Waterfront supplement, which featured articles about Parliament House, The Factory at Garage, and the sale of Viagra on the black market, as well as a gossip column, a nightlife column, music reviews, comics, maps of LGBTQ+ businesses in various Florida cities, and a sex talk column.

Since 1994, The Watermark has been the cornerstone source of LGBTQ+ centered news for the Central Florida region. Founded by Tom Dyer in Orlando, the publication began generating bi-weekly issues beginning August 31, 1994. Since then, The Watermark has consistently published newspaper-style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, The Watermark became a permanent piece of LGBTQ+ culture when the publication initiated the first large-scale Gay Days Weekend event, the Beach Ball at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Before 1999, the publication printed 20,000 copies every week, distributing them to over 500 locations between its two major cities. Following 1999, the publication launched watermarkonline.com shifting to an online publication style. In 2016, Rick Claggett purchased The Watermark.]]> The Watermark, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 6-19, 2000: Publications Collection, GLBT History Museum of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Watermark Media]]> The Watermark, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 6-19, 2000.]]> The Watermark Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Watermark Media.]]> Watermark Publishing Group and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> The Watermark was published on March 5, 1995, and focuses on community issues with the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) movement. The main topics discussed in this issue include Olympic athlete Greg Louganis (b. 1960), the incarceration of gay Christian activist Mel White, U.S. Supreme Court case Romer v. Evans, the selection of Michael Slaymaker as the new executive director of the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, an amendment proposal in Alachua County that would prohibit county commissioners from passing ordinances that would protect civil rights based on sexual orientation, the military's violations of its "Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) policy, gay adoption, and legal and medical issues related to human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). This issue also includes various advertisements, letters to the editor, film reviews, comics, a travel section, a calendar of events, and personal classifieds.

Since 1994, The Watermark has been the cornerstone source of LGBTQ+ centered news for the Central Florida region. Founded by Tom Dyer in Orlando, the publication began generating bi-weekly issues beginning August 31, 1994. Since then, The Watermark has consistently published newspaper-style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, The Watermark became a permanent piece of LGBTQ+ culture when the publication initiated the first large-scale Gay Days Weekend event, the Beach Ball at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Before 1999, the publication printed 20,000 copies every week, distributing them to over 500 locations between its two major cities. Following 1999, the publication launched watermarkonline.com shifting to an online publication style. In 2016, Rick Claggett purchased The Watermark.]]> The Watermark, Vol. 2, No. 5, March 5, 1995: Publications Collection, GLBT History Museum of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Watermark Media]]> The Watermark, Vol. 2, No. 5, March 5, 1995.]]> The Watermark Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Watermark Media.]]> Watermark Publishing Group and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> The Watermark was published on January 25, 1995, and focuses on community issues with the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) movement. The main topics discussed in this issue are Iran's persecution of gay nightclub patrons, West Palm Beach voters' defeat of a proposal that sought to remove gay rights protections from municipal law, the Metropolitan Business Association's (MBA) Second Annual Expo, a federal court's ruling allowing a veterans group to bar the LGBTQ+ community from marching in Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade, and Scott Laurent Galleries. This issue also includes letters to the editor, theater and film reviews, restaurant reviews, and comic strips, as well as culture, artful living, travel, marketplace, and classifieds sections.

Since 1994, The Watermark has been the cornerstone source of LGBTQ+ centered news for the Central Florida region. Founded by Tom Dyer in Orlando, the publication began generating bi-weekly issues beginning August 31, 1994. Since then, The Watermark has consistently published newspaper-style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, The Watermark became a permanent piece of LGBTQ+ culture when the publication initiated the first large-scale Gay Days Weekend event, the Beach Ball at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Before 1999, the publication printed 20,000 copies every week, distributing them to over 500 locations between its two major cities. Following 1999, the publication launched watermarkonline.com shifting to an online publication style. In 2016, Rick Claggett purchased The Watermark.]]> The Watermark, Vol. 2, No. 2, January 25, 1995: Publications Collection, GLBT History Museum of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Watermark Media]]> The Watermark, Vol. 2, No. 2, January 25, 1995.]]> The Watermark Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Watermark Media.]]> Watermark Publishing Group and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> 0:05:35 Fighting for GLBTQ+ rights
0:13:12 Joining the Orlando Gay Chorus
0:20:54 Role in the Orlando Gay Chorus and favorite productions
0:24:21 Mass shooting at Pulse nightclub
0:26:12 Role in the Orlando Gay Chorus and favorite productions (continued)
0:27:58 Women in the chorus
0:31:04 Orlando Gay Chorus’s response to Pulse tragedy
0:37:58 Changing community attitudes on homosexuality
0:41:57 Missing out on initial vigils, memorials and outreaches
0:44:23 Physical challenges
0:45:31 First responders breakfast
0:48:18 Long-term consequences of Pulse tragedy
0:52:27 Closing remarks]]> RICHES, Orlando, Florida.]]> RICHES]]> RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> QuickTime.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES]]> 0:02:51 Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses festival
0:05:12 Mass shooting at Pulse nightclub
0:09:43 Orlando Gay Chorus’s response to Pulse tragedy
0:20:11 Community response to Pulse tragedy
0:22:31 National and international response to Pulse tragedy
0:24:57 2016 Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses festival
0:29:10 Significance of Pulse before and after tragedy
0:32:57 Role of social media in aftermath of tragedy
0:36:23 Long-term consequences of Pulse tragedy
0:38:52 Closing remarks]]> RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Orlando Gay Chorus Collection, LGBTQ+ Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> QuickTime.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> 0:02:15 2012 Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses festival
0:03:22 Mass shooting at Pulse nightclub and its aftermath
0:06:03 Orlando Gay Chorus’s response to Pulse tragedy
0:09:04 Community response to Pulse tragedy
0:10:18 Pet therapy
0:11:55 National response to Pulse tragedy
0:14:05 2016 Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses festival
0:18:38 Support from other gay choruses
0:19:49 Significance of Pulse before and after tragedy
0:22:43 Role of social media in aftermath of tragedy
0:23:54 Long-term consequences of Pulse tragedy
0:25:45 Closing remarks]]> RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Orlando Gay Chorus Collection, LGBTQ+ Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> QuickTime.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> 0:03:06 Family
0:07:24 Same-sex dancing and the Orlando Gay Chorus
0:11:06 Living with rheumatoid arthritis
0:13:43 Changing attitudes towards homosexuality in Japan
0:18:05 History of same-sex dancing
0:25:04 Dance Vision International Dancers Association (DVIDA) and the kinesiology of dance
0:30:13 Joining the Orlando Gay Chorus
0:36:00 Mass shooting at Pulse nightclub
0:48:08 Achievements in computer science
0:50:36 2016 GALA Choruses Festival and abuse against the LGTBQ+ community
1:01:01 Singing at John F. Kennedy Space Center and gun control
1:06:37 Community response to Pulse tragedy
1:09:11 How the Orlando Gay Chorus can influence political and social change
1:17:07 Closing remarks]]> RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Orlando Gay Chorus Collection, LGBTQ+ Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> QuickTime.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, Sanford, Florida.]]> Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District]]> Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, Sanford, Florida.]]> Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District.]]>

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0:08:17 Initial community reaction
0:11:16 Women in the chorus
0:12:23 Evolving relationship with the community
0:14:11 Becoming a mixed vocal group
0:16:16 Mass shooting at Pulse nightclub and its aftermath
0:24:12 Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses Festival
0:27:20 Community response to Pulse tragedy
0:30:12 Long-term impact on the Gay Chorus and the Orlando community
0:33:50 Final remarks]]> RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Orlando Gay Chorus Collection, LGBTQ+ Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> QuickTime.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida, and transcribed by Geoffrey Cravero.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Sky Lake Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Sky Lake Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Onan Corporation and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Sky Lake Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Onan Corporation and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Sky Lake Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Onan Corporation and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Sky Lake Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Onan Corporation and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Sky Lake Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Onan Corporation and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Sky Lake Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Sky Lake Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Sky Lake Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Sky Lake Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Sky Lake Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.]]> Orlando Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Pine Castle Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> The Winter Garden Times discussing a fish kill in Lake Apopka in July of 1981. This fish kill, totaling an estimated four million fish, occurred two weeks after another larger kill in Lake Apopka on June 20, 1981. The article states that the kills are due to a combination of factors affecting the lake, including low water levels, high temperatures, and stormy weather, which led to the lake's high algae content deoxygenating the lake.

Lake Apopka is one of Florida’s largest lakes and was once considered to be one of the world’s best lakes for bass fishing. The lake’s sport fish population began to decline in the 1960s, with major die-offs occurring almost yearly. The lake’s problems are generally considered to be the result of over-nutrification from various sources. Twenty thousand acres of wetlands bordering the lake’s north shore were drained in the 1940s and used for highly fertile “muck farms.” These farms were routinely flooded to protect the fragile soil, and the fertilizer and pesticide-laden water was then discharged back into the lake prior to each growing season. Other sources of pollution include discharge from citrus processing operations, as well as treated wastewater from sewage plants. The nutrient-rich discharge promoted algae growth in the lake, turning the water to a green color, and blocked sunlight from reaching aquatic vegetation, which provided food and habit to the lake’s fish population. The lake’s bottom soil became increasingly “mucky,” also disrupting aquatic vegetation from taking root.

Restoration work on the lake began in the 1960s with attempts by various agencies to remove “trash fish,” such as gizzard shad, from the lake via seining, which would hopefully allow the lake’s sportfish to thrive. The Lake Apopka Restoration Council, an initiative formed under Governor Claude Kirk (1926-2011) in 1967, launched several studies to find methods to improve the lake, though no serious action was taken. Various methods were debated to restore the lake through the 1970s and 1980s, including “drawdown,” which entailed completely draining the lake to allow the mucky bottom to consolidate. Restoration attempts were stalled for lack of funding and research.

The Lake Apopka Restoration Council was reformed in 1985 under Governor Bob Graham (b. 1936), and, in 1987, the Surface Water and Improvement Management Act was passed. Together, these actions allowed comprehensive restoration plans to take shape, such as the Marsh Flow-way, a project by the St John’s Water Management District that uses natural methods to remove nutrients from the lake. The Friends of Lake Apopka, a citizen environmental advocacy group, began to push for further restoration efforts in the 1990s. The lake’s north shore muck farms were eventually purchased by the State of Florida, helping to reduce the amount of nutrient entering the lake.]]> The Winter Garden Times, Vol. 50, No. 29, July 16, 1981: binder 1981, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> The Winter Garden Times]]> The Winter Garden Times, Vol. 50, No. 29, July 16, 1981.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> The Winter Garden Times.]]> The West Orange Times &amp]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> The Leesburg Daily Commercial discussing fish kills that occurred in Lake Apopka in June of 1981. The article gives quotes from Harold L. Moody and Mike Wicker of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC), who state that further fish kills are very likely to occur. The article states that the current drought conditions in Florida were exacerbating the poor condition of the lake, concentrating the lake's water and promoting the growth of algae. The algae growth causes the lake's oxygen levels to drop, triggering fish die-offs. The Lake Apopka fish kill is estimated to have killed between 30 million and 40 million fish.

Lake Apopka is one of Florida’s largest lakes and was once considered to be one of the world’s best lakes for bass fishing. The lake’s sport fish population began to decline in the 1960s, with major die-offs occurring almost yearly. The lake’s problems are generally considered to be the result of over-nutrification from various sources. Twenty thousand acres of wetlands bordering the lake’s north shore were drained in the 1940s and used for highly fertile “muck farms.” These farms were routinely flooded to protect the fragile soil, and the fertilizer and pesticide-laden water was then discharged back into the lake prior to each growing season. Other sources of pollution include discharge from citrus processing operations, as well as treated wastewater from sewage plants. The nutrient-rich discharge promoted algae growth in the lake, turning the water to a green color, and blocked sunlight from reaching aquatic vegetation, which provided food and habit to the lake’s fish population. The lake’s bottom soil became increasingly “mucky,” also disrupting aquatic vegetation from taking root.

Restoration work on the lake began in the 1960s with attempts by various agencies to remove “trash fish,” such as gizzard shad, from the lake via seining, which would hopefully allow the lake’s sportfish to thrive. The Lake Apopka Restoration Council, an initiative formed under Governor Claude Kirk (1926-2011) in 1967, launched several studies to find methods to improve the lake, though no serious action was taken. Various methods were debated to restore the lake through the 1970s and 1980s, including “drawdown,” which entailed completely draining the lake to allow the mucky bottom to consolidate. Restoration attempts were stalled for lack of funding and research.

The Lake Apopka Restoration Council was reformed in 1985 under Governor Bob Graham (b. 1936), and, in 1987, the Surface Water and Improvement Management Act was passed. Together, these actions allowed comprehensive restoration plans to take shape, such as the Marsh Flow-way, a project by the St John’s Water Management District that uses natural methods to remove nutrients from the lake. The Friends of Lake Apopka, a citizen environmental advocacy group, began to push for further restoration efforts in the 1990s. The lake’s north shore muck farms were eventually purchased by the State of Florida, helping to reduce the amount of nutrient entering the lake.]]> The Leesburg Daily Commercial, July 22, 1981: binder 1981, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> The Leesburg Daily Commercial]]> The Leesburg Daily Commercial, July 22, 1981.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> The Leesburg Daily Commercial.]]> The Leesburg Daily Commercial and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
Lake Apopka is one of Florida’s largest lakes and was once considered to be one of the world’s best lakes for bass fishing. The lake’s sport fish population began to decline in the 1960s, with major die-offs occurring almost yearly. The lake’s problems are generally considered to be the result of over-nutrification from various sources. Twenty thousand acres of wetlands bordering the lake’s north shore were drained in the 1940s and used for highly fertile “muck farms.” These farms were routinely flooded to protect the fragile soil, and the fertilizer and pesticide-laden water was then discharged back into the lake prior to each growing season. Other sources of pollution include discharge from citrus processing operations, as well as treated wastewater from sewage plants. The nutrient-rich discharge promoted algae growth in the lake, turning the water to a green color, and blocked sunlight from reaching aquatic vegetation, which provided food and habit to the lake’s fish population. The lake’s bottom soil became increasingly “mucky,” also disrupting aquatic vegetation from taking root.

Restoration work on the lake began in the 1960s with attempts by various agencies to remove “trash fish,” such as gizzard shad, from the lake via seining, which would hopefully allow the lake’s sportfish to thrive. The Lake Apopka Restoration Council, an initiative formed under Governor Claude Kirk (1926-2011) in 1967, launched several studies to find methods to improve the lake, though no serious action was taken. Various methods were debated to restore the lake through the 1970s and 1980s, including “drawdown,” which entailed completely draining the lake to allow the mucky bottom to consolidate. Restoration attempts were stalled for lack of funding and research.

The Lake Apopka Restoration Council was reformed in 1985 under Governor Bob Graham (b. 1936), and, in 1987, the Surface Water and Improvement Management Act was passed. Together, these actions allowed comprehensive restoration plans to take shape, such as the Marsh Flow-way, a project by the St John’s Water Management District that uses natural methods to remove nutrients from the lake. The Friends of Lake Apopka, a citizen environmental advocacy group, began to push for further restoration efforts in the 1990s. The lake’s north shore muck farms were eventually purchased by the State of Florida, helping to reduce the amount of nutrient entering the lake.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]>

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Although the letter does not state so explicitly, it was likely written in reference to Lake Apopka, which is one of Florida’s largest lakes and was once considered to be one of the world’s best lakes for bass fishing. The lake’s sport fish population began to decline in the 1960s, with major die-offs occurring almost yearly. The lake’s problems are generally considered to be the result of over-nutrification from various sources. Twenty thousand acres of wetlands bordering the lake’s north shore were drained in the 1940s and used for highly fertile “muck farms.” These farms were routinely flooded to protect the fragile soil, and the fertilizer and pesticide-laden water was then discharged back into the lake prior to each growing season. Other sources of pollution include discharge from citrus processing operations, as well as treated wastewater from sewage plants. The nutrient-rich discharge promoted algae growth in the lake, turning the water to a green color, and blocked sunlight from reaching aquatic vegetation, which provided food and habit to the lake’s fish population. The lake’s bottom soil became increasingly “mucky,” also disrupting aquatic vegetation from taking root.

Restoration work on the lake began in the 1960s with attempts by various agencies to remove “trash fish,” such as gizzard shad, from the lake via seining, which would hopefully allow the lake’s sportfish to thrive. The Lake Apopka Restoration Council, an initiative formed under Governor Claude Kirk (1926-2011) in 1967, launched several studies to find methods to improve the lake, though no serious action was taken. Various methods were debated to restore the lake through the 1970s and 1980s, including “drawdown,” which entailed completely draining the lake to allow the mucky bottom to consolidate. Restoration attempts were stalled for lack of funding and research.

The Lake Apopka Restoration Council was reformed in 1985 under Governor Bob Graham (b. 1936), and, in 1987, the Surface Water and Improvement Management Act was passed. Together, these actions allowed comprehensive restoration plans to take shape, such as the Marsh Flow-way, a project by the St John’s Water Management District that uses natural methods to remove nutrients from the lake. The Friends of Lake Apopka, a citizen environmental advocacy group, began to push for further restoration efforts in the 1990s. The lake’s north shore muck farms were eventually purchased by the State of Florida, helping to reduce the amount of nutrient entering the lake.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]>

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The Zellwood Drainage and Water Control District was created by the Florida Legislature in 1941 for taxation and land management of farming areas on the north shore of Lake Apopka. The district was granted powers of self-taxation and permitted to construct canals, bridges, and dikes in the area. The north shore farms were constructed on "muck land" created by the drainage of wetlands bordering Lake Apopka. The soil in these areas, often called "muck soil," is highly fertile and vulnerable to oxidation. The ZDWCD was permitted to routinely flood farmlands, when not in use, in order to keep the soil wet and preventing its loss to oxidation. These lands would then be drained before each growing season and this water was discharged back into Lake Apopka. Practices like these were considered to contribute to the pollution of Lake Apopka, with the discharge of fertilizer-rich water creating conditions of “eutrophication” in the lake and promoting the growth of harmful algae.

The Friends of Lake Apopka (FOLA), a citizen advocacy group organized for the environmental restoration of Lake Apopka in the early 1990s, lobbied for increased restrictions on the district’s ability to utilize water from Lake Apopka. These efforts culminated in a buyout of the Zellwood Drainage and Water Control District farmlands by the State of Florida in 1998, and farming operations ceased in June of that year. The ZDWCD was dissolved by the Florida Legislature in September of 2000.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Friends of Lake Apopka and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
The Friends of Lake Apopka (FOLA), a citizen advocacy group organized for the environmental restoration of Lake Apopka in the early 1990s, lobbied for increased restrictions on the district’s ability to utilize water from Lake Apopka. These efforts culminated in a buyout of the Zellwood Drainage and Water Control District farmlands by the State of Florida in 1998, and farming operations ceased in June of that year. The ZDWCD was dissolved by the Florida Legislature in September of 2000.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
Lake Apopka is one of Florida’s largest lakes and was once considered to be one of the world’s best lakes for bass fishing. The lake’s sport fish population began to decline in the 1960s, with major die-offs occurring almost yearly. The lake’s problems are generally considered to be the result of over-nutrification from various sources. Twenty thousand acres of wetlands bordering the lake’s north shore were drained in the 1940s and used for highly fertile “muck farms.” These farms were routinely flooded to protect the fragile soil, and the fertilizer and pesticide-laden water was then discharged back into the lake prior to each growing season. Other sources of pollution include discharge from citrus processing operations, as well as treated wastewater from sewage plants. The nutrient-rich discharge promoted algae growth in the lake, turning the water to a green color, and blocked sunlight from reaching aquatic vegetation, which provided food and habit to the lake’s fish population. The lake’s bottom soil became increasingly “mucky,” also disrupting aquatic vegetation from taking root.

Restoration work on the lake began in the 1960s with attempts by various agencies to remove “trash fish,” such as gizzard shad, from the lake via seining, which would hopefully allow the lake’s sportfish to thrive. The Lake Apopka Restoration Council, an initiative formed under Governor Claude Kirk (1926-2011) in 1967, launched several studies to find methods to improve the lake, though no serious action was taken. Various methods were debated to restore the lake through the 1970s and 1980s, including “drawdown,” which entailed completely draining the lake to allow the mucky bottom to consolidate. Restoration attempts were stalled for lack of funding and research.

The Lake Apopka Restoration Council was reformed in 1985 under Governor Bob Graham (b. 1936), and, in 1987, the Surface Water and Improvement Management Act was passed. Together, these actions allowed comprehensive restoration plans to take shape, such as the Marsh Flow-way, a project by the St John’s Water Management District that uses natural methods to remove nutrients from the lake. The Friends of Lake Apopka, a citizen environmental advocacy group, began to push for further restoration efforts in the 1990s. The lake’s north shore muck farms were eventually purchased by the State of Florida, helping to reduce the amount of nutrient entering the lake.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Florida Department of Environmental Regulation]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Florida Department of Environmental Regulation.]]>

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Lake Apopka is one of Florida’s largest lakes and was once considered to be one of the world’s best lakes for bass fishing. The lake’s sport fish population began to decline in the 1960s, with major die-offs occurring almost yearly. The lake’s problems are generally considered to be the result of over-nutrification from various sources. Twenty thousand acres of wetlands bordering the lake’s north shore were drained in the 1940s and used for highly fertile “muck farms.” These farms were routinely flooded to protect the fragile soil, and the fertilizer and pesticide-laden water was then discharged back into the lake prior to each growing season. Other sources of pollution include discharge from citrus processing operations, as well as treated wastewater from sewage plants. The nutrient-rich discharge promoted algae growth in the lake, turning the water to a green color, and blocked sunlight from reaching aquatic vegetation, which provided food and habit to the lake’s fish population. The lake’s bottom soil became increasingly “mucky,” also disrupting aquatic vegetation from taking root.

Restoration work on the lake began in the 1960s with attempts by various agencies to remove “trash fish,” such as gizzard shad, from the lake via seining, which would hopefully allow the lake’s sportfish to thrive. The Lake Apopka Restoration Council, an initiative formed under Governor Claude Kirk (1926-2011) in 1967, launched several studies to find methods to improve the lake, though no serious action was taken. Various methods were debated to restore the lake through the 1970s and 1980s, including “drawdown,” which entailed completely draining the lake to allow the mucky bottom to consolidate. Restoration attempts were stalled for lack of funding and research.

The Lake Apopka Restoration Council was reformed in 1985 under Governor Bob Graham (b. 1936), and, in 1987, the Surface Water and Improvement Management Act was passed. Together, these actions allowed comprehensive restoration plans to take shape, such as the Marsh Flow-way, a project by the St John’s Water Management District that uses natural methods to remove nutrients from the lake. The Friends of Lake Apopka, a citizen environmental advocacy group, began to push for further restoration efforts in the 1990s. The lake’s north shore muck farms were eventually purchased by the State of Florida, helping to reduce the amount of nutrient entering the lake.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Florida Department of Environmental Regulation]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Florida Department of Environmental Regulation.]]>

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create derivative works

perform the work publicly

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This resource is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only. For more information on copyright, please refer to Secton 24 of the Florida Constitution.]]>
Gourd Neck Springs is a small spring located in the southwest portion of Lake Apopka, in a small cove called “Gourd Neck” due to its distinctive shape. This area of the lake was considered in the 1960s as a potential nursery for fish. The Lake Apopka Technical Committee explored damming the Gourd Neck, separating it from the lake and preventing polluted lake water from entering, but these plans did not materialize. Efforts were also made in the 1960s to have the Gourd Neck area purchased by the State of Florida for use as a public park. The Gourd Neck Springs Park Association was formed in 1961 to study the site’s potential for a park and lobby for support from legislators. The land bordering the area was privately-owned by various individuals. One of these, Gary Sharp, continued seeking support for a park into the 1970s. While the project received support from Florida legislators and environmentalists, the land was never purchased by the state.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> StreamLines, a newsletter published by the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC), for March 1977.This newsletter discusses workshops held by the ECFRPC reviewing financial concerns related to water management, as well as ongoing plans for a drawdown of Lake Apopka, stating that the first phase of the restoration program is due to begin in 1977, and estimates the total cost of the project to be three million dollars. The newsletter also discusses the ECFRPC's 208 Program, a water quality management program aimed at achieving water quality standards mandated by section 208 of the Clean Water Act of 1972.

Lake drawdown is a method of environmental restoration that is used to control erosion and aquatic vegetation. Lake drawdown has also been sought as a potential method to lessen the effects of pollution by exposing the lake bed and allowing bottom sediments to dry, trapping pollutants. Opponents of lake drawdowns cite the impact of polluted water on areas downstream of the area being drained, in cases where the targeted lake is connected to a river system. Citrus growers have also opposed drawdowns on the grounds that draining large lakes makes nearby citrus groves more vulnerable to freezes, as lakes help keep temperatures stable throughout the year.

Drawdowns of Lake Apopka have been sought by restoration efforts dating back to the 1960s, beginning with the Lake Apopka Restoration Project, organized by Governor Claude R. Kirk Jr. (1926-2011) and headed by C. W. Sheffield. These efforts were delayed and no drawdown was performed by the project. Plans for a drawdown continued to be developed, and federal and state efforts to gather funds and perform feasibility studies began in 1970. An experimental drawdown of Lake Apopka was performed in 1971, lowering the lake level by four feet, but was halted after public fears that wildlife deaths in the area were the result of the drawdown. Drawdown plans continued through the 1970s, but were continually delayed and projected costs for the project rose sharply. The project was cancelled by Governor Bob Graham (b. 1936) in 1979.]]> StreamLines, March 1977: binder 1977, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> East Central Florida Regional Planning Council]]> StreamLines, March 1977.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> East Central Florida Regional Planning Council.]]> East Central Florida Regional Planning Council and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
The Environmentally Endangered Lands Program was formed in 1972 as part of the larger Land Conservation Act of 1972. The EEL program was initially funded through the sale of state bonds. The program was designed to help the state acquire lands considered environmentally sensitive and was not designed for creating areas for recreational use. Potential sites for acquisition could be suggested by citizens, county and state governments, and nonprofit organizations. After evaluation for environmental value, potential sites would be approved by the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Natural Resources and finalized by the Governor. In 1979, the former Executive Director, Harmon Shields, was indicted on corruption charges involving the lands-acquisition process. Following this scandal, the EEL program was replaced by Conservation and Recreation Lands Program. This change replaced the program's funding with tax revenues instead of bond sales, and formed the Land Acquisition Selection Committee, made up by six executive directors of Florida environmental agencies, to select sites for approval by the governor. The Division of State Lands was also created as a division of the Department of Natural Resources to over-see mapping and evaluation of potential sites for acquisition.

Gourd Neck Springs is a small spring located in the southwest portion of Lake Apopka, in a small cove called “Gourd Neck” due to its distinctive shape. This area of the lake was considered in the 1960s as a potential nursery for fish. The Lake Apopka Technical Committee explored damming the Gourd Neck, separating it from the lake and preventing polluted lake water from entering, but these plans did not materialize. Efforts were also made in the 1960s to have the Gourd Neck area purchased by the State of Florida for use as a public park. The Gourd Neck Springs Park Association was formed in 1961 to study the site’s potential for a park and lobby for support from legislators. The land bordering the area was privately-owned by various individuals. One of these, Gary Sharp, continued seeking support for a park into the 1970s. While the project received support from Florida legislators and environmentalists, the land was never purchased by the state.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.]]> Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Friends of Lake Apopka and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Green Lantern that would address homophobia. According to the author, the idea for addressing the issue of gay bashing—verbal or physical abuse directed at the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) community—was inspired by the friendship that cartoonist Judd Winick (b. 1970) developed with Pedro Zamora (1972-1994), his openly gay, HIV-positive castmate on MTV's The Real World: San Francisco. This article was published in The Watermark, Central Florida's local LGBTQ+ publication.

Since 1994, The Watermark has been the cornerstone source of LGBTQ+ centered news for the Central Florida region. Founded by Tom Dyer in Orlando, the publication began generating bi-weekly issues beginning August 31, 1994. Since then, The Watermark has consistently published newspaper-style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, The Watermark became a permanent piece of LGBTQ+ culture when the publication initiated the first large-scale Gay Days Weekend event, the Beach Ball at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Before 1999, the publication printed 20,000 copies every week, distributing them to over 500 locations between its two major cities. Following 1999, the publication launched watermarkonline.com shifting to an online publication style. In 2016, Rick Claggett purchased The Watermark.]]> The Watermark Colors, Vol. 9, No. 19, September 12-25, 2002, page 1: Publications Collection, GLBT History Museum of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Watermark Media]]> The Watermark Colors, Vol. 9, No. 19, September 12-25, 2002, page 1.]]> The Watermark Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Watermark Media.]]> Watermark Publishing Group and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Dykes to Watch Out For comic from the inaugural issue of The Watermark, published on September 14, 1994. The comic strip was created by Alison Bechdel, an openly gay cartoonist, and centered around the lives of a diverse group of characters, most of whom were lesbians. The comic was first published in 1983 and ran until 2008, when it went on hiatus.

Since 1994, The Watermark has been the cornerstone source of LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) centered news for the Central Florida region. Founded by Tom Dyer in Orlando, the publication began generating bi-weekly issues beginning September 14, 1994. Since then, The Watermark has consistently published newspaper-style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, The Watermark became a permanent piece of LGBTQ+ culture when the publication initiated the first large-scale Gay Days Weekend event, the Beach Ball at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Before 1999, the publication printed 20,000 copies every week, distributing them to over 500 locations between its two major cities. Following 1999, the publication launched watermarkonline.com shifting to an online publication style. In 2016, Rick Claggett purchased The Watermark.]]> Dykes to Watch Out ForThe Watermark, Vol. 1, No. 2, September 14, 1994, page 14: Publications Collection, GLBT History Museum of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Watermark Media]]> Dykes to Watch Out ForThe Watermark, Vol. 1, No. 2, September 14, 1994, page 14.]]> The Watermark Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> ]]> Watermark Media.]]> Alison Bechdel and is provided here by RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>