THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, WE'LL ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ BE CLOSING ITS DOORS PERMANENTLY.

WE EXAMINED THE POTENTIAL SHUTDOWN OF THE DETENTION FACILITY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR GROUPS IN LITIGATION AGAINST THE CENTER SPRING IS IN THE AIR AND SO ARE THE LOVE BUGS.

WE FIND OUT.

IT'S THE SPLATTER OF LOVE BUGS ON YOUR CAR'S FRONT.

BUMPERS AND THE MORE THAN JUST A BIT UNSIGHTLY AND GOING GREEN IN ORDER TO FIND PEACE AND RELAXATION.

WE'RE GRABBING OR PRUNING SHEARS.

FOR A LOOK AT THE ARTISTIC SKILL OF BONSAI.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE CONTROVERSIAL IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER IN THE HEART OF THE EVERGLADES KNOWN AS ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ IS REPORTEDLY PREPARING TO CLOSE DOWN NEXT MONTH.

REPORTS SHOW THE ESTIMATED COST TO RUN THE FACILITY OVER A YEAR HAS BEEN NEARLY 1 BILLION DOLLARS.

1400 DETAINEES ARE EXPECTED TO BE MOVED TO OTHER LOCATIONS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER THIS WEEK IN FORT MYERS, GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SAID THAT ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE A PERMANENT FIXTURE.

>> WELL, AS I SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, THIS WAS A TEMPORARY FACILITY.

IT WAS BUILT TO BE TEMPORARY.

IF YOU IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN THERE, YOU'VE SEEN IT'S TEMPORARY.

WE DID NOT WANT TO BUILD A PERMANENT FACILITY AT THAT AIRPORT.

THAT WAS GOING TO BE BROKEN DOWN WHEN THERE WAS NO NO LONGER IN NEED.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY THE FLORIDA AND CARIBBEAN DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, MISS ALICE BENNETT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US SO MUCH TODAY.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

YOUR ORGANIZATION, FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES AND THE MICCOSUKEE TRIBE ALL JOINED FORCES TO SHUT DOWN THIS DETENTION FACILITY IMMEDIATELY UPON NEWS THAT IT WAS BEING BUILT BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2025.

NOW ALMOST A YEAR LATER, WE'RE ACTUALLY HEARING REPORTS THAT THE FACILITY COULD BE SHUT DOWN RATHER IMMINENTLY.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST HEAR THIS NEWS AND WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

>> WELL, THE NEWS HAVE BEEN TRICKLING OUT FOR AWHILE.

WE HAD BEEN HEARING THAT.

THAT FOLKS WERE BEING REMOVED FROM THE SITE AND TAKEN TO OTHER FACILITIES.

WE WERE SEEING FLIGHTS LANDING IN TAKING OFF.

AND SO IT WASN'T UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN I THINK THE NEW YORK TIMES BROKE THAT THERE WERE ACTUAL OFFICIAL CONVERSATIONS GOING ON, THAT WE STARTED TO GET A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT WAS OCCURRING IN THE FACT THAT THIS FACILITY MAY FINALLY BE CLOSED AND SOON WITH WITHIN THE END OF THE NEXT MONTH.

AND WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE FILED THIS CASE AND OUR MOTION FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION BEFORE THEY EVER BROUGHT ONE PERSON ONTO THAT SITE.

AND WE DID THAT TO TRY TO PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS THAT WE'VE PROVEN SINCE THEN AND THAT ARE ONGOING NOW.

SO WE'RE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WE FOUGHT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN SOONER.

WE'RE RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT.

IT MAY FINALLY CLOSE AND BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET UP WE CAN.

WHILE FLORIDA'S MOST VULNERABLE REMAIN AT RISK.

AND THE FACT IS UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT IT'S CLOSED IN ALL THE HARM IS REMEDIATED.

WE CAN'T STOP.

>> HAVE YOU BEEN MADE AWARE OF WHAT THE REASON IS BEHIND THIS TO CLOSURE, THE SUDDEN CLOSURES, ASSUMING IT HAPPENS, WE'VE HEARD REPORTS OF OPERATIONAL COSTS UPWARDS OF 1 BILLION DOLLARS AND THE COST OF A MILLION DOLLARS EVERY DAY TO RUN THE FACILITY.

>> I HEARD THE SAME.

HOW DO I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION CONFIRMING THAT?

THE THING THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS THAT WE'VE DONE DEMONSTRATED IN COURT AND WE CONTINUE TO OBSERVE THIS OVERWHELMING AND IRREPARABLE ENVIRONMENTAL HARM AND SEEING AS REPORTS BEGS THE QUESTION FOR WHAT A SADISTIC POLITICAL STUNT.

THAT WILL BE THE SOURCE OF NATIONAL SHAME FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND OPPORTUNITY TO DENY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE IN OUR COUNTRY TO VIOLATE FEDERAL LAWS.

AND THE FACT THAT NONE OF THOSE REASONS WERE ENOUGH TO SHUT DOWN THE FACILITY.

BUT THAT IT CAME DOWN TO THE MUD ON THEIR FACE AND AND HIGH COSTS FOR TAXPAYERS IS REALLY DISAPPOINTING.

>> DOES THE CLOSURE OF THIS FACILITY IMPACT OR LITIGATION WHICH STEMS, AS YOU MENTIONED FROM ALLEGATIONS THAT BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BROKE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS WITH A HASTY CONSTRUCTION OF IT IN THE EVERGLADES WITH REALLY 0 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES WHATSOEVER BEING DONE.

>> YEAH, KNOW THAT THE REPORTED TIMELINE OF THIS CLOSURE IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THE THE PLAN IS TO HAVE ALL DETAINEES REMOVED FROM THE SITE JUST DAYS BEFORE WE CAN JUMP BACK INTO ACTION IN DISTRICT COURT AND AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT OUR COMPLAINT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS.

AND THE FACT IS THAT THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE TO ENSURE THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT.

REMEDIATE AND PRESERVE THE SITE SO THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

SO WE ARE READY TO JUMP BACK INTO COURT AND EARLY JUNE AND CONTINUE OUR FIGHT UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT THIS PROJECT IS DEAD AND WILL NEVER COME BACK.

>> NOW YOU'VE ALSO FILED LITIGATION, TOO, GET RECORDS REGARDING THE FUNDING, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS SPENT AND WHERE ALL THOSE DOLLARS CAME FROM.

CAN YOU GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THOSE EFFORTS?

>> SO THAT LITIGATION WAS FILED BY FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES ARE CO-PLAINTIFF IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL CASE AND THEY CONTINUED TO RECEIVE RECORDS FROM THAT REQUEST THAT WE ARE REVIEWING AND MAKING PUBLIC AS AS WE GET THEM.

WE ALSO HAVE MANY RECORDS REQUEST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE RESPONSES HAVE BEEN SLOW WALKED AND WE ARE ARE STILL WORKING TO GET THAT INFORMATION, WHICH IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY VALUABLE TO CONTINUE TO PIECE TOGETHER THE PICTURE OF THE FULL EXTENT OF THE HARM THERE WE ARE.

A TEAM KNOW THAT THAT HARM IS OVERWHELMING.

BUT THERE ARE MANY DETAILS THAT WE KNOW ARE LIKELY NOT AWARE OF JUST YET.

SO EVEN BEYOND FIGHTING IN THIS CASE IN COURT TO STOP THE PROJECT AND GET THE SITE REMEDIATED, WE WILL ALSO BE FIGHTING TO GET ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT SO MANY FLORIDIANS AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION HAVE ABOUT THIS FACILITY AND ITS IMPACTS.

>> HOW WOULD YOU ENVISION THIS DECONSTRUCTION TO TAKE PLACE?

WOULD THAT HAPPEN RAPIDLY WITH YOU?

THINK?

WE DON'T KNOW.

>> PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DIDN'T COMPLY WITH THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT.

GENERALLY, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO COME WITH ITS FULL PLAN, NOT JUST THE SET UP, BUT ALSO THE TAKE DOWN BECAUSE FROM THE BEGINNING, THEY'VE CLAIMS THIS WAS GOING TO BE A TEMPORARY SITE.

SO THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A THOUGHTFUL PLAN PUT IN PLACE FOR HOW HOW ARE WE GOING TO REMOVE ALL OF THE HUMAN WASTE OFF OF THE SITE?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO REVIEW REMOVED JET FUEL?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING IS SPILLED OR RUNS OFF OF THE SITE?

ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN THOUGHT THROUGH ANSWERED BY EXPERTS WHO MANAGE THESE KINDS OF WASTE IN THESE IMPACTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

BUT BECAUSE THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT PUSHED AHEAD WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH THEIR OWN FEDERAL LAWS.

WE ARE STUCK IN THIS BOONDOGGLE WHERE WE KIND OF HAVE TO BUILD THE PLANE WHILE WE LAND IT.

AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GOING TO BACK AWAY AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TRY TO TO RESTORE THE SITE.

BUT IT SHOWS THE REASON THAT THESE LAWS EXIST AND WHY THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH IN THIS CASE.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AT LEAST BENNETT.

THANK YOU.

>> COMING UP NEXT, BRINGING AN UNWANTED DECAL TO THE FRONT OF YOUR CAR.

LOVE BUG SEASON IS HERE.

BUT THERE'S MORE TO THESE LITTLE CRITTERS THAN MEETS THE EYE.

EYE.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS A HISTORY OF DEVELOPING YOUTH FOR THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF BROADWAY.

AND FOR 17 YEARS, BARBARA B, MANN PERFORMING ARTS HALL HAS CELEBRATED THESE VERY TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMERS WITH AN ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY.

WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL WAS AT THIS YEAR'S EVENT AND HAS HIGHLIGHTS ON THE EVENING'S BIG WINNERS.

>> YOU SEE HER LATE AND I SAW ROAD.

>> ON MAY.

8TH 11 LEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL STRUTTED THEIR STUFF AT THE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS, ONE TOWN.

BUT WHAT I'M A MOM, THE NIGHT CELEBRATED THE IMMENSE TALENT OF THE ACTORS, TECHNICAL CREW AND OTHER CREATIVES TAKING PART IN THE MUSICAL'S.

THEY PERFORMED EARLIER THIS SEASON.

STUDENTS SPEND MONTHS WORKING ON THEIR PRODUCTIONS.

REHEARSING SONGS AND DANCE STEPS DESIGNING AND PAINTING SETS SEWING COSTUMES AND DOING EVERYTHING ELSE IT TAKES TO PUT ON A SCHOOL START WORKING ON THEIR PRODUCTIONS IN THE FALL REHEARSE ALL YEAR, INCLUDING AFTER SCHOOL AND ON WEEKENDS, THE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL AWARD CELEBRATES THEIR HARD WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS.

EACH SCHOOL FIRST PERFORMS OF 5 TO 7 MINUTE MASHUP OF THEIR COMPETITION SHOW.

THERE ARE NO SENSE NO COSTUMES, NO.

ARE CHRISTIANS.

THEY PERFORMED TO PRE-RECORDED MUSIC IN T-SHIRTS AND JEANS THIS YEAR.

PRO HIGH SCHOOL CHOSE DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID.

IS THERE COMPETITION PIECE THIS YEAR?

BISHOP FOR ROSE PRODUCTION OF THE LITTLE MERMAID FUTURE.

35 ACTORS CHANGING COSTUMES AS MANY AS A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE SPAN OF THE TWO-HOUR SHOW.

FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO SHUT WAS REWARDED BY A PANEL OF 5 JUDGES WITH WINS AND 2 OF THE SEC SCHOOL CATEGORIES.

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE GROUP.

AND OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AT LEHIGH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MIGUEL CINTRON CHOSE THE PAINT THE TOWN JAZZ EXTRAVAGANZA, CHICAGO TO SHOWCASES POWERFUL FEMALE PERFORMERS.

TAYLOR SPURS VELMA KELLY AND ADELE RODRIGUEZ GONZALES AS ROXIE HART, ALONG WITH VICTOR GALARZA IN THE ROLE OF THE BIG BAMBOO SLUR, BILLY FLYNN.

ON THE NIGHT LEHIGH SENIOR HIGH TOOK THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING EXECUTION OF CHOREOGRAPHY AND MISTER CELLOPHANE.

ALLAN SNAGGED THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING MALE IDENTIFYING ROLE NORTH FORT MYERS.

HIGH SCHOOL IS A PERENNIAL MUSICAL THEATER JUGGERNAUT THIS YEAR PROVED NO DIFFERENT DIRECTOR JONELLE LOUCKS, A SPIRITED CAN SEIZE THE DAY WITH EXCEPTIONAL VOCALS.

GYMNASTIC DANCE NUMBERS AND STRONG MALE ACTING IN ITS PRODUCTION OF NEWSIES NORTH FORT MYERS TOOK TOP HONORS FOR OUTSTANDING VOCAL EXECUTION TO THAT AWARD HALL.

THEY HAD AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN THE MAIL IDENTIFYING ROLE WHICH CASE AND DOBSON RECEIVED FOR HIS PORTRAYAL OF NEWSIES RABBLE-ROUSER JACK KELLY.

CYPRESS LAKE HIGH SCHOOL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CARMEN CHRIS, ARE CHOSEN AMBITIOUS PEACE.

NATASHA PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 18, 12, 3 ASPECTS OF THIS MUSICAL MADE IT A HUGE RISK IS A MUSICAL THEATER COMPETITION PIECE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

FIRST IS THE GENRE DEFYING MUSICAL SCORE.

CHARACTERIZED BY SOME AS ELECTRO POP OPERA NEXT.

IT'S BASED ON A SCANDAL, A SLICE OF LEO TOLSTOY'S WAR AND PEACE.

FINALLY, THE STORY REQUIRED.

A MULTI TIERED SET AND DOZENS OF PERIOD COSTUMES TO POSSESSED A RAVE PUNK FLAIR.

THE GAMBLE PAID OFF THE JUDGES CHOSE NATASHA PIERRE, THE GREAT COMET OF 18, 12 AS THIS YEAR'S OUTSTANDING OVERALL PRODUCTION AS WELL AS WINNER AND THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ORCHESTRA CATEGORY.

IN ADDITION, GIGI LAZY ADAMS WAS NAMED OUTSTANDING PERFORMER AND A FEMALE IDENTIFYING ROLE.

>> WATCHING THAT YOU CANNOT HELP BUT BE SO IMPRESSED AT THE IX.

TRUE, EXTRAORDINARY TALENT THAT WE HAVE AND OUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL THEATER GROUPS.

>> IT REALLY IS SO TRUE.

>> BECAUSE OF THE TRAINING THAT THEY RECEIVE IN SCHOOL IN OUR COMMUNITY THEATERS.

>> OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ACTUALLY GET PLACED INTO THE TOP MUSICAL THEATER PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY.

LAST YEAR ALONE FOR LEE COUNTY GRADS WERE ACCEPTED INTO THE NYU SCHOOL TO SHOVE THE ARTS, WHICH IS THE TOP PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.

SO THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU JUST SAW ON STAGE DURING THE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS, THEIR INCUBATORS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSICAL THEATER, TALENT.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT THEM BY ATTENDING THEIR SHOWS AND REMINDING SCHOOL BOARD AND SCHOOL DISTRICT MEMBERS AND STATE LOCAL POLITICIANS OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE.

THE ARTS PLAY IN CREATING PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THEIR SUCCESS REFLECTS FAVORABLY ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND BURNISH IS OUR REPUTATION NOT JUST AMONG THEATER PROFESSIONALS BUT CULTURAL TOURISTS AND PEOPLE IN COMPANIES ARE THINKING OF RELOCATE RELOCATING HERE.

>> NOW WE'VE ALSO TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN ANY GIVEN WEEK THERE ARE BETWEEN 20 AND 30 PLAYS AND THEATER PERFORMANCES FROM MARCO ISLAND ALL THE WAY TO SARASOTA.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO PLENTY OF MUSICAL CONCERTS, CORRECT?

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> AND ONE ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT HAS YOUR ROUNDERS DURING THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER IS GULF COAST SYMPHONY.

NOW I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN RECENTLY WITH THE FOUNDER AND MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE GULF COAST SYMPHONY.

ANDREW KURTZ TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY'VE GOT IN STORE FOR US THIS SUMMER.

HERE'S WHAT HE HAD.

THE SITE.

>> OUR BIGGEST SHOW WILL BE AMERICA.

2.50, SYMPHONIC CELEBRATION AT THE BARBARA B MANN PERFORMING ARTS HALL ON JULY.

3RD, WHERE WILL BE DOING RHAPSODY IN BLUE MUSIC BY COPELAND AS WELL AS MUSIC BY JOHN WILLIAMS, THE GULF COAST JAZZ COLLECTIVE, WHICH PERFORMS ALL YEAR LONG HAS CONCERTS BY SONNY ROLLINS, FATS, WALLER STEVIE WONDER, FIDE AND WAYNE SHORTER.

ADDITIONALLY ONE NIGHT SHOWS BY KIND OF MANIA, THE FORCE II NOTES, WHICH FRANKIE VALLI SHOW WITH ALUMNI FROM JERSEY BOYS ON BROADWAY SOUNDS OF SOUL AND AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS, WHICH IS THAT ANDREW SISTER SHOW RUNS ALL SUMMER LONG.

FINALLY, WE'RE BRINGING BACK OUR APPLE PIE CONCERT SERIES.

GREAT CLASSICAL MUSIC, GREAT JAZZ.

WE FINISHED THE CONCERT WITH A PIECE OF PIE.

NOTHING MORE AMERICAN THAN THAT.

>> THE TOM, OUR MUSEUMS ARE ALSO OPEN THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AS WELL.

>> TRUE, ALTHOUGH THE BERRIEN A MUSEUM OF ART WHIMSY CLOSES FOR THE SUMMER ON MAY 23RD ALL THE OTHER MUSEUMS ARE OPEN THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

IN FACT, SARASOTA ART MUSEUM JUST COMMISSIONED ARTIST MARIA GUZMAN CAPER HIM TO DO A SHOW THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE GALLERY ALL THE WAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 27TH.

NOW THIS WOMAN HAS A MELTING ONE WOMAN MELTING POT.

HER MOM AND DAD ARE PROVING IN COLOMBIAN SHE WAS BORN IN MILAN, ITALY THEN SPENT SOME TIME IN COLUMBIA BEFORE MOVING TO OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, BY WAY OF TEXAS.

HER EXPERIENCE AND ALL THESE PLACES HAS INSPIRED HER TO CREATE TEXTILE.

ART WORKS THAT ADDRESS.

HOW ARE THE ENTITIES ARE SHAPED BY DIFFERENT INFLUENCES AND CAN CHANGE FROM MOMENT TO MOMENT DEPENDING ON CONTEXT.

HER SHOW IS CALLED PENUMBRA AND IT FEATURES A SUSPENDED 15 FOOT LONG DRAGON U.S.

TEXTILE SCULPTURE THAT SHE'S NAME SOMBRA.

HERE'S SARASOTA ART MUSEUM CURATOR LACEY, BARBARA, TO TELL US MORE.

>> SHADOWS.

WE ALL HAVE THEM.

THEY FOLLOW US AROUND OUR ENTIRE LIVES.

GROW WITH US.

YET THEIR FLEETING AND ABLE TO DISAPPEAR AT ANY MOMENT MARIA GRIEZMANN, CAPE FRIEND AND HER SOLO EXHIBITION.

PENUMBRA.

USES THIS METAPHOR OF THE SHADOW.

THIS GRAY AREA, THE IN BETWEEN TO TALK ABOUT CULTURAL HYBRID E D SELF EXPRESSION AND IDENTITY.

THIS EXHIBITION IS A COLORFUL, IT'S FUN.

IT'S APPROACHABLE.

THERE'S SO MANY DETAILS THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO FIND AND THE ART WORKS AND IS REALLY AN EXPLOSION OF COLOR AND EXCITEMENT.

>> TOM HALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY AND SHARING WITH US ALL THESE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU, TOM.

>> MAKE SURE YOU ARE KEEPING UP WITH ALL OF TOM HALLS, ARTS STORIES.

>> BY HEADING TO OUR WEB SITE WHEC, YOU DOT ORG.

WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF LOVE BUG SEASON IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

YOU MAY SEE THEM SPLATTERED ALL ACROSS YOUR FRONT BUMPER OVER ALONG THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE.

LOVE BUGS ARE ONLY HERE.

A FEW WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR.

WGCU FM HOST EMMA RODRIGUEZ SAYS HERE TO TELL US WHY WE'RE SEEING SWARMS OF THEM AND THE IMPACTS THAT THEY HAVE ON US.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

EMMA, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JENNIFER.

WHY OUR LOVE BUGS SO PLENTIFUL RIGHT NOW IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

JENNIFER, IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT OUR CLIMATE AND THE TYPICAL LIFE-CYCLE OF A LOVE BUG.

WE KNOW ITS LOVE BUG SEASON WHEN THE ADULTS ARE FLYING AROUND AND GETTING ALL OVER OUR HOMES AND CARS FOR THE SPRING LOVE BUG SEASON WHICH WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF RIGHT NOW.

THEIR EGGS ARE TYPICALLY LAID IN SEPTEMBER AND ARE HATCHING NOW IN MAY.

I TALKED TO DR NORMAN LEFT LA A PROFESSOR OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.

AND HE SAYS HE HELPS THE HATCHING PROCESS.

>> INSECTS ARE COLD BLOODED SO THEY CAN'T REGULATE THEIR TEMPERATURE.

THEY RELY ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND IT'S WARMER IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND IT'S MORE TROPICAL WHICH IS WHAT LOVE BUGS COME FROM.

>> LOVE BUG SEASON IN BOTH NORTH AND CENTRAL FLORIDA HAS JUST NOW STARTING SINCE IT'S A BIT COOLER AND LESS HUMID UP THERE.

LOVE BUGS ARE ALSO CALLED MARCH FLIES.

>> AND THEY FLY AROUND IN PAIRS MATING IN THE AIR AND THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.

WHAT DO THEY DO FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT?

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

>> YOU THINK IT WOULD AFFECT OUR ECOSYSTEM, BUT DR LEFT PLUS SAID THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRETTY MINIMAL.

LOVE BUGS.

DON'T HAVE MANY PREDATORS AND INDIVIDUAL BUGS ARE ONLY LIVE FOR A FEW DAYS.

THEY'RE PRETTY BIG NUISANCES AS THEY CAN DAMAGE THE PAINT ON CARS AND ALSO HOUSE WALLS.

THEY'RE ATTRACTED TO CAR FUMES AND SERVICES THAT TRACK LIKE.

>> AND THEY WERE ATTRACTED TO MY CAR THIS WEEKEND.

HAVE A WHITE CAR.

I DROVE IT ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

I GOT THERE ALL BLACK ON THE FRONT.

I IMMEDIATELY WENT AND WASHED IT OFF BECAUSE I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THEY CAN REALLY HURT YOUR PAINT.

BUT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY.

WHY ARE THESE LOVE BUG SO DAMAGING TO THE EXTERIOR PAINT 100 VEHICLES.

>> THE WELL-KNOWN THIS IS THAT THE INSIDES OF LOVEBUGS ARE ACIDIC.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT CAN END UP DAMAGING YOUR CAR'S EXTERIOR.

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THEIR EGGS THAT SHIP THE PAINT, DR LAPLACE AS THE EGGS REACT TO THE HEAT.

>> WHEN YOU SEE THAT SPLATTER, THAT LIGHT-COLORED SPLATTER, THAT EGGS AND THOSE EGGS, IF THEY'RE LEFT ON THE CAR, WE'LL COOK INTO THE PAINT.

BECAUSE OF THE SUN.

AND SO YOU DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IF YOU REMOVE THEM SOON.

BUT IF YOU DON'T, THEY'LL COOK RIGHT INTO THE PAINT.

>> AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE SPRING LOVE BUG SEASON SHOULD BE DONE BY ABOUT NEXT WEEK.

GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS STORY.

>> AND YOU ARE THE HOST OF A AMID DAYS HERE AT WGCU YOU'RE ON THE INSIDE AND IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE ON THE TV SIDE TODAY.

THINK YOU EMMA, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND LOVE YOUR WORK GIRL.

DO YOU TOO.

>> HERE'S SOME MORE INFORMATION ON LOVE BUGS FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA EXTENSION OFFICE SAYS LOVEBUGS ARE A NATURAL SPECIES NATIVE TO CENTRAL AMERICA THAT MIGRATED NORTH THROUGH TEXAS AND LOUISIANA.

THEY REACHED FLORIDA IN THE MID 20TH CENTURY.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH EMMA RODRIGUEZ SAYS COVERAGE BY SIMPLY LOGGING ON TO WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, FINDING UNDERSTANDING IN THE COMBINATION OF PLANTS AND ART AND EXAMINATION OF THE CENTURIES-OLD TRADITION OF BONSAI.

THE PRACTICE OF BONSAI ART TRACES ITS ROOTS BACK TO THE 3RD CENTURY.

BCE AND HAS SINCE BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF CHINESE AND JAPANESE CULTURE AS PART OF OUR CELEBRATION OF ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH.

WGCUS KATE CRONIN VISITED A PRESTIGIOUS JAPANESE MUSEUM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HORTICULTURE PRACTICE.

>> THE SECOND WEEK OF MAY MARKS WORLD BONSAI DAY, A MONUMENTAL HOLIDAY FOR THEM OR KAMI JAPANESE GARDENS AND MUSEUM LOCATED IN DELRAY, FLORIDA.

ACCORDING TO CURATOR, HAD THE GRIS BACK.

THE WORD BONSAI TRANSLATES TO TREAT IN A TRAY AND MORE.

CONNIE GROUNDSKEEPERS PRACTICE TRADITIONAL JAPANESE GARDENING TECHNIQUES.

>> THESE TREES ARE CELEBRATED BECAUSE THEY'RE PASSED DOWN FROM BONSAI MASTER TO BONSAI MASTER.

SO I EXPRESS ING YOURSELF AND THE ARTIST AND THEN ENTRUSTING IT INTO THE HANDS OF ANOTHER TO PERPETUATE.

IT'S LIFE AND CONTINUE.

YOUR VISION IS IS SUCH A A GREAT WAY TO CELEBRATE A BONE SIGH.

>> THE MUSEUM WAS THE 3RD CENTER TO BE DESIGNATED BY THE WORLD.

BONSAI FRIENDSHIP FEDERATION AS A REGIONAL STANDARD BEARER INSIDE.

IT'S GLOBALLY RENOWNED BONSAI EXHIBITION BUTTONWOOD TREE THAT BEGAN ITS JOURNEY ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE YEAR.

1600 CEO BONSAI MASTERS LED SPOKE TO THE METAPHORICAL NATURE OF THE BOMB SITE WITH OLD BRANCH IS BEING TRIMMED AWAY TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW BLOSSOMING LEANS AS TIME GOES ON.

EVEN BONSAI MASTERS THEMSELVES.

FOLLOW THIS PATTERN, PASSING TREASON, KNOWLEDGE FROM ONE MASTER TO ANOTHER THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIMES.

FORCE.

A TAKES CARE OF OVER 130 TREES ACROSS THE GARDENS WITH A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS.

>> BEATING THAT THESE THINK THE MOST FUN.

CREATING THE FINDING THAT DID MAKING IT BEAUTIFUL.

THEY CAN BOTH OF THEM, BUT THAT IT WILL BE A THAT'S.

>> THAT'S THE BEST THING TO SAY THAT LIVING UP TO THAT.

THAT IS NOT NOT SPOTTY CANNOT WAS >> WE'LL BASICALLY IT'S A LIFETIME COMMITMENT FOR YOU.

WANT IT TO BE.

YOU KNOW, WHERE THE ICE FOLKS.

>> THE CELEBRATION WAS FILLED WITH JAPANESE STAPLES, TRADITIONAL FARE, INCLUDING MUCH IN RICE CAKES AND WORKS FROM ASIAN AMERICAN ARTISTS THAT SHOWCASE THE ANCIENT TECHNIQUE OF SUNNI E A MINIMALIST ART FORM TOP A ZEN MONKS, EAGLE EYED VISITORS CAN GET A PEEK AT THE BONSAI TRAINING GROUNDS FOR PRE BONDS.

I ARE SHAPED INTO BONSAI TREES OVER THE YEARS.

BONSAI MASTER MOON, MONICA TV, PART HAS TRAVELED THE WORLD, TEACHING THE ART OF BONSAI, HIS WORK ON THE SPECIFIC TREE FOR 10 YEARS VISITING MOORE COUNTY ANNUALLY TO TRIM WIRE AND REPOT BONSAI.

>> SO WHAT I'M DOING WITH THIS STREET IS AN OLD TREE.

VISIT CUB.

THE ZOO AND GRAND JURY.

BAZILLION RE-ENTRY.

SO THAT HE HAS WHEN WHEN YOU CALL USE, THAT'S BEEN SITE, YOU SEE THAT WRONG.

IT'S NOT DROWN.

WHEN YOU CALL THEM THAT ROUND, WE HAVE A PASSION AND THEY HAVE THE 3 CENTER AND DEFEND CAN IT THEN THAT ROUND, THIS UNIQUE ON THIS BUSY AND THIS MOVE PRONGED?

>> THE STORY OF MORE COUNTIES GROUNDS STARTS IN 19.

0, 6 WITH A JAPANESE IMMIGRANT JORGE SKI TEAM OR CONNIE.

HE CAME TO WHAT IS NOW DELRAY WITH 18 OTHER JAPANESE IMMIGRANTS WHO SOUGHT TO FARM TEEN SOAK IN FLORIDA'S FERTILE SOIL.

THEY SOON FOUND THOSE CROPS TO COMMENCE LABOR BY 1940, MOST MEN PACKED UP MOVING BACK TO JAPAN OR OTHER PARTS OF FLORIDA, BUT NOT MORE.

CONNIE.

>> GEORGE DECIDED THAT HE WAS GOING TO MAKE A GO OF IT.

>> AND SO WHAT HE DID IS HE AMASSED LAND.

>> AND SO THE PROPERTY THAT WE SIT ON WAS THE LAND THAT GEORGE HAD AMASSED OVER HIS LIFETIME.

>> THE 200 ACRE PROPERTY WAS TURNED INTO A JAPANESE CULTURAL CENTER IN 1977.

TO HONOR HIS LEGACY.

IT STARTED WITH AN AUTHENTIC TEA HOUSE TRADITIONAL JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE AND JUST PLAYING MORE THAN 7,000 ARTIFACTS, THE MOORE COUNTY JAPANESE GARDENS AND MUSEUM IS A TESTAMENT TO JAPANESE CULTURE.

MUCH LIKE THE BONSAI TREE.

ITS GROUNDS CONTINUE TO GROW AND CHANGE.

BUT WORLD BONSAI DAY ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M KATE CRONIN.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, BOATING SEASON KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR WITH THE UPCOMING MEMORIAL HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

WE LEARN SOME TIPS THAT WILL HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY STAY SAFE ON THE WATER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.