WriteSavvy.com

Journalism

Erika Pitera's experiences as a freelance journalist in Orlando have helped shape her vision at WriteSavvy.com. Erika regularly reports local news for Orlando Sentinel's Forum Publications.

Listed below are a few of her latest news clips.

Citrus growers eye jatropha

by Erika Pitera
Special Correspondent
East Orange Forum

As the price of gasoline continues to climb, the scramble for alternative fuel sources, including biofuels, ensues. One such biofuel, produced from the seeds of a plant called Jatropha curcas, has caught the attention of farmers and proponents of alternative energy around the world.

Jatropha is a hardy perennial that can grow in arid, non-agricultural land. One plant can last as long as 50 years, and it produces seeds that contain as much as 40 percent oil, which can then be crushed and processed to produce a biofuel.

Jatropha has become an attractive crop as the prices of other biofuel feedstock, such as soy, palm and canola, continue to rise. India, China and Brazil are the current leaders in jatropha cultivation, but the crop may appeal to Florida citrus growers who struggle with diseased citrus crops and marginal land.

According to My Dream Fuel LLC, a company planting jatropha in La Belle, Fla., jatropha can be harvested after two years and does not compete with food crops. In addition, the residue left over after processing the seeds is a nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer.

Kyle Freund, communications coordinator for Coffee Kids, a non-profit organization that helps "coffee-farming families improve the quality of their lives," said he believes in the potential of biofuels, particularly jatropha.

"Looking at the options, I don't think there will be a silver bullet that will solve all of our energy problems," Freund said. "People have to utilize a variety of options from biofuels and conventional fuels to solar, wind and geothermal energy."

Freund said that Coffee Kids has helped fund a project in a coffee-growing community in Guatemala to plant jatropha and castor beans on fallow land to use for biofuel.

"According to the Global Petroleum Club, it yields up to 202 gallons of biodiesel per acre versus soybeans, which produce only 48," Freund said. "At this point it is essentially a weed, instead of a full-fledged crop, so work will need to be done to provide for consistent yields. But it is extremely hardy and provides a favorable yield.

"It seems as if everyone wants to scale biofuel production up to the level of petroleum, but that won't be possible without taking massive quantities of land out of food production and destroying ecologically sensitive areas."

Freund said he does not think corn-based ethanol is the optimal choice for alternative energy, as "it takes almost more energy to produce than ethanol itself produces."

Orlando-based Xenerga, Inc., has also turned its attention to building plants and establishing turn-key biodiesel production facilities, according to Partner Coordinator Jon Kunstman. Xenerga recently opened a plant in LaPorte, Ind., and is building three others in the U.S.

"We still believe that jatropha and algae will be the most viable sources of feedstock in the future," Kunstman said.

Jatropha isn't the only crop grabbing the attention of biofuel supporters; a plant called guayule (pronounced why-you-lee), native to the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, is being used for biofuels and its natural rubber latex.

Yulex Corporation is one such company that is using guayule to create medical and biobased industrial products, such as a non-allergenic plant-based latex.

According to Betsy Brottlund, a Yulex representative, guayule has nearly 50 percent more energy content in its biomass than other cellulosic feedstocks.

"As a perennial cultivated crop, guayule offers the grower an economically attractive alternative to, for example, cotton and alfalfa," Brottlund said. "Guayule can be harvested as soon as 18 months after planting and, thereafter, harvested on an annual cycle, yielding an unrivaled 20 tons of biomass per acre.

"It's not a food source, so it won't drive up food prices and can be established in marginal, arid agricultural lands. Rain forests are being cleared in the Amazon for sugarcane and palm-oil plantations while guayule is grown here in the U.S."

Many people believe that jatropha and guayule have potential as biofuels, but as with any alternative fuel source, both crops will require further research and experimentation to determine if they will one day compete with petroleum.

Vacationers go Rving

by Erika Pitera
Special Correspondent
East Orange Forum

Rising fuel costs might put a damper on some summer vacation plans, but recent studies show significant increases in Recreational Vehicle rentals and campground reservations this vacation season.

Rather than fly or pack up the family car for a road trip, many are turning to the all-in-one conveniences of RVs.

According to Richard Coon, president of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), the RV rental market is doing well.

"In spite of gas prices, renting an RV is still much less expensive than flying," Coon said. "And when you figure in the airline hassle factor, including long security lines, delayed flights and lost luggage, it's easy to see why RV rentals are on the rise."

A recent study by PFK Consulting indicates that "typical RV family vacations are on average 26 to 74 percent less expensive than other types of vacations studied."

PFK studied the major costs of nine different types of family vacations to popular destinations including Orlando, the Grand Canyon, Cape Cod and Alaska.

The study also considered the three types of RVs commonly used for family vacations: the folding camping trailer, the conventional travel trailer and the Type C motor home.

"In all cases, RV trips were more economical than other vacations analyzed, regardless of trip duration, distance or region of the country," said Kannan Sankaran, PFK's lead researcher for the RV study.

According to RVIA, an average weeklong RV rental is about $1,500. Since the RV also serves as lodging and a place to prepare meals, the remaining costs include campground reservations and fuel.

Joe Laing from El Monte RV said, "A lot of families come in to rent an RV and are actually surprised that they can get away for a week for $2,000."

Donn Kaebisch, co-owner of RV Rental Outlet in Arizona, said RV vacations are a convenient way to visit some of the best national parks and travel destinations.

"Our customers love the flexibility and the fun they have by renting a vacation home on wheels," Kaebisch said. "We have all new top-of-the-line rental vehicles, which are perfect for camping, exploring Arizona's national parks and scenic byways or for just a quick trip up North to escape the heat.

"No one should sacrifice a quality family outing when they have a convenient, affordable vacation option to spend time exploring the wilderness, cooking meals together and building new family experiences to remember for a lifetime."

Many RVs have all the amenities a family will need while on vacation: a full bathroom, a master bedroom, a complete working kitchen and a living area. As a result, families can save quite a bit of money on food and entertainment.

RV expert and author Janet Groene, editor of CampAndRVCook.blogspot.com, a blog that provides recipes and tips for making the most of your meals while RVing, said having your own kitchen on board is a good way to save money and stay healthy.

"Road food gets boring when you have to settle for whatever you can find at the next exit," Groene said. "RVing with the family, you can pull into a shaded rest stop and feed the kids when they are hungry.

"Prepare the right meals for your diabetic loved one, stock the refrigerator with nutritious snacks and, best of all, prepare outdoor cookouts and share campfire stories while toasting marshmallows. You'll save money, but this is also about eating sensibly when and where you choose."

According to RVIA, the average family of four on a RV vacation spends $38 a day on food.

"RV vacations give you more control over your budget," said Bob Caldarone of Cruise America, a national RV rental agency. "They are a cost-effective and stress-free way to take a vacation."

Coon said, "Many people feel that air travel is getting out of reach. They're looking for a vacation alternative to just staying home or spending money on pricey hotels and restaurants. RVs offer a great vacation value, even with today's gas prices."

This could explain why campground reservations are up five percent from last summer. In addition to saving money, Groene said RV vacations are a unique way to travel with family and friends.

"Draw a 50-mile circle on a map of your hometown, and you'll find at least a dozen campgrounds, each with their own delights including a swimming pool and game room," Groene said. "Unpack once and you're home for the week no matter how many, or how few, miles you rack up."

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak, RV expert and author of the RV Home Yet? blog at blog.rvlifestyleexperts.com, said her experiences with RV rentals has also been positive, despite setbacks on a few of her trips.

"My late husband and I drove a rental RV from Anchorage, Alaska to Washington with a group of three others in rental RVs," Bruzenak said. "When one of the RVs had a breakdown, the company took care of it and provided another unit.

"My granddaughter and I rented a camper van in New Zealand and had a similar thing happen. The brakes were bad and couldn't easily be fixed. They brought us a new van, and we continued our trip."

Despite the relative affordability, flexibility and convenience of RV vacations, some RV enthusiasts are passing up their annual vacations this year.

Susan Greene, a copywriter in Orlando, said her family frequently rented RVs for vacations to national parks in years past.

Greene said her family usually spent around $1,500 for a week's rental, not including the cost of airfare, gas or campground reservations.

"This year, though, with gas prices so high, we've opted to do something different," Greene said. "We weighed the costs of getting an RV, and we just felt it was cost prohibitive."

Greene said her family would often fly to a destination and then rent an RV once they'd landed, but airline restrictions have made it difficult to pack everything a family needs for a road trip. Also, as her children have gotten older, Greene said an RV can get cramped.

Greene and her family have already been on one vacation this year to Costa Rica, and she's planning another trip in August to Panama.

"Our vacations look like an episode of 'Survivor,'" Greene said. "We're after a different kind of vacation now. We've chosen more affordable countries, where we can stay in nice hotels for $150 per night."

Depending on your vacation preferences and choice of destination, RV rentals can still be an affordable way to travel - despite the cost of gas.

To learn more about RV travel and vacations, visit www.GoRVing.com or call 1-888-Go RVing.

Drug talk widespread on Net

by Erika Pitera
Special Correspondent
East Orange Forum

Many parents with teens are aware of the threat of sexual content and predators online, but according to some experts, not enough recognize an equally dangerous online threat: talk of drug and alcohol use.

For teens, the Internet provides social networking, research resources, instant communication and a place to discuss substance abuse. Emoticons, slang and abbreviations in text messaging, e-mail and online chat allows teens to hide information from their parents.

According to President and CEO of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America Steve Pasierb, the Web exposes teens to far more pro-drug information than anti-drug information.

"There are more Web sites for 'how to get high' than for 'how to avoid drugs,'" Pasierb said.

"Teens are glamorizing drug use online, buying prescription drugs online and sharing recipes on Facebook. You can learn how to make your own pills. New trends in drug use travel across the country in a matter of weeks."

Despite the Internet's role in the changing landscape of teen substance abuse, Pasierb said most parents don't think anything of their teens' online activities because "it simply didn't exist when they were kids."

Tom Angell, government relations director for Students for Sensible Drug Policy said he thinks the real answer to these problems begins at home - with family discussions around the dinner table.

Angell said that a lack of open and honest discussion between parents and teens about substance abuse means that teens are getting their information about drugs from other sources.

"Young people are fed up with the lack of honest and accurate drug education they are receiving in schools and from the government," Angell said. "Students are turned off when they hear simplified, sound-byte messages about the complex issues of drug use and abuse.

"That's why young people are turning to Internet sites like Erowid.org where they can find comprehensive science-based information on the real effects of drugs, as well as lifesaving advice on how they can be as safe as possible if they do make the decision to use."

Mark Cherny, supervisor of outreach and community services at Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service in Palm Beach County, avoids anti-drug lectures when he presents to about 300 individual classes each year.

Cherny creates interactive presentations for grades 5 through 12 that include short skits and follow-up discussions to tackle issues like substance abuse, bullying and peer pressure.

"It's so much better than lecturing because the answers really come from the kids themselves," Cherny said.

"We like to get kids to share what they already know about drugs and alcohol, and we like to present skits that include adult characters so they can have a look ahead to the future and realize what life might be like for them 20 or 30 years from now."

In addition to his counseling and presentations, Cherny also provides e-mail counseling through a program called Teen Talk (www.teentalk4u.org). Teens can confidentially e-mail questions or ask for advice, and Cherny responds as quickly as possible.

"Telephone hotlines are kind of archaic now, so we have an online version in Teen Talk," Cherny said.

Both Pasierb and Cherny, a father of three, agree that in order to know what teens are doing online, parents have to be a little tech savvy and involved, asking questions and setting boundaries.

"You can be the most 'perfect' parent in the world, but there's no guarantee your kid won't get into drugs," Cherny said.

Pasierb said, "As a parent, you've got to be aware and live in their world. A lot of parents don't know how to text message. Learn, and then ask questions, find out where they are, who they're with, what they're doing.

"When parents do very small things, like send a text message, they learn a lot about their kids."

Unfortunately, substance abuse is a problem that affects many parents with teens. For parents who feel they've lost control of their teens, a Florida law allows them to regain control through the legal system.

The Marchman Act is a law under Florida Statute that allows family members to get help and treatment for a loved one who is unwilling to seek substance abuse services voluntarily.

Raymond G. Ferrero III, a partner with Addiction Recovery Legal Services in south Florida, specializes in Marchman Act cases.

"While the Marchman Act does provide families with excellent options, it is surprising how many people don't know it exists as a strategic solution, or they get frustrated after trying to pursue it on their own without knowledge of the legal system or treatment world," Ferrero said.

Ferrero said the Marchman Act works for several reasons: it creates legal and emotional protection for parents, and it gets treatment for the child and establishes consequences for their actions.

"Addiction is a family disease," Ferrero said. "It not only affects the users, but everyone around them."

For most Marchman Act cases, the first step is a family consultation. Next, the court phase begins.

Ferrero said they begin by petitioning the court for assessment and stabilization of the user. Once the user has been assessed, a recommendation is made by a treatment facility. Ferrero then returns to court to file a petition for treatment. Court mandated treatment can last up to 60 days.

"Things are good if we've reached this stage," Ferrero said. "If teens don't comply with court orders, they have to explain why in front of a judge and face sanctions including possible jail time.

"In 10 years of experience and nearly 5,000 cases, we've had great successes. The majority of those who file cases don't return."

Cherny said that even if parents think there is nothing they can do to stop their teens from drinking or using drugs, it's important not to give up.

"Thinking 'they're gonna do it anyways' shouldn't mean you give up your attempts to guide your children just because they're at an age where they're being influenced by other factors," Cherny said.

For more information, visit any of the following online resources: www.drugfree.org, www.timetotalk.org, www.arlsbroward.com, www.ruthralesjfs.org, www.drugwarfacts.org and www.ssdp.org.