Witches take Center Stage, Governor's Race & New Calusa Documentary

>> THIS THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP. WE ARE NOW JUST DAYS AWAY FROM FINDING OUT WHO WILL BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF THE SUNSHINE STATE WITH THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS WRAPPING UP, WE REVISIT THE LONE EVENT. WE'RE BOTH LEADING CANDIDATES APPEARED ON THE SAME STAGE. >> I SWEAR THAT I WILL NOT PRACTICE WITCHCRAFT IN THIS HOUSE EVER AGAIN. SO HELP ME, TODD. A SET AMOUNT FOR US TO WIN THIS TOO. UNREAL SAY AISD WHERE? >> THE MIDNIGHT HOUR IS DRAWING NEARER AND WITCHES ARE MAKING THEIR PRESENCE KNOWN. THE SPELLBINDING PERFORMANCE THAT WILL GET YOU IN THE HALLOWEEN MOVED. AND CREATING A SUCCESSFUL LIFE WHILE LIVING WITH BLINDNESS. WE MEET 2 WOMEN WHO SHINED BRIGHT DESPITE THEIR WORLD BEING DIMMED BY POOR VISION. HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. AS THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS WRAP-UP THIS COMING TUESDAY, THE RACE TO BE FLORIDA'S NEXT GOVERNOR IS STILL NECK-AND-NECK. POLLS HAVE THE LEADING CANDIDATES REPUBLICAN BYRON DONALDS AND DEMOCRAT DAVID JOLLY WITHIN A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS OF EACH OTHER. WE WANTED TO REVISIT OUR LOOK AT THE 2 CANDIDATES WHEN THEY TOOK PART IN THE RECENT SUNSHINE ECONOMY SUMMIT HOSTED BY LAWRENCE TOM HUDSON. >> JOURNALIST TOM HUDSON WITH WL ARE IN PUBLIC MEDIA IN MIAMI JOINS US NOW. TOM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO TALK TO ME TODAY. >> OF COURSE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME. APPRECIATE IT. >> NOW, NEITHER CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR REPUBLICAN BYRON DONALDS OR DEMOCRAT DAVID JOLLY AGREED TO A DEBATE PRIOR TO THE ELECTION. BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO HOLD BACK-TO-BACK DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH CANDIDATES. WHAT WAS THAT FORMAT AND HOW DID YOU ACCOMPLISH THIS? >> WELL, WE JUST INVITED THAT WE ASKED AND WE WERE CLEAR WITH BOTH CAMPAIGNS FOR WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE PRIMARY AND THEN AFTER THE PRIMARY, WHEN BOTH CANDIDATES SECURED THEIR PARTY NOMINATIONS FOR GOVERNOR, THAT WE WERE GOING TO FOCUS THE CONVERSATION ON WHAT FLORIDIANS SAY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES WHICH ARE ECONOMIC ISSUES. SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOME INSURANCE. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT INFLATION. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PRICES. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TAXES. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. AND THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR CAMPAIGNS WERE EAGER TO ENGAGE ON ECONOMIC ISSUES BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR PARTICULARLY NON COMMITTED VOTERS TO HEAR ABOUT ECONOMIC POLICIES. >> WHEN I WAITED TABLES AND HAD TO PUT IN MY TIP SHARE, IT DIDN'T MATTER, FALLS AWAY AND TABLES IN TALLAHASSEE. THEY STILL WITHHELD THAT FROM MY FROM MY RAGE ON THE FEDERAL ONE. I WAS WORKING HOURLY WAGES AND I WAS MOVING FURNITURE AND ON THE WEEKEND OF SANIBEL ISLAND TO MAKE ENDS MEET FICA STILL CAME FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH I WAS LIVING IN FLORIDA. SO THE COMMENT ABOUT THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE AN INCOME TAX. I THINK THAT'S FINE. I THINK THAT'S FAIR. SECOND, FLORIDA WILL NEVER HAVE AN INCOME TAX. BUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DOES SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES KEEP MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET. HELP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS KEEP MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET IS A GOOD THING. AND THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ON TOP. >> WELL, WE HAVE A BROAD ECONOMIC PACKAGE FOCUSED ON HOUSING, HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION. SOME OF THESE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE TO A BALLOT INITIATIVE. RIGHT ESTATE CATASTROPHIC FUND FOR INSURANCE. I'VE COMMITTED TO A 10 YEAR RENAISSANCE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. BUT I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT SCALING UP WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENTS, THERE'S 2 BILLION DOLLARS RIGHT NOW SITTING IN A FUND THAT COULD BE DEPLOYED. BUT DESANTIS DOESN'T EVEN HAVE AN AGENCY HAD RIGHT NOW TO DO IT. AND BUT THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS TAKES OVER IMMEDIATELY. >> NOW IN TERMS OF GETTING THE 2 CANDIDATES TOGETHER, BACK-TO-BACK IN THE SAME ROOM BACK IN LATE SEPTEMBER. I THINK IT WAS A COMBINATION OF PREPARATION, SKILL, TIMING AND LOCK. I'LL BE PERFECTLY HONEST WITH YOU. BUT THE CAMPAIGNS AND THE CANDIDATES WERE YOUR TO ENGAGE WITH US. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEM. AND WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FLORIDA VOTERS TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES AND IN A IN A FASHION THAT WE THINK CAN HELP PERHAPS ALLOW THE VOTERS TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES. >> NOW, THE RACE IS EXTREMELY TIGHT AT THIS POINT. ANY INSIGHT ON WHY THEY WILL NOT DEBATE EACH OTHER ON A PUBLIC STATE? >> WELL, WE PUT THAT TO DAVID JOLLY AT THE END OF OUR CONVERSATION. AND HE WAS CLEAR HE SHUT IT DOWN RIGHT AWAY TO SAY THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE ANY DEBATE. THERE WERE THERE WAS NO CRACK OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DEBATES BEFORE ELECTION DAY. HE SAID HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN ENGAGING WITH HIS COUNTERPART IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. REPRESENTATIVE DONALDS. I'M NOT. >> GOING TO DEBATE AND THAT'S MY FINAL DECISION. AND HERE'S WHY. I THINK THERE IS AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF BAD FATE AND DISHONESTY IN OUR POLITICS TODAY. WRIT GIVE DOGGETT BYRON GRAYSON NOT LAY THIS AT HIS FEET. THE AMOUNT OF BAD FAITH AND VITRIOL, ISRAEL, OUR POLITICS ARE BROKEN. WE'RE MORE DIVIDED THAN EVER BEFORE. ARE POLITICIANS WHO SEEM TO TELL US EVERY DAY IF WE HATE EACH OTHER ENOUGH. >> REPRESENTATIVE DONALDS FOR HIS PART WAS EAGER TO ENGAGE, IN FACT, SAID THAT IF A JOLLY HAD BEEN INTERESTED, WE COULD HAVE PULLED UP A 3RD CHAIR RIGHT THERE AND HAD A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE 2 OF THEM IS IMPORTANT FOR >> KENNEDY TO BE THERE AND GET TAKE THAT IN COMING FROM ALL VOTERS ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY CARE ABOUT ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO THE DEBATES. HE SHOULD STOP RUNNING. WE CAN DO IT ANY TIME. ANY PLACE ANYWHERE. I'VE AGREED TO 3. LET'S DO IT. >> IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT VIEWERS AND LISTENERS AND FLORIDIANS WANT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE 2 CANDIDATES ENGAGE TOGETHER SIMULTANEOUSLY. BUT I THINK THAT THESE CANDIDATES ALSO HAVE PROVIDED SOME OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE ECONOMIC ISSUES FOR VOTERS TO LEARN. THEY'RE VERY DISTINCT PERSONALITIES AND THEIR DISTINCT POLICY PRIORITIES. >> WHAT WOULD YOU SUMMARIZE AS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE CANDIDATES SPECIFIC PRIORITIES AND HOW THEY WOULD GOVERN FROM TALLAHASSEE? >> WELL, FOR REPRESENTATIVE DONNELL'S, I THINK IT'S LIKELY TO BE A CONTINUATION OF MANY DESANTIS ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT WE'VE SEEN AS WELL AS WHAT THE CANDIDATE HAD UP UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER PLEDGED ON HIS WEB SITE, WHICH WAS TO ENACT THE TRUMP. NOW HE REMOVED MANY OF THE REFERENCES TO THE CURRENT PRESIDENT FROM HIS CAMPAIGN WEBSITE AND HAS REALLY DIFFERED TALKING DIRECTLY ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S ENDORSEMENT WHICH HELPED PROPEL HIM TO THE GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. BUT WE SPOKE ABOUT TARIFFS NOW. CLEARLY THAT'S A FEDERAL POLICY. BUT HE SUPPORTED THE TRUMP TARIFFS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY, WHICH HE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND OF COURSE, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOME INSURANCE, WHICH IS A KEY DIFFERENTIATOR BETWEEN THESE 2 CAMPAIGNS IN THESE 2 CANDIDATES. >> RIGHT AFTER HURRICANE WILMA. BUT 20 YEARS AGO, THIS LEGISLATURE PUT IN A 24% SURCHARGE ON TOP OF THE PREMIUMS THAT ARE PAID INTO FLORIDA'S CAT FUND. WE PUT IT IN PLACE DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE THE CAT FUND WAS ALMOST EMPTY AND TALLAHASSEE MOVE QUICKLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAT FUND WAS SHORED UP TODAY GETTING PAST WEEK. ONCE WE GET THROUGH THIS HURRICANE SEASON AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. YOU KNOW, OVER THE NEXT 6 WEEKS OR SO. EVERYBODY KNOCKED ON WOOD, EVERYBODY, PLEASE. BUT WE GET THROUGH THIS HURRICANE SEASON. THE CAT FUND IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 13 13 AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS. SO WHY DO WE HAVE A 25% KICKER ON TOP TO KEEP FILLING A CAT FUND WHO STATUTORY LIMIT OF 17 BILLION DOLLARS. >> BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE COVERING TRADITIONAL PERILS TREE FALLING BROKEN PIPE SLIP AND FALL. THINK ABOUT WHO'S NOT IN THE MARKET RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE NOT IN THE MARKET BECAUSE THERE'S NOT AN REALLY SOUND WAY TO COVER NATURAL DISASTERS AND STORMS. IF THE MARKET BECAME A STABLE MARKET WHERE YOU'RE COVERING TRADITIONAL PERILS, ALL THE SUDDEN YOU OPEN UP THE MARKET, THE CARRIERS THAT WOULD NEVER OTHERWISE CONSIDER BEING IN FLORIDA. >> SO VERY DISTINCT DIFFERENCES AND THEN ALSO GOVERNING STYLES ARE VERY DIFFERENT RIGHT? REPRESENTATIVE DONNELL'S AS A REPUBLICAN WILL LIKELY INHERIT A SUPERMAJORITY IN TALLAHASSEE IN THE FLORIDA HOUSE IN THE FLORIDA SENATE WHERE AS DAVID JOLLY AS A DEMOCRAT, IF HE'S ELECTED, WE'LL HAVE MINORITY REPRESENTATION IN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AND HE PLEDGED TO REALLY GOVERN FROM A STRONG EXECUTIVE STANDPOINT USING EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN HIS ROLE. SHOULD HE BE ELECTED GOVERNOR? >> WHAT WERE THE DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES ON AMENDMENT 3? >> A WILDLY DIFFERENT, RIGHT? YOU HAD DAVID JOLLY SAYING THAT HE WAS VERY MUCH AGAINST AMENDMENT 3, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS AND THUS LEAD TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ALL OF THE KINDS OF SERVICES THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE. REPRESENTATIVE DONNELL'S, IT WAS QUITE THE OPPOSITE, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE EFFORT AND ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF CONTINUING TO LOOK AT PROPERTY TAXES AND HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE SPENDING THOSE DOLLARS ON BEHALF OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS. IT ALSO SEEMED CLEARED. THE REPRESENTATIVE DONALDS WAS PRETTY INTERESTED IN A VERY STRONG ROLE FOR STATE GOVERNMENT IN DEALING WITH THE FINAL DECISION. SHOULD FLORIDA VOTERS APPROVE THIS INCREASE IN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND HOW THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS LIKELY GOING TO BE VIEWED AND LOOKED AT AS A A DECIDING FACTOR ABOUT HOW THE TAX POLICY GETS IMPLEMENTED AND GOING FORWARD AND WHAT OPTIONS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE TO REPLACE SOME OF THAT MISSING PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. >> ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, TOM HUDSON FOR THOSE LEISURE. EXCELLENT INSIGHT. THANKS. A LOT. COMING UP NEXT WITH TWOS ARE TAKING OVER THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THEATER SCENE. A LOOK AT THE SEASONAL PERFORMANCE THAT INSPIRED A CLASSIC TV SITCOM. >> WE'RE NOW JOINED BY WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL. AND TOM, THIS IS HALLOWEEN WEEKEND. >> AND THERE'S A VARIETY OF SPOOKY PERFORMANCES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THAT FOLKS CAN ENJOY. TELL US ABOUT THEM. >> WELL, IF YOU DARE. >> YOU CAN ATTEND STAGE FRIGHT NIGHT SUMMONING THE A THEATRICAL HALLOWEEN EXPERIENCE AT THE ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS. IT'S FILLED WITH HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS. LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND THEMED INTERACTIVE EVENTS, INCLUDING AN IMMERSIVE HAUNTED HOUSE. WE'RE MATTER. MORE TO SAY ONS HAS UNLEASHED THE RESTLESS SOULS OF THEATERS PAST, BROUGHT TO LIFE BY LOCAL ARTISTS, ACTORS AND DESIGNERS. VENICE TEARS, HALLOWEEN TREAT IS THE MOST FAMOUS DOUBLE MURDER IN HISTORY. THE LIZZIE BORDEN STORY, BLOOD RELATIONS. EVEN THOUGH LIZZIE BORDEN'S TORY WAS AN ACTUAL 18 92 MURDER MYSTERY. IT'S BECOME A STAPLE OF HALLOWEEN LORE. GHOST TOURS AND CRIME POP CULTURE. PROBABLY BECAUSE IT REMAINS UNSOLVED TO THIS DAY. IN SARASOTA. DON, YOUR SPOOKY, HIS COSTUME FOR PERFORMANCE OF DRACULA BY SARASOTA, CUBAN BALLET. OR BE DOOMED BY FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE'S IMPROV TROUPE AS THEY CREATE AN IMPROMPTU HER MOVIE ADVENTURE RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES. AND IN INGLEWOOD FALL UNDER THE SPELL OF BILLION HOLROYD AND BELL BOOK AND CANDLE LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE. NOW THIS WAS A PRECURSOR TO THE POPULAR SITCOM STARRING ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY AND AGNES MOOREHEAD, THE WHICH THAT RAN FOR 8 SEASONS ON ABC. LET'S TAKE A LOOK. >> WELL, THE FIRST PLACE ON THE WAY TILL PART. >> AND YOU FOUND SOMETHING NEW RATHER DO THAT. HERE'S WHY. WHICH IS WALK AMONG US. >> SO SAYS THE COMEDY BELL BOOK AND CANDLE ON STAGE HALLOWEEN AFTERNOON AT LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE, JOSEPH JOJO PLAYS A MUNDANE BY THE NAME OF SHEPHERD HENDERSON, JULIO ELABORATES. >> THIS BOUT. >> MODERN DAY WITCHCRAFT BEING. PERFORMED IN NEW YORK CITY OR AROUND. AND NOW A LOT OF US HAVE BUT HAVE NO IDEA THAT IT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON. >> SET IN THE 1950'S THE BELL BOOK AND CANDLE COMMUNITY OF WITCHES AND WARLOCKS KNOWN AS A COVEN. FREQUENT, CERTAIN HANGOUTS IN THE CITY. >> YOU PROBABLY THOUGHT OF WITCHCRAFT IS BEING CAN FIND IT. >> SHOWN GOALS IN PLACES LIKE THAT. SO TO UNTIL NOW, YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS. RIGHT HERE ALL AROUND. IT'S A COMMUNITY VOTED JUST THAT. THAT'S A LOT ALIKE. YEAH, AND THAT IT'S NOT AN IDEA. IT'S A FACT. >> SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN WHICH IS OTHERS DISCOVER THEIR POWERS LATER IN LIFE. LIKE AND QUEENIE PLAYED BY LINDA RAMS CELL. >> I CAME INTO IT LATE IN MY LIFE. I WAS BORING. AND AND A NORMAL PERSON. KINDA, NEVER QUITE NORMAL. ALWAYS THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT ME AND KNOWING THAT MY NIECES WERE WITCHES AND THE KING, WHICH IS SEEKING BEFORE MAY. I BECAME A WITCH AND THAT A VERY GOOD, WHICH THOUGH. >> ONE OF THOSE NICE IS BILLION HOLROYD PLAYED BY MEGAN HENDRICK. SHE YEARNS TO SPEND JUST ONE EVENING WITH AN ORDINARY NORMAL MAN CENTERS ARE UPSTAIRS TENANT, SHEP. HENDERSON. HE'S ABOUT TO ANNOUNCE HIS ENGAGEMENT. TO HER COLLEGE NEMESIS. >> SHE'S THE RIGHT WAYS AND HEAD LICE AND HE WAS. THAT'S WHY I DO THIS UNDER STUART. THAT'S GREAT. SHE'S TERRIFIED THAT I'D LIKE EVERY DAY FOR DO YOU ALL THINK SHE WAS A NERVOUS WRECK BY THAT OR SHE CAST A SPELL ON HENDERSON THAT MAKES THEM FALL HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE WITH HER. >> THERE'S A WONDERFUL SUSPENDED. >> I WAS FEELING TO THIS MOMENT TOLD US LIKE THIS. >> I FEEL SPELLED THAT OUT >> BUT THEN SHE FALLS IN LOVE WITH HIM, WHICH IS WHY SAYS JULIO AUDIENCES FIND THE PLACE SO CAPTIVATING. >> IT'S GOING TO MAKE THEM ALL. REMEMBER HELP WHAT IT'S LIKE. YOUR FIRST FOLLOW THAT MAGIC. THAT WE ALL HAVE FELT AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER IN OUR LIVES. WE'VE ALSO HAD TO BE ON THIS THAT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER ALLIES. BUT EVEN WHEN IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. AND IT ALSO I'M GOING TO SAY I'M MOST HAPPY TEARS AT THE END. IT'S GOT A GREAT ENDING AND REALIZATION THE LOVE DOES EXIST. AND THE POWERS OF KNOW. >> WHILE WHICH IS CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR ON NOVEMBER. 1ST WITH HALLOWEEN NIGHT, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH SPIRITS. THIS PLAY IS SET ON CHRISTMAS EVE. >> HAVING AROUND CHRISTMAS AND AND HAVING THEM EAT THE LOVERS MEET CHRISTMAS NIGHT TO HAVING US THE SISTERS BE TOGETHER AND AND THERE AND. IT MEANS THAT WE DO CELEBRATE. ALSO AS WHICH AS WE CELEBRATE THESE THINGS, WE CELEBRATE THE JOY OF IT AND THE GIFT GIVING. SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD TIME OF YEAR FOR THIS. IT'S NOT EXPECTED. >> BOTH THE PLAN, THE MOVIE VERSION OF BELL BOOK AND CANDLE ALONG WITH THE 1942, MOVIE. I MARRIED A WITCH, SERVED AS INSPIRATION FOR THE 1960'S SITCOM, THE WHICH FEATURING A WITCH TO CAST A SPELL ON A MORAL ONLY THE GENUINELY FALL IN LOVE WITH HITTERS. >> THE THING A CHANCE AT ALL. >> FOR WDSU NEWS, TOM HALL. >> WITH THE ART SEASON IN FULL SWING, KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE UPCOMING THEATER SHOWS BY FOLLOWING TOM HALL STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE. WTC, YOU DOT ORG. FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE, DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES. TAKE A BIT MORE TIME AND PLANNING TO ACCOMPLISH. BUT THEY OVERCOME THEIR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS TO DEVELOP SPECIAL TALENTS. WGCU REPORTER JAN TO PARK SPOKE WITH 2 WOMEN WHO ARE NOT LETTING SITE ISSUES GET IN THE WAY OF THEIR WORK AND HOBBIES. >> THESE 2 LADIES LIVE WITH FISH AND CHALLENGES. BUT AS FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AT THE LIGHTHOUSE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THEY GUIDE OTHERS USING THEIR UNIQUE TALENTS. ROSELYN. HALF MEN IS A LIGHTHOUSE WORKER WHO IS LEGALLY BLIND WITH RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA THIS GENETIC CONDITION RESULTS AND VISION LOSS DUE TO WEAKENING OF THE RETINA AS HER EYESIGHT. WEEKENDS, HER VISION IS SLOWLY SHRINKING TO A SMALL PET HOME. HOFFMAN'S ROLE AT WORK IS TO TEACH BABIES AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE VISION IMPAIRMENTS. AT HOME. SHE TAKES CARE OF HER TODDLER SON WHO IS CITED. HE WILL SOON BE JOINED BY A BABY SISTER SHE SET UP HIS ROOM TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR HER TO NAVIGATE ALL HIS. >> BUT AND I'M SURE IT'S HERE AND HE'S LIKE POLO SHIRTS, THE NICER SHIRTS IN THE MIDDLE OF AND MORE LIKELY TIME LIKE FUN SHIRTS OVER HERE ON THE SIDE. >> AND FOR THEIR FAVORITE SHARED ACTIVITY BECAUSE OF US READING ALL THE TIME OF FAMILIAR WITH WHAT SIZE DIFFERENT BOOKS, I'LL PROBABLY FEELS LIKE A NOISE LIKE, >> YOU KNOW, FINDS BOOKS THAT HE'S ASKING FOR. >> ON THIS AFTERNOON, THEY TAKE A MOMENT TO REACH TOGETHER OF. >> BEFORE SHE PULLS OUT HER ART SUPPLIES. I THINK HE'S SOMEWHAT CAUTIOUS. >> A HALF MEN HAS A SKETCHBOOK FILLED WITH DRAWINGS. SHE HAS PENNED OVER THE YEARS. SEE WHAT SHE SAYS. THE FIRST THING SHE ALWAYS DRAWS OUR EYES. >> I AM LOOKING AT THIS. I RIGHT HERE. IT WAS THE ONLY THING I CAN SEE. I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE AROUND IT. >> IT'S HOWEVER HOFFMAN DOESN'T LET SIDE ISSUES BECOME OBSTACLES. WHILE DOING HER AND THE STRIATIONS. >> JUST THE WAY THE WORLD IS LIKE IT'S NOT MADE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED. AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE MOMENTS WHERE THE VISION IMPAIRMENT. BECOMES. >> A BARRIER AND THE SAYS ANOTHER LIGHTHOUSE EMPLOYEE. SHE WAS BORN PREMATURE AND HAS BEEN BLIND SINCE BIRTH. YOU'D NEVER KNOW IT IN HER ROLE AS AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST. SHE TEACHES VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. HOW TO USE PHONES AND COMPUTERS. HER CO-WORKER, QUINN, BAILEY IS A SIGHTED PERSON AND MARVELS THAT HER SKILLS. >> ANNIE, SHE IS COMPLETELY BLIND AND SHE TEACHES US TECHNOLOGY SO WE CAN I DON'T KNOW TO DO IT BY PHONE AND SHE CAN CERTAINLY KNEW WHAT WENT THROUGH THE STEPS ON STUFF WITHOUT EVEN BEING ABLE TO SEE IT. >> GRATITUDE IS WHAT FUELS RESILIENCE FOR ANY FLINT S. >> SO I GET DEPRESSED. SOMETIMES I WANT THAT. BUT AND THE SAME TYPE OF THE HALF ON FRIENDS. I HAVE MY OWN HOUSE. HOW MY JOB SO HOW TO I TRIED TO THINK AND ENJOY. I HOPE TO ENJOY WHAT I HALF AND NOT WHAT I DO. HALF FOR BOTH WOMEN. >> IT'S ABOUT USING THEIR OTHER SENSES TO DO ACTIVITIES THAT BRING THEM JOY AND TO SERVE OTHERS. >> I BEEN ABLE TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE A LOT MORE INTIMATELY LIKE. YOU KNOW, GET TO THINK MORE ABOUT. THEIR PERSONALITY AND THEIR MEN ARE SPEAKING. AND, YOU KNOW, LISTEN MORE TO THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. JUST LIKE BEING MORE. >> BUT THAT I THINK IT MIGHT TAKE MORE PLANNING FOR THESE 2 LADIES TO DO ACTIVITIES THAT EVERYONE ELSE TAKES FOR GRANTED. BUT THIS DOESN'T DETRACT THE PASSION FOR THEM TO PURSUE THEIR HIDDEN TALENTS. AND WHEN TO US FROM LIGHT SPOKE WITH A SITTER WGCU STUDIO. I'M CURIOUS AS A SANE PERSON SOMETIMES USING TECHNOLOGY IS DIFFERENT. AND VERY DIFFICULT TO LEARN THE TECHNOLOGY AND HOW TO PRESS THE RIGHT BUTTONS. HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO LEARN YOURSELF? >> BUT ON THE BLIND SINCE I'M BETH, SO OF COURSE, I CANNOT SEE SCREENS ARE COMPUTERS FANS, OUR PHONES, HE WAS SO DIFFICULT FOR ME WHEN I HAD MY FIRST THOSE SCREEN DEVISED WITHOUT FEELING, YOU KNOW, THE BUTTON SUNDAY. SO I JUST BY MYSELF. SO I HAD TO, YOU KNOW, GET ON YOU DO HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO USE THOSE DEVICES BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS BY BOYS. SO YOU HA 2. AT LEAST 10 TO YOU. FUN AND NOT GOOD FOR YOU, TOO. WORK ON IT. >> WELL, WHAT WAS AMAZING TO ME IS THAT ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS IDENTIFIED YOU AS THE TECH GURU. AS THE UT TO OTHER TO USE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AS WELL. HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING BACK. CAN YOU SHARE THAT WITH ME? >> SCHATZ. >> I WAS THINKING THAT, OK, I IT WAS SO HARD FOR ME TO SO HOW ABOUT IF I CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALL OF THIS. SO LYNETTE RICE, SO I HAVE TO BE SAID OF 5 AS OF TUESDAY, THEN OG SPECIALIST. AND THAT'S WHY I STARTED WORK AT THE LIGHT THE SHOOTING LIKE DOES THOSE EVERY TIME THEY WE HAVE TO DELAY NEW ALL DATES AND NOBODY CHANGE LIKE EVERY DAY. SO YOU HAVE TO BE INTO IT. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING TO PHONE. THE LAYOUTS CHANGE HOME. I GOT OUT OF DOES MY PHONE NOW THAT HE TENDS TO SO WE HAVE EVERY DAY WE HAVE CALLS FROM CLIENTS ASKING FOR HELP. ESPECIALLY AFTERNOON A DAY. SO YOU HAVE TO TRY TO LURE A VE DAY. WHAT IS COMING ONE SNOOWL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANDY, FOR SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE WITH US. THANK YOU. >> YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EFFORTS AND SERVICES FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED BY VISITING THE WEBSITE LIGHTHOUSE S W F L DOT ORG. AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, PREVIEW OF THE LATEST WGCU DOCUMENTARY THAT TAKES US BACK. THOUSANDS OF YEARS TO DISCOVER THE ROLE THAT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PLAYED IN PROVIDING A HOME FOR THE WGCU IS RELEASING ITS SECOND DOCUMENTARY SHORT IN ITS DECODING ANCIENT FLORIDA SERIES. THE CALUSA PEOPLE LIVED ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S COAST FOR ALMOST 2000 YEARS. THE LATEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT EXPLORES MAUNA KEA IN ESTERO BAY. IT'S A SIGHT THAT SERVED AS THE CAPITAL FOR THE CALUSA. >> THE POWER OF THE CALUSA PEOPLE STRETCHED FROM SARASOTA TO MIAMI TO THE FLORIDA KEYS, BUT THEIR CAPITAL WAS RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MOUND KEY. >> WHO IS A GLEAMING WAITING? I AM AND OF IMMENSE PROPORTION. THAT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT AND TALKED ABOUT. >> WE HIKED WHAT REMAINS OF THIS ENGINEERED CITY OF THE GULF COAST WHERE THE CALUSA FOUGHT OFF COLONIAL THREATS TO THEIR HOMELAND. >> I WANTED TO GO BACK IN TIME. I WANT TO GO BACK A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AKILAH. SO WITH THE SPANIARD TOO. >> RIGHT AT MAUNAKEA IN ESTERO BAY IS RICH WITH HISTORY. AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL MYSTERY. HOW DID THE CALUSA MANIPULATE THEIR ENVIRONMENT TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE BUT THRIVE? WHAT STORIES ARE INVITED ON THIS ISLAND? >> YOU CAN WATCH THE LATEST DOCUMENTARY FROM WGCU DECODING ANCIENT FLORIDA MOUND KEY ITS STREAMING RIGHT NOW ON WTC, YOU DOT ORG. ONE PERK FOR THIS HALLOWEEN WEEKEND. WE GET AN EXTRA HOUR OVERNIGHT SATURDAY, DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS AND WE GO BACK TO STANDARD TIME. SO DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR TO FALL BACK WITH THE OFFICIAL TIME CHANGING FROM A 02:00AM SUNDAY TO 01:00AM. THAT MEANS EXPECT SUNRISE AND SUNSET TIMES ONE HOUR EARLIER, STARTING NOVEMBER. 1ST, SUNDAY'S SUNSET WILL BE AT 05:44PM. IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS HOT FLASHES ARE A COMMON SYMPTOM OF MENOPAUSE. BUT SO MANY OTHER SYMPTOMS IMPACT WOMEN AS WELL. I SPEAK WITH A TOP OBGYN DOCTOR TO LEARN HOW NEW GUIDELINES TO TREAT MENOPAUSE CAN HELP WOMEN GET PROPER CARE TO LEAD NORMAL LIVES AGAIN. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS. MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES. AND WITH A 4 TO SEEING YOU AGAIN FOR OUR NEXT EPISODE.