STUART, FL--Right on Kanner Highway in Stuart, there's a place where good feelings float through the air.

"We teach piano, voice, guitar, and all the band instruments," said Cindy Kessler, the owner and director of the Stuart School of Music.

The Stuart School of Music has been sitting in the same location, in the same old building, for a long time.

"I started the school sixteen years ago, and I was leasing the property," said Kessler

Thanks to some new developments, Cindy was recently able to buy the building that houses her three hundred plus students, after which her husband John went to work.

"I'm a licensed building contractor, state of Florida, and I'm also a Solar Dealer," said John Eriksen, Cindy's husband.

John installed energy-efficient, hurricane impact-resistant windows, low flow faucets, and over fifty peel-and-stick solar panels on the roof.

"This system should reduce our bill by about eighty to ninety dollars a month as an average through the year," said Eriksen.

Not only that, but whatever energy the music school doesn't use, FPL buys back from them.

"This was his vision.  It's just absolutely amazing, the transformation in this building," said Kessler.

The system has a touch screen display inside so the kids can use it and learn.  And John says getting your own solar panels isn't too difficult.

"They're very, very easy to apply to a flat surface, such as a metal roof or even a flat roof," said Eriksen.

Cindy says the environmental upgrades have had an amazing effect on her students and herself.

"It makes me proud, it's motivating, it's inspiring," said Kessler.

And for John, it's just the beginning of the changes he wants to make.

"To lighten our footprint on this earth, it's a wonderful feeling," said Eriksen.

Click here to visit the Stuart School of Music web site.

SUBURBAN WEST PALM BEACH, FL-- Pythons, parakeets, monitor lizards, monkeys and iguanas. What else can you find in South Florida? How about piranhas.

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission is alarmed over the discovery a 14 year old boy made in October in a retention pond near West Palm Beach.

On the end of the hook was a red-bellied piranha.

To make matters worse... 10 days later another was discovered.
 
Samples of the pond have not turned up any more.

Investigators think the fish were dumped from an aquarium.

FWC biologists returned to the pond Tuesday. They are dumping a chemical called rotenone into the water to make sure the fish are gone.

They say fisheries managers have used rotenone since 1934 by to eradicate unwanted fish without harming habitat.

Piranha are prohibited in Florida. It is illegal possess them and anyone who does could be fined $1,000 and sentenced to a year in jail.

State biologists expect to remove dead fish from the piranha pond for up to the next four days. They will then stock the lake with native freshwater fish.

FWC officials say a total of three piranhas have been found.

"Three hundred and ninety deaths as of November 6th, statewide," said FWC biologist and manatee specialist, Christy Hudak, as she talked to us about the manatee mortality rate for 2009.

With the record of four hundred and seventeen manatee deaths in a year in jeopardy of being broken, the FWC has to be ready.

"We have to prepare for the worst, and wintertime is our busiest season," said John Cassady, FWC biologist and manatee specialist.

Covering the area from Ft. Pierce to Lake Okeechobee and all the way down to Key West is a big job.  So how many people does it take to do that job?  Well, the bigger question might be how many people are doing that job?

"That would be myself , Christy Hudak, and my assistant John Cassidy," said Hudak, pointing at John.

Two people responsible for manatee rescues in seven counties that keep Christy and John very busy.  They even took a call from Miami while we were on the boat with them.  So how in the world do they do it?

"We utilize a lot of volunteers," said Hudak.

Volunteers, interns like Rachael here, and biologists around the state from places like the Miami Seaquarium, and the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys.  But more help is needed like funding from the Save the Manatee License plates.  And of course some common sense doesn't hurt.

"Just look around you, look out for the manatees.  Wear polarized sunglasses, you'll be able to spot those manatees much better than with regular glasses or your eyesight," said Hudak.

It's a crucial job to save a gentle creature, and for these two dedicating their lives to it is well worth it.

"To protect those animals out there, and continue to keep this wonderful species around, so that they will be here for our kids, and our grandchildren and generations to come," said Cassady.

JUPITER ISLAND, FL-- A lifeguard for the Jupiter Island Beach Club, who decided to do some surfing before stating work, was bitten by a shark, Capt. Barry Pawluk of the Jupiter Island Public Safety Department said Monday.

“He was bitten on the right foot and the injury does not appear to be life threatening. He got himself ashore and used the phone at the club to call for help," Pawluk said.

“We responded and Martin County Fire/Rescue took him to the hospital in Jupiter.”

Pawluk said because he is a club employee, he could not provide a name for the surfer.

The incident took place about 9:30 a.m., Monday, according to Doug Killane, Martin County Fire/Rescue fire prevention chief.

Killane said the extent of the man’s injuries is unknown and he was taken to a local hospital. Under privacy laws, the subject’s name and address could not be released, he said.

Dan Lund, an Emergency Medical Technician with the Ocean Lifeguard service, said there are a lot of bait fish, including Spanish mackerel and other varieties, offshore and that is attracting the sharks.

“The water is murky because of the storms north of us, and the sharks are hunting by sense,” Lund said. “They usually bite down once on a human and find it is not what they want and then let go. Of course, that does a lot of damage.”

Lund said the sharks are far offshore, but so are the swells which attract the surfers.

"This was the top jaw, this was the bottom jaw, then three scrapes from where the teeth dragged," said Hardcastle as she pointed out the bites.

It was just before 5 p.m. Friday, Hardcastle  was surfing about a mile South of Carlin Park in Jupiter.

She did not know it then, but what she felt was a shark, taking a bite of her foot. It left a total of 26 puncture wounds.

Hardcastle was miles away from the coast, and no one saw or heard what happened.

But she kept her cool, got back on her surfboard, and paddled to shore.

"I had to keep telling myself,  'Come on Melissa, you can do this,' " said Hardcastle.

Two women helped keep her calm as paramedics arrived.

Hardcastle said she had a bad feeling as she got in the water that day, but she ignored it.

" I was having a tough time getting out and the thought crossed my mind, 'are the waves trying to push me back to shore?' That thought did cross my mind."

Today Hardcastle feels lucky she still has her foot, and suggests anyone in a similar situation follow their instincts.

"It just goes to show you, always listen to your gut feeling."

Hardcastle says she probably won't be back on her board for a while, she got really lucky this time, and does not want to chance it again.

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL-- The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission reminds you that November is Manatee Awareness Month.
 
The sea cows seek warmer sites to spend the winter. One of their biggest enemies is speeding boats with sharp propellers.

FWC reminds you that speed zone signs will be changing in many waterways to accommodate manatee migration.

In addition FWC offers the following advice:

Boaters should scan the water near or in front of the boat, looking for swirls resembling a large footprint, a repetitive line of half-moon swirls, a mud trail, or a snout or fluke (tail) breaking the water’s surface. Boaters can help manatees have a safe migration by staying in marked channels; wearing polarized sunglasses to improve vision; obeying posted boat-speed zones; using poles, paddles or trolling motors when in close proximity to manatees; and having someone help scan the water when under way.

Winter (manatee-related) boat-speed zone changes by county

Brevard County: Nov. 15 – March 31

§  No entry and motorboats prohibited zones – North Indian River area around discharge canals of the Reliant Corporation Power Plant and Florida Power and Light Frontenac Power Plant.

§  Idle speed zone – West of Intracoastal Waterway in general vicinity of power plants.

Broward County: Nov. 15 – March 31

§  Idle speed – Port Everglades Power Plant area, including part of the discharge canal. Portions of the South New River Canal and Dania Cut-off Canal near the Lauderdale Power Plant.

§  Slow speed – Intracoastal Waterway from the Palm Beach County line through Hillsboro Inlet south to Burnham Point. (Note: Some portions are weekend-only slow-speed zones).

Citrus County:
Sept. 1 – Feb. 28

§  25 mph – Lower (western) portions of the Withlacoochee River and Bennetts Creek.

Sept. 1 – March 31

§  25 mph – Lower (western) portions of the Chassahowitzka River.

Sept. 1 – April 30

§  Idle speed or slow speed – portions of Kings Bay.

Oct. 1 – April 30

§  Slow speed – Portions of the Homosassa River between the Salt River and Trade Winds Marina and southern portion of Halls River.

Nov. 15 – April 30

§  Slow speed – All waters in the vicinity of the Florida Power Corporation’s effluent canal.

Nov. 15 – March 31

§  No entry – Within the Blue Waters area of the upper Homosassa River near Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

Dade County: Nov. 15 – April 30

§  No entry – Portions of the Biscayne Canal, Little River and Coral Gables Canal.

§  Slow speed – Within portions of Meloy (or East) Channel and portions of the Intracoastal Waterway in Dumfoundling Bay and Biscayne Bay between Broad Causeway and Venetian Causeway.

Hillsborough County: Nov. 15 – March 31

§  No entry – Portions of the discharge canal of the TECO Power Plant in Apollo Beach.

§  Idle speed – General vicinity of the TECO Power Plant in Apollo Beach.

Indian River County:
Nov. 1 – April 30

§  Slow speed – Within Sand and Shell islands area, Channel Marker 66 south to Channel Marker 75; Indian River area from Hobert Lodge Marina to North Canal, and from Channel Marker 156 south to St. Lucie County line west of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Nov. 15 – March 31

§  No entry – Portion of canal system adjacent to Vero Beach Power Plant.

Lee County: Nov. 15 – March 31

§  No entry – Discharge and intake canals of the Florida Power and Light Tice Power Plant.

§  Idle speed and slow speed – Portions of the Intracoastal Waterway channel on the Caloosahatchee River in the vicinity of the Tice Power Plant.

§  25 mph – Portions of Estero Bay, Hurricane Bay, Hell Peckney Bay and Hendry Creek.

§  Seasonally unregulated – Cayo Costa, North Captiva, Captiva and St. James City areas.

Levy County:

§  Year-round no-entry zone – Manatee Springs State Park (manatee protection).

Palm Beach County:
Nov. 15 – March 31

§  Motorboats prohibited – Within general vicinity of Florida Power and Light Riviera Beach Power Plant discharge canals.

§  Slow speed – Outside the main channel in the Loxahatchee River, and in the north and southwest forks of the Loxahatchee River.

§  Idle speed and slow speed zones – Look for shore-to-shore speed zone changes north and south of Peanut Island near the Florida Power and Light Riviera Beach Power Plant.

Oct. 1 – May 31

§  25 mph – Portions of the Intracoastal Waterway channel between State Road 706 and Lake Worth, and south of Lake Worth to Broward County.

Sarasota County: Nov. 15 – March 15

§  No entry – Portion of Salt Creek and Warm Mineral Springs north of U.S. 41.

St. Lucie County:
Nov. 15 – March 31

§  Motorboats prohibited – Within Moores’ Creek.

Nov. 15 – April 15

§  Slow speed – Within Garfield Cut/Fish House Cove area.

Nov. 15 – April 30

§  Slow speed – Within Intracoastal Waterway channel between North Beach Causeway south to Channel Marker 189 and within the Shark Cut Channel in the Fort Pierce Inlet area.

Volusia County:
Sept. 1 – March 31

§  25 mph – Portions of the Tomoka River and Spruce Creek.

Oct. 15 – April 15

§  Motorboats prohibited – Blue Spring Run.

§  Slow speed – St. Johns River, south of Lake Beresford to Channel Marker 67.

Zone Definitions:

§  Idle speed (No wake) – Lowest speed needed to maintain steering and make headway (speed used when docking a boat).

§  Slow speed (No excessive wake) – Fully off plane and completely settled in the water, not plowing.

§  Motorboats prohibited zone – Entry is prohibited for any vessel being propelled or powered by machinery.

§  No entry – No vessels or other human-related activities allowed.

Information provided by: FWC

RIVIERA BEACH, FL  -- A boat in distress, taking on water. It's the exact situation the U. S. Coast Guard must be prepared for. Officers must be ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

Thursday some were put to the test.

Chief warrant officer Thomas Ponte of the Miami Coast Guard says, "We visit the station once a year to conduct evaluation. One of the most important things is that they are trained properly and can respond to all different types of emergency situations."

"The drills and testing that we do here let our bosses know how ready we are to respond to drills. We're looking to receive a rating of outstanding," said James Mullinax, the Commanding Officer at the Lake Worth Inlet Station.

This is what the Coast Guard Lake Worth Inlet is used to. In fact, it has received the highest award three consecutive times.

Commanding Officer Mullinax says, "Being out on the water is a big part of South Florida life and we are here and ready to help them enjoy the water and be safe."

"The Coast Guard a lifesaving service, our motto is Semper Paratus and that means were always ready," said Michael Gladu, an electrician's Mate 2nd class.

And readiness is what the Coast Guard prepares for...to help protect the waters, and keep everyone safe.

...IDA BECOMES EXTRATROPICAL...ALL WARNINGS DISCONTINUED...

AT 900 AM CST...1500 UTC...ALL TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS HAVE BEEN
DISCONTINUED.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY
YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.  

DATA FROM NOAA DOPPLER RADAR AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT
THE CENTER OF IDA MADE ITS SECOND LANDFALL AROUND 700 AM CST...1300
UTC...JUST TO THE NORTHWEST OF BON SECOUR ALABAMA.

AT 900 AM CST...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF IDA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 30.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 87.6 WEST OR ABOUT 30 MILES... 50
KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF MOBILE ALABAMA AND ABOUT 25 MILES... 40
KM...WEST-NORTHWEST OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA.

IDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 9 MPH...15 KM/HR...AND THIS
GENERAL MOTION WITH A TURN TOWARD THE EAST IS EXPECTED UNTIL IT
BECOMES ABSORBED BY A FRONT ON WEDNESDAY.  

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 35 MPH...55
KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  IDA HAS LOST TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS
AND ITS WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY DIMINISH DURING THE NEXT DAY
OR SO. 

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1000 MB...29.53 INCHES.

IDA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6
INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTALS OF 8 INCHES...THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING FROM THE EASTERN GULF COAST ACROSS THE
SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES INTO THE SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC
STATES.

WATER LEVELS ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST SHOULD GRADUALLY BEGIN TO
SUBSIDE DURING THE DAY.  

...SUMMARY OF 900 AM CST INFORMATION...
LOCATION...30.6N 87.6W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTHEAST OR 45 DEGREES AT 9 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1000 MB

THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER ON THIS SYSTEM.  FUTURE INFORMATION ON IDA CAN BE FOUND IN
PUBLIC ADVISORIES ISSUED BY THE HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION
CENTER...UNDER AWIPS HEADER TCPAT1 AND WMO HEADER WTNT31
KWNH...BEGINNING AT 300 PM CST.

PALM BEACH, FL-- Winds have been gusting up to 33 miles an hour along the South Florida coast.

It's made life difficult for workers normally scaling local high rises.

On one building in Palm Beach, workers couldn't install storm shutters due to the high winds.

Lifeguards have been keeping a close eye on the surf.

One visitor said she's had her sunglasses blown off by the gusty weather.

Over the next couple of days the winds should begin decreasing.

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL-- The daughter of a man who disappeared while sailing from Puerto Rico to Florida is safe.

Teresa Brown says her dad, Charles Collins, turned up in Nassau to fix a rudder.

The U.S. Coast Guard had asked boats to be on the lookout for him after he was reported missing.

He was en route from Puerto Rico to Florida.

The Georgia native has been living aboard a 33-foot sailboat for three years.

According to his family, once provisions are complete, Collins will continue to the northern islands of the Bahamas, turn an easterly path towards Florida and sail up the coast until he reaches Titusville. 

He plans to keep within radio range for the remainder of his route.