Primary Early Voting Sites
To Open August 21

Early voting locations will open on Monday, August 21, for the September 5 primary election and will remain open until Sunday, September 3. The polling locations will be open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and, Sundays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The early voting locations for the primary election include:

• African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd. (N.W. 6 St.), Fort Lauderdale
• Davie/Cooper City Branch Library, 4600 S.W. 82 Ave., Davie
• North Regional Satellite Courthouse, 1600 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Room 170
• Deerfield Beach Percy White Library Branch, 837 E. Hillsboro Blvd.
• Hallandale City Hall, 400 S. Federal Hwy.
• Hollywood Branch Library, 2600 Hollywood Blvd.
• Hollywood Satellite Courthouse, 3550 Hollywood Blvd., Room 180
• Imperial Point Branch Library, 5985 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale
• Lauderhill Mall, 1241 N.W. 40th Ave., Bay 80-K
• Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale
• North Regional/BCC Library, 1100 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek
• Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Dr., Coral Springs
• Oakland Park Library, 1298 N.E. 37 St.
• Parkland City Hall, 6600 University Dr.
• Pembroke Pines City Hall, 10100 Pines Blvd.
• West Regional Courthouse, 100 North Pine Island, Room 130, Plantation
• Pompano Beach Library, 1213 E. Atlantic Blvd.
• Southwest Regional Library, 16835 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines
• Tamarac Branch Library, 8701 W. Commercial Blvd.
• Weston Branch Library, 4205 Bonaventure Blvd.

The deadline to register to vote in the primary election is Monday, August 7. Precinct polls will be open on primary election day — Tuesday, September 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents interested in casting absentee ballots should call the Supervisor of Elections office at 954-357-7055 or request an absentee ballot online by visiting, www.browardsoe.org. Click on Voting Information and then click on Absentee Voting.

Broward County Welcomes
New County Administrator

Pamela Brangaccio, an experienced city and county manager with more than 25 years of local government experience in Florida, assumed the duties of Broward County Administrator on July 5. Selected by the County Commission in June, she replaces Roger Desjarlais, who resigned as of September 19 last year, after more than seven years of service. Deputy County Administrator Bertha Henry has been serving as the Interim County Administrator since Desjarlais’ departure.

Brangaccio holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Anthropology and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of South Florida in Tampa, her hometown. She previously served as County Manager for Bay County from 2002 to 2005; Assistant County Administrator and Acting County Administrator for Charlotte County; City Manager for the City of Safety Harbor; Assistant City Manager for West Palm Beach; and Deputy Assistant County Manager of Collier County.

Brangaccio credits her undergraduate internship in the Pinellas County Budget Office as inspiration for pursuing a public service career. She said the experience taught her that individuals could make a difference in communities - through local government.

County Commission Begins
Budget Review August 15

Broward County Commissioners will return from their annual summer recess on Tuesday, August 15, when they meet at 10 a.m. at the Broward County Governmental Center for their regularly scheduled meeting. The first of a series of workshops on the 2006-07 Budget is scheduled for 2 p.m. During the final weeks of August, Commissioners will review the proposed $3.159 billion budget. Commissioners have already agreed to reduce the millage rate by at least nine percent, which would continue a nine-year trend of not increasing the millage rate.

Commission meetings are broadcast live each Tuesday at 10 a.m. on cable stations and rebroadcast at 5 p.m. on Sundays on cable outlets throughout the County. Most residents can view meetings on Comcast Cable’s Channel 12. Comcast subscribers in Hollywood, Miramar, Pembroke Pines and West Park can view the meetings on Channel 77. Advanced Communications telecasts meetings on Channel 64 in Coral Springs and Channel 25 in Weston. Tele-Media broadcasts on Channel 7 in the Pembroke-Miramar area. In addition, meetings can be viewed live on Broward County’s web site, www.broward.org.

Broward County Initiates
Hurricane Update E-mail System

More than a thousand residents have already signed up to receive hurricane updates from Broward County during the hurricane season, which runs through November 30, 2006. The updates provide residents with important information before, during and after a hurricane or declared emergency. Through the E-mail update system, you will have the latest and most accurate information on the progress of a storm, actions being taken by governmental agencies and helpful advice. To subscribe, visit www.broward.org/hurricane.

Groundbreaking Ceremony Set
For Long Key Natural Area

Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Long Key Natural Area are planned for Thursday, August 10, 10 a.m., 3501 S.W. 130 Ave., Davie. The public is invited to the ceremony. With 157 acres, the Long Key Natural Area is one of the largest undeveloped sites in the County. The project is being funded under the 2000 Safe Parks and Land Preservation Bond Program. The nature center is expected to open in the summer of 2008.

United Ranches Residents
Vote to Join Town of Davie

Residents in the unincorporated United Ranches area, located between Griffin and Stirling Roads, selected the Town of Davie in a special mail ballot annexation referendum conducted between June 15 and July 5. The vote was 240 for Davie and 136 for Cooper City. The annexation will become effective on September 15, 2006, when three other unincorporated neighborhoods — Pine Island Ridge, Country Acres and Broward Estates — join municipalities. Following the annexations in September, Broward County’s unincorporated population will be reduced to slightly more than 14,000 residents out of the countywide population of more than 1.7 million.

Airport Cell Phone Lot
To Open Labor Day Weekend

A new Cell Phone Waiting Area at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is expected to open over the Labor Day weekend, September 1-4. The 50-space, short-term parking lot is designed for motorists waiting for deplaning passengers at the airport. The lot is expected to relieve congestion at the airport, caused in part by motorists circling the facility until planes land. Last year, more than 16,000 citations were given to drivers who parked illegally along roadways leading to the airport terminals while waiting for passengers to arrive. The lot was authorized by the County Commission on February 28 at an estimated cost of approximately $283,000. A number of major airports, including Miami and Palm Beach International Airport, are designating parking lots for drivers picking up deplaning passengers.

Broward County Transit Plans
Improvements in August

Broward County Transit (BCT) is announcing several service changes and improvements on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays on routes 6, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 22, starting on Sunday, August 13.

Several route realignments, additional trips, new time points and new service areas have been added to selected routes. Passengers are encouraged to refer to the new timetables or the Service Improvements brochure dated August 13, 2006 for additional information. Details are also available from BCT Customer Service at 954-357-8400, or 954-357-8302 (TTY), or online at www.broward.org/bct.

Tri-Rail Adds Trains
To Daily, Weekend Schedule

Tri-Rail is adding 10 additional trains to its weekday schedule and adding additional service on weekends. The improved service will provide 40 trains a day during the week, 16 trains on Saturdays and 14 trains on Sundays, and decrease waiting times between trains. The additional service is the result of the Double Track Corridor Improvement Program, funded by the Federal Transit Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation along with Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

State Neighborhoods Conference
Set for October 5-7

Broward County and Fort Lauderdale will host the 10th Annual Florida Neighborhoods Conference (FNC) over the weekend of October 5-7. The three-day event, to be held at the Broward County Convention Center, will include workshops, neighborhood tours and special events. It is designed to bring neighborhood leaders together to discuss mutual concerns. Local volunteers are needed to assistance with the conference in a number of capacities. Interested residents should contact Sue Molnar at 954-828-5362 or e-mail smolnar@fortlauderdale.gov. Conference registration is $45, prior to September 5. For sponsorship opportunities and information on exhibitor availability, call Don Stone, 954-357-6673 or e-mail dstone@broward.org. For additional information on the conference and online registration, visit: www.floridaneighborhoods.org.