Commission Selects Graber for Mayor, Eggelletion as Vice Mayor

At their annual reorganization meeting on November 15, Broward County Commissioners unanimously selected Commissioner Ben Graber to serve as Mayor and Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, Jr., as Vice Mayor. They will serve one-year terms. Graber, who served as Vice Mayor during the past year, represents District 3 on the Commission. The northwest Broward district includes portions of Coral Springs, Parkland, Tamarac and Sunrise. Before his election to Commission in 2000, he served for eight years in the Florida House of Representatives, where he was the prime sponsor of numerous bills including the Enhancement of Development Disabilities Bill, the creation of the Elderly Affairs Department, the creation of the Clean Indoor Air Act and the Health Care Insurance Reform Act of 1993. A practicingmedicaldoctor,MayorGrabertoldCommissionershis emphasis for the year would be health care and human service issues. See Acceptance Speech: www.broward.org.

Vice Mayor Eggelletion, first elected to the Commission in 2000, is also a veteran of the state legislature, having served eight years in Tallahassee. He is an educator and businessman.

Jacobs Cites Accomplishments
During Year of the Environment

Outgoing Mayor Kristin Jacobs delivered the State of the County address at the November 15 meeting, declaring Broward County is “excellent — financially solid and prepared for the challenges of the next decade.” Jacobs dedicated her term to a number of environmental issues, including clean air and water, public transportation and improving the County’s tree canopy. “It has been a year of progress and achievement — a year which we can all be proud of,” she said. She added, itwas “a year which began and ended with an environmental promise and an environmental challenge.” For a complete text of Mayor Jacobs’ remarks, visit www.broward.org and click on State of the County Address.

4% Discount for Tax Payment Extended to December 15

Because of Hurricane Wilma, Broward County was delayed in sending out tax bills until November 15. Because of this, the 4% discount period has been extended. The following discounts will apply:

4% if paid by December 15
3% if paid December 16 through 31
2% if paid during January
1% if paid during February

No discounts are available after February 2006. All tax bills must be paid by April 1, 2006. Property owners can pay their taxes in a variety of ways, including by mail, in person or online. To pay online, visit www.broward.org and select “Pay a Property Tax Bill” under Online Services. In-person payments are accepted Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Revenue Collection Division, Governmental Center Annex, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Suite A-100, Fort Lauderdale and the South Broward Satellite Courthouse, 3550 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.

Tree Trimming Ordinance Waived Until December 31

Due to the extensive damage to trees from Hurricane Wilma, the County Commission has temporarily waived the County’s ordinance licensing and regulating tree trimmers until December 31, 2005.

Until the end of 2005, the trimming of remaining viable trees or the removal of trees destroyed by Hurricane Wilma does not need to be done by a Broward County licensed tree trimming contractor.

The Broward County Environmental Protection Department advises homeowners, homeowners associations, and commercial property owners and managers to ensure that any necessary or corrective pruning on trees to be saved or preserved is performed by someone with knowledge of good tree trimming practices. The licensing of tree trimmers is regulated by Chapter 27, Article XV of the Broward County Code, which was passed in 2000.

For brochures or information on removing or trimming storm damaged trees, call 954-519-1230 or go online to http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pruning. The web site contains a wealth of information on how to manage uprooted, leaning, and storm-damaged trees. The site also provides tips for hiring a tree care professional.

Holiday Fantasy of LightsCancelled Due to Hurricane

Broward County’s thirteenth annual Holiday Fantasy of Lights, scheduled to open at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek on November 18, has been cancelled because of hurricane damage at the park. The drive-through light show usually attracts a quarter of a million visitors during the holiday season.

BCT Provides Park-and-Ride Service to Boat Parade

Broward County Transit (BCT) will provide park-and-ride shuttle bus service to the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade on Saturday, December 17, 2005.

The shuttle bus service starts at 3 p.m. and runs continuously until 6:30 p.m., departing from the War Memorial Auditorium at Holiday Park, located at Federal Highway/US 1, just south of Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Passengers will be shuttled to the grandstand viewing area at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. The last bus departs from Hugh Taylor Birch State Park for the return to Holiday Park one hour after the parade ends.

The cost for this convenient shuttle service is only $3 round-trip per person; children under 3 years ride free. Tickets are sold prior to boarding the bus. There is a $5 per car parking fee at the War Memorial Auditorium location. The buses are comfortable, air-conditioned and wheelchair-accessible. For more information, please call 954-357-8400, or visit www.broward.org/bct.

Cultural Information Center Offers Array of Holiday Gifts

This holiday season, the Broward Cultural Division is inviting residents and visitors to the Cultural Information Center (CIC) to find a special gift for patrons of the arts and to introduce arts organizations in Broward County. The CIC is located on the first floor of the Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.

Whether you spend $5 or $50, you can find the perfect gift for a friend, family member, child, or acquaintance. From entertainment guides, which offer great savings on restaurants and other services in Fort Lauderdale, to stylish umbrellas and fabulous coffee table art books, the CIC has a unique offering of holiday gifts. Special gift sets are offered this season, and you may browse the shop online and call in an order for pickup. Major credit cards are accepted. Proceeds are returned to the cultural organizations and artists, so your purchase includes a unique gift for a friend or family member, while supporting the arts organization behind that gift.

Visit www.broward.org/arts for more information, or contact the Cultural Information Center at 954-347-7979, email: hawilner@broward.org.

Main Library Offers Free Jules Verne Exhibit

Take a journey into the imagination of Jules Verne at Broward County Library as it plays host to an exciting exhibit of therenownedsciencefictionauthor’spersonalartifacts,including original manuscripts and posters, Verne’s model of Captain Nemo’s Nautilus, and other one-of-a-kind memorabilia.

The collection, belonging to French city of Amiens Metropole, was originally assembled by Piero Gondolo Della Riva, one of the world’s foremost collectors of Jules Verne items. It focuses on the life of this extraordinary writer as well as his imaginary explorations into the worlds of science, technology and exploration that resulted in his world-famous novels that inspired international pop culture.

“This is an incredible opportunity for the community to see rare memorabilia from such a remarkable collection. recommend people see this exhibit since it is only in the United States for a brief time before it returns to Europe,” said Robert E. Cannon, director of the Broward County Library.

The free exhibit, brought to Broward County Library through the County Libraries Division, the cultural services of the French Embassy in the United States, the France Florida Foundation for the Arts, and the Miami-Fort Lauderdale Alliance Francaise, will be on display through January 2006 at the Main Library in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

For more information, please visit www.broward.org/library and click on the Journey through the Imagination of Jules Verne button.

Hazardous Waste/Used Electronics Drop-Off Open on Fridays

To make it easier for residents to dispose of hazardous waste and used electronics, residents can now dispose of these items on Fridays at the North Trash Transfer Station, 2780 N. Powerline Road, Pompano Beach. The station is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The extra day of operations was added to the weekly Saturday schedule. Broward County’s two other drop-off sites — 5601 W. Hallandale Beach Boulevard in Hollywood and 5490 Reese Road in Davie — will continue to operate only on Saturdays.

The drop-off sites are open to all Broward County residents. Proof of residency is required through a driver’s license or tax bill.

Small Claims Court Clinic Slated for Plantation

Broward County’s Consumer Affairs Division, inpartnership with the Broward County Clerk of the Courts and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, will hold the next free Small Claims Court Clinic on Thursday, December 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Volunteer Park, 12050 W. Sunrise Boulevard, Plantation. The clinic is designed to provide information on how to file a small claims court action, understanding court procedures and how to prepare for court. Although the clinic will not address individual legal problems, it will provide information on proper filing, fees, subpoenas, and more. A question-and-answer session will be held after the presentation.

Broward Commuters Reduce
County’s Daytime Population
Broward County is home to approximately 1.7 million residents, but during the day the County’s population drops to 1.55 million, as thousands of commuters go to work in neighboring counties. But some Broward cities actually have higher day-time than night-time populations. The statistics are contained in the November 2005 edition of Broward-by-the-Numbers, a monthly electronic information service of the Department of Urban Planning & Redevelopment’s Planning Services Division. To view the report, visit www.broward.org and click on Broward-by-the-Numbers.