King Holiday Events Slated for January
A number of events are scheduled in communities throughout Broward County in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a national holiday on January 17, 2005.

Three Broward County parks are planning special activities in recognition of the civil rights leader: West Ken Lark, 1321 N.W. 33 Ave., Fort Lauderdale, will have a special celebration for children, ages 6-11, from 2 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 13. Lafayette Hart Park, 2851 N.W. 8th Rd., Fort Lauderdale, will host a celebration for children, ages 6 to 14, from 3 to 5 p.m., Friday, January 14. Lake Forest Park, 3450 S.W. 48 Ave., Pembroke Park, will hold a “Let Freedom Ring Jamboree” for ages 6-17, on Friday, January 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. All of these events are free. In addition, on Monday, January 17, Lafayette Park will host a free Martin Luther King Jr., parade, beginning at 7 a.m.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee, Inc., (MLKCC) in Fort Lauderdale will celebrate the holiday with a number of events. On Wednesday, January 12, 6 p.m., the winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay, Poster and Spoken Word Contest will be announced at Broward County’s African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. Students from throughout Broward County have submitted essays, poster art and poems using the theme Drum Major for Cultural Unity and Peace. Winners will be awarded savings bonds and scholarships.

On Sunday, January 16, 6 p.m., the MLKCC and the 100 Black Men of Greater Fort Lauderdale will host a King Benefit Concert, featuring the Harlem Gospel Choir at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $20 and $45 and can be purchased at the Broward Center AutoNation Box Office, or by calling 954- 462-0222.

On Monday, January 17, a parade is planned, beginning at 9 a.m., from Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale and proceeding along Sunrise Boulevard to the newly reopened Joseph C. Carter Park, Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest 15th Avenue. A festival will be held at noon with musical performances, an international children’s village, arts and crafts and food. Admission is free, but parking is limited.

County’s Unincorporated Population Dips to 3.6%
Broward County’s unincorporated population is now at 3.6 percent of the County’s 1.7 million residents, according to statistics released by the Department of Urban Planning & Redevelopment’s Planning Services Division. There are now 58,498 people living in unincorporated neighborhoods, which comprise 4.3 percent of the County’s developable land area. The 2000 U.S. Census reported the unincorporated population at 127,386. Since 2000, a number of annexations have occurred and the municipality of Southwest Ranches was created.

With the annexations, the population for a number of municipalities has increased. The new municipal population figures are:

Cooper City: 28,259
Deerfield Beach: 74,306
Fort Lauderdale: 166,821
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea: 5,852
North Lauderdale: 38,523
Pompano Beach: 100,205

In November, residents in four South County neighborhoods—Lake Forest, Miami Gardens, Utopia and Carver Ranches—voted to create Broward County’s 31st city, with elections for mayor and city commissioners set for March 2005.

North Andrews Gardens residents will join Oakland Park in November 2005 and Rock Island and Twin Lakes North residents will join Fort Lauderdale at the same time. For the 2005 Legislative Session, annexation bills have been filed for Broadview Park, Country Acres (Godfrey Road), Pine Island Ridge and United Ranches.

County Libraries Celebrate Multi-Ethnic Community Month
Broward County Libraries, with the support of the Broward County Diversity Advisory Council, will celebrate Multi-Ethnic Community Month in January with more than 25 programs at library facilities around the County. In 2002, the Broward County Commission designated January as Multi-Ethnic Community Month.

Among the programs featured will be a January 22 presentation at 2 p.m., Southwest Regional Library, 16835 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines, on the One Broward Initiative, a program designed to create understanding, respect and tolerance of multi-cultural living. Also slated for January 22 is a Community Storytelling at 1 p.m., at the Lauderhill Towne Centre Library, 6399 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderhill, featuring master storyteller Madafo. The program will also be repeated on January 24, 6:30 p.m., at the Tamarac Branch Library, 8701 W. Commercial Blvd.

For complete listings of Broward County Library programs, pick up a copy of Bookings at any library facility or visit the library online at www.broward.org/library.

Library Seeks Senior Volunteers to Read to Children
Broward County Library’s award-winning Prime Time Program is seeking senior volunteers who want to read stories to young children (ages 3 to 5) at day-care centers. The training program includes a free half-day workshop on how to present an effective story program for preschool-age children, and is followed by a ten-week site assignment at a day-care center in the volunteer’s neighborhood.

The training workshops will be held in early February. If interested, please leave your name and phone number at 954-357-7846, to receive a return call with complete details.

Transit Inaugurates New Route, Service Enhancements in 2005
Broward County Transit inaugurated new and improved bus service, effective January 2.

Bus service during weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays has been adjusted on Routes 1, 2, 14, 18, 20, 31, 34, 40, 50, 57, 60, 62, 72, 81, 83, 88 and the 441 Limited. Route 42, a new route, is being introduced to provide service along portions of Atlantic Boulevard.

Residents should refer to the new timetables, effective January 2005, for complete details of all changes. For additional information, contact BCT’s customer service hotline, 954-357-8400 or visit BCT online at www.broward.org/bct.

Port Everglades Revenues Exceed Expectations
Broward County’s Port Everglades reached a historic milestone this year when operating revenues for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, totaled more than $112 million. It is the first time the port has exceeded the $100 million mark in its 77-year history.

“We exceeded our expectations by more than $13 million,” said Port Everglades Director Ken Krauter. He attributed the increased revenues to “strong marketing and operational efficiencies.” Petroleum products and waterborne commerce increased by 6.7 percent, while cruise passenger counts increased by 20.7 percent. Containerized cargo exceeded the four million ton mark, reaching the record high volumes of the late 1990s.

Airport Ranks High In International Survey
A 2004 Global Airport Satisfaction Study conducted by J. D. Power and Associates ranks Broward County’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) as above average in a world-wide survey involving approximately 9,000 travelers. The survey interviewed passengers at 80 airports around the globe on a variety of issues including the check-in process, security checks, terminal facilities, baggage claim procedures and airport amenities. FLL compiled a numerical ranking of 703 out of a possible 850, earning the facility the fifth highest rank among 34 medium sized airports surveyed. Fort Lauderdale outscored both Orlando (690) and Miami (630), which were surveyed in the “large airport” category.

Number of Broward Births Continues to Increase
Over the past 15 years, the annual number of births in Broward County has risen steadily, from 17,930 in 1989 to 22,448 in 2003. This trend can be attributed to the increased number of young families living in the County. Since the last Census in 2000, there have been almost 89,000 births and approximately 25,000 deaths in Broward, resulting in a net increase of almost 64,000. The statistics are contained in the December 2004 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.

Annual Senior Games January 26 – February 9
The 15th annual South Florida Senior Games will begin at noon on Wednesday, January 26, with opening ceremonies scheduled for the Lauderhill Sports Park, 7500 W. Oakland Park Boulevard. The games, the “Olympiad,” for people 50 years of age and over, is being sponsored by WJNA-AM radio and the North Broward Hospital District in cooperation with Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Tamarac and Hollywood.

The games offer more than 60 athletic and leisure competitions to challenge the skills of Broward’s seniors, as well as a number of social activities. Registration is required. For further information, call 954-828-4610 or 954-357-8170/8180 or e-mail dhorowitz@broward.org. Information on the games is available online at www.broward.org/parks/seniorgames.

Television Channel Change for County Commission Meetings
for Comcast Customers in Fort Lauderdale.
Programs previously viewed on Channel 3 will be televised on Channel 12,
the new government access channel.