Christmas in July Event
To Help Homeless Children

The Broward County Commission has again joined with the Kiwanis Divisions 23 and 24 in seeking donations for the fifth annual Christmas in July event. Residents are asked to donate NEW clothing, school supplies and toys, which will be used to prepare homeless children for the upcoming school year.

Collection boxes are located at all 37 branches of the Broward County Library and at the following locations through July 18:

• Governmental Center Lobby – 115 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
• North Regional Courthouse – 1600 W. Hillsboro Boulevard, Deerfield Beach
• South Regional Courthouse – 3550 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood
• West Regional Courthouse – 100 N. Pine Island Road, Plantation
• Main Courthouse – 201 S.E. 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale

Items being collected include pants/slacks, shorts, shirts, belts, socks, shoes, undergarments, baby clothing, diapers, school supplies, books, games and toys. Items can be for a girl or boy ranging in age from infants to 18 years.

Christmas in July has grown annually since its inception in 2002. Last year’s event assisted 900 homeless children.

Hurricane Ready Decal Identifies Stores Operating with Power

Broward County, in partnership with municipal building departments, has developed a new decal to assist residents in identifying businesses operating with their own power source after a storm or hurricane.

The blue and white Hurricane Ready decal identifies a business that is able to operate during a power outage, barring structural damage to the building. The program is administered by municipalities through building departments or by Broward County with contract cities. For additional information, contact your local building department or the Broward County Building Code Services Division at 954-765-5075. A separate decal program for gas stations is being developed by the state.

Volunteers Needed to Assist Florida Neighborhoods Conference

Volunteers are needed for the 10th Annual Florida Neighborhoods Conference (FNC), which will be held in Fort Lauderdale over the weekend of October 5-7. The three-day event will be hosted by Broward County and the City of Fort Lauderdale. Most activities will be held at the Broward County Convention Center. Conference attendees from throughout the state will attend workshops, neighborhood tours and special events. Conference organizers are looking for volunteers to provide a warm welcome and assist at the conference. Volunteer opportunities include, but are not limited to: greeters, hospitality room representatives, A/V equipment operators and assistants to help with exhibits, hospitality, neighborhood tours, registration, social events and workshops. Residents interested in volunteering should contact Sue Molnar at 954-828-5362 or e-mail: Smolnar@fortlauderdale.gov.

The statewide Florida Neighborhoods Conference is designed to bring neighborhood leaders together to discuss issues of mutual concern. Registration: $45, prior to September 5. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Don Stone, 954-357-6673. For additional information on the conference and online registration, visit: www.floridaneighborhoods.org.

County Commission Awards Grants for City Tree Planting Projects

The Broward County Commission awarded nearly $150,000 in grants to16 municipalities as part of the Broward Beautiful Committee’s GreenSHADE Grant Program, a partnership between the Broward Beautiful Committee and the Tree Preservation Trust Fund Committee. The program, open to all municipalities in Broward County, provides matching grants to fund municipal shade tree planting projects on public property. Projects approved include: Southwest Ranches, $4,238.72; Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, $9,694.64; Hallandale Beach, $10,740; Hollywood, $10,740; Fort Lauderdale, $5,370; Pembroke Park, $8,749.52; Plantation, $10,740; Weston, $9,057.40; Cooper City, $10,740; Oakland Park, $10,740; Lauderhill, $10,740; West Park, $7,482.20; Miramar, $10,740; Lighthouse Point, $8,699.40; Parkland, $10,740; and, Coral Springs, $10,740.

Grants Available to Replace Trees Destroyed by Hurricane Wilma

The State of Florida has announced the availability of 2006 Emergency Hurricane Supplemental Urban and Community Forestry grants to local governments, non-profit organizations, educational institutions and native American tribal governments. The program provides grants of up to $50,000 for tree-related projects following Hurricane Wilma. The program requires applicants to provide 25 percent of a project’s cost. Projects that have been initiated since August 29, 2005, are retroactively eligible for funding. Multiple applications will be accepted. Approximately $700,000 is available for South Florida. Application deadline is July 14, 2006. For details and an application, contact Sheryl Dell, 954-522-0273 or e-mail: DellS@doacs.state.fl.us.

Broward County Receives $3.9 Million in FEMA Funds

Broward County will be reimbursed $3.9 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds to pay for costs associated with the replacement of traffic signals and debris removal following Hurricane Wilma. The funding reimburses the County for repair and replacement of approximately 30,000 traffic control signs, as well as approximately 15 traffic control signals. A $2.6 million grant will cover 75 percent of the County’s costs associated with repairing and replacing signs and signals. In addition, Broward will receive a $1.3 million grant to help cover the County’s $1.7 million cost of collecting and disposing of debris from the hurricane.

New Community Bus Service Begins in Lauderhill

Broward County Transit (BCT) began a new community bus service, the Central Connector, on June 19 in Lauderhill. The free service enables passengers to make connections with BCT routes and community bus service in Plantation, Lauderdale Lakes and Lauderhill at the Lauderhill Mall. The service operates Monday through Friday, 6:20 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. The Central Connector makes stops at the Swap Shop, West Broward Shopping Center, Plantation General Hospital, Lauderhill Mall and the residential communities of West Ken Lark, Broward Estates and St. George. For detailed information, call 954-357-8400 or visit www.broward.org/bct.

New Libraries Opened in Hollywood, North Lauderdale

In June, Broward County opened new libraries in Hollywood and North Lauderdale, bringing the total number of library facilities in the County to 37.

The Hollywood Branch, 2600 Hollywood Boulevard, opened June 8 and will offer customers a 100,000-item collection, 56 public use computers (25 for technology classes), and wireless hotspot capability. The library includes group study rooms, three tutoring areas and a room for storytelling and youth service programs. The new facility replaces a library built in 1959. The new two-story library was built with funding from the 1999 Library Bond Issue.
The 20,000 square-foot North Lauderdale Saraniero Branch, 6901 Kimberly Boulevard, opened on June 24. The new facility, also constructed with 1999 Library Bond Issue funds, will house a collection of 70,000 items and will contain a multi-purpose room, a conference room, a storytelling room, as well as a group study area and a tutoring room. The library will have 33 public use computers, including 15 stations in a separate area for undisturbed instruction.

Exhibit to Celebrate 30 Years of Public Art

The Broward County Cultural Division and the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood invite the public to an exhibit, A Survey of 30 Years of Public Art in Broward County, which opens on July 7 and runs through August 20 at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, 1650 Harrison Street.

A Survey of 30 Years of Public Art in Broward County highlighting 208 works of art is an exhibition created to commemorate Broward County’s Public Art and Design Program’s 30-year celebration in 2006. The show features design proposals, models and renderings of art works that enhance many of the county’s public spaces. There will also be a video presentation highlighting public artworks located throughout the County. The exhibit opens with a reception on Friday, July 7, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Art and Culture Center. The reception is free and open to the public.

Exhibition hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and, Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Admission cost is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors and free for children 13 years or younger, accompanied by an adult. There is no charge on July 16 and August 20.

Secret Woods Nature Center Offers Home Landscape Series

Secret Woods Nature Center, 2701 W. State Road 84, Dania Beach, is offering a free Summer Home Landscape lecture series, for ages 16 and up, on Thursdays, July 13 through August 17, 7:30 to 9 p.m. This popular program is designed for the average homeowner who is interested in adding to the beauty of a residential property. Participants will learn ways to save money on cooling and water bills, attract wildlife, while preserving native vegetation. All classes are held in the nature center’s air-conditioned assembly hall. For additional information, call the Secret Woods Nature Center, 954-791-1030.