Ready. Set. Safe. Prepare for Hurricane Season

Hurricane season officially runs from June 1st through November 30th. The time to prepare for hurricane season is now. Residents are urged to make preparations, purchase supplies and check on their insurance well in advance of an approaching storm. To assist residents in preparing for the season, the County Commission has sent a 12-page, color Hurricane Preparedness Guide to every household in the County. The guide contains important tips, information, maps, telephone numbers and website addresses. For updates and more detailed information, visit www.broward.org/hurricane.

Residents in evaculation areas are urged to familiarize themselves with the locations of the designated American Red Cross Shelters. Shelters should be considered a last resort option; hotels and friends’ residences in non-evacuation areas would be perferable.

• Lyons Creek Middle School, 4333 Sol Press Blvd., Coconut Creek
• Coral Glades High School, 2700 Sportsplex Dr., Coral Springs
• Monarch High School, 5050 Wiles Rd., Coconut Creek
• Pompano Beach Institute of International Studies High School, 1400 N.E. 6th St., Pompano Beach
• Park Lakes Elementary School, 3925 N. State Rd. 7, Lauderdale Lakes
• Rock Island Elementary/Arthur Ashe Middle School, 1701 N.W. 23rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale
• Plantation Elementary School, 651 N.W. 42nd Ave., Plantation
• Fox Trail Elementary School, 1250 Nob Hill Rd., Davie
• Falcon Cove Middle School, 4251 Bonaventure Blvd., Weston
• Silver Trail Middle School, 18300 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines
• New Renaissance Middle School, 10701 Miramar Blvd., Miramar
• Watkins Elementary School, 3520 S.W. 52nd Ave., Pembroke Park

Broward County Unveils Mobile EOC Vehicle

Broward County officially unveiled its new mobile Emergency Operations Center (EOC) command post vehicle at the County’s Hurricane Preparedness Expo on May 20. The new, state-of-the-art vehicle is 40 feet long and expands to a width of 13 feet. It includes an interoperability radio communications system and satellite telephone and internet capability. The vehicle has GIS capability, remote controlled outside cameras and multiple plasma screens for video and video conferencing. This mobile command post can be deployed to coordinate emergency communications and aid to any section of the County. The vehicle was purchased through a grant under the Urban Area Security Initiative.

Human Services Director
Wins State Hurricane Award

Broward County’s Human Services Director Marlene Wilson was presented with the prestigious Distinguished Service Award in May at the annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference in Fort Lauderdale. Ms. Wilson was cited for efforts to assist victims of Hurricane Wilma, which struck Broward County last October 24. She spent 18-hour days at the Broward County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Plantation, directing efforts to find shelter, food, water and ice for residents impacted by the hurricane. In the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, Ms. Wilson set up a case management system to deliver services and resources to families and individuals displaced by the storm. In accepting the award, Ms. Wilson credited her staff of 700 employees for the hard work and long hours they spent in helping the victims of the storm. “This honor belongs to all of them,” she said. “They are a dedicated group of employees who put people first.”

Summer Reading Program
Offered by Libraries

Make the most out of this summer with Broward County Library’s 2006 Summer Reading Program. From June 3 to July 29, young people can participate in a variety of free programs and events held at library locations throughout the County. From arts and crafts to magicians to performers and storytellers, there’s something for every interest—and age—this summer at Broward County Library. The Summer Reading Program also offers great prizes for children and teens who read this summer—just log the time you spend reading this summer and earn great giveaways from your library. On the Edge, is the special Summer Reading Program for teens and Book Feast is geared toward children 12 and under. Visit the Youth Services Section of your local library or log on to www.broward.org/library and click on Book Feast or On the Edge buttons to get additional details on the programs.

Tradewinds Horse Camp
Begins Summer Program

Tradewinds Park Stables in Coconut Creek is offering the 2006 Tradewinds Horse Camp, for ages 9-16, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., each Monday through Thursday, starting June 5 and ending August 3. Each four-day session includes daily riding instruction (weather permitting). Instruction will also include: breeds and colors, anatomy of the horse; appropriate riding equipment, tack, and general care of the horse in the show ring and on the trails. The program will offer information on nutrition and feeding of horses and routine, preventive and therapeutic maintenance. The fee is $225 per four-day session. Registration is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays only. Fee must be paid and a release and waiver of liability signed at registration. Tradewinds Park Stables is located at Tradewinds Park (North), 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek. For additional information, call 954-968-3875.

Turkish Islamic Arts Exhibition
Opens at Governmental Center

A collection of classical Turkish Islamic art will be on display in the lobby of the Broward County Governmental Center, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, from June 2 through June 23. The free exhibit is being sponsored by the Broward County-based Anatolia Cultural Center, a Turkish-American social, educational and recreational organization. The center promotes cultural exchanges through art exhibitions, food festivals, interfaith and multicultural social gatherings.

The exhibition includes approximately 100 pieces, representing an art form dating back more than a thousand years. The art work, known for its refinement and aesthetic and spiritual qualities, is used to embellish the book pages of the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, and the pages of other books. Muhsine Duygu, an internationally-acclaimed artist and teacher, is organizing the exhibit at the Governmental Center. The exhibit will open with a short ceremony on June 6 at 9:30 a.m. The event is open to the public and refreshments will be served. The exhibit will be on display during regular operating hours, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5.m. Ms. Duygu will offer free workshops on the art of illumination on June 6, 13 and 20 at 3 p.m.

Homeless ‘Czar’ Praises
Broward County Initiative

At a kick-off event in May to implement Broward County’s Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness, Philip F. Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, called Broward County’s homeless initiative “a national model.” Mangano, known as the federal homelessness ‘czar’, said the County’s careful planning saved taxpayers $600,000. Broward County’s Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness, initiated by the Coalition to End Homelessness and approved by the County Commission last December, calls for the development of 1,200 new units of permanent supportive housing, two-thirds of which would be earmarked for the chronically homeless.

Airport First in State
With All-Biodiesel Shuttle

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport became the first aviation facility in Florida to offer a shuttle service that is fully powered by biodiesel fuel. In late May, five new, environmentally-friendly shuttle buses were put into service. Biodiesel is a renewable, domestically produced fuel that burns cleaner and reduces noxious emissions. The shuttle buses, powered by a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel, contribute to the airport’s goal of improving air quality. Biodiesel is made from soybean oil and other fats and vegetable oils.

BCT Announces Automated
Regional Transit Trip Planner

If you have access to a computer, it just got easier to plan a trip on public transportation. Passengers can now log on to Broward County Transit’s (BCT) website, www.broward.org/bct, and click on the Trip Planner link and enter their starting point, destination and desired time of travel. The transit trip planner identifies addresses, landmarks and intersections. Travel information is available for Broward County Transit, Miami-Dade Transit, Tri-Rail and Palm Tran, or any combination of the four. A detailed trip itinerary provides passengers with transfer points, trip duration and the total trip cost, including a fare cost breakdown. In cases where there is more than one way of traveling to the final destination, the user can sort travel options. For more information, call BCT at 954-357-8400 or visit www.broward.org/bct.

Low Cost Rabies Vaccination
Clinic Slated for June 10

Broward County’s Animal Care and Regulation Division will hold a Low-Cost License and Rabies Vaccination clinic on Saturday, June 10, North Broward Park, 4400 N.E. 18th Ave., Pompano Beach, from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The $15 cash only fee includes the rabies vaccination and county animal license. For a flyer and directions to the clinic, visit www.broward.org/animal. To qualify, pet owners must be Broward residents, meet certain income guidelines and provide proof of residency. Dogs must be on leashes and cats in carrier.