Annual Water Matters Day Set
For March 24 at Tree Tops Park
Broward County is ready once again to make water conservation and education fun for the whole family! On Saturday, March 24, Water Matters Day 2007 will be held at Tree Tops Park, 2900 S.W. 100th Ave., Davie, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Local governments, organizations and businesses will display educational booths focusing on various environmental topics including: water conservation, protecting water quality, landscaping with native plants and trees, Everglades restoration …and much more.
Throughout the day, families will hear the sounds of singer/songwriter Grant Livingston, who has performed at Water Matters Day for the past several years. Children of all ages will enjoy face-painting and craft activities. In addition, Home Depot representatives will be at the park helping children design their own planters to take home.
Admission to the park is $1 per person; admission for children five and under is free. Participants who visit various educational exhibits will receive FREE giveaways including native trees and plants and rain gauges. Free mulch is also provided—participants are encouraged to bring their own bags. There will be a free drawing for a $1,000 Rain Bird® irrigation system (installation not included).
At 4 p.m., Starbucks Coffee Company will begin its annual Walk for Water. The event is open to volunteers who pledge to walk three miles to raise money for Water Aid, an international non-profit organization. The group helps people escape poverty and disease caused by unsafe water and sanitation. Starbucks will give one dollar per hour for every person who takes part in the walk. The coffee retailer will be giving away free samples of coffee and bottled water to all participants. For more information and to register for the walk, please visit www.worldwaterday.net. |
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BCT to Launch New, Improved
Breeze Service along U.S. 1, U.S. 441
Commuting on Federal Highway and U.S. 441 will be easier and more convenient effective Monday, March 26, when Broward County Transit (BCT) inaugurates and enhances Breeze service along two major north-south corridors.
The U.S. 1 Breeze along U.S. 1/Federal Highway — a brand-new service — will travel between Sample Road in Pompano Beach and the Aventura Mall in Miami-Dade County. The new route will operate on weekdays only during morning and afternoon rush hours as “limited stop” service, meaning the buses will only stop at major intersections. Frequency of service will be every 30 minutes, Monday to Friday. Northbound service will be from 6 to 9:15 a.m. and from 3:55 to 7:15 p.m. Southbound service will be from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 3:50 to 7 p.m. Connecting eastbound and westbound service will be available from most designated stops.
The Highway 441 Breeze — the new name replacing the current 441 Limited Stop — operates along U.S. 441 (State Road 7) from Sample Road to the Golden Glades park-and-ride lot in Miami-Dade County. U.S. 441 is among the most heavily traveled public transit corridors in the county and BCT provides local bus service from Boca Raton to North Miami-Dade County. The 441 Breeze limited stop service also operates on weekdays only during morning and afternoon rush hours. Unique 60-foot, “articulated” buses, recently purchased by Broward County, will be utilized. The accordion-looking buses are 20-feet longer than traditional buses and carry about 22 passengers more than the regular 40-foot buses.
On Sunday, March 25, a new route will also be added to BCT’s service. Route 16 will travel on Stirling Road, between Flamingo Road and Dania Beach Boulevard/U.S.1, providing service to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport Tri-Rail Station. Frequency of service will be every 30 minutes during the weekday peak hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Service will be every 60 minutes at all other times.
For additional information about BCT routes and services, visit www.broward.org/bct, or call 954-357-8400; TTY: 954-357-8302.
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Emerald Awards Recognize
Environmental Businesses
Broward County’s Environmental Protection Department announced the recipients of its 2006 Emerald Awards, an honor recognizing environmentally-responsible businesses that have displayed exceptional efforts to protect the environment.
The program recognizes large and small businesses for their voluntary efforts in four areas: waste reduction, recycling, improved operating practices, and other “green” strategies that reduce pollution and waste. At a ceremony on March 13, Commissioners will honor one Broward County business with a special award as Environmental Business of the Year.
This year’s winning businesses are: Pollution Prevention: Hazardous Waste Reduction: Cylinder Head Exchange, Fort Lauderdale (small business) and Champion Audi, Coral Springs (large business); Recycling: Ameripath Florida, Inc., Pompano Beach (large business); Innovative Procedures/Process Improvement: Aquathin Corporation, Pompano Beach (large business); and, Green Products/Practices or Programs: OXXO Care Cleaners, Hollywood (small business) and Zumro Manufacturing, Inc., Pompano Beach (large business).
The Emerald Awards program also includes a component recognizing homeowners, governments and other groups that have incorporated “NatureScape Broward” techniques into their landscaping. NatureScape yards are designed to conserve water, use native plants, recycle yard waste and attract wildlife. Winners include — Homeowners: Gerald and M.E. DePalma Ford, Wilton Manors and David Bogardus and John Adornato, Hollywood; Government: Plantation Preserve, Plantation; DeGroff Park, Lighthouse Point and Griffin Road Landscape Project, Cooper City. Special achievement awards will be presented to Jan and Erica Davey, Lighthouse Point; Todd Henry DeJesus, Wilton Manors; and Joan Kohl, Coral Springs. Also recognized was WCI Communities (Parkland Golf and Country Club), Parkland, for their professionally designed sales center.
For additional information on the Emerald Awards program, visit www.broward.org/environment or call 954-519-1257.
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To Receive Community Update
Please Send Email to Us
To receive Community Update electronically, send an email to publicinfo@broward.org. Please include your first and last name and email address. |
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Broward County Taxes
Due March 31
The last day for Broward County property owners to pay their 2006 property taxes without interest and penalties is March 31, 2007. Pursuant to Florida Statute, taxes become delinquent on April 1, at which time interest and penalties are assessed. Taxes not paid by May 23, 2007, will have a tax certificate (lien) sold to pay the delinquent taxes.
To make a payment via the internet using a credit card or electronic check, visit www.broward.org/revenue. A fee will be assessed for credit card payments, but no fee is charged for electronic checks. To make a payment via the Integrated Voice Response System using a credit card, call 1-800-601-1069 (a fee will be assessed for credit card payments). To mail your payment, make the check payable to Broward County Revenue Collection and mail to Broward County Revenue Collection, P.O. Box 29009, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302-9009. To pay in person, please visit one of two offices: Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Avenue, Room A-100, Fort Lauderdale or the South Regional Courthouse, 3550 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.
For additional information, please call the Broward County customer service center at 954-831-4000.
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Municipal Elections March 13
In 12 Broward Municipalities
Municipal elections will be conducted in 12 of Broward County’s 31 municipalities on Tuesday, March 13, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only voters registered prior to the closing of the voting rolls on February 12 are eligible to vote. Not all precincts in all municipalities will be voting. You can check to see if there is an election in your precinct by visiting www.browardsoe.org and clicking on March 13, 2007 Municipal General Elections. The following municipalities will be voting: Cooper City, Dania Beach, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Hallandale Beach, Hillsboro Beach, Miramar, Oakland Park, Pompano Beach, Sea Ranch Lakes, Sunrise and West Park.
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Charter Review Commission
To Hold Hearing March 15
Broward County’s Charter Review Commission (CRC) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 15, 7-9 p.m., Miramar City Hall, Commission Chambers, 2300 Civic Center Pl., Miramar, to receive community input as they review the operations of Broward County government. Broward County’s Charter provides for the appointment of a Charter Review Commission every six years. The CRC has the authority to place Broward County Charter amendments directly on the ballot for the November 2008 general election. For more detailed information, visit www.broward.org/charter.
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Rabies Eradication Program
Resumes in March
In early March, Broward County, in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies, will begin the third year of a five-year program to eradicate rabies in the County. The Oral Rabies Vaccine Program targets wild animals, primarily raccoons throughout a 400-square-mile area. More than 200,000 pouches containing the rabies vaccine and fishmeal will be distributed in areas dense with wildlife, including County parks. Most of the bait will be distributed by hand. In late March, Broward Sheriff’s helicopters will drop the bait in remote areas of the County. The bait is harmless to pets, humans and livestock. Since July 2000, there have been 36 confirmed rabies cases in Broward County.
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Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
Event in Cooper City
Broward County residents are encouraged to take advantage of a free hazardous waste and electronics drop-off event, scheduled for Sunday, March 18, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Cooper City Sports Complex, 10300 Stirling Rd., Cooper City. Proof of Broward County residency is required.
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For additional information, please contact the Public Communications Office
at 954-357-6990 or by e-mail at publicinfo@broward.org
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