Volunteers Graduate from the
Florida Master Gardener Program
Twenty-four more residents have graduated from Florida Master Gardener training, bringing to 179 the number of active volunteers in this program sponsored by Broward County Extension Education. Each new Master Gardener will schedule 75 hours of volunteer work to assist with the more than 8,300 telephone calls, 3,600 office visits, and 7,000 e-mails answered at the Extension Education offices each year.
For information, call Broward County Extension Education at 954-370-3725 or visit www.broward.org/parks.
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| Residents Warned
About “Recycling Letter”
The Broward County Permitting, Licensing and Consumer Protection Division warns residents not to be misled if they receive a letter from “National Department of Renewable Resources” that says it is authorized to “seek compensatory damages for recycling shortfalls.” This letter is either a hoax or a scam, and the sender may try to illegally obtain either money or personal information.
The letter claims that the State of Florida has passed a law that allows fines to be levied against homeowners who fail to follow the mandatory recycling policies enacted by Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. None of these claims is true.
The return address on the letter, 2111 W. Lexington Ave. in Chicago, is actually a municipal office building, and no such agency exists at that address. Residents are advised to disregard any letters they may receive from “National Department of Renewable Resources.” |
Broward County Releases
2008 Annual Report
Broward County’s Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2008 is now available. The report details the progress, achievements and accomplishments of County government as it focuses on regional issues for the County’s 1.7 million residents.
The 2008 Annual Report is available online at www.broward.org. For a printed copy, email publicinfo@broward.org or call the Office of Public Communications at 954-357-6990.
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“Meet the Agencies” Workshop
Series Helps Small Businesses
The Office of Equal Opportunity Small Business Development Division is presenting “Meet the Agencies,” a free seminar series designed to provide small business owners with an insider’s look at how Broward County agencies operate and how they work with the local business community. The workshop series is part of Broward County’s commitment to providing the local business community with opportunities in County procurement.
The workshop series will be held from 6:30 to 7 p.m. on various dates throughout the year at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. For more information, call the Broward County Small Business Development Division at 954-357-6400 or visit www.broward.org/smallbusiness click on Workshop Schedule.
• March 4, 2009, Port Everglades and Public Works Department, featuring Seaport Engineering & Construction Divisions
• March 25, 2009, featuring Aviation Expansion Program Construction and Aviation Expansion Program Engineering Divisions.
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Menus Provide Historical
Record of Area Restaurants
The Broward County Historical Commission recently received a donation of 800 historic menus collected from Broward County restaurants, part of a larger collection of 4,220 restaurant menus from around the world collected by two local residents whose efforts landed them in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The collection paints a historical picture of South Florida dining through the decades, from 1948 to the present, from “Aviators Tavern and Grill Under the Tower of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport” to “Zuckerello’s” of Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton.
The collection is stored at the Historical Commission and is available if an organization needs period menu suggestions or if a community in Broward County wants to highlight past businesses, especially restaurants. Call the Historical Commission at 954-765-4671. |
Broward County Transit
Schedules Community Forums
BBroward County Transit is partnering with cities to host a series of transit community forums, allowing residents to voice their concerns, ideas and recommendations for a future public transportation plan. Forums scheduled in February are:
• Wednesday, February 18, Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Drive, Coral Springs, 4 - 6 p.m.; Bus Routes 2, University Breeze
• Wednesday, February 25, Cultural Community Center, 410 S.E. Third Ave., Hallandale Beach, 7 - 8:30 p.m.; Bus Route 1
For more information, visit www.broward.org/bct, or call the Broward County Transportation Department at 954-357-8355. Hearing- and speech-impaired individuals should call 954-357-8302 (TTY).
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Broward Kicks Off Super Bowl
Volunteer Recruitment Effort
Broward County will become “Media Headquarters” for Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 and thousands of volunteers will be needed to serve in various capacities. Super Bowl XLIV is expected to generate more than $460 million in economic impact in the South Florida region. The South Florida 2010 Super Bowl Host Committee volunteer opportunities include:
• NFL Experience Ambassadors – to assist with the management and supervision of interactive football games and displays.
• Airport and Hotel Ambassadors – to offer a sunny, enthusiastic welcome to guests via friendly smiles and warm handshakes at one of the aforementioned venues.
• Transportation Ambassadors – to direct guests to appropriate shuttles and check credentials as NFL guests board shuttles. Ambassadors may also be asked to ride on the shuttles to assist drivers with directions and greet NFL staff or sponsors.
For more information, visitwww.southfloridasuperbowl.com/volunteer or e-mail Volunteers@SouthFloridaSuperBowl.com.
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Florida East Coast Railway
Discussed at Coalition Meeting
The South Florida East Coast Corridor Coalition held its organizational meeting and discussed the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway Corridor. The 60-member coalition consists of 20 members each from Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties from the business, civic, and public sectors. The purpose of this group is to make transit on the FEC corridor a top South Florida transportation priority and subsequently a top state priority. The coalition plans to rally grassroots support for the construction and operation of an efficient tri-county north-south passenger service.
Experts from the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Urban & Environmental Solutions presented members with data on the expected growth patterns and the necessity of increased transportation capacity in the region.
The next meeting of the coalition is Wednesday, March 11, at 10 a.m., at the Broward County Main Library in Fort Lauderdale.
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Oakland Park Celebrates Completion of New “Greening Gateway”
On Thursday, February 26, at 10:30 a.m., the City of Oakland Park along with Greening Gateways partners, including Broward County, the City of Wilton Manors and the Florida Department of Transportation will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the I-95/Oakland Park Boulevard Interchange landscaping project.
The concept for this project was developed over several months in consultation with the Greening Gateways partners. It incorporates smart landscape design principles that emphasize native plant communities with low water needs and it beautifies and re-vitalizes one of the busiest interchanges in Broward Count.
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Historic Heritage Marker
Commemorates “Colored Beach”
A Historic Heritage Marker was unveiled at John U. Lloyd State Park on February 13, to commemorate Broward County’s so-called “colored beach” during the era of segregation.
In 1946, black residents petitioned the Board of County Commissioners for “a public beach for colored people in Broward County.” In 1954, Broward County purchased beach property south of the Port Everglades Inlet in what is known today as John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, but the only way to get to the beach was by ferry or a long trip over land. That prompted Dr. Von D. Mizell and Eula Mae Johnson, leader of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, to lead a series of “wade-ins” at the beaches in Fort Lauderdale in 1961. One year later, a judge refused a request by the city to stop the wade-ins and that decision led to the desegregated beaches.
The Broward County Historical Commission and members of county staff worked throughout the year to have the State’s Division of Historical Resources declare the beach a place of historical significance under the State Historic Marker Program. District 6 Commissioner Sue Gunzburger earmarked up to $2,500 in discretionary funds to have the commemorative plaque placed at the beach.
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To Receive Community Update Please Send Email to Us
Community Update, a monthly newsletter from the Board of County Commissioners, is produced by the Office of Public Communications. Address questions concerning articles to 954-357-6990. To receive Community Update electronically, send an email to publicinfo@broward.org. Please include your first and last name and email address. Hearing impaired residents can call the TTY line at 954-831-3940 for additional information. |
For additional information, please contact the Office of Public Communications
at 954-357-6990 or by e-mail at publicinfo@broward.org.
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