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Independence Day Hours
All Broward County regional parks will be open on Friday, July 4,
from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the parks’ regular weekend and holiday gate
entrance fee of $1.50 per person (children 5 and under free) will be in
effect. Fern Forest and Secret Woods nature centers
and Deerfield Island Park
will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Exhibit Hall at Long Key Natural Area will
be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., while the nature center itself will be
open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Neighborhood parks will be open from 8 a.m.
to 6 p.m., but the parks will not be staffed and buildings will be closed.
The Markham Park Target
Range, which is normally closed on Fridays, will also be open, from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oohing and Ahhing
Looking for a prime spot for enjoying the Fourth of July fireworks? Look no
further than Vista View Park in Davie. Last year more than 1,100 people did
just that, taking advantage of the hilly park’s status as one of the
highest elevations in South Florida. This year Fireworks Viewing
will be offered from 6 to 11 p.m., and dependent on weather conditions,
visitors may be able to see the displays from Davie, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Sunrise, and possibly even Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood. Most of these
shows are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m., but you’re welcome to bring lawn
chairs or blankets and come early to get a good spot. Food and nonalcoholic
beverages will be available for purchase. Parking is on a first-come,
first-served basis, and no fireworks (including sparklers), grilling, or horses
will be permitted in the park for this special event.
?: Vista View,
954-370-3792.
$: $5/vehicle, $1.50/person for walk-ins, bicycles, and
motorcycles.
Keep Your Critters Cool
Summertime, and the living is easy, right? Just because you’re enjoying sun
and surf, however, don’t neglect your pet’s summer needs. Did you know, for
instance, that July 5 is the busiest day for animal shelters?
That’s because many pet owners don’t take precautions to prevent
Independence Day stress. The fireworks you and friends and family find
exciting may provoke confusion and exhaustion in your pet. Dogs,
especially, are sometimes upset enough to crash through windows, jump
fences, or break chains to escape.
If loud noises disturb your pet – his/her reactions to
thunderstorms should provide a clue – consider leaving the animal behind
while you go out for Fourth of July festivities. At home, have someone
remain inside with your pet while fireworks go off outside. Your vet may
provide tranquilizers for particularly sensitive animals.
Another summer hazard, especially in subtropical South Florida, is heat stress. Never take a pet with you in the car if he/she will be
unattended for any length of time. An outdoor temperature of 85 degrees can
translate to an interior temperature of 120 degrees in just 30 minutes.
Even at home, supply drinking water and shade if your pet is
to be left outside on hot days. And if you “strut your mutt” in one of our
parks, remember that early morning and after sundown are easier on the
heat-sensitive pads of your dog’s paws.
?: Parks Animal Care Specialist, 954-938-0617.
Are You Healthy? Are You Aware?
If not, get yourself over to the Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park, which will be hosting the All-Broward Community Health and Awareness Day
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 19. Back-to-school immunizations
and family health screenings will be available at this free event, along
with educational materials and health-related information.
?: Delevoe,
954-791-1036.
BCT: Routes #11, #40.
Beat the Heat
• Splash Luaus – Fri., July 11 & 25, 6-10 p.m. – Splash
Adventure at Quiet Waters
Park (954-360-1315); $6/person.
• Family Fun Night – Fri., July 18, 6-8 p.m., Castaway
Island at T.Y. Park
(954-985-1980); $6.50/person.
• Dive-In Movie – Sat., July 26, 7-10 p.m., Safari Isle
at Markham Park
(954-389-2000); $5/person.
Under the Light of the Silvery Moon
Experienced adult canoeists are invited to participate in a Moonlight
Paddle Tour, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, at West Lake Park. Reservations are required for this guided tour of West Lake.
The next night, from 8 to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 18, on the
opposite side of the county, landlubbers can join in on a Full Moon Hike,
an interpretive exploration of the nature trails of Long Key Natural Area.
Participants will be able to spot nocturnal animals as they emerge and to
view the full moon as it rises while they learn about myths and legends
associated with the moon.
?: West Lake,
954-926-2480; Long Key,
954-327-8797.
$: Paddle Tour – $20/person; Full Moon Hike – $3/person.
R: Reservations required for both events.
+
BCT: Route #12 (West Lake).
Hurricane Expo 2008
Despite subtropical heat and scattered showers, Broward County’s third annual Hurricane Expo went off without a hitch on May 31 at the Emergency Operations Center in Plantation. The County’s Emergency Management Agency
hosted the event, which featured more than 30 exhibits, displays, and
demonstrations by agencies both public and private.
All participating organizations promoted the County’s two key
messages: (1) develop a family hurricane plan, and (2) have sufficient
supplies to be self-sustaining for three to five days after a storm has
passed. Visitors to the Parks and Recreation Division’s table received
complimentary pocket-size flashlights for use during emergencies. Attendees
also got advance copies of the 2007 Official Broward County Hurricane
Preparedness Guide, which were mailed to more than 785,000 Broward County households in June.
?: 954-831-4000, www.broward.org/hurricane.
Butterflies Count
Just about everyone knows that once a decade the U.S. Census Bureau sets
out to count every person in the United States. But did you know that
there’s also an ongoing census of the butterflies of North America? The
next sessions of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA)
Butterfly Count will be from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on
Saturday, July 12, coordinated by the Broward Chapter of NABA. Locations
include two Broward County natural areas, Crystal lake Sand Pine Scrub
in Pompano Beach and Hillsboro
Pineland in Coconut Creek, as well as Hugh Taylor Birch
State Park in Fort Lauderdale.
No experience is required, just a love of the outdoors and
butterflies. Volunteers should bring binoculars, field guides, cameras,
water, snacks or a bag lunch, sunscreen, and a hat. High school students
can also earn community service hours through this fun and educational
program.
?: 954-993-9449 or 954-5991082, http://browardbutterflies.org.
$: $3/person (children under 12 free).
BCT: Routes #20 (Crystal Lake), #18 (Hillsboro Pineland).
Summer Social
Adults ages 18 and up with developmental disabilities can enjoy deejay
music, dancing, socializing, and refreshments at a free Summer Social,
from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, July 11, at Tree Tops Park in Davie.
?: Special
Populations, 954-357-8160/8180.
Everybody Is a Star
…at Broward Star Time Showcase, the free annual talent competition
for participants, ages 6 to 17, in summer recreation programs sponsored by
Broward County and municipalities throughout the County. Auditions for this
year’s event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 17 at Secret Woods Nature Center
in Dania Beach. Then, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, the talented
youngsters will get to strut their stuff in performances at Parkway Middle School in Fort Lauderdale.
?: Central District Office, 954-321-1178.
BCT: Route 6 (Secret Woods).
Drug Prevention and Awareness Week
Various activities to educate youth on the dangers of drug use will be
offered daily the week of Monday, July 7 through Friday, July 11, along
with other leisure and recreation activities. Participants must be enrolled
in the Parks and Recreation Division’s Summer Recreation program.
?: Special
Populations 954-357-8160/8170.
Change in Deerfield Island Boat Shuttle
Boat shuttle service at Deerfield
Island Park, which was previously offered on Wednesdays and Sundays, is
now offered on Saturdays and Sundays, hourly from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visitors to the island can catch the shuttle from Sullivan Park, on Riverview Road at the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge. The last shuttle departs the island at 4
p.m.
BCT: Routes #50, #92.
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