A Message from Broward County Commissioner Dr. Barbara Sharief
It is hard to believe that 2019 is almost over. There are three exciting months still to go. Fall is here and this is my favorite time of year. We begin to see the leaves changing colors on the trees, we feel a slight weather change, and we begin making those holiday preparations. The holidays can be hectic, but staying organized and planning early, can help eliminate the stress that the holiday season can bring. I encourage you to make holiday plans that will enable you to create memorable moments and new traditions with your family and friends that will last a lifetime.
As your District 8 Commissioner, I am thankful to have the opportunity to serve you and all of our residents in Broward County. Together we have made our neighborhoods, business community, and local tourist attractions some of the best our County has to offer. Broward is definitely a great place to call home. As we end 2019 and begin 2020, I look forward to our continued success!
I want to wish you a safe, joyful, and prosperous holiday season!
Barbara
Veterans Day
Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans. It coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
Broward County Transit
Broward County Transit (BCT) has set a goal to electrify its fleet by 2030. They are in the process of purchasing 5 electric buses by 2020. The electric buses are environmentally friendly, decrease air pollution and lessen carbon footprint. They operate on batteries and carry the same amount of passengers as standard buses. The upfront cost of purchasing the electric bus is higher than a conventional diesel bus, but the electric buses will offer a significant cost savings over the lifetime of the vehicle. In addition, BCT continues to improve services to meet the needs of their customers and the growing demand for public transportation by adding 147 new buses with wi-fi, 146 new paratransit vehicles and a Mobile Ticketing App.
Food Poisoning Is No Joke
- Wash your hands frequently when handling food
- Keep raw meat away from fresh produce
- Use separate cutting boards, plates and utensils for uncooked and cooked meats to avoid cross-contamination
- Use a food thermometer to make sure meat is cooked to a safe temperature
- Refrigerate hot or cold leftover food within two hours of being served
- When storing turkey, cut the leftovers in small pieces so they will chill quickly
- Leftovers are safe for three to four days when properly refrigerated
Orange Crunch Bundt® Cake
"This is an old family recipe and is a favorite at the Holidays!"
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup white sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan.
- Cream butter or margarine and 1 cup sugar. Add eggs and beat well with an electric mixer at medium speed. Mix in sour cream and vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda: add to creamed mixture, blending just until moistened. Stir in raisins, walnuts, and orange rind. Mix well. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake for 60 minutes, or until a wooden pick comes out clean. Cool cake in pan for 5 minutes.
- Dissolve 1/2 cup sugar in orange juice. Pour over hot cake. Cool completely in pan.
Fill Your Home with Seasonal Scents
Welcome your guests with scents that make your home feel like holiday headquarters. Create a simple stovetop potpourri with items you already have in your pantry. Combine a few cups of water, a halved orange, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves and a dash of nutmeg in a saucepan. Simmer on low for a few hours, adding more water if needed. Slow cookers work great, too, if you need to reserve that stovetop for cooking holiday meals.
City Events October-November-December
There are a lot of holiday activities planned throughout our cities over the next three months. So to ensure that you can plan accordingly, here are websites for you to visit for all of the holiday festivity details:
September 11th
On September 11th, I attended the City of Pembroke Pines’ Patriot Day Remembrance Ceremony at City Hall’s Memorial Park. This annual event allows us to remember and honor the lives lost during that catastrophic day 18 years ago and to recognize our First Responders and Veterans. Students from Pines Charter Elementary FSU Campus Chorus performed at the Ceremony and did a wonderful job.
Feeding South Florida
Did you know that in Broward County nearly 260,000 people, or 13.6 percent of the County’s population, does not know where they will get their next meal? Sadly, approximately 75,000 children in our county go to bed hungry every night. On September 10th we celebrated Hunger Action Day, a.k.a. “GO ORANGE DAY,” to bring awareness to the issue of hunger in our community. In addition, I had the pleasure of presenting a proclamation on behalf of the Board of Broward County Commissioners to Feeding South Florida's President & CEO - Mr. Paco Velez and Executive Vice President - Ms. Sari M. Vatske. Hunger Action Month last year was a big success and we were able to get donations of more than 1,000 pounds of food to feed 800 families in Broward County. This year we're leading the challenge to do even more. During the months of September and October, I encourage Broward residents, businesses and local governments to take action to help solve this growing problem. The 365 Food drive we have year-round in Broward County Government buildings feeds people throughout the year. I hope other businesses and organizations will do the same. Feeding South Florida has many opportunities where you can participate and help by donating money, food, volunteering, and advocating. Find out how you can be part of the solution at
FeedingSouthFlorida.org.
Florida Associations of Counties Health Policy Steering Committee
It was an honor to be selected as the Subcommittee Vice Chair for the Health Policy Steering Committee. The Committee is responsible for all matters pertaining to public health and healthy communities, including disease and injury prevention, health disparities reduction, health financing, health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, long-term care, behavioral health services, substance abuse prevention and treatment.
Serving on County Boards
We are seeking residents with an interest in public service to represent the needs of the district. If you are interested in being considered, please forward a detailed resume to
bsharief@broward.org. Be sure to include your permanent address, phone number and email address; whether you are a registered voter; whether you are a registered lobbyist; whether you serve on any other board, authority or agency (dual office holding); whether you are related to any Commissioner; and whether you have any potential conflicting business relationship. For a description of Boards, visit Broward.org/Intergovernmental and select BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.
Helpful Resources
Broward County Family Success Administration Division assists individuals and families with accessing the services they need to build a stronger, healthier and self-sufficient family unit. The centers provide assessment and case management, and, if eligible, rent/mortgage and utility assistance. If you have recently had a loss of income, received an eviction notice/mortgage default letter, or a water/electricity shut off notice, visit Family Success website or call 954-357-5650 or 954-357-5001 to find out how they can help you. The South Family Success Center is located in Commission District 8 at 4733 SW 18 Street, West Park, 33023 (Broward County Transit Route 5). If you are over 60, or are a veteran, contact the Elderly and Veteran's Services Division at 954-357-6622.
2-1-1 Broward is available 24 hours a day to help you find food, housing, health care, senior services, childcare, legal aid and much more. For a complete list of services, dial 2-1-1 or 954-537-0211, TTY 954-390-0492 211, or go to
211-Broward.org.
To receive communications (such as this newsletter) from my office via email, or to arrange for myself or my Community Outreach Liaison, Suzanne Bailey to attend your neighborhood or homeowner association meeting, please contact Suzanne at 954-357-7008 or sbailey@broward.org.
Other Resources
Emergency Financial Assistance:
954-357-6367
Legal Aid Services of Broward County, Inc.:
954-765-8950
If you or any one you know is experiencing homelessness the Homeless Helpline at 954-563-HELP (4357). A friendly voice can help you get the information, service or assistance you need to get back on your feet. Mon.-Fri.: 8AM to 6PM, Sat.-Sun.: 8AM to Noon. Broward.org/Homeless
