April Neighborhood Meeting

YOU CAN NOT AFFORD TO MISS THIS MEETING!!!!! Addressing Crime in the Hood.

There has been a recent crime wave in our neighborhood and River Oaks- the police have suspects, neighbors report seeing people leaving the scene- but the spree continues. These are very bold folks who break in – very often through the back door, when no one is home during the day. They leave with electronics, jewelry, cash and prescription drugs. We have invited neighbors who have seen these criminals, as well as those robbed, and the Fort Lauderdale police to gather with us at our meeting on April 26^th to talk about what is happening, whom they suspect, and what steps you can take to protect yourselves and your belongings. It should be a very interesting meeting- please plan on attending. The more you know – the more aware you will be and perhaps with greater vigilance we might be able to turn the tide.

My story of vigilance for the week – sort of an Aesop fable type thing-involves a friend who lives in a small (8 unit) condo complex in Rio Vista. One of her neighbors is 95 years old (let’s call her Bev), and another unit in the complex is owned by Bev’s daughter and son-in-law. Bev’s son-in-law is a bit of a jerk and neither he nor his wife talk to my friend – for no particular reason – they are just really odd people- it is hard to ignore someone when you walk past each other to the pool or mail boxes on a daily basis – but they have been doing it for years.

Anyway – the other night my friend was walking her dog at 11 PM and noticed that Bev’s upstairs lights were on- which she thought was unusual as Bev, understandably for a 95 year old, usually had her lights out by 9. Most of us would have registered the information – but not done anything about it either from concern that if we called Bev or the daughter, we would wake them, or appear nosey, or whatever- but my friend decided that it simply did not look right that Bev’s lights were on that late- so she called the daughter. Fortunately for Bev, her adult grandson lives with the daughter and answered the phone. Five minutes later the ambulance and police were there- Bev had fallen in her bathroom around 8 PM and couldn’t move. She is still in hospital and hopefully on the road to recovery – but one wonders how she would have fared had my friend decided not to call people who actively dislike her- risking being told to mind her own business- based on a gut feeling that something wasn’t right. We have all had that feeling. We see someone in the alley but it does not look like a workman or a neighbor. We see a car circling the block – slowly. We see people walking dogs that do not seem to match them. Yet we don’t call anyone because we are afraid to risk looking silly. Had my friend let the worry about looking silly stop her- Bev may not have made it through the night. The moral of this story – if something doesn’t look right- do something about it. Better to look silly than to be sorry you didn’t act when it is too late.

Please come to the meeting – the better informed we all are the better for the neighborhood. After we get done scaring you with the crime statistics, we will help to relax you with a yoga demonstration and some deep breathing-

Hope to see you all there- Tuesday April 26^th at 7 PM at the Community Center.

Not Crime

This is Dwayne. He has been canvassing the neighborhood to sell AT&T services. It caused concern because of the recent break-ins. I checked him out and actually switched to AT&T after meeting him. I was impressed that other neighbors had taken the time to report their concerns about him also. So, keep up the good work reporting to the Police and the Association when you see something that doesn't seem quite right. The next blue shirt may not be Dwayne.

Rhonda

Car Break In on 14th Street

Hi there, just thought I would let you know, my tenant at 14th Street had his car broken into last night from 12am - 2am. The police came over and said there were at least 4 car break ins this week in our neighborhood. They think it was locals or neighbors that did it because the car targeted had a nice stereo system. When my tenant would wash his car, he would play the stereo system.



My concern, I have a FPL light pole on my property line and the street. There is a huge coconut tree growing right onto the light bulb of the pole. The palm fronds block the light, so hardly any light comes down to the street. I have had FPL come out to trim the palm fronds but it really doesn't do any good because the fronds grow back so quickly. The only way I see is to cut down the palm tree for the safety of my block to get the light from the pole to reach my house, the 3 houses across the street. Any suggestions?
On a lighter note, I hope everyone has a great Easter Holiday!!
John McNamara

Crime update

Hi Everyone

We have police presence in the 'hood today. Joe saw a policeman on horseback and a squad car policewoman detaining a man on a bike. They had him on the ground but found nothing incriminating on him. They checked his record, found history of burglaries, no warrants. They took his picture and let him go with a stern warning. They also got two suspicious guys wandering around, found they also had burglary records, and arrested them on warrants. Joe then had the opportunity to talk to Officer Eric Sweet, the mounted policeman, about the drug dealers in our neighborhood and all the burglaries. He was very interested in the two bicycle-riding drug dealers. The police are aware of the high crime we're experiencing and have stepped up their presence. They are looking for specific vehicles involved in recent burglaries.

Virginia

Easter Egg Hunt in Croissant Park

Dog doo

A word or two from Patricia Rathburn, V.P., Croissant Park Civic Association

And your little dog too……..

OK, I am reduced to writing about dog poop. Not my idea of a riveting read, but it has been a subject of much discussion at recent Association meetings and the time has come to address the issue. If you have a dog(s) there are certain responsibilities that come with your pet. These include, in no particular order of importance, feeding, grooming, providing exercise and medical attention and of course, lots of love. That means that you do not let your pet wander about off leash (in addition to be dangerous for your pet- it is a violation of City law), and when you are walking your pet on a leash – YOU PICK UP AFTER IT.

If you walk your dog, you should be aware that it is a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and or 60 days in jail not to clean up after your pet. Now, I doubt too many people have been hauled off to jail for being pigs and not picking up after their pet, but that $500 fine is certainly a possibility.

For those of you who walk your dogs in the alley – why is that? The only thing we can figure is that you think that if your dog relieves itself in the alley, you don’t have to pick up after it- based on the theory that what happens in the alley stays in the alley. Not so. Just because your dog is not relieving itself on someone’s manicured lawn does not mean you don’t have to pick up after it. For those of you who walk around with a bag for those occasions when you have no intention of picking up the poop until your pooch is caught in the act- you are not fooling anyone. Those people who live on the alleys and use their yards are really tired of you (and you know who you are) people using the alley as a waste dump. In case you haven’t noticed – dog poop smells, gets on your shoes when you access the house through the alley (many neighbors have cottages and the access is through the alley.) and attracts flies. Plus it just isn’t nice.

My last word on the subject is my pet peeve (pun intended). It is for those of you with little dogs who think just because its poop is small, it doesn’t count. Trust me, it does- this is not a case where size matters- dog poop on your shoe is dog poop on your shoe.

Don’t make us get the flying monkeys after you.

Ask Lori Parrish

“Ask Lori…Parrish on Appraisal”

Broward County Property Appraiser Lori Parrish Answers Your Questions…

“Report Homestead Exemption Fraud”

Dear Lori:

I was watching a Local 10 television news report about your office’s crack down on Hollywood homeowners who are fraudulently claiming Homestead Exemption on second homes and investment properties. I live in Hollywood and want to help. How can I report these abuses without causing a problem with the neighbor?

S.B., Hollywood, FL (via email)

Property owners who file false applications to obtain a Homestead Exemption are breaking the law and causing you to pay more in property taxes each year. Why? Because your various taxing authorities, such as the County, City and School Board, must equitably divide the tax burden among all property owners within their jurisdictions in order to provide services such as police, fire, and schools. If someone lies to lower his taxes, someone else must pay more to make up the difference.

Our office aggressively seeks to stop homestead fraud and catch homeowners in Broward who are fraudulently claiming a Homestead Exemption on their properties. We work with local governments, homeowner and civic associations to help identify exemption fraud. We recently teamed-up with the City of Hollywood and for the past eight months, a Hollywood Police Detective has been coordinating with theBroward County Property Appraiser’s Office. So far, this collaborative effort has resulted in the discovery of over 1,187 instances of homestead fraud in Hollywood. We have restored over $69 million in taxable property value and recouped $750,000 in back taxes and revenue.

If you know of anyone claiming Homestead Exemption on a property which is rented, vacant or merely a vacation home, we urge you to contact the investigators in our Department of Professional Standards and Compliance at 954.357.6900 orhttp://www.bcpa.net/fraudform.asp and we’ll check it out. You are free to provide your contact information or remain completely anonymous when reporting potentially fraudulent activity to our office.

Once potential fraud is reported, our office will fully investigate each tip. Property owners who intentionally cheat on Homestead Exemption can be back taxed for as many as ten years, plus be required to pay substantial penalty and annual interest (50% of the unpaid taxes for each year and pay interest at a rate of 15% per year).

Sincerely,

Lori Parrish, CFA

If you have a question for Lori, please email her at lori@bcpa.net or write to her at the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 111, and Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. (4/11)

Robert L. Wolfe, Jr. CFE
Community Outreach Specialist II
954.357.6871 – office
954.357.8474 – fax
954.445.5732 – cell

rwolfe@bcpa.net

Follow our office at: http://www.facebook.com/propertyappraiser and http://twitter.com/loriparrish

WOW - Look who won in March!!!!

WOW Award Winner of the Month

March 2011

Noi and Buddy Sherman
District IV

Community Appearance Board member Karen Doyle nominated Noi and Buddy Sherman’s property for the March, WOW Award.

Buddy and Noi Sherman are long time residents of Fort Lauderdale's Croissant Park neighborhood and are very active in the community.

Noi and Buddy chose to settle in Croissant Park because they love their street and neighbors. So when space became an issue with the arrival of their baby girl Benjy, they decided to stay, re-model, and re-landscape. The result is a fantastic Asian/Thai influenced home with wonderful garden statues, furniture, and artwork acquired from their regular family trips to Thailand (Noi’s native country).

The house is painted an appealing and unique shade of bright green highlighted with gardens, walkways made of wood decking and stone and numerous water features including Thai ceramic rain barrels at the foot of all roof downspouts filled with gold fish and water lilies. Around every corner are special seating areas from which to enjoy the gardens. The effect is tranquil and lovely. Noi and Buddy recently hosted a 50th birthday celebration with hundreds of guests and there wasn’t a person attending who didn’t admire the beautiful and unique home.

The Fort Lauderdale City Commission and the Community Appearance Board proudly present the WOW Award to Noi and Buddy and thank them for enhancing their community and the City of Fort Lauderdale.

We have the pleasure of presenting Noi and Buddy with a certificate of appreciation from the City Commission and a Chuck’s Steakhouse gift card from the Community Appearance Board to celebrate this recognition.

More Art from the Bonnet House

An exhibit of works by the Bonnet House Fine Artists will be at the Fort Lauderdale History Center, 219 SW 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale. The exhibit will run from April 3 until June 5, 2011.

There is an opening reception Sunday April 3rd from 2:00 to 4:00, following the Sunday Jazz Brunch. Admission is free.

The phone number to the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society is 954-463-4431, in case you wanted to call for hours. Or their web site is www.fortlauderdalehistorycenter.org .