Croissant Park General Meeting-February 2013

Hi Neighbors,

Our annual Pot Luck Dinner was a huge success!  All ten Board members were in attendance as our President Pat kicked off the first Association meeting of 2013.  Our first speakers were the Junior Ambassadors from The Pantry of Broward, an organization that collects food donations to lend a helping hand to area seniors on low fixed incomes, and economically challenged grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.  The Junior Ambassadors are jr high and high school volunteers who will deliver flyers to our doors in the next week telling us when to place canned or boxed food donations on our doorsteps for collection. Let’s help The Pantry in their food drive with our generosity and goodwill for those less fortunate.

Cara Perrin from the Wellness Center at Broward General spoke to us about the health benefits we receive when we exercise. She left us with pamphlets and a coupon that waives the Wellness Center initiation fee, a savings of $49.  She emphasized how something as simple as walking for exercise can reduce the need for medications, and helps to promote health and well-being.  National Walk Day will be celebrated on April 3, 2013 on the grounds of Broward General with a 20 minute walk around the hospital.  All are invited to join in.  Staying with the walking theme, our Board member Michelle introduced us to her favorite walking app MapMyWalk, an application that allows us to log our favorite routes in the area, share them with others and encourages us to walk with friends, reminding us that Fitness is more Fun with Friends! Michelle has already done the heavy lifting by mapping out a one, two, and three mile route.

FLPD Officer Jackson gave us her neighborhood crime report: our neighborhood’s “numbers are good”.  That is to say that our crimes are down.  In the last 3-month period there have been 4 arrests for burglaries, 1 arrest on a warrant, 1 car break-in (no valuables taken, just a lunch in a brown bag).  Ofr. Jackson reminds us, as always, don’t leave stuff in your car because they may break your windows for a sack lunch!  The details about the strong-arm robbery on SW 13th St. are that a woman lured a man into a home, and the man was then jumped by 3 males who then robbed him. There are no details yet on the alleged child porn activity on 4th Ave. because it is still under investigation.  

Our next speaker was John Gossman, a Supervisor from Code Enforcement who explained the legality of the halfway houses that are popping up all over.  There are several classifications, but the ones in our neighborhood are generally Level One residences for those with disabilities and people fresh out of rehab. These homes require no approval from the City or State when there are 6 or fewer unrelated people living at one address.  However, if any services are being rendered at a Level One home, such as counseling or administering medications, they are in violation.  If the property is not being maintained at a reasonable level for the neighborhood, Code Enforcement should be notified.  If people are acting out in any offensive or illegal manner, FLPD should be called. The State has set the laws for these homes and they supersede the regulations set by the municipalities.  Code Enforcement’s only tool is to make sure these homes are in compliance. 

The recipient of the Joe Shover Citizenship Award  for 2012 was our former CPCA President Steve Cook, who has kept us very much in the loop with City doings by attending a mind-numbing number of meetings concerning all manner of City business.  We all thank you, Steve.  His current report on bike lanes on SW 4th Ave:  within the year we will have bike lanes painted on both sides of 4th Ave from Perimeter Rd. to SW 9th Street (north of Davie), some portions of which will be resurfaced and will have 10 foot wide lanes.  Steve also wants to remind us that plastic bags are not recyclable.

Our 50/50 Raffle winner was Paul Ruble who won $32 big ones.  We also gave away a few CPCA T-shirts.

This Pot Luck Dinner boasted a long table full of hors d'oeuvres, entrees, salads, and over-the-top desserts.  It was our biggest turn-out ever.  

See you at our meeting next month-March 26th.

Virginia-Secretary

Annual Pot Luck Dinner

Come eat and help the Pantry of Broward

A friend's teenage son, Brooks, recently became Chair of The Pantry of Broward's Junior Ambassadors. Part of his responsibility is to help collect food and raise money to buy food for The Pantry. The Pantry provides food and needed services to area seniors who are raising their grandchildren on fixed incomes. 

According to Brooks, "the shelves at The Pantry are nearly bare and the Junior Ambassadors are reaching out to area homeowner associations to try to get approval to hold food drives in those neighborhoods. " Here's how it works: the Junior Ambassadors will place flyers in grocery bags on door knobs during the week prior to the food drive and then pick-up donations from doorsteps (no knocking on doors involved) the following Saturday morning. 

This sounded like such a fantastic idea and the Board agreed, first how great that these teenagers are doing their best to help others, and second - how timely is the request that Croissant Park paticipate in the food drive for such a worthy cause on the eve of our Pot Luck dinner?

To kick the food drive off we have asked Brooks to come to our pot luck dinner and explain the program. What YOU can do to help is, in addition to whatever dish you might be bringing to the pot luck (or in lieu thereof - but I hate to let you off the hook that easy!) to bring some canned or boxed food to contibute to the Pantry. I'd love to send Brooks home with a car load of food, so please, yet another reason to attend the pot luck dinner - food for us and food for some people who can really use a hand. 

Hope to see you and lots of food of all types on Tuesday!!!!

The Pot Luck Dinner is Tuesday, Feb 26 in the Community Center - 7:00  - Everyone is invited and we will have speakers from the City to address important issues affecting our neighborhood.

Commissioner Roger's Newsletter

District IV Commissioner Romney Rogers  

Sun Trolley in the News! – Our new “Excursion” route from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport to Las Olas and Downtown is receiving rave visitor reviews on the TripAdvisor® website! In addition to this free round-trip Sun Trolley service, travelers can buy a 1-Day Excursion pass (museums, Trolley, and discount coupons) for $19.95/person, or a 1-Day Excursion Combo (includes the above plus Water Taxi) for $29.95/person. Baggage storage is available at airport terminals: phone 954-359-5505 or see http://www.bagstogo.net.  

 The “Beach Link,” now operating 7-day Trolley service from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM, runs from the Harbor Shops on the SE 17 Street Causeway to The Galleria Mall.  

 Don’t forget, you can download printable route maps and the mobile app at http://www.suntrolley.com, or call 954-761-3543 for details. 

I continue to serve on the Board of TMA (the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association), which administers the Trolley system and have recently become a Board Member of the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization (http://www.browardmpo.org). Through this involvement, I provide input and insights into the transportation planning process, while receiving first-hand information about projects, such as The Wave Streetcar, All Aboard Florida, and Port Everglades expansion. 

A1A Restoration – FDOT is working on an $8.3 million project to repair the four-block, residential section of State Road A1A north of Sunrise Boulevard on Fort Lauderdale Beach that was damaged during Hurricane Sandy last October and the Thanksgiving Weekend storms in November. Completion is anticipated in April. 

 Along A1A between NE 14 Court and NE 18 Street:  

 Drivers should watch for slow-moving construction vehicles entering and exiting the construction zone on the east side of A1A. 

 A1A is open to one travel lane and one bike lane northbound and southbound.   Parking and sidewalks are open on the west side of A1A only.  Beach-goers should use the beach access points to the north and south of the construction area: Please do 

not walk through the construction site. 

The City is working closely with other agencies to monitor and address the condition of both the roadway and the beach. This project provides a unique opportunity to bring governmental and climate experts together to develop a long-term restoration and renourishment plan that will enable us to adapt to a changing climate. 

Upcoming Events in District IV –  

 Thursday, February 14 – Second Annual Love in the Park at Huizenga Plaza from 5:30 to 10 PM. This event will feature gourmet food, wine, vendors, music, and more! For details, call 954-468-1541. 

 Saturday, February 16 – Kid Duck Fest sponsored by Kids in Distress. In an exciting race, 15,000 rubber duckies will be floated down the New River! Participants will be gathering in Esplanade Park at 1 PM and the event runs until 4 PM. There will be food trucks, a DJ, and a live band. The charge is $5 per duck. 

 Sunday, February 24 – Sunday Arts from 11 AM to 2 PM along Riverwalk. Crafters will be selling their wares; performers will be performing! These events will also feature painters, photographers, and storytellers. See 

http://www.GoRiverwalk.com. 

 Friday, March 1 – Hortt Community Center Grand Opening at 6 PM, 1700 SW 14 Court in Shady Banks. 

 Saturday, March 2 – 30th Annual South Florida Scottish Festival & Highland Games at Snyder Park, 299 SW 4th Avenue, from 9 AM to 7:30 PM. The parade of clans and mass pipe bands begins at Noon. Tickets (parking included) are $25 at the gate ($20 in advance), with no charge for children 12 and under. Dogs and coolers are prohibited in the park. See http://www.sassf.org or call 954-460-5000 for more information. 

 Saturday, March 9 – Fort Lauderdale’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival from 11:00 AM to 7 PM. The Parade runs from Noon to 1:30 PM, along East Las Olas from SE 5 Avenue to the Riverfront. The Festival will be located in Huizenga Plaza, 32 East Las Olas, and along the Riverwalk. From 7 AM to Midnight, parking will be available for a flat rate of $5 at the City Park Garage, 155 SE 2 Street and at the Riverside Hotel Garage, located on SE 4 Street just east of US1. For details, call 954-828-5363 or log on to 

http://www.ftlaudirishfest.com.   

 

 My Staff Contact is MJ Matthews, phone 954-828-5028 or e-mail mmatthews@fortlauderdale.gov.