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