Bike Sharing Program Begins In Broward County

Broward Commissioners have approved a contract with B-Cycle, LL.C., to manage and operate a bike sharing program as a means of reducing traffic congestion by providing an inexpensive way to get around town. The bicycles will be located at various station kiosks throughout Broward County. To access the public bikes, users can swipe a credit card or pre-purchased membership card. The rented bicycles can be returned at any kiosk. Bike share kiosks will open in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Pompano Beach in the next six months. Initially, 200 identifiable blue bikes will be purchased and available for public use. The program is expected to expand to 500 bikes over a five-year period. Bikes can be rented daily or weekly or via an annual membership.

Extension Education’s Family Nutrition Program Recognized

Last year the Family Nutrition Program (FNP) collaborated with Broward County Schools to educate 5,000 children at 17 low-income schools. In recognition of its efforts, the FNP was awarded the 2010 Program of Excellence Award for Nutrition Education in Broward County Elementary Schools. The award was given by the Florida Affiliate of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, at the Extension Professionals Conference recently held in Orlando. Broward County Extension Education is a partnership between the University of Florida’s Institute of Agriculture and Food Sciences and Broward County Parks and Recreation. For more information, visit www.broward.org/extension or call 954-357-5270.

Broward County Animal Care Conducts Feral Cat Pilot Program

Broward County Animal Care and Adoption is conducting a Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) pilot project in the 33019 and 33020 ZIP codes of Hollywood neighborhoods. Residents who feed and care for untamed feral cats in the identified project areas are encouraged to have the cats spayed/neutered and vaccinated against rabies free of charge. For more information about the program, call the Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Section’s TNR Program Coordinator at 954-359-1313 ext. 2473. For more information about Broward County Animal Care and Adoption, visit www.broward.org/animal or follow us on Twitter@BrowardPetPals.

BIG Broward Cricket Academy Grand Finale December 18

BIG Broward Cricket Academy is now under way at Central Broward Regional Park & Stadium, 3700 N.W. 11th Place, in Lauderhill. Eight teams have been competing weekly on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and the competition will culminate in a grand finale, on December 18 at 7 p.m. Park and cricket officials say this is a great way to get introduced to the sport of cricket and to become a team member. Call the park for fees and registration information at 954-357-5400.

Parks Offer Passports to Savings

Opportunities for fun, affordable leisure activities are as near as a Broward County park. And if you take advantage of a Parks Passports, having fun can be even more affordable:
• Individual Parks Passport - $25
• Family Parks Passport - $60 (good for up to six people per vehicle)
• Replacement of a lost Parks Passport - $5
With a Parks Passport, you never have to worry about paying the $1.50-per-person gate entrance fee (children 5 and under free) that’s in effect on weekends and county holidays at most of our regional parks. The credit card-style Passports are good for one year from the date of purchase and are available at park offices. For further information, call 954-357-8100.

Interactive Brochure Highlights Walking Tour

The Broward County Cultural Division is promoting a walking tour of downtown Fort Lauderdale through a new brochure that explores the art and history of the area’s architectural structures. The interactive brochure, An Architectural Walking Tour of Downtown Fort Lauderdale, was recently produced by the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, in collaboration with the School of Architecture at Florida Atlantic University and the support of the Downtown Development Authority of Fort Lauderdale. Copies of The Architectural Walking Tour of Downtown Fort Lauderdale are available at the Broward Cultural Division’s Cultural Information Center located on the ground floor of the Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., or call 954-357-7979.

Hundreds of Pets Receive Vaccinations at Rabies Clinic

More than 650 dogs and cats received a rabies vaccination and pet license at Mary Saunders Park in the City of West Park, during the last of the 2010 series of Rabies Clinics hosted by Broward County Animal Care and Adoption. Since January, more than 3,000 dogs and cats have been vaccinated through the County’s neighborhood program -- a 25 percent increase from last year. The 2011 Rabies Clinic program kicks off on Saturday, January 22, 2011, at Sunset Lakes Community Center, 2801 S.W. 186th Ave., Miramar. Rabies vaccinations are also available at the Broward County Adoption Center, located at 1870 S.W. 39th St., Fort Lauderdale, every Tuesday through Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information about the agency, visit www.broward.org/animal or follow on Twitter@BrowardPetPals.

Broward County Sexual Assault Treatment Center Hosts Open House

The Broward County Sexual Assault Treatment Center, located at 400 N.E. Fourth St., Fort Lauderdale, will host an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, December 10. The open house is designed to educate the public about the services and programs offered at the Sexual Assault Treatment Center, including child protection, the crisis unit and counseling unit. The Broward County Sexual Assault Treatment Center is a child advocacy and sexual violence treatment center that provides a safe, non-threatening environment for victims of sexual assault and/or child abuse and their non-offending caretakers to receive assessment and intervention services. For more information on the open house or to make a reservation, call 954-765-4159.

Give an Animal Care Gift Certificate to Help a Pet

Broward County Animal Care and Adoption has the “purrfect” solution that will make someone happy and, at the same time, help the pets at the shelter.

If you know of someone who would love a four-pawed, furry friend in their lives, then you can purchase an Animal Care gift certificate. Each certificate is $74.95 and covers the adoption fee of a homeless dog or cat. It also includes all necessary vaccinations, pet licensing and spaying/neutering. The certificates are good for one year and can be used at either Broward County Adoption Center in Fort Lauderdale or Pompano Beach. Gift certificates are available through Broward County Animal Care and Adoption. In Fort Lauderdale the address is 1870 S.W. 39th Street. In Pompano Beach the address is 3100 N.W. 19th Terrace. For more information about the agency, visit www.broward.org/animal or follow on Twitter @ BrowardPetPals.