Swimming Lessons Offered At Four County Parks

Broward County’s Parks & Recreation Division is offering swimming lessons in July and August for children (age 2 and up) and adults. The “Learn to Swim” programs will meet for a total of eight lessons, Mondays through Thursdays. Classes are 30 minutes long (rained-out classes will be held on Fridays). Schedules and courses vary, depending on the park. Lessons will be given July 14-24 and July 28-August 7. Hours vary by park. Pre-registration is encouraged. Fee: $45/session; cancellations/transfers, $10.

For detailed information on registration, contact one of the four facilities: C.B. Smith Park, 900 N. Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines, 954-437-2690; Central Broward Regional Park, 3700 N.W. 11th Pl., Lauderhill, 954-321-1170, ext. 18335; Markham Park, 16001 W. State Rd. 84, Sunrise, 954-389-2028; T.Y. Park, 3300 N. Park Rd., Hollywood, 954-985-1980, ext. 252.

Swim Central Receives Donation from McDonald House

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida presented Broward County with a check for $57,600 in June to promote water safety and encourage children to learn to swim.

The money, donated to the SWIMS Foundation, will provide funding for 1,800 additional children to go through Broward County’s SWIM Central water safety program this summer. To date, SWIM Central has provided more than 150,000 children with water safety education.

Broward County’s SWIM Central program has gained national attention. It is the only program of its type in the country, which has heightened parent and community awareness and acted as a conduit of water safety programs. To learn more about the Swim Central program, call 954-357-SWIM (7946) or visit www.broward.org/parks/swimcentral.htm.

Children Encouraged to Join Library Summer Reading Program

Broward County’s youngest residents are encouraged to visit a Broward County Library location this summer to find out how they can become a Most Valuable Reader (MVR). Along with great prizes, the free summer reading program offers an array of interesting programs and special finale events.

To get started, children should visit their local library, sign up and pick up a summer reading game brochure. They can set their personal reading goals and earn a chance to win valuable prizes including tickets to a Miami Dolphins pre-season game, a VIP training experience, a “Swim with the Dolphins Seaquarium Encounter,” and tickets to the Museum of Discovery & Science’s IMAX Theater.

In 2007, more than 16,000 children and teenagers participated in the program. This year’s program is sponsored by the Miami Dolphins Foundation, the Broward County Library Foundation, Miami Seaquarium, Comcast, the Museum of Discovery & Science and Panera Bread.

Supervisor of Elections Seeking Poll Workers

Supervisor of Elections Dr. Brenda C. Snipes is seeking residents to work at polling locations throughout Broward County for the August 26 primary election and the November 4 general election. The Clerk’s office is especially interested in residents to serve as Voting System Technicians (VSTs) and as clerks at the polls. VSTs and clerks receive $200 for each election. In addition, residents are needed to serve in other capacities, including super clerks ($220), assistant clerks ($155), special deputies ($160), inspectors ($150) and electronic voter identification (EVID) system operators ($150). Residents who are bi-lingual (English/Spanish and English/Creole) are especially needed for all assignments. To volunteer, call the Poll Worker Hotline, 954-459-9911, or visit www.browardsoe.org.

County Commission Creates Environmental Task Forces

Broward County Commissioners voted on June 24 to create two separate task forces to study environmental issues: a Broward County Climate Change Task Force and a Water Resources Task Force. Both groups are empowered to make recommendations to the County Commission.

The Climate Change Task Force is charged with developing a countywide program to mitigate the causes and plan for the consequences of global warming and climate change.

In establishing the task force, the Commission accepted the Broward County Climate Change Report, which was prepared by the County’s Government Climate Change Interagency Working Group. The report reviews potential climate change impacts in the County, recommends greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and identifies actions that are currently being taken to reduce emissions.

The Water Resources Task Force will be composed of municipal and County commissioners and representatives from the South Florida Water Management District, special districts and water control districts. The group will evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of a regional or sub-regional approach to meeting future countywide water resource needs.

County Initiates New Program For Affordable Housing

Broward County has initiated a new program, the Affordable Housing Home Construction Program, to provide homeownership opportunities for qualified buyers. The program utilizes county-owned, residential lots in the unincorporated central Broward County neighborhoods of Roosevelt Gardens and Washington Park. The lots have been transferred to local home builders for the construction of affordable, single-family homes starting at $173,000. Each home features three bedrooms, two baths, two-car garage, tile roof, hurricane shutters, CBS construction and a complete appliance package.

Homes are available for sale to mortgage approved buyers who must meet income guidelines; down payment assistance is available. Each buyer is responsible for choosing a lender and applying for mortgage approval. Qualified buyers must attend a workshop. After obtaining mortgage approval, prospective homeowners must contact one of the following builders, who can provide additional information on the program: Corey Alston, Alston Group, 954-698-5050; Angela Messam, Asset Builders, 954-699-3973; Mignon Forrest, Faith Construction, 954-938-3088; Harold Davidson, H&R Developers, 561-615-9216; and, Janice Hayes, New Visions, CDC, 954-768-0920.

To find a lender, visit www.broward.org/housing, go to “lender services” and click on “registered lenders.”

Sign-up for Free Subscription To Hurricane Updates

To keep informed on impending storms, residents are strongly encouraged to subscribe to Broward County’s free Hurricane Update E-mail System. The system provides residents with important information from the Broward County Emergency Operations Center before, during and after a hurricane. E-mail notifications will be sent to subscribers with news about hurricane watches and warnings, evacuation orders, recommended protective actions and related public safety issues. To subscribe, visit www.broward.org/hurricane and click on the Hurricane Update E-mail System box.

“Green Thursdays” Promote Use of Public Transportation

In an effort to promote public transportation, Broward County Transit (BCT) announced the launch of “Green Thursdays,” to encourage residents to use an alternate method of transportation at least once a week.

BCT is offering incentives to those who commit to “Green Thursdays.” Complimentary bus passes, contests, drawings, and tee-shirts will be given away on Thursdays throughout the campaign, which runs through September 25. Broward County businesses are being encouraged to allow flexibility in work schedules for employees using alternate modes of transportation. For more information on the program, call BCT at 954-357-8400.

Broward County Commission On Recess until August

The Broward County Commission is currently on their annual summer recess. They will return in early August for regular meetings, public hearings and a workshop on the 2009 Broward County Budget. Public hearings on the budget will be held in September 9 and September 23, 5:01 p.m., at the Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Public testimony will be taken.

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Community Update, a monthly newsletter from the Board of County Commissioners, is produced by the Office of Public Communications. Address questions concerning articles to 954-357-6990. To receive Community Update electronically, send an email to publicinfo@broward.org. Please include your first and last name and email address. Hearing impaired residents can call the TTY line at 954-831-3940 for additional information.