The Marine Environmental and
Education Center is Now Open
The much-anticipated Marine Environmental Education Center (MEEC) is now open at the historic Carpenter House located at 4414 North Surf Road in Hollywood’s North Beach Park. The center is a collaboration between Broward County Parks and Recreation Division, which manages the park, and Nova Southeastern University, which will manage the MEEC through its Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography.
At the centerpiece of the MEEC is Captain, a juvenile green sea turtle originally found in the basin of Naval Air Station Mayport in Jacksonville in 2010. The turtle was injured after being struck by a boat. She was treated and rehabilitated at a Georgia facility, but attempts to release her back into the wild were unsuccessful. Luckily she has a permanent home at the MEEC, where the former swimming pool on the Carpenter House property has been transformed and customized to accommodate Captain.
The facility also features a center with interactive displays on subjects ranging from sea turtle conservation to marine debris. Programs on such topics as "Dune Ecology" and "Turtle Care and Enrichment" will be offered daily, Tuesday through Saturday, at 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM. Beach walks will also be available, as well as opportunities to meet Captain and observe her as she feeds.
The mission of the MEEC is to provide outstanding marine education, interactive learning, and research with a focus on endangered sea turtles. The center will engage residents and visitors by increasing conservation awareness and action in a way that ultimately results in greater protection of our marine and coastal environments.
The MEEC is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Although admission is free, a $3/person donation for ages 3 and up is suggested to offset operational costs and support environmental outreach. Check here for the latest information.
Fire Station 23 Grand Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is Saturday, March 25th
The County, in partnership with the Broward Sheriff's Office, will host a Grand Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Saturday, March 25th from 11AM to 2PM at Fire Station 23, 2200 SW 46th Avenue, in Broadview Park. The event is free and all residents are welcome to attend.
Event highlights include a Fire Safety & Emergency Preparedness EXPO, free food and family entertainment with a bounce house and music, free smoke alarms from Operation S.A.F.E., free emergency and hurricane preparedness kits and resource materials, tour of BSO Fire Engine and County Emergency Command Vehicle, art work by students from Meadowbrook Elementary, and a tour of the newly renovated fire station.
The renovations completed by the County will enable Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue firefighters to again be stationed at Fire Station 23 and respond quickly to calls in the Broadview Park community. A new agreement was also finalized between Broward County and the Peters Road Volunteer Firefighter Association (which owns the fire station) to facilitate the return of BSO firefighters.
The project involved approximately 2,500-square-feet of renovations. Improvements include creation of separate sleeping quarters, new restrooms, new air conditioning unit and water heater, overall ADA improvements, minor structural repairs, installation of a new fire alarm system, landscaping, a new driveway and painting. The County's total investment in Fire Station 23 is approximately $300,000.
Please join community leaders, residents, Meadowbrook Elementary students, and elected officials for the celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony welcoming BSO Fire Rescue back home to the Broadview Park community. If you are interested in attending this event, please RSVP to awimberly@Broward.org or for more information contact Aretha Wimberly at 954-357-7794.
Go Native When Buying Plants in South Florida
In subtropical South Florida, just about anything you plant in the ground has a good chance of growing, which is why so many plants classified as non-native, invasive, or exotic can thrive. Unfortunately, these types of plants can go wild in our yards, parks, and natural areas in addition to our roadsides and canal banks. The vast majority pose no serious threat, but some grow out of control competing with native vegetation and gradually displacing it, forever altering ecosystems that have developed over millions of years.
You can do your part simply by paying attention to what you grow in your own yard. The key is educating yourself on the types of plants you choose for your yard and how you cultivate them once planted. For help you can turn to Broward County Parks.
Several of our parks and nature centers regularly hold native plant sales emphasizing the right kinds of plants to grow in your home landscape. Gardening information and other activities are often offered at these events. Our Extension Education Section's Urban Horticulture Program runs Master Gardener Public Service Centers that you can call or visit for help with your gardening questions.
All dates are Saturdays.
Mar. 25, 9 AM-1 PMFern Forest Nature Center 201 Lyons Rd. South, Coconut Creek 33063
Apr. 29, 9 AM-1 PMSecret Woods Nature Center 2701 W. State Rd. 84, Dania Beach 33312
Aug. 12, 9 AM-1 PMSecret Woods Nature Center 2701 W. State Rd. 84, Dania Beach 33312
Sept. 23, 9 AM-1 PMFern Forest Nature Center 201 Lyons Rd. South, Coconut Creek 33063
Nov. 4, 10 AM-2 PMQuiet Waters Park 401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach 33442
$8 Million in Grants to Assist
Homeless Population
Broward County is continuously working toward ending homelessness. Recently the Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnerships was awarded a grant of more than $8 million by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the 2016 HUD Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition. The grant will help fund several projects that support Broward County’s goal and objectives in the “A Way Home” Plan to End Homelessness.
This award will serve homeless adult and youth clients, including individuals, families, veterans, those with mental, emotional and physical disabilities, those with substance abuse disorders, mothers and children including pregnant women, those who are “chronically” homeless and those who have co-occurring disorders.
The HUD CoC Program award will fund 18 renewal projects and one new CoC Planning project providing Supportive Services, Homeless Management Information System Support, CoC Planning, Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and Permanent Supportive Housing. These projects provide 690 permanent, 112 rapid rehousing, and 25 transitional beds (827 beds total) with related supportive services to Broward's homeless population. Additionally, these new funds will create 15 new permanent supportive housing beds for chronically homeless persons in partnership with Broward County Housing Authority and Broward Housing Solutions.
Interested in Going Solar?
Broward Residents have a new simple, affordable way to “Go Solar” by adding solar energy equipment to their homes. Local residents have formed two solar co-ops, one for County residents who live east of US 441 and the other for residents who live west of US 441. The goal is to save money and make going solar easier, while building a network of solar supporters. Broward County, Go Solar Florida, and FL SUN are co-op sponsors of the new initiative.
FL SUN expands access to solar by educating Florida residents about the benefits of distributed solar energy, helping them organize group solar installations, and strengthening Florida's solar policies and its community of solar supporters.
Broward residents interested in joining either co-op can sign up at East Co-op or West Co-op. Joining a co-op is not a commitment to purchase solar panels. Once the groups are large enough, FL SUN will help the co-ops solicit competitive bids from area solar installers. Co-op members will select a single company for installations and will then have the option to purchase panels individually based on the installer's group rate. By going solar as a group and choosing a single installer, participants can save up to 20 percent off the cost of their system.
The next information session is April 25th at 5:30PM at Northwest Regional Library, 3151 North University Drive, Coral Springs 33065.
Opportunities to Serve on a County
Advisory Board and Committee
Broward County Advisory Boards and Committees give residents an opportunity to participate in county government by providing their input, expertise, experience, and guidance on a variety of issues affecting our community. We are always seeking volunteers who are interested in public service. You can review our current Board and Committee vacancies today.
If you would like to be considered for a board appointment, please submit the following to my County Commission Aide, Pratima Raju at praju@broward.org: detailed resume, permanent address, phone number, email address and the board or committee on which you would like to serve. Residents who serve provide their board and the County with valuable insights, and their contributions to the community are greatly appreciated.
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