Grocery Giveaway August 26th 2017

GROCERY GIVEAWAY AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION ON SATURDAY

Sat, Aug 26, 2017 from 10 AM - 1 PM
1300 NE 38t, Street, Oakland Park, FL 33334
In the United States, one in six people struggle to get enough to eat. Broward Sheriff Scott Israel wants to help fight hunger, so he's partnered with the Wayne Barton Study Center's Good News of Christ Ministries to distribute free food, via the Grocery Giveaway Food Distributions.

10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, August 26

Omega Church

1300 NE 38^th St., Oakland Park

The goal of the event is to enhance the health, welfare and education of the community through healthy eating. Participants are encouraged to bring bags and carts to fill with meat, produce, bread, dairy and frozen foods. Everyone is welcome to attend this free community event.
The Wayne Barton Study Center was founded by former Boca Raton police officer Wayne Barton, who has created a safe recreation and education venue for youth to study, learn and play. These Grocery Giveaways are taking place throughout South Florida.
For a complete schedule of the Broward County Grocery Giveaways, visit sheriff.org or call the Broward Sheriff's Office Community Services Department at 954-831-8901.

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All Aboard Florida: Railroad Crossing Closure Oakland Park Blvd. & North Dixie Hwy. March 30-April 6

UPDATE Closing extended to Sunday, April 9th at 6:00 pm

Construction includes new signal systems, upgraded crossings, double tracking and other improvements for the existing stretch between Miami and Cocoa Beach. This construction closure of the FEC rail crossing in Oakland Park will be:

East Oakland Park Boulevard at North Dixie Highway
Thursday, March 30 at 7 a.m. to Thursday, April 6 at 6 p.m.

To learn more,  view the Detour Map or visit AllAboardFlorida.com

All Aboard Florida Rail Crossing Updates

Oakland Park Firefighters to Hold Annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday April 15th at Royal Palm Park

On Saturday, April 15, 2017, the Oakland Park Firefighters Benevolent Association, will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt free to the public at Royal Palm Park located at 1701 NW 38th Street in Oakland Park.

At approximately 9:45 a.m., the Easter Bunny will arrive at the park in the fire engine kicking off the Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. Children ages 12 and younger are invited to attend and must bring their own basket or bag to hold the eggs.

Following the Easter Egg Hunt, volunteers from Sal's Towing will serve complementary hot dogs, snacks and ice cream treats.

Easter Egg Hunt sponsors include the City's Parks & Leisure Services Department, the Kiwanis Club of Oakland Park and Sal's Towing.

For further information about the Easter Egg Hunt, please call 754-264-3140.

DETECTIVES ID MAN FATALLY STRUCK WHILE CROSSING BUSY STREET

Broward Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit investigators are releasing the name of the elderly man struck by an SUV while attempting to cross Dixie Highway in Oakland Park

At approximately 9:42 p.m., Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to 4700 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park in reference to a report of an accident involving a vehicle versus a pedestrian. Deputies discovered the adult male victim, later identified as James Miller, unresponsive and critically injured.

The initial investigation determined that Miller was attempting to cross Dixie Highway, mid-block, when he was struck by Brenda Shelton’s 2005 Ford Escape.

Miller entered the path of Shelton’s car which was traveling southbound. He was struck by the driver side corner bumper. The pedestrian came to final rest in the far left thru lane. Shelton’s car came to a controlled stop near the area of impact partially in the right and left thru lanes.

Oakland Park Fire Rescue responded to the incident location and transported Miller to Broward Health Medical Center where he died at approximately 10:16 p.m.

Shelton remained on scene. Impairment, excessive speed and mechanical malfunction are not considered contributory to the crash. The investigation is ongoing.

Investigators were unable to locate the victim’s net-of-kin and are asking anyone who knew Miller or his family to contact Broward Sheriff’s Office THI Detective Michael Kelliher at 954-321-4840.

Taste Of Oakland Park 2017

TASTE of #OaklandPark  2/17/17; 6-10pm. Tastes from 40 restaurants & beverage companies. Family-friendly. Admission $10 cash at the door

‘Taste of Oakland Park’
Friday, February 17 at Jaco Pastorius Park
Oakland Park will host its first food and drink festival, “Taste of Oakland Park,” on Friday, February 17 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Jaco Pastorius Park.

This “grand tasting” style event will feature more than 30 different local restaurants and beverage companies providing sample items from their menus and portfolios. As part of the festivities, there will be a competition component — both judged and people’s choice – for the best food items served.

In addition to the food and beverage tastings, the event will also offer family-friendly entertainment, including live music, interactive games, children’s activities, and a vendor shopping area.

Featured performers will be the Glyn Dryhurst Dixieland Jazz Band. Dixieland, which was developed in New Orleans, is one of the earliest styles of jazz music. The style combined earlier brass band marches, French Quadrilles, biguine, ragtime, and blues with collective, polyphonic improvisation. The Glyn Dryhurst Dixieland Band is South Florida’s leading band dedicated to this genre of music.

Admission to “Taste of Oakland Park” is $10. Children 12 years and under admitted free with parent or guardian. To learn more about this and other culinary & cultural events, please call 954-630-4251.

This Week In Tallahassee

Sen. Gary Farmer

Sen. Gary Farmer wants to tweak a proposed plan for measuring community colleges’ graduate rates. Those rates will be used to help determine a school’s share of performance-based funding from the state, and Farmer wants a performance-funding metric to measure how many students at each college finish within 125 percent of the time it would take if they attend full time.

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee OK’d a bill (SB 240) that creates a regulatory framework for direct primary care agreements between doctors and patients. Over in the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, a bill to give judges the discretion to award attorney fees in public records lawsuits barely passed its first committee. The committee voted 4-3 to send it to the Senate Community Affairs Committee. 

Senate President Joe Negron

Senate President Joe Negron is one step closer to seeing his one of his top priorities approved: The Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation approved a bill (SB 10) to build a storage reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee.




Call it a war of words: Gov. Rick Scott ripped House Republicans for proposing legislation to kill Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, saying he was “extremely disappointed in the House’s actions” and members aren’t “thinking about the house of the state.” A staunch opponent of incentives, House Speaker Richard Corcoran fired back saying lawmakers “were elected to do what is right and clean up government, put an end to the waste of taxpayer money, and end the culture of corruption.”

Matthew Sparks - Roxy’s Story

Matthew Sparks - Roxy’s Story

When Scott and I decided to expand our family two years ago, there was no hesitation.  We knew that we would adopt and began by researching online to see if any rescued dogs caught our eyes.  After a few weeks of looking and considering, we visited the Broward County Animal Care Center by the airport, which does great work for the Greater Fort Lauderdale community.  We saw one of their rescues online, fully intending to adopt that particular dog. When we arrived, our choice had already been adopted, and doing our best not to be discouraged, we decided to visit the rest of the kennels.  Winding through the barking and jumping, we came upon a cage that seemed to be empty, until a two scruffy pups popped out from under the skirted bed to welcome us with a bark and quite a bit of enthusiasm.  One was white and fawn and the other black and brown, obviously sisters.  They had arrived with their brother just the day before and had been found on the street, probably discarded by a puppy mill because at 6 months, they were too old to fetch a premium price.  They were still under quarantine, and we weren’t able to meet them, but we were smitten.  We took their information and left without a decision.  I left the next day for a trip, but had a discussion with Scott that evening.  We knew that the white and fawn little girl could be the right choice for us and Scott said he would go by the next day to see if she was still available.  Animal Care completed a free spay (a requirement for all adopted animals) and after a $10 adoption fee (a wonderful October Special) we brought our little girl, Roxy, to her forever home.  Potty training - easy (we know we’re very lucky).  Barking at her reflection in mirrors, and windows and anything else reflective - not so easy, but it’s gotten better.  She is the queen of her domain and loves to lie on the concrete by the pool to survey her kingdom on a warm summer afternoon before coming in to have her favorite treat, a baby carrot.  For anyone considering adding a furry member to your family, please visit your local shelters.  Our newest rescue in Oakland Park, United Dog Rescue (uniteddogrescue.org) is already doing great work at their Commercial Boulevard location, and Animal Aid (animal-aid.com) on Prospect and NE 6th Ave does a wonderful job with smaller dogs and cats.  As Commissioner, I will work to ban puppy mills and the stores who use them.  Roxy was one of the lucky ones, and we are certainly lucky dads, but there are too many animals who are mistreated and abandoned.  Let’s make sure we get them into happy and caring homes!

Matthew Sparks

Candidate for Oakland Park City Commission

OaklandSparks.com

Celebration of life For Oakland Park Mayor Larry Gierer at Jaco Pastorius Park on Friday, July 15th, from 4 to 6 p.m

Former Mayor Larry Gierer Passes Away 'Celebration of Life' July 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. Former Mayor, two-term City Commissioner, and dear friend to many Larry Gierer passed away last weekend. In a tribute prior to a moment of silent reflection atWednesday’s City Commission meeting, Mayor Tim Lonergan shared the following:   “Larry Gierer made a difference in the City of Oakland Park and helped cultivate the changes which have helped strengthen and enhance our community. As an outspoken proponent of the cultural arts, his vision in 2004 has become a reality today with the diverse schedule of events that has helped put Oakland Park on the map such as Oktoberfest, the Polynesian Cultural Festival, Black History Month celebration and our Downtown culinary and music showcases. As a City Commissioner, Larry was an instrumental voice of reason and compassion for the City of Oakland Park becoming one of the first municipalities to provide Domestic Partner Benefits to City employees more than 10 years ago. Another priority for Larry was lobbying local, state and national officials to support Oakland Park’s “Single Sale Initiative” to address the dangers of underage drinking and driving under the influence. He proudly served on the United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Substance Abuse to help raise awareness and save lives.” The City and the community are planning a celebration of Larry’s life that will take place at Jaco Pastorius Park on Friday, July 15th, from 4 to 6 p.m

Zika Virus Watch for Broward County

The Zika virus, a mosquito-borne virus, has been confirmed in several travelers who recently visited Latin America.  At this time there is one suspected case of imported Zika virus in Broward County.  The Mosquito Control Section of the Highway and Bridge Maintenance Division is working in conjunction with the Florida Health Department to monitor the suspected case of the virus.  The Zika virus is carried by the same species of mosquito that we have been targeting over the years. In order to reduce the spread of the virus and other diseases, we are continuing to limit the mosquito population around Broward County by spraying areas with reported concentrations of mosquitoes, checking known mosquito breeding sites, treating standing water from recent rain events, and spraying in areas requested by residents. To request mosquito spraying, please use the online Mosquito Spray Request Form or call 954-765-4062.

 

The Zika virus is a flavivirus, part of the same family as yellow fever, West Nile, chikungunya and dengue. Symptoms of the virus include fever, rash, and joint pain. Zika virus is spread through the bite of the Aedes aegypti species mosquito.  This species of mosquito is often found in areas with stagnant water such as of uncovered buckets, flower pots, unused swimming pools and discarded tires.  So as to curb the spread of the virus, we urge people to dump or drain any standing water that has collected in their property.

 

Additional information on the Zika virus:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Florida Department of Health

SKELETAL REMAINS FOUND IN OAKLAND PARK A man made a startling discovery Wednesday morning after stumbling upon skeletal remains while walking through an open field in Oakland Park. Click here to view the online news release, print the news packet and download any related attachments. Want to stay up-to-date about BSO events, crime trends and safety tips? Sign up for Sheriff Israel's e-Alerts and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For more information, please visit www.sheriff.org.

13th Annual Polynesian Cultural Festival Day

Experience the culture beauty and spirit of the Polynesian Islands at the 13th annual Polynesian Cultural Festival. Enjoy: Delicious food from the Polynesian Islands, Fire and knife dancers, Hula dancers, Kid’s corner, South Pacific arts and crafts, Ukulele exhibition, and more!

Jaco Pastorius Park Community Center  1098 NE 40 Court Oakland Park, FL 33334