Public invited to reception and presentation on Feb. 15 at Wyndham Deerfield Beach Resort

The City of Deerfield Beach was recently selected as one of 15 communities nationwide— and the only city in Florida—to receive Smart Growth America’s free smart growth technical assistance, which includes training with a smart growth expert from the National Complete Streets Coalition.

The technical assistance was made possible through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program.

What are “Complete Streets” and Complete Streets policies?

Complete Streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities must be able to safely move along and across a complete street. Complete Streets make it easy to cross the street, walk to shops, and bicycle to work. They allow buses to run on time and make it safe for people to walk to and from train stations.

Adopting a Complete Streets policy for the city’s roadways means that every transportation project will make the street network better and safer for drivers, transit users, pedestrians, and bicyclists – making Deerfield Beach a better place to live.  This is the second award for technical assistance that the City of Deerfield Beach has received in less than a year through the EPA’s Building Blocks program.

The first award was in April 2011 for Using Smart Growth to Produce Fiscal and Economic Health. Input from public meetings resulted in a memo from the EPA, with recommendations on next steps for applying Smart Growth Principles in Deerfield Beach.

Mayor Peggy Noland believes that Complete Streets planning is coming to Deerfield Beach at the right time. “We have seen major roadway improvement projects on Hillsboro Boulevard and the Dixie Flyover, and plans have been underway for several years to improve State Road A1A. A Complete Streets policy will assure us that our community’s roadway objectives are kept in the forefront as new projects come online, ensuring a better and safer quality of life in Deerfield Beach.

Two Complete Streets events will be held at the Wyndham Deerfield Beach Resort, at 2096 NE 2 Street.

[  ] On Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., the public is invited and encouraged to attend a Complete Streets reception and presentation to learn more about Smart Growth and Complete Streets principles. The reception is sponsored by the Deerfield Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Complimentary parking will be available in the Wyndham’s parking lot, located just south of the hotel, at the corner of NE 20th Terrace and NE 1st Street.

On Thursday, Feb. 16, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., a Complete Streets Policy Development Workshop will be held as part of the technical assistance grant provided by Smart Growth America (through funding from the EPA) and sponsored by the National Complete Streets Coalition. The public is welcome to attend the workshop, however input will be limited to decision makers, community stakeholders and city staff. At the end of the workshop, the instructors will help the city develop strategic next steps based on the community’s opportunities and strengths. For more information about the Complete Streets presentations and workshop, contact Chief Planner Amanda Martinez at amartinez@deerfield-beach.com or 954-480-4208. For more information on Complete Streets, visit www.completestreets.org.

By Andrea Freygang

He was a fine American. For the man known for recognizing fellow Americans, that is how Firefighter Bill Elliott will be remembered. Elliott, 49, died in the line of duty on Friday, Jan. 6 when he fell from the top of a 100-ft. aerial fire truck during a training exercise in Pompano Beach. Elliott served 22 years as a firefighter with the department and is the department’s first on-duty death. Bill was previously with the Lighthouse Point Fire Department for seven years, making him a 29-year veteran of the fire service.

Fellow firefighters and personal friends Mike Anderson and John Butler were two of the thousands that showed up at Elliott’s family home after his death.  The duo explained how their friend Bill Elliott always ended conversations telling people they were fine Americans. In the aftermath of his death, many remembered what a fine American Elliott was.

“It sounds like a cliché, but he was the epitome of a good firefighter—everyone respected him in Pompano Beach,” said Firefighter Stan Babinski, who worked with him in Pompano Beach before moving to the Lighthouse Point department. “This has just been a total devastation for everyone because he is family.”

Since his death, a non-stop stream of visitors have come from around the state in support, starting with over 200 people who were at the hospital, then filled the home he shared with his brother John Elliott, also a firefighter.

“It was a career that chose him. He was working in Lighthouse Point public works and they asked him to work in either the police or fire. He chose fire,” said his brother. “He was an old-fashioned firefighter—he was hands-on, very mechanical — he could take anything apart.”

John also joined the “brotherhood” at his family’s urging.

“I wanted to be a firefighter when I was a kid though I worked for years in carpentry and finally my mom convinced me to follow my brother’s footsteps,” said John Elliott. “She knew what my dream was as a kid and I saw the camaraderie and brotherhood.”

And that camaraderie is what was helping to carry him through his brother’s death.

“Everyone has helped me get through this whole thing. I knew even after it’s all over, they will still be here to help me,” said John Elliott. “He had more friends than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

The response for the first line-of-duty death in Pompano Beach was incredible.

“It’s unfathomable — so many units from all over the county and all over the state —a few thousand people are expected at his funeral,” said Firefighter Scott Friend. “We’ve lost great people, but never in the line of duty.”

Broward County, FL. (December 27, 2011) – On Tuesday, January 31, 2012, there will be a Presidential Preference Primary for all registered Republicans, as well as Municipal Elections in the cities listed below.  Since Florida is a “closed-primary” state, only persons registered as Republicans will be eligible to vote in the Republican Preference Primary.

The following Municipalities are scheduled to have elections on Monday, January 31^st, 2012

The voter registration books will close on Monday, January 3, 2012 for these upcoming elections.  Anyone turning in an application to register to vote the first time in Florida after Monday, January 3rd, will not be eligible to vote on January 31st, and will not receive a voter information card until after the election.

Anyone wishing to change his or her party for this election must do so on or before January 3, 2012.  Florida law does not permit the election office to process party changes after the books are closed.  We can accept such application requests, but party changes requests will not be processed or become effective until after the January election.

Attention: Any voter who wishes to vote by mail using an absentee ballot for this Election may submit a request in person, by mail, by telephone at (954) 357-7055 or by filling an Absentee Request Form online at:  http://www.browardsoe.org/AbsenteeRequest2.aspx. The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is January 25, 2012 by 5:00 p.m. For any questions or concerns, please call the main office at 954-357-7050

DEERFIELD BEACH - Most city facilities will be closed on Monday, Jan. 2 in observance of the New Year’s holiday. The International Fishing Pier and Aquatic Center will maintain normal operating hours. All facilities will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3. To receive the latest news for Deerfield Beach, sign up for E-subscriptions at www.Deerfield-Beach.com/esubscriptions.

Please be advised the detour for the Hillsboro Boulevard nighttime bridge closure on Wednesday, Dec. 7 will be changed due to the Boca Raton 41st Annual Holiday Street Parade. All traffic traveling along Hillsboro Boulevard over the Intracostal Waterway will be detoured to the Spanish Boulevard ICWW Bridge via A1A or Dixie Highway.

Please note that this detour change will only be in effect on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

View Pompano Yuletide Parade Route 2011 in a larger map

DEERFIELD BEACH – Broward County residents are invited to view new preliminary flood insurance rate maps for the County at three public open houses, November 14-16, 2011. Flood maps show the areas at risk for flooding, and help determine flood insurance rates and building requirements.

Open house dates and locations are:

Monday, November 14, 4-7:45 p.m.
South Regional Library
7300 Pines Blvd.
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024

Tuesday, November 15, 4-8 p.m.
Volunteer Park Community Center
12050 W. Sunrise Blvd.
Plantation, FL 33322

Wednesday, November 16, 4-8 p.m.
Herb Skolnick Center
800 S.W. 36 Ave.
Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Property owners — both homeowners and business owners — renters, realtors, mortgage lenders and insurance agents are encouraged to attend the open houses and take advantage of this opportunity to meet one-on-one with specialists, including Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other local representatives, to ask questions and learn more about flood risk within their communities.

Broward’s preliminary maps have not yet been officially adopted. Maps will become effective after a public comment period, during which property owners can submit appeals and protests if they can show that any parts of the maps are in error.

For more information on the flood map timeline and new building elevation standards for Broward County, visit broward.org and click NEW BROWARD FLOOD MAPS under Hot Picks. There is also an interactive map viewing tool that allows residents to enter their address and determine their flood zone designation and flood risk.

During fall 2011, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will perform bridge renovations underneath and inside the Hillsboro Boulevard Bridge.

This work requires the bridge to be closed at nighttime, Sunday through Thursday, for a three week span, beginning Dec. 4. and ending Dec. 23 (Please note, the bridge will not be closed Friday or Saturday nights).

During bridge renovations, all traffic crossing the Hillsboro Boulevard Bridge will be detoured to the Palmetto Park Road Bridge via U.S.1 or A.1.A.

Bridge renovations include:

High pressure water cleaning

Sand blasting

Painting steel beams underneath bridge

Work will occur from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Bridge renovations are never easy for residents and business owners living in or around the construction zone. The project team appreciates your patience and understanding during this difficult time.

Project Office Location:
275 Commercial Blvd. Suite 260
Lauderdale by the Sea, FL 33308
954.218.2955
miglesias@corradino.com

On Tuesday, Nov. 15, the City of Deerfield Beach Recycling Division and Starbucks are partnering again to celebrate the 8th annual America Recycles Day. The event will be held from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Starbucks, at 130 S. Federal Hwy. in Deerfield Beach.

Join millions of Americans across the nation to pledge  to recycle more, buy recycled, and to find something new to recycle. It’s simple – just stop by Starbucks to sign the pledge card and receive free coffee and a free reusable mug, while supplies last.

You can also pledge online at www.americarecyclesday.org. Signed pledges are eligible for drawings to win $100 gift cards from Publix.

Recycling reduces the pollution-generating extraction of natural resources from our planet that is required to create new products. Recycling is also the simplest act an individual can do to positively impact the planet.

Since its inception in 1997, the nationally celebrated America Recycles Day has been held each year on Nov. 15, to focus on encouraging people to reduce and prevent waste, promote recycling, and become better stewards of the environment. For more information about recycling in Deerfield Beach, contact the Recycling Division at 954-480-4454 or visit www.Deerfield-Beach/recycling.

Dry Ice and Co2 Available for your Halloween Needs!  Deerfield Beach Fire Equipment is the “real deal” for Dry Ice and CO2.  They have been supplying all of the big parties for years.