By Rachel Galvin

Don’t forget, it is time for Hurricane Season (starting on June 1), which means it is time to stock up. It also means it is time for the Sales Tax Holiday. If you have not prepared your Hurricane Kit, now is the time. Until June 4, there will be no sales tax on various items related to preparedness.

Eligible Items Include:

Selling for $10 or less:

Reusable ice (reusable ice packs)
Selling for $20 or less:

Any portable, self-powered light source (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank, or gas):
-Candles, Flashlights, Lanterns
Selling for $25 or less:

Any gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers
Selling for $30 or less:

Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only (excluding automobile and boat batteries):
•AAA-cell
•AA-cell
•C-cell
•D-cell
•6-volt
•9-volt
Coolers and ice chests (food-storage;nonelectrical)
Selling for $50 or less:

Bungee cords
Ground anchor systems
Radios (powered by battery, solar, or handcrank)
•Two-way
•Weather band
Ratchet straps
Tarpaulins (tarps)
Tie-down kits
Visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting
Selling for $750 or less:

Portable generators used to provide light or communications, or to preserve food in the event of a power outage

For more information, visit:
https://floridarevenue.com/DisasterPrep/Pages/default.aspx

The regular Deerfield Beach City Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 2 at 7 p.m. utilizing communications media technology with elected officials and City staff participating through video conferencing.

 A copy of the agenda for the meeting will be available at http://www.deerfield-beach.com/1554/Meetings-Agendas.

The agenda includes a link to the Zoom virtual meeting as well as instructions on how to access by telephone, YouTube and Zoom.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND FLORIDA STATUTE 286.26, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES NEEDING SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING SHOULD CONTACT THE CITY CLERK NO LATER THAN 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT (954) 480-4213 FOR ASSISTANCE.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the City Clerk’s Office at 954-480-4213. For additional information, visit www.dfb.city. 

By Rachel Galvin

Starting on Monday, May 14, Broward County will be in Phase 1 of reopening amid the Covid-19 crisis. What does that mean for you? More businesses are now allowed to open but are still encouraged to work at home as possible and put in place ways to social distance. Restaurants can now open at 50% capacity while maintaining 6 ft. of distancing. Outdoor seating is also allowed with distancing but it combined with indoor seating cannot exceed 100% total occupancy limits. Other businesses will be returning to work so people can now buy items they needed, get their haircut, go to the gym, visit the museum or go to the pool. These are just a few places now open (again while being cautious). To see more info. on this opening, visit Governor’s Executive Order 20-91.

County Administrator Bertha Henry said, “Businesses and residents both bear significant responsibility to ensure that the reopening of our community is safe for all. Businesses have an obligation to abide by the conditions under which they are being allowed to reopen, to provide a safe environment for their employees and customers and begin their economic recovery. Residents have a responsibility to adhere to the restrictions and guidelines. Residents are also encouraged to patronize local businesses that adhere to the guidelines, while continuing to observe responsible personal hygiene and social distancing that has enabled us to significantly slow the progression of this deadly disease.”

Officials will continue to monitor testing and enforce social distancing, etc. If a spike of cases occurs, it could lead to another partial or complete shutdown so compliance with any restrictions is important.

“Above all, we must commit to do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable residents from potential exposure to COVID-19,” added Henry.

Just because many of these places are opening does not mean parties and major events will resume … yet. As of now, groups of more than 10 are still not able to congregate together. 

Businesses need to make sure they keep everything clean and adhere to the restrictions. 

For the latest updates, visit FloridaHealth.gov, email COVID-19@flhealth.gov or call the COVID Call Center at 954-357-9500. To learn what Broward County is doing to keep the community safe, visit Broward.org/Coronavirus. 

At the May 12th Commission Meeting, the commissioners and mayor unanimously voted to cancel the July 4th festivities, including the fireworks. Their reasoning is that they would be unable to keep everyone socially distanced and safe given the risk of the Coronavirus. To see the meeting in its entirety, visit www.deerfield-beach.com.

If being quarantined has meant that you have lost your job or lost wages, or are simply feeling it is unsafe to get out and get groceries, then the City of Deerfield Beach’s Drive-Thru Food Distribution is for you. On Friday, May 15 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., people can go to Quiet Waters Park and line up to receive their groceries. Note: The main entrance is closed. You must enter westbound through Hillsboro Boulevard just east of the turnpike and west of Quiet Water Elementary on the south side of the road. No ID is required.

That is all of the info. we have at this time. Keep updated with events and things happening around town here on this website, at our Facebook especially and also at the city’s website: www.deerfield-beach.com. Stay Safe and Stay Strong!

Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) traffic homicide detectives are investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash which occurred Sunday morning at the 1000 block of W. Sample Rd. in Pompano Beach.

Just after 3 a.m. on May 3, Clifford Skidmore was traveling eastbound in a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado truck on W. Sample Rd. when his vehicle drifted off the roadway in a southeasterly direction.

The Silverado continued to drift, driving over the raised curb and through a grass swale, before striking a large traffic control signal pole.

Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded and transported Skidmore to Broward Health North for injuries that were not life-threatening. The passenger, Corey Clayton, was pronounced deceased on scene.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Salvation Army of Broward County is in dire need of non-perishable food items to help replenish its Food Pantry for the upcoming Thursday, May 7, community distribution. Items needed include all canned goods (beans/vegetables, fruit, meat and milk), rice, boxed cereals, pastas and sauces, peanut butter and jelly, oatmeal, granola bars, snacks and other pre-prepared shelf-stable meals.

Presently, The Salvation Army of Broward County is feeding thousands of residents-in-need through its Food Pantry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each Thursday, trusted Army experts provide non-perishable items and other pantry goods to hundreds of underserved families and the number is growing. Since the Stay-at-Home order went into effect, the nonprofit organization has seen a 264% increase in need for pantry food distribution services. The organization also provides meals-to-go services for the homeless, its residents and other impoverished individuals.

Individuals and organizations interested in donating food can drop-off directly at The Salvation Army of Broward Headquarters on Broward Boulevard between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.. To make a delivery outside of those hours, or to donate funds, please contact Alyse Gossman, director of development, at (954) 712-2431 or at Alyse.Gossman@uss.salvtionarmy.org.

Food drop-offs can be made between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Food Pantry distribution is set for Thursday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to noon, distribution. Dropoffs can be made at The Salvation Army of Broward County, 1445 W. Broward Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale.