Posted on 23 June 2011 by LeslieM
By Rachel Galvin 
On June 19, the Gab Group put on the 1st Annual Mizner Park Downtown Drive in Boca Raton. From Model Ts to sports cars (like Lamborghinis) and even a car owned by Elvis, the streets around the shopping destination were lined with hot autos that patrons clamored to see up close.
Families like the Ramirez’s (Lilliana, Dalier and daughter Amanda) used looking at the cars of yesteryear as a great getaway for Father’s Day.
Elvis once owned this vehicle.
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Posted on 22 June 2011 by JLusk
Late Monday night, Hillsboro Club maintenance worker Guy Gianino was relaxing with colleagues outside the workers’ dorms of the exclusive enclave when they heard muffled voices.
“Then we heard cries of, ‘Help! Help! Help!'” Gianino, 58, said. The sounds came from the Hillsboro Inlet that borders the southern edge of the oceanfront club.
What the workers heard were panicked cries from passengers of a 15-foot Cobia open fisherman boat that began taking on water around 10 p.m. and sank.
Before the night was over, one person would die, a boy would lose his father, and a friend’s life would be forever changed.
When Gianino and others gathered at the inlet sea wall, it was the crowd’s turn to scream.
“Swim, swim!” they shouted to the three survivors who had been separated by the incoming tide.
“The current was moving and, of course, the water was black and there is not much light out there,” Gianino said. The spot is on the north side of the Hillsboro Inlet and east of the span.
He said he laid his 5-foot-10 frame over the concrete sea wall and coached the child, 9-year-old Kenneth Williams Jr. of Deerfield Beach, to shore.
“I knew when I saw the life preserver I could get him,” Gianino said. “I was fully extended three to four feet from the wall to the water’s edge, and the child had to extend his arms up. I was only able to get him by the fingertips.”
After pulling up the boy, Gianino said he called 911. Meanwhile co-workers rescued David Goodrum, 46, of Pompano Beach, who was also wearing a life vest.
After reaching the dispatcher and seeing police arrive on the bridge, Gianino said he looked back out at the inlet and glimpsed Kenneth Williams Sr., 36.
“The father was 75 to 100 feet off the wall, and you could barely see his head,” Gianino said. He watched the elder Williams go under the water.
“I felt helpless. You want to do something, but it all happened so darned fast.”
Gianino said he noticed a light shining up from the sunken boat toward the surface. Then it went dark.
Young Kenneth Williams was running along the shore, screaming, “My dad, my dad!” Gianino said. “He was hysterical. And then he ran down the sea wall to be with the other person who was pulled over [the sea wall]. They were distraught. It’s a terrible thing.”
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Posted on 20 June 2011 by LeslieM
From the Governor’s Press Office
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Governor Rick Scott joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Chamber Foundation (NCF) today for a bipartisan summit of governors, state chamber executives, and leading business people to discuss policies—including those in Florida—that make states attractive for businesses to locate, relocate, and expand in this uncertain economy. The leaders also discussed the unintended consequences of specific state budget cuts and the investments the public and private sectors can make now to improve the economy in the future.
“When it comes to job growth, the state level is where the rubber meets the road,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber. “Companies, capital, and jobs go where they are welcome. States must focus on expanding the economy by embracing free enterprise principals which will help businesses grow, prosper, and hire.”
Governor Scott discussed specific examples of how his administration has pressed for investments in several programs and initiatives focused on job creation and enhancing Florida’s economic competitiveness. For example, Governor Scott last week signed into law Senate Bill 2156 that allows a more unified approach and rapid response to job creation by consolidating the state’s economic development functions into the Department of Economic Opportunity.
Under Governor Scott’s leadership, Florida is the only state that has reduced taxes while balancing the state budget, despite a $3.6 billion deficit. The budget Governor Scott signed last month cut taxes for half of all Florida businesses and also eliminates unnecessary government projects through $615 million in vetoes.
The release of the 2011 Enterprising States study comes right on the heels of Florida’s unemployment numbers released last week, which show Florida leading the nation in job creation for the month of May. According to the newest unemployment numbers, Florida’s unemployment rate has declined each month since January, when Governor Scott took office, despite the national unemployment rate going up.
“Since January, Florida has created 76,800 new jobs. I am confident that our efforts to make this the most business friendly state are paying off and we will continue to see jobs go up and unemployment go down,” said Governor Rick Scott. “As the 2011 Enterprising States study points out, Florida is one of the leading states for creating jobs and making tough choices that will ultimately get our nation back to work.”
Governor Scott’s agenda is focused heavily on creating jobs, reducing state spending, making government more efficient, and lowering taxes. The centerpiece of his economic agenda, has been the Governor’s 7-7-7 Plan, a seven step plan that aims to create 700,000 jobs over the next seven years. The plan is focused on job growth that will accelerate the number of new business start-ups, increase wages and salaries, and shore up the productivity and vitality of Florida’s economy to provide new state revenues as a direct result of increased economic growth.
Governor Scott was joined by Governors John Hickenlooper from Colorado, Bob McDonnell from Virginia, Jack Markell from Delaware, Terry Branstad from Iowa, and Scott Walker from Wisconsin at the summit, which also marked the release of the second Enterprising States study. The study, prepared by The Praxis Group, highlights state-driven initiatives, including those in Florida, to redesign government, including dealing with excessive debt levels that inhibit economic growth and job creation, and implementing forward looking, enterprise-friendly initiatives with a primary goal of creating the conditions for job creation and future prosperity.
The study found that most states have already taken actions to streamline and downsize government to meet the new economic realities, and this has proven to be challenging given the increased demand for state services during the national recession. To recoup lost revenue, states have taken such actions as eliminating tax exemptions, broadening the tax base, and in some cases increasing rates as well as raising fees. Low tax rates by themselves are not a silver bullet for growth, but it has become clear that outdated state tax systems can undercut economic vitality. Any state with a budget tilting towards insolvency is in a weak position to make and maintain investments in its workforce and economic infrastructure.
“It’s tough to create an environment for job creation and the governors we heard from today are on the frontlines of our economic challenges,” said Margaret Spellings, president of the Chamber’s U.S. Forum for Policy Innovation. “We learned about the tools they are using to restore the stability and confidence that fuels our free enterprise system, and these are the lessons that we must apply if we’re going to continue to work on changing our stubborn economic trends. Our study, Enterprising States, is a snapshot of these effective policies and programs that every state can benefit from as a best practices road map towards economic recovery.”
The Enterprising States study is available at: http://www.uschamber.com/reports/enterprising-states-2011
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
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Posted on 18 June 2011 by Observer
A new collection of virtual tours of Florida’s most popular colleges has been launched by Take Stock in Children, a statewide non-profit organization with a 16 year history of helping low-income and at-risk youth break the cycle of poverty by providing scholarships, mentors and hope. With funding provided by the Helios Education Foundation, this free online service gives students who do not have the means to travel and tour schools the chance to “visit” them online, and consequently eliminates the financial burden and costs associated with individual campus visits.
Available exclusively through Take Stock in Children’s website, www.TakeStockInChildren.org, the online virtual tours will highlight key aspects of various state college campuses in order to assist students during the college selection process. Scholars will be able to virtually visit 15 of the most-attended state colleges throughout Florida including: Brevard Community College, Broward College, Indian River State College, Florida Gateway College, Miami Dade College, Palm Beach State College, Valencia Community College, College of Central Florida, Tallahassee Community College, North Florida Community College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Santa Fe College, St. Petersburg College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota and Edison State College.
“The online virtual tours serve as an invaluable resource to our program participants and all those pursuing a post-secondary education,” says Richard Berkowitz, State Board Chair of Take Stock in Children. “Many of our students are first generation college attendees and are not familiar with the different aspects of a college campus, and this gives them direct access to view the most popular state colleges in Florida at any time.”
The launch of online virtual tours is part of Take Stock in Children’s continued efforts to enhance technology and improve college enrollment across Florida through a $1 million donation from the Helios Education Foundation. Alongside the online virtual tours, a portion of the donated funds are providing students with college survival toolkits and online educational modules in several languages including English, Spanish and Creole.
“The Helios Education Foundation recognizes the importance of preparing students for success through post-secondary education,” says Paul Luna, President and CEO of the Helios Education Foundation. “We are proud to support Take Stock in Children and such an important program that will assist our youth to advance in their pursuit of education.”
“We are excited that Take Stock in Children has launched this online resource allowing students to further explore each college, and thus make a better informed decision about their future studies,” says Will Holcombe, Chancellor of the Florida College System. “It is yet another way that this important organization is helping to provide and increase access to a college education in Florida.”
Students enrolled with Take Stock in Children are identified in middle and high school, and then sign a contract pledging to remain drug and crime free, as well as maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5 or greater. All students that fulfill these obligations and successfully complete the program then receive full scholarships to a state college or university.
To learn more about Take Stock in Children or to become a valued mentor or supporter, please call 888-322-4673 or visit www.takestockinchildren.org.
Broward College Tour from Take Stock in Children on Vimeo
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Posted on 16 June 2011 by LeslieM
By Declan Murphy
Keynote speaker Congressman Allen West was one of 13 who spoke at event that brought in 120 attendees and a waiting list of 30.
On Wednesday, June 8, U.S. Representative, District 22, Allen West — the sole Florida-based member of the House Small Business Committee — was a keynote speaker at an event entitled “Small Business: Innovation Tools” hosted by the FAU Research Park in Deerfield Beach.
West emphasized the importance of small businesses in growing the economy, and asserted that they are being neglected.
West outlined three points he believes will help small businesses “turn it [the economy] around.”
1) West claims that spending needs to be controlled in D.C. He mentioned a recent effort in D.C. to cut and eliminate useless, expensive defense programs that were draining money from the federal budget. 2) West also affirmed that “increasing taxes is not the answer” and in order for small businesses to grow, tax policy changes must be made. 3) West stressed that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently imposed new regulations on small businesses, forcing them to spend money to meet standards that are not that vital, given the current dire economic climate.
He also made mention of the Small Business Encouragement Act he introduced, which is currently in the House’s Ways and Means Committee, where appropriations are determined. The act, if passed, would change the Internal Revenue Code, giving small businesses of fewer than 100 employees — that hire unemployed Americans — a work opportunity tax credit. The Small Business Encouragement Act could save employers up to $12,000 a year per hire in some parts of the country.
After West presented his ideas and views, he took questions from those who attended. In answering one question about what should be done to repair the economy, West claimed that “the entrepreneurial spirit” has led Americans, and America in general, to great accomplishments such as the moon landing. He went further by saying that “the entrepreneurial spirit” is what will fix America’s economy, not big government. When answering another question, West addressed the debt problem. He stated that he believes issues such as the national debt should be approached with “a vision of ten to twenty years ahead” and the debt problem cannot be solved by a quick fix but that it rather requires a long-term solution. West also said that the “problem with decisions being made is that they are short-sighted”. The congressman also offered his opinion on education: that it must be practical and applicable to real jobs and careers. He suggested involving the private sector in public education. He said encouraging professionals, such as a C.P.A. or lawyer, to come and talk to high school students about how what they are learning applies to their careers would go a long way in ensuring that the education our children are receiving is practical and conducive to real opportunities in the job market.
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Posted on 14 June 2011 by LeslieM
Thursday, June 16, is 6th annual National Dump the Pump Day. Begun when gas prices were $3 per gallon, this day encourages people to ride public transportation and save money. Today, with even higher gas prices, the day seems a perfect opportunity to seek out alternatives.
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) is celebrating the day by offering FREE rides on Tri-Rail. In addition to rides, there will be several radio stations broadcasting live from train stations and members of SFRTA staff will be present to talk to passengers about the benefits of public transportation and Tri-Rail.
Riding public transit is the quickest way to beat high gas prices. The latest APTA Transit Savings Report shows that a two person household that downsizes to one car can save – on the average – more than $10,000 a year.
In addition to helping the pocketbook and creating jobs, public transit reduces our carbon footprint by 37 million metric tons annually:
According to the American Public Transportation Association, on www.apta.com, “This is equivalent to the emissions resulting from the electricity generated for the use of 4.9 million households or every household in Washington, DC; New York City; Atlanta; Denver; and Los Angeles combined.”
If only one person switches to public transit, they are reducing daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds, or 10 percent. That quickly adds up to 4,800 pounds over a year.
If you haven’t tried the Tri-Rail, today would be a perfect opportunity to ride the rails and explore what it has to offer!
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Posted on 13 June 2011 by LeslieM
BSO’s Pompano Beach District is starting a Law Enforcement Explorer Program for youths between the ages of 14-18 years of age who are interested in a career in law enforcement. Explorers are afforded a unique opportunity to learn the different aspects of our agency, including hands on training and practices of our deputies .Applications will be excepted during their open house on Tuesday, June 14, from 6:00-7:00 pm at the District Office (located at 100 S.W. 3 Street Pompano Beach). For more information, contact Sgt. Wargin at 954-786-4201.
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Posted on 05 June 2011 by LeslieM
The City of Deerfield Beach was recently selected as one of 32 communities nationwide – and the ONLY city in Florida – to receive U.S. EPA assistance to help develop ideas for improving the local economy in a sustainable manner. The opportunity is made possible by the Sustainable Communities Building Blocks program, a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to coordinate actions on the issues of housing, transportation, and environmental protection as they impact local communities.
On June 23 and 24, experts from the U.S. EPA will be in Deerfield Beach to assist us in evaluating our city’s own challenges in these areas. There will be two opportunities for the public to attend these sessions. On Thursday, June 23 at 7 PM, there will be a kick-off event at the Wyndham Deerfield Beach Resort, where a presentation on Smart Growth strategies by EPA experts will be followed by a CRA-sponsored reception. Then, on June 24, from 8:30 AM – 5 PM, the EPA’s evaluation team will give a day-long presentation for government officials, residents, businesses, and all other Deerfield Beach stakeholders. The event will be held at the Research Park at FAU – Deerfield Beach, located at 1501 FAU Research Boulevard, just south of Fire Station 102.
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Posted on 30 May 2011 by JLusk
Despite the wind and a few threatening clouds, Deerfield Beach remained packed with beach goers during Monday’s holiday
Posted on 30 May 2011 by JLusk
The annual Memorial Day Parade took place today with participants from the area including members of Post 142 honor guard.
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