RELAY FOR LIFE OF DEERFIELD BEACH/LIGHTHOUSE POINT
Join the Relay teams as they wrap up the 2011 Relay For Life. Committee Members, Team Captains and Members, Survivors . . . everyone is invited. There will be food, cash bar, fun, awards, and prizes (lots of prizes) as we look back on 2011 and forward to 2012.

Tuesday, June 21st , 7 – 9 PM
Hilton of Deerfield Beach (Hillsboro and I-95)
Hilton is kindly donating the light hors d’oeuvres and room for us, so we would appreciate an RSVP to TJ – tjego2@aol.com,
Gordon – printingxcetera@aol.com, or Nona – nonabreit@gmail.com

Be sure to bring any monies you have not yet turned in and register your team for next year

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

By Declan Murphy

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.

BSO deputies have roads closed near SE 12 Avenue and Hillsboro Boulevard while the fire department works to cap an active gas leak. Please avoid the area at this time.

2 ½ hours later, after at least 33 residents spoke — mostly against, Deerfield Beach city commission approved a utility tax on second and final reading with a 3-1 vote. The ordinance passed on June 7 is effective immediately. The actual tax is slated to begin Oct. 1, 2011.

During the public hearing, everyone from a Publix manager to a State Representative to a single mom of four children had something to say. Read Thursday’s paper for full details on residents’ concerns.

June 8 at 7:09 a.m. Deerfield Beach Fire-Rescue responded to a call about a suspicious package left on the sand south of the pier. BSO bomb and arson squad was brought in to evaluate it. They ended up detonating the suspicious package with their own arsenal. Detectives are still investigating as per standard protocol.

The School Board of Broward County, Florida, today, named Donnie Carter to serve as Interim Superintendent, taking over from Superintendent James F. Notter, who is retiring from the School District on June 30. Carter is currently Chief Operations Officer for the Broward County Public Schools.

“After 10 years with the Broward County Public Schools, I am absolutely thrilled to lead our District at this time,” said Carter. “My priorities will be to keep our momentum while providing stability, and preparing for a smooth back to school for next year.”

Carter indicates that he will work collaboratively with the School Board and the District’s executive leadership team to ensure a smooth transition. His considers it a challenge to maintain a high level of service, while operating with fewer resources in the wake of a $141 million budget shortfall for next year.

School Board Names Chief Operations Officer Interim Superintendent

Carter, who has over 20 years experience in public education administration, has spent the last 10 years at BCPS. He has served in the position of Chief Operations Officer since 2007. Prior to joining the District, Carter served in administration at Miami-Dade Public Schools.