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 THIS MONTH SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch
SUNDAY - FEBRUARY 7, 2010 - From 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on the first Sunday of every month, the SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch fills the air with jazz music performed on four stages along the historic New River. Each month, bands perform a wide range of jazz in downtown Fort Lauderdale along the Riverwalk. Picnic baskets, blankets, chairs, dogs, children and people of all age groups blend into one large Jazz Appreciation Fest. ON FEBRUARY 7, 2010, Ruby Baker will be at the Esplanade, Riverside Band at the Broward Center Peck Courtyard, The Stamps Jazz Quintet will appear at the Connie Hoffman Gazebo and Moose and the Bulletproof Blues and Jazz Band will be at the Las Olas Riverfront. For additional information or to have the 2009 informational brochure mailed to you, Click Here to e-mail your name and address to Stephanie Brady or call 954-396-3696 and leave it on the responding voice mail.
CLICK HERE for DetailsSave the Galt Sun Trolley Meeting
On THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 at 12:30 PM, come to the Galt Ocean Mile Branch Library at 3403 GALT OCEAN DRIVE in FORT LAUDERDALE. Sun Trolley needs you! Our Sun Trolley riders and the businesses along our route are invited to open community meetings to work together on solutions to keep Sun Trolley going. Please join Steve Lucas and Sun Trolley staff for these monthly meetings at AARLCC.. We’ll see you this Thursday...
For more information, call Patricia Zeiler at Sun Trolley at (954) 761-3543 or CLICK HERE to email OR Click Here to web page. Fort Lauderdale A1A Marathon and Half Marathon
- On FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19th (1 PM - 9 PM) and SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20th (10 AM - 5 PM), the pre-race Publix Health & Fitness Expo will be held at the Galleria Mall where you can pick up your race number and browse the vendor booths. A series of 5K warm-up runs around Broward County will help get you ready for the big race. An overnight Fort Lauderdale signature event, the main run is scheduled for FEBRUARY 21, 2010. The Wheelchair Start is at 5:40 AM, the Marathon & Half Marathon Start is at 6:00 AM and the kickoff for the Kids Run is at 11:00 AM. This year, the run through Birch State Park is at the beginning of the race instead of the end! This puts the park at miles 5 and 6 on the course instead of miles 23 and 24 for the marathon and miles 10 and 11 for the half marathon. The race starts on SW 2nd St in front of the Museum of Discovery and Science and heads east to Andrews Ave. and then to Las Olas and over the bridge to Sea Breeze Blvd ending on A1A where the Course turns North. The course takes you past some of the best views South Florida has to offer. Catching the sun come up over the Atlantic is a sight to be seen as runners will make their way up and down A1A to the finish. Finishers are awarded the seashell inspired medal and a complimentary table massage after completing the race. The certified USATF A1A Marathon course is a Boston Marathon Qualifier! Certification Number: Full Marathon: FL07008DL Half Marathon: FL07009DL.
For more information, call 888-ESM-SPORTS or Click Here to e-mail. CLICK HERE to the Fort Lauderdale A1A Marathon Web PageSouthpoint Bingo
Every THURSDAY, Southpoint Condominium will host BINGO - everybody's favorite! Come one, come all to 3400 GALT OCEAN DRIVE in FORT LAUDERDALE, to the fabulous Southpoint Bingo extravaganza. BINGO will be played every Thursday night at 7:00 PM in the North Lounge at Southpoint (EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS). This is an opportunity to make money, make new friends, and have fun. Refreshments will be served during the break. The cost is $5.00 per person for three boards. We’ll see you this Thursday...
For more information about Southpoint Bingo, call Southpoint at (954) 563-6353 or CLICK HERE to email OR Click Here to web page. Sunset Blue on the Galt Mile
The Sunset Blue Block Party is redefining the old-fashioned neighborhood wing-ding — it virtually explodes with cool blues, box-banging bands and packaged fun on the run. On Sundays between 6 PM and 10 PM, NE 33rd Street disconnects from the surrounding world as the whole block fills with vendor tents, tables, hippies, retirees, hot bodies, street vendors and people marching around in small circles. The Galt Ocean Shoppes area is just north of Oakland Park Boulevard, east of the Intracoastal and west of A1A. Live music, food, drinks and booths from local bars, restaurants and businesses. This is a community event by Galt Ocean Shoppes Improvement Association, Inc. - Access is free to everyone. Every Sunday, 33rd street turns into an incredible BLOCK PARTY! Jazz Bars and restaurants like Blue Jean Blues, the Dive Bar and Fish Tales anchor the event. The block is plugged with soap vendors, food stalls, clothing stalls and dozens of people merchandizing an eclectic assortment of goods. Cold beer and pizza are always within arms distance. On DECEMBER 6th, see Sigmund Floyd perform at an Autism Sociey Benefit Concert; on DECEMBER 27th, see Mr. O The Blues Doctor; on JANUARY 3rd, see The Jeff Prine Group; on JANUARY 10th, TBA; on JANUARY 17th, see Blue House perform modern electric blues with classic boogie, southern rock and a twinge of retro swing; on JANUARY 24th, Haiti Relief Music Fest - 25 Bands on 6 stages from 10:30 AM until 2 AM; on JANUARY 31st, Blue Avenue Band wraps up January; on FEBRUARY 7th, the Sunset Blue Block Party will host a Superbowl Party this Sunday!!!; - ALL FREE! NO EXCUSES - BE THERE!
For additional information, CLICK HERE to the Galt Merchants page about Sunset Blue or CLICK HERE to the Sunset Blue web page. 18th Annual Florida Renaissance Festival
The month from FEBRUARY 13 to MARCH 14, 2010 is filled with medieval merriment. For 5 consecutive weekends, QUIET WATERS PARK in DEERFIELD BEACH will host a time machine that will transport you back to the middle ages. from 10:00 am til Sunset - including the Presidents Day Weekend. The dates for the festival are: SAT - MON (FEBRUARY 13 - 15) and SAT - SUN (FEBRUARY 20 - 21, FEBRUARY 27 - 28, MARCH 6 - 7, MARCH 13 - 14). Browse through our enchanted crafts Village where over one hundred merchants and artisans demonstrate and sell their wares. Behold glass blowing, hammered pewter, wooden toys, unique pottery, clothing and a wealth of other riches. Cheer Battling Knights, in full armor, as they mount their steeds, lower their visors, aim their lances and charge at full tilt, thrice daily. Play Games of Chance and games of skill such as archery, the test of strength, Jacob’s Ladder and more. Applaud Hundreds of Performers, not only on our twelve stages but literally all around you. Sword fighters, minstrels, magicians, mud-beggars, wenches and more. For all the world’s a stage. Feast on Hearty Food fit for a King!
For more information, call (954) 776-1642, Click Here to email or Click Here to web site. Buckler's 19th Annual Craft Fair
The 19th Annual Craft Fair will be held at the South Florida Fairgrounds at 9067 Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach, FL 33422. The Bucklers Fair runs from FEBRUARY 20 to 21st. On SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, its open from 10 AM to 5 PM. On SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, its open from 10 AM to 4 PM. Professional, award winning craftspeople from across the country exhibiting and selling items such as Country, Victorian, Folk Art, Primitive, Southwestern, furniture, wood items, toys, dolls, bears, clothing and accessories, jewelry, gourmet delights, homemade fudge, eclectic items and much more. The charge for admission is $6.00 per person ($5 admission + $1 surcharge by South Florida Fairgrounds) although children 12 & under are FREE. One paid admission good both days with handstamp. PARKING IS FREE! To get there: From I-95, exit 68 (old exit 50), Southern Blvd. - West 7 miles. From Turnpike, exit 97, West on Southern Blvd., South on Sansbury.
For more information, call (386) 860-0092, Fax (386) 860-6157 or Click Here to email or Click Here to web site. 36th Annual South Florida Depression Glass Show
The South Florida Depression Glass Club invites you to the show from SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13 (from 10 AM to 5 PM) through SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14 (from 10 AM to 4 PM). It will take place at the EMMA LOU OLSON CIVIC CENTER at 1801 NE 6th STREET, Pompano Beach. Featuring 30 prominent dealers from all parts of the country specializing in American elegant, depression, and mid-century modern glass, pottery and dinnerware. Unique decor and tableware for your home from the 1920's and beyond! We also will have representatives of the West Virginia Museum, the Cambridge Glass Society, and the Fostoria Society to help identify your glass, answer questions, and share information about these groups. There will be professional glass repair onsite too. Door prizes are given out all weekend. Admission is $6.50
For more information, please call Francee at 305-884-0335 or Click to E-mail.
Check web page by CLICKING HERE for DetailsFort Lauderdale Gun & Knife Show
The Sun Coast Gun Show will be held at the WAR MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM at 800 NE 8th STREET in FORT LAUDERDALE. The Fair is scheduled for SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 from 9 AM to 5 PM and SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 from 10 AM to 5 PM. The Ft Lauderdale Gun Show is a favorite for local gun collectors, hunters, and enthusiast. Dealers and private collectors from across the state of Florida exhibit at this show. You'll find a huge selection of guns, accessories, and many hard to find items. Make sure you do not miss the next Suncoast Gun Show coming to the War Memorial Auditorium. The charge for admission is $8 per person - Kids Free (12 & under). Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information, call (954) 828-5380 or Click Here to web site. The 22nd Annual Las Olas Art Fair - Part II
Celebrating its 22nd year, this South Florida tradition is regarded as one of the top events in America. Following in the footsteps of the tremendously successful PART I event in January, the annual PART II sequel will be held on SATURDAY, MARCH 6 and SUNDAY, MARCH 7, 2010 from 10 AM until 5 PM (rain or shine). Ft. Lauderdale’s Las Olas Boulevard is the ideal backdrop for this festival, blending an eclectic mix of artists, great weather and fantastic energy. As the second show of the season on Las Olas, this festival brings together longtime favorites with some of the newest names in the contemporary art scene. Life-size sculptures, spectacular paintings, one-of-a-kind jewels, photography, ceramics, and much more make for one fabulous weekend. Centrally located close to the Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, this show is a must-do if your springtime travels take you anywhere in South Florida! Admission is FREE! There is no Gate.
For more information, call (954) 472-3755, Click Here to email or Click Here to the 22nd Annual Las Olas Art Fair - Part II web site. 21st Annual Riverwalk Blues and Music Festival - FEBRUARY 12, 13, 14 - It's been a long musical road since the original "South Florida Blues Festival" took place on Sunday, November 22, 1987. The Original Festival was held in the back parking lot and inside the Musicians Exchange Cafe at the Musicians Exchange(TM) Complex on Sunrise Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale. In an effort to keep the music scene active in South Florida and to keep the memory and Legacy of Don Cohen's Riverwalk Blues And Music Festival, Blueatheart Productions and The Downtowner Saloon have joined forces to pull together the 21st Annual Riverwalk Blues and Music Festival. The RBMF is scheduled to happen at the back lot of the Downtowner Saloon. On February 12 - MARCEL ANTON and The Healers, JEFF PRINE with JUANITA DIXON and JOSH SMITH; On February 13 - IKO-IKO, ALBERT CASTIGLIA BAND, SPAM ALLSTARS, OTIS TAYLOR, SUGAR BLUE BAND and "BLUE TUESDAY" Invitational Jam with FAMOUS FRANK; On February 14 - MAGDA HILLER, THE HEP CAT BOO DADDIES, DAVE SHELLEY and BLUESTONE, DEBBIE DAVIES with ROBIN ROGERS, JP SOARS and The Red Hots and "BLUE TUESDAY" Invitational Jam with FAMOUS FRANK
For Information call (786) 380-0866 or Click to Email. 14th Annual Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Craft Festival
The Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Craft Fair is scheduled for SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MARCH 13th & 14th, 2010. The craft fair runs from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both weekend days. It will take place on A1A & Commercial Boulevard in Lauderdale by the Sea. They close down A1A at Commercial Blvd for this great craft event. Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, the city is located between Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. The venue is right off the beach and is also home to fun shops and restaurants. The navigational address is 4400 N Ocean Dr in Lauderdale By The Sea. This great festival will feature unique jewelry, eclectic pieces, pottery, and other unique, one-of-a-kind crafts. Since this festival consistantly draws a large craft loving crowd, there's something for everyone at this great Craft Extravaganza! Hosted by the LBTS Chamber of Commerce, the event is FREE - there is NO GATE!
For more information, call 954-472-3755 or Click to E-mail.
Check Craft Fair web page by CLICKING HERE13th Annual Downtown Delray Beach Craft Festival
The 13th Annual Downtown Delray Beach Craft Festival will be held on SATURDAY & SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27 & 28, 2010 from 10 AM - 5 PM at 4th AVENUE & ATLANTIC AVENUE in DOWNTOWN DELRAY BEACH, Florida. Take I-95 or Federal Highway to Atlantic Avenue in Delray. (There is an Atlantic Blvd. in Pompano Beach just south of Delray - do not get these confused.) Go East on Atlantic Avenue to (between 4th and 5th AVENUES). Downtown Delray Beach is known for its shops, restaurants and year-round festivals such as this one. Bringing some of the nation’s top crafters to town, this festival offers something for every taste and budget, with crafts ranging from $15 to $3,000. Handmade jewelry, wall hangings, ceramics and personalized gifts are just some of the many finds you will discover. An expansive Green Market lends plants, orchids, exotic flora and homemade soaps. Its FREE - there is NO GATE! All of the work on display is available for purchase and there is always something for everyone.
For more information, call (954) 472-3755 or Click Here to email or Click Here to 13th Annual Downtown Delray Beach Craft Festival web site. Pridefest 2010
The 33 anniversary of Pridefest is scheduled for SATURDAY, MARCH 13 and SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 at JACO PASTORIUS PARK (Dixie Highway & 40th Ct.) in Oakland Park. Pridefest is a celebration and tribute to the LGBT community and its unique culture. From 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm, there will be of 2 Days of Indoor and Outdoor Fun. The weekend long event includes non-stop entertainment both days, local DJ’s and many more surprises! Also featured are over 250 vendors, comedy shows, music, food, DJ's, and a dance tent which, as usual, has a great dance floor for your dancing pleasure! Plans for this year’s event will be much more festive with a large outdoor T-Dance on Saturday and Sunday. As always, we will have non-stop entertainment both days on the main stage. That means that along with vendors, food and fun there will be great entertainment. Official Pridefest events will be held at several of the nightclubs and venues in town. The money generated from this Celebration serves as the primary income producer for various Grant programs and public benefit opportunities throughout the year.
For more information, call 954-561-2020 or Click Here to email or Click Here to the PRIDEFEST web site. 33rd Annual Waterway Cleanup
On SATURDAY, MARCH 6th, the 33rd Annual Waterway Cleanup will take place between 9 AM and 1 PM. The event is organized and sponsored by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) with support from local businesses, government agencies and civic organizations. Waterway Cleanup is a one-day event that attracts 2,000 – 3,000 volunteers and 100 boats throughout South Florida to clean up the waterways in Broward County. At each location from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., participants will receive cleanup instructions, garbage bags, complimentary T-shirts while supplies last. Sites in Broward County from City of Deerfield Beach in the north, to the City of Miramar in the south, and west to Plantation, and Coral Springs. Participants who come by boat will also receive a free captain’s kit and a commemorative Waterway Cleanup 2010 Boat Flag. The Annual Waterway Cleanup is this county's largest environmental event and in 2009 an estimated 2,800 volunteers worked at locations across Broward County to clean nearly 41 tons of trash and debris from our waterways, rivers and canals.
For more information, please call 954-524-2733, Click to E-mail or CLICK HERE to check web page for Details6th Annual Coral Springs Festival of the Arts
The the 6th Annual Coral Springs Festival of the Arts will be held on SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MARCH 20 & 21, 2010 from 10 AM - 5 PM at THE WALK ON UNIVERSITY DRIVE in CORAL SPRINGS. From I-95: take the SAWGRASS EXPRESSWAY (869) WEST to University Drive Exit. Upon exiting, turn left at the light heading south. "THE WALK" is located SOUTH of SAMPLE ROAD on the right. The Coral Springs Festival of the Arts has grown considerably over the years into a two-day celebration of arts and culture with a fine art show, contemporary craft festival, theatrical performances and full line-up of live music. Held in conjunction with the Coral Springs Art Festival Committee and the city, this event brings 250 of the nation's best artists and crafters to South Florida. Stroll amidst life-size sculptures, spectacular paintings, one-of-a-kind jewels, photography, ceramics, a separate craft festival, Green Market and much more - and its FREE - there is NO GATE!
For more information, call 954-472-3755 or Click Here to email or Click Here to web site. The Quadrantid Meteor Shower
This is one of the strongest meteor showers of the year, but observers can be disappointed if conditions are not just right. The point from where the Quadrantid meteors appear to radiate is located within the extinct constellation Quadrans Muralis. On modern star charts, this radiant is located where the constellations Hercules, Boötes, and Draco meet in the sky. The shower can appear almost nonexistent until about 11 p.m. Unfortunately, the radiant does not attain a very high altitude for most Northern Hemisphere observers before morning twilight puts an end to the show. The best observations are actually possible from countries with high northern latitudes, such as Canada, Finland, Sweden, and Norway. The display is virtually nonexistent for observers in the Southern Hemisphere. The Quadrantids generally begin on DECEMBER 28 and end on JANUARY 7, with maximum generally occurring during the morning hours of JANUARY 3/4. The Quadrantids are barely detectable on the beginning and ending dates, but observers in the Northern Hemisphere can see from 10 to around 60 meteors per hour at maximum. The maximum only lasts for a few hours. There are other, weaker meteor showers going on around the same time as the Quadrantids. The Quadrantids are medium-paced when compared to meteors from other meteor showers. When you see a meteor, mentally trace it backwards. If you end up where Hercules, Boötes, and Draco meet in the sky then you have probably seen a Quadrantid meteor! First mention that early January activity might be annual came in 1839, when Adolphe Quetelet (Brussels Observatory, Belgium) and Edward C. Herrick (Connecticut) independently made the suggestion. The meteor shower became known as the Quadrantids because of its emanation from a now obsolete constellation called Quadrans Muralis (the Mural Quadrant) located on some 19th-century star atlases near the point of meeting between Hercules, Boötes and Draco. The long-term effect of Jupiter on the Quadrantid stream was first investigated by S. E. Hamid and M. N. Youssef in 1963. They took the orbits of six Quadrantid meteors that were photographed in 1954 and applied perturbations by Jupiter for the past 5000 years. While the Quadrantid orbit passes as close as 92 million miles from the sun now, they noted the orbit was significantly different 1500 years ago, when the orbit passed as close as 10 million miles from the sun. The authors speculated that the stream's parent comet was captured by Jupiter about 4000 years ago and shortly thereafter it developed meteors along its path. "Because an appreciable number of these meteors, which now form the Quadrantids, did not suffer another close approach to Jupiter, the shower is observed to be compact."
For more information, CLICK HERE to Meteor Shower Web Site. St. Lawrence Gallery February Events
The St. Lawrence Gallery will be hosting many evenings of art and socializing at at 3556 N. Ocean Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Wine and Cheese will be served and raffles will be held as you mingle. Be sure to join us to celebrate local artists and charitable giving, FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2010 - 6 to 9 PM; St. Lawrence Gallery hosts Jewelry Designs by Ruth Hirtz. The wonderfully versatile jewelry designs of Ruth Hirtz are back to benefit Friends of Music! Psss, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2010 - 6 to 9 PM; St. Jan Lower's work will benefit the Coral Springs Museum of Art. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2010 - 6 to 9 PM; George Rusovick will offer more of his unique fare. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2010 - 6 to 9 PM; St. Pius X - Win an original Robert Dorman oil painting and support St. Pius X. Raffel Tickets available now 1:$10 or 3:$20 both at the Gallery or the Church: 2511 North Ocean Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305 - (954) 564-1763
For more information about St. Lawrence Gallery, CLICK HERE call 954-566-8011 or Click Here to email. Vernal (Spring) Equinox Sun Celebration (Ostara)
The public is invited to attend the Vernal Equinox Sun Celebration on SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2010 at 7:00 pm! It will take place at the UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF FORT LAUDERDALE at 3970 NW 21st AVENUE (between COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD and OAKLAND PARK BOULEVARD) in Fort Lauderdale. It will conform to, and celebrate, the Ancient Tradition. Ritual garb and/or costume is encouraged. There will be drumming, dancing, chanting, and feasting. Bring your drums and percussion instruments, as well as food and drink to share for the feast to follow the Celebration. Bring non-perishable food items and clothing, to be donated to the Cooperative Feeding Program of Broward County (or Cash Donation) Anyone interested in participating is welcome. Vernal Equinox is a festival of fertility/rebirth and the first day of Spring. Eggs representing the cosmic egg of creation are decorated. The Vernal Equinox occurs when the sun crosses the equator on it's apparent journey northward, when day and night are of equal duration. It is a time of conception and new beginnings; a rebirth of the world after the cold Winter months. It is a time of equilibrium, moving toward the light half of the year - the official first day of Spring. This year the Vernal Equinox is on March 20, 2010, 17:32 Universal Time, when the Sun is directly over the Earth's equator and enters zero degrees Aries. The full moon in the month of March is called the Storm Moon. This year the Storm Moon is on March 30, 2010, 2:25 Universal Time. The name Ostara (O-STAR-ah) comes from that of the Germanic fertility Goddess. The Teutonic lunar Goddess is Eostre (whose name is probably yet another variant of Ishtar, Astare and Aset). Her chief symbols were the bunny (for fertility and because the Ancient Ones who worshipped her often saw the image of a rabbit in the full moon), and the egg (representing the cosmic egg of creation). Her Celebration, the Eostara, was held on the first Full Moom after the Vernal Equinox. The month of March is named for the Roman god of war Mars. He is identified with the Greek god Aries. March was the first month of the Roman year, and the Vernal Equinox was celebrated on the 25th day, the time when nature returns to life after the winter; thus the first day of March was the old New Year's Day and a Festival for Mars was held to celebrate His birthday.
For more information, call 954-484-6734 or Click Here to email or Click Here to web site. Jazz On The Square - FEBRUARY 5, 12, 19, 26 - Join us every Friday night from 7 PM - 10 PM for an outdoor festival of music and merriment sponsored by The Chamber of Commerce and THE VILLAGE GRILLE & VILLAGE PUMP! Commercial Boulevard and the Beach at Pelican Square. Phone 954-776-5092 for details or Click to Web Site. Additional information is available by contacting the L-B-T-S Chamber of Commerce at (954) 776-1000 or CLICK HERE to email. GMCA Presidents Council - The GMCA Presidents Council Meeting will be held on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2010 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM in the GALLEON CONDOMINIUM at 4100 GALT OCEAN DRIVE in FORT LAUDERDALE. Many Thanks to DONNA OPPERT, President of the GALLEON CONDOMINIUM for graciously hosting this important meeting. Pio Ieraci will chair the monthly Presidents Council meeting. Check GMCA CALENDAR for important meeting information.GMCA Advisory Board
The next regular meeting will be on THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2010 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at NICK’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT - 35th Street & NORTH OCEAN DRIVE (A1A) in FORT LAUDERDALE. President Pio Ieraci will chair the monthly Advisory Board meeting. Check GMCA CALENDAR for important meeting information.Commissioner Bruce Roberts’ Pre-Agenda Meeting MONDAY - FEBRUARY 1, 2010 (6:00 PM) The meeting will be held at Cardinal Gibbons High School, Media Room, 2900 NE 47th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Two or more City Commissioners and/or Advisory Board members may be present at this meeting. All are welcome to attend.
CLICK HERE for Details or Check GMCA CALENDAR for Commissioner Roberts’ bi-weekly Pre-Agenda MeetingsFort Lauderdale City Commission Meeting TUESDAY - FEBRUARY 2, 2010 CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, 100 N ANDREWS AVE, FORT LAUDERDALE. Conference Agenda - 1:30 PM, Regular Agenda - 6:00 PM. The City Commission meetings are generally held on the first and third Tuesday of the Month - aberrations due to holiday conflicts, etc. are posted. All are welcome to attend.
CLICK HERE for Details or Check the GMCA CALENDAR for meeting dates and times of Fort Lauderdale's City Commission. Fort Lauderdale Planning & Zoning Board Meeting WEDNESDAY - FEBRUARY 17, 2010 CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, 100 N ANDREWS AVE, FORT LAUDERDALE at 6:30 PM. The Fort Lauderdale Planning & Zoning Board Meetings are generally held on the third Wednesday of the Month - aberrations due to holiday conflicts, etc. are posted. All are welcome to attend.
CLICK HERE for Details or Check the GMCA CALENDAR for meeting dates and times of Fort Lauderdale's City CommissionCouncil of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations General Meeting TUESDAY - FEBRUARY 9, 2010 (7:00 PM - MEET & GREET, 7:30 PM - MEETING) at City Hall, 100 ANDREWS AVENUE. President Genia Ellis convenes the monthly general meeting of the Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations. The meeting will be held in the 8th Floor Commission Conference Room.
CLICK HERE for Details or Check GMCA CALENDAR for information about the monthly meetings Ask Lori!
Read the JANUARY 2010 question asked of Lori Parrish by a Broward resident - Broward County Property Appraiser LORI PARRISH answers questions posed about property appraisals (of course), Save Our Homes amendment ramifications and the ubiquitous “Homestead Exemption”. Located in the Broward County Property Appraiser page on the Galt Mile Community Association web site, Lori Parrish clarifies confusion surrounding the appraisal process and explains our rights in simple Q & A format.
CLICK HERE for Details!
CLICK HERE For Details!
Commissioner Roberts' August Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2, 2009 - Our District 1 City Commissioner and Vice Mayor Bruce G. Roberts is no longer an unknown political quantity. After squeaking by incumbent Christine Teel in the March 10th election runoff, residents nursed nagging concerns over his motives for leaving his iconic niche as the City’s top cop and chasing down a seat on the municipality’s governing body. After weathering months of glass-eye looks from constituents, the former City Police Chief has proven to be an unrelenting, no-nonsense work-a-holic. Instead of simply denying the rumors, he shifted into high gear, attacking neighborhood problems while working with the Mayor and the City Manager to grind out a remarkable budget. In his August Newsletter, the Vice Mayor details how the City Commission's Budget Guidelines imprinted on the City Manager's draft FY 2010 Budget. Check it out!
CLICK HERE for Details!
 VOTE EASY VOTE EARLY (THERE IS NO EARLY VOTING FOR 2009 ELECTION)
DECEMBER 2008 - You do not have to wait until Election Day to vote. You do not need an absentee ballot or some special dispensation. Early voters can make known their will at a variety of different Broward sites. Nearby locations include the Main Library at 100 S. Andrews Avenue and the Fort Lauderdale Branch Library/Art Serve at 1350 E. Sunrise Boulevard, Room 130 in Fort Lauderdale as well as the Pompano Beach Library at 1213 E. Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach. Early Voting for the General Elections is OCTOBER 20 - NOVEMBER 2. Early voting hours of operations are Weekdays (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM, Saturdays 10 AM - 3 PM, Sundays 1 PM - 4 PM. Registered voters can avoid the traffic and the lines that plague overcrowded polling places. If you bring a signature-bearing photo id and a previously marked sample ballot, you'll whiz through the experience. VOTE EARLY! TRAFFIC PLUGS DECEMBER 2009 - STREET CLOSURES - WINTERFEST BRIDGE CLOSING TIMES
7th Ave: 5:20 - 8 pm
Feci RR: 5 - 8:00 pm
Andrews Ave: 5:40 - 8 pm
3rd Ave: 5:40 - 8 pm
Las Olas Blvd: 6:30 - 9 pm
Sunrise Blvd: 7:20 - 9 pm
; The Sunrise Boulevard Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale will be closed to all WESTBOUND traffic from 9:30 p.m. Thursday night, Dec. 10, to 6 a.m. Friday morning, Dec. 11.; Work is continuing on improvements to S.R. A1A (N Ocean Boulevard) from NE 18th Street (north of Birch State Park) to Oakland Park Boulevard. Traffic will be impacted by the closure of one lane at a time between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., weekdays. This project is expected to be completed by March 2010; The SW 11th Avenue Swing Bridge is closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic for approximately one year to undergo a complete overhaul and rehabilitation. The bridge is anticipated to reopen mid-August 2010; SE 10 Avenue (inside lanes) from SE 17 Street to SE 20 Street southbound lanes (Road closed, traffic restricted to outside lanes north and south bound, using flagmen); Northbound lanes at SE 10 Avenue from Holiday Building to Embassy Suites rear driveway (Under construction, diversion of traffic into the southbound lanes with two-way traffic on southbound lanes).
CLICK HERE for full details - YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
CLICK HERE TO READ GMCA PRESIDENT PIO IERACI'S PRESIDENTS COLUMN!
PEACE ON EARTH
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GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST FEBRUARY 24, 2009 - On February 18, 2009, residents along the Barrier Island shared a rare mass ebullience. When Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced that local inhabitants no longer had to fear a potentially dangerous gas plant marring their eastern horizon, most of the population was understandably immersed in relief and gratitude. Not surprisingly, Galt Mile residents were also rightfully proud of themselves and their neighborhood. Absent funds and through sheer determination, they defeated a $110 billion corporate goliath with an intimidating history of international depredations. They also thwarted a regulatory bear trap designed to involuntarily force facilities like these down the throats of communities targeted by paying members of the industry “club” (most of whom – like Suez – aren’t U.S. corporations)! What's more, until their license application evaporates, the fat lady hasn't sung! We will, therefore, monitor this tricky doggie!
MEETING THE PLAYERS OCTOBER 29, 2008 - On October 22, The Galt Mile Community Association sponsored an event to assist local residents ascertain the electability of the current crop of aspirants to municipal offices most relevant to the neighborhood. Scheduled at the Beach Community Center, Galt Mile residents were afforded the opportunity to meet the four mayoral hopefuls and the three candidates vying for the District 1 Commission seat. Half of the participants enjoyed the politically competitive advantage of name recognition, enabling residents to measure promises against a track record. The others embraced the opportunity to introduce themselves to those they mean to govern. During the few weeks from the event's conception through the only date compatible with candidates' schedules and the Center's erratic availability, the scores of submitted residents' questions were sorted by category, weighted by volume and compiled to parallel community concerns. Check candidates' feedback about Beach Renourishment, City pension funds, a Galt Mile Master Plan, Turtles vs. People and other sticky issues.
BROWARD COMMISSIONER KEN KEECHL SEPTEMBER 14, 2008 - In his September 2008 Newsletter, Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl reminds his District 4 constituents that his platform’s planks include “lower property taxes; fiscal accountability; more open and green spaces; and yearly reserve funding for beach restoration.” He enumerates three of the challenges currently facing County government. As the County Commission continues squeezing the budget to help control property taxes, the accompanying resource shortage can be offset by broadening the tax base. Attracting new business to Broward will insure the uninterrupted delivery of County services while preserving residential tax relief. Drawing on new technologies, Keechl also supports the implementation of alternative water conservation strategies in preparation for impending growth. As usual, Keechl’s measures are viable, sensible and frugal.
CITY MANAGER GEORGE GRETSAS JULY 29, 2008 - In early July, Commissioner Christine Teel replaced the email she ordinarily sends to remind constituents about her regular pre-agenda meeting at the Beach Community Center with an announcement that on July 14th, “City Manager George Gretsas will be attending to present the City’s goals and objectives for the upcoming fiscal year. Mr. Gretsas will discuss his plans for reducing costs, while improving the quality of life for the residents and businesses in the City of Fort Lauderdale.” Attending residents got more than they bargained for. As the audience filed in, they were greeted by City Manager George Gretsas, Commissioner Christine Teel, Fire Chief James Eddy, Director of Business Enterprises Cate McCaffrey, Building Services Manager Valerie Bohlander, Code Enforcement Manager Mike Maloney, Public Works Director Albert Carbon and the Executive Officer for Police District 1, Captain Raul Diaz. We were all treated to a special edition of "The George Gretsas Show".
REPRESENTATIVE ELLYN BOGDANOFF JUNE 17, 2008 - Last December, an article posted on the GMCA web site and reprinted in the January Galt Mile News exposed an obscure plan to offload liquefied natural gas near the Galt Mile beach. Shortly after confirming that a breach in the Calypso project’s delivery system would release an ignitable vapor cloud capable of a 2000 BTU conflagration, residents wondered why their public officials would expose them to this catastrophic danger. Surprise quickly turned to anger when they learned that local communities and their governments had been excised from the approval process 3 years earlier. In her Spring Newsletter, Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff explains her characterization of the project to the Governor, the only official in Florida empowered to stop Calypso. The Statehouse Majority Whip also considers pulling the plug on Calypso as the State's opportunity to step down its debilitating energy dependence by assuming a leadership role in the fast-growing alternative energy field!
SENATOR JEFFREY ATWATER MAY 21, 2008 - Armed with instinctive networking skills, unique fiscal expertise and a natural talent for achieving consensus, Senator Jeffrey Atwater has earned the gratitude of battalions of his legislation's beneficiaries and the respect of his peers. Unlike many legislators whose advancement accompanies a benign neglect of constituents, Atwater is always a phone call away. Named as the next Senate President, the District 25 Senator remained in constant communication with constituents throughout the legislative session. Now that the session is over, he issued a summary of the legislature's achievements. He reviews legislation designed to enforce insurance carrier accountability, a long sought after anti-gang bill, environmental regulations targeting Beach Renourishment and spending cuts created to relieve pressure on the Budget without sacrificing important programs.
What's New?
ASSOCIATIONS
All of the members of the Galt Mile Community Association are entitled to maintain a website that reflects the relevant features and qualities of their residences. This is the link to the websites of the individual Associations. Recently added sites include Caribé, L’Hermitage II, the current L’Hermitage Link Newsletter, The Commodore, The Royal Ambassador, Coral Ridge Towers South, and The Galt Merchants Association! In addition, 90% of the existing Association Sites have been recently upgraded. Check yours out! We’re delighted to see that the PLAYA DEL MAR website is BACK UP and RUNNING thanks to the efforts of Manager Keith Tannenbaum. In addition to their regular web site, PLAYA DEL MAR also installed a site restricted to Playa del Mar Residents! THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS! ANOTHER SURPRISE! The CORAL RIDGE TOWERS EAST Web Site has also been reincarnated. CORAL RIDGE TOWERS EAST resident and Webmaster Warren Eisenberg has done a wonderful job in bringing an online presence back for one of the first GMCA member Associations to create a web site! In April 2005, CORAL RIDGE TOWERS ORIGINAL and RIVIERA both established web sites. PLAZA EAST and the GALLEON set up independent web sites and REGENCY TOWER'S web site was up and running again after an unexpected hiatus. In August, 2006, Director Jack Zink took the initiative to set up an independent web site for FOUNTAINHEAD. Also, PLAZA SOUTH has joined the club, kicking of its web site in June of 2008... congratulations! More good news! COMMODORE CONDOMINIUM has also created their own fully self-maintained web site.
Click to CONDOS
DIRECTORS
The Galt Mile Community Association is administered by a Board of Directors, an Advisory Board, and the Presidents Council (an assembly of the Presidents of each member Association). They are depicted and briefly biographied in this section.
Who Are They?
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| AERIAL VIEW OF THE GALT OCEAN MILE SHORELINE |
 February 7, 2010 - Since 2002, when Florida association members hear the word “sprinklers”, they either wince or cringe. Condo and Co-op owners have spent the past eight years nervously awaiting notice about some mysterious assessment that could deep-fry the household budget. Recently, some Galt Mile Associations expressed shock and dismay upon receiving a disconcerting letter from the local Fire Marshal – reminding them that they will be tagged for a boatload of money by 2014. For those of you who have moved here since 2002 and/or take pride in ignoring the legislative antics annually cooked up in Tallahassee for you and your neighbors, there’s some good news. (This may also provide a modicum of relief to nervous Board members cogitating how to break the mysterious letter’s bad news to residents.) First – some history...
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Roberts Hits the New Year Running
 January 30, 2010 - Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor and District 1 Commissioner Bruce G. Roberts weaves seven informational snippets into his January snapshot of Fort Lauderdale. He opens by ironically juxtaposing the joy experienced by 100,000 celebrants at the Downtown Countdown ball drop with how deterioration of local real estate values will hamper next year’s budgeting efforts. After explaining the value of the 2010 census, he enumerates the responsibilities facing the members of two municipal committees. The City's Visioning Committee is charged with developing a long term visioning plan that the City Commission can use as a guide for policy and decision making. The Centennial Celebration Committee was recently established to commemorate Fort Lauderdale’s 100th Anniversary in 2011. Roberts jumps to a the vacancy problem created when the Baltimore Orioles abandoned their Fort Lauderdale spring training facility for cushier digs in Sarasota. Finally, the Vice Mayor is pleased with recent progress made toward the realization of a Central Beach Master Plan. See for yourself...
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Keechl's Role as Broward's Mayor
 January 22, 2010 - In his January Newsletter, Broward Mayor and District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl compares his job as Mayor to that of a County Commissioner. Throughout his year-long mayoral term, in addition to interfacing with the public, Keechl will officially represent Broward in County dealings with officials and agencies at every level of government. Although the seat is largely ceremonial, Broward's Mayor is vested with several significant advantages for shaping policy. Specifically, by flexing control over the Commission agenda and affording prominence to issues he considers important, Keechl can insure that his priorities (and those of District 4) receive adequate attention by the County Commission. Immediately after being sworn in, Keechl clarified his primary policy objective, exclaiming “This upcoming year’s budget will be our most difficult and challenging yet. In the past three fiscal years we have cut spending by $385 million. We must continue to separate our wants from our needs and starting tomorrow, I will begin overseeing the 2011 budget process.”
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The City Commission's Public Lynching
  January 15, 2010 - On November 17th, the City of Fort Lauderdale underwent a sea change. Residents from virtually every city neighborhood were joined by dozens of municipal and civic volunteers, business leaders, city employees, former Commissioners, religious leaders and minorities of every stripe in expressing appreciation for the management team that expedited the City's recovery following the 2003 fiscal implosion and subsequently steered Fort Lauderdale to its current status as South Florida's most solvent and well managed municipality. Since the new commissioners all campaigned on responsivity to constituent input and safeguarding the City wallet, city residents flooded the Commission chambers to insure that their elected representatives voted to retain City Manager George Gretsas, a lynchpin of the City's operational and fiscal stability. Instead, the City Manager experienced what Commissioner Bobby DuBose called a “public lynching” by two City Commissioners pursuing what Commissioner Romney Rogers characterized as personal and political agendas over the interests and wishes of their constituents. While sharing in the citywide frustration over the outcome of a process described by former Commissioners John Aurelius and Dean Trantalis as "subverted by revenge and politics," participating Galt Mile residents additionally questioned whether they'd been deliberately misled or only marginalized by District 1 Commissioner Bruce Roberts. Since the current economic maelstrom will intensify the consequences of replacing a competent Manager with an unknown quantity, Galt Mile residents share a significant stake in the dynamic driving this issue. As such, the following unsettling blend of elements from C-SPAN, “What’s my Line” and “The Gong Show” is a comprehensive summary of events surrounding the City Commission's antics of November 17th.
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Corporate Cacography Chafes Chepo
 January 6, 2010 - To insure that the City of Fort Lauderdale complies with their agreement to maintain the Galt Ocean Mile in a “Disney-like manner”, José “Chepo” Vega accompanied Parks officials and maintenance crews as they actualized a maintenance strategy hammered out by the unassuming Commodore resident with Park Operations Superintendent Brian Hopper and Beach Foreman Mark Almy. Within a year, the team of civic and municipal stalwarts, with the blessings of Parks Director Phil Thornburg and Vice Mayor Bruce Roberts, reversed almost 4 years of maintenance neglect and reclaimed much of the neighborhood's former ambiance. Ever vigilant, the watchful Chepo has targeted several new obstacles obscuring the community's aesthetic rebirth. Along with strengthening tree braces that succumbed to unusually harsh seasonal winds, he intends to face down corporate purveyors of an urban phenomenon he dubbed “Utility Graffiti”. He wants the industrial psychedelia GONE!
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Judges Jump when Banks Bark
 December 29, 2009 - On November 30, 2009, association attorney and activist Donna Berger sent an email recounting a November 24th blog she wrote about banking industry in-court maneuvers that have associations frantically trotting a legal hamster wheel. The blog entry speaks to institutionalized tactics promulgated by banks to forestall taking title to foreclosed properties. Among the battery of methodologies deployed by the banking industry are legal motions that are akin to monkey wrenches thrown into the judicial process. Usually reserved for urgent matters where requiring notice would subject one party to irreparable harm, ex parte motions are requests for emergency rulings on behalf of or involving only one party to a legal matter and in the absence of and usually without notice to the other party. While it is possible that judges are oblivious to the part they play in exacerbating the burden on every one of the association’s unit owners, the regularity with which courts cooperate with these overtly abusive tactics supports that their complicity is “informed”.
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Galt Mile Preps for 4th Annual Food Drive
 December 21, 2009 - On December 7th, Cooperative Feeding Program Executive Director Scott Woodburn and Fort Lauderdale Real Estate proprietor Domenic Faro made their way to Playa del Sol Condominium Association to address a GMCA Presidents Council meeting. Four years earlier, Domenic and Scott invited the Galt Mile Community Association to sponsor a food drive on behalf of the Cooperative Feeding Program, Broward County’s lead agency for the provision of services to the hungry and homeless. Since then, the annual event marshaled over 5000 lbs. of food and hygiene products in 2007, more than 11,000 lbs. in 2008 and almost 15,000 lbs. during last year's effort. As Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler and Vice Mayor Bruce Roberts patiently waited to address the room of association officials, Woodburn faulted the economic downturn with burning through program resources and prompting a new objective for this year's Galt Ocean Mile food Drive - 10 tons of relief for hungry Broward families!
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Comm Keechl Elected Broward Mayor
December 14, 2009 - Despite the relative brevity of his tenure on the Broward Board of County Commissioners, District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl was elected Mayor of Broward County by his Commission peers on November 17, 2009. Actually, he was preordained as the County’s top dog last November when Stacy Ritter was elected Mayor and Keechl was named Vice Mayor. In Broward County, the Commission practices a variation of Mayoral musical chairs, allowing every member one year in the largely ceremonial catbird seat after first spending a year as Vice Mayor. Although Keechl's new status isn't accompanied by the big stick warmly spoken of by former President Teddy Roosevelt, he can more closely align County policy with his own fiscally conservative, environmentally conscientious ideologies. It also won't hurt the County's ethically tarnished image to be headed by a squeaky clean, clear-thinking work-a-holic. As to his District 4 constituents, the Mayor will continue to address their concerns, only with a louder voice.
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Rip Current Grabs Galleon Guest
 December 7, 2009 - In November, a Galleon resident rescued a visiting guest from the grip of a deadly rip current. Responsible for 8 out of 10 beach fatalities worldwide, rip currents annually claim the lives of several Galt Mile residents and visitors - and threaten dozens more. The City of Fort Lauderdale is fiscally incapable of providing lifeguard oversight along its entire shoreline. Despite the heroic efforts of unheralded Samaritans and other first responders, the obituaries persist – mostly for fatally unprepared visitors. Ironically, these lethal surf beach artifacts are eminently survivable – if the prospective victim remains calm and knows exactly what to do. By minimally enhancing the process ordinarily used to enlighten visitors and guests (the largest pool of rip current victims) about association rules, we may finally rack up a year without an avoidable drowning death!
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40-Year Building Recertification Program
 December 1, 2009 - Patterned after a Miami-Dade County program in effect since the 1970’s, Broward County's 2005 “40-year or Older Building Safety Inspection Program” was implemented to minimize the dangerous structural and electrical failures that increase with a building's age. Following a 2006 program suspension because of Hurricane Wilma, Fort Lauderdale Building Services Director Valerie Bohlander reviewed the revived plan's requirements at an April 10, 2007, GMCA Presidents Council meeting, explaining that the existing inspection backlog would forestall issuance of Galt Mile association compliance notices until 2009. As warned, several Galt Mile Associations were charged in 2009 with recertifying their structural and electrical building elements. Other member associations built before 1970 should anticipate similar notices next year. An authoritative columnist for the Florida Community Association Journal, well-credentialed Galleon General Manager Marcy Kravit shares her practical conversance with this new challenge. Read on...
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Healthcare Update & Medicare Deadline
 November 24, 2009 - In its quest for a health care Holy Grail, Washington DC is narrowing the gap among plans currently under Congressional consideration. With the House bill already on the books, Senate leaders are struggling over the Public Option, as Senators tend to recoil in fear whenever Uncle Sam considers plying a new trade. Notwithstanding, Galt Mile Medicare recipients face a more pressing decision. The annual open enrollment period for the Medicare prescription drug benefit is underway. From November 15 until December 31, 2009, those currently enrolled in a Medicare prescription drug plan have an opportunity to switch plans. Since most plans have made important changes to their benefits for the upcoming year, including changes to monthly premiums, deductibles, the drugs that are covered or included on the plan formulary, co-pays and coverage in the “donut hole”, tools have been provided to help evaluate your options. A few minutes here could save you $thousands over the next 12 months - whether or not you have any coverage!
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Roberts: Firehouse, Football & Free Food
 November 18, 2009 - Having carved his public persona from a passionate commitment to public safety as Fort Lauderdale's former Police Chief, District 1 Commissioner and Vice Mayor Bruce G. Roberts opens and closes his November 2009 Newsletter with reference to another municipal force preoccupied with Public Safety, Fort Lauderdale’s Department of Fire-Rescue. He reviews the new Fire Station located at Executive Airport and recruits participation in the Department's Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Roberts also considers three past and future municipal events - the recent 50th Annual International Boat Show, the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, assessing the fiscal impact that each portends for the City's treasury.
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New Tenant Rights Law Impacts Assns
 November 12, 2009 - If you’ve been preoccupied with a hunt for cross-dressing Nazi operatives in the Obama Administration and allegations that federal health care initiatives are a collaborative product of East German Stasi expatriates, Alaskan Inuits and former SAVAK agents, perhaps you are unaware of the newly passed “Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009”. The new Act inserts a tenant-friendly “non-disturbance clause” - common in commercial leases - into a residential context inclusive of condo and co-op rentals. 90 days before a new titleholder can occupy the unit as a primary residence, the tenant must be notified. If the new titleholder does not plan to live therein, an existing lease must be honored through the end of its term. The Act distinguishes between "bona fide" tenants and speculator-installed "placeholders", who remain unprotected. Although new laws traditionally breed abuse, familiarity with some of the law's idiosyncrasies should help diminish potentially adverse association impacts.
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Bogus FHA Website Scams Galt Milers
 November 6, 2009 - On October 28th, Congressional Liaison Cheryl Marken of HUD’s Miami Field Office notified Senior AmeriFirst Underwriter Theresa Schmitz about a fake HUD website entitled “FHA Modification” at www.fhamodification.com. Impressively bedecked with HUD and FHA logos, the site would pass even informed scrutiny as an official government offering. In fact, it is a “phishing” website. Phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, account numbers, Social Security Numbers and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity. The multi-$billion criminal enterprise hooks dozens of Galt Mile residents every year. A metamorph, the scam has adapted to exploit foreclosures and recovery-related economic pressures. Protecting yourself isn't difficult. Read how...
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Revived Claims Could Fill Condo Coffers
 October 31, 2009 - Following the serial hurricanes of 2004 and 2005, many Galt Mile associations entered into a long slow waltz with their property insurance carriers. When the State balked at a 2005 insurance industry ultimatum to approve virtually unlimited rate increases, almost every admitted windstorm carrier hit the road, abandoning the Florida property and casualty market. Divested of any competitive incentive to engender "good will", the few remaining Florida insurers (e.i. Australian carrier QBE) restructured their corporate policies - delaying claims via incessant requests for irrelevant documentation, purposely valuing damage loss below the hurricane deductible or portending eligibility exemptions not listed in the policy. As expressed by activist association attorney Donna Berger, recent court decisions have strikingly altered the legal landscape, allowing short-changed Galt Mile associations another bite at the apple!
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Keechl's Post-Budget Galt Mile Letter
 October 24, 2009 - Broward County District 4 Commissioner and Vice Mayor Ken Keechl has been delivering on his promises with religious regularity since elected 3 years ago. He has prodigiously directed his efforts, dividing his contributions between the county and District 4. After the Vice mayor and his Broward Commission peers finalized the controversial County budget on September 22nd, he wrote a letter to his Galt Mile constituents, summarizing the two issues that most impact the neighborhood. Earlier, Keechl promised to defang the County tax bite. He also made a commitment to circumvent attempts by some County Commissioners to close the Galt Mile Reading Center as a budget measure. To see how he rates his effectiveness with respect to these issues, read his letter...
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Recipe for Retrofit Ripoff
 October 16, 2009 - Heeding some questionable advice, Governor Crist vetoed a bill passed favorably by both houses twice within 3 years. In addition to implementing important insurance fixes, SB 714 would have postponed a $multi-BILLION payday for the sprinkler industry. Since successful pursuit of his political aspirations will have placed him in Washington DC by the time the bill's provisions decimated condo budgets across Florida, the lame duck Governor took a page from his predecessor's playbook and paid off a political debt before hitting the road. Like Governor Bush, he issued a veto message directing the Department of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR) to study a retrofit’s cost impact on condos and coops. Recently released, the completed report confirms what the bill's supporters already knew - that unit owners in cash-strapped associations can't afford the huge expense!
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Galt Milers Rescue Reading Room
 October 8, 2009 - On September 22, 2009, the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center dodged a bullet. Arguably the community’s most popular local asset, the mini-library has been under the County budget gun for months. Angered at the prospect of losing the only County resource dedicated to the Galt Mile neighborhood, a large group of indomitable seniors inspired their friends, neighbors and public officials to see through the engineered budgetary spin and prevent the library from falling prey to county politics. A strategic plan molded by Broward Vice Mayor Ken Keechl and expedited by the Galt Mile Community Association and Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor Bruce Roberts came to fruition at the final Broward County budget meeting, reprieving the popular Reading Room for at least another year. Congratulations to the many thousands of Galt Mile residents who participated in this successful campaign. You've improved all of our lives! See how...
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Roberts: Post-Budget & Water Rate News
 October 1, 2009 - Keenly aware that we have stumbled into a historically unprecedented economic environment, District 1 Commissioner and Vice Mayor Bruce Roberts' September Newsletter considers the preparations facing the City Commission to better facilitate next year's presumably tighter budgeting constraints. While pleased with the Commission guidelines incorporated into FY 2009/2010 budget, Roberts anticipates implementing a zero-based budgeting departmental analysis, examining service fee assessments, studying and recommending pension reforms and assessing the current departmental management structure. Responding to some of the inconsistencies and inequities in the new water and wastewater rate schedule as reported by Galt Mile associations, Roberts reviews some tenets of the enabling ordinance. Read on...
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Keechl: 3 Busy Years and Counting...
September 24, 2009 - In his September 2009 Newsletter, Broward Vice Mayor and District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl reviews his past 3 years on the Broward Board of County Commissioners. The Vice Mayor compares his post-election promises of November 2006 to subsequent hallmarks reached by the County Commission and his part in their actualization. The Commission's lowering of the Broward tax bite by $300 million over Keechl's timeline is matched against his post-campaign exhortation that “The overwhelming local issue of the 2006 campaign season was property taxes. They are too high – period.” Vice Mayor Keechl additionally serves up convincing examples the Board's progress in conservation, land use, animal safety and ethics - virtually every issue upon which he campaigned. See for yourself!
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Representative Bogdanoff on Budget
 September 18, 2009 - Following a 2004 12-vote election squeaker, Ellyn Bogdanoff's meteoric rise through the Florida Statehouse has led her to target Jeffrey Atwater's soon to be vacant District 25 Senate seat. Until she makes the move, the House leadership is counting on the Statehouse gatekeeper and fiscal guru to help circumvent budget problems. In her Autumn Newsletter, Bogdanoff describes some of the challenges undertaken during the 2009 legislative session and measures their success from several objective perspectives. She makes reference to an economic study by the non-partisan American Legislative Exchange Conference entitled “State Winners and Losers” which credits recent legislative changes with improving the State's economic outlook, ranking it number 11 nationwide. A scholastic report by Education Week magazine similarly improves the State's educational ranking from number 31 to number 10 over the past three years. Read on - You'll feel better!
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Seasonal & Swine - The Two Flu Blues
 September 12, 2009 - U.S. health officials are readying a unique flu vaccination campaign for this fall, but the initiative is burdened by public confusion, epidemiological uncertainty and an unprecedented medical mystery. 2009 is the year of the “two-flu” blues, requiring what Health Department honchos believe will be 3 inoculations to properly protect against this year’s deadly influenza onslaught. Along with the seasonal flu vaccination, we will face possibly 2 additional inoculations to insulate ourselves from the effects of the H1N1 Swine Flu. To defend against the second wave of the Northern Hemisphere’s first influenza pandemic in 41 years, the campaign aims to vaccinate at least half the country’s population within months. Unfortunately, when the new wave of infections begins peaking in mid-October, only about a third of the expected vaccine will be available.
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Vice Mayor Roberts' Budget Newsletter
 September 2, 2009 - Our District 1 City Commissioner and Vice Mayor Bruce G. Roberts is no longer an unknown political quantity. After squeaking by incumbent Christine Teel in the March 10th election runoff, residents nursed nagging concerns over his motives for leaving his iconic niche as the City’s top cop and chasing down a seat on the municipality’s governing body. After weathering months of glass-eye looks from constituents, the former City Police Chief has proven to be an unrelenting, no-nonsense work-a-holic. Instead of simply denying the rumors, he shifted into high gear, attacking neighborhood problems while working with the Mayor and the City Manager to grind out a remarkable budget. In his August Newsletter, the Vice Mayor details how the City Commission's Budget Guidelines imprinted on the City Manager's draft FY 2010 Budget. Check it out!
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Sunset Blue - New Hope for Galt Shoppes
 August 26, 2009 - The Sunset Blue Block Party is redefining the old-fashioned neighborhood wing-ding – it virtually explodes with cool blues, box-banging bands and packaged fun on the run. On Sundays between 6 PM and 10 PM, NE 33rd Street undergoes a dimensional severance from the surrounding world as the whole block fills with stalls, tents, tables, hippies, retirees, philosophers, hot bodies, pedestrian artists and people marching around in ever-diminishing circles while attempting to communicate telepathically with their pets. Live music, food, drinks and booths from local bars, restaurants and businesses energize the entire Galt Ocean Shoppes neighborhood. The party area is just north of Oakland Park Boulevard, east of the Intracoastal and west of A1A. This event could catalyze the kind of stability required to realize the neighborhood's development into a “Las Olas North”. You've got to see it to believe it!
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Keechl Pops Courthouse Finance Surprise
 August 18, 2009 - In his January 2009 Newsletter, Broward Vice mayor Ken Keechl summarized the need to rehabilitate, relocate or replace the dilapidated, mold-infested Broward Courthouse, focusing on the latest disaster suffered by the Judicial Center - a late November water main break that flooded the Clerk of the Court’s Office and shut down the facility for days. Since the anticipated expenditure would be significant, he supported the appointment of a Task Force charged with vetting the issue and developing a viable resolution. In June, Keechl revealed their recommendation, a scaled-back $328 million structure instead of the original $510 million project. Keechl ended the newsletter with a teaser. To find out how the County Commission could actualize the huge undertaking without increasing the millage rate, we had to “tune in to the next newsletter.” Well - this is it! To review the creative fiscal gymnastics - Read on...
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BCPA Expands TRIM Season Access
 August 13, 2009 - Now that the TRIM Notices have been distributed, Broward County Property Appraiser media liaison Bob Wolfe notified Galt Mile residents on August 6th that BCPA has expanded their assistance with understanding the components of this critical document. The basis for upcoming assessments, TRIM notices are the key to property owners' tax indebtedness. The well known voice of the Property Appraiser’s office for GMCA residents, Bob is a trustworthy source of answers to your inquiries. P.S. - Many of your questions have already been addressed in the “Ask Lori” section of the BCPA page.
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Courts Break Back of Shadow Rentals
 August 7, 2009 - Condo Associations across the State are suffering from plugged cash flow stemming from an epidemic of unit owner defaults. While “too-good-to-be-true” mortgages attracted home buyers from every segment of society, an inordinately large number of toxic mortgage defaults inure to investors. When the bank lobby euthanized every relief bill filed during the 2009 legislative session, nervous investors sought to weather the recession by dumping hundreds of thousands of units into the rental market. In the resulting underground economy, speculators who stopped paying their mortgages and association fees continued to pocket the rent. The $millions extracted from the monthly income streams of cash-strapped associations had to be subsidized by the understandably angry neighbors of these delinquent speculators. By clearly interpreting a previously vague statute, the courts empowered associations to recapture the resources being surreptitiously siphoned by deadbeat landlords.
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Florida Court Fixes First Amendment Flaw
 July 28, 2009 - Concerned by the growing perception that legislative seats were essentially commodities with price tags, U.S. Senators Russell Feingold (D-WI) and John McCain (R-AZ) collaborated across the aisle to sponsor the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (AKA - The McCain–Feingold Act). The Act was anticipated to stigmatize the increased role of soft money in campaign financing, even for state and local races or issue discussion. It defined any broadcast ads that name a federal candidate within 30 days of a primary or caucus, or 60 days of a general election, as “electioneering communications” and prohibited their payment with funds from corporate (including nonprofits) or union treasuries. Running far afield of the Federal template, Florida legislators subsequently passed the nation's most restrictive law against politically inconvenient speech, forcing groups that merely mention political issues or candidates' names - even in an association newsletter or web site - to register with the state, appoint a campaign treasurer and disclose personal financial information of association members! This had to go.
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New City Budget is on the Money
 July 21, 2009 - Although Broward County and Fort Lauderdale share the objective of freezing the millage rate for the third consecutive year, the County is so enmeshed in conflict that Governor Crist specifically warned the parties against bringing their bloodletting to the State Capitol! On July 17, 2009, when City Manager George Gretsas released a first draft of the new city budget, city residents who missed the 2003 budget crisis learned why their neighbors who lived through it hold the City Manager in high esteem. His “Budget Message” enumerates five priorities developed by the new City Commission. They are (1) no property tax increase; (2) no increase in fire assessment fee; (3) maintenance of adequate reserve funds; (4) no reductions in vital City services; and (5) no layoffs. While the Commission's "Zero-based Budgeting" strategy effectively prioritized potential spending cuts, without Gretsas’ five-year rehabilitation of the city’s fiscal underpinnings, this proposed budget would be a fairy tale and City Hall would be consumed in the same controversy plaguing its the Broward County Government Center!
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New Battlefield for Broward Budget War
 July 7, 2009 - Broward County Vice Mayor Ken Keechl has consistently applauded his commission colleagues for cumulatively reducing the annual tax bite by $177 million over the prior two years. Having already pruned the high-visibility pork, commissioners prepared for the FY 2010 budget by first measuring their respective constituencies' anticipated backlash to weathering deep service cuts versus raising taxes during a recession. After weighing public feedback, they opted to freeze last year's millage rate and purge another $108 million from the budget. Since the Broward Sheriff’s Office harvests 50% of the County’s general operating fund, Sheriff Al Lamberti was tagged to equitably share the burden by absorbing half of the $108 million in spending cuts. Stunning the Commission, Broward residents and his own staff, Lamberti shed the temperate ethos that betokened his career, morphing overnight into a canny politician. After considering his options, Lamberti decided that he had to keep the money, move the forum from the Government Center to the streets and possibly to Tallahassee. Leery of being publicly forced to referee a politically anathematic conflict, Governor Crist warned the adversaries to keep the problem local ...and the hits just keep on comin'!
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Chepo: Galt Landscaping in High Gear
 July 1, 2009 - Late last year, the Galt Mile Community Association Advisory Board charged Commodore resident José “Chepo” Vega with overseeing the city’s landscaping activities along the Galt Mile, a project for which he expressed both aptitude and a passionate interest. Working with Park Operations Superintendent Brian Hopper, Chepo initiated a plan designed to breathe new life into the browning flora along Galt Ocean Drive. Stage Two of the project kicked off with a diagnostic tour by Vice Mayor Bruce Roberts, GMCA President Pio Ieraci, Chepo, Hopper and Beach Foreman Mark Almy. The walk-through produced a comprehensive punch list of improvements to Galt Mile landscape and hardscape elements. Guided by the new botanical roadmap, Hopper's crew hit the street running. Accompanied by Chepo, Parks employees have expeditiously reversed years of neglect in a few months. Although incomplete, the changes to date are remarkable. According to Chepo, we ain't seen nothin' yet!
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Keechl on Courthouse Task Force
 June 23, 2009 - Last December, Broward Mayor Stacy Ritter proposed a resolution to form a Task Force Committee charged with ascertaining whether the deteriorating Broward Judicial Complex should be renovated, relocated or rebuilt. In his June Newsletter, Commissioner Ken Keechl reviews the interim findings of the “Broward County Courthouse Task Force”. Since the building skeleton is not capable of adequately housing a modern code compliant courthouse environment, gutting and renovating the existing structure was ruled out. Fitting another commercial space with the required structural elements was also declined. After carefully weighing the alternatives, the Task Force concluded that rebuilding a scaled down ediface where the judicial garage is currently located will address the County's need without straining the already burdened county budget. Keechl closes by promising to reveal how the project will not consume property tax dollars in his next newsletter. Dig in...
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FP&L Plans to Plug Public
 June 17, 2009 - Go ahead, open that email from Florida Power & Light. Are your eyes playing tricks or is FP&L really lowering rates? Unfortunately, FP&L is playing tricks. The email is part of a multi-million public relations campaign to whitewash an impending rate hike that would embarrass P.T. Barnum. FP&L is spinning that “the typical 1,000 kilowatt-hour residential customer bill would decrease by an estimated $4.92 monthly, or 4.5 percent, from $109.55 to $104.63 on January 1, 2010.” Actually, a precipitous decline in fuel prices requires that they pass through a roughly $17 monthly savings to customers. Simultaneously, they are asking for the largest monthly base rate hike in history - $1.3 billion - at least $12+ each month. What’s left? $4.92!!! However, the fuel price decrease could disappear overnight. The base rate increase will survive ad nauseum! The rate hike will increase the yield to FP&L’s investors from 10.8% to 12.5%. The national average is 10.5%. You can either help prevent this increase from passing... or you can load up your equity position!
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Crist Vetoes Association 'Glitch' Bill
 June 11, 2009 - Popularly known as the association “glitch” bill, Senate Bill 714 (SB 714) sought to reverse poorly drafted, contradictory, expensive and/or unworkable regulations. Since Governor Crist vetoed SB 714 on June 1st, unit owners must still purchase individual property insurance with at least $2,000 of “special assessment” coverage (despite the fact that such a product does not exist). Associations can still “force place” this coverage (and assess the cost to any unit owner). Unit owners must still name their associations as additional insureds and loss payees on their insurance policies. Unit Owners are still required to insure “improvements and additions” that benefit fewer than all the owners. A long anticipated extension of the $multi-million fire sprinkler retrofit, postponing an onerous assessment from 2014 to 2025, was squashed. The Silver Lining: When this issue is revisited next year, it will not face a Governor en route to Washington.
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Neighborhood Fights to Save Galt Library
 June 2, 2009 - The Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center serves as a portal to the world for literally thousands of local residents. Broward County’s Herculean budget deficit has placed the tiny storefront branch of the huge Broward County Library System on the chopping block. In a frenetic marathon to offset the Property Appraiser’s projected 15% drop in the County’s tax base, County Commissioners are gouging away at libraries, parks, animal shelters and other “non-critical” services loosely characterized as “quality of life” expenses. County budget director Kayla Olsen projected the shortfall between $135 million and $160 million. The Galt Mile Reading Center hosts 2,390 weekly visits by local residents who check out 1695 items each week. How many $millions will the County save by turning them away? NONE! The net annual savings would be $101,168. Either county bean counters lost a few beans or this is a budget season dog and pony show. Not surprisingly, several residents noted that “By canning one big shot, we can pay for the library for the next two or three years.” The question is... which big shot?
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$8$ Grand from Uncle Sam
 May 28, 2009 - Last year, the “Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008” provided for a first-time homebuyer tax credit of $7,500. Since the terms required repayment, the tax credit was essentially an interest-free 15-year loan. In February of 2009, congress passed President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package, increasing the tax credit to $8,000 and building in an incentive for making the first 36 mortgage payments. If beneficiaries of the $8,000 tax credit hang on to their new homes for at least three years, they need not repay the tax credit. If you recently bought or are considering buying a home - and don't exceed certain income limits - you have some money coming to you - if you know how to ask for it!
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Galt Mile Sun Trolley Adapts to Survive
 May 22, 2009 - On April 16, 2009, Sun Trolley Executive Director Les Hollingsworth updated the Galt Mile Community Association Advisory Board about an ongoing struggle to salvage the Galt Ocean Mile Sun Trolley route. Most of the Sun Trolley’s routes have already fallen victim to budget-based funding shortages. Despite the implementation of an aggressive marketing campaign, recruitment of corporate sponsors, cultivation of alternative revenue streams from advertizing and renting the Sun Trolley’s 14 flashy vehicles for birthdays, weddings and other private events - flat ridership plagued the neighborhood bus. Thanks to Hollingsworth and City Commissioner Bruce Roberts, the Galt Mile route survived, although in a markedly less robust format. Read on to review the remaining service...
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Senate Bill 714 - Omnibus Condo Bill
 May 16, 2009 - The 2009 Legislative Session was not technically over until Friday, May 8, 2009. However, legislative leaders decided to devote the final week to balancing significant inequities in the State budget and tweaking bills useful to that end. When the session functionally ended on May 1, 2009, community association bills that occupied legislators for the past few months simply dissolved. The single exception is SB 714, by Senator Dennis Jones, which whizzed through the House and Senate before being ordered to the Governor's desk. Having successfully navigated the Statehouse as HB 419 (originally filed by District 91 Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff), its provisions address a wide range of association issues including insurance, board elections, fire sprinklers ($$$), fire alarm systems, Timeshare Condominiums and back-up generators for elevators. The bill also reverses some lingering legislative flotsam with designs on the family cookie jar.
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2009 Galt Mile Food Drive Final Results
  May 11, 2009 - The 2009 Galt Mile Food Drive was over. In keeping with tradition, Cooperative Feeding Program Executive Director Scott Woodburn sent emails to the participants. The CFP sparkplug notified team captains, Association volunteers and other local program supporters that the recent drive was an unqualified success. Initially concerned about the economic downturn's impact on donations, Woodburn was understandably relieved by the final results. Lightning struck twice, as diminutive Edgewater Arms blew away the competition for the second year running. As if scripted by Rod Serling, the 86-unit cooperative more than doubled the total points output of second place Coral Ridge Towers South. Little Edgewater, the first high rise association on Galt Ocean Drive, also racked up more than 8 times the points per unit scored by runner-up Fountainhead (43 points/unit vs. 5.1 points/unit). Not lost on Woodburn was the community's overall contribution, more than seven tons of food that will help Broward families survive this nightmarish recession! See where your association landed in the final stats.
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Condo and Co-op Bill Survivors
May 5, 2009 - Until a few years ago, Galt Mile residents demonstrated limited interest in what transpired during the annual Legislative sessions in the State Capitol. Instead of cloaking condo owners in protective anonymity, this lack of “political identity” has ironically made them a target in Tallahassee. Instead of addressing existing statutory shortcomings, lawmakers have filed truckloads of legislation that - more often than not - were repositories for ill-conceived, contradictory and poorly drafted regulations suffering a fatal disconnect from their stated objectives. As this year's session wound down, the few surviving association bills with beneficial provisions again became targeted by a stew of screwball regulations that transfer governance from homeowners to politicians. Not surprisingly, many of this year's bills were filed to remove or rebalance many of the costly and troublesome provisions passed during last year's end-of-session melee. Whether these bills are signed into law or fade away is up to you. Take a look and express your will! After all, its your wallet!
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Commissioner Roberts Goes to Work
April 30, 2009 - In his first Newsletter to District 1 constituents, City Commissioner Bruce G. Roberts expresses appreciation for his seat on Fort Lauderdale's governing body. Observing that 4 of the 5 municipal representatives are neophytes, he postulates that the Commission's new complexion confirms an electoral apetite for change. Focusing on the City's budgetary bottleneck, Roberts explains that the Commission's first meeting directed "the City Manager to freeze current fiscal year expenditures, except for public safety, with the goal to carry forward savings into next year’s budget." Addressing a burdensome campaign stigma, Roberts promised to work productively with Gretsas with the understanding that Gretsas would address the new commission’s priorities. Since the election, both City officials have agreed to defuse any residual acrimony in favor of steering the District - and the city - through the ongoing economic crunch.
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Sprinklers in the Foyer?
 April 23, 2009 - Seven years ago, the Florida Legislature passed a clandestine bill requiring Florida Associations 75 feet above grade to retrofit full sprinkler systems by 2014 or install an “Engineered Life Safety System” with sprinklered common areas and unit foyers. Thousands of outraged associations characterized the new law as a $multi-billion payday for certain vested interests instead of effective fire protection. Following the 2004 and 2005 serial hurricanes, Florida Associations were forced to pay $millions for code compliant upgrades required by windstorm carriers, additional $millions for deductibles, uninsured losses and suddenly trebled insurance premiums. When the housing market collapsed last year, the recessionary impact on community associations was catastrophic. Many associations financed the crushing expenses to help keep significant numbers of mostly elderly fixed income residents in their homes. Statehouse Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff filed a bill, HB 419, that extends the retrofit deadline until 2025, affording unit owners an opportunity to amortize their association’s bloated debt service before paying another sizable assessment. If you perceive a benefit to delaying this huge expense, Read on...
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Keechl Puts Wolfe on Ethics Panel
April 18, 2009 - “Government Ethics” is widely considered little more than a cynical oxymoron hovering between “Commercial Art” and “Military Intelligence”. To Commissioner Keechl, however, Ethics is serious business. It is also meaningful to the 57% of Broward voters who last November supported the creation of a “Broward County Ethics Commission” to formulate a Code of Ethics against which actions of Broward Commissioners can be measured. Since each of the Broward Commission's 9 Democrats appoint 9 of the 11 members, Keechl sought to provide balance by selecting Bob Wolfe, the Republican Media & Government Relations Director for the Broward County Property Appraiser’s office. Skeptics decry the selection of a majority of the Ethics appointees by Broward Commissioners as a conflict. Others contend that if Broward residents really wanted ethical representatives, they would have elected them. Hmmm...
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Foreclosure Fallout
 April 13, 2009 - Community Associations anticipating legislative relief may be headed for an exercise in disappointment. When tens of thousands of mortgages simultaneously turned terminally toxic, droves of homeowners abandoned their suddenly unaffordable properties to bank foreclosure. Under current law, a bank securing title to a foreclosed condominium unit pays only six months unpaid common expenses and regular periodic assessments or 1% of the original mortgage amount, whichever is less. Since the mortgage debt in these foreclosures exceeds the property value, every foreclosed home means more red ink in the foreclosing bank’s portfolio. The banks developed a “foot-dragging” strategy to delay taking title, further depriving associations of the minimal statutory relief. Cash-strapped associations must incrementally assess the shortfall to the full membership. The legislative leadership is freezing any relief bills that cost the banks more than currently provided for in the statute. The banking lobby, fueled by billions of dollars in federal bailout money, has pressured the legislators into preserving the status quo!
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Commissioner Roberts Clears the Air
 April 8, 2009 - Although contract negotiations are largely adversarial, when completed, the parties ordinarily acknowledge that each side was simply doing its job as they head for the exits - or the television cameras. Instead of leaving residual animosity at the negotiating table, police union officials decided to exercise a post-negotiation political agenda. Their well-publicized "PR" blitz to excise the City Manager en route to "revisiting" their contract became inextricably entangled with Bruce Roberts' campaign message. Whether or not the residents of District 1 support the City Manager or the police union concerning the adequacy and/or affordability of the City’s pension obligations, they uniformly expect their Commissioner to give their concerns priority. To elicit community support barely evident during the March 10th election, Roberts acknowledges that his first order of business must be to dispel constituent misperceptions about his agenda. How? Having built a sterling public service career on trust, he intends to stick with what works.
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Cutting FY 2010 Broward Property Tax
April 2, 2009 - When District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl promised to squeeze the bloated County budget as a candidate in 2006, constituents grudgingly gave him high marks for playing the right music. With the new County budget on the table, Commissioner Keechl's April Newsletter reminds us that $90 million was cut from the 2007 budget and another $87 million was clipped from last year's product, running the two-year total to $177 million. Fast-forwarding to the 2010 budget and the current fiscal squeeze, his commission peers seem comfortable with increasing the millage rate enough to yield the same amount of taxes collected last year, cutting a respectable $45 million from the FY 2010 budget. Characterizing the millage increase as a tax increase, our irrepressible District 4 budget hawk prefers to freeze last year’s millage rate of 4.888 and shrink the County’s FY 2010 budget by an additional $135 million dollars. Keechl is targeting "a combined three year cumulative and recurring budget decrease of $312 million dollars."
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2009 Galt Mile Food Drive - Halftime Stats
 March 27, 2009 - Scott Woodburn, the Cooperative Feeding Program sparkplug that pulled together the Galt Mile food drive during the past three years, has again undertaken to sharpen competitive instincts and stimulate collections. On March 23rd, Woodburn sent an email to the Galt Mile associations participating in the current food drive. Emulating a race caller at the Belmont Stakes, Woodburn gave an engaging play by play describing the state of affairs as the Galt Mile donor associations rounded the halfway mark. See your association's rank at the halfway point! Opining that “The final place standings should be very close this year,” Woodburn issued a final reminder “Your donations will change lives. Your donations will save lives.” Point taken! One out of four Broward families go to bed hungry every night.
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George Gretsas - 2009 Update
 March 21, 2009 - On January 15, 2009, City Manager George Gretsas attended a meeting of the Galt Mile Community Association Advisory Board. Since board members traditionally inquire about the City’s fiscal health when afforded this opportunity, Mr. Gretsas created a comprehensive presentation summarizing Fort Lauderdale’s transition from a poster child for fiscal ineptitude in 2003 to a thriving metropolis in 2009. Longtime members of the Advisory Board who’ve witnessed the City’s remarkable reincarnation as well as Gretsas’ annual updates are acutely aware of the City Manager’s positive impact on Fort Lauderdale’s budgetary health. While he will have to make adjustments to accommodate the requirements of the new commission members, they will discover that he is an invaluable resource. Of course, they could replace him with a commission puppet and turn the budget into a pork buffet. After all, what happened in 2003 could never happen again – right?
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“Chepo” Vega Lays Some Groundwork
 March 12, 2009 - In early November, Commodore resident José “Chepo” Vega emailed a complaint to the Galt Mile Community Association about the “precarious” state of landscaping along Galt Ocean Drive. A few days later, he followed it up with a call to GMCA officials, exclaiming “While I was walking in front of my building, I saw someone walk into a low hanging tree limb. It could have blinded him. Why doesn’t the City pay attention to the landscaping on our block?” Chepo argued that if he knew who to contact about addressing this issue, he would gladly volunteer his time and horticultural acumen. Unlike many who impulsively make empty commitments to ephemeral crusades, Chepo picked up the ball and headed for the end zone. Using the Galt Mile Association to access the Parks Department officials with jurisdictional relevance, Chepo spearheaded a two-week landscaping project that cured two years of neglect.
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Commissioner Keechl on the Beach
March 2, 2009 - The Broward County Beach Renourishment Project has been underway for almost a decade. When the project encountered political opposition in 2002, hundreds of Galt Mile residents boarded buses to the Hollywood Beach Community Center in support of the Army Corps of Engineers renourishment plan. In April of 2005, the one year renourishment of south county beaches (Segment III) commenced, initiating rehabilitation of the devastated coast from the Broward/Dade County line north to John U. Lloyd State Park. Following a mandated 18-month monitoring period that ended in September 2007, Broward Beach Administrator Stephen Higgins estimated that the Fort Lauderdale beaches (Segment II) would begin to see new sand by the Fall of 2008. Blaming a lack of sand, the start date was revised to the Fall of 2009. Suspicious about the reasons given to justify these delays, GMCA officials asked Broward Commissioner Ken Keechl to investigate the County's dilatory progress. In his March 2009 Newsletter, the Commissioner updates the project.
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CRIST CUTS CALYPSO!
  February 24, 2009 - On February 18, 2009, residents along the Barrier Island shared a rare mass ebullience. When Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced that local inhabitants no longer had to fear a potentially dangerous gas plant marring their eastern horizon, most of the population was understandably immersed in relief and gratitude. Not surprisingly, Galt Mile residents were also rightfully proud of themselves and their neighborhood. Absent funds and through sheer determination, they defeated a $110 billion corporate goliath with an intimidating history of international depredations. They also thwarted a regulatory bear trap designed to involuntarily force facilities like these down the throats of communities targeted by paying members of the industry “club” (most of whom – like Suez – aren’t U.S. corporations)! What's more, until their license application evaporates, the fat lady hasn't sung! We will, therefore, monitor this tricky doggie!
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Mortgage Madness Grips Florida Condos
 February 16, 2009 - On January 2, 2009, President Charles McMillan of the National Realtors Association (NAR) expressed concern to Director James B. Lockhart III of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) about why he more than doubled fees for Fannie Mae mortgages, seemingly abandonning his obligation to promote affordable housing. Three weeks later, the other shoe dropped. Citing decades of capricious mortgage bank practices, Lockhart stunned local Associations by focusing an unprecedented set of tough new mortgage requirements on condominium buyers in one state - Florida. Despite nationwide abuses spanning the full spectrum of property ownership, Fannie Mae’s targeting of Florida condos spurred accusations that Lockhart was creating a sacrificial straw dog. How this came about - and what happens next - are byproducts of a financial bailout for institutions that invested recklessly in the securities and derivatives based on those mortgages. For those Galt Mile residents facing mortgage issues, also find links to sites useful for contending with mortgage payment problems and impending foreclosure.
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Commissioner Teel Hits 2009 Running
 February 8, 2009 - In her February 2009 Newsletter, City Commissioner Christine Teel recommends enjoying the wide range of activities available at the Beach Community Center, reviews a timely rescue of the Galt Mile Sun Trolley and credits a Galt Mile resident for grabbing a bureaucratic bull by the horns. She encourages Galt Mile residents to partake of the literally dozens of classes in Yoga, Pilates, Dance, Painting, Computers, Ping Pong, Bingo, Mahjongg, Bridge and Planned Day Trips to everywhere - at the Beach Community Center! Threatened with imminent termination, the Galt Mile Sun Trolley received an eleventh hour reprieve when the Commissioner funneled testimony from residents critically dependent on the service to Broward Officials. While notifying constituents about planned landscaping improvements for Galt Ocean Drive, Commissioner Teel applauds Commodore resident José “Chepo” Vega for helping the City address certain hardscape deficiencies ... about which he was initially a complainant!
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Snipes: Act before the Book Closes
 February 2, 2009 - On January 23rd, Broward Supervisor of Elections Dr. Brenda C. Snipes issued a press release alerting Broward voters to a rapidly approaching critical deadline. Dr. Snipes explained “The voter registration books will close at midnight Monday, February 9 for these upcoming elections. Anyone turning in an application to register to vote the first time in Florida after Monday, February 9 will not be eligible to vote on March 10 and will not receive a voter information card until after the election.” Fort Lauderdale is listed among the 11 Broward cities facing Municipal elections on Tuesday, March 10, 2009. Although application requests will still be accepted after the books are closed on February 9th, they will not be processed until after the March 10th Election, leaving tardy applicants disenfranchised. If you need to register or change party affiliation, time is running out - and your vote has never been more important!
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Keechl: Courthouse - Rebuild or Repair?
January 26, 2009 - On Sunday night, November 30th, a water main break sent gallons of pressurized water shooting into the first and second floors of the Broward County Judicial Complex in downtown Fort Lauderdale, forcing the cancellation of all business except for emergency proceedings. On December 18th, Vice Mayor Ken Keechl described the state of the Courthouse to the GMCA Advisory Board, “The 50 year-old structure is falling apart. Pipes are bursting on a regular basis, the elevators continuously break down and the building is rife with mold.” The dilemma facing the Broward County Commission is whether to replace or rehabilitate the deteriorating structure. In his January Newsletter, Vice Mayor Keechl expresses his preference for rehabilitating the dilapidated edifice, sparing Broward taxpayers the strain of coughing up the additional $350 to $400 million replacement cost while enduring the economy's spastic contractions.
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2009 Galt Mile Food Drive
January 20, 2009 - Early on Thursday, January 15th, Cooperative Feeding Program Executive Director Scott Woodburn and Fort Lauderdale Real Estate proprietor and CFP Board V.P. Domenic Faro headed to Nick’s Italian Restaurant. However, the food Faro and Woodburn were thinking about wasn’t on the menu. On arriving, they navigated to the back of the well-known eatery, where Domenic greeted about thirty of his friends and neighbors on the GMCA Advisory Board. When given the floor, Woodburn delivered his message. "Our 2008 Galt Food Drive, which included 21 Galt Condo Associations, was a huge success. Over 11,000 lbs of food and money donated and the Edgewater Arms was crowned Champion Condo Association. Once again we are poised to initiate the 3rd Annual Galt Ocean Mile Food Drive. The month of March has been designated the 2009 GALT Ocean Mile Food Drive month. A special “Walk against Hunger” will kick off the month long Food Drive. Hunger remains a real problem in Broward County as 1 out of 4 goes to bed hungry every night." Everyone understood - its time to get busy...
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Shale Gas Sinks Suez Spin
January 14, 2009 - The Calypso gas works retained an army of lobbyists and public relations firms to help convince the Governor that the local population lovingly envisions a fossil fuel plant off their beach. Conspicuously absent from the full page glossies of hypnotically serene oceanscapes were the tri-weekly convoys of diesel guzzling LNG tankers surrounded by 8 to 10 support vessels (security is a courtesy of Broward taxpayers) plowing through the prime spawning and nursery area for sailfish, marlin, swordfish and dozens of other unique species verging on extinction. While marginalizing LNG plant catastrophes wherein hundreds died from 2000 BTU fireballs and fines levied by the U.S. Office of Pipeline Safety for a litany of security violations, Suez claimed that LNG imports will reduce energy prices. Last year, new technology provided access to previously irretrievable gas deposits locked in 24 huge shale beds across North America, slicing natural gas prices by 40% since July. A Navigant Consulting report estimates that the newly available 842 trillion cubic feet of domestic reserves can supply the nation for about 40 years at today’s consumption rate, obviating the need to import overpriced LNG.
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The '411' on FREE Directory Assistance
 January 4, 2009 - This unforgiving economic climate warrants due consideration of any strategy that can ease our fiscal stress. Regency Tower board member Iris Anastasi notified President Dott Nicholson-Brown about one such strategy she discovered while surfing the internet. Google has developed a technology that renders obsolete paying for directory assistance in order to contact a business. No - you don't need a computer, an internet connection, or even a dialpad - just a telephone - any telephone. With GOOG-411, you can find local business information completely free, directly from your phone by calling 1-800-466-4411 (1-800-GOOG-411) from any landline, cellular or VoIP (web-based) phone, anywhere, anytime. What's more, after telling them the name and location of the business, they will place the call for you. If you program the access number into your cell phone speed dial, you will no longer face juggling the phone and the steering wheel! THIS IS A NO BRAINER! Thanks - Dott and Iris!
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Christine Teel - Year End Galt Update
December 27, 2008 - In her December 2008 Newsletter, Commissioner Christine Teel reviews some “Galt Mile” challenges she confronted during the past year. Having uncovered an attempt by $105 billion French conglomerate GDF-Suez to install a fossil fuel plant on the Galt Mile beach - the Calypso gasworks - Commissioner Teel spearheaded pursuit of a veto from Governor Crist. The uphill struggle solidified an alliance with Senate President Jeffrey Atwater, Statehouse Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff, Broward Commissioner Ken Keechl and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Mayor Roseann Minnet. The Commissioner also updates efforts to rehabilitate the Galt Ocean Village Shoppes commercial district. Despite the untimely passing of civic sparkplug and Galt Merchants Association President Dr. Alex Leeds, improvements detailed in a 2002 development plan were finally actualized.
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Vice Mayor Keechl Affirms Commitment
December 19, 2008 - The Broward Board of County Commissioners reshuffled their governance deck in November, seating District 3 Commissioner Stacy Ritter as Mayor supported by District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl as Vice Mayor. In his December 2008 Newsletter, our County Commissioner assures constituents that the additional challenges companion to his new office will not distract Keechl from his District 4 responsibilities. He intends to press an agenda outlined by Mayor Ritter in her November 18, 2008 acceptance speech. To start with, the new administration intends to morph the Florida East Coast rail corridor into a vital countywide transportation center, create a trucking and rail shipping hub in western Palm Beach County to service Port Everglades and promote the greening of Broward County’s carbon footprint.
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Windstorm Self-Insurance Trust Update
 December 13, 2008 - Since Galt Mile Associations participating in the Palm Beach Windstorm Self-Insurance Trust averaged six figure savings during the Trust’s first operational year, they understandably want to exercise renewals. When the Palm Beach group was granted a license following the most exigent review ever performed by the Office of Insurance Regulation, Senator Jeff Atwater characterized the event as an, “historic moment.” Enigmatically, two Agency bureaucrats spent the next year erecting capricious obstacles to the Trust's operational efficacy, repeatedly trying to undermine the intent of the new law. Although legislators that learned about this subterfuge put the program back on track, there are residual concerns about whether those two bureaucrats are working for the people of Florida or the insurance industry! The Trustees scheduled a meeting for 1:30 PM on Thursday, December 18th, at L'Hermitage II for the purpose of providing a concise report on the Trust’s operations and clarifying all issues encountered with the Office of Insurance Regulation. All GMCA association members, including “window shoppers”, are invited to attend.
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Galt Mile Reading Center Shows a Pulse
December 4, 2008 - The Galt Mile Reading Center - a valued community “gem” - will soon be closed for approximately one to two weeks. A popular improvement project to expand the facility was repeatedly raped by Murphy’s Law during the past few years. Broward County leasing specialists rented space adjacent to the Reading Room to accommodate the expansion. Unfortunately, they forgot to check the premises. WHOOPS! The floor and one of the two ceilings were loaded with asbestos! If disturbed, the toxic cocktail would precipitate a virtual mesothelioma epidemic among Reading Center fans. After three years of paying $3500/month rent while debating an alternative strategy for safely utilizing the tainted space, a compromise renovation may actually be completed before the lease expires on June 30, 2009. If not for the Friends of the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center and Broward Commissioner Ken Keechl, the project would still be at ground zero and the truckload of wasted tax dollars would remain a mystery!
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Galt Mile News ONLINE 
 The “Galt Mile News”, the official newsletter of the Galt Mile Community Association, IS NOW ONLINE! The print issues of the monthly newsletter, distributed directly to each of the GMCA member Associations, are available in the “Newsletters” section of GMCA’s web site. Although each Condo or Coop independently determines how the thousands of monthly print issues will be internally distributed, as well as those distributed to the Galt Merchants, there is a chronic shortage of print copies! Snow birds also miss issues distributed while “out of town”. The Galt Mile News will be republished on the GMCA web site, every article and ad, one month after its initial print publication. If you miss an issue, you can find it here!
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 Save the Galt Sun Trolley Meeting - On TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2010, a meeting will be held at the Galt Mile Reading Center at 3403 Galt Ocean Drive to formulate a strategy to save the Sun Trolley's Galt Mile Route. Sun Trolley needs you! Our Sun Trolley riders and the businesses along our route are invited to open community meetings to work together on solutions to keep Sun Trolley going. Please join Steve Lucas and Sun Trolley staff for these monthly meetings at AARLCC. For information, call Patricia Zeiler at Sun Trolley - 954-761-3543 - or pzeiler@suntrolley.com.
Galt Mile Reading Center - On TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2009, Broward County Commission meeting was flooded with Galt Mile residents seeking to rescue the Galt Mile Reading Center from political machinations surrounding the FY 2010 County Budget. The Galt Mile Reading Center, arguably the most popular community asset for Galt Mile residents, was threatened with closure. To salvage the unique neighborhood resource, Commissioner Ken Keechl advised demonstrating support for the Galt Mile Reading Center to the nine County Commissioners. IT WORKED! CLICK HERE for background info and details about the final outcome. THANKS! WE DID IT - TOGETHER!
The Challenge - A Pre-Budget Meeting Galt Mile Reading Center Report
The Victory - Why the Galt Library Survived
 Calypso - A Deepwater Port and pipeline is planned for installation directly of the Galt Mile Beach. Its purpose is to offload liquid natural gas (LNG) from tankers into the Calypso Pipeline which will make landfall at Port Everglades. Past incidents in Cleveland and Algeria in which the gas ignited destroyed entire city blocks and killed everyone within the heat flux perimeter. Only Governor Crist can VETO this potential holocaust. The articles about the Calypso Project on the GMCA web site divulge the catastrophic safety hazards, damage to the maritime environment and the mandated cost to Broward taxpayers.
CLICK HERE to when Commissioner Teel first revealed project in December 2007
CLICK HERE for what happened at an April 2008 Presidents Council Calyposo presentation in Plaza South
CLICK HERE for how the City passed an ANTI-Calypso Resolution in May 2008
CLICK HERE to learn what happened at the Dania Calypso Meeting
CLICK HERE to see what happened at the Broward Legislative Delegation Calypso Workshop in August 2008
CLICK HERE to review the world-wide damage done by SUEZ, the Calypso parent company
CLICK HERE to read the environmental concerns of authoritative conservationist Michael Leech
CLICK HERE to read about huge new domestic shale gas deposits
CLICK HERE to read how the Governor stopped Calypso
CLICK HERE to informative LNG Links
CLICK HERE for more extensive LNG Links
CLICK HERE to see Resolutions and Letters opposing the Calypso Project
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 Galt Mile Food Drive - Cooperative Feeding Program Executive Director Scott Woodburn told the GMCA Advisory Board "Our 2008 Galt Food Drive, which included 21 Galt Condo Associations, was a huge success. Over 11,000 lbs of food and money donated and the Edgewater Arms was crowned Champion Condo Association. Once again we are poised to initiate the 3rd Annual Galt Ocean Mile Food Drive. CFP Director and Committee Chair Domenic Faro, of L’Hermitage invites the entire Galt Ocean Mile Condo Association to join our campaign and participate in another exciting Galt Ocean Mile Food Drive." Our twenty-six member associations will again participate in a friendly competition to collect donated food and personal needs products for distribution and consumption by Broward families and individuals temporarily unable to provide for themselves. This year, we hope to collect enough to help aid the huge increases in the target population whose ranks were swelled by the blistered economy - GO GALT MILE GO!!!
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 Please! - When you take your pet for a stroll down the Drive - please clean up afterwards. Its nothing less than inhumane to expect Fido to do all the work! Lets keep the Galt Mile clean!
 Free Turtle-Safe Lighting Review - MAY 2007 - On TUESDAY, MAY 22, Turtle-Safe Lighting experts from Florida Fish and Game will be offering FREE lighting reviews for Galt Mile Associations. They will make INEXPENSIVE suggestions and recommendations that will insure compliance with the City Ordinance WITHOUT sacrificing safety and security. Participation is voluntary. CALL MARIO SOTOLONGO at 954-828-6326 or CLICK HERE to email.
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 Ocean Rescue - Over the years, the Galt Mile has suffered its share of beach fatalities from Rip Currents! CLICK HERE to read about an unfortunate example. The CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE OCEAN RESCUE now maintains a web page that offers the current beach hazards, including Rip Currents, Marine Pests, Intracoastal conditions and the Beach Warning Flag daily designation. CHECK HERE before you - or the kids - go to the beach!
CHECK OCEAN RESCUE DAILY HAZARD REPORT or
Read Recent Incident Report
 CODE RED - The City of Fort Lauderdale has instituted the CodeRED® Emergency Notification System -- a high-speed phone communication service for emergency notifications. This system allows the City to telephone either all subscribers or geographically-targeted areas of the City in case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action (such as a boil-water notice, missing child, evacuation notice, utility outage, fires or floods, bomb threat, hostage situation, chemical spill or gas leak). It then delivers a recorded message to either a live person or an answering machine, making three attempts to connect to any number. ITS FREE!!!
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 Bus to Holy Cross - Car being fixed? Stuck in the house? You don’t have to hang about, waiting for someone to take you to Targets, the Beach Community Center or the Fort Lauderdale Beach area. For a quarter, you can comfortably travel to these locations all day during the week and on the weekend you can go downtown - for free - day and night! Now you can also ride to HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL in comfort and safety - FOR 25 CENTS! Starting APRIL 9, 2007, the Galt Ocean Mile Sun Trolley route will be extended to HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL all day Monday through Friday.
Read New Galt Mile Route Info
New Galt Route Map
New Galt Mile Timetable
Sun Trolley Cut Backs - On April 16, 2009, Sun Trolley Executive Director Les Hollingsworth updated the Galt Mile Community Association Advisory Board about an ongoing struggle to rescue the Galt Ocean Mile Sun Trolley route from budget-based funding shortages. Despite the implementation of an aggressive marketing campaign, recruitment of corporate sponsors, cultivation of alternative revenue streams from advertizing and renting the Sun Trolley’s 14 flashy vehicles for birthdays, weddings and other private events - flat ridership plagued the neighborhood bus. Thanks to Hollingsworth and City Commissioner Bruce Roberts, the Galt Mile route survived, although in a less robust format.
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 Flu Shots - Influenza Season has arrived - time to protect yourself! CLICK HERE to find out how.
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 Hurricane Watch - AUGUST 28, 2006 - Hurricane Ernesto is heading towards South Florida. Fort Lauderdale is under a declared Hurricane Watch. That means the storm could hit the area within 36 hours. Please remove everything from your balcony. By minimizing the potential debris available to the storm, we can minimize the damage to our homes. For Hurricane information, go to the HURRICANE PAGE. Available are up to the minute HURRICANE ADVISORIES and a huge section of useful HURRICANE LINKS.
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 CONDO - COOP BILLS
House and Senate Bills affecting condo owners, coop owners and members of Homeowner Associations have completed navigating the legislative vetting process. A sizable number of bills affecting Associations were consolidated into SB 714 by Senator Dennis Jones and SB 880 by Senator Mike Fasano. The Statehouse correlative of SB 714 was HB 419 - sponsored by Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff. Before being passed, scores of corrections and improvements were made to the bill until it was finally deemed acceptable for passage. Information about the dozens of changes to the CONDOMINIUM ACT are available here with links to source data. SEE HOW THESE NEW LAWS AFFECT YOU!!!
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 Foreclosure Fallout
Community Associations anticipating legislative relief may be headed for an exercise in disappointment. When tens of thousands of mortgages simultaneously turned terminally toxic, droves of homeowners abandoned their suddenly unaffordable properties to bank foreclosure. Since the mortgage debt in these foreclosures exceeds the property value, every foreclosed home means more red ink in the foreclosing bank’s portfolio. The banks developed a “foot-dragging” strategy to delay taking title, further depriving associations of the minimal statutory relief. Cash-strapped associations must incrementally assess the shortfall to the full membership. The banking lobby, fueled by billions of dollars in federal bailout money, has pressured the legislators into preserving the status quo!
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 IMPACT RATED WINDOWS - The recent intensification of HURRICANE SEASON presents a new threat to Galt Mile residents and Associations. Protecting ourselves and our homes from this threat has become an urgent priority. The Florida Division of Emergency Management admonishes, “The most important precaution you can take to reduce damage to your home and property is to protect the areas where wind can enter. According to recent wind technology research, it’s important to strengthen the exterior of your house so wind and debris do not tear large openings in it. You can do this by protecting and reinforcing these five critical areas: ROOF | STRAPS | WINDOWS | DOORS | GARAGE DOORS” The Galt Mile Community Association, in an effort to assist residents and Associations to better protect themselves, published a series of articles about IMPACT WINDOWS, the only glazing able to effectively withstand hurricane force winds and the associated debris. “Through a Glass Darkly” gives scope to the issue. “The Regency Tower Window Project” describes how a member Association successfully tackled the problem. A forum hosted by the Presidents Council about IMPACT WINDOWS is reviewed in the “GMCA Presidents Council Windows Forum”. An explanation of the Code and associated nomenclature is offered in “The Miami Protocols”. CLICK HERE to check out various links to WINDOW INFO. PLEASE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THIS CRITICAL ISSUE!
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TALLAHASSEE ARCHIVES - Any legislation oozing out of Tallahassee that impacts our homes, rights or lifestyles is reviewed in the Tallahassee page. Each year, the info is placed in the Tallahassee Archives. To see what happened in 2008, Click Here. To see what happened in 2007, Click Here. To see what happened in 2006, Click Here. For 2005, Click Here. For 2004, Click Here. Same with 2003, simply Click Here. To go to the Tallahassee Archive Index, Click Here.
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2009 POLITICS - TALLAHASSEE - Every year, we send an assortment of well-educated men and women to Florida’s State Capitol to represent us. They speak for us, act on our behalf, educate themselves about importatnt issues, learn how to work together and try to execute productive resolutions. Sometimes, their reasons for being there differ from those given to their constituents prior to Election Day; when this occurs, its usually a good time to consider “changing the guard”. Legislation affecting Galt Mile residents oozes out of Tallahassee annually, often unnoticed. The issues surrounding that legislation will be explained in this new TALLAHASSEE POLITICS SECTION. Before next year's legislative session, the articles will be relegated to the site's archives, setting the stage for the new session.
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HURRICANE SEASON - BONNIE, CHARLEY, FRANCES, IVAN, JEANNE, KATRINA, WILMA! - We are in the midst of the GALT MILE's most active series of HURRICANE SEASONs. PLEASE go to the new HURRICANE PAGE. Available are up to the minute HURRICANE ADVISORIES and a huge section of useful HURRICANE LINKS. MOST IMPORTANT - GARY A. POLIAKOFF, a pioneer in the field of Condominium Law, has executed a DISASTER PLAN tailored to the needs of GALT MILE ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR RESIDENTS! BEFORE THE STORM speaks to the preparation necessary to avoid being victimized by unfortunate oversights - to the tune of $$$ MILLIONS. AFTER THE STORM addresses the steps necessary to successfully recover from disaster. DON'T PROCRASTINATE - READ IT! - DO IT!
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 ENTRY PASS - Armed with the knowledge that many domiciles are vacant during an evacuation, certain human insects will attempt to gain unobstructed access to the temporarily “easy pickings”. In response, police stationed at entrance checkpoints carefully scrutinize the identification of anyone attempting to return to the island, verifying credentials as either a resident or an owner/operator of a barrier island concern. If you can’t prove that you either live or work here, you won’t get in! CLICK HERE to learn how to get an ENTRY PASS!
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 HURRICANE FRAUD - Hurricane season, an annual source of emotional distress, brings out the best and the worst in us. There are several species of VAMPIRE that feed on the misery of the season’s victims. Two popular scams – “cleanup” and “emergency repair” - have developed into a cottage industry. FEMA and SBA impersonators are reviving old fashioned confidence schemes that have attracted the attention of Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist. These VULTURES are preying on people who've lost everything, towns desperately trying to right themselves and, quite possibly, YOU!
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 INSURANCE CYCLONE - Public concern about the season’s insurance impacts has sent bureaucrats scrambling from city hall to Tallahassee. Insurance lobbyists are gearing up for both overt and “under the radar” attacks on premiums, regionally and statewide. Carriers may threaten to abandon certain Florida insurance markets as part of their effort to force the Office of Insurance Regulation to float rates. Tallahassee wants to roll back the “Double Deductible” that Tom Gallagher terms “fundamentally unfair.”
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 WHEN THE BUDGET BURST - The City of Fort Lauderdale, despite benefitting from the highest per capita tax contributions ($570 per person) as compared to other large Florida municipalities, suffered a budget disaster. On December 16, 2003, the City Commission approved a financial package of cutbacks, layoffs, and program freezes designed by Acting City Manager Alan A. Silva as part of a two-year effort to help the City find its financial feet. How we were immersed in this mess is easy to follow but difficult to fathom. Mr. Silva put it succinctly, "We had been living beyond our means." Surprisingly, our elected representatives elected to ignore the wealth of danger signals that heralded our fiscal demise. Gulping down a bottle of aspirin, we documented the unfortunate experience. Check it out
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 A CHRONOLOGY - A 3 year period of gross mismanagement has transformed a city with an $18.3 billion tax base into a municipal basket case. Despite protests of surprise and shock by municipal representatives, the budget disaster we now face did not ambush Fort Lauderdale. City officials have had a ringside seat to a three year fiscal mismanagement spectacle. They were not, however, spectators. They were participants. The City's finance officials consistently warned of impending budget troubles. Memoranda went to Commissioners, the Mayor and their staff personnel. This is what happened...
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 GRETSAS Chosen New City Manager - At the MAY 17, 2004 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson moved to select Gretsas for the point position in the war to reestablish Fort Lauderdale’s fiscal credibility. Characterizing Gretsas as “a person who has fire in his belly”, Commissioner Christine Teel seconded Hutchinson’s motion. The former Executive Officer of White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino, Mr. Gretsas was never a City Manager...until now. City Commissioners are banking on his integrity and intensity, not his resumé.
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 Love Hits Treasury - In June 2004, City Auditor Renee Foley released a report concerning serious deficiencies in the City's Treasury Department. Her report concludes that, “No reliance could be placed on the systems to safeguard the city’s assets.” The City maintains no record of personnel who possess keys or the combinations to its safes. The current audit focuses on “severe deficiencies” in the way the Treasury Department tracks and handles money. City Auditor Allyson Love has been an extremely active part of the City's budgetary housecleaning effort. Her audits of the Parks Department and some questionable practices ascribed to a contractor doing business with the City have affirmed the City Commission's commitment to tightening fiscal controls.
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Sprinkler Controversy - The residents of the Galt Mile community are currently tolerating an exasperating and expensive ordeal that accompanies the massive renovation efforts required to bring their 20-30 year old buildings into the 21st century. The specter of another million-dollar project unceremoniously dumped on the top of this construction quagmire would have to be, at the very least, a clear and uncontested necessity.
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GMCA Fires Back - One of the country's premier legal condominium specialists, the well-known firm of Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., has offered to spearhead a lobbying effort to correct the critically flawed legislation that will result in your Association having to pony up over a million dollars to install a questionable "Fire Safety" system. Their success is contingent upon our willingness to help ourselves. Find out HOW!
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CHIEFS OFFER HELP - On October 30, 2003, Fort Lauderdale Fire Marshal Steve Kastner, Division Chief of the Fort Lauderdale Fire Prevention Bureau, and Chief Robert Edgar of the Emergency Medical Services Bureau met with GMCA Presidents Council Chairman Pio Ieraci and Advisory Board Member Eric Berkowitz to improve communications among the Fire Marshal’s office, the E.M.S. Division and the community. Marshal Kastner has invited the Galt Mile Community Association to request his official or unofficial input on any fire-related issue. He offered to provide timely advice to help any Association cope with the legislative confusion or the upgrading of their fire safety systems. He also agreed to suspend enforcement of the dogmatic provisions in the Fire Safety Legislation until the Legislation is claified in Tallahassee!
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TWO FIRE BILLS - While the opt-out provisions inherent in the Fire Safety Amendment are definitely a step in the right direction, they contain several irrational obstacles whose only discernible purpose is to increase our maintenance assessments in exchange for nothing. Two bills, Senate Bill 1938 and House Bill 747, have been drafted which will allow you to exercise your opt-out rights granted last session in an easier and more streamlined process. The deep-pockets lobbyists for the National Fire Sprinkler Association and the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Union have launched a well-funded campaign to reverse last year’s achievements. A battle to defend that progress and retrieve control of our Fire Safety Standards is again underway!
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Broward Beach Coalition - The threat to our beaches has united concerned citizens, government, business, workers, and the environmental community in a partnership designed to alert our representatives to the disquiet precipitated by this impending disaster. The Broward Beach Coalition is a grass roots cross section of community interests that have conjoined to convey our concerns and the pertinent facts to the Governor, the Cabinet,and the community at large.
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Beach Victory - After over two contentious years of disappointments, delays, and deferrals, the Governor and the Cabinet finally issued the permit sought by the Broward County Department of Planning and Environmental Protection to proceed with the Beach Renourishment Project.
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Final Environmental Impact Statement - The FEIS addresses all of the concerns expressed by an assortment of official environmental watchdog agencies in response to the original Draft EIS drawn in March, 2002. It finally establishes a timeline for the project's implementation.
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Final Record of Decision - That’s it - its official - the plan has the blessing of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, all of the environmental watchdogs with authoritative standing and the people that live on the beach. Broward County now carries the ball. They will implement the southern segment of the project first, monitor the effects for 18 months, and complete the northern portion when the southern portion receives a clean bill of health.
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County Celebrates Beach Renourishment Kickoff - On May 6, 2005, a long-awaited celebration took place in Hollywood. The immediate beneficiaries of the Broward County Shore Protection Project, the municipalities of Hollywood, Hallandale Beach and Dania Beach, joined Broward County in throwing a party to highlight the project’s commencement. Joining Broward County and local municipal officials, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the Army Corps of Engineers, many civic and environmental groups (including the Galt Mile Community Association) that spent the past 5 years locked in a frustrating struggle to save Broward’s beaches were grateful to witness the project start.
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Cleveland Clinic - And then there were none. The Cleveland Clinic, along with the only emergency room on the Barrier Island, was gone. The Cleveland Clinic moved here via the acquisition of the old North Beach Hospital. Their stated intention was to "grow with the Barrier Island". They did. What happened?
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The 32nd Street Alley - STILL A MESS Despite repeated attempts by City Commissioner Christine Teel and others to bring the concerned merchants to the table to initiate a voluntary "clean-up" of the unsanitary state that persists, the lack of response has precipitated enforcement action by the City.
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AEDs - Sudden Cardiac Arrest - It happens quickly. Without warning. It can affect anyone - healthy adults, even teenagers. It cannot be prevented. There is no vaccine. Most do not survive. It's called Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and there's only one way to treat it. DEFIBRILLATION. An untrained eleven year old child recently saved someone's life using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). ANYONE CAN USE IT, SAFELY...and with no LEGAL LIABILITY!
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GMCA GRADUATES ITS FIRST CPR/AED CLASS The Galt Mile Community Association, having partnered with the Fort Lauderdale Department of Fire-Rescue to bestow certification training in CPR/AED for residents and employees of Associations that purchased defibrillators, graduated 15 students from REGENCY TOWER and SOUTHPOINT condominiums. Having several residents and/or employees certified in CPR/AED from each AED-equipped Association is not required but is recommended as part of a well-rounded AED implementation program. The free training is a LIMITED RESOURCE that is available on a first come, first serve basis to Associations that have already purchased and AED.
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Race with the Clock For years, the specter of a lawsuit delayed the acceptance of defibrillators by litigation-leery Associations. During the 2004 legislative session in Tallahassee, laws protecting Condo Associations, Cooperatives and Homeowner Associations from civil liability were enacted. The question confronting condo residents and their Boards is no longer, “What will happen to us if we purchase and install a defibrillator?” It is now, “What will happen if we don’t?”
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FLPD Crime Statistics - The Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD) Crime Analysis Unit produces reports which depict our crime and service statistics. The reports are avaiable here.
Get FLPD Statistics
FLPD Crime Update - On November 17, 2004, Major Mary Negrey of Police District 1 sent a crime update for the Galt Mile neighborhood to Commissioner Christine Teel. She forwarded it to us.
Get FLPD Crime Report
 FLORIDA Crime Statistics - FDLE's (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) Uniform Crime Report (UCR) system provides standardized reports on crime statistics based on data gathered from across the state. Reports that provide both summary and detail information are issued yearly. You can find data from 1994 up to the most recently released reports.
Get Florida Crime Statistics
THE HOMELESS - Fort Lauderdale Police Assistant Chief Chuck Drago suggests that the best way to contend with the recent infusion of homeless people permanently occupying the benches along Galt Ocean Drive is to stop giving them money.
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 ASK LORI! - Broward County Property Appraiser Lori Parrish responds to questions posed by residents about the value of their homes. Inqueries about the "SAVE OUR HOMES" amendent, the SENIOR EXEMPTION and the ubiquitous HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION are answered by the County's Property Appraiser.
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HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS - The Broward County Property Appraiser's Office will conduct special taxpayer sign-up sessions for the 2007 Homestead Exemption and Senior Exemption at City Hall, the Beach Community Center, and various Homeowners and Civic Associations this September, October, November, January, February, March and April. The Beach Community Center (3351 NE 33rd Street) sign-up dates are Friday 10:00 AM on September 28, October 26, November 30, January 25, February 29 and March 28th.
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GALT MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION - The Galt Merchants Association (GMA), an active member of the Galt Mile Community Association, was created to accomplish and promote a harmonious relationship between our residents and the businesses that service them. The GMA defines our residents' commercial needs and promotes those merchants who successfully satisfy them. The result is a highly diversified, competitive, and responsive collection of competent, helpful, and friendly vendors and service personnel. SEE WHO THEY ARE!
Go to Galt Merchants Association Website
NEW GALT SHOPPES DEVELOPMENT! - The Galt Merchants Association has shepherded its project to transform the Galt Ocean Shoppes into a unique tourist and shopping mecca through all the preliminary governmental and engineering hurdles. We now have a viable Master Plan designed to bring us the rest of the way!
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