• Weekday hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. – Sessions in effect at Quiet Waters and Central Broward Regional parks. No sessions at T.Y. and C.B. Smith parks. In May and August, when school is in session, hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no sessions in effect.

• Weekend and holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Sessions in effect at Quiet Waters and Central Broward Regional parks. No sessions at T.Y. and C.B. Smith parks.

Sunday, September 25 is the last day of the 2011 season.

Food and pizza deliveries, as well as coolers, are prohibited in the aquatics areas. Food and beverages are available for purchase from Toby’s Concession Services.

Promoted by the Broward County Cultural Division, explores the art and history of the area’s architectural structures.

A new interactive brochure, An Architectural Walking Tour of Downtown Fort Lauderdale, was recently produced by the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, in collaboration with the School of Architecture at Florida Atlantic University and the support of the Downtown Development Authority of Fort Lauderdale.

This guide and its map celebrate some of the best examples of local architecture and sites in the downtown area in honor of the City of Fort Lauderdale centennial, which will be celebrated in 201

Particularly significant are sites that are recognized by international architects through design awards, and buildings that stand out on a national stage. These sites teach us lessons about how to build and how to live in South Florida.

The brochure lists more than 30 sites, from the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on the west end to quiet Colee Hammock Park neighborhood on the east end. On the north is the Old City Hall, a mid-century modern structure in a park setting featuring extraordinary specimens of pandanus and ficas trees. On the south is the Stranahan House, the first residence in the city, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In between are such areas as the Himmarshee Historic District, the oldest area of downtown Fort Lauderdale, and the U.S. Federal Courthouse, described as “a reinforced concrete structure with strong horizontal forms that appear stretched and staggered to create an urban scale canopy.”

The Broward County Main Library is included on the list as “an example of brutalist style of architecture adapted to the subtropical climate to show the massive concrete structure that is softened with local limestone inlays and exterior terraces.” The library also features a cascading glass curtain wall on its north façade and a dramatic central atrium.

“Our best buildings take advantage of our sub-tropical climate and lush landscape,” says Yvette London, president of the American Institute of Architects Fort Lauderdale Chapter. “Whether historical or modern, each has made a recognized contribution to the unique character of Fort Lauderdale and the indoor-outdoor lifestyle that characterizes our sense of place.”

Copies of The Architectural Walking Tour of Downtown Fort Lauderdale (PDF) are available at the Broward Cultural Division’s Cultural Information Center located on the ground floor of the Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., or call 954-357-7979.

“The brochure is a great way to learn about our city,” said Jody Horne-Leshinsky, Community Development Director of the Broward County Cultural Division. “The Cultural Information Center is in the heart of the architectural paradise and ideally, easy for all visitors to pick up a brochure and decide which way to go; perhaps, even spread the walking tour over two days or more and enjoy the ambiance of all that downtown has to offer.”

The rehabilitated West Side Grade School building, located in the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s Sailboat Bend Historic District, provides the Historical Commission with much needed new gallery and community room meeting space, as well as expanded and enhanced facilities for a research library, historical archives and archeological and historical artifacts. The public is invited to attend the grand opening celebration.

In preparation for the grand opening, Broward County Mayor Ken Keechl said, “Broward County has an amazing collection of archeological and historic photos, mementos and artifacts that most people have not had the opportunity to see. This new museum is the perfect venue to discover the history that makes Broward so unique today.”

Commissioner John Rodstrom, who was instrumental in the development of the nearby Sailboat Bend Artist’s Lofts and the rehabilitation of the West Side Grade School, said, “It is very appropriate that the County’s Historical Commission should find its home in the second oldest school in Broward County. It is a tribute to our respect for the past that Broward’s unique history and heritage will be showcased in this rehabilitated facility. History buffs and students, adults and children, will all find this a comfortable place to explore Broward’s past.”

Highlights of the grand opening ceremony include:

• welcoming ceremonies featuring Broward County Mayor Ken Keechl and Fort Lauderdale Mayor John P. “Jack” Seiler

• tours of the gallery, research library and archives

• new gallery exhibit on Historic Sailboat Bend

• light refreshments and performances by Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre, Florida Youth Orchestra, and 1310: Artists at Sailboat Bend

Regular operating hours for the Broward County Historical Commission and Museum are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 954-357-5553 or visit www.broward.org/history.

Background and History of West Side Grade School

The West Side Grade School was the second elementary school built in the Fort Lauderdale School District by the Broward County Board of Public Instruction. The school was designed in 1923 by locally prominent architect Morris Peterman, who also designed Southside Elementary School, Old Dillard School and the Broward County Courthouse.

The school opened on September 21, 1923, and by July 1925 an additional four classrooms and an open air assembly room were added to accommodate an increase in student enrollment. West Side Grade School closed its doors to students in 1961.

The Broward County School Board had bought the land surrounding the school, which by then encompassed 13.4 acres. School Board offices, the school bus depot and space for other departments were located on the property. On March 5, 2002, Lennar Homes purchased the entire site for $5 million, with the official closing date on March 31, 2003.

Lennar Homes created The Villages of Sailboat Bend, a multi-use development which included, among other uses, luxury condominiums on the south and west portions of the site. At that time, the Broward County Cultural Division was assisting ArtSpace Projects, Inc., to provide affordable live/work housing on the site, including the use of the West Side Grade School. Eventually, the school building was deemed financially unfeasible for residential living.

The Broward County Historical Commission decided to lease the building and rehabilitate it for the headquarters of the Broward County Historical Commission. The Historical Commission and Museum moved into its new headquarters in the rehabilitated West Side Grade School in September 2009.

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Salle and the Oakland Park Historical Society compiled the best photographs from their archives as well as the Broward County Historical Commission and private collections. The book celebrates the founding of Oakland Park on July 1, 1929, and the story and pictures are woven around such topics as Colohatchee, Seminoles, Pioneers Youth Day, Recreation, Public Safety and Fire Department.

Oakland Park is part of the Images of America series, which celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Using archival photographs, each book presents the distinctive stories from the past that shape the community today.

There will be time for questions and comments from the audience. Attendees should bring their own brown bag lunch to enjoy with beverages — coffee and cold drinks — provided by the Historical Commission. Guests are advised not to park in the numbered spaces to the south and west of the Historical Commission. For additional information on the program, call Helen Landers at 954-357-5514. For information on parking, call the Historical Commission at 954-357-5553.

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The online sale, held May 26-27 on www.BidBroward.com, resulted in delinquent property tax collections exceeding $223 million. This represents a collection ratio of more than 99 percent. Out of a total of 42,948 tax certificates offered for sale, less than 400 items remained unsold.

Conducting the sale over the internet drew substantially more bidders to this year’s sale. There were 843 winning bidders this year compared to 185 last year. The increased competition also resulted in substantially lower interest penalties for delinquent taxpayers with a weighted average interest rate in this year’s online sale of 8.51 percent compared to 11.22 percent last year.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the results of this year’s delinquent tax sale,” said Sue Baldwin, Tax Collector for Broward County. “The Commissioners should be commended for moving forward with this technological innovation at this time, when tax receipts are falling and the collection of delinquent property taxes is so critical for the County, cities and school board to be able to fund public services such as public education and public safety,” she added.

Prior to this year’s online auction, Broward’s annual tax sale lasted nearly a month and required several staff members to administer the daily auctions. “With the online sale, there were no disruptions with our day-to-day work because we weren’t physically tied up in a live auction every day for three weeks – everyone was able to continue doing their jobs and serve the public. Operationally this is a great efficiency,” said Polly Cacurak, operations manager of Broward County Revenue Collection Division.

Broward County used the online auction services and software of Grant Street Group (www.GrantStreet.com), which has supplied software as a service to more than 2,000 government entities and financial institutions since 1997. The company also provides web-based revenue collection software to 10 Florida Tax Collectors, including Broward County, who will be implementing the software on October 1, 2009.

About Tax Certificate Sales

The tax certificate sale is a public sale held in accordance with Florida statues for the purpose of collecting property tax debt. Instead of receiving a deed to the property, the winning bidder receives a tax certificate. The money paid by the bidder for the certificate pays the delinquent taxes to the County. The bidder, in exchange, earns interest on his or her investment, and is given first lien position on the title, ahead of mortgages, deeds of trust and judgments subordinate only to state or federal tax liens. Bidding begins with an 18 percent interest rate, and investors bid down in 0.25 percent increments to the lowest rate of interest they are willing to accept.

Property owners who are delinquent on their taxes and want to redeem them must do so through Broward County, not the certificate holder. The certificate holder is prohibited from initiating any contact with the property owner for the first two years. Additionally, the certificate holder does not have any rights or claims to the property.

The contest, which was open to middle and high school students in Broward county public schools, asked students to create a tile depicting ways in which individuals can reduce their carbon footprint. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners will be presenting the winning students with trophies and prizes at the February 24 Commission Meeting at 1:30 p.m. in Room 422 (Commission Chambers) of the Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.

Contest announcements were distributed to all middle and high school teachers in Broward County and a total of 1,791 students registered for the contest from eight middle schools and three high schools. The students came up with very clever and inspired ideas on how they could reduce their carbon footprint. Selected student artwork is posted on Broward County’s Environmental Kids Club.

Winning middle school students are: Laura Arturo, first place, Lyons Creek Middle School; Jacqueline Adreoni, second place, Pioneer Middle School; and Jake Dudas, third place, Sunrise Middle School. Winning high school students are: Jonna Lyne Lerio, first place, South Plantation High School; Emily Gordon, second place, Pompano Beach High School; and Lauren Gmur, third place, South Plantation High School.

The City immediately shut down the Fiveash water pumps and began water testing to ensure that water quality was not affected. Initial test results are expected back within the next 24 hours.

As a precautionary measure, customers are advised to use bottled water for drinking and cooking. Customers served by City water are advised not to consume or cook with any tap water (even if boiled). Tap water may be used for washing and bathing.

PLEASE NOTE: The City of Fort Lauderdale Precautionary Water Advisory applies to all customers who receive water from the City of Fort Lauderdale. In addition to customers who live in the City, the City of Fort Lauderdale provides water to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Oakland Park, Port Everglades Authority, Village of Sea Ranch Lakes, Wilton Manors, and sections of Davie and Tamarac.

In addition, customers are encouraged to limit their water usage to essential uses only and conserve as much as possible to help maintain water system pressure. Residents are asked not to irrigate their landscaping until the water system has been restored to normal.

For more information, please call the City of Fort Lauderdale’s 24-hour Customer Information Center at (954) 828-8000.

Broward College has been a partner in the economic development of Broward County and is well-known for its workforce and industry-based training opportunities. The certificate program evolved from a series of international business development workshops conducted by OED over the past four years. The new Broward College program will replace the workshop series, “institutionalizing” a key initiative of the Board of County Commissioners’ international business program.

The first 12-week certificate program will begin September 17, 2008. The semester will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30p.m. on Wednesdays at the Broward College Willis Holcombe Center Campus in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Course topics include:

• Basics of Shipping
• Methods of Payment and Financing
• Terms of Sales, Quotes and Pricing
• Legal
• Vendor Compliance
• Logistics Planning and Supply Chain Basics
• Security Issues and Compliance
• Marketing Products Internationally
• Trade Policy and Agreements Barriers
• Protocol and Mission Planning

Registration for the full program is currently underway. To register online, visit www.ce.broward.edu, click “Sign up for CE Classes” and select International Trade. For more information, call 954-201-2204.

Rapid Impact Assessment teams are currently working throughout Broward County to confirm that there are no major roadway problems or debris issues. No major flooding issues have been reported.

FPL reports that approximately 4,200 households in Broward are still without power. Crews are working continually to restore power. Residents are reminded that children should not be permitted to wade in standing water for health and safety reasons.

Mass Transit is operating on their normal bus schedule today. The number to call to check on bus schedules and routes is 954-357-8400. The telephone number for the hearing impaired is 954-357-8302.

The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is operating as normal and reports that there have only been minor flight delays.

All bridges in Broward County will resume normal operations at 9:00 a.m. this morning. This includes bridges operated by Broward County and the Florida Department of Transportation.

The Arthur Ashe mass care shelter operated by Red Cross and the Special Medical Needs Shelter housed a total of 67 people. Plans are underway to return residents in shelters to their homes later this morning.

There will be a press briefing at noon today, Tuesday, August 19 to provide an update on recovery actions.

The Broward County Hotline 3-1-1 will remain operational throughout the day to assist residents.

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