City Connect June-July 2014 Volume 3 Issue 5

C I T Y C O N N E C TPembroke Pines

www.ppines.com June/July 2014 Volume 3, Issue 5

Pembroke Pines City CommissionFrom left to right: Carl Shechter (District 1), Jay Schwartz (Vice Mayor - District 2), Mayor Frank C. Ortis, Angelo Castillo (District 4), Iris A. Siple (District 3)Mayor Frank C. Ortis 954-435-6505 ……. [email protected]:Angelo Castillo 954-436-3266 .............. [email protected] Schwartz 954-436-3266 .....….. [email protected] Carl Shechter 954-436-3266 ...... [email protected] A. Siple 954-436-3266 ..............… [email protected] Manager:Charles F. Dodge 954-431-4884 ….......…. [email protected]

City Actions Save $$$$The City of Pembroke Pines is con-

stantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and services while also reducing costs. Though a never-ending budget battle is challenging, various administrative actions have produced some very positive saving results within a year’s time.

Working with the City’s depart-ment heads, the following are several examples of changes made that have saved significant money over the last several years without impacting the quality of service that residents and visitors have become accustomed to:

To ensure all students’ and staffs’ safety, School Resource Officers (SROs) have a presence in all public schools, both in the Broward County School District and the Charter School System. Utilizing fully certi-fied and trained part-time police officers in these positions rather than full time police officers has saved the City approximately $2,300,000 mil-

lion dollars each year on an annual-ized basis.

Another cost savings has been to utilize the services of retired police officers, including the retired Assis-tant Police Chief, to perform admin-istrative functions such as back-ground checks, drafting of grants, etc. Previously, such functions were performed by police officers. By employing retired police officers as civilians to fill these positions, a tre-mendous cost savings is achieved by lower salaries, no additional health insurance costs and no pension cost. In some cases, the City has even been able to use the cost savings from this change to place another police officer on the streets to serve the City.

This type of savings method has also been employed in the fire de-partment. The City will continue this practice of proactively looking for ways to provide necessary services in the most cost effective manner.

Function sourcing has also been used in several areas such as in the City’s water utility department, lawn care, street maintenance and janito-rial services. Based on an alternative and cost effective outsourcing model, function sourcing is when an outside organization/vendor is contracted to perform City functions under the oversight of City employees. In the water department alone, one million dollars a year is being saved by func-tion sourcing. This is very produc-tive for the City as the savings occur year after year, after year.

Kiplinger, a Washington, D.C. based publisher of business forecasts and personal financial advice, and other experts have reported that they expect the economy, driven primarily by the housing and auto sectors, to continue to grow this year. Howev-er, government costs do continue to rise and the City will have to con-tinue to look at more efficient ways to

handle these costs by eliminating and reducing expenses wherever possible without affecting the quality of life that the City has to offer.

As residents, it’s important to un-derstand that the City’s budget is the place to find out how tax dollars are being spent and where they are being saved. Though it may at times be con-fusing to read because today’s City budgets must include financial details necessary for budget making deci-sions, everyone does have access to it and can learn to decipher it easily.

The Budget will be printed in the next issue of City Connect, in August, with some explanation to help resi-dents understand the budget process. As part of the City’s Open Govern-ment policy, the budget is always available on the City’s website at www.ppines.com.

Page 2 Pembroke Pines City Connect June-July 2014

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Let’s Move! InitiativeThe City of Pembroke Pines has

made a commitment to join “Let’s Move!,” a comprehensive initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama that is dedicated to solving the problem of obesity in America within a generation.

In June 2010, the First Lady called on the mayors of American cities to take a leadership role in “Let’s Move!” asking elected officials to be proactive in preventing childhood obesity and to make their communi-ties healthier for everyone.

“I encourage all of our residents to join us in increasing opportuni-ties for healthy living and reducing childhood obesity in our commu-nity,” said Mayor Frank C. Ortis. “We have developed a plan of action for the City of Pembroke Pines, and I am confident that we will be able to achieve our goals.”

The City has committed to achiev-ing five goals designed to improve the health of residents, and will be implementing programs supporting these goals in the Pembroke Pines Charter Schools.

The first goal is to start early and start smart by helping early care and education providers incorporate best practices for nutrition, physical activ-ity and screen time into their pro-grams. The second goal is to empow-er parents and caregivers by giving them the right information to make informative choices. The City will

prominently display MyPlate, the USDA’s new food icon that serves as a quick visual reminder to make healthy food choices, in all municipal venues where food is served.

The third goal is to provide healthy food in schools by increasing participation in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The fourth goal is to improve ac-cess to healthy, affordable foods by implementing healthy and sustain-able food service guidelines that are aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in all municipal ven-ues that serve food. And the fifth goal is to increase physical activity by mapping local play spaces, com-pleting a needs assessment, develop-ing an action plan, and launching a minimum of three proven policies, programs or initiatives aimed at increasing access to play.

The National League of Cities (NLC), with the National Association of Counties (NLC), is participating in this project and supporting local officials who sign up to participate in “Let’s Move! Cities, Towns, and Counties (LMCTC),” a key compo-nent of the “Let’s Move! Initiative.”

A proclamation about the initia-tive was presented to the Pembroke Pines Charter School System at last month’s Commission Meeting. For more information, please visit www.letsmove.gov.

Charter Schools RenewAt a Commission Meeting last

month, approval was given to renew the Pembroke Pines Charter School (PPCS) agreement between the School Board of Broward County and Pembroke Pines on behalf of the PPCS system for another 15 years beginning July 1, 2014 and ending June 30, 2029.

The Pembroke Pines Charter School System, the first municipally owned and operated charter school system in the nation, holds the dis-tinction of being the largest and one of the most high performing as well.

“This renewal is a historic step in

our vision to prepare all students not only for college and a career, but also for life in this ever-changing world,” said Commissioner Iris A. Siple. “Since we began this journey in 1998, our commitment to education excel-lence has only become stronger. Our teachers, staff and students are to be congratulated for all their hard work.”

Last year, the Southern Associa-tion of Colleges and Schools (SACS) awarded the Pembroke Pines Charter School System full accreditation, the highest accreditation a district can receive, for five years.

June-July 2014 Pembroke Pines City Connect Page 3

Pembroke Pines Police officers and civilian employees ran in the annual Law Enforcement Torch

Run for Special Olympics last month. It started at County Line road in Hallandale and ended in

Deerfield Beach just before Palm Beach County.

Pembroke Pines City ConnectPublished by the City of Pembroke PinesMarianne Wohlert – News Editor10100 Pines Blvd – 3rd FloorPembroke Pines, FL [email protected]

For Advertising [email protected]

Contacts:

City Manager’s Office 954-431-4884Charles F. Dodge, City [email protected] Gayeski,Deputy City Manager [email protected] Gonzalez, Assistant City Manager [email protected]

City Clerk’s Office 954-435-6501Marlene Graham, City Clerk [email protected]

Finance 954-431-4330Rene Gonzalez, Finance Director [email protected]

Public Services/Utilities 954-437-1115Shawn Denton, Director of Public Services [email protected]

Fire 954-435-6712John Picarello, Fire [email protected]

Police 954-431-2466Dan Giustino, Police Chief [email protected]

Recreation 954-437-1137Chuck Vones,Recreation Director [email protected]

Community Services 954-450-6868Jay Shechter,Community Services Director [email protected]

Human Resources 954-437-1146Daniel Rotstein, Human Resources Director [email protected]

The 4th Annual City of Pembroke Pines Pill Box Pharmacies Pines 5K Run/Walk held last month

raised $21,447 to benefit the City of Pembroke Pines Charter School Foundation.

New Vice Mayor NamedAt the April 9,

2014 City Com-mission Meeting, the Commission passed a motion to appoint Com-missioner Jay Schwartz as Vice Mayor for 2014-2015. Accord-ing to the City’s Code of Ordi-nances, the Com-mission elects, by majority vote, the Vice Mayor at the first regularly scheduled meeting in April of each year.

“I want to thank my colleagues for their support and I look forward to this opportunity to serve our City and community as Vice Mayor,” said Vice Mayor Jay Schwartz.

Upon appointment of the new Vice Mayor, Commissioner Angelo Castillo became the Vice Mayor Designate for the following year. The

Commission thanked Commissioner Castillo for his dedication and hard work in his role as Vice Mayor.

According to the City Charter, the Vice Mayor is a member of the City Commission who has not just recent-ly served as the Vice Mayor or Vice Mayor Designate, where possible. The regular order of Commissioners to serve as Vice Mayor is presumed to be the Commissioner from District 4, 2, 3 and 1.


Pembroke Pines motorcycle officers Jon Black, Charlie Herring and Scott Groves competed in the 25th Annual South East Police Motorcycle Training Seminar and Safety Trials (Motorcycle Rodeo) last month at the Seminole Hard Rock Grounds.

The competition included168 riders from 39 different agen-cies from all over the southeast United States. The Pines officers competed in the division reserved for first time competitors. Officer Scott Groves placed third overall in this category, while Officer Charlie Herring placed fourth. The event benefits C.O.P.S. (Con-cerns of Police Survivors) which is a national organization that helps the children and families of police officers killed in the Line of Duty.

Time for Hurricane PrepHurricanes bring numerous haz-

ards for which to prepare – storm surge, heavy rainfall, high winds, inland flooding, tornadoes and rip currents to name a few. With hur-ricane season upon us, the time to prepare is now.

At the National Hurricane Confer-ence held in Orlando earlier this year, it was announced that hurricane forecast-ers will be using new features during this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, which just started on June 1, to ad-dress the hazard of storm surge. They are color-coded and broadcast-ready maps, issued 48 hours before hurricane landfall and updated every six hours, that graphically show the potential for flooding from storm surge.

These maps reportedly resulted from years of experience and recent polling that found most Americans liv-ing on vulnerable coastlines, including South Florida, paid more attention to hurricane wind strength than to storm surge in making their decision whether to evacuate ahead of a storm.

South Florida has not experienced a major hurricane since 2005 with Wilma, so residents are being asked to be vigilant and not be complacent this hurricane season, taking into ac-count all hazardous scenarios.

“Many new residents to our area have never experienced a hurricane and are not familiar with preparations that need to be taken,” said Commis-sioner Carl Shechter. “For others, it’s been quiet season after season so they forgot the importance of being prepared. Pembroke Pines is very proactive in preparing for the needs of our residents should a hurricane hit, however, it is the responsibility of ev-eryone to also be properly prepared.”

Even though Pembroke Pines is not in a coastal evacuation zone, some residents may still be asked to evacu-ate. Those living in low-lying areas may be required to evacuate due to flooding; and all residents of mobile homes must evacuate when a storm reaches hurricane status, and possibly even with tropical storm status.

Early arrangements should be made for any elderly family member or those with special needs. A two week supply of needed medications is also recommended. Broward Coun-ty’s Department of Elderly Services coordinates Special Needs shelters, however, pre-registration is required.

In Pembroke Pines, five shelters will be open for those needing to evacuate. They are located at Fox Trail Elementary, Falcon Cove Mid-

dle, Silver Trail Middle and New Renais-sance. To find out which shel-ters are open and when, call the Broward County Hotline or monitor news stations.

The City of Pembroke Pines Emer-gency Management Team has devel-oped a plan of action that deals with before, during, and after a hurricane or storm. Should the City encounter a direct impact from a hurricane, the goal is to quickly stabilize the situ-ation and provide immediate assis-tance to residents and businesses. Pembroke Pines community affairs of-ficers will also set up group meetings to provide the public with informa-tion on how to better prepare for any storms or natural disasters that may arise during this hurricane season.

Though, according to this year’s fore-casts, the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be quieter than normal with a below-average number of storms and hurricanes, only one storm is needed to create major damage.

For more information, please visit http://www.ppines.com/index.aspx?nid=524 or call the Community Affairs Unit at 954-436-3274.

City Happenings on OCTV

Tune into OCTV, which stands for “Our City Television” and discover what’s happening in Pembroke Pines through origi-nal programming related to City departments, events and services. Twelve new video segments are pro-duced, taped and scheduled each month, filled with interesting stories for and about Pembroke Pines. Residents with Comcast can view programming on Channel 78, and residents with AT&T can view pro-gramming on Channel 16.

Live and repeat coverage of City Commission meetings are also broad-cast on both channels. Make it a habit of being in the know through OCTV, City Connect and the City’s website.


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Water – Use It WiselyDrinking Water Week was cel-

ebrated last month to focus on this region’s water supplies and systems, and to guarantee safe drinking water for the future. According to the Broward Water Partnership, which includes Pembroke Pines and 18 other local govern-ments and utilities, water conservation is the key to safe drinking water.

The Broward Water Partnership’s goal is to save 30 million gallons of water a day. Broward residents have reportedly saved more than 70 mil-lion gallons of water in less than three years just by replacing old toilets with HET (High Efficiency) WaterSense® models.

The Value of Water Coalition has shared some interesting data regard-ing water use - 40 percent of water is used in agriculture to grow foods to eat and beverages to drink; 32 gal-lons of water is needed to make one

glass of wine; 19 gallons of water yields one apple; 1,230 gallons of water is necessary for the production of one beef steak; 46

percent of water is consumed in manufacturing products; and 700 gallons of water is needed to manufacture one t-shirt.

In addition to pro-moting water conserva-tion, the Broward Water Partnership also offers

toilet rebates of up to $100 each for qualifying

residents, businesses and nonprofits. These toilet rebates are one way to permanently save water. The Partnership has issued nearly $430,000 in rebates since it began, with businesses that have received rebates having reportedly saved $200 to $2,000 a month by replacing their older toilets.

To check rebate program eligibil-ity, please go to www.conservation-pays.com and enter your address.

Summers Are Best at Bright Beginnings Camp

Just when the little ones begin to complain about not having enough summer fun, the Walter C. Young (WCY) Early Childhood Develop-ment Center, Bright Beginnings, has a camp solution. It offers a safe, secure and fun summer camp program which runs June 9, 2014 through August 14, 2014.

Children ages Kindergarten through 5th grade can enjoy the camp which is filled with a variety of exhilarating activities including inflatable water slides, a mobile gaming bus, trips to the Rainfor-est Café, Young at Art, a Tour of Whole Foods, Monster Golf, Movie Theatre, the YMCA, C.B. Smith Water park, Bowling, Laser Tag and a whole lot more.

Space for the camp is limited. The registration fee is $75 and a camp t-shirt is included.

A preschool camp is also offered for ages 2 years through pre-kin-dergarten. For more information,

please call 754-323-4519 or visit www.ppines.com and click on “Living In Pines” and then click on “Bright Beginnings.” Established in 1989, Bright Beginnings is the recipient of the Gold Seal of Excel-lence Award numerous times. All activities are designed to educate and enrich the children.


It’s a 4th of July Celebration!Most people think of hotdogs,

fireworks, picnics, parades and waving flags when it comes to July 4. Many, however, may not know that the Fourth of July, also called Independence Day, has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, and that the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83).

On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of inde-pendence for the 13 colonies from Great Britain, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to today, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence.

As part of its annual Indepen-

dence Day celebration, the City of Pembroke Pines is holding a free fun-filled event on July 4, 2014 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Pines Recre-ation Festival Grounds, located at 7400 Pines Blvd.

There will be rides, live musical entertainment by The Pocket Change Band, food trucks and fireworks. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Coolers, pets and personal fireworks are not permitted. For more informa-tion, please call 954-435-6525.

Blimp Ride Wows StudentsMore than 30 Pines Middle School

students and staff had a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a ride on the Goodyear Blimp, Spirit of Inno-vation, earlier this year.

The ride was a result of a unique partnership between Pines Middle School and Goodyear aimed at increasing students’ interests in Sci-ence, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). As part of the part-nership, students participated in a variety of activities to earn a blimp ride including a science research

competition, Spelling Bee, Literary Arts competition, a PTSA Walk-a-Thon fundraiser, and achievements in math and reading.

To kick off the competitions, the PTSA hosted an assembly for students. Goodyear representa-tives, including a blimp pilot, shared their experiences and en-couraged students to work hard and explore the fields of Science, Technology, and Engineering.

“This event was a chance for our students to connect what they have

learned in the classroom with real world experiences and careers,” said Mrs. Dietz, the Eighth Grade Science Teacher at Pines Middle School.

The event took place at the Goodyear Blimp Hanger in Pompano, and was at-tended by Broward Schools Superintendent Mr. Robert Runcie, and School Board Member Ms. Patricia Good.


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Comedy NightLast month, the Pembroke Pines

Charter High School JAG.DOT Club (Jaguar Doctors of Tomorrow) hosted the first ever PPCHS Comedy Night, Laughter is the Best Medicine, in the River of Grass Auditorium at Academic Village.

Hosted by senior Alden Diaz, PPCHS students performed humor-ous skits, stand-up comedy, and impressions for an evening of hilarity that included a special appearance from Ray Dass, a leading expert in SAT preparation, and celeb-

rity among high school students.

The evening was a big suc-cess, raising over $2,000. Coinciding with National Mental Health Aware-ness Month, all proceeds and donations went to Rebâti Santé Mentale (RSM), a group dedi-

cated to bringing support and aid to mentally ill patients in Haiti.

Photos of the evening can be viewed at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124416978@N08/

5th Annual Mayor’s Kids’ DayOne of the most fun summer

days is almost here. The 5th Annual Mayor’s Kids’ Day, for children 15 and younger, is being held June 27, 2014. Registration for the all day event begins on June 2, 2014.

More than 1,000 children partici-pated in last year’s event. Mayor’s Kids’ Day, which takes place 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., involves a citywide scavenger hunt to find special discounts and free promotional items from local busi-nesses. There are also a variety of free games with prizes, fun activities, mas-cots/characters and special surprises.

Lunch with Mayor Frank C. Ortis will be served 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Pembroke Pines Charter High School located at 17189 Sheridan Street.

To participate in all the fun, residents must wear a wristband obtained by registering at designated locations prior to June 27, 2014. For registration locations and more information, please call the Special Events Office at 954-435-6525 or visit the City website at www.ppines.com under the Recreation and Cultural Arts Department.

Glass Gallery - Florida Bounty

Now through July 21, 2014, the art exhibit “Florida Bounty” will be showcased at the Pembroke Pines Glass Gallery, located on the first floor of City Hall at 10100 Pines Blvd., Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Florida Bounty” showcases the flora, fauna, and aqua of our beauti-ful state,” said Benoit Menasche, Pembroke Pines Art Curator. “We invite everyone to come and enjoy the works of our local artists glorify-ing the beauty of Florida.”

Artist and educator Phillip Mann will present some of his Everglades paintings and Clara Hada, Carol Mills, JoAnn Heyer, Becky Black-wood, Jeff Oakes, Jane Collins, are just some of the artists featured in this nature filled exhibit.

The next Glass Gallery exhibit is entitled “Black and White.” Its open-ing reception will be held on July 29, 2014. For additional Glass Gallery information, please contact Ben Me-nasche at 954-260-0167.

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Innovative New Program Comes to PPCSCambridge International Examina-

tions (CIE) is an innovative program that is being offered to grades 8 through 12 in the 2014-2015 school year in the Pembroke Pines Charter School System, and will slowly be implemented in the sequential years to follow. The Cambridge program allows students to think critically and experience hands-on, higher order thinking to enhance their educational foundation at Pem-broke Pines Charter Schools.

CIE is a not for profit organization and part of the University of Cam-bridge, one of the world’s top uni-versities and trusted for excellence in education. Goals of the program include students being able to think critically, carry out independent research, evaluate arguments, com-municate clear and well-reasoned arguments, and understand global issues with multiple perspectives.

“This is a highly rigorous pro-gram designed to prepare students for college and beyond,” said Com-missioner Angelo Castillo. “We’re very fortunate to be able to offer this type of academic coursework to our students to help them achieve high levels of educational distinction.”

Students in the Cambridge Pro-gram will be registered for advanced courses in all subject areas and have the flexibility to choose their course selection. To be eligible for the Ad-vanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma, students

must complete and pass examina-tions in seven subject areas within four categories that include Mathe-matics & Sciences, Languages, Arts & Humanities, and Global Perspectives. Students are awarded college credit for courses (with passing scores in each examination).

All Florida public universities acknowledge the Cambridge courses, and 100 percent of all Ivy League schools accept Cambridge coursework.

Students will be expected to take end-of-year examinations (in grades 8, 10, 11, & 12) to review their competen-cy skills in the program. Students in the 8th grade will take the Cambridge Secondary Checkpoint Examina-tions which will determine if they are capable of becoming successful in the high school Cambridge program.

“An AICE Diploma not only pre-pares students to get into a university with up to 45 hours of college credit, but it also provides them with the skills required to be successful once there,” added Pembroke Pines Char-ter High School Principal Peter Bayer. “This is a great academic experience for highly motivated learners.”

A study completed by the Univer-sity of Florida found that students who complete the AICE Diploma had a higher end-of-year freshman grade point average (GPA) average than those students taking other accelerated mechanisms, including Advanced Placement.

Check It OutA great way to find out about all

the exciting programs, services and classes offered at the Southwest Focal Point Community Center is to attend the free Open House on Saturday, June 21, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Department of Community Services hosts the event which also includes a Student Art Exhibition. Prizes and ribbons will be awarded to visual art students who enter their art works in the student art exhibit.

Class instructors will be on hand for demonstrations in pottery, mosa-ics, drawing, painting, flower arrang-

ing, jazzercise, belly dance, Tai Chi, etc. There will also be free refresh-ments and hotdogs, face painting and art activities for children.

The Center is located at 301 NW 103 Ave, just off Johnson Street, one block west of Palm Ave. For more information, please call 954-450-6888.


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Enhancing Learning at Pembroke Lakes Elementary

Students in Ms. Mi-chelle Cruz’s third grade class at Pembroke Lakes Elementary are having a ball in class – liter-ally. Her students are using stability balls in the classroom in place of traditional desk chairs to enhance learning.

The stability balls, also known as balance or Swiss balls, have reportedly helped students in the classroom with improved attention and decreased hyperactivity levels. There is also anecdotal evidence that stability balls in the classroom give students the movement they need without disturbing classroom instruction.

“Students in Ms. Cruz’s class have mentioned improvement in their ability to pay attention, concentration, engage-ment in classroom discussions, in taking

exams and in having improved behavior,” said Principal Sandra R. Shipman. “The proof is in the pud-ding. The students like the idea and say it makes class more exciting.”

Studies have also shown that stability balls improve circu-lation that increases the effectiveness of all organ systems, especially the brain. Dr. James Levine, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, concluded in a recent study that the use of exercise balls really did improve productivity in students.

Pembroke Lakes Elementary is mov-ing forward in many innovative ways towards the classroom of the future. “Thinking outside the chair is one way to get there,” added Shipman.

West Pines Preschool – Keeping Summer Cool

Summertime at West Pines Preschool is full of fun and learning activities. The theme for this summer is “me, my fam-ily and my friends.” Students will enjoy visits from the Pem-broke Pines Fire Department and Police Departments, water days and outside playtime.

“While having fun, the lessons will include learning about our families, how to play nicely with our friends, and learning about me,” explained Holly Bonkowski, West Pines Preschool Site Supervisor. “As part of our theme the students will also learn about feelings and emotions, the different positive ways to express feelings and how to recognize different emotions – from being afraid to being thankful.”

West Pines Preschool, located at 18490 NW 8 Street, is now en-rolling for summer and fall for children ages two to five years old. There are full time and part time programs available. The preschool also offers enrichment classes, a hot lunch program and there are two large, shaded playgrounds.

For more information, please call 954-437-1134.


So Much Going OnThere are always excit-

ing new activities and special events happening at the Southwest Focal Point Community Center. To celebrate Father’s Day, Majic 102.7 radio person-ality Tom Caminiti will have the place jumping on Friday, June 13, 2014 with free cake served in the main hall at 11:45 a.m.

There will also be a “Summer Heat Wave” dance party on Wednes-day, June 25, 2014 beginning at noon in the main hall. Everyone can dance to the hottest songs, and free popsicles will be served to cool things down.

And for those who wish for a more gentile activity, the Sum-mertime Tea is being held on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a lovely array of tea sandwiches,

decadent desserts and assorted afternoon teas from which to choose. The fee is $18 per person and reservations are required.

Many more activities are planned throughout the summer, which are open to the public at the Center, lo-cated at 301 NW 103 Ave. For more information, please, call 954-450-6888 or visit the website at www.ppines.com under Departments/Community Services.

Award for ExcellenceThe City of Pembroke Pines

Charter Middle School West Campus was recently award-ed the Florida Standards School of Excellence by Public Consulting Group (PCG) Education and the Florida De-partment of Education Office of School Choice.

Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School West Cam-pus, Aventura Charter and the School of Arts and Sci-ences will partner with the Department of Education to develop educational videos that showcase strong teaching and learning. These videos will then be used to help develop educators across the state.

“Representatives from the Department of Education were impressed by the strength and creativity of our teachers and how the students learned from the techniques used,” said Michael

Castellano, Assistant Principal at Pembroke Pines Charter Middle West Campus. “We are so proud to have our teachers and staff rec-ognized at this level by the State of Florida Department of Education.”

The Department of Educa-tion will work closely with each school to provide professional development as the schools move forward towards full implemen-tation of the Florida Standards.


Arbor Day Poster Contest WinnersCongratula-

tions to the winners of the 2014 Arbor Day Poster Contest that was recently held. Three schools from the Pembroke Pines Charter School System participat-ed in the contest sponsored by the Landscape Advi-sory Board (LAB) – Pines Charter East Campus, Pines Charter FSU Campus and Pines Charter Central Campus.

To participate, art teachers at the schools held Arbor Day poster contests, selected winning posters, and then submitted them for the LAB contest. One poster from each grade, Kindergarten through Fifth Grade, from each school was chosen. The poster could reflect anything relating to National Arbor Day which was held on April 25, 2014. Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. The LAB held the poster contest to create greater awareness among young aspiring botanists and arborists in the City of Pembroke Pines schools.

Mayor Frank C. Ortis hosted a tree dedication at each school and then presented proclamations at each school. The winning posters were also displayed in the Glass Gallery. The winners from Kindergarten were Alessandra Morena from Central Campus, first place; and Halle Sutton from FSU Campus, second place. From First Grade, Morgan Talbert from Central Campus, first place; Nyree McFarlane from FSU Campus, second place; and Sophia Castellano from East Campus, honorable men-tion. From Second Grade, Ankitaa Sampath from FSU Campus, first place; Christin Facey from Central Campus, second place; and Tyler Croute from East Campus, honorable mention. From Third Grade, Sarah Jimenez from Central Campus, first place; Isabelle Lake from FSU Cam-pus, second place; and Gabrielle Min-

lin and Samantha Ottati from Central Campus, honorable mentions. From Fourth Grade, Anamilena Pena from Central Campus, first place; Jena Legaspi from FSU Campus, second place; and Erin Luis from Central Campus, honorable mention. And from Fifth Grade, Valentina Terry from Central Campus, first place; Alexis Appio from FSU Campus, sec-ond place; Zane Manning from East Campus, honorable mention; and Angelica Repaci, Cristina Ramos and Sergio Spears from Central Campus, honorable mentions.

Throughout the year, the LAB promotes the proper care of native vegetation and the environment.

July is Jumping at the CenterThe month of July is jumping with

activities at the Southwest Focal Point Community Center. On Thurs-day, July 3, 2014 there will be a 4th of July BBQ, complete with entertain-ment and prizes for best “patriotic” outfits. This free BBQ lunch is for registered members of the SWFP Community Center and those wish-ing to attend must sign up in advance by Friday, June 27, 2014.

To keep in the patriotic mode, there will be a Yankee Doodle Dance Party on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 begin-ning at noon. In addition to having a great time on the dance floor, there will be free cake provided.

And, there will be a Grandparents Day Talent Show held on Wednes-day, July 30, 2014 at noon in the Main

Hall, sponsored by the Site Advisory Council, comprised of members of the Southwest Focal Point Commu-nity Center. This is a great chance for grandparents to invite their grandchil-dren or great grandchildren to show off their talents performing on stage.

For more information on these and other activities being held at the Center, located at 301 NW 103 Ave., please call 954-450-6888.

Finding Nemo As A MusicalPembroke Pines Charter

Elementary East campus Fourth and Fifth Grade Drama Club students pre-sented this year’s production “Finding Nemo” last month to an enthusiastic audience.

The production took place at the River of Grass ArtsPark Theater. The students rehearsed three hours

a day, three days a week under the direction of Mr. Daniel from the Charter FSU Campus to ensure a great performance.

The students took on the challenge of turning the play into a musical. They learned dance routines and songs such as Michael Jackson’s “ABC” and Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove Tonight.”


Celebrate SafelyThe Fourth of July is around the

corner, a time that many Americans look forward to celebrating. How-ever, most people do not realize that there is an increase of serious injury during this time often as a result of the use of illegal fireworks. In Florida, illegal fireworks are the types that are categorized as roman candles, bottle rockets, mortars, or anything that explodes, flies or lifts off. Under Florida law, consum-ers can purchase approved small fireworks such as sparklers, glow worms, fountains and snakes, just to name a few.

It’s important to understand that there is still an increased risk of injury even when using approved fireworks. Common injuries can be serious burns to the hands, fingers, head, face, ears, eyes, and torso. Some firework novelties can reach high temperatures between 1,300 and 1,800 degrees - at least 200 degrees hotter than standard butane lighters.

Knowing and following just a few safety tips can help everyone to have a safe and fun Fourth of July celebra-tion. To celebrate safely, the Pem-broke Pines Fire Department asks that you follow these precautions:

Never allow young children to play with or ignite approved fireworks.

Older teens should only be al-lowed to use approved fireworks under close adult supervision.

Purchase approved fireworks

from reliable sellers. Avoid buying fireworks from retailers that make you sign a waiver.

Read and follow the caution label before igniting.

Store fireworks in a cool, dry place.Light only one firework at a time

and never hold any part of your body directly over the firework while lighting.

Never attempt to re-light a “dud” firework. Instead wait 15 to 20 minutes, then soak it in a bucket of water and throw it away.

Never light fireworks near a house or building, dry leaves or grass, or any other material that can catch on fire.

Keep a fire extinguisher, a bucket filled with water, or water hose on-hand for emergencies.

For a complete list of hundreds of Florida-approved sparklers to enjoy, please visit the State Fire Marshal’s website at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/sfm/bfp/Documents/ApprovedSparklerList.pdf

PPCH Tennis Team Breaks School Records“Perfect practice makes perfect”

is the motto of the Pembroke Pines Charter High School Tennis Team which this year broke five new sports records for the school.

For the first time in the school’s history, this group of boys and girls in the same sport won Districts; the tennis boys team won Districts; the tennis girls team won Regionals; the tennis girls team qualified for a team place in State Finals; and the school sent a qualified tennis boys doubles team to State Finals.

“These are the accomplishments of eight boys and nine girls during the 2014 season, and we couldn’t be prouder,” said Head Tennis Coach Nestor A. Briceno. “Now the bar has been raised and they look forward to next year to win State Finals.”

Victory is not new to Briceno and Assistant Coach Lourdes Briceno. Their son Nestor Jr. was the number one Junior tennis player in the United States in every age division in Junior tennis (12s, 14s, 16s, 18s) from 2002 to 2006; their daughter Monica was the number one player for PPCHS and player of the year in 2010; and their daughter Nicole in 2005 became the first ever athlete from Pines Char-ter to win State Finals by conquer-ing the Tennis Overall Singles State Championship. A banner is hanging in the School Gymnasium to com-memorate her victory.

Now there is a banner hanging for the girls tennis team commemorat-

ing Districts Championships for 2011 and 2014, and for being Regionals Champions for 2014; and the tennis boys team has their first banner for the Districts Championship.

“I am so happy for these two teams with whom I share many special great moments on and off the tennis courts,” added Briceno. “I am certain they will continue with this path of success in whatever they decide to focus their lives on in the future.”

The girls team consists of Karli Cash (junior); Karla Mendez (fresh-man); Michelle Vaca (sophmore); Samantha Barea (freshman); Julie Ascunce (junior); Vanessa Estevez (senior); Sarah Duque (senior); Shubi Kumar (freshman); and Keva Hightower (freshman). The boys team consists of Sebastian Jimenez (senior); Ralph Beriro (senior); Jason Sheih (sophmore); Andres Mendoza (sophmore); Shaun Enos (junior); Juan Borde (sophmore); Christopher Carvajal ( sophmore); and Raymond Gaviola (senior).

Golf Tourney Raises Funds for FoundationMayor Frank C. Ortis’ 12th

Annual Pembroke Pines Charter School Golf Tournament benefiting the Pembroke Pines Charter School Foundation raised $90,000 earlier

this year. Through the years the Mayor’s Golf Tournament has raised over one million dollars.

The winners of this year’s tournament were Rodrigo Ospina, Juan Gutierrez, Felipe Naranjo and Jorge Zuloaga representing A & B Towing Service. Members of the Lowest Gross team were Elmer Shannon, Elaine Shannon, Henry Koppel and Charles Smith.

Golfers played on the award win-ning 18 hole Pembroke Lakes Coun-

try Club, a John Stanford designed Golf Course, and received goody bags, a gift certificate towards golf apparel, enjoyed a putting contest, tee and driving range time, lunch, beverages, a cocktail reception, a deluxe buffet dinner, awards, raffle prizes and a live auction.

For information about the Mayor’s 2015 Golf Tournament at Pembroke Lakes Country Club, located at 10500 Taft Street in Pembroke Pines, or to make a donation to the Pembroke

Pines Charter School, please email Tournament organizer Kathleen Kue-bler at [email protected].


CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Open HouseSaturday, June 21, 2014 ~10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Come see what we have to offer in over 53,000 square feet of air-conditioned comfort at the beautiful

S.W. Focal Point Community Center

• FREE Hot Dogs & Refreshments • Student Art Exhibit • Art Demonstrations • Class Performances • Classroom & Facility Tours • Learn about Programs and Classes

• Meet Instructors and Staff • Face Painting and Art Activities for Kids

301 N.W. 103rd Avenue ~ Located off Johnson Street ~ one block west of Palm Avenue

For more information call 954-450-6888 or visit: www.ppines.com

Busy year for Builders’ Club at Central CampusStudents in the Pembroke Pines Charter

Middle School Central Campus Builders’ Club are winding down an exciting and productive year. The Builders’ Club is a ser-vice club designed to build leadership skills, community service awareness and school spirit among middle school students.

Their year started by members sponsor-ing a Dress Down day that raised $345 for Project Eliminate. This was followed by a food and toy drive. This spring, the Club sponsored a Menchie’s night to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Seven members also volunteered at the Kiwanis Horses and Handicapped, assisting physically and mentally challenged riders as they participated in a therapeu-tic horseback riding program.

Throughout the year Club members have maintained the school garden and collected Boxtops for Education to supplement the classroom budgets. Last month, they participated in a K Fam-ily Sports Day with the Pembroke Pines Charter High School Key Club.

“This is a very active Club and the members really are dedicated to help-ing others,” said Piper Spencer, Science Department Head at Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School Central Campus.

Learn to SwimSummer is a great time to cool off

and go in the ocean or pool. How-ever, knowing how to swim before going in should be a must. The Pem-broke Pines Recreation and Cultural Arts Department offers swim lessons now through September at Pembroke Lakes (10500 Taft Street), Towngate (901 NW 155 Ave) and Rose Price (901 NW 208 Ave) park pools.

Registration for swim lessons is at Towngate pool and is on go-ing until classes are filled. Most lessons are scheduled Monday through Thursday for two weeks, mornings or evenings. There are also eight consecutive Saturday morning lessons offered.

“It’s so important for everyone to know how to swim, especially here in South Florida where we are surrounded by water and there are so many pools,” said Greg Groselle, Aquatic Coordinator for the City of Pembroke Pines Recreation and Cultural Arts Department. “It’s also

a great way to exercise and have fun, while staying cool.”

Swim sessions consist of eight lessons and are limited to eight students per class. Students should wear sunscreen, a bathing suit and bring a towel.

Swim lessons are offered for all skill levels from parent and child to adult lessons.

The registration location for all swim lessons is Monday through Thursday, noon to 4:30 p.m. at Town-gate Park Pool, located at 901 NW 155 Ave. The fee is $45 for residents and $57 for non-residents. For more information, please call 954-450-6895.


Academy and State Competition for Police Explorers

The Pembroke Pines Police Ex-plorers Post 108 will be attending the Broward County Police Ex-plorer Academy June 9 to June 14, 2014 at the Public Safety Institute at Broward Community College, Central Campus, located at 3501 Davie Rd. in Davie. The Broward County Police Chiefs Association is sponsoring this year’s academy.

Several years ago, the Learning for Life Law Enforcement Explorer Advisors from multiple Broward County municipal law enforcement agencies worked together to create a weeklong Explorer Academy for all Learning for Life Police Explorers in the county. The advisors developed

a program that is not only mentally challenging, but also rewarding for the Explorers. The staff of instruc-tors for the academy is comprised of police officers from various agencies throughout Broward County who specialize in their field of teaching with many years of experience.

The Pembroke Pines Police De-partment offers the Police Explor-ers Program for young adults, ages 14 to 21, who express an interest in becoming or being a part of law enforcement as a career. The teens must be in high school, have a 2.0 grade average, be of good moral values, have never committed any crimes, and be interested in law

enforcement. Meetings are nor-mally held on Wednesday nights at the Police Department headquar-ters from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The program helps participants gain insight into a variety of programs that offer hands-on career activi-ties, while also promoting growth and development.

This month, the Pembroke Pines Police Explorers will also attend and compete in a state conference held by the Florida Association of Police Explor-ers (FAPE), June 22 to June 28, 2014 at Plantation Inn at Crystal River, Florida.

Last year, more than 350 Police Ex-plorers attended the conference, com-peting and participating in a variety of

activities/scenarios including shooting, crisis intervention, search and arrest, as well as color guard, drill team, a physi-cal agility test, an Emergency Vehicle Operation Course (EVOC) and a Police Mountain Bike course.

The FAPE 2014 State Conference is limited to 40 posts in attendance. Last year, the Pembroke Pines Police Explor-ers took 10 Explorers to the conference and four were a part of the competition team. This year, 12 Explorers will be attending the conference.

For more information on the Pem-broke Pines Police Explorers, please call 954-436-3274. For more infor-mation about the FAPE, please visit www.floridaexplorers.org.

Flanagan’s Mu Alpha Theta Gets SurpriseThe Mu Alpha Theta Chapter

at Flanagan High School, which is sponsored by Mrs. Lynn Vrabel and assisted by Mrs. Vicki Cramer, received a surprise when they ar-rived at the Florida Association of Mu Alpha Theta State Convention in Orlando recently.

A t-shirt design submitted by student Ivy Li was selected for the convention’s official t-shirt, and was worn by all participants in the state. Twelve students from Flanagan’s chapter attended the convention.

Mu Alpha Theta is a National High

School and Two-Year College Math-ematics Honor Society with 99,000 student members in more than 2000 schools. The Society is dedicated to inspiring keen interest in mathemat-ics, developing strong scholarship in the subject, and promoting the enjoy-ment of mathematics in high school and two-year college students.

Mu Alpha Theta achieves these goals by providing a method for schools to recognize and encour-age students who enjoy and excel in mathematics; organizing a state and national conventions for stu-

dents and teachers to participate in math-related events and interact with others from across the country; rewarding outstanding extracur-ricular achievement by offering special awards to both students and their faculty advisors; and providing mathematics competitions to partici-pating members at their own school.

Flanagan’s chapter currently has 56 members. Requirements for membership include an overall un-weighted GPA of 3.5 or higher, cur-rently taking Algebra 2 Honors or a higher level mathematics course, and

an overall unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher in all mathematics courses.


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Heightened Senses at Studio 18Following the Sincerity Project-

Home exhibited at Studio 18 in the Pines, which runs through July 10, 2014, a new exhibit called “Height-ened Senses” will open on July 18, 2014 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will run through August 28, 2014.

Overseen by Robyn Vegas, it showcases six artists who explore individual themes such as reflec-tions, juxtaposition, perspective and more in glassworks, photogra-

phy, ceramics and paintings. The featured artists include Lori Al-wine, Beth Amato, Judy Darucaud,

Jacklyn Laflamme, Larry Joe Miller and Nora Pinel Hernandez.

Patrons will be invited to taste, smell, touch, hear and visually experience this one of a kind show. Studio 18 in the Pines is located at 1101 Poinciana Drive. For more in-formation, please call 954-961-6067.

Great Yard Award WinnerCongratulations to the Maine

family from Chapel Trail Estates, the overall winner of the Great Yard Award. John, Susan and Ashley Maine recently expanded their landscape to include a butterfly garden for purposes of this contest which was created in memory of well known resident Natalie Belmonte, who tragically lost her life in 2011.

Yards are judged by the Land-scape Advisory Board (LAB) on five components including Butterfly (the

preservation of all stages of a but-terfly’s life), Design and Function, Maintenance, Florida Friendly Value and Use of Hardscapes.

John and Susan’s daughter, Ashley Maine, who was instrumental in working on the project, hopes to become a landscape architect in the future and is currently in architecture school at FIU.

The Landscape Advisory Board pre-sented the award to the Maine family at a recent Commission Meeting.

Special Population Camp and ProgramsRegistration is still open for the

City of Pembroke Pines Special Population Camp for children and young adults with disabilities (ages 6 years to 22) to be held from June 9, 2014 through August 1, 2014, from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., at the City of Pembroke Pines Charter School - Central Campus, located at 12350 Sheridan Street.

Campers will enjoy swimming, field trips, entertainment, onsite ac-tivities, a parent involvement night, and an educational component taught by Certified Teachers. Camp participants must be independent in toileting and be able to self-admin-ister medications. Camp includes breakfast, lunch and a snack. Two weeks of camp is $160 with a non-refundable registration fee of $12 for the first camper or $18 for two or more campers.

“Thanks to a grant from the Chil-

dren’s Services Council of Broward County, the Maximizing Out of School Time (MOST) Grant, our sum-mer camp registration fee is reduced and a CSC sliding fee scale will pro-vide further fee reduction for those who qualify,” said Mary Palacios, Special Population Coordinator.

A copy of the child’s birth certifi-cate and Individualized Education Program (IEP) should be attached to the registration form. Registra-tion Packets are available Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Pines Recreation Cen-ter, 7400 Pines Blvd. Payments can be made by check, money order, or if paying by credit card please call Mary Palacios to schedule a time to make a credit card payment.

Pembroke Pines has also started an Adult Golf program for Special Olympic Athletes and their Special

Olympic Unified Partners (individu-als without disabilities). They prac-tice at the Pembroke Lakes Golf and Racquet Club every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and have teamed with golfers from throughout the Bro-ward County Special Olympics Golf program.

There are currently 16 par-ticipants in the program which has received a donation of golf clubs. They are still in need of two sets of left-handed golf clubs, team golf shirts and gloves should anyone be interested in donating.

There is also a Special Olympics Aquatic Program for ages 8 and older on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, June - October, 2014. The program begins on Tuesday, June 3, 2014. This is not a learn to swim program. Athletes must know the basics of swimming and athletes must meet Special Olympic eligibil-

ity requirements including having a current physical on file prior to the start of training.

To make a donation for the Golf Program or for more information on the various programs and camps, please contact Mary Palacios, Special Population Coordinator, at 954-986-1582, email [email protected] or visit www.ppines.com


Finding Forever HomesPooches In Pines is a community

group of dedicated volunteers in Pembroke Pines that helps unite dogs

found by the Pembroke Pines Police with their owners. About 70% of dogs found are reunited with their

owners. However, when the owner cannot be located, they fully vet the animal, bathe them, foster them in temporary homes, and care for them until they are placed in new loving homes through an adoption process.

Below are several adoptable pets

who need forever homes. Please

go to Facebook, Twitter and http://

www.poochesinpines.com/ for more

information.

LULU

Meet “Lulu”. She is ap-proximately 2 years old and was pushed out of a car in Pembroke Pines by someone who no longer wanted her. A passerby saw this happen and called the police depart-ment to come and get her off the street as she hurt her leg badly. Lulu is very gentle and gets along great with most dogs, but unfortunately doesn’t like cats.

STEVIE

Meet “Stevie”. He is a blind Yorkie who came to us very matted and now feels like the handsome little dog that he is. Stevie is about 8-10 years old and was found with no chip or tag. He is crate trained and although blind he gets around very well. He is energetic yet calm, and loves comfort. He is very affection-ate and likes long walks.

ELLE

Meet “Elle”. Elle was found on the streets of Pem-broke Pines and was saved by the police. She’s a sweet girl who likes to play with cloth Frisbees. She is great with other dogs and has bonded with Sylvester, another res-cue. It would be great if they could stay together but if not that’s okay, too. Elle weighs between 35-40 lbs and is un-der 5 years old.

SYLVESTER

Meet “Sylvester”. Sylves-ter and Elle both have simi-lar stories and were found wandering the streets of Pembroke Pines. Sylvester is a male and is super friendly and loves to play with tennis balls and sit beside you. He is great with other dogs and has bonded with Elle. It would be great if they could stay together but if not that’s okay, too. Sylvester weighs between 35-40 lbs and is un-der 5 years old.

TURNER

This handsome boy is AMAZING! Mr. Turner is around a year old and about 50 lbs. He is an absolute joy to be around. Always happy and super playful. Turner would do best in a home with no cats and gets along well with most dogs.

Not Your Typical ClassesIf you’re looking for some-

thing unique to do, want to take a class unlike others being offered, the Southwest Focal Point Community Cen-ter has some suggestions. A new class now being offered is called “Getting Into Commercials.”

Commercials offer a unique oppor-tunity for actors of all ages, including more seasoned individuals. With 72 billion baby boomers and seniors rep-resenting 1/3 of the U.S. net wealth, there is a demand for seniors in the commercial acting and modeling busi-ness. This class will provide partici-pants with the right skills to break into the business. Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to join this class.

The class focuses on learning how to get started, how to get an agent, how to read copy and how to book a job. It is offered in six week sessions on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., June 4, 2014 to July 9, 2014 and

July 23, 2014 to August 27, 2014. The fee is $25 per person (55 yrs. & older) and $45 per person (54 yrs. & under).

If clipping coupons is more your style, there is a new class called the “Clip and Save Coupon Club with Geneve.” Students are encouraged to bring in coupons and scissors and let “coupon diva” Geneve demonstrate how to save lots of money using cou-pons. The class is held every second and fourth Monday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The class is free to regis-tered members of the Center.

There is also a new Doll Making Workshop. In a fun and relaxing atmosphere, students learn how to make unique one-of-a-kind dolls that are full of personality. These dolls are perfect to give as gifts or to create a collection for yourself. The work-shop is offered in six week sessions on Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., July 21, 2014 to August 25, 2014.

Materials are not included - pick up a supply list when registering. The fee is $38 per person (55 yrs. & older) and $58 per person (54 yrs & under).

For more information on these and other classes or activities offered at the Southwest Focal Point Commu-nity Center, please call 954-450-6888.

Young MarinesThe Young Marines, a non-

profit youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through the completion of high school who are in good standing in school, has now begun meeting at Walter C. Young Middle School, located at 901 NW 129th Ave. They just celebrated their first Recruit graduation ceremony for the South Florida Young Marines after sev-eral months of training to become Young Marines.

Young Marines promote the mental, moral, and physical devel-opment of its members, focusing on character building, leadership, and promoting a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. It is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Youth Drug

Demand Reduction efforts.A year-round program, meetings

are held every other Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The group participates in many community events, activi-ties and parades which gives them a sense of community involvement.

Established in 1959, the Young Marines has grown to over 300 units with 10,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Germany, Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries.

During the summer months, all South Florida Young Marines have the opportunity to compete to at-tend the Young Marines National Summer Programs of Adventures, Challenges, Encampments, and Schools (SPACES).

For more information, please visit www.southfloridayoungmarines.org.


FOR CUSTOMERS WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CONCERNS

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

(A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

(B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

(C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

(D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

(E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

HOW TO REACH US If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact U.S. Water Services at (727) 848-8292.

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT PLAN In 2013, the Department of Environmental Protection performed a Source Water Assessment on our system and a search of the data sources indicated two potential sources of contamination near our wells with a moderate susceptibility level. The assessment results are available on the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program website at www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp

CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES

2013 ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT PWS ID # 4061083

Este reporte contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúscalo o hable con un amigo quien lo entienda bien. (954)450-9600

We’re pleased to provide you with this year’s Annual Water Quality Report. We want to keep you informed about the quality water and services we have delivered to you over the past year. Our goal is and always has been, to provide to you a safe and dependable supply of drinking water.

We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. If you have any questions or concerns about the information provided in this report, please feel free to call any of the numbers listed.

WHERE YOUR WATER COMES FROM Our water sources are ground water wells drawing from the Biscayne Aquifer which is then softened, filtered, and chlorinated for disinfection. Fluoride is added to the water for dental health purposes.

HOW WE ENSURE YOUR DRINKING WATER IS SAFE We routinely monitor for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws, rules, and regulations. Except where indicated otherwise, this report is based on the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2013. Data obtained before January 1, 2013, and presented in this report are from the most recent testing done in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations. As authorized and approved by the EPA, the State has reduced monitoring requirements for certain contaminants to less often than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from one year to another. As a result some of our data is more than one year old.

HOW TO READ THE TABLE In the table below, you may find unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. To help you better understand these terms we've provided the following definitions:

Action level (AL) – the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE): An important part of the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR). The IDSE is a one-time study conducted by water systems to identify distribution system locations with high concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Water systems will use results from the IDSE, in conjunction with their Stage 1 DBPR compliance monitoring data, to select compliance monitoring locations for the Stage 2 DBPR.

Maximum contaminant level or MCL – the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum contaminant level goal or MCLG – the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL – the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG – the level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

ND – means not detected and indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis

ppm – parts per million or milligrams per liter is one part by weight of analyte to one million parts by weight of the water sample.

ppb – parts per billion or micrograms per liter is one part by weight of analyte to one billion parts by weight of the water sample.

pCi/l – picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.


FOR CUSTOMERS WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CONCERNS

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

(A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

(B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

(C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

(D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

(E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

HOW TO REACH US If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact U.S. Water Services at (727) 848-8292.

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT PLAN In 2013, the Department of Environmental Protection performed a Source Water Assessment on our system and a search of the data sources indicated two potential sources of contamination near our wells with a moderate susceptibility level. The assessment results are available on the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program website at www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp

CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES

2013 ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT PWS ID # 4061083

Este reporte contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúscalo o hable con un amigo quien lo entienda bien. (954)450-9600

We’re pleased to provide you with this year’s Annual Water Quality Report. We want to keep you informed about the quality water and services we have delivered to you over the past year. Our goal is and always has been, to provide to you a safe and dependable supply of drinking water.

We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. If you have any questions or concerns about the information provided in this report, please feel free to call any of the numbers listed.

WHERE YOUR WATER COMES FROM Our water sources are ground water wells drawing from the Biscayne Aquifer which is then softened, filtered, and chlorinated for disinfection. Fluoride is added to the water for dental health purposes.

HOW WE ENSURE YOUR DRINKING WATER IS SAFE We routinely monitor for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws, rules, and regulations. Except where indicated otherwise, this report is based on the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2013. Data obtained before January 1, 2013, and presented in this report are from the most recent testing done in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations. As authorized and approved by the EPA, the State has reduced monitoring requirements for certain contaminants to less often than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from one year to another. As a result some of our data is more than one year old.

HOW TO READ THE TABLE In the table below, you may find unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. To help you better understand these terms we've provided the following definitions:

Action level (AL) – the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE): An important part of the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR). The IDSE is a one-time study conducted by water systems to identify distribution system locations with high concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Water systems will use results from the IDSE, in conjunction with their Stage 1 DBPR compliance monitoring data, to select compliance monitoring locations for the Stage 2 DBPR.

Maximum contaminant level or MCL – the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum contaminant level goal or MCLG – the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL – the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG – the level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

ND – means not detected and indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis

ppm – parts per million or milligrams per liter is one part by weight of analyte to one million parts by weight of the water sample.

ppb – parts per billion or micrograms per liter is one part by weight of analyte to one billion parts by weight of the water sample.

pCi/l – picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.


How to Read the TableIn the table below, you may find unfamiliar

terms and abbreviations. To help you better understand these terms we’ve provided the following definitions.

Action Level (AL): The concentration of contaminants which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE): An important part of the Stage 2 Disin-fection Byproducts Rule (DBPR). The IDSE is a one-time study conducted by water systems to identify distribution system locations with high concentration of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Water systems will use results from the IDSE, in conjunction with their Stage 1 DBPR compliance monitor-ing data, to select compliance monitoring

locations for the Stage 2 DBPR.Maximum contaminant level of MCL: The

highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as closed to the MCLF’s as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum contaminant level goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drink-ing water below which there is no known of expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: The highest level of a disinfectant al-lowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is nec-essary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known

or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

ND: Means not detected and indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis.

ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter is one part by weight of analyte to one million parts by weight of the water sample.

ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter is one part by weight of analyte to one bil-lion parts by weight of the water sample.

pCi/l: picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.

Table Notes:A. Results in the Level Detected col-

umn for radiological contaminants, inorganic contaminants, synthetic organic contaminants including pesticides and herbicides, and volatile organic contaminants are the highest

average at any of the sampling points or the highest detected level at any sampling point, depending on the sampling frequency.

B. For chloramines, or chlorine, the level detected is the highest running an-nual average (RAA), computed quarterly, of monthly averages of all samples collected. The range of results is the range of results of all the individual samples collected during the past year. For haloacetic acids or TTHM, the level detected is the highest RAA, computed quarterly, of quarterly averages of all samples collected if the system is monitoring quarterly or is the average of all samples taken during the year if the system monitors less frequently than quarterly. Range of Results is the range of individual sample results (lowest to highest) for all monitoring locations.

How to Read the Table

In the table below, you may find unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. To help you better understand these terms we’ve provided the following definitions. Action Level (AL): The concentration of contaminants which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE): An important part of the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR). The IDSE is a one-time study conducted by water systems to identify distribution system locations with high concentration of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Water systems will use results from the IDSE, in conjunction with their Stage 1 DBPR compliance monitoring data, to select compliance monitoring locations for the Stage 2 DBPR. Maximum contaminant level of MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as closed to the MCLF’s as feasible using the best available treatment technology. Maximum contaminant level goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known of expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. ND: Means not detected and indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis. ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter is one part by weight of analyte to one million parts by weight of the water sample. ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter is one part by weight of analyte to one billion parts by weight of the water sample. pCi/l: picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water. Table Notes:

A. Results in the Level Detected column for radiological contaminants, inorganic contaminants, synthetic organic contaminants including pesticides and herbicides, and volatile organic contaminants are the highest average at any of the sampling points or the highest detected level at any sampling point, depending on the sampling frequency.

B. For chloramines, or chlorine, the level detected is the the highest running annual average (RAA), computed quarterly, of monthly averages of all samples collected. The range of results is the range of results of all the individual samples collected during the past year. For haloacetic acids or TTHM, the level detected is the highest RAA, computed quarterly, of quarterly averages of all samples collected if the system is monitoring quarterly or is the average of all samples taken during the year if the system monitors less frequently than quarterly. Range of Results is the range of individual sample results (lowest to highest) for all monitoring locations.

2013 Water Quality Table – PWS No. 4061083 MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS

Contaminant and Unit of Measurement Dates of Sampling (mo./yr.)

MCL Violation Y/N

Highest Monthly Percentage MCLG MCL Likely Source of Contamination

Total Coliform Bacteria (positive samples) 01/13 – 12/13 N 0.8% 0 * Naturally present in the environment

* MCL - Presence of coliform bacteria in >5% of monthly samples

INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

Contaminant and Unit of Measurement Dates of sampling (mo./yr.)

MCL Violation Y/N

Level Detected

Range of Results MCLG MCL Likely Source of Contamination

Fluoride (ppm) 06/2013 N 0.82 N/A 4 4.0

Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. Water additive which promotes strong teeth when at the optimum level of 0.7 ppm

Nitrate (as Nitrogen) (ppm) 06/2013 N 0.13 N/A 10 10 Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

Sodium (ppm) 06/2013 N 15.8 N/A N/A 160 Salt water intrusion, leaching from soil DISINFECTANTS AND DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS Disinfectant or Contaminant and Unit of Measurement

Dates of sampling (mo./yr.)

MCL or MRDL Violation Y/N

Level Detected

Range of Results

MCLG or MRDLG

MCL or MRDL Likely Source of Contamination

Chloramine (ppm) 01/13 – 12/13 N 3.5 0.3 – 4.0 MRDLG = 4 MRDL = 4.0 Water additive used to control microbes

DISINFECTANTS AND DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS (STAGE 2) Disinfectant and Unit of Measurement

Dates of sampling (mo./yr.)

MCL Violation Y/N

Level Detected

Range of Results MCLG MCL Likely Source of Contamination

Haloacetic Acids (five) (HAA5) (ppb) 02, 05, 08, & 11/13 N 40.25 15.1 – 43.47 NA MCL = 60 By-product of drinking water

disinfection

TTHM [Total trihalomethanes] (ppb) 02, 05, 08, & 11/13 N 68.8 31.9 – 78.1 NA MCL = 80 By-product of drinking water

disinfection LEAD AND COPPER (TAP WATER) Contaminant and Unit

of Measurement Dates of sampling

(mo./yr.) AL Violation

Y/N 90th Percentile

Result Exceeding

the AL MCLG AL (Action Level) Likely Source of Contamination

Copper (tap water) (ppm) 08/2012 N 0.064 0 1.3 1.3 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives

Lead (tap water) (ppb) 08/2012 N 2.0 0 0 15 Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Pembroke Pines is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Pembroke Pines City Connect10100 Pines Blvd. – 5th FloorPembroke Pines, FL 33026

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City Connect June-July 2014 Volume 3 Issue 5

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