Thursday, September 17 2009
Nina Beauchesne, Administrator, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital; Neal McNerney, MD; Maggie Wiegandt, Assistant Administrator, Memorial Hospital Miramar; Frank V. Sacco, President and CEO, Memorial Healthcare System; Michael Jofe, MD; Cara Novick, MD; Sara E. Wolfer, Vice Chairman, South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners; Randolph Cohen, MD; Stephen Storer, MD; Aurelio Fernandez, Administrator, Memorial Hospital Miramar; Kathleen A. Durham, Chairman, South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners; Florida Rep. Franklin Sands; and Miramar Commissioner Barbara Sharief.
On Saturday, January 30, 2010, Habitat Broward supporters, community leaders, homeowner families and friends celebrated the completion of construction on four brand new homes with a dedication ceremony in Miramar.
Home sponsors for Habitat Broward's first-ever Miramar build include Miramar Park of Commerce/ WSVN-TV Channel 7, Publix Super Markets Charities, Lorraine Thomas, The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation and Premier Beverage. During the ceremony, the sponsors were able to congratulate and hand over the ceremonial keys to the new homeowners: the McNeal, Merrell, Turner and Wright families.
Following the dedication ceremony, attendees were able to tour the new four-bedroom, two-bathroom, attached single-family homes, which were made possible due to generous sponsors, donated materials, volunteer labor, and the dedication and commitment of the homeowner families.
"I am so proud and blessed to have a new home to call my own," said new homeowner Arnetta McNeal, pictured above with sons Daniel and Reggie and Miramar Commissioners Barbara Sharief and Winston Barnes. "I was there every step of the way and helped with everything from the foundation to the roof of my home."
Like all Habitat homeowners, these families contributed a minimum of 500 hours of "sweat equity" working on the construction of their home and the homes of others and participated in educational programs designed to strengthen the entire family and help to ensure their success as new homeowners.
The new homeowners will continue to make monthly payments on a low-cost, no-interest mortgage, which in turn will go toward building more Habitat Broward homes.
Check out great media coverage of the Miramar Home Dedication Ceremony by WSVN-TV, the Sun-Sentinel, and the Miami Herald!
March 13, 2010|By Chris Guanche, Forum Publishing Group
A new Miramar ordinance will regulate the outdoor chaining of dogs.
Barbara Hudson, a volunteer for the Humane Society of Broward County, helped lead the charge for it. She became involved in the issue of dog tethering after observing the treatment of a neighborhood dog.
That dog is tied up all day and night, exposed to cold weather and rain. Because of the short length of its chain, it's forced to lie next to its own filth, Hudson said. Other dogs in the neighborhood face similar situations.
"A lot of dogs are suffering because people tie them up and ignore them," Hudson said. "The dog is like a lawn ornament."
With the one dog left outside constantly, Hudson has cared for it by supplying food, water and blankets. To bring more attention to the problem, Hudson mentioned the issue to Commissioner Barbara Sharief at a meeting of the United Neighbors of East Miramar neighborhood group. A proposal was then crafted and recently approved by the City Commission.
The ordinance provides guidelines for how owners should tether their dog outdoors. If a dog is tethered, the owner must be outside and have it in visual range. The dog must have access to clean water and dry ground. Multiple dogs must be tethered separately. It also outlines what types of collars and harnesses can be used, as well as what weather conditions are appropriate for the dog.
The city will be organizing an educational effort to inform residents about the ordinance, said Tania Rues, spokeswoman for the Miramar Police Department. Violations will be handled by the city's code compliance officers.
"If a compliance officer notices a violation, they'll issue a notice of violations," Rues said.
After that initial warning, a second offense will bring a summons to a special magistrate and potentially a fine of up to $250. Further violations could result in fines of up to $500 per day.
Miramar is the latest Broward County municipality to pass an ordinance on dog tethering, following such cities as Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach and Wilton Manors. Local communities are crafting ordinances because the state animal cruelty statute doesn't cover dog tethering, said Carrie Neff, humane education coordinator with the Humane Society of Broward County.
Political advertisement paid for and approved by Barbara Sharief Democrat for Broward County Commissioner District 8.