NEWS AND ALERTS

Posted Feb. 2, 2024

Posted July 1, 2019

Posted May 23, 2019

FAA Proposal Will Greatly Effect Our Community

Posted May 6, 2019

Posted December 20, 2018

Posted August 31, 2018

Come to the Davie Town Council meeting to lend your support of objection to the Cinemark expansion plans.

Posted July 12, 2018

Posted October 12, 2016

Posted May 26, 2016

Posted April 1, 2016

Unused or Expired Medication Drop Off

Turn in your unused or expired medication for safe disposal Saturday April 30th, 2016, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at one of the below locations: Please do not bring liquids, gels, or sharps such as needles.

CVS located at 2920 Davie Road

Walgreens located at 11204 SR84

and Southwest Ranches Town Hall located at 13400 Griffin Road.

Throughout the year you can also turn in your medications in the lobby of the Davie Police Department, Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Posted March 26, 2016

Posted March 7. 2016

75 Express Lanes Project - March 2016 - Pembroke Road Bridge Update

The new Pembroke Road overpass is currently under construction and is expected to be completed this summer. Over the next few months, crews will be pouring concrete deck and barrier walls. Lane closures will be scheduled as necessary.

The new Pembroke Road overpass over I-75 will ease congestion and provide residents another alternative to Miramar Parkway and Pines Boulevard.

March Full Closures
All lanes of I-75 southbound at Sheridan Street will be closed from 11 p.m. Monday, March 7 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, March 8. Motorists will be detoured to take the exit ramp at Sheridan Street West (Exit 11B), go west on Sheridan Street and make a U-turn at SW 162 Avenue to continue east on Sheridan Street to re-enter I-75 southbound.

All lanes of I-75 northbound at Sheridan Street will be closed from 11 p.m. Thursday, March 10 to 6 a.m. Friday, March 11. Motorists will be detoured to take the exit ramp at Sheridan Street East (Exit 11A) and go east on Sheridan Street, north on Flamingo Road and west on Griffin Road to re-enter I-75 southbound.

All lanes of southbound Florida's Turnpike at the I-75 interchange will be closed nightly from 11 p.m. To 5 a.m. Beginning Monday, March 7 through Friday, March 11. Motorists will be able to take the exit ramp to NW 57 Avenue / Red Road (Exit 43), continue north on NW 57 Avenue / Red Road and turn west on Miramar Parkway to re-enter southbound I-75 and then take the entrance ramp to re-enter southbound Florida's Turnpike (Exit 39).

This schedule is subject to change due to weather, special events, or unforeseen circumstances.

Corridor Wide Upcoming Activities

General Project Overview

The 75 Express Lanes Project extends 15 miles along I-75 from NW 170 Street, in Miami Dade County, to I-595, in Broward County. Work will be completed in four segments. Construction began early 2014 and is scheduled to be completed by mid- 2019. The total project is estimated to cost $481 million. This project will complete another section of South Florida managed lanes network for all motorists and will improve mobility, relieve congestion, provide additional travel options and accommodate future growth in the area.

Posted January 23. 2016

Posted September 17, 2015

The following is an email that I received from our FP&L representative for our area:

I have done an assessment on the overhead lines and found them to be clear of any
trees/equipment damage. I have now moved on to the substation, we found a switch
that needs to be addressed and should be repaired/replaced no later than Tuesday
weather permitting. I'm hoping that it will resolve the momentaries that the
community is experiencing.

I have spoken to many residents in your community and I just wanted to THANK all the
residents for their patients and understanding.

********** PLEASE let me know if it continues after Tuesday keeping in mind that the
weather also affects our overhead/underground equipment.

*****THANK YOU for their patience and understanding.

Thank You
Rickie Thomas-Technical Specialist I

Posted April 27, 2015

True Value of Cooper City opened up recently for those of you who need anything for your DIY projects. From tools, hardware, paint, gardening, home decor, pet care, recreational gear, and lots more. They are in Embassy Lakes at 2555 N. Hiatus Rd.

Posted March 15, 2015

This past week there were two incidents occurring in Waverly Hundred, one an attempted break-in and one break-in which was foiled by the owner of the house. Both incidents were by the same group of people, three in a car, a silver Isuzu suv, and one guy going into the backyard and trying to go through the glass door. These incidents occurred in the late morning, early afternoon. Keep your eyes open and call the police if you see anything unusual.

Posted January 7, 2015

Town of Davie

Posted December 28, 2014

Recycle Tennis Shoes

I saw this article in the paper today about people just ditching their old sneakers instead of recycling them. They strip the rubber from the shoes, sanitize them, and turn them into mulch for playgrounds or use them in athletic surfaces. Other parts are processed into Nike Grind material and reused. It sounds like a good idea instead of throwing them into landfills. To read more about it, the Nike site: http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/better-wo... and find out where all the drop off locations are. They have locations everywhere, one is at Dicks Sporting Goods 11940 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Crossing, Pembroke Pines, also at Dillards at the Mall; and Golf Galaxy at 14530 SW 2nd St. Pembroke Pines and dozens elsewhere that you can see on their site.

Posted December 26, 2014

If you have any electronics to get rid of, the recyling drop off at ARC Broward is available to us at 10250 N.W. 53rd Street in Sunrise. They accept any kind of TV's, VCR's, computers, monitors etc. Their phone number is 954-577-4160. Our regular drop off site is near Davie Town Hall but they are not accepting anything until March. So if you have any electronics to get rid of, the Sunrise spot is an easy place to drop them off. Their drop off hours are 8:00am - 3:30pm MWF and it is tax deductible.

Posted December 25, 2014

Posted February 26, 2014

Posted December 12, 2013

On December 10th a white pickup truck drove thru our development and stole Christmas decorations from Sedgewyck Circle close to Dykes and smashed up Christmas decorations on Chillingsworth which is off Hawkes Bluff Ave. close to Stirling. It happened just before 10pm. A police report was made, cameras picked up a photo of the guy doing it but didn't get the license plate. Keep your eyes out for this guy, try to write down his license plate number if you see a suspicious white pickup truck driving around at night. Here's the photo the house camera got of the pickup truck.

Posted October 4, 2013

I just signed Waverly Hundred up for Nextdoor.com after seeing it on 20/20, looked like a good idea to enable the entire neighborhood to be able to interact with each other for various reasons like community events, recommendations for service, items for sale, crime reports, ideas about how to improve our neighborhood and more. There are already other surrounding neighborhoods who have already joined. If it looks interesting to you, see if you can get your subdivisions to join up. Click into the link if you would like to check it out: Nextdoor Waverly Hundred

Posted October 31, 2012

After repeated power outages I called FP&L and talked to one of the engineers named Tim Hogans who assured me that they are on top of the situation and are hoping to resolve our power outages problems by the end of this year. Of course this has been going on for years and they always say they are working on it so we can only hope they have figured out what the problems are that cause our power to go out for a minute here, a minute there which creates havoc for everything electronic in our homes. He said they inspect the main feeder line every two years, and between cutting down the vegetation along the wires and getting the nurseries to trim back their trees along the wires, and trying to get people to trim back their trees in their backyards along the wires, and also deal with hardware problems of their own, and lightening strikes, they have their work cut out for them, but all we ask is to have continuous power without a moment outage constantly. If you notice these constant interruptions, contact FP&L and report them.

Posted March 8, 2012

Posted November 5, 2011

Just a reminder...America Recycles Day Celebration, Nov. 12 at Vista View Park in Davie. Free Electronics Recycling, Booths, Food, Eco Car Show, Kids Activities, Salvation Army Clothes Drive and Much More. See flyer below for more details. If you have any questions please contact Tiffany at (954) 474-1873 or D.J. at (954) 474-1854

Posted October 26, 2011

RE: Community Boundary Proposal That Could Impact WBHS

Posted September 13, 2011

Posted July 19, 2011

Come visit Publix at 15801 Sheridan Street and have a cup of coffee with Sheriff Al Lamberti Saturday, August 6, 2011 from 11:00am - noon.  From 10:30 am - 2:00 pm McGruff the Crime Dog, Police Women of Broward County, Quiggley the BSO Mascot, and John McMahon a BSO Forensic artist will be there. Free child finger printing and more. See flyer

Posted July 18, 2011

Effective Monday, July 18, at 12:00 noon the boil water advisory has been lifted for Sunrise Utilities customers in Sunrise, Davie and Southwest Ranches and Weston. The Florida Department of Health, which oversees the testing process, required additional tests in Weston’s Indian Trace and Bonaventure communities. Pending those results and DOH approval, Sunrise anticipated that the Weston advisory could be discontinued Monday evening. For more information: (954) 578-6140, (954) 578-6141, (954) 578-6142, or (954) 578-6143.

Posted July 16, 2011

Boil water order issued for Sunrise, Weston, parts of Davie

The Sunrise Utilities Department has issued a boil water notice advising that all water used for drinking or cooking or washing dishes be brought to a rolling boil for one minute before use. All City of Sunrise Utilities customers – including those in Sunrise, Weston and Southwest Ranches, and in Davie west of University Drive – are impacted by this boil water advisory. All were placed under boil water orders Friday after the Broward County Health Department found E. coli bacteria in a tap-water sample. This precaution remains in effect until further notice. For additional information, go to www.sunrisefl.gov or call 954-578-6140, 954-680-6141, or 954-680-6142.

Posted November 10, 2010

South Florida City Issues School Lockdown After E-Mail Threat  Published November 10, 2010

DEVELOPING: Pembroke Pines officials have locked down all schools in the area as a precaution due to a threat, Fox News confirms. 

The Pembroke Pines Police Department said Wednesday that it received a "possible threat" at 8:40 a.m. in reference to schools within the city of Pembroke Pines. 

"Although this possible threat has not been confirmed, as a precaution the Broward County Schools and Pembroke Pines Charter Schools are on lockdown," the police department said in a statement.  

The threat, which was sent via e-mail, also stated that "something big was going to happen" near government buildings in Broward County, according to police. 

"The safety of our students and schools are our highest priority," the statement said.  

Nadine Drew, a spokeswoman for Broward County Schools, said police are working to get more information and that there is "swat activity" in the area. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report 

Posted May 7, 2010

Burglary Prevention Tips

Burglaries within the Town of Davie neighborhoods cost residents thousands and thousands of dollars per year in loss of property alone. Most burglaries in your neighborhood are being committed by youths 18 and under. They are not skilled professionals, but they will take advantage of an easy target.

Don't make it easy for them!

1. Install a deadbolt lock:

Deadbolts are usually locked with a key from the outside and a thumb turn on the inside. The cylinder should be pick resistant. Lock your doors every time you leave the house, even if you're leaving for just a few minutes during the day. The most popular times for residential burglaries are weekday daylight hours. In many burglaries, there is no forcible entry--someone forgot to lock the doors.  

2. Install solid doors:

Outside doors should be metal or solid hardwood and at least 1 3/4 inches thick. Frames must be made of equally strong material and each door must fit its frame securely.  

3. Keep garage doors closed and locked at all times:

This includes all exterior doors and doors leading into the home from the garage.  

4. Secure sliding doors and windows:

Cut a broom handle to the length of the bottom track so that the window or door will not slide open when forced. Also, drill one hole through both casings and sliding window and insert a nail or pin.

5. Secure  windows:

To prevent windows from being pried open, purchase a track lock that blocks the window track and prevents the window from being opened from the outside.   

6. Mark your property:

Mark your valuables with an engraver. Use your driver’s license number.  Marking your property serves as a deterrent to would-be burglars and it helps police in identifying and returning stolen property. Make a property identification list. Put warning stickers on doors and windows. Record all serial numbers to your valuables and keep in a safe place. 

7. Purchase a burglar alarm:

A home alarm system can be a very effective burglary deterrent and fit into many people's needs. Remember to test your system monthly.  

8. Leave a light on:

When leaving on trips, leave a light on in the bathroom. In the bedroom, attach a lamp and radio to a 24-hour electric timer set to go on at dusk and off at your bedtime. Close bedroom drapes or blinds.  

9. Use proper exterior lighting:

Place a light over every door. Flood lights on each corner of the house will also light up windows.

10. Work together with your neighbors:

When you are going to be away, tell trusted neighbors and ask them to watch your property. Have neighbors maintain your yard. When on vacation, have someone cut grass. Shrubbery should not hide neighbors' view of windows or doors. Have someone pick up newspapers and mail. Tell neighbors to call police if they notice anything suspicious.

No one can make their home a fortress, but if you make your home just a little harder to gain access, you may deter criminals who are looking for an easy target.

11. Don’t leave valuables in plain sight:

When leaving your vehicle, ensure that no items of value can be seen from anyone on the outside. Items most sought after are cellphones, ipods, GPS devices, CD’s, purses, and any other electronic equipment. Secure valuables in the trunk or take them with you.

Posted April 5, 2010

There has been several acts of vandalism in the last few days, light fixtures in the front yards have been knocked down as well as mailboxes being broken in Waverly Hundred as well as Hawkes Bluff. Keep your eyes open for people who don't belong on our streets at night getting into mischief.

Posted March 15, 2010

3 car burglaries in our area on 3/12/10. Good chance they were all done by the same people. Make sure you keep everything in your car out of site. These guys are breaking windows once they see something of value.

Posted February 26, 2010

An extra watch was requested at 15640 Lancelot Ct due to a suspicious incident.  Resident awoke to strange sounds outside her bedroom window. Upon opening the blinds she was face to face with an unknown person dressed in all black.  She could not provide any further description. Make sure you keep your doors locked and your alarm on.

Posted October 29, 2009

It was just reported that the police have arrested three teenagers who have been going around the neighborhoods vandalizing the cars. Hopefully this will now cease from happening. But you should continue to lock your cars up in your driveways.

Posted September 18, 2009

A car was burglarized on Hawkes Bluff Ave. last night. Someone entered the car through an unlocked door. Make sure you keep all valuables out of site and your doors locked. Even if you have an empty gym bag the crooks don't know its empty and will break your window to get it. They go car to car pulling door handles most of the time. If you see any suspicious people walking around at night call 911, you don't even have to leave your name.

Posted May 29, 2009

Suspect In Double Shooting Found Dead

2 Women Gunned Down At Gas Station

Posted January 28, 2009

Posted January 9, 2009

There has been an alarming number of incidents of identity theft in our development. Here are some tips to safeguard your identity:

Posted October 23, 2008

I received this letter today from FP&L regarding our power issues along with a lots of pertinent information to our power outages.  Below this letter are links to some of the brochures he sent me that I attached here. They sent me quite a few different brochures, I haven't put them all on but from time to time I'll put more on. -Val

See attached file: FPL Distribution System

See attached file: Electric Disturbances

See attached file: Right Tree Right Place and Tree Pruning

Posted October 17, 2008

After contacting the Public Service Commission regarding our constant 1 second power outages in our entire development, I received the following emails as well as phone calls from two different specialists at FP&L. I was told that several nurseries in our area are growing trees directly under the power lines that are touching the wires and causing our power to go out for a second here and there and FP&L is doing whatever they can to trim the trees down that are causing these problems as well as fixing anything else that needs to be fixed. He explained it in a pretty technical manner regarding the feeders and multiple feeders and drops in voltage at the substation and I took notes but I asked him to send me something that I can relay to you that will make more sense than my scribbled notes. When I receive more information I will post it here.  -Val

Mrs O'Connor,

Below is the information that I promised regarding the correct trees to plant to prevent outages. Also I will be sending you a brochure that contains Fpl's Top Tips for Power Disturbance Protection. If you should have any questions you can contact our customer service department or visit us on the web at www.FPL.com.


See attached file: Right Tree Right Place and Tree Pruning

Eliezer Cueto
Associate Technical Specialist
Power Systems
Florida Power & Light
4000 Davie Rd Ext
Hollywood, Fl 33024
 

Val,

Many things can cause the power to go out for more than a minute. If a transformer fuse or a lateral fuse blows this can cause a longer outage, the lines will have to be patrolled to find the cause of the outage, many times it can be caused by lightning, birds, animals, vegetation, poles being hit by vehicles, wires down etc. The breakers at the Substation are design to prevent the outage, kind of like when a specific breaker goes off at the house for whatever reason, and all you have to do is reset it. Well at the substation level the breakers go thru time intervals to allow the cause of the outage on the lines to clear, if it clears then it re-closes and you have a momentary for a couple of seconds, if problem persists on the lines the breaker will open a few more times within about a minute to clear the fault, if that doesn't happen then it will stay open and it will be physically inspected. This is just a little piece of the process that it is followed to prevent outages many other things are looked at also. I hope this helps.

Eliezer Cueto
Associate Technical Specialist
Power Systems
Florida Power & Light
 

Posted October 17, 2008

I attended the I-75 PD&E Study - Broward MPO Presentation On October 14th and met the new project manager, Joshua Salazar and got a chance to talk to several of the FDOT workers present at the workshop. To see some of the photos I took at the workshop click PHOTOS.  All these photos and more are on FDOT's website www.I-75Vision.com. To see the updates of the I-75 Project Development and Environment Study see UPDATES. -Val O'Connor

First Posted September 16, 2008

Posted October 3, 2008

Ivanhoe residence:

I do not know how many of you are experiencing the constant power outages on a daily basis? Today, was another last straw for me, I called FP&L, again to lodge the complaint and was advised that they have had no complaints from Ivanhoe-Hawkes Bluff or any other community in Ivanhoe.

That is very hard for me to believe, since, I know I’ve placed many calls into customer services to advise FP&L of the continual daily outages. However, they claim not to have any history of past call ins. Regretfully, I did not document my calls.

I have spoken to a few neighbors who have had to replace appliances due to numerous surges and outages, and were thinking they could put a claim in with FP&L. In speaking with FP&L, if you lose a major appliance, and you have not reports these outages they will not be able to reimburse you or contribute a portion for the replacement appliance. Only if you have history in your customer records and at that point they would have to submit it for review of their executive committee.

The representative had stated they will do an investigation, and will be in touch with us, however, from the calls I made in the past I never received a follow-up from FP&L.

The number to report outages or intermittent outages, brown outs, etc, is 1-800-226-3545. If you are experience the same as us, it would be in your best interest to call in and report the problem.

Please feel free to pass this message on to other neighbors of Ivanhoe.

Thank you.

Posted September 16, 2008

Posted August 28, 2008

Posted August 27, 2008

Our Ivanhoe and surrounding area cast 567 votes, we gave Beverly Gallagher 392 of these votes (nearly 70%!!!!) and we represented over 11% of her winning margin of 1,905 votes in only FOUR voting precincts. This included a very good early voting and absentee voting! We sent quite a message, which is…. don’t mess with Ivanhoe!

If you don’t already know, Beverly Ann Gallagher is our newly re-elected School Board Member. I am sure she would love to hear from each of you who supported her.

Do not let anyone tell you that Ivanhoe does not vote!  This was a very low turnout election and we did great job. There are too many individual people to recognize, but you all know exactly who you are.

This was a very, very ugly race filled with a load of negative campaigning, but we always kept it professional and prevailed. We also have to thank the Hawkes Bluff E-mail guru Bob Giordano, Val O’Connor for the Ivanhoe Civic Association website and Ken Cimetta from Keep us Rural website for spreading the good word.

Reminder…

The FIRST WEST BROWARD HIGH Parent/ Teacher Student MEETING (PTSA) is TOMORROW NIGHT ….THURSDAY at 7pm (Media Center) !!!!!!!!

Please go to the West Broward High website to see the new information:

 http://www.westbrowardhigh.com or contact the PTSA at …. West Broward HS PTSA [westbrowardhsptsa@gmail.com]

Just please take the time to show up and see what a great program and school we will make the best in the county!

We all have busy schedules, but what is more important than your child’s education?

Go Bobcats!

John Pickett

Hawkes Bluff

Posted August 23, 2008

Posted August 16, 2008

Troubles are history, future an open book at new West Broward High School

New high school to open on edge of the Everglades

By Kathy Bushouse | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

August 15, 2008

continued troubles are history

Posted July 10, 2008

As a follow up to the incident that happened in Waverly Hundred in February as well as other areas of Ivanhoe, regarding the guy who was caught hiding in the bushes beneath windows of houses, the upcoming court appearance is currently scheduled from July 21 thru July 25 in room 347 at 8:30 a.m.  The exact date to appear is not confirmed yet but will be on the website when it is known.  If anyone wants to come out to the courthouse and show their support it would be greatly appreciated. This guy needs to be put away and not be allowed to drive around our neighborhoods and pose a threat to our children. Will keep you posted as to the exact date of the hearing. The following are the original posts to remind you of the incidents:

Posted June 6, 2008

Posted June 4, 2008

You're Invited to Join us
 

Endorsed by: 

Broward Teachers Union, Education, Technical Support and Charter Schools

AFL-CIO, Police Benevolent Association, Broward Principals and Assistant Principals, 

Broward Community College, Broward Para-Professionals Association, BTU-Retire Chapter

as we kick-off

Beverly "Bev " Gallagher's

Campaign for Re-Election
to the Broward County School Board
District 2

Monday, June 9, 2008
From 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm
At the Grand Palms Country Club
110 Grand Palms Dr., Pembroke Pines, FL 33027

Refreshments, entertainment and lots of fun for
the entire family!  Bring the kids!

Please RSVP by June 6 to 954-435-5918
or BevAGallagher@aol.com

For more information on Bev Gallagher,
Please visit her website www.beverlygallagher.com!

Directions:
Take I-75 South towards Miami
Merge onto West Pines Boulevard via Exit 9 B
Turn Left onto Grand Palms Drive/ SW 150th Ave
Make your first Right to end at 110 Grand Palms Dr

 

Posted May 31, 2008

Dear friends,

I am thinking about speaking at the Town Council meeting during the OPEN Forum next week, being the first council meeting of the month. Residents will have three minutes to express opinions and I intend to inform them of the outcome of the high school boundary issue and the apparent and probable elimination of the MMM construction project. Davie opposed any consideration to build MMM in Davie and did NOT feel compelled (until the very last second) to support our area (Ivanhoe/south of Griffin) to help us in this boundary concern. As a county we will certainly have more MEGA schools, with more additions vs. any new schools to address overcrowding. Many believe the school board is no longer in the business of building any new schools after this last round of workshops and boundary decisions. We will have to drive much, much farther to our designated school, West Broward High but we as a community have embraced the school as evidenced by the majority of participation in the PT(S)A and SAF coming from Ivanhoe and Southwest Ranches.

As a FACT, Marlon Luis, who represents us here in Ivanhoe has endorsed Beverly Gallagher, who as our district member was the ONLY School Board member fighting for our needs here in Ivanhoe. Other Davie elected officials, who do not represent us, are non-committal or are siding with Bev’s opponent, who has not been representing our needs.

Many of us living here or having businesses in Ivanhoe have the overall feeling that Davie (as a town council and government body) does not participate or have much of an interest in assisting our area, unless they feel it can politically help them out or somebody complains about something. They seem to be reactive, not proactive. I heard last week a resident state that we are “step-children of Davie, not real residents”. One council member has referred to us as “non-horse residents”. I wonder what they call Imagination Farms, Long Lake Estates and Shenandoah? The fact is we out here have a HUGE commercial base of tax money that supports the entire town and we need more attention as citizens. Unless we speak up, we will continue to be ignored.  As many say, no participation means there are no problems or needs.

Here are a list of issues that many residents feel need attention and participation from our Davie elected officials. We need a few more Ivanhoe residents to participate in this opportunity to speak on issues they feel need to be “pointed out” to the council. My three minutes will be used up by the education issue unless we can get a member of the PTSA to speak at the meeting...

Þ      I-75 wall issue (funding or assistance to get a better wall built, maybe extension of the existing wood fence)

Þ      Participation of possible construction of multi-use path over I-75 on Stirling, between 148^th and Dykes Road. Where are the plans? Meetings?

Þ      NO indoor gym or youth sports programs on the west side, we have outside facilities: tennis courts, sand volleyball, basketball and racquetball at Waverly 100 and Waterford – do we want to look into having built an indoor gym or better indoor facility at Waverly Park where there is room? Many of us feel the outside facilities are underused, because of the heat issues and an inside gym facility would be better utilized. Where do our kids go to participate in sports? Weston or Pembroke Pines?

Þ      Roads have not been recoated or repaved since inception of the community and many sidewalks are cracked and broken.

Þ      Greenway areas are in poor shape and are mostly weeds, just mowed occasionally with no irrigation. Because of our communities “manicured look” should we have upgraded landscaping and better maintained in the medians? (Stirling Road / around parks)

Þ      Police presence – Most of the HOA’s PAY separately for extra detail patrols and a question is why do other areas get better coverage from our Police Department? We have had too many break-ins and crime

Þ      Other issues:?????

Please keep communicating our needs to Davie, as these are all important issues and you all know the adage; the squeaky wheel…..

John Pickett

Hawkes Bluff

(Ivanhoe Civic Association)

Posted May 31, 2008

Plan scrapped for new high school in SW Broward

Superintendent says prices for Davie and Weston sites too steep to consider

By Kathy Bushouse | South Florida Sun-Sentinel, May 27, 2008

Posted May 23, 2008

Needed by Tuesday 5/27, in the early AM at the latest!

Please read the following article. The newspaper article shows there are only 700 kids over for this new school…??? !!! )

These articles justify 100% our requests for NO boundary changes until we knew what was happening with MMM. We are settled in West Broward High and we should be grateful. This issue is certain to bring the true colors out of the Weston folks.

I have to agree with Mr. Notter that how can they justify $120 million for a small school when they moved so many students in the last recent boundary change? ANOTHER “private” high school in Weston? There are 700 seats open at Plantation alone. 10,000 for the whole county.

If you are so compelled to write and or let the powers to be know how you feel, please do so to the following e-mails or call the school board. supt_notter@browardschools.com      schoolboard@browardschools.com  

To Mr. Notter, thank him for a wise and prudent recommendation. To the Board write your opposition to the MMM funding.

Also, Please do NOT forget to participate in the school by joining the West Broward PSAT ( PTA ). Dues are only $5 for students and $10 for parents and business partners. - John

Superintendent: Hold off on high school in west Broward

By Kathy Bushouse and Susannah Bryan | South Florida Sun-Sentinel  May 21, 2008

Posted May 17, 2008

Dear Friends & Neighbors who will be attending West Broward High School,

A VOTE and selection of the members for the West Broward High School Advisory and PTA will be held on:

May 21, Wednesday at 7pm at the SOUTH AREA offices, SUNSHINE ROOM corner of Sunrise Blvd and 136^th Avenue.  On the SW corner opposite Sawgrass Mills Mall. See address and directions below.

SHOW UP EARLY!

IF you are interested in having a voice on the direction and wish to be involved with our new HIGH SCHOOL, please attend this meeting and VOTE for our representatives to these important advisory boards.

IN the past, our resident parents have NOT been as involved in these advisory boards and therefore we were less informed than many other parents in surrounding communities. Currently, we will have about 300 children attending West Broward High from our Ivanhoe Communities.

WE NEED representation on these boards and the ensuing committees !!!!.

DUES will be collected for these groups this evening, so bring your checkbook. (Small amount $5-$10)

You received a recent phone message at home concerning this meeting urging your attendance.

Currently, Pembroke Pines has the majority of members on the Silver Trail advisory boards with almost NO representation for Davie and Southwest Ranches.

As a community, we have seen where involvement and participation in these parent groups can have an extreme impact on what happens at the school level.

WE ALL HAVE SAID WE WILL EMBRACE OUR SCHOOL AND BECOME ACTIVE.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE. There is time involvement, but more important is the participation in the ideals, integrity and morals that we want to have instilled in our school, WEST BROWARD HIGH!

GO BOBCATS!

See you at the meeting……………   Please RSVP at jjpickett@bellsouth.net and let us know of your intention to show up and vote or become an active board member. Remember, there will be a VOTE and we NEED to be represented!!!

SEE address below… or call West Broward High at 754-323-2600. The meeting is in the “sunshine room”.

This office is at the corner of Sunrise Blvd and 136^th Avenue.  On the SW corner opposite Sawgrass Mills Mall.

(It is a tricky drive once you are in the complex.)  

Driving directions: From I-75: Sunrise Exit and turn Right at light 136th Ave (which is also Harrison Parkway)

Directions from Flamingo Rd.: turn Right at light 136th Ave (which is also Harrison Parkway)

Turn right into Sawgrass Technology Park, and immediately turn left at sign that says SAW (for SAWGRASS)

Drive all the way around towards the back, go past two lakes on the left side

Turn right at the second light, you'll see Building H, it's a red tiled building, the door is next to AMRO

The meeting will be in the Sunshine Room.

Actual address:

South Area Superintendent’s Office

1643 North Harrison Parkway

Building H

Sunrise, Florida 33328

(754) 321-3600

Posted May 13, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY      

Rep. Martin David Kiar (D-97) to host Environmental Fair and Light Bulb Exchange                                                                                  

Davie, FL –Florida State Representative Martin David Kiar (D-97) and Philips Lighting are teaming up to give two compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to anyone who brings in at least one incandescent bulb, while supplies last.  The CFL bulbs use 75% to 80% less electricity and last up to ten times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb, and produce considerably less heat.  Old bulbs will be recycled.

This event will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Robbins Park, located at 4005 Hiatus Road in Davie.  Other exhibitors will include the South Florida Water Management District, Florida Power & Light, Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Division -  Air Quality Program, 4-H Broward County, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Natural Energy, Broward County’s Water Resource Division and the Town of Davie.

“Given the need for each of us to eventually convert to eco-friendly bulbs, it made perfect sense to partner with these great organizations and offer this to my constituents and all area residents,” said Kiar.  “Having grown up right here in Broward County, I’ve always appreciated the wonderful environmental landscape in which we live.  In order to preserve that quality of life for future generations, we need to become conscious of our carbon footprint and learn how to take steps now to conserve water and electricity, which is a simple way for us all to begin this process.”

Philips Lighting has generously donated these bulbs for our residents, to maintain their goal of “working to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of our future generations to meet their own needs.”

For residents unable to attend the event, please call the office at 954-346-2813 for information on how to exchange your incandescent bulb for a new CFL.

Posted May 9, 2008

The latest news is that Dan Trager, the new principal at West Broward High School, will be available to attend our general PTA/SAC/SAF meeting at Hawkes Bluff Elementary on May 15th at 6:30pm.  This invitation is extended to the Town of SW Ranches to join us. 

Posted May 9, 2008

Modified Phase II Water Order Begins April 18 (see Community Links)

Posted April 17, 2008

Thousands of SW Broward students to shift high schools

The battle over the southwest Broward student reshuffle raged until a final vote late into the night Wednesday, and most people weren't happy.

• Parents speak out against new school boundaries that will relocate thousands of students Video
• Boundary dispute: Overcrowding at Cypress Bay High School Photos
• Where the boundaries are

Posted April 14, 2008

Dear friends of Ivanhoe (Hawkes Bluff Elementary) children,

This Wednesday, April 16^th will possibly be the last chance to speak for or against the proposed Cypress Bay boundary changes. 5:30 at Plantation High.

There are differing opinions on this subject, however most opinions I have heard lean to allowing the existing students to serve out their high school careers at Cypress Bay, then start this change with the new high school for the incoming freshmen. This amendment has been floated by school board members this week. Read the blog at sunsentinel.com and there are some interesting opinions.

As you know some of us (are diehard’s) disagree, and feel the school board should not perform any boundary changes until MMM is determined to either be built or not built. These are serious times, both financially and politically and this boundary and MMM vote affects many, many children and families.  There is so much wasted money in this process. Just in transportation today at over $3.35 per gallon of gas, we need to watch this process carefully.

Many believe, with justification, this process has been basically high-jacked from the inception by the staff in the boundary department with much influence from those few Weston residents with the goal to maintain a “Weston Only” city high school. There is no other logical, financial or “overcrowding” reasoning, at least until the “MMM” site is decided upon. There WILL be many changes again next year and we (as Ivanhoe) do NOT desire to be placed in this position just four short years down the road. Now we hear through the Sun Sentinel article this weekend, a report to lower the MMM capacity from 2000 students to 1700, which would effectively give them TWO Weston City schools, if the Bergeron property is chosen. The process can keep our community out and attempt to bring back the Bonaventure children. This is a tough battle for our little community, since basically every SW Broward political candidate, elected official and school board member in Broward County has some stake (?) in this decision. Weston officials and residents have proved more interested and politically savvy in this process than Davie, however, we still think there are ”things” going on, none of us are aware of at this point. They truly believe Cypress Bay High should be a Weston School vs. a county school.

We know Cypress Bay is in need of restrooms and possibly a cafeteria upgrade, but that is a whole lot cheaper than building a new school. We are however in a great position, being West Broward IS a new school albeit so, so incredibly far from our neighborhood.

Attend this Meeting Wednesday at 5:30pm at Plantation High. If you wish to speak or see our school boards “political machine” in action.

click here for: Past related Newspaper Articles

Posted April 13, 2008

Posted April 13, 2008

School Board faces choice on building high school in SW Broward

Boundaries could change if new campus not approved

Despite an abundance of empty classroom desks countywide, some Broward school officials are willing to pay a premium for land to build a new high school.

The asking price for the two sites under consideration is twice the appraised value. Yet some School Board members would rather build the campus than face the upheaval of redrawing boundaries for more than two dozen high schools.

The proposed school in southwest Broward, dubbed High School MMM for now, would cost about $125 million and hold about 1,700 students. Broward's existing high schools are now under-enrolled by about 7,000 students total.

"You talk about a two-by-four in the back of the head. That's what this is," said School Board member Bob Parks, who favors redrawing boundaries. "The data screams that you don't need it."
 

The problem: Most of the crowded schools are in southwest Broward, and most of the empty desks are in central and east Broward.

Changing boundaries at just a few schools makes "people go berserk," said board member Maureen Dinnen, who hasn't made up her mind but worries that waiting could drive up land costs.

A decision must be made soon. The state approved the new school when classrooms were bursting countywide. If the district does not buy the land and sign a construction contract by Oct. 31, the state must re-approve the campus. And such approval may be unlikely now, given Broward's empty classrooms, said Schools Superintendent Jim Notter.

The two parcels, according to district documents and officials:

• 30 acres at Southwest 36th Street and South Post Road in Weston owned by land developer Ron Bergeron, a reluctant seller in a city desperate for a new high school. Bergeron bought the property for $1 million in 2000. The school system appraisal price came in at $10 million, and a district committee recommended a maximum offer of $11.7 million. Bergeron wants $24 million. He could not be reached for comment despite three phone calls to his office. In the past, Bergeron said he wanted the property condemned so he wouldn't be taxed on the profits for three years.

• 32 acres at Southwest 26th Street and Flamingo Road in Davie owned by brothers Daniel, Troy and Wayne Weekley, eager sellers in a town vehemently opposed to the school partly because it takes land off the tax rolls. Though school officials won't say specifically what the appraisal price is, they say the asking price, $14.4 million, is about twice the appraised value. The Weekley brothers began buying the land little-by-little six years ago, with a goal of selling.

"There are not many 30-acre parcels left. That's why we were willing to invest our money into it," said Daniel Weekley, who along with his brothers owns Weekley Asphalt Paving, which does business with private developers and local governments, including Fort Lauderdale, Davie and the school district.

"If the School Board wants it, they can take it. If they don't, they don't. It will be developed into something."

High School MMM has been on the books since at least 2001. The new school was part of a $3.4 billion plan to add classrooms throughout Broward to meet the state's 2011 class-size amendment deadline. Broward has already added 192 new high school classrooms for about $38 million.

But enrollment started to slide in 2005-06, reflecting an overall dip in the county population. And now, many desks are empty.

"Nobody really predicted 55,800 people exiting," Superintendent James Notter said about Broward's overall two-year population decline to 1.76 million this year.

Most of the under-enrolled high schools, including seven that recently received new classrooms, are in central and eastern Broward. Blanche Ely, Dillard and Fort Lauderdale high schools, for example, were each under-enrolled by more than 800 students this school year.

There are, however, still high schools bursting at the seams. Most are in southwest Broward: Cypress Bay, Everglades, Flanagan and Miramar.

"There's a need for a school out here," said Byron Jaffe, a Weston parent and civic activist who has pushed for the new campus. The schools with space are not in places where they are needed, Jaffe said, and using them as a reason not to build MMM "is a weak excuse."

Some relief is coming thanks to pending boundary changes and West Broward High School, a new $120 million campus in Pembroke Pines opening this fall.

 

Money tight

Redrawing boundaries "has always been a short-term solution," said Jaffe, whose children next year will enter Cypress Bay in Weston — currently the largest high school in the nation, with about 5,500 students. "My intent in this whole process was never to [move] out all of these people from Cypress Bay but to get a new school."

Change boundary lines to ship those students to the under-enrolled schools, and "you could have World War III on your hands," said Dinnen, whose district covers Plantation and eastern Fort Lauderdale.

Building a new high school would be easier for the board, said parent-activist Nick Sakhnovsky, vice chairman of the Facilities Task Force, a district oversight committee.

"They would probably rather spend money than deal with boundaries," Sakhnovsky said. "Even though they don't want to spend the money, and, to be frank, they don't really know if they have the money."

District administrators say they don't know exactly how South Florida's poor economy and recent statewide tax cuts will affect funding, but they know their budget will take a hit. Already this school year, money from the state to the district has been cut by about $68.4 million. And, they're expecting a $325 million drop in construction money over the next five years.

Notter expects High School MMM's cost to match the $120 million price on West Broward High in Pembroke Pines. When asked if the district can afford a new high school, Notter said other projects would be sacrificed.

The School Board must make a decision on MMM and its overall school construction wish list, which must be approved by the Florida Department of Education by Oct. 31. If it doesn't ink a deal by then, the new school would have to be re-approved by the state as part of the district's next five-year construction plan. The district must get permission from the state to build the new school.

"We need to be proactive and secure a site, especially since land is scarce at this point," said Board Chairwoman Robin Bartleman, who represents the district countywide. "Five years from now, there will be growth in west Broward — still."

By Akilah Johnson and Kathy Bushouse | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Akilah Johnson can be reached at akjohnson@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4527.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/sfl-flbmmm0413sbapr13,0,1262672.story

Posted April 1, 2008

The pictures below are of a vehicle that continues to park his Transportation Vehicle in front of our development. He and another truck driver park their trucks all night on the northwest side of Stirling at the entrance to Hawkes Bluff and the southeast side of Stirling at the entrance to Waverly. Sometimes their running lights are left on all night that bothers the residents living behind where they park. Not only is this an eye-sore for all residents, it is illegal.  This driver continues to do this every week. If anyone knows these individuals please tell them to park elsewhere.

Posted March 14, 2008

Posted March 10, 2008

Posted March 9, 2008

Posted February 22, 2008

Hello, everyone here is a story that the Sun-Sentinel wrote on this issue. Thank you all so much for taking such a pro-active role and informing me, the Town of Southwest Ranches and the Broward Sheriff's office of this issue. Because of your desire and commitment to keep our community safe, these individuals on parole were rightfully removed from this land. Thank you again, as always I am so proud of our residents.

Take care,

Rep. Martin David Kiar

South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Homeless felons bounced from Everglades and Cooper City camps
By Kathleen Kernicky
Sun-Sentinel.com
3:55 PM EST, February 19, 2008
Homeless felons, including registered sex offenders, have been forced by deputies to move from a campsite near the Everglades in Southwest Ranches and from an eight-acre site in Cooper City.

Late last week, eight men were evicted from a wooded site near U.S. 27 and Griffin Road that is owned by the South Florida Water Management District. The district did not want them there, said Broward Sheriff's Office Commander George Jarboe.

On Tuesday, four men were told to vacate a private, eight-acre site near the 5000 block of Flamingo Road in Cooper City. The site was too close to a place where children gather, said Gretl Plessinger, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections.

Some of the men have been forced to move several times because state law requires that registered sex offenders live at least 1,000 feet from schools, parks, bus stops and places where children congregate. Many South Florida cities have similar or stricter ordinances.

The men's presence set off alarms in Southwest Ranches, where a mass email circulated over the weekend.

"They had tents, barbecue grills, generators. Quite an elaborate campsite," said Jarboe, who did not know how long the men had been living there.

"We contacted them and their probation officers and told them they were trespassing, and they needed to move. They said, 'no problem.' When we went to check on them [ Saturday], they were gone," Jarboe said.

Plessinger said it is not the state's responsibility to find housing for the offenders.

"It's their job to find a residence. It's our job to approve the residence," said Plessinger, who said there are less than 40 registered sex offenders statewide who are homeless and on probation. The majority live in South Florida, including 16 who live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway bridge in Miami Beach, she said.

"It is becoming increasingly difficult for them to find a place to live," Plessinger said. "Some of these offenders have looked at a dozen different residences, and each has been too close to a school or a bus stop or a place" where they are banned.

State Rep. Martin Kiar, D-Davie, who received an email from a Southwest Ranches resident complaining about the Everglades camp, has filed a bill for the upcoming session that would require sex offenders and predators to list their cell phone numbers. Now, they are required to give addresses and email, but not phone numbers.

Scott Barrocas

Legislative Aide to Representative Martin David Kiar

House of Representatives

(850) 487-1588

(954) 346-2813

Posted February 18, 2008

Parolees living in the woods near the corner of Griffin and US 27

Reported by Mark Modrich

Posted February 13, 2008

Dear friends and neighbors,

Please forward this to whomever you might feel would be interested.

As you may know, today the School Board held a workshop regarding boundaries for West Broward High (LLL). You will read about this event in the newspaper’s tomorrow 2/14.

To frame this letter, last Wednesday, Phyllis Hope spoke to Davie Town Council attempting to have them NOT approve a resolution opposing the MMM site on 26^th Street and Flamingo, which we as a neighborhood generally approve. She requested time (two weeks)  to give the school Board the time needed to further negotiate and asked for the Towns help. Specifically, Tom Truex was very verbal and actually confrontational…. at the end, she was not successful and the resolution passed 4-1 with Bryan Caletka dissenting.  The Town Council did support  a resolution supporting scenario 4.3, in a 3-2 vote, with Tom Truex and Mike Crowley dissenting. In saying this…

Today was NOT a good day for our cause to try and keep our children at Cypress Bay. In a straw poll of the board members, after much discussion, it appeared to be at least 5 and possibly six to approve 4.1 (S), which effectively takes ALL students south of Griffin Road, including SWRanches east and west to LLL (West Broward). The school board cannot officially vote, however it appears regardless of what happens at the official “PUBLIC HEARINGS”, we will not have 4.3 (The community compromise map) passed by this school board, unless something drastic occurs... like a lawsuit or intervention by other public entities, like the Florida Department of Education. I do not think this kind of activity will occur at this time.

This was and is a very political event and there were apparently a load of pressure applied from many directions. Obviously we are not very politically connected.

In fact, Superintendent Notter opened the meeting by completely endorsing 4.1. based on the current set of circumstances they are dealing with.  This is a case where we appear to have been excluded from the process. This School Board does NOT care about anything but numbers to reduce Cypress Bay and the political forces in Weston have effectively “won their vote” for this round. It is NOT right, and this “decision” did not consider changes in Class Size amendment, or MMM being built. They dismissed these ever changing items and rather cut apart the 4.3 scenario based on numbers, feeder patterns, busing and with the facts we are currently under. They had set in motion very early on that 4.1 was the “golden” scenario. IF PASSED after the next TWO public hearings, it will be official. This will make Cypress Bay High an EXCLUSIVE Weston High School. Once we are out, we will never go back. We should make West Broward High the best school in the county. One item that did come up was that our own area was NOT 100% supporting 4.3. The area TAZ 611 especially was noted by Stephanie Kraft as having many, many letters upset that they were not left at Cypress Bay and this was used against the “community” map. This recent action did weaken our case, which many predicted this action by the residents would. While we understand the concern, we also knew this whole deal was driven by sheer numbers and in the end, we only had 120 or so more students at CBHS than Map 4.1.

Now our decision will be WHAT TO DO NEXT??? Should we attend the PUBLIC hearings (TIMES BELOW) and speak loudly against this 4.1 scenario. There will be many addendums added and these will be very long nights, bring your blankets and coffee. I anticipate 500 or more parents in attendance protesting this workshop “decision” and the exclusion of the items that will change this decision, like MMM and class size. In addition, the “WESTON” parents will be their supporting their case to keep their semi-private High school all to themselves, paid for by us, the tax payers, without the ability to attend the school closest to our home.

or…. Do you as a community wish to just go with the decision and attend West Broward and get away from this insanity?

The Town of Davie should also be ashamed not to support our needs as a “whole” community as well, by opposing the 26^th street site. I believe the Town has lost a load of respect here in Ivanhoe and at the school Board level.

The school board has officially said, they will try and build MMM, however, if that happens, they will either make the school smaller, OR try and bounced part or all of us back to Cypress Bay or MMM. This was something we all could see happening as early as November last year. Most of us do not believe MMM will be built and in fact, the school Board discussed NOT building NN Middle school (the ninth grade annex) at all, but use the land for administrative needs/offices.

Many things can happen, however, it is believed the following could occur.

Þ      MMM may not be built at all and the other schools may be super-sized.

Þ      S W R’s parents will have a longer drive and over dangerous routes to get to LLL.

Þ      We may be forced to move two more times in four to five years as kids matriculate through the system.

Þ      Class size will be loosened and the requirement and rush to move all of us was un-needed.

Þ      MMM might be built and we would be forced to move again to fill the school.

We need to know from YOU, the parents what you wish to do…Please also ask you children to stay above this controversy and not be upset, as they might hear comments from other students. Let us know if this does occur and please contact the school guidance department immediately with your concern and report the incident to the school.  In addition, let us know what occurred, so we can keep a record of the inappropriate activities, if they occur.

Please let us know what you wish to do, so we can either keep up the pressure or not.

Best regards,

John Pickett - Hawkes Bluff

Posted February 8, 2008

Posted February 4, 2008

Today, at 6:30 a.m. a man was arrested on Ravenswick terr. after he was found hiding behind some bushes, under a homeowners window. The window was at his daughter's bedroom. After a violent struggle with the homeowner and then finally some neighbors, he was held until the police arrived. The suspect is a 34yr. old male that lives in pembroke pines. His record has shown he has done this before. When he was caught this morning, his zipper was down. Please pass this on to friends, family and/or neighbors and remind them to keep their doors locked and windows closed. Keep a look out for each other and don't be afraid to call the police if anything in our neighborhood look suspicious.  Thanks, Al Hollinger

Update February 8, 2008

Posted January 27, 2008

The Town of Davie will hold its first public workshop on the Local Road Master Plan

Workshop will be held on February 7, 2008 6:30pm - 8:00pm at the Davie Police Station 1230 South Nob Hill Road

For more information contact the Planning and Zoning division at 954-797-1103. Councilmembers may be present.

Posted January 12, 2008

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

Action needed before the Davie Town Council Meeting - 7pm –THIS  Wednesday January 16^th!!!!

Please read this e-mail, especially if you have school aged children or forward to friends with school aged children.

The following are events that have occurred regarding a new high school site and school boundaries that may change affecting us here in Ivanhoe. I have them listed separately, however they are all really one issue that fits together…. kind of like a political puzzle.

Þ      High School MMM will be built on one of two preferred 30 acre sites. In DAVIE, at SW 26^th Street and Flamingo Road on the EAST side of Flamingo, is the site preferred by the superintendent of schools.

The second site is in WESTON, on 36^th Street just west and slightly North of Cypress Bay High. Sometime before March a decision on one of these sites will be made by the school board. The problem is the 26^th Street site still has a lot of studies to be completed.

Þ      Negotiations on the two sites have NOT started with the landowners, Dan Weekley who owns the Davie site or Ron Bergeron, who owns the Weston site.

Þ      A contract must be signed on the land by October 2008.

Þ      Sue Starkey and Bryan Caletka have both lobbied AGAINST the site in Davie, citing neighborhood wishes not to have the school built there. Close proximity to the nearest high school, Traffic, noise, lights, loss of tax revenue and crime were also cited. The neighbors at the WESTON site are also lobbying against that site due to the same arguments. Neither site is perfect. (New Information – The school board staff site presentation to citizens was well attended and most complaints were from people living close to the site, with few speaking for the site. Only a very few parents of school aged children showed to complain, (most don’t have an opinion). Sue Starkey spoke AGAINST the site with Bryan Caletka not in attendance)

Þ      The Davie site is currently less expensive and is currently showing a shorter time frame for construction than the Weston site.

Þ      For THIS YEAR AUGUST 2008, IVANHOE children are in the middle of a High School boundary debate with a vote in March to send us possibly to “LLL” at Johnson and US 27. (NEW INFORMATION – The only CAR entrance to LLL is at PINES BLVD near the Post office, which is FARTHER for our travel time).

Þ      In addition, THESE boundaries INCLUDE 700-800 WESTON kids attending WESTERN HIGH> ( NEW INFORMATION – The 36 classroom addition needed to move the WESTON kids, will NOT be ready until Summer 2009)

Þ      The main reason for the boundary discussions were 1) the class size amendment will force 25 kids per class and Cypress Bay would NOT meet the requirement and 2) Cypress Bay is overcrowded. NEW INFORMATION – In today’s Sun-Sentinel, the Florida legislature is proposing HIGHER LIMITS on class size to keep an AVERAGE of 25 with a cap of FIVE additional. THIS will be a great thing for our concerns and could make MOOT the need for ANY boundary Changes - YES!!!!)

Þ      NOW the MOST IMPORTANT piece RIGHT NOW is DAVIE is bringing up in OLD BUSINESS at THIS WEDNESDAY’S meeting the MMM site proposal in DAVIE. OUR BEST GUESS is that the DAVIE COUNCIL will try and decide to either ENDORSE the site OR OPPOSE the DAVIE site.

Þ      ALSO – NO Changes to the current Boundary ! !

Þ       

Þ      ACTION NEEDED:

        Þ      WE NEED the DAVIE site to at LEAST continue to be considered along with the WESTON site. We must say what we want, either by E-MAIL to DAVIE council, or show up at Wednesday’s meeting to speak/show support or MAKE PHONE CALLS asking that the DAVIE SCHOOL SITE NOT be opposed. WE NEED that DAVIE site to be at LEAST considered with NO changes to the CURRENT Boundaries. Contact BOTH the Davie town council AND the school board members.

Þ      WE NEED MMM Built

 IF we are boundared OUT of Cypress Bay this March, and a site is NOT yet Chosen, we MAY be having to attend LLL forever, or may be AGAIN re-boundared back to Cypress Bay down the road once MMM is built. The main concern for us is that the Davie Site will be up in 3 -4 years, but the Weston site might take five-six years. WE need to DEMAND the DAVIE site be chosen, simply because of the timeframes involved. If you DO wish to attend LLL, let them know that as well. We just think there SHOULD be two sites to negotiate with and why “KILL” the Davie site NOW, when it is not in our best interests or the best for the kids?

IF our boundary issue is tabled or remains as is for this year, then the site selection is less of an issue.

If you have questions, please e-mail me and I will answer what I can or call me at 954-296-7800.

Information on BOTH sites are found at the Broward School Board SITE

Ivanhoe Civic Association

John Pickett

Posted January 10, 2008

There is info on the new taxes and impact on the cities and education as well as split opinions on these tax issues. Go to www.bcpa.net website to see how the proposed amendment will impact you if you upsize or downsize.

Posted January 3, 2008

Dear friends and neighbors,

Happy new year.

Below please read the recent Sun-Sentinel article asking that we as residents show up next Tuesday at

 7pm, at Western High’s auditorium. There will be a presentation of high school site MMM at 26^th Street

 and Flamingo Road that may effect Ivanhoe, West Davie and SW Ranches.

As we know, and by the article, our Davie council members Susan Starkey and Bryan Caletka are current opposed to any high school on Flamingo. They generally feel this is a “Weston” problem, even though we as Davie Ivanhoe and SW Ranches residents are being proposed to be bussed out to “LLL” or West Broward High on Johnson and US 27. The article quotes Ms. Starkey as stating the school at Flamingo will “domino” kids and “tear our community apart”.  These statements I believe, are less than accurate statements that bring negativity to having a new school in Davie. Before we can even HEAR about the plans, we are being told “NO”. Let us at least see what the plans are and HOW the site might affect us before making judgments.  Many, many communities in South Florida and basically the United States would embrace a plan to have a new high school, however some residents and council members are opposed…

Many on the school board and in Davie think there are no down sides to the Flamingo site, with the exception of probable traffic concerns on Flamingo, which will occur anyway with any kind of development on Flamingo. The opposition may also be about taxes that Davie will not gain by commercially developing the property and the fact that the competing site (in Weston) is owned by a longtime Davie resident and developer, who has close ties to many in the Town.

The fact is (as indicated in the article) the Flamingo site is estimated at 24.6 MILLION dollars less

 expensive and will take a full year less to build.

The true fact is we all want the school built at the least expensive and quickest site, since WE, here in Ivanhoe, are some of the students being possibly sent to “LLL”, which we all know is quite a distance to travel. No doubt, it will be a great school. Our district councilmember Marlon Luis, is generally supportive of the Flamingo site, but wants to hear more from US, as residents.

We also need to send a clearer message to the school board members that these proposed boundary changes may NOT be needed... If the School Board can find a better way to schedule or find better solutions to the overcrowding and class size concerns. NOBODY wants to move out of Cypress Bay High and the best solution, would be NO CHANGE, IF it is feasible!

Thanks in advance for showing up on Tuesday and voicing your opinion, be it for or against the Davie School site for “MMM”.

Opinions sought from Davie residents on new high school

By Susannah Bryan | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

DAVIE - Broward schools Superintendent James Notter wants to know what Davie residents think about building a new high school in town to relieve crowding at Cypress Bay High in Weston.

At the Town Council's request, Notter has scheduled a public meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday to solicit community input on plans to put the school in Davie. The meeting will be in the auditorium at Western High School, 1200 SW 136th Ave.

School Board officials have said they will let cost determine where the county's newest high school will go: a 31-acre site at Flamingo Road and Southwest 26th Street in Davie or a swath of land on the edge of the Everglades in Weston.

The school has been dubbed MMM until a name is chosen.

Building the school at the Davie intersection would cost $97.1 million and take about four years, the cheapest and quickest option. Building the school in Weston would cost $121.7 million and take five years.

Tom Coates, the school system's site acquisition director, came to Davie Town Hall in late December to let the council know about the proposed community meeting.

Vice Mayor Bryan Caletka told Coates he was "vehemently against" a new high school coming to Davie because it was bad for the town's tax rolls and students.

"You're going to have a very tough sell when it comes to my vote," Caletka said.

Councilwoman Susan Starkey told Coates the school should be built in Weston, where most of the kids who need the new school live.

"It will domino our kids," she said, predicting that Davie children would be moved to other schools to make way for kids from Weston.

Earlier this year, some Weston residents loudly opposed the district's proposal to build the school on land owned by the Bonaventure Country Club.

"This issue will end up tearing our community apart just like it did in Weston," Starkey said.

Posted December 26, 2007

Posted December 20, 2007

Weston students won't suffer by going to Western High

By Deannamarie Loucks

I am a junior at Western High School, and I go to school with contemporaries who range in age from 14 to 18. I find it strange how one Weston parent seems to think the Cypress Bay age group is any different from Western's.

I have been in the Broward County School system for several years, and our authorities have always preached to us kindness, cooperation and tolerance. It's funny how a community that works constantly to teach equality suddenly turns its back when a situation like the movement of Cypress Bay students arises. According to South Florida Sun-Sentinel reporter Akilah Johnson, the "lines have been drawn" within the Broward school system regarding Weston students who will go to city schools and those who will not.

Frustration has risen from Weston parents, who say that only children whose parents pay Weston taxes should attend A-rated schools in Weston. What about the A-rated schools elsewhere, such as Western High (our principal, Scott Fiske, led us to be recognized as an "A" school last year)?

The fact of the matter is Weston parents are not afraid that their children will be sent to "bad" schools;"it is simply that they fear their children going to poor communities outside of Weston. Weston isn't the only wealthy city in Broward, despite what its residents may think. Well-groomed, maybe, but definitely not the only wealthy city. I would like to know what a child must do, besides have wealthy parents, to deserve to go to an A-rated school.

It is sheer ignorance that has propelled these Weston parents so far as to swarm e-mails around Broward County school officials and create a Web site. After all, according to the Sun-Sentinel story, aren't several freshmen already being shuttled to an annex in Sunrise? What is the difference if the incoming freshman were sent to another school, a facility where they would receive a more centralized education? The answer: It's not Weston.

I work for a doctor in Weston, and as I commute from my beautiful home in Davie, I notice no difference between it and Weston, except possibly the trees aligning the roadways and the horizontal stoplights instead of the vertical ones.

Additionally, I would know of no parents from my school that work three jobs, and if sending a few e-mails makes a person "savvy," my parents, and my contemporaries, must be experts. We don't write e-mails to save our students from going elsewhere; we write e-mails to make a difference toward worthwhile causes, like PTA meetings and fundraisers.

Board Member Beverly Gallagher mentions that this is a "very tense issue," because it not only concerns relieving students to go to Cypress Bay, but "the way they go to high school." Here at Western, we have buses, and believe it or not, a car line and parking lot!

In regards to what one incoming freshman said about not wanting to come to Western, where she would be around "all kinds of people," I would just like to let this young lady, as well as the potential new Weston students, know that we are just like them. We go to class, eat lunch with our contemporaries, and we even go to football games.

On the first day of school next year, if the plan to send Cypress Bay students to Western succeeds, I along with my contemporaries will jump off our horses and welcome the new students from Weston with open arms, not for their sake, but for the hope that they may tell their parents that going to school with "all kinds of people" is what life is all about.

Deannamarie Loucks is a resident of Davie.
 

Posted December 11, 2007

Posted December 11, 2007

Broward School Board split on new high school

By Akilah Johnson | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

December 11, 2007

The fate of Broward County's newest high school was put on hold yet again Monday night when School Board members couldn't agree on where to build the campus, if at all.

School Board members Bob Parks and Stephanie Kraft think the district should scrap the plans and instead add classrooms at Flanagan and Everglades high schools as well as at one now under construction, LLL in Pembroke Pines.

It's the cheapest and quickest solution that fulfills the board's short-term goal of relieving critically overcrowded Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Parks said. And, he said, the district can keep looking for the perfect place to build the new school, dubbed MMM until a formal name can be chosen.

More than 5,500 students attend Cypress Bay, which was built in 2002 for 3,400.

Superintendent James Notter said he's "played these same story boards out many, many times," but feels the district needs the school to keep pace with new developments popping up in south Broward.

It's been a struggle for the school district to find a home for the much-needed high school. For more than a year, board members and district staff have debated — and rejected — 18 possible locations for MMM.

The classroom additions would cost $47.16 million, but would only relieve school overcrowding for five years, the superintendent said.

That's why, Notter said, he recommended building MMM on a 31-acre site at Flamingo Road and Southwest 26th Street — a location some in Davie oppose.

The board will vote today on whether to support Notter and designate Flamingo Road and Southwest 26th Street as the future home of MMM. The land and school would cost $97.1 million

Building the school at the Davie intersection is the least expensive of the five options the board discussed Monday. Construction at the Southwest 26th Street site would take the least amount of time, with a turnaround time of 46 months, according to Notter.

Several board members said Monday that MMM is necessary and agreed with Notter's recommendation, but board member Jennifer Gottlieb said she just didn't know what to do.

"I'm extremely undecided," she said. "I think there still is no perfect location."

The district typically needs at least 40 acres for high schools, a problem in a county where large tracts of land are scarce and price tags are sky-high for any available large parcels. And the district is under the gun to find a spot.

If the district doesn't pick a site and sign a construction contract by next year, it must get permission from the state to build the school.

"Battling it out with the state doesn't give me any warm fuzzies," Notter said. "In fact, it heightens my worry."

Akilah Johnson can be reached at akjohnson@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4527.
 

Posted December 3, 2007

December 3, 2007

Broward schools superintendent wants new high school in Davie

 

By Kathy Bushouse and Susannah Bryan | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Relief for overcrowded Cypress Bay High School will come in the form of a new high school in Davie, if the School Board follows a recommendation presented Monday by Superintendent Jim Notter.

Notter is urging the board to approve Broward's newest high school on a 31-acre site at Flamingo Road and Southwest 26th Street — a $97.1 million location that could prove unpopular with leaders in both Davie and Weston.

Weston parents want a new high school built in their city.

Said Weston Mayor Eric Hersh, when told of Notter's recommendation: "Whoa. They recommended what? That doesn't help us one bit. It doesn't help us one iota. It's too far east to help anyone."

Davie Vice Mayor Bryan Caletka doubted the school district would get approvals they would need from the town council to get MMM built. And he said he wouldn't hesitate to push to sue if "the district tried to ram it down our throat."

Board members will discuss MMM, a project long delayed by questions about cost and location, at a Dec. 10 workshop.

The proposal would essentially shift students east, moving 2,600 from Cypress Bay in Weston to Western High School in Davie, and moving 1,000 students from Western High to MMM.

Building MMM at Flamingo Road and Southwest 26th Street is the least expensive of all the options for a new school site. It also would take the least amount of time to build, with a turnaround time of 46 months, Notter wrote in his presentation to board members.

He said Monday night he believed the district could work with Davie officials. In response to Hersh's comment that his recommendation solved nothing, Notter said, "It certainly solves something to me when 2,600 kids come out of Cypress Bay."

Notter said the least expensive option the board could consider would be to simply add classrooms at Flanagan and Everglades high schools as well as at one now under construction, LLL in Pembrokes Pines. The classroom additions would cost $47.16 million, but even then would only relieve school overcrowding for five years, Notter wrote.

It's been a struggle for the school district to find a home for MMM. For more than a year, School Board members have debated, and rejected, possible locations for the new high school. Parents and Weston city leaders have clamored for a new school to relieve overcrowding at Cypress Bay, a school built for 3,400 that now houses more than 5,500 students.

The district needs at least 40 acres for the school — a problem in a county where large tracts of land are scarce, and price tags are sky-high for whatever large parcels remain available. And the district is under the gun to find a spot.

In October, as the search for a spot to build MMM continued, the School Board capped enrollment at Cypress Bay.

Laurie Levinson, whose son attends class at Cypress Bay's ninth grade annex, said she wants MMM built. Other options, such as adding classrooms to existing schools, "don't allow for any growth" in the student population, Levinson said.

Should the real estate market improve, more space will be needed to accommodate more families in southwest Broward, she said.

"I believe they should build an MMM," Levinson said. "They've been promising an MMM and that's what they should do."

Kathy Bushouse can be reached at kbushouse@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4556.

Posted November 30, 2007

Posted November 27, 2007

Dear Neighbors & Friends,

See this article below.
 

One community scenario/map prepared by members of our community (Ivanhoe/SW Ranches) made this “first cut”, which is good news (for the moment). This does not mean we are “safe”, as this is a very slippery slope with very active & politically connected forces working to remove our entire community from Cypress Bay High and move our children to “LLL” beginning next year. Seniors would be safe, but it would change the scope of where our children attend high school and possibly, as an end result, middle school for the future.

Several factors go into this decision which is ultimately made by the School Board and we need to keep the e-mails, letters and especially phone messages going to the school board members. Map 9.1 is the one we are supporting at this point, however, we have several others still being considered, including two “Staff” maps that take us out completely still in play. Any of these might be altered from its original form and edited, as most are, to change to the shifting political wind.

Everyone has been giving their own opinions and it is being noticed. No matter where you want to attend, LLL or Cypress Bay… PLEASE remember, take the high road and be polite and thoughtful when contacting the school board members. Remember, this is a tough decision and they need our help to make this decision, not our criticism of this somewhat flawed system we all have to work in. The fact is some of these board members do not think MMM should be built at all, which would force all these area high schools to become “supersized”. They need to know what our opinion is… You know the website.. www.browardschools.com.

Also, Dec 3^rd will be the Superintendents recommendation for high school “MMM”, so we have a lot being considered within a very few days.

More to come during our next bulletin and we are setting up the next Ivanhoe Civic Association meeting soon.  The subjects will be Schools, Crime and of course the never ending sound wall.

Thanks.

John.

List of new Broward school boundary scenarios halved by School Board

By Akilah K. Johnson | Sun-Sentinel

6:53 PM EST, November 27, 2007

The list of new Broward school boundary scenarios for more than two dozen campuses, including over-crowded Cypress Bay High School in Weston, was halved Tuesday by the School Board.

Most of the suggestions shuffled students from one school to another to relieve packed campuses. Others sought to determine who will attend four new schools being built in Parkland, Sunrise, Hollywood and Pembroke Pines.

And while 23 elementary, middle and high schools are included in the process, talk of what to do about The Bay dominated Tuesday's discussion.

Some of the suggestions still on the table: Sending some students from Cypress Bay and Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines to school under construction on Pines Boulevard and Johnson Street on U.S. 27. and shifting other Cypress Bay students to Cooper City High School.

Posted November 24, 2007

Dear friends and neighbors,

We all hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving.

It is now time to get back to work regarding the scheduling scenarios and the maps regarding the LLL school boundaries.

Please click into BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOUNDARIES for the Boundary Department. Click on 2008-09 scenarios and the current maps are displayed in Staff and Community scenarios. The only one that does not place us out of Cypress Bay is 9.1. Please make comments on as many of the maps that you wish and if you want to develop your own map, please do so as none of us are experts. Maps are due TO the school board at KC Wright (downtown) by Tuesday 11/27 at NOON>>>> .

The meeting dates are also on this site. Please attend and let the school board staff and school board members know where you desire to attend.

Community scenarios in the tables as well as any boundary scenario requested by the Board after the November 27, 2007 School Board Workshop III will be presented at the Community Forum on December 15, 2007 and School Board Workshop IV on January 22, 2007.

John Pickett

Posted November 19, 2007

Tuesday 7:30pm meeting – Silver Trail. We now know the Site Planning Committee has recommended the 36^th Street Weston Bergeron site for MMM. Now we can intelligently make better decisions regarding Ivanhoe Boundaries. Pete La Moia and I will be meeting afterward to discuss ‘items’, so, if anyone wishes to join us, we will meet in the back of the room after the meeting. Thanks.

John Pickett

Thank you for your early opinions. Tonight is the first of many meetings to discuss boundaries at LLL. At Silver Trail at 7:30 Please show early, at least 45 minutes early, to register to speak. The school board staff NEEDS to see a FACE with the names. They obviously do not care for our children like we do.

Thanks. John Pickett

Posted November 19, 2007

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Wisniewski,

Thank you for contacting Vice Mayor Wexler regarding the location and boundaries of the School Board of Broward County’s High School MMM.  Although you reside in the Vice Mayor’s Commission District 5, the Broward County Commission has no legal authority over the decision of the School Board.  As all nine members will ultimately vote on the matter you should contact your School Board Members to voice your opinions and concerns.  At a minimum we would suggest you contact Robin Bartleman and Jennifer Gottlieb who are at-large school board members (representing the entire county) and Phyllis Hope, who is your District 6 School Board Member.  You can find contact information for the School Board of Broward County at www.browardschools.com. 

Sincerely,

fax: 954-357-7044

To Lois Wexler,

            As a resident of western Davie, I would prefer our children go to Cypress Bay High School. Our son Michael is graduating from Cypress Bay this year and we want our daughter Jennifer to follow him to this school. Jennifer was “bordered out” of Falcon Cove Middle School and is presently attending Silver Trail.

We are requesting your support in this matter. If the Cypress Bay option is not viable, we are requesting your support in securing the High School site at the Weekly Brother’s Property at SW 26^th and Flamingo Road 2^nd choice is SW 36^th Street west of Cypress Bay.

Thank you in advance.

Sincerely

Rick and Beth Wisniewski

Posted November 18, 2007

Posted November 17, 2007

Dear Vice Mayor Wexler,

Here in Davie, we appreciate your involvement and tireless representation, especially regarding our children’s’ education. On this Monday morning, November 19th, the School District is holding a site selection meeting regarding High School MMM to be located either in Davie or Weston. 

One if the properties being considered is located at 26^th Street and Flamingo Road. We have heard some Davie council members may be opposed for financial (commercial taxes) or lifestyle reasons. We all realize the importance of and have respect for the Davie rural lifestyle; however, many of us, including myself, feel that the quality of education must be considered as more critical in this situation.

We believe this location is the best available as it has the road and land infrastructure. In addition, with current estimates it could be built in 24 months, if approved.

If a location for MMM is not determined and is not built, the area schools will not meet class size or meet the needs of the students. The land at 26^th Street & Flamingo would need a land use amendment and I ask that Broward County immediately consider this measure to facilitate the building of this much needed school. We would hope Davie would support and welcome this school, however from what we have heard this is not necessarily the case.

Please assist us in this endeavor to educate our children.

Best regards,

John Pickett

Posted November 16, 2007

Posted November 13, 2007

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 

We had a good turnout at the first meeting at Silver Trail last evening, however, this is a LONG haul and we need to let everyone hear what we want and need for our future schools. If you want to stay at Cypress or attend LLL, this is the time to speak up and submit new scenarios for boundaries! This page has a LOAD of data that any of our community can use to develop their own scenario. Remember, we need to take the high road and speak up for what we feel is best for our children now and in the future.

 

The next meeting will be from 8:30am to 12 noon, THIS Saturday at McArthur High.- 6501 Hollywood Blvd.. Please see the notice below under Community Forum I. IF you wish to speak, you MUST sign up between 8:30am and 9am, with the meeting starting at 9:00am. The School Board staff will show ALL the scenarios and answer questions. Be there if you have an interest in seeing how all the scenarios could effect  your student and community if selected by the School Board in March 2008 for next school year. This is also an opportunity to hear what others are saying. Please e-mail me if you are attending. Thanks!!!!

 

John Pickett

 

---

2008-09 Boundary Process Additional 2008-09 Boundary Process information will be posted when available.   2008-09 Boundary Scenarios Boundary FAQs Schools to Participate in the 2008-09 Boundary Process
Boundary Process Timeline (pdf) English || Español || Kreyòl || Português School Capacity Conference Results Boundary Process Scenario Instructions English || Español || Kreyòl || Português Boundary Scenario Deadlines: 1st submission - Thursday, November 8, 2007 at noon 2nd submission - Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at noon Boundary Scenario Training Dates Slide Show: How to Create a Boundary Scenario Boundary Scenario Materials TAZ Maps 2008-12 Student Enrollment Projections by TAZ Updated EFPI
Boundary Process Meeting Dates     Meeting: Date: Time: Location: Elementary School "A" Flyer Announcement October 24, 2007 10:00 a.m. Piper High School Small Auditorium 8000 NW 44th Street Sunrise   Elementary School "A" Flyer Announcement October 17, 2007 7:00 p.m. Piper High School Small Auditorium 8000 NW 44th Street Sunrise   Elementary School "C" Flyer Announcement November 15, 2007 - 7:00 p.m. November 20, 2007 - 9:00 a.m. South Broward High School Auditorium 1901 North Federal Highway Hollywood   Elementary School "Z" Flyer Announcement   November 7, 2007 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. - Update Meeting 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. - Joint Focus Forum 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. - Update Meeting 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Joint Focus Forum   Stoneman Douglas High School 5901 Pine Island Road Parkland High School "LLL" Flyer Announcement November 13, 2007 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Silver Trail Middle School Cafeteria 18300 Sheridan Street Pembroke Pines High School "LLL" Flyer Announcement November 14, 2007 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Glades Middle School Media Center 16700 SW 48 Court Miramar Community Forum I Flyers English || Español || Kreyòl || Português Meeting: Date: Time: Location: North Area & North Central Area November 17, 2007 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Sign up to speak 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Presentation 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. Questions & Community Input Monarch High School Auditorium 5050 Wiles Road Coconut Creek   South Area & South Central Area November 17, 2007 McArthur High School 6501 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Community Forum II Flyers English || Español || Kreyòl || Português Meeting: Date: Time: Location: North Area & North Central Area   December 15, 2007 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Sign up to speak 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Presentation 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. Questions & Community Input Monarch High School Auditorium 5050 Wiles Road Coconut Creek   South Area & South Central Area December 15, 2007 McArthur High School 6501 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood First Public Hearing Flyers English || Español || Kreyòl || Português Meeting: Date: Time: Location: First Public Hearing Elementary, Middle, and High February 26 & 27, 2008 TBA Plantation High School Auditorium 6901 Northwest 16th Street Plantation Second Public Hearing Flyers English || Español || Kreyòl || Português Meeting: Date: Time: Location: Second Public Hearing Elementary, Middle, and High March 25 & 26, 2008 TBA Plantation High School Auditorium 6901 Northwest 16th Street Plantation
School Boundaries Home || Boundary FAQs || School Boundary Maps || browardschools.com Some documents on this site require Adobe Reader software. Click below to download Adobe's free software.

---

 

Posted November 13, 2007

Boundary community forum meetings for the public to address which school

Posted November 10, 2007

Posted November 12, 2007

Posted November 10, 2007

2008-09 Boundary Scenarios

Scenarios will be posted as they become available.

School Boundaries Home || Boundary FAQs || Boundary Process || School Boundary Maps || browardschools.com

Posted November 3, 2007

Posted November 3, 2007

Posted October 28, 2007

Posted October 16, 2007

Posted October 16, 2007

Below is scheduled meetings of the Broward County Public Schools. Right below the meetings are the email addresses of the different school board members. If you want them to hear what you have to say, please email them as soon as possible, before the Oct. 23 meeting especially.  Their direct address is also listed below as well as their phone number.

Posted October 16, 2007

Posted October 30, 2007

Posted October 16, 2007

Ellen, Melissa and Al,

As guests attending and participating in this evening’s First Inaugural Ivanhoe Civic Association you were OUTSTANDING!!!!!

The founding members and I wish to thank you for helping us understand better the process and procedures concerning how a school handles capacity issues.

Your expertise was well received and we appreciate your ongoing assistance. WE had great news tonight and we look forward to a successful future regarding our school situations. Education is the heartbeat of most communities along with civic contributors, such as the three of you.

We will keep you on our e-mail distribution lists and we again thank you for your ongoing support of our community in general.

John Pickett

Ivanhoe Civic Association

Posted October 12, 2007

Attention:

All IVANHOE Residents

Did you know that beginning in 2008 there is a POSSIBILITY your child currently attending or slated to eventually attend Cypress Bay High School could be sent to “LLL High” in Pembroke Pines or to Western High in Davie for next year 2008? Did you know there could be Split sessions or Enrollment capping? Find out more… THIS TUESDAY

Ivanhoe Civic Association meeting:

October 16, Tuesday, 7pm at Rick Case Honda Community Center (second floor of showroom)

If you do not attend, you could be uninformed!!!!

Posted October 11, 2007

The first inaugural meeting of the Ivanhoe Civic Association will meet on October 16, 2007at 7:00 pm at Rick Case Honda on the second floor of the community room. The agenda will be the Cypress Bay High School Capacity issue and an update on the Sound Wall. see flyer

Posted October 6, 2007

From: "Rayder, Ian" <Ian.Rayder@mail.house.gov>
To: "Judy Paul" <jpaulconsulting@msn.com>
CC: <Neu55@aol.com>, <jjpickett@bellsouth.net>, <rgiordan@bellsouth.net>, "Davidson, Jodi" <Jodi.Davidson@mail.house.gov>
Subject: RE: Help for Davie
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 11:57:22 -0400

Judy – I have contacted the Florida Department of Transportation for an update on this issue and will get back in touch as soon as I can get a full report from them. Once I have an understanding of what our limitation are, we can come up with a strategy to deal with this problem.

Posted Sept. 29, 2007

Posted Sept. 27, 2007

Ms. Eccles
It was nice to be able to talk with you tonight about your concerns.Thank you for forwarding the newspaper articles to our attention.  Though you are rather new to the Ivanhoe community (2005),  the Department has been continuously involved with this issue since 1995.   I am sorry you could not attend our public workshops on  9/18 and 9/19.  The 9/18 Broward County workshop was attended by many of your neighbors including  Mr. Pickett and Mr. Giordano. The majority of the Ivanhoe residents had similar concerns about the existing noise and air pollution from I-75.  Like you, all of the residents I spoke with and we received comments from want a noise wall now not later.  As you know, both a Noise Study and Air Quality Analysis  will be part of the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study which we anticipate will be completed  in 2011.  The Department understands the importance of this issue to the Ivanhoe developments.  Unfortunately,  as we discussed, the community does not  currently qualify for noise abatement under federal or State law. This is due to the fact that the homes in the Ivanhoe developments were built after the approvals for Interstate 75.   The Department  will do everything possible to  expedite the environmental analysis and federal approval of the PD&E study.  I have attached the previous letter sent to you on September 4, 2007  by FDOT District Four at the request of the Governor's  Office.  Please feel free to call me if you have other questions or I can be of assistance.  

Sincerely, ,
Paul A. Lampley, P.E.
District Project Development Engineer
Office of Planning and Environmental Management - District 4
3400 West Commercial Blvd.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
(954) 777-4345, Fax (954) 777-4310

Diane <dmeccles@bellsouth.net>
09/11/2007 11:26 PM

To <Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com>, <Budeir.Maher@epamail.epa.gov>, <Stephen.S.Webster@dep.state.fl.us>, <Bryan_Caletka@davie-fl.gov>, <Tom_Truex@davie-fl.gov>, <mike_crowley@davie-fl.gov>, <KJACOBS@broward.org>, <kkeechl@broward.org>, <sritter@broward.org>, <ilieberman@broward.org>, <rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov>, "'Wexler, Lois'" <LWEXLER@broward.org>, <William.Leidy@dot.state.fl.us>, <ExecSecretariat.FHWA@dot.gov>, <paul.lampley@dot.state.fl.us>, <gary_shimun@davie-fl.gov>

cc <cmendola@aol.com>, <Plewbjr@aol.com>, "'Robert Giordano (E-mail)'" <rgiordan@bellsouth.net>, <neu55@aol.com>, "'John Pickett (E-mail)'" <jjpickett@bellsouth.net>, "'MO CHRISTIE \\\\(E-mail\\\\)'" <COMPUMO@AOL.COM>, 'Ira Goldberg' <wendyg071216@msn.com>, "'Gretchen H. Farmer'" <GHF@FOWLER-WHITE.COM>, 'Gisela Nanson Torres' <gtorreslaw@bellsouth.net>

Subject FW: Articles on Trees, noise-historical facts on I75

Respected Government officials of our state, county, and local
jurisdictions:

We must share and express our disheartening reality as we historically
research events, facts, (re: attachment) which have occurred over the last
12 years with our community Ivanhoe, plaguing dilemma of I-75.

As 2000 residents, we now realize in justifying our needs for a time
sensitive resolution have fallen by the wayside over the past 12 years and
now to expect us to await for a completion of an F-DOT PD&E Study to
commence potentially in the year 2011-2015 (4 to 8 more years) is
incomprehensible.

Please let us assure you, we are committed to seeing this through for a real
solution now, not 4 or 8 more years.

We are asking for your individual, your organizational support of these
prevailing issues in which we face daily, environment/health, safety, etc.
at all levels of government.

It is relevant that somewhere the ball was dropped and our "quality of life"
has been compromised for our 2000 Ivanhoe residents, which it appears for
more than a decade has not been a consideration at most a priority or at
least on an any agenda at any level of government.

Your attention and support for a real-time solution (barriers) to these
prevailing matters of Ivanhoe is greatly necessary as well as extremely
warranted, in accordance with the information in provided attachment.

Respectfully,
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Eccles
5520 Hawkes Bluff Ave
Davie Fl 33331
954-689-4437

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Giordano [mailto:rgiordan@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 7:22 AM
To: Robert Giordano (E-mail)
Subject: FW: Articles on Trees, noise
Importance: High


Dear neighbors and friends of the Battle of Ivanhoe Sound Walls:

Please see attached three articles about the tree removal and ongoing noise
and environmental concerns our neighbors have endured since February 1995.
Yes, we have been fighting this fight since FEBRUARY 1995!!!!

These articles in context, show that the FDOT did not have control of their
eradication contractor and states clearly they were in the wrong. They did
NOT GIVE US AS RESIDENTS the OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE THIS ACTION to
eradicate the trees. In addition, their promise in 1995, (over 12 years
ago)which was to replace the foliage which is still today inadequate! They
took our rights away in 1995 and they continue to take our rights away now
as residents. We may want to gain a legal opinion of these actions based on
the information in these articles and apply the facts to the procedures they
state in Mr. Wolfe's letter dated September 4, 2007.

I do not know how or when, but I DO KNOW we will win this fight earlier than
later and I sincerely feel this should have been resolved a very long time
ago. The same exact conditions and things said in these articles apply to
our neighborhoods today and nothing has changed except there is a new
Governor, different Federal Politicians and a new crew of local
representatives.

How long is long enough?

I am forwarding these articles to many, many people and I hope we receive
some relief sooner than later.

Best regards,

John Pickett
15600 S. Roundtable Road
Davie, Florida 33331
954-434-7221

PS I received two of these from Carmen Blanco and went to the Herald
reprints for a better copy of the one.