The Round Up welcomes Darryl Worley Thursday, Feb. 19. Worley is known for hits such as "I Miss My Friend," "Have You Forgotten?," and "Awful, Beautiful Life."

Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 day of the show. The Round Up is at 9020 W. State Road 84 in Davie.

Visit http://www.roundupcountry.com/ for more details and to buy tickets.

-- Scott Fishman

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The Broward County Property Appraiser's Office will have staff available from noon to 2 p.m. at the Town Hall Community Room, 6591 Orange Drive, on the following dates:

* Monday, March 16
* Monday, May 18
* Monday, July 20
* Monday, Sept. 21
* Monday, Nov. 16

The office's Outreach Division will assist people with filing for homestead or any other property exemptions you may be eligible for.

For more information, visit www.bcpa.net

-- Scott Fishman

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Pursuant to F.S.S. 101.71(2), the following precincts for Davie’s March 10 municipal election have changed:

T003 - Davie United Methodist Church has moved to the Old Davie School, 6650 Griffin Road (the new precinct is about 1 mile west of the old precinct)

T009 - Davie United Methodist Church has moved to the Old Davie School, 6650 Griffin Road

T017 - Church of Christ has moved to New Hope Church, 13400 Griffin Road (the new precinct is about 1 mile east of the old precinct)

T034 - Davie United Methodist Church has moved to the Old Davie School, 6650 Griffin Road

Questions can be directed to the town clerk’s office at 954-797-1023.

-- Scott Fishman

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Broward residents interested in improving their skills and knowledge of gardening, whether it’s gardening vegetables, fruits or flowers, can now request an interview for the spring 2009 Florida Master Gardener Program. The session runs March 4-June 3.

Interviews for prospective students will be at the Extension Education Office, 3245 College Ave., Davie, according to the following schedule:
· Tuesday, Jan. 27 – 8:30 a.m.-noon
· Wednesday, Jan. 28 – 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1:30-4:30 p.m.
· Thursday, Jan. 29 – 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1:30-4:30 p.m.
· Wednesday, Feb. 4 – 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Appointments are requested, although walk-ins will be accepted. For an appointment, e-mail Brenda Roby at broby@broward.org, or call her at 954-382-5884.

Applicants selected to participate in the program will receive more than 96 hours of
classroom and field training from University of Florida professors, horticulture professionals, gardening specialists and county agents.

All classes are at the Broward County Extension Education Section in Davie. There is a fee and security deposit for the course to cover the cost of extensive bibliographic, lecture and lab materials students receive during the course. The security deposit is returned once the volunteer hours are completed within 365 days of graduation from the program.

Master Gardeners learn about: sustainable Florida-friendly landscaping, including the use of native species, water and soil conservation, best management practices for irrigation and integrated pest management for homes and landscapes.

Upon successful completion of the course, Master Gardeners are expected to volunteer in the Extension Office, answering plant and pest questions for Broward County homeowners, participate in municipal and county environmental events and fulfill other duties.

For more information, e-mail Sandy Granson at sgranson@broward.org or Gloria Witkus at gwitkus@broward.org, or call 954-370-3725.

-- Scott Fishman

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Here are a few activities available at the Long Key Natural Area and Nature Center, 3501 SW 130th Ave. in Davie.

* Broward County Parks and Recreation, Animal Care and Regulation divisions, in partnership with the Pompano Pet Lodge and Doggie Daycare, is offering a free pet etiquette class at 7 p.m. Feb. 18.

You’ll get tips for a safe and enjoyable experience at a dog park, including information on a variety of topics: your body language and how it affects your dog; the proper introduction to a group setting; aggression and dog fights; overheating; your dog’s health; and more.

The classes will each include a lecture followed by a question-and-answer session.

Call 954-938-0617.

* You can help the environment by volunteering to clean natural areas of garbage and invasive plants. Broward County Parks has scheduled EcoAction Days running through May.

The next one for Long Key is 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 14 (the second Saturday of each month). Volunteers are asked to bring gloves, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and drinking water. They should also dress appropriately with long pants, closed-toe shoes and long sleeves.

Advance registration is required, and all participants must fill out a volunteer form before participating. Children must have a permission form signed by a parent or guardian. Other dates and times can be arranged by contacting the park or nature center of your choice.

Call 954-327-8797.

* Nature Tots is a one-hour program, for ages 2 to 4 accompanied by an adult, set for 10 a.m. Feb. 26 (fourth Thursday of each month) at Long Key.

There is a different theme each month, with each site’s naturalist free to embellish on it according to his/her style. A typical program might start with stories, songs or arts and crafts and end with a short nature walk.

Cost is $3 per child. Advance registration is required. Call 954-327-8797.

-- Scott Fishman

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Hundreds of underprivileged elementary school students in Miami-Dade County will receive free dental services from Nova Southeastern University.

NSU’s College of Dental Medicine announced Thursday that it will use a $67,000 grant from the Dr. John. T. Macdonald Foundation Inc. to provide dental services such as fluoride application and oral hygiene instruction to 400 second-grade students. NSU is partnering with the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine to provide the dental services.

“This important grant will help us fight dental caries, which is the single most common childhood disease,” said Stephen Abel, D.D.S., associate dean of NSU’s College of Dental Medicine.

NSU plans to begin providing the dental services this month and continue throughout the school year. The NSU-CDM program is designed to provide students with preventative oral health services at NSU’s North Miami Beach Dental Clinic.

Participating schools include Fulford Elementary, Greynolds Park Elementary and G.K. Edelman/Sabal Palm Elementary. All dental appointments are coordinated between the administrations of the schools and NSU.

For more information or a grant application, contact Kim Greene at 305-667-6017 or visit www.jtmacdonaldfdn.org.

-- Scott Fishman

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The winners of Davie's Martin Luther King Jr. Day essay and poster contest were announced Sunday at Potter Park.

The program included singing and poetry reading performed by local youths. Other free activities included a bounce house, climbing wall, petting zoo and lunch.

First- and second-place winners are:

Beacon Hill School – Poster Contest
----------------------------------------------------
1st – Rashad Daniel, 11 years old, 5th grade
2nd – Kaiya Magloire, 8 years old, 3rd grade

Palm Cove Elementary – Poster Contest
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1st – Kaela Hardy, 11 years old, 5th grade
2nd – Adrean Witherspoon, 9 years old, 4th grade

Sunland Park Elementary – Poster Contest
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1st – Precious Taylor, 11 years old, 5th grade/Troi Hicks, 11 years old, 5th grade
2nd – Michael Murray, 9 years old, 3rd grade

Indian Ridge Middle – Poster Contest
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1st – Hayley Rotstein, 12 years old, 7th grade

Hollywood Lakes Elementary – Poster Contest
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1st – Milene Flores, 10 years old, 4th grade

Western High School – Essay Contest
---------------------------------------------------------------
1st – Kevin Bowie, 16 years old, 10th grade
2nd – Orean 14 years old, 10th grade

-- Scott Fishman

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The Old Davie School will host a free Self-Defense Awareness & Familiarization Exchange (SAFE) program led by Davie police officer Tiffany Richards 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 3.

The SAFE program provides teenage and adult women with personal safety information and an introduction to the physical aspects of self-defense.

Prevention, options, strategies and physical techniques are the key components for the SAFE program.

Space is limited. The Old Davie School is at 6650 Griffin Road.

For more information, call Patti Koch at 954-797-1044.

-- Scott Fishman

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Cooper City is looking for a resident to fill a vacant seat on its police pension board of trustees.

Residents interested in serving on the board should have a background in finance or pension plans. The board meets once every quarter. Anyone interested in applying must fill out a Citizen Resource Sheet, which can be dropped off at the City Clerk's office, 9090 SW 50th Place, or faxed to 954-434-5099. Applications will be reviewed by the city manager and appointments scheduled following approval by the City Commission.

Call 954-434-4300.

-- Chris Guanche

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To celebrate National Yoga Day, the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie is offering free classes Sunday, Jan. 25 for members and nonmembers of all ages.

If yoga isn't your thing, they are also having other fitness classes.

Click

http://www.dpjcc.org/clientuploads/HealthPE/NationalYogaDay_Rev_09.pdf

for details.

On Jan. 27, the JCC is also holding a one-day membership special.

For more information, call 954-434-0499, ext. 100.

-- Scott Fishman

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The Circle of Friends of the Alvin Sherman Library recently hosted its annual State of the University Address with Nova Southeastern President Ray Ferrero Jr. as the keynote speaker.

During his address, Ferrero stressed the importance of NSU’s core missions of academic excellence, research and service to children and talked about the community service and outreach the university provides.

“I believe in what we do here at NSU,” he said in his speech. “I believe we are making a difference in the lives of thousands of individuals, children and their families. I can’t think of a more appropriate thing to celebrate as we embark on a new year filled with incalculable potential.”

Ray Ferrero Jr. during his 2009 State of the University Address.

The Circle of Friends is a group of individuals who share the common goal of furthering the intellectual resources of the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center.

H. Wayne Huizenga, the namesake of Nova Southeastern University’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship, left, joins Circle of Friends Treasurer Michael Greenberg and President Anita Paoli, and NSU President Ray Ferrero, Jr. at the annual State of the University Address.

For more information, or to join the Circle of Friends, call 954-262-4627. For more information about the Alvin Sherman Library, visit www.nova.edu/library/main.

-- Scott Fishman

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Jacob Brown, a 16-year-old with Boy Scout Troop 118, worked diligently for many years to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He recently received the honor at an award ceremony.

To realize his dreams, Brown had to work his way through six ranks, earning various merit badges, serving a certain amount of time as a life scout and serving in a leadership position in his troop.

However, his greatest challenge was the eagle project he had to accomplish to benefit the local community.

For his eagle project, Brown assisted the town of Davie and the Davie Area Land Trust by building a beautiful arbor for the entrance of the butterfly garden at Liberty Park. The butterfly garden had been funded and created by the Davie Area Land Trust.

He was able to get all the material donated, which is valued at about $700. The arbor is 15 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and 4 feet deep. It took him about three days to actually build the arbor, with youths from his troop and the Western High Jr. ROTC aiding in installing the arbor.

“Never cut yourself short. You never know if you can do something if you don’t try,” Brown said about the project.

To see the arbor, visit the Liberty Park butterfly garden at 13500 SW Eighth St.

-- Scott Fishman

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The Davie parks and recreation administration office has relocated from 6911 Orange Drive to the Pine Island Multipurpose Center at 3801 S. Pine Island Road.

Pictured is department director Dennis Andresky.

For information, call 954-797-1145.

-- Scott Fishman

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No matter which side you fall on the political fence, one thing that can be agreed on is Jan. 20, 2009 will begin a new era in American history. It is the day Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.

And if you're looking for a place to celebrate this pinnacle event, here are a few ideas:

-- All are invited to an Inauguration TV Watch Party from 11:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Old Library, 2600 Hollywood Blvd. Free refreshments. To RSVP, call 954-987-0356.

-- The Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Hotel (1825 Griffin Road) is hosting an inauguration celebration fundraiser.

Come see the road to victory on three large screens with premium sound. There will also be a rerun of the day's inauguration acceptance speech. Special guest speaker is Dr. Billy Jones.

There will be a raffle to benefit the children Of Haiti. Raffle items include two-day, two-night stay at the Sheraton and Renaissance Hotels. Ticket donation of $25 includes your gift of a commemorative T-shirt. Call 954-464-5900.

-- The Broward County Democratic Party is hosting Broward's Presidential Obama-Biden Inauguration Ball at 7:30 p.m. at the Deicke Auditorium, 5701 Cypress Road in Plantation. Cost is $25. RSVP and payment in advance required to attend. Will include food, drinks, entertainment, champaign toast, tapes of the swearing-in ceremony, Obama speech and parade video.

To RSVP, call 954-651-8892 or e-mail tfeuer@bellsouth.net

For more, visit http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=158&id=&search_distance=30&search_zip=33025&submit=Search

-- Scott Fishman

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With a slowing economy, nonprofits are starting to feel the pinch, including groups such as the Optimist Club of Cooper City.

To run its athletic programs, the Optimist Club depends on a combination of registration fees, fundraisers and corporate sponsorships. But some of those sources are starting to dry up, including sponsorships from local businesses.

“Sponsorships universally are more difficult as businesses start to tighten their belts,” said Randy Guidry, the club’s president.

But aside from less money flowing in, there’s the issue of more money flowing out in the form of increased fees. The club’s baseball program makes use of Brian Piccolo Park, but usage fees have gone up. In addition, Broward County instituted a cost-cutting policy in late 2008 where all but four county parks are closed on Tuesdays. For the Optimist Club, that translates to less time to use the park, but a higher fee to use it when it is open.

“That impacts us directly, because even though we’re a nonprofit, the registration of the kids has to go to pay the county park,” Guidry said.

The club is then faced with a choice: Raise more money from other sources, or increase registration fees. Guidry said registration fees for the athletic programs don’t cover all of the costs involved because they’re usually offset by business sponsorships. To raise funds, Guidry said the club organizes events like golf tournaments.

On a national level, some assistance is available. Throughout the year, Optimist International provides fundraising tips and ideas to local clubs, said Krista Grueninger, Optimist International’s director of communications. Grueninger said there are about 2,200 Optimist Clubs nationally.

“We’re concerned about how we’ll be affected in the future,” Grueninger said.

For more on this, see this Sunday's (Jan. 18) Community News inside the Sun Sentinel.

-- Chris Guanche

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Live at the Library: An Interactive Fine Arts Series presented by the Charles P. Ferro Foundation continues at the Alvin Sherman Library in Davie with the Florida Grand Opera.

The performance takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17 at the library's second floor gallery.

Join members of the Florida Grand Opera for a 50-minute introduction to opera and classical vocal music. Selections from opera, operetta, classical song and Broadway will be sung. “Prop and Costume Decoration” and "Ask the Artists" segments will be included (for age 4 and up with an adult).

The series is designed to give children, families and art enthusiasts a fun, interactive look at the fine arts. All events are free and open to the public.

The Alvin Sherman Library is on Nova Southeastern University’s main campus, 3301 College Ave. in Davie.

For more information, visit www.nova.edu/library/ferro or call 954-262-5477.

-- Scott Fishman

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Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine will host a national conference on immunization Jan. 30 and 31.

The conference, “Protecting Our Next Generation, Ages 0-3,” will feature nationally recognized authorities discussing the importance of vaccinating children to prevent treatable infections.

Vaccines available today have made conditions such as chicken pox, measles, polio and bacterial meningitis uncommon. However, the vaccination rates in South Florida are below the state Health Department’s goal of a 90 percent vaccination rate by 2010.

According to the latest state health statistics, Miami-Dade County reported an 89 percent immunization rate, while Broward and Palm Beach counties were just 78 percent and 65 percent, respectively.

Protecting Our Next Generation will educate health care providers about immunization safety and value. These providers can then advise parents about the importance of getting their children inoculated.

The conference is primarily intended for practicing physicians and other health-care workers to review important community and medical issues impacting the health and development of children from birth to age 3.

The conference will be held at the Nova Southeastern University’s Health Professions Division. For more information, call 954-262-1072 or visit http://medicine.nova.edu/ce/protecting_generation.html.

-- Scott Fishman

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If you're a Cooper City parent who wants to have a Friday night out, the city has a solution for you.

On Jan. 23, parents can drop their children off at the Cooper City Community Center, 9000 SW 50th Place, for an event that will take place between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Children should bring dinner in a bag, but the community center will offer snacks, activities and events in the game room. The event costs $10 per child for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Space is limited, so parents should make reservations five days prior to the event.

Call 954-434-4300, ext. 233.

-- Chris Guanche

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Nova Southeastern University in Davie looks to create awareness on issues affecting the planet with Unity Week 2009 Jan. 21-23. Events will be at the NSU campus at 3301 College Ave. Visit http://www.nova.edu/studentleadership/unityweek/index.html

Below are the list of festivities:

Wednesday, Jan. 21
- NSU Hunger Banquet
Time: Noon
Location: University Center Pit

- Take Back the Night "See.Hear.Speak"
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: ASA Patio (behind the Athletics and Student Affairs Building)

NSU's annual Take Back the Night event is a place where you are invited to become part of the solution, part of the end to sexual violence.
The evening features a speak-out, which provides a supportive environment for survivors and secondary survivors who choose to share their experiences. After the speak-out, participants carry candles and march through campus breaking the silence and making their voices heard.

- Clothesline Project
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: ASA Patio (behind the Athletics and Student Affairs Building)

The project is a visual display of shirts with graphic messages and illustrations that have been designed by women survivors of violence or by someone who loves a women who has been killed. The purpose of the project is to increase awareness of the impact of violence against women, and to celebrate a woman’s strength to survive.
The shirts will be on display in the Alvin Sherman Library at NSU Jan. 22-29.

Demand Stand
Time: ALL DAY
Location: Behind Goodwin Residence Hall
The Demand Stand represents statistics affiliated with domestic violence, sexual assault and/or rape. Each participant wears a purple shirt throughout the day as a visual representation of the respective statistics. All of the participants are encouraged to attend Take Back the Night at 7 p.m.

- Shoe Drive
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: ASA Patio (behind the Athletics and Student Affairs Building)

The Shoe Project represents statewide statistics affiliated with domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or rape. Each pair of shoes donated by the NSU community is used as a visual representation for the victims of domestic violence. The shoes collected will be donated to a local charity after Take Back the Night.

Drive Duration will be through Jan. 30 with various donation boxes located across campus. Donations will also be collected during Take Back the Night.

Thursday, Jan 22

- Cultural Taste of NSU at Quad Thursday
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Flight Deck Patio

Come celebrate and enjoy the diversity that NSU has to offer while enjoying cultural refreshments, music and more.

- Interfaith Dialogue
Time: 4-6 p.m.
Location: Commons 123A

This dialogue is co-sponsored by the Spiritual Life Council, Catholic Life, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, Hillel and International Muslim Association at Nova. Together, these organizations will present panelists of their respective faith and will take questions from the audience about particular customs and traditions of the different faiths present.

Friday, Jan. 23

- Cultural Fashion Show
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Library Quad (Rain Location – UC Flight Deck)

The NSU Multicultural Affairs Programming Committee invites you to a night of fashion, fun and music. This is the kick-off event to the Unity Week 2009 closing ceremonies. The show will feature fashions and music from various regions around the world. Refreshments will be provided throughout the night.

- Wall of Hate Project
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Library Quad

The Wall of Hate Project is a dramatic and physical representation of the historical oppression that has occurred throughout our society. During the week of Jan. 12, NSU students, faculty and staff will get the opportunity to paint cinder blocks with words and slogans which have been a symbol of hate and oppression. The 10-by-10-foot wall will be professionally constructed in the middle of the campus and will be on display throughout Unity Week.
Before pulling down this wall, participants are reminded of the need to act personally and experience the power to create positive change for the future.

- Dabke Line Dance
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: NSU Library Quad

Interested in getting NSU into the Guinness Book of World Records? They will be attempting to get as many people doing the Dabke, a traditional Mediterranean chain dance. The Lebanese version has four simple steps. In order to attempt the Guinness Dance Record for World's Longest Line Dance, they must get 3,000 people to do this dance for six minutes.

- Unity Jam
Time: 9 p.m. to Midnight
Location: Library Quad (Rain Location – UC Flight Deck)
Lambda Theta Phi and the NSU Multicultural Affairs Programming committee invite the NSU community to celebrate the closing of Unity Week 2009. This year’s celebration will include cultural food, fashion show, music from various regions and more.

-- Scott Fishman

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The University School for the Performing Arts Alumni Show: the Tradition Continues had a number of show-stopping performances from musical theater classics on Dec. 27 at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale

The show showcased four decades of the Davie school's history. Included were 1999 alum Josh Gad from the movie 21 and the Tony award-winning Putnam County Spelling Bee, as well as Seth Gabel from television shows like CSI and Dirty Sexy Money.

Pictured are past and present University School students along with faculty and staff backstage.

-- Scott Fishman

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Davie Town Councilwoman Susan Starkey and residents of Davie West recently worked on beautifying the new roundabout at Hiatus Road and Southwest 26th Street. The group spent the morning gardening and putting in new plants.

“This was an effort to jump start the town’s new Adopt-A-Park program,” said Joyce Steward, chairwoman of the Open Space Advisory Board. “The town provided the plants and we provided the sweat.”

The town is in the final stages of developing an Adopt-A-Park Program. Residents and civic groups can help keep Davie beautiful and clean by assisting in park clean-ups, beautification and upkeep. Officials hope to start the program in the near future.

For more information, residents can call Bette Gibson at 954-797-1089.

-- Scott Fishman

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The Davie Fire Rescue Department Fire Prevention Bureau presents the Smoke Detector Giveaway Program for all town residents who live in a mobile home.

For more information, call 954-797-1229.

On a related note, the State Fire Marshal requires under Florida State Statute 633.081 that all municipalities shall conduct fire/life safety inspections annually.

To make this experience go as smoothly as possible, the Davie Fire Rescue Fire Prevention Bureau has put together a pre-inspection checklist that will help you prepare and aid in your passing the annual fire inspection on the fire inspectors’ first visit to your business or residence.

This check list contains life safety information that you need to insure is in compliance with the town’s codes year-round. Click http://www.davie-fl.gov/Pages/DavieFL_FireDeptmt/FireInspection.pdf

-- Scott Fishman

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The South Florida Veterans Multi-Purpose Center in Davie presents a free fun-filled day for veterans and their families who want to learn more about how horses can help folks suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The event will take place 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31 at 4311 SW 63rd Ave. in Davie.

No riding or horse experience necessary. The event will feature a barbecue, PTSD information, VA Service Connection Disability Claim assistance and lots of horse-related activities with experienced professionals.

For more information and to RSVP, call 954-791-8603.

-- Scott Fishman

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The Old Davie School Foundation is in the process of forming an alumni association and is asking anyone who was a student of the school between 1918 and 1977 to contact the foundation.

The Old Davie School Alumni Association will be an asset to the historical museum by helping to preserve its history and provide the community with information from the past that can only be told by personal experiences.

Contact the foundation at 954-797-1044 or www.olddavieschool.org. The Old Davie School is at 6650 Griffin Road.

-- Scott Fishman

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The 72nd annual Orange Blossom Festival will take place 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 1, down Orange Drive from Davie Road west to Rodeo Way.

This year the town will feature country sensation John Anderson on March 1 at the main street stage. The concert is sponsored by the Davie Community Redevelopment Agency.

Anderson's platinum-plus album, Seminole Wind, is the story of the country music "comeback" of the decade. It's the true-to-life, yet larger-than-life, saga of one of the most dramatic career turnarounds of the 1990s.

His memorable hits from that musical era included Wild and Blue, I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal, 1959, I Just Came Home To Count The Memories, Black Sheep and Swingin'. Swingin' was not only the Country Music Association's 1983 Song of the Year, but cited by the A.M.O.A. as one of it's all-time top-40 jukebox hits -- right up there with Hey Jude and other perennial favorites by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Patsy Cline, George Jones and The Rolling Stones.

Last year, more than 15,000 guests enjoyed the free parade, festival and free live concert.

-- Other free activities for both days include an arts and crafts show, fine arts show, western town, exotic animals, musical entertainment, Native American display, animal farm, western carriage display, commerce corner and information displays.

There will also be a free kids' corner that includes bounce houses, a giant slide, climbing wall, magic show, and arts and crafts. Admission to the festival is free.

-- On Saturday, Feb. 28, there will be a free parade, and festival goers will also enjoy a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Davie Kiwanis Club. There will be an old-fashioned Strawberry Festival at the Davie Women's Club. The Davie Pro Rodeo will be held on at 8 p.m. Feb. 28 and 2 p.m. March 1. For rodeo ticket information, call 954- 680-8005.

If you would like to sponsor this family event, or if you would like an artist application, contact Bonnie Stafiej at 954-797-1163 or at bonnie_stafiej@davie-fl.gov.

Visit web page and download an application from www.davie-fl.gov/pages/DavieFL_speclprjcts/pdfs

For more information on everything surrounding the festival visit http://www.davie-fl.gov/Pages/DavieFL_SpclPrjcts/orangeblossom2009

-- Scott Fishman

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Davie is sponsoring its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster & Essay Contest to celebrate the lifetime achievements of the great Nobel Peace Prize-winning American.

This year’s poster and essay theme is “A Dream Realized.” For contest information and applications, contact Bonnie Stafiej at 954-797-1163 or visit www.davie-fl.gov.

All poster entries will be displayed during a picnic celebration, and winning essays will be read on this day by each entry winner.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Picnic will take place 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18 at Potters Park, 4300 SW 57th Terrace.

Free activities include a Praise Dance Program, a climbing wall, bounce houses, a petting farm, a free lunch (while the supplies last) and more.

-- Scott Fishman

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Davie has opened up registration for Indian Folk Dance & Drama classes Jan. 9-Feb. 27.

The eight-week session will be held 6 p.m. Friday nights at the Shenandoah Park Community Center, 14601 SW 14th St., and will be taught by Ranjana Warier.

There must be at least 10 students pre-registered to start the classes. Registration closes Jan. 6.

The class is appropriate for boys and girls. Students are provided with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the thrill of Indian folk arts set to music in several languages. Together, students will perform their own play at the conclusion of the class.

Cost for the eight-week session is $100, plus a costume expense of $30. Anyone interested should contact Matt Mlodzinski, event specialist, at 954-797-1076 or e-mail Ranjana at rwarier@hotmail.com for more information.

-- Scott Fishman

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