If your kids ever wondered what it's like tending Santa's North Pole Workshop and crafting toys, now's their chance to experience it firsthand at Santa's Workshop in Pembroke Pines.

At the event, children ages 5 to 11 can hop from one craft station to another, building such inexpensive wares as wind chimes, door-hangers, custom jewelry, Christmas cards and Shrinkydinks (plastic heat-element ornaments).

Meanwhile, Mrs. Claus will have story time with the younger tykes, while the rest can shake hands with Santa. When everyone finishes working the craft stations, the kids become "elf-certified."

"We teach them that they don't exactly have to visit the stores to buy expensive gifts, but rather [make] something homemade for their parents," Special Events Coordinator Francie Novo said.

Santa's Workshop will open at 9a .m. Dec. 6 at Rose G. Price Park, 901 NW 208th Ave. Tickets cost $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents, and there will be enough room for only 75 children.

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Pembroke Pines City Commission made a unanimous decision to search for a new director who will be solely responsible for raising funds for the city's charter school system.

The proposed $75,000-per-year position will involve culling an expected $1 million from local businesses, schools and other groups throughout 2009, Commissioner Angelo Castillo said.

"This is gonna be a tough job, folks," Castillo said. "Our goal is $1 million, because we need to offset teacher's aide salaries, which are the same annual amount. So, this hire needs to have a stellar background, a dynamo."

They city's seven charter schools faced a $6 million shortfall in funding from the School Board of Broward County, or about 28 percent less than the previous year, City Controller Aner Gonzalez said. The director's salary would come from the charter school's already strained $4 million reserve budget.

While Mayor Frank Ortis gave his vote of confidence, he cautioned that the $1 million figure set the city's standards too high.

"People are getting donor fatique out there, especially in this economy," Ortis said.

The commission expects to hire the fundraising director by January.

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The Broward County Property Appraiser's Office will host a community outreach event to help Pines residents with questions about filing their property tax exemption.

Deputy appraisers will be available during the event to assist with Homestead, Senior, Portability and other property tax exemption applications.

Interested residents should bring a current Florida driver's license, a voter registration card or declaration of domicile and proof of permanent residency.

Eligible senior citizen residents must have a household adjusted gross income under $24,916, and should bring either a copy of their 2007 income tax return or 2007 Social Security 1099 Form.

The event runs 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at Pembroke Pines City Hall, 10100 Pines Blvd. For more information, call Kelly Brown at 954-357-5579.

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City commissioners last Wednesday awarded Pembroke Pines accountant Karin Lu the employee of the third quarter award.

Lu and the entire seven-member Pines Finance Department also won the Government Finance Officers Association's (GFOA) certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2007.

"Karen has demonstrated strong work ethics and has been a valuable asset to the department," said Rene Gonzalez, Pines finance director.

To earn the GFOA award, city finance departments must publish an easily readable and organized comprehensive annual financial report, said Charles Dodge, city manager.

This is the 23rd consecutive year the Pines Finance Department has won the GFOA certificate of achievement, added Gonzalez.

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In the midst of the celebrations, family reunions and all that holiday food, anyone can forget how many drinks they've had.

The AAA Auto Club South and Budweiser will be protecting drivers on the road this Thanksgiving weekend through a program called Tow to Go, which provides a confidential ride home and tow, free of charge, to anyone who may have had too much to drink simply by calling 1-800-AAA-HELP.

‘Tow to Go’ services will be offered throughout the state of Florida and will be available from Nov. 27 to Jan. 1.

Rather than allowing anyone whose sobriety is in question drive, call 1-800-AAA-HELP this weekend.

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Shops at Pembroke Gardens, the sprawling outdoor shopping mall that hugs the intersection of Pines Boulevard and I-75, just got bigger.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to grant Duke Realty the right to install a 36.9-acre green office park between Pembroke Road and Pines Boulevard, just south of the strip mall.

"We want to make some, if not all, of the office buildings green LEED-certified," said Bill Mitchell, Duke Realty's petitioner.

To earn green status, the office park's design calls for low-scale lighting, several bicycle racks and carpool parking spaces to encourage fuel-efficient travel.

Once construction begins on the four four-story office buildings, Duke must reduce airborne pollution, recycle construction waste and use energy and water efficient plumbing.

Also in the works are bus shuttles to and from Pembroke Gardens and wide sidewalks.

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Turkey Day is just around the corner, but children won't have to wait that long to share in the Thanksgiving festivities.

That's because, today and Tuesday, South Regional/BC Library, 7300 Pines Blvd., and Southwest Regional Library, 16835 Sheridan St., is rolling out activities that are guaranteed to tide the tykes over until Thursday.

Today is Thanksgiving Crafts at South Regional/BCC at 2 p.m. for ages 3 and older. Little children can create arts and crafts centerpieces for their Thanksgiving tables using scraps of paper, glitter, macaroni and beads for materials.

The second is "Gobble, Gobble!" on Tuesday, Nov. 25 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. for children, ages 3 to 6. Children can dress up, prance around and gobble in their favorite turkey costume.

Call South Regional at 954-201-8825, or call Southwest Regional at 954-538-9996. Both events are free.

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Pines Charter Middle Central campus, 12350 Sheridan St., will be a hotspot for model train enthusiasts tomorrow.

The show, which features more than a dozen train booths, demonstrations and representatives from hobby train stores, culls about 500 children every year.

"We cater to the children because I feel it's the lifeline of the hobby," said Ken Sargeant, Florida Citrus Model Train Society, who's hosted shows at the Charter Middle for two years. "That's why the person winning the door prizes has to be 12 years of age are less."

The event also contains a performance of the national anthem by a Charter Middle school student, the color guard, movie screenings, interactive displays featuring telegraphs and the history of Florida's locomotive industry, plus electric train set giveaways.

The Model Train Show runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside the Charter Middle's cafeteria. Tickets are $3 for adults, but free for kids under 12.

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Pines commissioners last night accepted a $4,398,575 block grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to buy and renovate foreclosed homes.

The HUD award allows the city not to aid money-strapped homeowners facing foreclosure, but rather to buy 36 properties that "have become sources of abandonment and blight within the community," according to the grant's application.

The funds won't be available to use until February at latest.

"This is encouraging us to get involved in the purchases of these homes, but these dollars and their uses are very limited," said Commissioner Angelo Castillo. "We could have helped a fair number, hundreds even, by using this money to providing direct assistance."

Commissioners must allot nearly $2 million to buy the 36 homes within 18 months or forfeit the entire grant, said City Manager Charles Dodge. Another $2 million would rehab the low-to-middle income homes with repairs to meet health and safety codes.

The rest, about $439,000, pays for program planning and administration.

The refurbished HUD homes will reopen in 2011, with new homeowners expected to sign 15-year contracts to occupy them.

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Advance tickets go on sale today for several Christmas events hosted by the city of Pembroke Pines.

The catch: the Parks and Recreation Department won't accept phone orders and interested residents should visit the Park office in person at Pembroke Shores Park, 501 SW 172nd Ave.

Santa's Workshop, for ages 5 to 11, is Dec. 6 at 9 a.m. at Rose G. Price Park, 901 NW 208th Ave., and only accepts 75 children. Kids can create Christmas crafts like door hangers, necklaces, greeting cards and wind chimes as a gift and become an "elf-certified" toy maker. Tickets run $10 for residents and $15 for others.

The annual Lighting Ceremony features midway games, rides and a meet 'n greet with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. There's also the lighting of a five-story Christmas tree that stretches from the roof to the ground at City Hall. The free event is Dec. 6 and runs from 4 to 7 p.m at City Hall, 10100 Pines Blvd.

Snow Fest is Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pembroke Shores Park. Children's tickets are $4 for residents, and they get to play in more than 75 tons of snow. Tickets are available for nonresidents for $6.

Breakfast with Santa is 9 a.m. Dec. 20 at Southwest Focal Point Senior Center, 301 NW 103rd Ave. Patrons can meet Santa, the Abominable Snowman and feast on mounds of eggs, bacon, toast, juice and coffee. It's $15 for residents, $22 for nonresidents and the venue seats about 200 people.

To read more about upcoming Christmas events, check this blog for updates.

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The Pembroke Pines Glass Gallery salutes the next generation of under-18 fine artists tonight with Children's Holiday in the Pines.

More than 100 pieces of artworks from children who attend a Pines charter school or take classes at Fletcher Art and Cultural Center, are on display through Jan. 6.

The opening reception culls together 60 choir students from charter elementary schools in the city, an appearance by Santa Claus and every watercolor, drawing and painting created by children in the past year.

"It will all be Christmas-themed," said Ben Menasche, Glass Gallery curator. "In exchange for hard work, they'll each receive plush animal toys and ceramic houses from Santa."

A judge panel will also reward the best artwork in different categories with separate prizes, Menasche said.

Children's Holiday in the Pines runs 7 to 9 p.m. at Pembroke Pines City Hall, 10100 Pines Blvd.

To see photos from tonight's event, visit the Pembroke Pines Forum blog tomorrow.

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The city of Pembroke Pines was named one of 50 best places to raise children in the country, according to BusinessWeek magazine research.

The second annual roundup, which partnered with New York-based real estate statistics company OnBoard Infomatics, chose only towns with 50,000 residents or more and had a median family income between $40,000 and $100,000.

The survey collected criteria like school performance, school quantity, household expenditures, crime rates, air quality, job growth, family income, museums, parks and theaters.

Pines, which has a population of 165,600 and median household income of $76,535, has top-performing schools and low crime rates, according to the roundup.

BusinessWeek also named Sunrise and Ocala as runner-ups.

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After nearly two months of delay, flower lovers can flock to the free Pembroke Pines Garden Show next Saturday at William B. Armstrong Dream Park, 1700 NW 160th Ave.

Garden bargain hunters have an assortment of more than 100 flower breeds and dozens of vendors to choose from, including popular rare orchid strains and exotic plants.

Also on sale are fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmer's market, plus garden and backyard accessories like pruning, trimming and shearing equipment, fertilizer and various herbicides, said city special events coordinator Francie Novo. There's even a prize drawing for a 14-foot tall oak tree.

For the kids, the city's Landscape Advisory Board planned a handful of arts and crafts activities, educational workshops, plant raffles, food and drink and musical entertainment.

The Garden Show runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 22.

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Commissioners approved a $20,800 Broward County education grant last week for theater arts workshops next summer for children, ages 8 to 11.

The workshops, which cover acting, stage presence and rehearsing, benefit 50 students over two four-week sessions.

Commissioners had originally contracted with Fantasy Theatre Factory for more than $31,000 to teach the classes.

The city expects to make up the $10,000 difference in registration fees, which are $330 per student for half-day sessions and $440 for all-day sessions, Parks director Dean Combs said.

That means the city stands to profit as much as $11,000 in the venture by next summer's end.

The classes will take place at the River of Grass ArtsPark, 17189 Sheridan St., from June 8 to July 31, 2009.

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Pines city commissioners voted 5-0 last week to pass a new ordinance granting new bus bench licensees to paste political or community service ads on bus benches and shelters.

The new law overturns a 30-year-old sanctions against posting political messages on public property, Commissioner Jack McCluskey said.

Political ads are an extra revenue source in tough economic times, argued Mayor Frank Ortis.

"I think it's discriminatory to punish a politician, which we are ourselves, to want more income from these bus bench advertisements," Ortis said.

The ordinance also requires each bench have shelters with ceiling lights that are solar-powered. The bus benches will be anchored to concrete slabs.

"Each bus bench and its shelter matches hurricane codes," said bus bench developer Martin Goldcoast. "Old benches have to be tipped over in case of a hurricane, but these are much stronger."

Commissioners disagreed over limiting one bus bench per stop, insisting that high-traffic roads like University Drive demand at least two.

"We might need more than one because it's both another source of income for the city and it gives the public a larger area to relax while they're waiting," Commissioner Iris Siple said.

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Three Pembroke Pines Charter High senior softball players signed letters of intent to accept college scholarships Wednesday at Southwest Regional Library, 16835 Sheridan St.

Lauren Sewell earned All-American honors by guiding the Charter High Jaguars to a 31-1 season finish. As pitcher, she's clocked in 481 strikeouts throughout her high school career, and plans to attend the University of Alabama.

Pitcher Britney Pugh, Sewell's teammate, batted .353 last year as starting left-fielder and wants to attend St. Petersburg College.

Varsity letterman Alex Ramos returned to the Jaguars this fall after sitting out the past year, giving senior leadership to the softball team. She's chosen Miami-Dade College after high school.

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The entire first floor and parking lot of Southwest Regional Library, 16835 Sheridan St., will be transformed on Saturday for the annual Storybook Festival.

Children can trade their storybooks for a chance to meet fabled fairytale dwellers Goldilocks and the Three Bears, as well as Rapunzel and the Three Little Pigs in person. That's because the festival features a decorative walkthrough called "Fantasy Forest," filled with their favorite characters.

Other activities include arts and crafts sessions, quiet storytelling rooms, character cardboard cutouts for photo opportunities, a treasure hunt with gold coins that are entered into a prize drawing, plus a storybook parade through the library at 11 a.m.

"Kids should dress up in character costumes if they want to join the parade," said Katy Mullon, event coordinator.

The Storybook Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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One Pines charter school is launching the National Anti-Bullying Week campaign.

The Pembroke Pines Charter Middle central campus, 12350 Sheridan St., on Monday, adopted a week-long string of activities designed to teach middle school children not to tolerate bullying.

Yesterday, children dressed in black T-shirts, socks, shorts or pants to demonstrate a "black-out" against bullies. On Wednesday, teachers will screen streaming "webisodes" from "Stop Bullying Now!" And on Thursday, children are encouraged to sit with whomever they want for lunch.

Running all week are two activities: the chance to draw graffiti-style bully-free messages on bulletin board paper located on each floor, and a poster contest where one student from each grade level wins a prize for creating the best anti-bullying design.

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The City of Pembroke Pines' Parks and Recreation department will honor U.S. veterans past and present this Tuesday at noon at Donnith H. Fletcher Park, 7900 Johnson St.

The Veterans Day event, which pays tribute to those who've served their country and who currently protect American freedoms overseas, will feature a color demonstration, gun salutes, a ceremonial march and a free hot dog and soda lunch afterward.

Since this is a national holiday, Pembroke Pines City Hall, 10100 Pines Blvd., will be closed, and the Arts & Culture Advisory Board meeting has been rescheduled for Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

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Pines residents can get into the holiday spirit and ensure families fill their bellies with helpings of turkey and yams this Thanksgiving.

Southwest Focal Point Senior Center, 301 NW 103rd Ave., is collecting Thanksgiving goods for a Basket Food Drive until Nov. 9 to benefit low-income, homeless and foster families.

All the hearty ingredients of a Thanksgiving meal are desired, including canned veggies like corn and green beans, yams, jellied cranberry, turkey gravy, marshmallows, instant potatoes and other non-perishables.

"Families need their peace of mind and one less worry this holiday season," said Louise Casey, activities specialist. "We've got so many volunteers working on our end to help distribute."

Food drive donations will be collected by Casey at the center. Call 954-450-6888 for more information.

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If one man's trash were indeed another man's treasure, this Saturday and Sunday is the time to test that theory during the two-day Flea Market and Bazaar at Southwest Focal Point Senior Center, 301 NW 103rd Ave.

Pines residents and travelers can purchase cheap wares with no admission fee and free parking from more than 100 vendors. Visitors can haggle with merchants over lawn chairs, bicycles, turntables, furniture and other priceless novelties Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A portion of profits will benefit senior center programming. For more information, call Jay Schecter at 954-450-6960 or Diana Lederman at 954-450-6888.

Download an advertisement flier here or visit the city's Web site.

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A sea of pink marched all day through Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 1 as Pembroke Pines Charter High students fought for breast cancer awareness.

The Charter High, 17189 Sheridan St., raised $888.50 during the day-long breast cancer awareness "Making Strides" walk for American Cancer Society. Roughly 20 faculty and student volunteers sold hundreds of $1 pink bracelets and candy to breast cancer walkers.

"This fight against breast cancer is important and we wanted to be there to help," said Charter High science teacher Margarita Santiago, who organized the event.

As five students donned sky-blue T-shirts and walked Las Olas, others registered participants and handed out cold bottled water at checkpoints.
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PHOTO: Pines Charter High School student volunteer Alyssa Aguiar passes out bottled water to walkers in the American Cancer Society "Making Strides" event on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Submitted Photo
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The Bergeron Park of Commerce wants to build a recycling plant just 700 feet from a community of homes in west Pembroke Pines.

Pines commissioners and Laguna Isles residents sat with Bergeron family land developers last week eager to hear if the project would disrupt their small-knit community.

Concerns jumped from noise pollution and visibility to pollution and types of materials recycled.

"Our concerns for the community are aesthetics and noise, and we need to look at these things more," said Leslie Stolh, a Laguna Isles resident. "Will this lower the property values in our neighborhood?"

Lonnie Bergeron, son of real estate tycoon Ron Bergeron, assured residents city ordinances prevent noise pollution reaching homeowner's ears, and that an 18-foot-tall landscaped embankment would block the recycling plant from view.

"We want to make sure people can dump their vegetation debris, metal and concrete here a little bit cheaper because of our partnership with Pembroke Pines," said Bergeron, whose real estate company owns the proposed acres west of Laguna Isles.

Bergeron expects to submit their site plan for the 5.5-acre property during a December Planning and Zoning board meeting and start construction next year.

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Here is a list of Pembroke Pines polling places that are open until 7 p.m. today. Also, each location does accept voters after 7 p.m., provided you're in line before the deadline.

To find your precinct, visit this Broward Supervisor of Elections page.

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The Pembroke Pines Glass Gallery will showcase its new exhibit, "Children's Holiday in the Pines," on Nov. 5.

The gallery, which runs through Jan. 6, 2009, features the collective artworks of students attending one of the city's seven charter schools, said curator Benoit Menasche.

'"We have nearly 150 artworks right now," said Menasche, who as president of Pembroke Pines Kiwanis Club sponsored the event. "There is really no avenue around where kids can show off their creativity, so we give them that outlet."

The first 200 children participating in the exhibit receive a holiday gift during the opening reception on Nov. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. The display is also juried, which means the gallery plans to hand out prizes to first-place winners in separate categories.

Glass Gallery is located inside City Hall's lobby at 10100 Pines Blvd.

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PHOTO: Pilar Sanchez, left, 10, of Pembroke Pines is surrounded by friends during the garage sale organized by Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School West Campus and student groups to benefit her and two other families whose children suffer from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses in Pembroke Pines.
Staff photo/Jason Arnold
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For the fourth year running, Pembroke Pines Charter High has the most registered student voters for any 4A school in Broward County.

Nearly 220 students in the county plan to perform voluntary poll-working duties on Election Night. Of those, 101 are student voters from Charter High, said principal Peter Bayer, adding that they're all registered to vote and either plan to or have already cast their ballots in the general election.

The same number of student volunteers worked the polls during the August local government elections. By Nov. 4, Bayer expects those student volunteer numbers to jump even higher.

Charter High students first gained the most registered student voter record in 2005.

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The Pembroke Pines Economic Development Board will offer a free seminar for small business owners on Nov. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m at Southwest Focal Point Senior Center, 301 NW 103rd Ave.

The seminar, called Introduction to a Business Plan, supplies owners with business-building strategies, the know-how to identify target customers, and which economic strategies businesses should use in a down economy.

"A lot of people don't have the right business plan, which leads to their failure," said Mike Stamm, assistant city planner. "You're gonna get advice from certified business analysts."

The seminar, the fourth and last of the year, was organized with a partnership between the city and Florida Atlantic University's Small Business Development Center.

Call 954-432-9808.

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Pembroke Pines Elementary kindergartners can be a part of the democratic process when they visit the "polls" and cast their "ballots" for president on Nov. 3 at noon.

The mock election, which takes place at Pines Charter Central Elementary, 12350 Sheridan St., lets students cast their votes for presidential candidates at a special voting booth on campus.

Children should first discuss their candidate choices with parents before the election, said Elise Wright, Charter Central kindergarten teacher. After they've voted, they'll receive an "I Voted!' sticker and match their choice with the winning candidate.

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