Current Builders, a building construction company in Pompano Beach, is sponsoring a Toys for Tots Bike Drive for needy children during Christmas.

The goal is to raise enough money to purchase a minimum of 100 bikes to be donated to local children in need. Any additional donations are also encouraged.

Toys for Tots will pick up all donations at 3 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Current Builders Pompano Beach office, 2251 Blount Road.
For more information, call 954-977-4211.

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With the holiday season officially underway, Pompano Beach is organizing numerous events thought December to bring the holiday fun to the city.

The celebrations begin at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 with the city’s annual Yuletide Holiday Parade at Riverside Drive, which is just east of the Intracoastal, and will proceed west on Atlantic Boulevard to McNab Park, 2250 E. Atlantic Blvd.

The parade starts with lighting of the city’s Yuletide tree by Mayor Lamar Fisher. Featured in the parade are about 100 entries that include floats, several school bands, horses, fire trucks, theme characters and Santa Clause.

“We want to try to involve as many youth as possible,” said Tim Tracey, parks and recreational director for the city. “It’s a thrill for them to be involved and to have fun.”

Another activity for the family is the Breakfast with Santa from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Emma Lou Olson Center, 1801 NE Sixth St. Tickets are $5 for children and adults. Participants are asked to also bring a toy for the needy. For more information, call 954-786-4111.

A Holiday Ballroom Dance from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Emma Lou Olson Center, will feature dancing and door prizes, with an emphasis on holiday attire.
For more information, call 954-786-4111.

The Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce’s annual Holiday Boat Parade starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at Lake Santa Barbara and heads north to the Hillsboro Bridge on the Intracoastal.

“It’s a South Florida tradition and we have a good time with it,” said Ric Green, president of the Pompano Beach Chamber.

The final city sponsored event has the staff at the Mitchell/Moore Center inviting residents to their Holiday Dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec 18 at the center, 901 NW 10th St.
The evening event will feature entertainment and meals prepared and served by the staff at the center.
Participants are required to bring two can items per person for entry, which will be donated to a local food bank.

“It’s for the kids who participated in youth programs,” said Marilyn Barnes, recreational leader at the center.
For more information about the holiday dinner, call 954-786-4131.

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After attending her son’s graduation from Army basic training, Karla Smiley noticed a disturbing sight. She observed that many of her son’s colleagues had no family in attendance to celebrate the momentous occasion.

What was even more disturbing for Smiley, who works for Pompano Pediatrics, was when military personnel informed her that many of these soldiers have no family at all and when mail comes in, they are often left with nothing.

“I can’t imagine my son [Private James Reed] not getting mail at mail call,” she said. “I just wanted to try to make a difference for them.”

Wanting to help these soldiers, Smiley, a Fort Lauderdale resident, started Florida Moms for Soldiers with her friends and family.

The nonprofit organization seeks everyday donations, such as socks, deodorant, sunscreen, chap stick, foot powder and baby wipes. Smiley then ships the items to the soldiers, who often go unnoticed at mail call.

“These kids really need supplies,” she said.

For more information about Florida Moms for Soldiers, call Smiley at 954-232-2432 or e-mail Floridamomsforsoldiers@gmail.com.

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Often referred to as the missing link, the recently completed Andrews Avenue extension project in Pompano Beach is officially, connected.

The extension connects the north and southbound lanes on Andrews Avenue from Atlantic Boulevard to Copans Road while also over passing Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

“It’s been nearly 20 years [since planning began],” said Barbara Kelleher, public information director for the Florida Department of Transportation’s district four. “It’s great to have it finally done for people to drive on.”

The planning phases and project development began in 1990, but construction did not begin on the nearly $30 million project until July 2006, Kelleher said.

Along with the accessibility the project will allow for residents and drivers in the area, Pompano Beach City Commissioner Woodrow Poitier said the extension will also allow for more old and new businesses to be exposed along the corridor.

“That’s a good thing,” he said. “It’s showing what’s available.”

With more than two years of waiting for the project and having to deal with roadblocks and detours, Poitier said the relief and excitement of knowing the project is finished is a plus for people in area.

“I think residents are going to love it,” he said.

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To help develop personal skills, instructors are being sought for a a variety of special interest classes organized by the Pompano Beach Parks and Recreation Department.

Instructors who wish to join and share their passions with the community are paid with flexible hours.

The classes are at North Broward Park, 4400 NE 18th Ave., which features 20.4 acres, a community center, large open green space, basketball courts, baseball, football fields, sand volleyball court, a large playground area and a covered picnic pavilion.

Call 954-786-4091.

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Current NFL player and Blanche Ely High School graduate Tyrone Carter is organizing a Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway for Pompano Beach residents.

Carter is a current member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and grew up in Pompano Beach and annually hosts the T. Carter Community Fun Day during the summer for local youth.

About 2,000 turkeys will be given away to residents during the event, which is from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 24 at McNair Park, 951 NW 27th Ave.

The event is co-hosted by the T. Carter Connection Foundation and City of Pompano Beach.
The turkeys will be given away on a first-come, first-serve basis with a limit of one per person.
Call 954-974-7394.

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The Intergalactic Bead and Jewelry Show will be making its regular stop in Pompano Beach this weekend.

The show tours up and down the East Coast of the United States, and its regular visit to Pompano Beach is one of their biggest and brightest shows.

“[Pompano Beach] is in our top three of all the shows we do,” said Wayne Wright, show manager for the show. “It’s a good region for beauty.”

Vendors will be offering a variety of beads and jewelry from as far away as India, Asia and South America.

The show lasts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 NE Sixth St.
Admission is $5 Saturday and $4 Sunday.

For more information, call 1-888-729-6904.

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The introduction ceremony Pompano Beach had planned for the Palm Aire Special Recreation District Board of Supervisors has been canceled.

Seven Pompano Beach residents were set to be sworn into office Nov. 12 at City Hall, but the Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office recently requested a recount of the ballots cast Nov.4.

The Palm Aire Special Recreation District Board of Supervisors will be in charge of overseeing the possible future purchases of 600 acres of golf courses that surround the Palm Aire community's condo buildings and private homes.

Once the Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office finishes recounting the ballots and releases the results, the introduction ceremony will be rescheduled.

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Designed to engage students in a more interactive format, Cleveland Clinic’s Literary Expressions program offers them a chance to use written communication while learning about scientific research topics.

With Blanche Ely High in Pompano Beach already offering a medical magnet program, Novice Johnson, an English teacher at Ely, implemented the program in her class and the response from students has been positive, she said.

Students draw on their science skills as they work on scientific topics such as diabetes and patient care, which is taught to the students through video presentations prepared by other high school students from around the country. They then use their writing skills to interpret what they learned from the other students’ research.

“It’s different from most classes that only focus on one thing,” senior Brittani Carr said. “It’s connected both, so you can use them together. Combining them is fun.”

Ely is one of only 40 high schools in the country to participate in this program, which has been implemented this year for the first time at Ely. Based on the students’ eagerness to engage in the curriculum, Johnson said she will use it again next year.

“It’s easier to relate to,” senior Derrick Ambrose said. “You can bring two different genres of learning for a successful experience.”

Instead of focusing on one method through which the students could express themselves, the program allowed participants in the class to use a variety of writing formats. Choices included a traditional essay, a news column, interview-style formats and poems.

“It offers them something outside of the traditional textbook,” Johnson said. “The clinic was very innovative in this approach to engage students with two core curriculum.”

Along with combining English and science, the curriculum permitted the students to use technology, which they are used to, Johnson said.

And with students focused on upcoming FCAT tests, combining science and English into one subject is a perfect fit, Johnson said.

“We’re usually just reading something,” senior Noruwa Idahosa said. “You’re not being forced to do one thing. You do what you want to do.”

For more information about the program, visit www.clevelandclinic.org.

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To kickoff the holiday season, Pompano Beach’s annual Yuletide Parade is seeking local participants to share in the holiday fun.

Pompano Beach’s Yuletide on Atlantic Committee is looking for local youth groups, civic associations, businesses, school bands, and others to participate in the Yuletide on Atlantic Parade,set for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4. Participants are asked to submit their applications to the committee by Thursday.

Residents interested in joining the parade can visit the city's Web site and download parade information and application.

The parade begins at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Atlantic Boulevard proceeding west over the Intracoastal Waterway to McNab Park, 2250 E. Atlantic Blvd.

Volunteers are also needed to help with entertainment at the park, which includes photos with Santa and food. Donations of canned goods are also being accepted at the park.

For more information, call 954-786-4185.

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The sixth season of the Pompano Beach Green Market will officially open at 8 a.m. Saturday.

The market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through April 25 at the corner of Flagler Avenue and Northeast First Street, in the city’s historic downtown area.

Presented by the Pompano Beach Historical Society, the Green Market offers patron’s fruits, vegetables, juices, baked goods, seafood, teas, coffees, as well as orchids, plants and other health-related products and services.

Special festivities for the first Green Market features a “pepper ribbon” cutting by local officials. Live music will entertain the crowd, as well art shows, walking tours of the historic site and antique automobile shows.

For more information, visit www.pompanohistory.com/phc/market/.

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To recognize residents who make Pompano Beach a better community, the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce is organizing a first-ever Shining Stars Awards Luncheon.

Honorees include Richard Porraro, Karla Nelson, former Pompano Beach City Commissioner E. Pat Larkins, Neal Vinkemulder, Marge Muth, Tony Spadaccia and Bob Harpest.

Jerry Bowman, the chairman of Pompano’s Centennial Celebration Committee will be the inaugural recipient of a new award named after Stewart Kester, a longtime community leader who died this year.

The luncheon is from 12 to 2 p.m. Thursday at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 1299 S. Federal Highway. Tickets are $40 per person or $75 for two.

Call 954-941-2940, or visit www.pompanobeachchamber.com.

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Residents wondering what’s it like to be in the pilot’s seat of an airplane or hoping to start their own aviation career can look forward to the Let’s Go Flying Day event coming Saturday to Pompano Beach.

To help residents gain a better understanding and appreciation of flying in an airplane, the American Flyers flight school in Pompano Beach will be offering a free Let’s Go Flying Day event.

From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the school’s facility at the Pompano Beach Airpark, 801 NE 10th St., American Flyers will host the event that allows participants to enjoy a free barbecue, sit in the pilot’s seat of a plane, talk with experienced pilots and receive a voucher for two hours of free training in a flight simulator. The event is also co-sponsored by Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, a nonprofit pilots organization.

For more information, visit www.letsgoflying.com or call 1-800-327-0808.

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For residents wishing to find a fun workout to burn calories, Pompano Beach is offering a new fitness dance class, known as Zumba.

Zumba dance classes are an energetic fitness class that has participants listening to Latin and exotic music. Zumba exercises include aerobic interval training with a combination of rapid and leisurely movements that tone and sculpt the body.

The Pompano Beach Parks and Recreation Department is offering the classes from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays at the Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 NE Sixth St.
Each class is $7 and participants must pay a yearly registration fee.

Call 954-786-4111.

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