To help upgrade and strength Pompano Beach’s electrical infrastructure, Florida Power & Light Company will be improving the main power lines that serve the North Broward Medical Center, University Hospital and Medical Center.

The process includes inspecting 710 poles, clearing vegetation over 168 miles of power lines and using infrared technology to inspect 23 main power lines. For more information, click here.

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To help residents catch Community Redevelopment Agency meetings that they might have missed, Pompano Beach will begin re-broadcasting the meetings the day after the scheduled meeting.

The CRA meetings are held and broadcast live at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. As part of the re-broadcast effort, the meetings can also be seen at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, the day after the CRA meeting, and can be viewed on Pompano Beach Government Access Channel 78.

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After returning home from serving in the Vietnam War, George Rafajko said support from the community was completely different than what U.S. soldiers face now.

“People didn’t support us,” he said. “It took a longtime to get over that.”

Overtime, Rafajko has noticed a growing trend of community members being more accepting of soldiers and appreciation for what they do.

“The public has started to realize the sacrifices soldiers make to protect them and they take pride in what they’re doing,” he said. “It’s a good thing the community is starting to see that.”

Currently, Rafajko is the commander of the American Legion Post 142 in Pompano Beach. The Legion Post is planning various Memorial Day ceremonies to honor the military personnel who sacrificed their lives to protect the U.S.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Memorial Day, the Westview Cemetery, 2100 W. Copans Road will be decorated with American Flags and a service will be held to honor fallen soldiers.

The ceremony will feature a 21-gun salute, a flag retirement ceremony by local Boy Scott members, and honored guests speakers will detail what Memorial Day means to them.

“It’s a nice service for those who paid the ultimate price,” said Bob Shelley, an organizer for the event. “Freedom is not free.”

At 11 a.m. a parade will commence at McNab Park, 2250 E. Atlantic Blvd. and head to the Pompano Beach Cemetery, 400 SE 23rd Ave.

The short parade will feature veterans, members from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Broward Sherriff’s Office, the Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, and anybody who wants to join in.

After the parade, another ceremony will be at the Pompano Beach Cemetery.

“It’s really a great day for anybody who wants to remember our fallen heroes,” Shelley said. “Each year we try to bring the community together and pay tribute to them.”

Following the ceremony, a family picnic at the American Legion Post 142, 171 SW Second St. will conclude the day’s ceremonies. A military orchestra will supply live musical entertainment, along with free hotdogs and sodas to all attendees.

While Shelley said the annual ceremonies always net a good turnout, he encourages the entire community to come out, support, and honor those who paid the ultimate price.

“This shows that we do care about the people who paid the ultimate price,” Shelley said.

For more information, call 954-579-6862.

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After being selected as the Broward County school district’s Non-Instructional Employee of the Year in December, Jannette Thompson-Irwin was recently named as the 2009 Florida School-Related Employee of the Year.

Irwin has been at Pompano Beach Middle for 14 years and her duties expand beyond being the principal’s secretary. Irwin also doubles as a nurse, counselor and community liaison. Irwin has also been named the Employee of the Year for the last three years at the school.

As part of the state award, Irwin will receive a check for $1,000 from the Department of Education.

I had the pleasure to interview Irwin after she won the county award and think she definitely deserved to be honored by the state.

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More than 100 vehicles dating back as far as the 1920s will be on display at the Pompano Citi Centre.

The car show lasts from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 31 at the Pompano Citi Centre, 1955 N. Federal Highway. The car show also features live music with food and drinks available for purchase. The event will also feature an automobile marketplace, which will feature a variety of auto accessories.

For more information, call 954-943-4685.

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As the Lighthouse celebrates its eighth anniversary of restoration, the Lighthouse Station will be offering residents a chance to tour the 101-year-old tower. The Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society is helping coordinate the tours.

Beginning at 9 a.m. May 23 participants are asked to park across the street from north dock of Sands Harbor Hotel, 125 N. Riverside Drive at Pompano Beach’s parking lot. Every 50 minutes, a chartered boat will shuttle residents to and from the Lighthouse Station until 2:45 p.m.
The Lighthouse will close at 4:30 p.m. and participants should allow three hours for the parking fee. Individuals will pay $25 to tour the lighthouse, while a family can pay $35.

For more information, call 954-942-2102.

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The Pompano Beach East Community Redevelopment Agency is inviting residents to a Friday Night Music on the Water.

From 6 to 9 p.m. May 22 in the parking lot of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 140 S.E. 28th Ave., residents can enjoy an evening of music and food sampling as 13 local restaurants will be offering free tasting. While residents feast on food and enjoy the entertainment offered, they can also look at the revitalization plans for Atlantic Boulevard.

Admission is free with food and drinks available for purchase. For more information, call 954-786-4527.

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Students at Blanche Ely High in Pompano Beach will be showcasing their technological and research skills at an upcoming multimedia fair.

At the event, students will demonstrate their multimedia projects in the math, engineering, science, social studies and language arts fields.

The fair will last from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 19 at the school, 1201 NW Sixth Ave. For more information, call 754-322-0980.

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With Pompano Beach facing tough economic conditions, the city is in a significant budget deficit and is seeking advice from residents.

To better open the dialog between city officials and residents, a link has been added to Pompano Beach’s Web site. The link will permit residents with the opportunity to send their advice to the municipality.

Residents can send their comments about the budget to comment@copbfl.com.

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Pompano Beach is looking for residents to sign-up for its first Spring Sling adult co-ed dodgeball tournament.

Teams will consist of six players on the court with a maximum of 10 people on the team. The first 20 teams to register at $10 per person will only be permitted to play.

The tournament starts at 10 a.m. May 30, at the Pompano Community Park Outdoor Hockey Rink, 2001 NE 10th St. Registration is open and takes place at the Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 NE Sixth St. For more information, call 954-363-3313.

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