Greetings! Our big annexation vote will be coming up March 12, 2002. When you enter the voting booth you will have 2 choices. You will vote to join either the City of Ft. Lauderdale or the City of Dania Beach. Under absolutely no circumstances will we remain unincorporated. If you do not vote you are allowing others to control your destiny. If you live in the Isles you will be casting your ballot at the Lauderdale Isles Yacht Club. Your vote is important. The polls will be open from 7am until 7pm just as in a normal election. Please look in this issue for an article by Elaine Peterick that will give details on absentee ballots and other essential election information.
         Our next LICIA general meeting will take place Thursday, February 21 and will be devoted to the annexation issue.  We will be passing out the pre-annexation agreement that was handed to the City Managers of Ft. Lauderdale and Dania Beach. Also on the agenda will be a sample tax bill and other pertinent annexation issues.  I hope you were able to attend one of the Ft. Lauderdale presentations and we look for Dania Beach to hold a general meeting for residents sometime in February.
         I’m beginning to hear more reports from people complaining of very noisy neighbors, unsightly conditions around homes, and businesses being conducted from homes that shouldn’t be. If you cannot get cooperation from your neighbor call the Broward Sheriff’s Office at 765-4321 and lodge a complaint. I ask everyone who gets this newsletter to respect your neighbors and your neighborhood. Everyone should do his or her best to make this a great place to live.
         Our Civic Association by-laws require that our books be audited once a year. We are looking for a few volunteers with accounting or general business backgrounds that can help us. If you are willing (it should not take long) please contact me at 587-3492 or craigcan@gate.net.  After our annexation vote has taken place, I feel we can (and should) refocus on neighborhood issues. My thanks to Terry Simonds, Joan Sheridan, Ray Figueroa and everyone else who continues to monitor the Isles and work hard at resolving problems. Should you wish to report a problem to the Civic Association, please call your lane trustee who will bring it to everyone’s attention at our monthly trustee meeting.

I look forward to seeing many folks at our February 21st general meeting. Take care!!

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The vote you cast on March 12th may be the most important vote you make as a Lauderdale Isles resident.  On Election Day, you and your neighbors will decide by majority vote to which city your home will forever belong, the City of Dania Beach or Fort Lauderdale.  So mark your calendars with stars and be sure to vote! 
         Don’t think your vote won’t matter.  A recent Miami Herald article reported the results of a survey conducted by Dania Beach revealing that 24% of greater Riverland annexation area residents favored Dania, while 36% favored Fort Lauderdale, and 40% were undecided.
         Registered voters can cast their ballots at our neighborhood polling place, the Lauderdale Isles Yacht and Tennis Club on Whale Harbor from 7 AM to 7 PM.  The usual punch card system will still be in place.
         Changes of address from outside of Broward County must be requested 29 days prior to the election.  Changes of address within Broward County can be done anytime prior to the election.  However, to avoid delays and problems at the polling place it is best to notify the Supervisor of Elections (SOE) office at least 2 weeks prior to the vote — in order for your name to appear in the voter registration book.  Registration and Change of Address forms are available at any public library or SOE offices.
         If you need an absentee ballot, it is best to contact the SOE office as soon as possible by calling 954-357-7055 or 357-7050.  Waiting until a week or two before the election is cutting it close for processing it, mailing it out and mailing back in.  A request can be made a year in advance.  For example, homebound voters can request absentee ballots for all elections this year, i.e., March, September, and November.  Absentee Request Cards will also be available in a few weeks, but “cards are at the mercy of the postal system and human handling” according to one SOE official.
         For voters who are sick or unable to get to a polling place on Election Day, there is a way to cast your ballot.  It’s a hassle but doable.  The person needing the absentee ballot must sign a letter stating his/her name, birthday, and last 4 digits of their social security number.  The letter must state the name of the person who will pick up the ballot and identity form at the downtown SOE office at 115 S. Andrews Avenue, Room 110.  Then the ballot and form must be completed and returned to the downtown office by the named person before 7 PM on Election Day.         

         For more information or clarification, call the Supervisor of Election office at 954-357-7050.

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Through inaction or pushing for annexation, several local politicians are closer to realizing their dream of forcing many unincorporated area residents into a city whether the city wants them or not.   Of course you’ll get to vote on it as long as you are voting on which city you’re being forced into and not whether you would like to remain unincorporated.  Of course County Commissioners have kept the Municipal Services District taxes paid by unincorporated residents increasing.  This has occurred as there are fewer areas for which to provide services, and cities are contracting for an increasing amount of county services putting ever more money into county coffers.     
         Dania realizes this will probably be their last chance to snag a waterfront area and its desirable tax base.   Opportunistic consultants have taken advantage of this at a cost of thousands to their taxpayers.  On Thursday, 1-17-02 at 4:30 p.m., their Commissioners had a workshop to discuss the progress their consultant is making in swaying area residents to vote for them.  It was 4th on a 6 item agenda and billed as an “Update on Riverland Road annexation proposal and discussion of Russ Klenet Lobbyist Agreement for annexation services”.  Klenet had a lot of explaining to do as Dania was the last choice of Riverland residents in his survey, and he wants taxpayer money to keep rolling his way.
         The City Manager opened the meeting at 4:43 p.m. stating we were about to hear a report on last month’s phone survey of Riverland residents by the city’s annexation consultant.  He emphasized that Ft. Lauderdale was going all out to convince residents to join them. He felt there was much work to be done since there would be a March vote on which city Riverland residents prefer.  He added the area will bring in $3.6 million and cost $3.2 million to service.  Lobbyist Klenet tried to make the best he could out of a bad situation by stating that while Ft. Lauderdale was ahead with 36% to Dania’s 24%, the largest group 37.6% were undecided .  Of course his team could overcome this if the tax money just keeps rolling their way for more direct mail campaigns, picnics on the beach and emery board etc. type gifts. They know who the undecided are and will focus on them.  He said his survey was “very statistically relevant” claiming to have reached 67% of Riverland residents.  
         Dania officials hope his actions are as loud as his words.  If they have to take an area it might as well be waterfront that brings in close to half a million dollars in additional taxes, an area that is built out and not in need of additional services.

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This year’s Waterway Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, March 2ND, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.   Lauderdale Isles Yacht and Tennis Club at 2637 Whale Harbor Lane will be the official site, once again, for this 25th Anniversary event in our neighborhood.  Waterway Cleanup is one of the largest pro-environmental events in Broward, and is the only one that specifically targets the area’s 300 miles of navigable waterways.  Last year more than 3,000 volunteers at 28 waterfront locations removed 50 tons of trash that would have been left to accumulate in the waterways. The key ingredient to the success of this annual event is the participation of volunteers.  
         Joan Sheridan has been the Site Coordinator for our neighborhood at the Lauderdale Isles Yacht and Tennis Club since 1987.  Volunteers and boats are needed to make this event a big success, so please call Joan at 581-0816 and offer your assistance. All participants will receive a free T-shirt (while supplies last), garbage bags, and a free bottle of boat wash (for boat owners). This year there will be a specially designed “25th Anniversary” boat flag to be given to boat owners (while supplies last) Volunteers are invited to celebrate their efforts at the “Trash Bash” from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., immediately following the Cleanup.  This year the “Trash Bash” will be held at Shooters on the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway. There will be complimentary food, refreshments, entertainment and chances to win door prizes. 
         This is your chance to join other volunteers in the Waterway Cleanup effort to make our community a more beautiful place to live. The cleanup is not only good for our environment; it’s a fun event for the whole family to enjoy. If you have a boat, or plan to help out on shore, participating is easy. All you have to do is to volunteer and show up. Community service vouchers will be given to all volunteers that need them for the hours they work. Please wear old clothes and sneakers. No one will be allowed to work if they are barefoot. It would be a good idea to put on sunscreen and a hat to protect you from the sun. If you have gloves or old nets please bring them. Together we can make a difference in our environment and our quality of life. With your help and support, we look forward to another successful WATERWAY CLEANUP.  

SEE YOU SATURDAY, MARCH 2nd!

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With growth out of control in Broward County our roads, schools and jails etc. are jammed.  We just can’t seem to build them fast enough.  As a result our fenced in airport is constantly expanding, yet its noise model contours are supposedly shrinking.  It is trying to juggle more and more air traffic into its already ultra-busy corridors.  Just drive West on 84 at night, and you can  usually spot a single file of lights hanging in the air as far as you can see.  Discussion about locating a regional jetport elsewhere to take some of the load off of South Florida’s maxed-out urban international airports is not a popular topic with airport officials.
         The County wants to build a South runway to take some of the load off of the other runways.  Dania’s Mayor wants our area, but he wants to protect Dania’s residents by requesting that the South runway not be built.  At a hearing on Thursday, 1-24-02 on airport expansion he asked airport officials to build a second runway north of the present one.  He said, “A second North runway would be compatible with the industrial zones along State Road 84.”  He went on to state that a South runway expansion would bring misery to several of Dania’s residential areas.  His argument infers that another north runway would merely dump more noise on our neighborhood.  While he brought up the fact that annexing the Riverland area would provide Dania with its last chance to get a waterfront area, he didn’t mention that the Dania officials would like to see the 7,000 Riverland residents on the Dania tax rolls.  The airport issue is a clear example of the conflict Dania would have representing our interests and those of its present citizens at the same time.
         County officials support the South runway since two Northern runways would not have enough separation.  This would limit ingress and egress impacting airport capacity.  Virginia Lane of the FAA’s Orlando office indicated an environmental study will be finished by mid-February.  There will be a 30 day comment period so you can e-mail or write FAA representatives about your feelings.  Continue calling in your aircraft noise complaints to 359-1200 nights and holidays and 359-6181 weekdays.  Some in the aircraft industry are trying to get our noise abatements abolished.  William Sherry, Ft. Lauderdale International’s Director of Aviation would like to see it continue.  If you share his feelings you should attend the next 6 p.m. Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting on Monday, 3-11-02 in Conference Room A.  Call Capt. Bud Johnson at 797-8915, George Counts at 584-4926 or one of the above numbers for details.

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Over the last two months we have spotted two different alligators at the end of the West canal of Nassau Lane.  The first and smaller one of the two hung around for a couple of hours – not at all frightened when we tossed things in the water at him.  The second one which was between 6 and 7 feet long also at the North end of the canal came cruising by and was checking underneath docks as he worked his way toward the end.  Beware and keep an eye out if you plan to do work on the bottom of your boat or any other work in the canal!

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Ollie Kollman, our Newsletter editor for quite some time now, has tendered her resignation. Ollie had produced our quarterly newsletter for several years but determined that the time had come to pass the torch. She states that family pressures and helping her husband with his business are taking more of her time than she had anticipated.  We will miss her exceptional work, loyal patience, and generous contribution to the betterment of our neighborhood and association.
         We wish her and her family the very best of luck with their endeavors, and we thank her for all of her service to our community.  Although she’s turning in the keys to the printing press, she’s isn’t leaving the neighborhood.  Stop in and see her, take her some homemade cookies, or just find a moment to express your gratitude and appreciation for her thankless hours of service.  Ollie has been another of many in or neighborhood to lead by example.  We certainly hope this becomes a contagious condition! 

         Thank you, Ollie!

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For several years a few of us have been searching for an ocean access site for a maritime museum. One representative of one of the world’s leading maritime centers.  One with constantly changing in-house exhibits supplemented with rotating ones of historic vessels at its dock.  This educational and tourist center would also host meetings of marine groups.
        A logical site and buildings have been found. The old New River Post Office at 330 SW 2nd Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale.  It is owned by the city and has been vacant since 1997.  When transformed into a maritime museum, it would have little impact on taxpayers.  It fits perfectly into the downtown historic district, provides another downtown tourist destination.  It also preserves a historic building while showcasing our multi-million dollar marine industry.
         Bob Cox, former Ft. Lauderdale Mayor, marina owner, engineer and antique boat collector is heading up the drive to bring this unique opportunity to Ft. Lauderdale.  He states it would complement the existing programs offered by the Discovery Center, the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and enhance, complement and facilitate the Riverwalk program.  “It is a logical addition to the ‘Venice of America’.  It will amuse and impress the casual visitor”.  Cox, who started the Marine Industries Association, also helped start a maritime museum in Clayton, NY, 36 years ago.  It now has a $2.5 million endowment and is expanding again.
         A multitude of professionals including oceanographers, attorneys, engineers and marine business people have pledged their support.  So far, all of them have donated their services free.  The museum now has 5013C status.  City Commissioners held a hearing on 12-18-02 to review quotations of the several entities interested in the post office site.  A fine tuning of this hearing will occur this Spring.  The Maritime Museum is competing with a local developer who wants to demolish the Francis Abreu designed 1927 building and put up a 2-story mixed-use, retail building.  The Performing Arts Center also wants to demolish the building and put in a new 2-story retail-entertainment complex with waterfront dining.  This would be supplemented with a Shakespeare theater in the Esplanade. The Broward Art Guild would like to put an art museum here with workshops and a sculpture garden along the river.  
         Commissioners have made it clear the use of the site should be water oriented.  Mayor Naugle supports the Maritime Museum concept.  Some of his colleagues aren’t so sure and may be swayed by developers if the public doesn’t let them know they support a maritime museum here.  Cox asked for a reasonable period to raise money and if his group isn’t successful the building would revert to the city.  If a deal is made with a developer the city may lose this historic waterfront property.  I will keep you posted about the next hearing on this matter.  This chance for a deep-water maritime museum is not likely to come again.

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 Lauderdale Isles Yacht and Tennis Club invites all Lauderdale Isles residents and their families to check out the club’s entertaining and party facilities for your special function at very reasonable rates.  The yacht and tennis club also hosts many social functions, events, dinners, breakfasts, and more on a regular basis to its membership.  New members are welcome as membership applications are being accepted now!  Please stop in and visit the club at 2637 Whale Harbor Lane or give them a call 954-583-7422 for more information.  Ask for Susan Grey.

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Imagine a dinner of poached chicken, mashed potatoes and buttered cauliflower puree: a creamy, pureed pool of ivory. It would look so boring and provide so little flavor and texture, you probably wouldn’t eat much of it. 
         Making food less appealing seems perverse. Yet it may be still another tool to help you lose weight. The less sensory variety — such as color, shape and aroma — your food has, the less likely you are to eat it. And that turn-off will save calories, according to diet research. 
         Variety keeps you from tiring of the taste of food. Have you gone through a restaurant’s buffet line? Everything looks so good, which is why you heap so much onto your plate — crisp tacos, creamy pudding, spicy sausage, french fries, red Jello — according to Hollie Raynor, a registered dietitian and Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Buffalo in New York. 
         Ideally, having a wide-ranging appetite would be an advantage. You’d consume enough different foods to be assured of never having nutritional deficiencies. However, you’re going to put on pounds if your definition of variety includes an assortment of sausages, high-fat cheeses and a sampling of cheesecake, pecan pie and ice cream, for example. 
         You may think you can have a bit of everything, but that doesn’t work. “A lot of research would suggest that it’s not helpful,” said Raynor. “The initial taste causes a feeding ‘forward mechanism’ for eating. You wouldn’t stop with the little taste. It would encourage you to eat a little more.” 
       When you’re offered foods that do not provide much sensory stimulation, you’re satisfied sooner and don’t overeat, said Raynor, who has reviewed 58 studies on food variety and weight management, and, with Leonard H. Epstein, Ph.D., published the results in the Psychology Bulletin. 
         No one is sure why less appealing foods help in weight loss. It’s possible that people who eat a monotonous meal are able to pick up internal satiety cues and stop eating when they’re full, while those who are dazzled by a rainbow array of colors and crunchy textures keep eating because of the external cues, said Raynor. 
         You can use Raynor’s tips to curb your own appetite. 
         “Don’t have a wide selection of highly palatable, high calorie foods,” said Raynor. “Don’t have five types of cookies. Have one. Keep one snack in the house, not cookies, chips, ice cream and pretzels.’’ 
Create meals that have foods with similar sensory qualities, such as taste, shape and color, to curb overeating.

Remember To “Stop and Smell the Roses”

        Even when life is humming along and free of emotional turbulence, we may still need reminders to keep anxiety down and enjoyment up.

Grow Something Green

        Even if the only outdoor space you’ve got is a windowsill or a fire escape, you can plant some favorite flowers or soothing herbs there. It feels very satisfying to nurture plants. Herbs such as mint or lemon balm are easy to grow. Harvest them and dry the leaves; use them to make calming pots of tea or to add fresh flavor to your home cooking.

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Curb appeal, lawn and home maintenance, parking patterns, noise, pets, and a variety of our lifestyle choices effect not only ourselves, but they can even have a significant impact on the lives around us, even lives residing blocks away!  
         This editorial is not about my home, my immediate neighbors, or even to a greater extent my street.  For the most part I feel extremely fortunate to have the kind and considerate folks that are around me.  We all strive to maintain or improve our homes and our comfort level, and we all watch out for each other.  If my neighbor’s dog leaves his business card on my lawn, my neighbor picks it up.  If a party is planned across the street, I receive warning and perhaps even an invitation to attend.  Home and lawn maintenance around me is regular and routine.  Gardening enhances our area, our common grounds, and each other’s line of sight.  These are all ingredients of a neighborhood on the rise, a neighborhood that can be the root of long term friendships, future generations, positive real estate valuation, and ultimately a sincere level of satisfaction and recognition of a true ‘home’.  However, like any good restaurant, our pantries may be stocked with the best of ingredients, but our recipe must be well considered, well planned, and adhered to in order to achieve our goals and expectations.
         Are your neighbors as considerate as mine?  Are you as considerate as you should be?  Are we all on the same page in terms of adhering to the recipe for a ‘successful neighborhood’?  We must all stop and look at ourselves before we cast any stones.  How is your yard maintenance and appearance?  How are your manners regarding the pet’s patterns on your evening stroll?  Do you think your neighbors appreciate your taste in music or television, or is your need to share yours really that strong?  Do you recognize the impact of your weekend auto maintenance projects in your driveway on your neighbors?  Is your home in need of repairs or paint to the point that it is detracting from the neighborhood?  
         These issues go well beyond the individual and into the entire community.  Problems such as these occurring on your street may very well have not only an adverse effect on your next door neighbors, but it could matriculate blocks away!  Look in the mirror.  Consider how you impact your neighbors and neighborhood.  Do your share to contribute in a positive fashion, and allow that good spirit to flow from one property to the next.  We should all be aware that not only do we have responsibilities as neighbors to each other, but we are sitting on a very strong financial opportunity in our properties as well.  
         We must not only be good neighbors to create and maintain a great community, but we must maintain the reality of the true impact we have on everyone around us.  Keep in mind the significance of our responsibilities as residents, and our recipe will turn out better than any of us could have anticipated.  We live in a magnificent community, but it is and will remain only what we make of it.  We must all do our part.  Thank you for your time, thank you for your consideration, and thank you for being my neighbor.

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In February 2001, the Broward County Department of Planning and Environmental Protection published the Historical Water Quality Atlas of Broward County, Florida. This Atlas is a massive technical document. In an effort to make it more “reader friendly” to the public, an extended summary of the larger technical document was created titled Water Quality in Your Community. It highlights the surface water quality of Broward’s 12 drainage basins over a 25-year period from 1972 to 1997. I recommend DPEP’s summary version for those individuals interested in environmental issues in our community. The 65 page summary can be down loaded directly from http://www.broward.org/wti01001.htm. 
         With DPEP’s approval, I have reprinted some segments from their 65 page summary report in this community newsletter article.

An Environmental Report From DPEP

Why should I read this?

Lauderdale Isles is a waterfront community with considerable marine related orientation. Our marine interest is our single most defining characteristic. Broward County is one of the most densely populated counties in Florida and its continued growth results in increased stress on our waters. The demands of our growing population must be balanced with the protection of our waterways to promote environmentally sound growth. The Historical Water Quality Atlas will help prepare the road map to formulate future research questions, needs, and direction for better management of our surface waters.

 Water Quality in Your Community

What is it about?

Located in southeastern Florida, Broward County is tucked between the Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean. Connecting these two large aquatic systems are more than 266 miles of natural and dredged canals that cut through the county’s urban corridor.  This intricate and highly managed system of canals and retention ponds maintains the balance between flood prevention and over drainage. Over time, changes in Broward County’s hydrology, ecology, and environmental regulations have had significant impacts on the quality of  Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale our waters. Since 1972, Broward County has monitored the water quality of the primary water bodies (largest canals) of Broward County. Most wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) stopped discharging into surface waters by 1983 and all of them were phased out or centralized by 1988. Initially, the main objective was to monitor the treated sewage discharge from WWTPs released into surface waters. After environmental regulations stopped the practice of surface water discharges, BCDPEP’s main goal became to understand ambient (typical) water quality baseline data for each waterway and to understand possible ‘downstream’ effects on receiving water bodies, such as the Everglades and coastal systems. Pollutants in surface waters have the potential to affect aquatic organisms and those that use the aquatic system. Thus, water quality is monitored to reduce or prevent extensive contamination and to aid in making sound regulatory decisions.

 What is WATER QUALITY in Broward

Chemical, biological, and physical characteristics of a water body are studied to determine water quality. Many factors help to paint a picture of whether a water body is healthy. A balance of nutrients, oxygen, bacteria, salinity, and temperature are necessary and specific for any given habitat. Stressed waters often have a combination of excess nutrients, bacteria, and sediment, along with a lack of oxygen and clarity. Chemical pollutants, heavy metals, petroleum byproducts, and trash and debris can also contribute to poor water quality. 
         Water Quality in Your Community focuses on four major parameters — total nitrogen, total phosphorus, fecal coliform, and dissolved oxygen — because of their importance to ecological and human health. 
         Nitrogen and Phosphorus are nutrients that are necessary components of the food web in our waters. Nutrients support the growth of plants, which in turn, support fish and other wildlife that feed on these organisms. However, excess nutrients entering the water may cause an imbalance that results in the rapid reproduction of microscopic algae (called algae blooms) or larger plants such as duckweed, spatterdock, Hygrophila, or Hydrilla. Excess nutrients in canals may cause an overgrowth of vegetation and can harm our waters in several ways. It clouds water and blocks sunlight, stressing other underwater vegetation. When the excess algae/plants die, they sink to the bottom and are decomposed by bacteria that deplete oxygen in the surrounding area, a problem that can often lead to fish kills. 
         Nutrient sources: agricultural and urban use of fertilizers, detergents, livestock manure, domestic pet wastes, effluent from wastewater treatment plants, septic tank seepage, gray water from boats, plant decomposition, organic runoff from soil, natural deposits (phosphate), and rain. 
         Fecal coliform bacteria are commonly used indicators of domestic sewage and terrestrial runoff entering a body of water. High concentrations of these bacteria suggest the presence of fecal contamination from humans or warm-blooded animals, making them a useful public health risk indicator. Fecal coliform bacteria themselves are not the main health concern, but their presence suggests the possible presence of other harmful, disease-causing bacteria and viruses. 
         Fecal coliform pollution sources: raw sewage, septic tank seepage, animal waste, holding tanks or sanitation devices on boats, and stormwater runoff. 
         Dissolved Oxygen - In aquatic systems, oxygen is present as dissolved oxygen (DO) and must be at an acceptable level to support fish and wildlife. Generally, the more DO the better. DO is necessary for aerobic respiration and to allow certain chemical reactions to take place. Several complex interactions occur to determine the amount of DO that is available. During the day, DO levels increase as photosynthesis takes place. At night, photosynthesis ceases and respiration continues, causing DO to decrease. The death and decomposition of algae blooms by oxygen-consuming bacteria have also been shown to deplete DO concentrations and can cause fish kills. 
         Oxygen sources: By-product of photosynthesis and diffusion from the atmosphere. 
         Point Source and Non Point Source Pollution: A point source is a specific location or point of entry, such as a pipe from an industrial plant, where pollutants directly enter our waterways. Non-point sources deliver pollutants from broad areas and generally result from land runoff, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, and seepage through the ground. A major form of non-point pollution in Broward County is stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff is water from rainfall that accumulates and runs off land surfaces such as streets, parking lots, construction sites, and residential lawns. It can carry sediment, oils, metals, fertilizers, pesticides, toxins, pathogens, and other pollutants into nearby storm drains or directly into water bodies. Once this polluted runoff enters the storm sewer system, it is discharged — often untreated — into canals and lakes. 
         What was our neighborhood’s water quality rating? See the May 2002 Issue .......

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One of DOT’s more recent neighborhood curves snagged another car as it entered the Isles from 441.  The beautiful, black, 1995 Corvette was heavily damaged.  A witness said the driver had to be cut from the wreckage.  Once again a tree kept an errant vehicle from continuing on into a homeowner’s yard or house.
         On Saturday, 1-19-02 as I headed for home just after 5 p.m. a highway patrol car and wrecker were blocking the southern lane at 3762 Riverland Road.  The heavily damaged vehicle was being readied for a flatbed.  A tree was listing from the encounter.  Just a few weeks before wood supports holding it upright from a previous encounter with a vehicle had been removed.   Last time it took the heaviest crane the county had to right it.
         Nearby residents have complained about a constant parade of cars ending up in their front yard after failing to negotiate the new curve in the redesigned road.  Last week a Ft. Lauderdale Parks vehicle was parked in the middle of this curve on the north side for “business”.  No pylons, flares or flagmen were placed behind it to warn motorists.  People had to dart out into the near blind lane to continue north and get around the vehicle.

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Publixdirect.com
by Robert Trafford

You’ve undoubtedly seen their brand new white trucks with green lettering.  They’re all over our neighborhood bringing quality groceries to our kitchen counters.  Shop online from the comfort of your home, choose your delivery time, and watch them even show up a few minutes early!
         The driver will cart your order to your front door, cover his shoes with surgical boots, and carefully place your groceries on your kitchen counter.  Try to tip him!  He’ll politely decline and quickly depart to make his next scheduled delivery.
        Publixdirect.com is a staple in our household.  Here’s hoping that more of my neighbors will adopt their service so that they will be available to us for years to come!

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On 7 February the Tri-County Community Rail Authority (Tri-Rail) held a public meeting to hear concerns and suggestions from the community regarding the double-tracking of the bascule bridge over the S. Fork of the New River at Marina Bay. There is no information available at this early date regarding the blocking of the river, if any, during construction.
         We who are boaters have learned to love that old bridge, constructed well over fifty years ago, and shoot through it as soon as possible, lest a piece drop on our vessel! 
        It would appear at first glance that there is a possibility of the bridge being closed more often once it is double-tracked. However, it’s too early to tell. Consider this as a heads-up, and if you want more information, you can contact the Tri-Rail Director of Planning:

Dennis J. Newjahr
800 NW 33rd St., Suite 100
Pompano Beach, FL 33064
954-788-7896

         We have requested that their department submit a press release for this publication.

 TRI-RAIL PRESS RELEASE

The following is a brief press release as submitted by the Tri-Rail office in Pompano Beach upon our request.  Certainly their solutions and views are subject to the review process of the public hearings.  This issue is a critical one for us to watch as it involves not only our boating right of passage up the New River, but it also impacts our property values!  We could not arrange a follow-up release following the February 7 Public Hearing in time for the printing of this newsletter, however we will attempt to post such a release on the LICIA web site at www.licia.org as soon as it becomes available.  Please stay in touch with this issue!

“The Tri-County Commuter Rail Authority (Tri-Rail) is in the process of double-tracking the rail corridor over the South Fork of the New River.  This is required to improve train service to the traveling public who use Tri-Rail for transportation in the Tri-County area.  A study is concluding that has investigated using a new bridge structure to cross the South Fork of the New River.  Two alternatives were studied, a drawbridge with 40 feet of vertical clearance and a fixed bridge with 56 feet of vertical clearance.  The existing drawbridge would continue to remain in operation for freight train traffic only.  The final alternative will be selected after a Public Hearing to be held on February 7 at 7:00 PM at the Airport Hilton.”

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 Please recognize that our association requests an annual community dues contribution from each household for our treasury.  Your board requests that these payments are made promptly in order to fund our needs for community projects, legal demands, newsletters and printing costs, etc.  Currently there is a committee from your board of trustees investigating new and creative improvements to the community, and those contributions will be needed! Checks should be made payable to LICIA and mailed to 1300 Riverland Rd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312.  We respectfully request at least $15 per household per year. 
        Please, this is a very small price to pay for the continued betterment of our community! If you have already sent your dues in for 2002 we thank you!  If you have not, please take a moment and do so today. 

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Annexation Meeting

Please be sure to attend the LICIA General Meeting on Thursday, February 21 at 7P.M.  The sole purpose of this meeting is to summarize the annexation vote that is taking place in our voting precinct on March 12, 2002.
         All other Association business will be tabled for a future meeting as this is a critical topic regarding the very foundation of the future of our neighborhood.  There will be a lot of detail to cover and a lot of questions to be answered.  We expect a record turnout for this meeting, so plan to carpool and arrive early.
         We cannot stress the importance of this upcoming vote.  This is an agenda that we all must participate in!

When all is said and done, please do not forget to VOTE!

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