Margate Unions Reach Impasse
City negotiations with both Margate’s Federation of Public Employees (FPE) union and the International Association of FireFighters (IAFF) union have come to a halt. The FPE refuses to part with longevity bonuses and welfare trust benefits for new employees, as do Margate firefighters who also say no to a cap on overtime.
Opting for the alternative to binding arbitration, union leaders have agreed to let Margate City Commissioners decide the fate of their contracts in special hearings to be scheduled in coming weeks.
City negotiators left to right: Margate City Manager, Frank Porcella; City Attorney, Eugene Steinfeld; Fire Chief, Garry Westbrook; Human Resource Director, George McNeill; Finance Director, Gale Gargano; Assitant City Manager, Yolanda Rodriguez.
Margate offers first time homebuyers deal of a lifetime
In utilizing roughly $2.1 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) dollars to rehabilitate run down homes in the city, the Margate Grants Office announced that 12 homes will be available to qualified applicants in October to lease then purchase.
Motorcycle Crash takes Mother from Family
Ron and Helen Gallardo went out for a joy ride on their sport bike Saturday afternoon August 7 in the vicinity of Royal Palm Boulevard and Riverside Drive in Coral Springs. They were on familiar roads close to home and visibility that day was near perfect.
"There was hardly anyone in the street," Ron said. "Just her and me."
Ron said the driver in the car to his right suddenly moved into his lane, colliding with his bike and throwing both of them from the motorcycle. Ron was critically injured in the accident and his wife Helen, mother of three, was killed.
Stop by Mugshots in Downtown Margate and drop any spare change you have in the piggy. The Gallardos thank you. Click photo to enlarge and read. Kiera is best friends with 9-year-old Olivia.
Margate Resident kicks-off 2012 City Commission Race
Originally from Lockport, Illinois, 52-year-old Lesa Peerman moved to Margate in 1996. She’s been working for the Broward County School System for 22 years and has officially registered as a candidate for Margate City Commission in 2012.
Peerman believes in term limits for commissioners, accountability to taxpayers and a heightened level of constructive input and participation by Margate residents at City Hall meetings.
Local suggests “image maker” for city
August 7, or the first Saturday of every August, was declared “Possum Day” by the Florida Legislature in 1982. In fact, the City of Wassau, Florida celebrates the day every year with their Annual Possum Festival & Funday complete with parade, outdoor activities and various tributes to the great North American Opossum.
Margate Resident, Robert Perkis, suggested a similar day to Margate City Commissioners last week, a day with the polarizing uniqueness of Possum Day to put Margate on the map.
Commissioners form Recreation Foundation aimed at Quality of Life in city
In order to gain access to funds otherwise not available to municipal governments, Margate City Commissioners recently formed the Margate Recreation Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization targeting federal and state monies available to enhance the recreation and leisure of Margate residents.
"Mack & Mabel" at the Broward Stage Door
Bernadette Peters and Robert Preston starred in the 1974 Tony nominated “Mack & Mabel" at the Majestic Theater in New York. Mack & Mabel is a story about legendary silent film director, Mack Sennet, and his tumultuous love affair with silent film actress Mabel Normand.
The highly acclaimed “Mack & Mabel” is now running at the Broward Stage Door in Margate from August 20 to September 26.
Paradise Gardens Resident crashes into Neighbor’s house at 3 a.m.
It was the wee hours of the morning when Mike said he heard the skidding wheels of a motor vehicle approaching his home. He heard a crash, then a vehicle backing up and peeling out. He looked outside and saw a white pick-up truck taking off.
Mike's neighbor around the corner had slammed his Dodge Ram into the family’s parked van, just missing the room in the house where Mike was sitting. The neighbor took off, went home and went to bed.
Most people slow down to take the turn, said Mike (seen at the left). Note the 20-foot skid mark in the street leading up to yard. Click photo to enlarge.
