100 Good Men Living in Margate
Are you a non-profit organization in constant search of hard-working volunteers? Do you have a job that needs completing but no manpower to complete it?
Talk to Rick Riccardi or Peter Burggraf at Margate’s Fellowship Living Recovery Community. They’ve got a hundred good men willing to serve their community.
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Atlantic Palms to pay Margate taxpayers in full
Vice President of the Atlantic Palms condominium association announced to city commissioners and the public last Wednesday that their association will pay the city for water, garbage and utility bills owed over the past year.
“Once we get this number you’ll be paid in full,” Chamely Toro told city officials.
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Margate Commission reverses decision to prohibit youth football
Margate Mayor Joe Varsallone made a motion Wednesday to withdraw the city commissions July 1 ruling to prohibit the Northwest Broward Raiders youth football team from practicing and playing home games on Margate’s Oriole Field.
Upon further discussion, the city commission reversed its decision in a 3-2 vote with commissioners Pam Donovan and Arthur Bross in dissent.
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City responds quickly to needs of fire victim
When Ruth noticed the stove on fire she ran downstairs from her Palm Springs III Margate condominium to have her neighbor call 911. Margate firefighters responded quickly to the blaze in building 23, but unfortunately Ruth's condo was charred beyond habitability.
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Margate Firefighters looking for 3% pay increase in years two and three
City negotiations with Margate’s International Association of Firefighters local 3080 at City Hall Monday started similar to talks earlier in the year with the city’s police and general employee unions:
“What you’re making today, you’re making tomorrow,” was the offer put on the table by Margate City Manager, Frank Porcella.
Union officials declined Porcella’s offer and presented the city with a counter offer.
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Reader Opinion
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Growing Fence Problem in Margate
Six foot high fences across Margate yards have become an eyesore for residents. Many have grown old, dilapidated and misaligned due to wind, while others offer no landscaping for passing pedestrians and motorists to enjoy. Where one fence color ends, another begins, and it isn’t always pretty.
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Reader opinion.
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Margate Resident said city’s new Bottle Club law may jeopardize public safety
Margate resident Rich Alianiello criticized city commissioners last week for expanding the city’s Bottle Club law. “It’s a wrong move to do,” said Alianiello, “It just leads to other problems.”
Margate City Commissioners voted in February to allow Bottle Clubs in three of the city’s business districts. At their May commission meeting, city officials expanded bottle club licenses to all five business districts in the city, allowing for one bottle club license in each district.
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Margate’s Scott Yardley on the campaign trail for State Representative
Long time Margate residents Scott and Catherine Yardley have eight children ages 1 to 16. They homeschool their kids, don’t accept food stamps, grants or otherwise government assistance.
As Scott Yardley put it, “I probably qualify for just about every assistance program out there,” he said, “But I’m a man, and part of manhood is independence.”
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Margate's share of Seminole Compact about $425,000
After three years of negotiations, Florida Govenor, Charlie Crist, signed the Seminole Gaming Compact into law Wednesday after the House passed Senate Bill (SB) 622 by a vote of 74-39.
The Compact guarantees Floridians $1 billion over five years and enables the Seminoles to expand gaming operations.
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Broward Health Professionals Travel to Jamaica
Medical professionals from Broward Health System will travel to Jamaica in April to participate in an educational seminar on palliative and curative aspects of cancer care for doctors and nurses at the Hope Institute, a small oncology hospital in Kingston.
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12 questions for District 19 candidates
Voters in Broward and Palm Beach will head to the polls Tuesday to replace U.S. Congressman Robert Wexler in the 19th District, who resigned effective January 4, 2010. Three candidates have stepped up to replace the outgoing Democrat: Ted Deutch, Edward Lynch and Jim McCormick.
Local online news affiliate, BrowardNETOnline.com, interviewed all three candidates this week to enable Broward voters a more informed choice when going to the polls.
Click here to read more.
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South Florida Scouts chip in to help Haitian Earthquake Victims
The South Florida-based charity Food For The Poor has donated and distributed more than 20 million meals in Haiti since the earthquake on Jan.12. Part of that came from Girl and Boy Scouts of America, who have raised money and collected nonperishable food items to help the people of Haiti and are interested in making the world a better place.
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Systol is Going Places
Sounding like they’ve played together for years, a group of young local musicians with chemistry, talent and a propulsive sense of rhythm are destined to set themselves apart from the rest, say fans. I caught up with Systol for the first time at Margate’s Sounds at Sundown concert downtown on Sunday. This powerhouse metal-rock quartet comprised of Coral Springs Charter School students is musically impressive.
“Loud music in an open field,” shouted lead guitarist Billy Martin as he thanked the crowd for coming to the show.
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Margate to Fight T-Mobile Cell Tower Lawsuit
Cell phone carrier T-Mobile filed a lawsuit against the City of Margate in January, alleging the City is in violation of federal law for denying a cell tower on the Oriole Golf Course in December.
In their February response to the 62-page federal lawsuit, the city denies the majority of allegations made by T-Mobile, including facts common to all counts made by T-Mobile in the case, claims that T-Mobile needs the tower to provide adequate coverage in the area, and that Margate’s Oriole Golf Course is T-Mobile’s only possible location in Broward County to bridge their coverage gap.
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Margate Street Festival 2010: Bigger, Better
Attendance at this year’s 2nd Annual Margate Street Festival downtown on February 21st exceeded 8,000, said Executive Director, Jaime Milner of the Margate Chamber of Commerce—a 60 percent increase over last year. Sponsorship grew by 20 percent, said Chamber President, John Francis and the entertainment, food offerings and support from local business leaders and residents was beyond reproach, just like last year, he said.
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Help Margate Students support Haiti Effort
Students from Margate’s Atlantic West Elementary School have been selling out of “Haiti Houses” faster than they can make them. Art Teacher, Mindy Agress is leading the project at Atlantic West and donating all proceeds to the American Red Cross to help Haitian earthquake victims.
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Margate Santa Spreads Cheer
Brooklyn native, Santo Curatolo, may or may not be Santa, but then again who really knows. He laughs like Santa, is jolly like Santa and makes rounds to kids during the holidays – just like Santa. Some say his selection of eyewear is a bit off, but other than that, Curatolo may be the real deal.
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U.S. News & World Report rates Atlantic Technical Center one of the Best High Schools of 2009
After analyzing academic data from 21, 000 public high schools in 48 states, U.S.News & World Report awarded Margate’s Atlantic Technical Center a Silver Medal. The Magnet school achieved above average college readiness scores and out-performed hundreds of high schools across Florida.
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Cell Tower going up on the Golf Course
A public hearing is scheduled on December 9 at Margate City Hall regarding the approval of a conditional use permit for a cell tower on Margate Boulevard’s Oriole Golf Course. T-Mobile, in cooperation with golf course owners, has applied to the city to erect a 100’ monopole communications tower across from Paradise Gardens IV residents.
Margate planning officials say the tower is going to look much like a flagpole, similar to the tower in Coral Gate Park off State Road 7 – complete with an American Flag flying at the top.
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Margate solar home more than just about saving electricity
When Margate resident, Jessica Morgan, retrofitted her home for solar hot water and to kick power back to the grid -- it changed her life. She’s invested $23,000 for her home to be outfitted with photovoltaic panels and a bidirectional meter that causes her conventional electric meter to run backwards on sunny days.
Click here to read more.
Watch Morgan demonstrate how solar works on her house
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Whitefly is Back
Pesky whiteflies have returned to Broward County for another feeding frenzie. This insatiable insect eats ficus trees and shrubs from the inside out, leaving them barren, parched and dead if you don’t catch them in time. Whitefly suck the sap from leaves, eventually draining ficus of its life force.
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Local businesses restock Food Bank
BrowardNETOnline.com is coordinating with several local businesses to help replenish the Daily Bread Food Bank after a fire completely destroyed its warehouse. Broward News and Entertainment is partnering with Sunset Blue at 33rd St., Fishtales Bar & Grill, Extra Space Storage and Best Florida Storage to collect food and other necessary supplies to restock the 93,000 pounds (60,000 meals).
Click here to read more.
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Can your cell phone ignite a gas pump?
Avid cell phone users call it an urban legend.
Slopes.com has dispelled the possibility of cell phones igniting gas pumps and the Petroleum Equipment Institute states that they have never been able to document a single gas pump fire caused by a cell phone.
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Florida Economy Gone South; Residents Go North
South Florida isn't in the headlines as of late for sun, fun, bikinis, Florida stone crab and clear blue sea, but rather for record foreclosures, unemployment and what could amount to the Sunshine State’s worse economic problem in decades: Population out-migration.
Little more than three years ago, CNNmoney crowned Florida the biggest net gainer in Sun Belt population. But just last week, the New York Times pointed to population decline in the Sunshine State for the first time since WWII. Long-time Florida residents are moving to Tennessee, Kentucky and the western Carolinas, say reports, because it’s safer, cheaper and less crowded.
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Save Our City
Save our City of Margate. The Time Has Come To Save This Great City instead of just letting if DIE.
Margate Scout seeks to refurbish Senior Center Garden
Margate resident and Life Scout, Brandon Robb, is on his way to being part of the two percent of all Boy Scouts in the world who achieve the rank Eagle Scout. He has three more merits to complete before the age of 18 and needs to invent, plan and execute a project successfully within the community.
Because Robb’s Grandmother used to spend a lot of time at Margate’s Northwest Focal Point Senior Center, and he’s thankful for all they’ve done for her, he has proposed to Center officials that he replant some garden areas as a means of giving back.
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Margate Legend - Dave McLean
He flew into Margate’s National Night in a BSO helicopter. Rushed to the stage in a flurry of excitement where he performed hits like Jailhouse Rock and Can’t Help Falling in Love. It was like a scene out of Woodstock – but here in Margate – and instead of Canned Heat riding in the bird – it was Elvis; impersonated by none other than Margate City Commissioner Dave McLean.
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Margate Launches New "Info on the Go" Mobile Website
Margate residents and businesses now have the power to pay water bills; check the status of building permits; obtain City meeting agendas; reference bus schedules; contact city departments; and even check the weather through their IPHONE, BLACKBERRY or other PDA internet device.
Click here to read more.
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Margate Residents Brace for Tax Hike
Margate residents can expect their millage rate to increase this year. Possibly to as high as 7.86 (the maximum allowed by the state), a more than 16 percent jump from the current $6.75 per $1,000 in home value and an almost 38 percent increase over the 2008 adopted millage rate.
Click here to find out why.
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'55 and Over' Crushing Margate Economy?
With thousands of homes listed as ’55 and Over’ in Margate, one might say Margate is a retirement city. Not only does U.S. News & World Report list Margate as one of the “Best Places to Retire,” the phrase “that’s where all the old people live,” has been used more than once to describe our North Broward city.
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Margate Church Gives Cash for Kids
In a move to boost holiday spirit early, Margate’s St. Vincent Church awarded $2,500 to Margate law enforcement officials in support of their ‘Shop with a Cop’ program, a seasonal happening where police, firefighters and city staff take underprivileged kids shopping.
“We thought by donating now, other organizations would be encouraged to follow suit long before the holidays arrive,” said Harry Placke of the St. Vincent Men’s Guild.
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Know your Fire Chief
Margate Fire Chief Garrison G. Westbrook, EFO, CFO started as an EMT and Firefighter with Margate back in April 1974. He worked his way up the ‘ladder’ to Fire Lieutenant, Captain and finally Big Kahuna. Recently, Westbrook was recognized for 35 years of service to Margate.
“It’s the best job in the world,” he said.
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Dangerous Dogs in Margate
How many people and pets need to be attacked by Pit Bulls in Broward County before elected officials do something about it? More than 500 incidents involving Pit Bulls have been reported in Broward County since 2005, at least 200 of which have been credited to Bit Bulls biting humans.
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Margate Snags $2 Mil from Feds
Margate recently received more than $2 million from the federal government’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The city has 18 months to spend the money and intends on buying foreclosed properties and fixing them up.
At an estimated cost of $100,000 per home, this amounts to the purchase and repair of about 20 homes, say officials at Margate’s grant office. Once ready for occupancy, the idea is to rent the homes based on need. Other ideas include rent to own options, mortgage subsidies and grants for first time homebuyers.
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56 Jobs in Margate
More notable than Trattoria Bello Cibo’s sensational suppli, panninis and Pizza ala Piato, is the more than 50 jobs this 200-plus seat Margate Boulevard bistro has injected into the city’s flailing economy.
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Margate Fire Rescue at Risk
Working to preserve ‘home rule’ over fire rescue services in Margate, city officials went to Tallahassee last week to hash out language in a bill introduced by Florida firefighters, a bill that could potentially divide the Margate Fire Department as we know it.
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Margate's Deal with the Indians
Thousands of motorists pass down Margate roads everyday on the way to the Seminole Indian Casino in Coconut Creek. They play slots and lightning bingo, gorge on buffets and cocktail around the clock. Subsequently, Margate city officials say they want a piece of the action.
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City landlords work to help small business
In a recent meeting with storefront tenants, Margate city officials reassessed commercial leasing in the CRA district to accommodate the downturn in the economy. The city determined that some tenants were paying too much per square foot and, unless unoccupied storefronts were leased competitively, they could remain empty for some time.
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Commissioner McLean’s Bar and Grill Closed
Open only a few months, McLean’s Bar & Grill, owned by Margate City Commissioner, David McLean is closed. A source close to the matter said McLean may have ignored laws set in place by the Division of Alcohol Beverage & Tobacco and was shut down.
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Margate Capital Projects Wish List
Submitted to the Florida League of Cities by Margate officials in December was a $27 million capital projects wish list aimed at improving Margate infrastructure. The list consists of ten items, ranging from Mart Arms and Bus Shelters to more than $15 million in wastewater upgrades, needed Royal Palm Boulevard improvements and a retaining wall for pedestrian safety on Southgate Boulevard. Jobs created number around 300.
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Margate CRA Update
Quite a few residents are asking, “What’s going on with all those stores at the end of Margate Boulevard? Is the town doing anything?”
Yes, town officials and Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA), a quasi-government within the City of Margate, are doing something, but plans have changed alongside the economy. The city will eventually demolish the three plazas and bring storefronts street-side, but new development across Florida and the nation has stalled. Projects like Margate’s CRA are standing idle in cities and towns across America.
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